Twelve O'Clock High Page #8

Abel to Baker. No dice.

We'll hit the primary.

- Your new IP is Halstuben.

- Roger.

- Halstuben dead ahead, sir.

- Pilot to bombardier. Center PDI.

PDI centered, sir.

Pilot to bombardier.

You're flying the airplane now.

Bomb bay doors open.

We clobbered them! Right on

the button. We're heading home.

How's that formation back there?

Baker Force reassembling.

Charlie Force is strung out bad.

- FWs attacking stragglers.

- Abel to Charlie.

We'll give you a turn to the left.

Cut across and get back in formation.

We'll be turning over a heavy flak,

though, sir.

Better than leaving

those stragglers to the fighters.

Roger.

Direct burst.

Bail out, Joe. Bail out!

Jump, you guys, jump!

Well, Keith.

Welcome to Operation Stovall.

- How does it look for tomorrow?

- Can't tell yet. Lots of damage.

- I'm sorry about Joe.

- That's the way it goes.

- How's the weather?

- Looks okay.

Looks like all we've got left

to do is get it done.

- The old man was mighty pleased.

- He ought to be.

Tomorrow might wash it up

if we're any good.

- Know he went on the mission?

- No!

Slipped into Mayer's. He didn't

know until he crossed the coast.

So the old man's

stowing away these days, huh?

If I'd known, I'd have cut him closer

with the flak. How are the others?

They'll put up the maximum

for tomorrow.

- Good.

- Maximum. Maximum effort.

Are you drunk, Colonel Stovall?

I am a little.

I believe I warned the general

it might happen again sometime.

Well, keep it going until

tomorrow night and I'll join you.

I believe I shall, sir.

Harvey drew

the worst end of the racket.

Sitting, watching them come and go,

all those stinking papers.

That is not why I am drunk.

I got drunk because I am confused.

I was thinking,

which is a thing one should not do.

Then I couldn't remember

what any of them looked like.

I couldn't see their faces.

Bishop, Cobb...

...Wilson, Zimmy.

All of them.

All of you.

They all looked alike.

Just one face...

...and it was very young.

It confused me.

I think I shall stay drunk...

...until I'm not confused anymore.

Stay with it, Harvey.

You boys will have to

carouse someplace else.

Good night, sir.

Good night, Keith.

Am I gonna sleep tonight.

- Good night, sir.

- Good night.

Guess it's about that time.

Good luck, Frank.

Good luck, sir.

- What's the matter, sir?

- I don't know.

- Are you sick?

- Something's wrong. My arm won't work.

You want me to take it?

No. Tell...

Tell...

- Tell Gately to take it.

- Yes, sir. He'll take it.

Get ahold of Doc Kaiser.

I'll take the lead ship.

Where's my oxygen mask?

Frank. Come on, Frank.

Come on, get in the jeep.

Frank, are you sick?

Stop it!

Stop it!

I'm right here, Frank. It's okay.

He can't make it!

They can't go!

You can't send them out again.

Stop them!

Stop them!

Cigarette, Frank?

How about a smoke?

What do you make of it?

State of shock. Complete collapse.

Everything let go at once.

Can't you give him a hypo?

Knock him out?

In his condition,

it wouldn't be any good.

He's up there with the mission.

When they get back, maybe he'll let go.

I hope.

I never figured it could

happen to him.

I did. He swept his feelings under

the carpet. It had to spill out.

But he was full of fight at briefing.

Have you seen a light bulb burn out?

How bright the filament is before?

I think they call it maximum effort.

[PHONE RINGS]

Colonel Davenport.

That's fine. Thanks very much.

The strike report, Frank.

They hit the primary okay.

Gately reports, "Results good."

They clobbered it, Frank.

Frank, try and listen to me.

I know just what you're feeling.

You think you blew it.

What do you expect of yourself, Frank?

Look.

I saw something in those

kids' faces at briefing.

Something I never put there.

You were gonna make them grow up,

remember? They were this morning.

You're up there with them.

You're riding in every crew station

and in every cockpit.

That's right. Don't listen to me.

Sit there and do it the hard way.

Tell yourself that you blew it.

Eat your guts out until

you're hollow inside.

Don't let anybody help you!

They're back, Frank.

Six.

Seven.

[PLANES ROARING]

Eight.

Nine.

Ten.

Piccadilly Lily.

Eleven.

Twelve.

Thirteen.

Fourteen.

Fifteen. Sixteen.

Control Tower.

- Tower.

- Did you get a count?

Twenty-one dispatched,

nineteen returned, sir.

The boys really did it today.

Nineteen.

They made it.

Nineteen of them.

- Who led?

- Ben Gately.

Is he back all right?

Yes, Frank. He's back.

I'm kind of tired.

I think I'll go to sleep

for a little while.

[VOICES SINGING]

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