[Gunfire]
- Well, how you been, Sergeant? CHUCK: I've been fine...
Very fine, Captain.
- I see you're doing pretty good. - Bad.
Excuse me. looks like your friends are going to get their comrades.
- We're gonna have company. - I won't be here to meet them.
How about slapping a few Band-Aids on this machine?
Now, you heard the captain.
You heave-ho and on the double.
Yeah, yeah. You got anything to warm a guy up?
Sure.
Right over there.
- Quaint little shop. - Thanks.
You've seen the boy wonder before, eh, Chuck?
Too often.
What you got against him?
I'll tell you all about it sometime when you got three or four weeks to spare.
- Mind if I join you, Captain? - Help yourself.
Well, Sergeant, how's it going? You still married?
Same wife, same little girl.
- How about you? - Same life, same big girls.
- Hey, sarge, we got trouble. - What kind?
His whole control system's been shot up.
Gonna have to replace a couple of pieces of hydraulic line and one control valve.
- How long will it take to fix it? - Oh, we can start on it in the morning.
I gotta be in Tokyo tonight.
Captain.
If we start to fix your ship tonight that means we have to turn on the lights.
And if we turn on the lights that means we have visitors.
They'll pour enough lead into us to sink this place 4 feet.
Sergeant, you'll just have to work that out.
All I want is to get to Tokyo tonight.
Yes, sir.
Captain.
Let's get out of here.
What's with this guy anyway, sarge? Course, maybe the mission was important.
Sure, important.
Listen, I was in the same outfit with that big hero.
I've seen him in action before.
We stick our necks out so that that big Romeo can keep a hot date in Tokyo.
Okay, you jokers, get the lights.
MAN 1: Get the lights. MAN 2: You kidding?
You wanna make sitting ducks out of us? Bombs.
CHUCK: Thurlow, why don't you shut up. We'll freeze first.
Captain's orders. Now get the lights and turn them on.
[Men chattering]
[Gunfire]
Hey, sarge.
Yeah?
What do you think the captain wants to get to Tokyo for?
Blond, brunette or redhead?
Do you think that matters now?
[Explosions and gunfire]
All right, let's turn the lights on again.
[Engine whirring]
You know, sarge, I bet he's gonna see a blond.
- You think so? - Yeah.
A nice big one.
[Aircraft approaching]
[Gunfire, explosions]
Hey, anybody get hit?
CREW MAN: Pasqual. He got hit in the head.
CHUCK: Hey, Taylor, did you check the drag-chute doors?
TAYLOR: I'm taking care of it right now.
CHUCK: How you making out? - Should be ready in about a half-hour.
Well, you just stick with it.
All right, Brooklyn, give me another one.
What player in the majors struck out the most times in his life?
Babe Ruth, 1330 times. He also said:
"One day you're a hero, next day you're a bum."
BROOKLYN: Hey, sarge? - Yeah, what is it?
Where'd y'all learn all that stuff?
Well, I'll tell you, son.
When I was very young, some older kid sold me a key to the pitcher's box.
My old man walloped the daylights out of me for being so stupid.
He gave me an ultimatum.
He said, "Chuck, either you learn about baseball next week...
or I'm gonna make you take ballet lessons."
- Ballet? - Yeah, ballet.
- I learned about baseball the next week. - Ha-ha-ha.
Hey, Barnes, did you check the leak in the PCU?
Well, it's about time.
Come on, come on, come on, give me another one.
Tinker to Evers to Chance.
They played shortstop, second base, first base for the old Cubs?
Yeah.
Now, for a million bucks, who all played third?
Third base.
For the Cubs.
- Harry M. Steinfeldt, 1906 to 1910. - You're right.
- Gonna make a fortune on that quiz show. - Yeah, maybe.
- What are you gonna do with all that? - Never mind.
I know what to do with all the loot. I just better win, that's all.
Hey, look alive, here comes the CO.
Come on, you too.
Good afternoon. I was hoping I'd see you before you left.
I'll be taking off in the morning.
I want to introduce you to your new commander, Colonel Herlihy.
Colonel, this is your line chief. Best in the business, Sergeant Brennan.
Excuse me. I'll say goodbye to a couple of the boys.
Well, its been a long time.
- How are you, Sergeant? - Just like when you last saw me.
Colonel.
- Things were rougher then, weren't they? - A little.
We got a lot to talk about. Let's say you report to Operations tomorrow.
I'm sorry, sir. I can't.
I start on my leave tonight.
Oh. Have a nice time.
- I'll see you when you get back. - Yes, sir.
Anytime, Colonel.
Chuck, good luck.
Thank you, sir.
- New boss man doesn't look bad, huh? - Yeah, he has a nice face.
- Two hundred and one. - Who hit that?
Two hundred and one air bases in the world
and they have to send that guy here.
What's wrong with him?
Two bars in Korea and now already he's bucking for an eagle.
- SAC must be high on him? - Well, I'm not. I've seen him in action.
Okay, you guys, get up there.
Get the job done. I wanna get out of here in a couple of hours.
The farther the better.
Hey, you too, Brooklyn.
[Indistinct chatter]
It's good to get away from the base once in a while. Gives you new perspective.
Only I still got a feeling that we left...
I turned off all the faucets and all the lights and I left a note for the milkman.
Dad, there's nothing to worry about. Everything's packed.
We've got guns, cartridges, fishing tackle, duck decoys, everything.
Everything a girl needs for a nice vacation.
What was that? A crack?
- Oh, no. - Well, you don't sound very happy.
[Air hissing]
CHUCK: Oh, no. - Just like Old Faithful.
Oh, it can't be that fan belt again.
Whatever it is, why don't you buy a new one?
I love every part of this car. I've kept it going up till now.
- With spit and bobby pins. - All it needs is a little water.
This is on me.
- Be careful. - Don't worry, I will.
You know, something's bothering that kid.
I wouldn't be a bit surprised.
All girls get restless at her age.
I'm sure glad we're stopping in San Francisco first.
Maybe the Slaters will have some young people at the party.
Well, it could help.
It might.
CHUCK: Be careful.
I am. I am.
Told you to watch out, didn't I?
I'm fine, Dad. Relax, Relax.
Nothing like a trip in the country.
Raise the kids to talk that way to...
Your disposition. Yours.
[Liquid pouring]
Goodbye, Harold. Give me a call, we'll play some golf.
- Hope to see you again, Lois. - Oh, I hope so too.
BOTH: Good night.
- Did you have a good time, honey? - Just wonderful.
Let's get comfortable. Unloosen your tie.
Thank you.
Gee, it was a lovely evening, Sylvia.
You have no idea how much we miss you both back at the base.
[Chuckles]
Well, we missed you. I've gotta be honest.
It's about all we miss since I got out of uniform.
Oh, come on, now. Castle was a country club compared to Korea.
Sure, but it was still the service.
I'm strictly a 40-hour-a-week man.
This "keep them flying" routine is for the birds.
Like do or die for old Siwash.
I'm not doing or dying for anybody.
I like what I'm doing, I think it's important.
Sure, it's important, Chuck.
But so is private enterprise. Give me private enterprise anytime.
- Give me Strategic Air Command... - Fellas, close the hangar doors.
It's always the same, Edith.
They talk about women at the base and planes at home.
You're looking beautiful, Lois. I wish you could stay over.
We're having a party at the country club, swarms of eligible bachelors.
- I'd love it. - No, some other time.
See, we've got our plans for this vacation.
Wait till you get your hands on that new fishing rod.
Oh, here we are.
I'll take that, Clarissa. Get some sleep.
Thank you, Mr. Slater. Good night.
- Good night, Clarissa. - Good night.
Well, here we are. Special stuff. Right out of the vault.
Well, pour it. Don't talk about it.
Well, if Sylvia doesn't mind...
I'm gonna open the hangar doors just a little for a minute.
- Oh, honey. - No, no, I mean it.
- Uh-uh. She smokes but doesn't drink. - I will.
Chuck, I've got a few words more to say to you about private enterprise.
We better just concentrate on the brandy.
No, I'm serious.
- Oh, honey, don't you think...? - Sylvia, please.
You're the smartest line chief that I ever worked under.
I want you to listen.
Smart enough to know you can make real dough outside of the Air Force.
Like one of those aircraft plants you're in?
- Why not? - Ugh. Here we go now.
That's right, here we go.
That's one of the things I wanted to see you about.
We've got a big opening in our plant.
Tailor-made for you.
I've talked to the boss already. Got him all whipped up.
You'll have your own private office.
Cute secretary, pardon the expression.
Staff, expenses, trips...
and three times what you're getting right now.
All you have to do is to say yes. What do you say?
- It sounds great. - Now you're talking.
For somebody who wants to get out. I don't.
Be sensible, Chuck. This is a great opportunity.
I think it sounds wonderful. We could live here...
And what if everybody did that?
The Air Force, it'd be grounded.
Oh, don't be a sucker, Chuck.
You've given them almost 20 years. Let somebody else take a turn.
Look, I'm not rich, but I'm doing pretty well.
In the two years since I get out of the air force...
I've earned enough to pay for a good hunk of this big old house.
Sylvia has help. I belong to a club.
We've decorated the house and bought a new car.
Edith, you tell him.
I'll go along with whatever Chuck wants.
Well, I...
I want whatever is good for the family.
Look, I'll be honest with you, pal.
I've often thought about getting out and maybe someday I will.
And that fat job you offered...
Well, that's a pretty tempting offer, I'll have to admit that.
But I don't know. Right now I don't think so.
You're making a big mistake.
It won't be open very long. Better grab it.
Give me time to think about it, will you?
Sure.
And come on, pass some more of this imported brandy, you millionaire.
You keep talking about it, but you don't pour it.
- There you are, man, there you are. CHUCK: That's good.
["The Blue Danube" playing over TV]
- Hi, Joe. JOE: Hello, Calvin.
- What they got on there today? - "The Blue Danube."
Oh.
[Chuckles] Oh, sure, that's great.
Give me a double burger. Easy on the heat.
Onions and pickles.
Oh, you ladies traveling in that car out there?
- That's right. - Sure got guts.
Give me some ketchup too, Joe.
You know, we haven't done too badly for six days.
- Huh? - Oh, I was talking to her.
Oh.
Two days in San Francisco, and then 400 miles to hunt some deer.
Oh. Except it turned out to be a fish hatchery.
Mm. And then over here to catch some trout.
You caught cold.
Here's where we lost our rear end.
I wonder what's keeping your father?
LOIS: I bet he's telling that mechanic that
it's still got another good year in it.
- Well, what did the mechanic say? - I don't care what he said.
I still told him the car had another good year in it.
Her 'tour jeté' ain't as good as it should be.
Yeah, I noticed that.
You know, I don't think too much of her 'pas de bourrée' either.
Well, I sure hate to be heading for home.
It's been a lovely vacation, Chuck.
It sure has.
Especially that night at the Slater's.
I still think that's a terrific job he offered you.
Yeah, he's a real pal.
- Have you thought about it all? - Mm-mm. Not yet.
- He said there wasn't too much time. - There's plenty of other jobs.
I know, Dad, but this one's just sitting there waiting for you.
Wouldn't it be exciting? You'd be married to an executive.
Yeah, can't you just see me? The sarge in a gray flannel suit.
Oh, Dad. Dad, you'd look handsome and we'd belong to the country club.
And I could go out dancing with all your vice presidents.
Wait a minute. Hold on there, gal.
Hmm. You'd like that, wouldn't you?
Now, Bud mentioned a job, not head of the organization.
- I'll think about it. - Okay, Dad.
Hmm. We got a new CO at the base, I better give that some thought too.
You finished, Mom?
Mm-hm. Hey, we have a hundred miles to do.
We're finished, Dad.
Oh, we are?
Hey, what do I owe you?
Let's see. Two hamburgers and a beef, three cups of coffee.
Dollar 40, 6 cents tax. Leave it on the counter.
- I'll meet you in the car, okay? - Yeah.
Just wait till I get on that quiz show next week.
[Coins hitting counter]
[People chattering]
MAN: All right, hit the lights.
- Let's have a good show. - Gonna give away all the dough?
He-he. Don't let the sponsor hear.
Don't let the contestants see the oxygen tent, it scares them.
All right, we're on air in about two minutes.
Now let's make sure of the order.
- Mr. Sampton? - Mm-hm.
- Do you feel up to it? - Never felt better.
Spent my whole life answering customers' questions.
This is just a lot of kindergarten stuff.
Fine.
- Ha-ha-ha. - Sergeant Brennan.
- Are you all right? - Yeah, sure.
You're not worried, are you?
[Mumbling]
- Mister, mister. - Yeah?
Who's that gentleman with the black hat staring at us?
That's our alternate.
He gets a chance if one of you passes out.
- Passes out? - Yeah, it happens all the time.
Don't worry. Everything's gonna be all right.
Oh, Miss Jordan.
Take it easy, boy, nobody ever passed out on one of these yet.
Well, look at it the way I do. It's a game.
Lot of fun. lot of laughs, huh? Ha-ha.
Lots of money too.
[Laughs]
- Sponsor will be very happy. - Good.
All right, folks, we're on the air in 20 seconds.
Mr. Sampton, you're first...
Mr. Sampton?
I didn't touch him. He just...
Mr. Sampton. Mr. Sampton.
- He's had it. Better take care of him. - Okay.
Willie, let's get the alternate on in his place.
Alternate.
What floor are we on?
We're on the...
Oh, Mr. Brennan, you're feeling all right, aren't you?
You're on. You're on the show now and it's nothing to worry about.
You get walked out here and everything's gonna be fine.
- No, no, it's all right. - No, I...
- Oh, George. - Yeah.
There's been a little mix-up. Put Mr. Brennan on first.
Okay.
[Applause, music plays]
Welcome once again to an evening of Relaxation...
with everybody's favorite quiz show, Gold Rush.
Our first prospector, from Merced, California...
has Selected the category of baseball.
Ladies and gentlemen, Master Sergeant Charles B. Brennan.
[Applause]
That's you, sarge. Go on.
Good evening, Sergeant. You're the first prospector.
Step right over here and dig some gold.
That's right. Thank you.
Well, you've gone prospecting in our stream...
and you panned a golden nugget worth $4000.
Now, to keep it, you've gotta answer four questions.
Beverly, the envelope please.
Well, how do you feel?
Good. Thank you.
Sergeant, you have your choice.
You can go for this golden nugget...
or you can throw it back in and pan for a larger one or a smaller one.
Do you wanna try for $4000?
- Affirmative. - All right.
We start with $500 and we keep doubling up to $4000.
All right. Now here's your first question.
What was the score when Casey came to bat?
Four to two against Mudville.
Correct for $500.
I'll take 2 to 1 that the old sarge mows them down.
- You're on. - Two to one what?
Bottles of beer.
GEORGE [Over TV]: For $ 1000.
What were the names of the men who batted before Casey?
And what did each one of them do?
- Cooney, he went out. - Right.
- Burrows, he went out too. - Right.
Flynn hit a single and Blake hit a double sending Flynn to third.
GEORGE: You're right for $ 1000.
Hey, I want two Bottles of beer right here.
You wanna take another ride?
[Mouths] You're on.
[Inaudible dialogue]
- Jimmy, I've had three drinks. - Have four.
I thought we were going up to my place.
We are. After the quiz show.
Casey came to bat, what did he do?
And now the pitcher holds the ball. And now he lets it go.
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow. He struck out.
And you did too.
GEORGE: You're right, for $ 2000.
[All chattering]
[Crowd applauds]
For $4000.
Now listen carefully.
What was the name of the pitcher...?
The name of the pitcher who struck Casey out?
The pitcher who... Wait, don't tell me.
Struck Casey out?
I don't think anyone knows his name.
I think he was just called the pitcher, that's all.
Sergeant Brennan.
You're right. For $4000.
- What's so important? - Never mind, never mind. Here.
There it is.
Oh, it's pretty. Whose is it?
Yours. Compliments of the Gold Rush Quiz Show.
- Mine? - Yes, come on.
- Take a look at it. - Mine?
All yours. Here.
Get inside. Get behind the wheel.
- Come on, get in. - Oh, Dad, why did you do that?
Why, it's beautiful.
- Did you spend the whole 4000 on this? - Yeah, what was left after taxes and...
Never mind, let's not talk about the money now.
- Dad, we need so many other things. - No, we don't, honey.
Look, we need only one thing:
To see you happy. Now, that's all we want.
You're both darlings.
I'm gonna be embarrassed to drive it. I mean, it's so nice.
You don't like the color? We can change...
No, it's perfect.
It was just that...
It's just... When we got the money, I thought...
You thought what?
[Chuckles]
I don't know.
I'm just so surprised. I don't know what to say.
Dad, it's only that...
Mom, what I mean is...
Do you know what I'm thinking, Mom?
Maybe Santa Claus struck out.
I got a feeling you didn't like the car very much.
I told you it's beautiful.
If you don't like the car, buy something, I can get my money back.
- Wanna take a trip? - No.
- You wanna buy clothes? - That's not it.
Then what is it? Tell me.
What's bothering you? What's troubling you? Tell me, please.
I'd like to know.
Dad, it's just that...
- You don't understand. - What?
- I want things to be different. - How?
How do you want things to be different?
Oh, like the job Bud Slater offered you.
Could have changed everything.
- You mean we could have more money? - No, no, not just money.
Not money. living differently.
- Meeting new people. - What's wrong with the people here?
They're wonderful, but...
It's always the same. The same faces, your ground crew.
The same talk. Fuel pumps, jet engines...
Men always talk about their work.
You know that, don't you? It'd be the same on the outside.
No, it wouldn't, Dad.
Don't you see?
You're an expert at something. You know something well.
Here you're just in a rut, you're part of a machine.
You could do better on the outside.
[Chuckles]
You'd be somebody. You'd have a position.
No, baby, I've got a position. A darn good one.
And if I'm not a somebody as you put it, what I'm doing is important.
To me, it's important. More important than any other job.
- I'm not talking about the Air Force. - Well, now, I am.
I'm not in the upper bracket...
but being in Air Force got you educated in the finest schools in Europe.
That's an education I never could have bought for you.
We're living in a decent home, aren't we?
Our retirement is coming up, isn't it?
You know, maybe I don't have those fancy shirts and act like an executive...
but millions of dollars of planes stay up because of me...
- and other guys like me down here. - I know it.
- That's not what I'm trying to say. - What are you talking about?
Well, it's like what Bud Slater said. You've done your share here.
Now you can improve yourself.
How? How can I improve myself? You tell me how. How?
- You could get more respect. - Respect?
You'd be looked up to more, Dad...
- that's what I mean. - What do you mean?
[Sobbing] Dad.
Here, now.
Now let me get this straight.
You're ashamed of me?
Don't pull any punches, now.
Dad.
[Sighs]
Whew.
- Chuck. - Mm?
- You better get some sleep. - I will, I will, I will.
- You're still upset. - Yeah, well, wouldn't you be?
You know, I just don't get her wanting me out of the service so bad.
What has she got against the service?
You liked it.
I picked this life, Chuck. She was born into it.
MAN [Over IC]: Colonel. - Yeah?
- Sergeant Brennan to see you, sir. - Send him in.
Yes, sir.
- Morning, Chuck. - Morning, sir.
- How was your leave? - Good to be away, sir.
I caught you on TV. Congratulations.
Thank you, sir.
Well, if we haven't lost you to show business...
We got a lot to talk about here.
- Cup of coffee? - No.
No, no, sir.
I'm new in the base, Chuck. I got a big job on my hands.
I'm gonna need all the help you can give.
Sir, before you go on...
Well, there's something on my mind I wanna tell you about.
I'm a 20-year man. I'm eligible for retirement and...
Well, I've decided to put in for my discharge.
- Discharge? - Yes, sir.
Wait a minute. What are you talking about?
Flying chiefs with your experience don't grow on trees.
- I'm sorry, sir. - But why?
Why do you want out at a time like this?
Private reasons, sir.
- Has it got anything to do with me? - No.
Well, whatever your reasons are...
I don't suppose there's anything I can say to change them.
Maybe there's something I can show you.
- You know why I was transferred here? - No, sir.
Then you better see for yourself. Come on.
Give me a staff car.
I wanna go out to the end of the runway.
Yes, sir.
What does this look like to you, Chuck?
Well, it looks like you're extending the runway.
That's right.
Gonna be 2 miles long and half again as wide as it is now.
Sixteen inches of new concrete laid on top of the old 11 inches.
Mean anything to you?
Means like maybe you're expecting King Kong.
Practically. Only bigger.
- Hear any rumors? - A few.
Well, it's official now.
We're getting the B-52, right here, first.
- Why, they picked us? - Why not?
What wing would you pick if you were General Tyler?
It's gotta get off on right foot, no foul-ups.
Yeah, that's us.
Those of us who are still here when the bird comes in.
Yeah.
Well, I guess I better get back at the line.
[Engine starts]
So that makes just three months before we receive the first B-52.
After that we've got nine months...
to convert entirely from B-47's to B-52's and be combat-ready.
They must be crazy, the B-52 is twice as big and twice as complex as the 47.
It will be a maintenance headache.
How are you gonna switch in nine months?
We'll make it.
A $9 million airplane, we're gonna prove it's worth every dollar.
If we can prove that, then we can keep it, keep the peace.
That's why I need you, Chuck. What do you say?
I'm sorry, I can't stay.
- After all I told you? - Yeah, you've got other men.
To replace you? Name one.
- Darren McKine. - McKine?
- Yeah. - He hasn't got your experience.
- He's a good man. - He isn't ready yet.
- I need someone who's ready right now. CHUCK: What?
I said I need someone who's ready right now.
Yeah. I still gotta put in for my retirement, sir.
- Is that your final word, Sergeant? - Yes.
Excuse me, sir.
- McKine, how long have they been around? - Just a few minutes.
- They been around any aircraft? - No, why?
CHUCK: How you making out, chief? - Just fine.
How long you been in the fire department?
- Four years. - Four years?
That's a long time, and you haven't learned
how to handle one of those things yet?
- McKine, come here. - Uh...
Wait a minute. What's going on here, huh?
- Ever see this guy before? - First time today.
- Check security on him? - Well, no.
He showed me his pass. It's okay.
Sergeant, I'm afraid you've been going to too many movies.
Yeah, maybe I have. Everything looks okay.
- Who cleared you? Major Greene? - None other. Hehe.
That's what I thought.
Major Greene hasn't been around here in two years.
All right, so I forgot his name, that's all.
Wait a minute.
Grab him!
CHUCK: Hey, hold it!
[Grunting]
I told you, didn't I? Didn't I tell you not to run?
All right, Relax. Relax, no one's been hurt.
Colonel, looks like a security deal.
I'll call air police, get them over here on the double.
All right, get back to work. Come on, on the double, get back to work.
Aah!
Pardon me, but you're sure you don't need help?
No, everything's just lovely.
Why are you rassling? He ain't nothing but a fireman.
CHUCK: Maybe.
Knock it off. You know I'm a penetration agent.
BROOKLYN: Who?
Agent sent by our Air Force to blow us up.
Oh, I get it. Like the war between the states.
Blow us up?
All right, come on. Get up.
Spread-eagle on there.
Look now, Brooklyn.
If he's telling the truth, it's simple, see?
He was sent here in disguise like a fireman, reporter.
Try and to put paper bombs in planes and blow us up.
- Sergeant... - Never mind.
Now, if he did that, it means our defense is weak.
Our security's been penetrated.
We're in the doghouse. You get it?
And then again, maybe he wasn't sent here by our Air Force.
- Sergeant, a joke's a joke. - Never mind, Rover.
We're gonna check your pedigree.
You understand, huh?
[Siren wailing]
- Does it still hurt? - Oh, I don't think it's broken.
You must have hit that poor man awfully hard.
- Why does anyone take work like that? - Well, somebody's gotta do it.
Sorry I belted him like that, but how did I know he was on the level?
Well, at least you could call him. Tell him you're sorry.
I can't, he's on his way to Loring Air Base this morning.
Gonna blow up a couple of bombers there tomorrow.
That's right, that's his job.
Oh.
What did Colonel Herlihy say?
- You mean about the penetration? - No.
- What's the matter? - Orange juice, you always forget it.
Oh. I meant about after you told him you wanted to retire.
Oh. Oh, same old thing.
Herlihy kept pitching to me, but I just refused to go for it.
I told him I wanted out, and that was that.
Oh, see the look on Lois' face when I told her?
I haven't seen her look this happy in a long time.
It wasn't easy asking out, I'll tell you that.
With that new ship coming in, I sure put the boys in a hole.
Well, you could stay on a little longer.
I suppose I could.
Give them a hand while your papers are being processed.
Yeah, I really want to.
- Oh, good morning. - Hi.
- Where's the champagne? - Champagne?
To christen my new car. I'm taking it out and you're both invited.
No, you and Dad go. I'm going to church with the McKines.
- Oh, well, Dad? - Let me get my parachute.
- Hey, what about your breakfast? - You eat it, you need it.
[Radio playing instrumental music]
- Dad, it's a dream. - It won't fly.
Oh, you and your old-fashioned ideas.
Look, someone's got one that won't even move.
CHUCK: Pull up over there.
- Hey, anything we can do? MAN: Yeah, notify Air Rescue Service.
[Chuckles]
Must be someone from the base.
- I better give him a hand. - Okay, Dad.
CHUCK: Hey, what's wrong? MAN: I don't know.
The mechanic who fixed this transmission must have been Jack the Ripper.
- Mind if I take a look? - Not at all.
Tinkering with this thing for half an hour.
I... You got a wrench?
- No, not even Scotch tape. - Just one twist with a wrench...
Glad you came along.
Yeah, there's nothing we can do down here...
You don't mind fixing this thing, do you?
CHUCK [Grunting]: Not at all.
Say, could you see if you've got, uh...?
A wench?
Uh, uh... I mean, a wrench?
Hey, did you win that in Hollywood?
- That's my daughter. - Lovely people, daughters.
Good morning.
Lois, this is Colonel Herlihy.
- How are you? - How are you?
Where you been hiding her? The top-secret file?
Listen, dear, we better go into town and get a tow truck.
You mentioned something about a wrench.
- I don't have a wrench. - Oh, yes, Dad.
- Move over. - We've got one in the back.
In the trunk.
I still wanna know, where's he been hiding you?
Well, I work in town at the bank.
Oh.
Dad talks a lot about his squadron commander.
Yeah? What does he say?
He calls you Casanova with wings.
[Laughs]
Look, we better get off on the right foot.
- I'm Jim to those who know me well. - Well, I don't know you well.
- You will. - No wrench.
I told you. Colonel, you stay right here.
We'll go into town and get that tow truck. Move over.
Oh, Dad, we can't leave the Colonel here alone. I'll drop you off at the garage.
Thanks.
Thank you.
- This is nice. - You like it?
Yeah, it looks...
Looks real good.
Then we made another pass, big nothing.
So we buzz the Riviera again, dropped the chute of nylons.
- And all those girls in their bikinis... - Colonel, the garage.
Oh. Hey, bud. Hey, bud.
[Honks horn]
What do you have to do for service around here?
I don't work here. The mechanic's in the shed.
- Oh. - Oh. Hey, hold it.
Mind if I talk to your father a moment?
- Business? - Of course not.
Is it all right with you?
We'll just be a minute.
I was on my way down to see you when my car broke down.
- I wanted to thank you. - For what?
Provost marshal handed in his report on that security penetration yesterday.
General Acton was mighty impressed.
You saved us from looking like goats.
- I did what anyone would do. - Yeah, but anyone didn't, you did.
Sergeant McKine was caught napping.
Hey, doc, can I see you...?
Be with you when I finish this carburetor.
- Want a drink? - No.
- Lois? - Colonel, about McKine.
LOIS: Oh, no, thanks. - Yeah?
He's just gun-shy about contacting the top brass.
Won't get fooled again.
- A little more experience... - Like you've already got?
Look, Chuck, this TWX just came in...
to send my key-master Sergeants to Boeing for B-52 schooling.
Then to Edwards Air Force Base for the Phase 6 test program.
I was kind of wondering if, um...
Well, you know, your discharge is gonna take a couple of months.
I kind of thought maybe you'd like to go along.
When you get back, you can help indoctrinate your crews.
- No. I don't know. - Just to help us kick this off.
I don't know.
Well, as you say, I've got a little time, but...
Well, I might as well use it helping you and the boys get the B-52 started.
- Okay, I'll go along. - Good.
Wait a minute, how long before you take off for Seattle?
Takeoff time's 0800 tomorrow morning.
[Clang]
What's the matter?
Nothing.
I'll tell them.
MAN: These are pictures of the B-52 Stratofortress.
It's the biggest jet bomber in the world. It can reach any target in the world.
It can fly over 600 miles an hour, over eight miles high...
and over 6000 miles distance without refueling.
On a single mission...
one of these airplanes, just one, can carry greater destructive force...
than that of all the bombs dropped by the Allied Air Forces...
during the whole of World War II.
Now let's talk about this one.
All you have to do here is pull up on this arming lever...
[Thudding]
Squeeze the trigger...
[Machine squeaks]
One big thing to remember, fellows, is this:
Always make sure you pull these safety pins before you get into the seat.
You know what goes into a B-52, and now it's your job to keep it working.
Are there any final questions?
Good. You'll be returning to your home bases tomorrow.
Lots of luck.
[All chattering]
- Excuse me, I'd like to see... HERLIHY: Come on in, Sergeant.
Yeah, I'm coming, sir. What a soft job you've got.
- Just got in. - What did you think of the big bird?
Well, I still can't believe it files.
Would you like to see one go up today?
Where, here?
Got our first from COD three days ago, come on.
SERGEANT: Colonel, there are a few things...
HERLIHY: Later.
- Are you married yet? SERGEANT: Not yet.
Well, what's holding you up?
CHUCK: We got there just in time to see it back out of a hangar.
And I took one good look at it, and I've never seen an airplane like it.
I can hardly wait to get my hands on it.
Well, you will.
For a short time, anyway.
Yeah, for a short time.
Where's Lois?
She'll be home for a minute, then she has to go out again.
She's got a date with Colonel Herlihy.
- Herli who? - Colonel Herlihy.
She's been having a few dates with him while you were away.
She said you introduced them.
I introd...
Now, wait a minute.
He was under the car, and I tried to help.
She...
Do you know that's like going out with an octopus?
- Oh, calm down. - Calm down?
- She's a grown girl. - A...?
Listen, I wouldn't trust him with Whistler's mother.
Grown girl.
[Chuckles sarcastically]
Is he a grown man? Yeah.
CHUCK: Like some beer? EDITH: No, thanks.
CHUCK: Do you know that it is 10:32?
Where did she go with him? Didn't she tell you?
No, she didn't.
[Car passing]
What's come over you?
Lois knows the facts of life.
Sure, she knows the facts of life, old style.
She can handle the birds and the bees. But this guy's a jet job.
Can't you forget what happened in Korea?
It's more than that.
But you said yourself he's a good pilot and a good officer.
That's right, none better.
I don't mind him handling a B-52, but not my daughter.
[Vehicle passing]
[Mutters]
Truck.
- Oh, Chuck. Now, stop stewing. - Truck.
- Come on to bed. - You go to bed.
I'll wait up for her.
Oh, will I give her a piece of my mind. Ho-ho.
- Good night. - Good night.
If I only knew where she is.
Three o'clock.
[Tires squealing]
- Dad. - Hi, Chuck.
Hi.
What are you doing out here at this hour?
Oh, I...
Well, you see, I...
I just thought I'd go to work kind of early this morning.
Oh.
Well, don't you think you better change?
Yeah, I...
Excuse me.
[Door closes]
[Machines running]
If you haven't got any problems, Sergeant, I can give you a few of mine.
Including three new B-52's coming in this week.
- No problems, sir, just two requests. - Yeah?
First, about 4-7. I understand you're taking
her out on a maintenance test flight.
- Affirmative. - Well, I'd like to go along.
Just check, see if the boys have done everything.
If you don't mind four hours at high altitude.
- No sweat, sir. - What's your second request?
My retirement.
- What? - That's right.
I want you to put my papers through.
- You mean right now? - Right now.
The wing's off to a pretty good start and McKine's ready for my job.
McKine's going to the NCO Academy. I got an order sending him.
If he's gonna supervise 15 other crew chiefs...
he can use a little learning about leadership.
Well, I got to admit, it helped me a lot.
He'll be gone two months, Including leave.
Give me those two months. By that time, our squadron will be combat-ready.
Oh, no, I'm moving out of here.
Is there anything bothering you?
Anything I ought to hear?
- Maybe. - Well, let's have it.
[Clanging]
In private.
Come on.
Hey, Stevens, you and your gang take five, will you?
Yes, sir. All right, fellows, knock it off.
Good to see you, Chuck.
Okay, Chuck, what's on your mind?
What I've got to say to you, sir...
is off the record, man-to-man, like we were off the base.
Okay, we're off the base.
I don't like the way you've been running around with Lois.
She's taking it seriously, you're not.
Who says I'm not?
Who are you to tell me what I think or feel?
- I'm her father and that's enough. - It's not enough for me.
Even if you are taking it seriously, I don't like it.
Now, look, Chuck, get off it.
So we haven't gotten along. That doesn't make me a louse.
You see me every day. You know me.
That's right. I know you, and I know your women.
Lois isn't like that. She's my daughter.
And she's not gonna get involved with you.
Doesn't she have anything to say about it?
Not in this case.
Look, let me put it to you this way.
Ever since she was a kid, I'd let her do anything.
Anything at all, anything dangerous, climb the tallest trees.
Only I always stood below. In case she fell, she wouldn't get hurt.
And that's all I'm trying to do for her now.
That's why I want you to stop seeing her.
Now, wait a minute, let me get this straight.
What you're trying to say is, if I stop seeing Lois...
you'll stay in the squadron?
- I might. - You're trying to make a deal with me.
Oh, wait a minute, now. Wait a minute.
I didn't say that, you did.
No dice. I'm not making any deals.
- What kind of a heel do you think I am? - I wouldn't answer that.
- Look... - You're gonna keep on seeing her?
I am, just as long as she wants me to.
If you were a civilian, I'd bust you in the jaw.
Any time you say.
But since you're not, Colonel, here it is.
My discharge papers.
I'd appreciate if you'd put the papers through immediately.
- Is that all, Sergeant? - Yeah.
Yes, sir.
[Door opens, closes]
[Engines whirring]
And raise your selector lever.
- Taxi. - Taxi on crew chief's signal.
Ready to taxi.
Cabin temperature regulator is working fine, sir.
Thanks, Sergeant.
How long before we start heading for home?
Well, we've been out almost three hours.
- What do you say, Sam? - We're heading back in 10 minutes.
What's up, Chuck?
Got somebody waiting for you back at the base?
Not somebody, something.
I want to check on some papers that are being put through.
Castle Tower, Nelson 1-5, over.
[Man speaking indistinctly]
Nelson 1-5, this is Castle Tower reading you loud and clear, go ahead.
Castle Tower, Nelson 1-5 on local test returning to base.
Present position, 50 miles south of the station at 10,000 feet.
Descending en route.
Request landing instructions.
Roger, Nelson 1-5.
Enter traffic upwind leg for Runway 3-0.
Local weather clear. Visibility, 10 miles.
Wind, 12 knots, 310 degrees.
Altimeter setting, 2993.
Call on downwind leg. Over.
Roger, Castle. Nelson 1-5.
Understand, Runway 3-0.
Thank you, and out.
Okay, Sam, let's have the before-landing checklist.
SAM: AC and DC power systems.
Checked and okay.
Fuel systems control.
Set for landing.
Wing flaps.
Going down.
Gear down.
Gear going down.
[Creaking]
Two forward gear fall to extend.
Packs 1 and 2, pressure zero. I'll try the emergency switches.
Still zero pressure. The packs aren't starting.
We're in trouble.
Castle Tower, Nelson 1-5. On downwind leg.
We got gear trouble and we're going around. Standby one.
MAN: Nelson 1-5, Castle tower. Understand.
Gear trouble and you're going around. Please advise nature of your difficulty.
Sergeant Brennan, Packs 1 and 2 are not starting.
CHUCK [Over IC]: I've been listening, Colonel.
Checking through the wiring diagram now.
- It's in the panel along the catwalk. - Get out there, quick.
Thirty-five minutes to dry tanks.
Thirty-five minutes? It's beginning to feel like 35 seconds.
[Switches click]
Castle tower, this is Nelson 1-5.
The two forward gear will not extend on either normal or emergency systems.
We're now checking further.
We have 35 minutes of fuel remaining.
Request alert tanker be scrambled if we wish to declare an emergency.
One-five, out.
On your phone.
Crash alert. Nelson 1-5 overhead, both forward gears stuck.
Thirty-five minutes fuel. Tower, out.
[Sirens wailing]
Find anything yet, Chuck?
CHUCK: It's the master control relay in the forward wheel well.
MAN [Over radio]: Nelson 1-5, this is your alert tanker, Jumbo 4...
ready for contact.
Roger, Jumbo 4. Stand by.
Okay, Sam, get set up for refueling contact.
Roger.
[Switch clicks]
Air refueling master switch on.
Air refueling doors coming open.
Doors aren't opening.
Yeah, that figures.
With packs 1 and 2 out...
we don't have hydraulic power to the air-refill system.
Jumbo 4, Nelson 1-5...
we just found out we're unable to receive fuel.
Thanks for coming up, anyway. One-five, out.
MAN: Roger, 4-7. Understand unable to take fuel.
Will stand by in area.
Well, we're on our own.
If we haven't got fixed by the time we're down to 2000 pounds of fuel...
We'll have to make a belly landing.
I guess there's no alternative.
Crew, this is the pilot.
We have to belly-land. Does anyone wanna bail out first?
- Navigator? - I'll stay.
HERLIHY [Over IC]: Radar.
- Count me in. - ECM?
- I'll belly-land. - Tail gunner?
TAIL GUNNER: I never did believe in parachutes.
- I'm with you. - Line chief?
No sweat, sir.
[Switch clicks]
Castle tower, Nelson 1-5.
We're checking, hope we can correct the trouble.
If we can't, we'll retract the aft gear and belly in on the runway.
We only got three or four minutes of fuel left.
Colonel, I've located the relay. I'm trying to actuate it.
We've run out of time. Close to 2000 pounds.
That's three minutes of fuel left.
I'm gonna bring the ship down.
Chuck, if you can't get to it now, we'll have to go it on our belly.
Come forward.
Okay, Sam, turning in for final approach.
- Bringing the gear up. CHUCK: I think I've got it.
Hit the emergency switch again. Hit it hard.
Hit them again, Colonel. Hit them hard.
[Air hissing]
Castle tower, Nelson 1-5.
Wheels down and locked.
We're on final approach to Runway 3-0.
[Thudding, tires squealing]
Why does Sergeant Brennan want out now? I thought he was going to stay in.
He changed his mind, sir.
You know as well as I do we're gonna stand
or fall on maintenance, on our crew chiefs.
I realize that, General.
When I had Chuck in to congratulate him, I had the impression he wasn't unhappy.
He seemed fully aware of the importance of his job.
Yet here, he wants out.
Why? It doesn't make sense, unless...
Unless there's something personal involved.
I'll be perfectly frank with you, Jim.
I've heard talk, oh, once or twice that you were seeing Chuck's daughter.
- Is that true? - Yes, sir.
She's a fine girl.
My wife thought you made a perfect pair.
I thought so too, sir.
But Chuck didn't?
I'm not gonna pry into this. It's your own affair.
At least, up to a certain point, it's your own affair.
When it gets in the way of the wing, it's our affair.
We can't let anything slow down the job to be done. The job is too big.
We need Chuck. I want you to keep him in.
I could talk to him.
And under certain conditions, he'd stay.
It wouldn't be easy, sir...
Easy or not, I'm gonna count on you...
as squadron commander to find a solution.
I want Chuck in. That's an order.
Yes, sir.
I'll arrange that he stays in.
I don't think you are.
- Hi, family. - Hi, Dad.
- Just get in? - Hi, Chuck.
Oh, hi. Hope you got a big, juicy steak ready.
I can use it.
Boy, eight hours a day adjusting that test panel.
Every time you take it up and take a reading...
something new has to be fixed.
Well, General Tyler thinks it's important...
then it's good enough for...
What's gotten into the both of you?
- Oh, we were just talking. - What about?
Mom, are you sure there weren't any calls?
Honey, I told you, not a call all day.
One more month, baby, and you'll be getting your calls in San Francisco.
- Dad? - Mm-hm?
I want you to be honest with me, okay?
Sure.
Well...
I haven't seen Jim in about three weeks, and I know that you see him every day.
You told me one time that he's got a lot of girls.
Is that what it is?
No, he's just working hard, that's all.
Well, it's that new test panel I was telling you about. General Tyler's baby.
We're all sweating over it.
Tsk. Oh.
That's what it is, huh?
- Yeah, that's what it is. - Oh.
Oh, come on, now. Let's go and have dinner in Merced, huh?
Little music, Relaxation.
- I'll call Brooklyn, tell him to join. - Brooklyn?
- Yeah, Wilbur Stuart. - Oh, yes.
Yeah, always a lot of laughs.
Do us all some good.
[Band playing dance tune]
Then it gets even more exciting.
I yelled at him to close that there throttle
and pull the firewall shutoff switch...
and I told him, "Keep cranking that engine, boy."
I knew we could blow it out. And we did.
He'd simply pulled it out of cutoff too fast.
Even your old man, I mean, the sarge here, Chuck, he agreed.
Which reminds me of another malfunction we prevented.
What did you think of that dance?
I saw something like that when I was stationed in Texas.
I was having trouble with a fuel regulator.
- Was she married? - Ma'am?
Let's dance.
Well, about this fuel regulator.
I knew it didn't work quite right, but I wasn't sure why.
[Inaudible dialogue]
- Can I have the check? - Yes, sir.
- Are we going? - Yep.
Yes, we're going.
I don't know. I just don't get her.
All the way home, like a sphinx. Not one word.
Well, what do you expect?
She hasn't seen Jim in three weeks.
And then to see him like that, with that blond.
Well, to a girl her age, it's like the end of the world.
Oh, wait a minute. Here, honey, let me take that in to her.
- Please. - Sure, go ahead.
[Sighs]
Women. And they say the B-52 is an involved hunk of machinery.
Lois.
LOIS: Yes, Dad?
Your mother thought you might like some hot chocolate.
Thanks.
Oh, wait, I'd better put it over here.
- Dad? - Uh-huh.
I thought you said Jim was so busy with that airplane.
Well, sure, but, well...
Well, you know those Casanovas, you can't keep them locked up for long.
Look, baby, six months from now, you'll for...
No, I'll give you three months.
Three months from now, you'll forget him. There will be a dozen other fellows.
Dad, why don't you stop kidding?
What do you mean?
You're glad Jim doesn't call anymore, aren't you?
- Aren't you? - Look, Lois.
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you.
Answer me, Dad. Please.
Please answer me.
All right.
Yes, I am glad.
Why? What have you got against him?
- Nothing. - Why do you hate him?
I don't hate him. I don't have any use for his kind.
Why? Because he's who he is?
- Oh, now wait. - Because he isn't afraid?
- No, you're a way off base. - Because he's important?
To me, my job is just as important. I'm a Line Chief, and I'm proud of it.
- Line Chief. - Yes, a Line Chief.
I'm working where I can do the most good,
Herlihy would be the first to tell you that.
Have you seen the insides of one of those ships?
You know what we have to do every day...
to see that they stay up and that the crews are safe?
Now, you get this once and for all, young lady.
We gotta keep our ships and our crews ready.
When they're ready, no one will dare lay a hand...
or a bomb on us. Maybe someday...
[Phone rings]
That will keep you and your children alive, if you ever have any.
Dad, you've been against him because he's important and you're not.
- You believe that? - Yes.
EDITH: Chuck, there's a call from the base.
[Door slams]
- Brennan speaking. McKINE: Hi, Chuck, this is McKine.
Can you get over to the base? General Tyler got in.
Yes. I'll be right over.
What is it?
General Tyler got in from Omaha. He's called a Special meeting.
- I've gotta go. - Chuck.
You'll work out everything tomorrow, and everything will be all right.
Yes.
It will.
[Inaudible dialogue]
[Men chattering]
- What's up? - I don't know.
General Tyler has a few words to say to you.
Gentlemen, I have just flown in from SAC headquarters.
I'm a man with a mission.
But before I tell you why I called you together at this late hour...
I wanna remind you once again of the bigger underlying reason.
Now, for centuries, it's been the job of a successful General to win wars.
But in this nuclear-air age...
it's the job of a successful General to prevent wars.
Now, we think that the way to prevent wars...
to deter major aggression...
is through superior long-range nuclear air power.
Poised and ready to take off at a moment's notice.
Now, we've all been working night and day...
to get America's newest and best bomber combat-ready.
We've constantly sought for improvement.
The secret panel you've installed and have been testing locally...
is one such vital improvement.
Now is the time to test that improvement, to test that panel.
Colonel Herlihy, you and your crew have been Selected to make that test.
Your Line Chief has been chosen to accompany the mission...
and take the panel readings.
Your departure will be 0800.
Destination, nonstop, air-refueling, Africa, and back home again.
A 25-hour flight.
Now, gentlemen, this is top secret.
No man is to leave the base or make a call off the base.
I can't emphasize too strongly the importance of this test.
We must know how that panel performs on a sustained flight...
under combat conditions.
Your mission will tell us that.
Bon voyage and good luck.
That's all.
Carry on, gentlemen.
[Chuck grunts]
Poke me when we get to the Dark Continent.
Or better yet, when we get to a filling station.
Roger.
Hey, how long before our refueling rendezvous, Colonel?
Oh, half an hour.
We're meeting the tanker at Bermuda.
Hey, maybe I can get some sightseeing in.
Do your sightseeing on that pinball machine under the tanker's belly.
If we miss, We'll be refueling in the drink.
MAN [Over radio]: Tanker to receiver. You've got it all.
Thanks.
Now if you'll just catch our windshield and leave us some of those green stamps.
Tanker to receiver. After you pay last month's bill, buster.
[Chuckles] Okay.
Next time, I'll try a self-service station.
- All right, ready for disconnect. - Roger.
Disconnecting on the count of three.
One, two, three.
[Thunder crashing]
HERLIHY: Tail from pilot. You still with us?
Colonel, it feels like my old lady shoved me in the washing machine.
Well, we'll be out of this soon.
I hope.
- Brennan, how's the panel holding up? - Still in one piece, sir.
But you'd better tell General Tyler to ground this storm.
HERLIHY [Over IC]: Okay, I'll do that.
HERLIHY: Egypt straight ahead, fellas.
There are the pyramids. Haven't changed a bit.
Let's take one aboard as a souvenir...
to prove we got here and back in record time.
And now, gentlemen, we take you to beautiful Algiers.
Ah. Yes, Algiers.
Come with me to the Casbah, where the intrigue of the East...
meets the rock 'n' roll of the west.
Plenty of girls down there.
Yeah, but, fellas, they're all blind dates.
They wear veils. Hehe.
And now, happier but wearier, we say farewell to mysterious Africa...
and turn our tired footsteps homeward once again.
Well, this test ought to make Tyler happy.
Maybe we'll all get a leave.
Chuck here is gonna take a permanent leave.
- Hey, you really gonna retire, Chuck? - Yeah.
Marciano quit when he was on top.
- What are you gonna do with yourself? - Make money.
[Chuckles]
Take over, Sam.
This is a mission. I guess it's okay to do a little missionary work.
It's quite a gadget.
Sure is.
Yep, gonna be mighty useful on all these planes.
You still gonna walk out after this mission?
After this mission and 20 years.
Why leave now?
We've got the plane we've all been waiting for.
Is it just because of Lois?
It's because someone offered me a better job.
- Better job? - Yes.
There is no better job for you, and you know it.
This is your life, Chuck.
Think it over.
[Switches click]
Castle Approach Control, this is Nelson 4-7, over.
[Ding]
Nelson 4-7, this is Castle Approach. Go ahead.
HERLIHY: Castle Approach Control, this is Nelson 4-7.
Departed San Francisco at 02.
Estimate Castle at 14 past the hour.
Request jet penetration at that time.
Nelson 4-7, over.
[Machine beeping rapidly]
[Machine buzzing]
Jim, the test component's short-circuited.
It's on fire.
HERLIHY: How serious?
NAVIGATOR: Pretty big. The fire is spreading.
Crew, this is the pilot.
Cut off all AC electrical systems. Get on oxygen.
Sam, get down and help them.
I'm going into emergency descent and depressurize.
[Chuck grunting, metallic clanging]
Navigator to pilot. It's hopeless, Jim. It's still burning.
Castle, this is 4-7.
Navigator reports large fire in test boxes against tank wall.
- Stand by. - Crash alert.
Inbound B-52.
Estimated landing, 10 minutes.
[Sirens wailing]
HERLIHY: The fire appears out of control.
We're leveling off at 20,000 feet.
Prepare to abandon.
ECM, don't eject. Go downstairs and bail out.
Tell Weisberg, go out the hatch, he won't have time to get here.
Chuck, you follow him.
NAVIGATOR: Come on, Sam, we're going down the hatch.
Come on, kid, let's go.
[Alarm ringing]
Tail gunner, go now.
All other crew members, eject immediately.
Crew bailed out in the area west of Waller's Ridge at 06.
Exact position unknown.
Nelson 4-7, over.
Are you going to jump?
HERLIHY: Negative.
All air power off except radio.
I'll try to bring it in.
Will keep you advised. Four-seven out.
Roger, Nelson 4-7.
Reading you loud and clear. Am standing by.
Attention, all aircraft, Castle area.
Inbound B-52 in emergency.
Estimate Castle in 10 minutes.
All aircraft, clear area and remain clear until further notice.
Emergency in progress.
What the devil are you doing here? I ordered you to bail out.
Listen, the test panel, I used up all the fire Bottles.
It's still burning.
- Colonel... - Yeah, you're getting out of here.
I'll get out when you get out.
[Coughs]
Sure, Chuck. Sure.
MAN 1 [Over radio]: RADCON advises they have you in positive radar contact...
and will give you a radar-controlled approach.
MAN 2: Nelson 4-7, this is your final controller.
You are two-and-one-half miles from touchdown.
On course, on glide path.
Emergency equipment is in place.
Land straight in on Runway 1-2.
- Do you read? - Roger, GCA.
This is 4-7. I have the field in sight.
Flaps going down.
Four-seven on final approach.
MAN 2: Roger, 4-7. You're cleared to land.
Good luck.
[Sirens wailing]
[Tires squealing]
[Sirens wailing]
Jim.
- You okay? - Yeah, I'm okay.
- The ship? - They'll get it under control.
What happened?
Don't know, something in the test panel.
I'd better get on the long line to headquarters.
- The ship's all right. - We've got to be sure.
Any word about the men, sir?
They've notified Air Rescue Service.
I think they all got down okay. I'm not sure about Brennan.
- He went out over rough country. - Let's get you checked over. Corpsman.
Take him to the flight surgeon.
Bring it up, Joe.
Lois, please, listen to me.
It's not right.
You can't just walk out like this.
At least wait until your father comes home.
Mom, what's the use?
It'd just be the same thing over and over again.
He'll be home in a few hours. You can talk to him.
I talked to him last night, Mom.
It's not gonna do any good.
There's nothing to talk about.
[Doorbell rings]
Just a minute.
Hello, Betty, Dan.
- Hi. - HI.
- Come on in. - Thanks.
- Lois. - Hello, Sergeant McKine.
I hope you haven't dropped in for dinner. We only have enough...
- No, thanks. - Oh, good.
You haven't heard, have you?
Heard what?
Chuck was on that B-52.
He's missing.
What happened?
Coming back from Africa, something happened to the ship.
They all had to bail out.
- Did Dad get out? - Yeah.
After the others.
- Where did it happen? - Up north.
Half an hour from here.
Colonel Herlihy managed to bring the ship in.
Air Rescue's going out to look for the others now.
- He'll be all right, Lois. - I know he will, Mom.
Maybe we ought to go to the base.
MAN [Over IC]: Castle Tower to Flight B.
Colonel Baker requests recheck first search pattern.
Terrain, two miles southeast Waller's Ridge.
Major Weisberg, do you know Mrs. Brennan, Miss Brennan?
Hello.
They couldn't wait home any longer, sir.
I'm sorry about Chuck, but we're going to find him.
Yes, thank you, major.
- Will you please have a seat? - Thank you.
Is Colonel Herlihy here?
Yes. They're all being briefed for another search mission.
They're narrowing it down.
- I'll tell him you're here. - Thank you.
MAN: Major Kane, the mission commander wants you back for a rest, over.
KANE: I wanna take one more swing around. Chuck's gotta be around here.
I wanna pick him up before the MP's do.
Tell the colonel you couldn't get through to me, over.
Okay, well, let's look over here one more time.
[Indistinct radio chatter]
Mrs. Brennan, Lois.
There's no news yet, but don't worry.
Now that the weather's clear, everyone's going out. Air Rescue, SAC.
We're taking out another chopper in a few minutes.
You just stay right here.
Anything I can get you? Coffee?
- No, thanks. - We'll keep you informed.
We're trying to find Chuck before he finds us.
Save him a long walk.
We're gonna find him.
Thanks.
[Men chattering]
Sure you won't have a cup, Miss Brennan?
Oh, no, thanks.
Mom.
- Yes, I'm sure that's the canyon. - Yeah?
Hey, what's that spot on the picture?
Oh, it's a halation. Reflection of some sort.
- Well, isn't that something to go by? - We considered it.
Sent search planes over the area, but they found nothing.
Halation shows up frequently.
Rocks and minerals throwing back light.
It's not on any of the other photographs, though.
Maybe it's a long shot, but I'd like to take a helicopter in there.
It's not that easy, Jim. Captain Dickson will tell you.
You get down in there too close, and you don't get out.
Gusts, depressions.
You crack up on those walls, then we got three men to look for.
We tried everything else.
Look, John, this is something personal.
This is something I have to do.
All right, Jim. Dickson will take you up.
- Ready, Colonel? - Let's go.
I don't see a thing.
Neither do I.
It's getting a little rough.
Yeah, well, there's no use taking any more risk.
I guess we'd better...
- What's the matter? - Some kind of reflection.
Take her back again. Let's have another look.
Roger.
Nothing.
You still wanna stick with it?
That's right. But we'll have to go in on foot.
It's the only way we'll ever find him in that underbrush.
No place to set down on that canyon.
Then set me down on top.
I'll climb below and have a look.
Are you crazy? You can't go in yourself.
I'll call in for a search party.
There isn't time. Look up the canyon.
Heavy fog's beginning to roll in.
If we wait for a search party, we may be too late.
Okay, boss.
HERLIHY [Over radio]: Herlihy to Dickson.
I'm down okay, do you read me?
- Over. - I read you, Colonel.
The fog's beginning to roll in up here. How's the weather down there, over?
I'll try to make it as fast as I can. We'll maintain contact, over and out.
DICKSON: Dickson to Herlihy, Dickson to Herlihy. Over.
Okay, Captain. Over.
The weather's pretty bad up here.
The mission commander has ordered all search aircraft to return to Castle.
We better take off before the weather closes in here completely.
Return at once. Over.
Well, you go on back. I'm staying here.
I've got everything I need. I'll be all right, over.
Dickson to Herlihy. Look, Colonel, there's no time to argue.
Return at once. Over.
Yeah, yeah, and I can't leave him.
Now, you get on back to the base. You got my ground position.
Get back here when the weather clears. Switching off URC-4, over and out.
Chuck!
Chuck.
[Stone tapping]
Chuck.
[Mutters]
All right. Go ahead.
Go ahead.
Okay.
- Want a little more water? - Yeah.
Well, anyway, I got the ship in okay.
They went right over, saw Edith and Lois...
- Colonel. - Yeah?
You're the last guy I expected to see down here.
- Why? - I had you tagged for a... Uh...
- Well, like that time in Korea. - Korea? What do you mean?
I thought you were all for Herlihy, and Herlihy was for himself.
That's right.
You made us targets.
Got one of the boys shot up...
so you could keep a hot date with some babe in Tokyo.
- Is that what you thought? - Yeah, that's what I thought.
Is that what's been bothering you?
- Well, didn't you have a date? - Sure, I had a date.
A real hot date with headquarters in Tokyo.
Found a hidden Red base that had been sending MiGs...
to belt our supply depots.
I tried to radio it back.
I was told it was too important to broadcast.
Might alert the enemy.
My orders were to report it to Tokyo in person that night...
and keep my mission to myself.
That's why I pushed you guys. I was under orders to do it.
- You were under orders...? - Yeah...
[Helicopter whirring]
Wait a minute.
Thank you, sir.
SIMMONS: Go ahead, Chuck.
Well, those 10 lead-in wires to the amplifier selector...
that didn't help much, either.
I figured that's what exploded.
And...
I don't know.
That's about all, sir.
- Have you got everything, Jim? - Yes, sir.
- All right, have that typed up. - Yes, sir.
- George, stay with him on it, will you? - All right, sir.
Thanks, Chuck.
Your report's going to help us clear up a lot of things.
And I'm going to see that you're highly commended for this.
- I know your family's outside waiting... - Sir...
I'd appreciate it if I could speak to Colonel Herlihy first.
Well, of course.
Colonel.
Colonel, I wanted to talk to you first before I saw them.
All right.
Now look, I'm no coward.
I've looked many a MiGs straight in the eye. Messerschmidt too.
But this Lois...
- Lois is all right. - Well, I was wrong.
If you still feel the same way about her...
I sure do, Chuck.
Then you tell her it was her old man who got between you and her.
And that I thought I was doing the right thing.
- And now... - Sergeant, I read you loud and clear.
Excuse me.
- Chuck. - Yes, sir?
A little gift.
Good news for you, bad for us.
We expedited your request for retirement.
Your discharge papers just came through approved.
Oh, Miss Brennan, Mrs. Brennan, this is General Tyler.
- How do you do? Chuck. - How do you do?
- Hi, baby. - Oh, Chuck.
I'll be down at the information desk, Chuck.
I wanna talk to you again before I leave.
Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Hehe-Hehe.
- Hello, Dad. - Hi, baby.
Well, come here. I'm not gonna bite you.
I will, Dad.
- But I gotta tell you. - No, you don't have to tell me.
Yes, I do, yes, I do. I have to.
Dad, I know that when you look at me,
you think I'm a little kid climbing a tree.
But I'm not a kid anymore, Dad.
I'm grown up. I'm all grown up.
So grown up that I can say things that I don't mean.
Things that hurt.
Selfish things, Dad.
[Sniffling]
But if I'm so darn grown up...
maybe I can tell you that I'm wrong.
I know I've been wrong.
- That I'm sorry. - Come here, baby.
Come here, come here.
- Come here, baby. - Oh, Dad.
Come here.
[Sobbing]
It's good to see you, baby.
Oh, Dad.
- Oh, Dad. - Hey, do me a favour, will you?
Give these to the General.
Tell him I'm too young to retire.
Huh? Don't stand there. On the double.
- Come on, on the double. - Yes, sir.
[Both chuckle]
Like they say, honey, the second 20 years are the easiest.
[Laughs] Yeah.
Hey, let's get some light in here.
- Pull up that blind. - All right.
And way up. Way up, huh?
Oh, what a kid, huh?
[Laughs]
- Is that better? - Much better, yes.
- Here, are you through with this? - Well, get rid of it.
- Can I get you anything? - Nothing at all.
- All right. - Hehe.
[Inaudible dialogue]
SERGEANT: All right, let's get them out here.
Get out here, fall in on me. Let's go.
Come on, empty that bus. Move out, Watson, let's go.
- Paul, get out here. - Aye, sir.
Airmen, stand at ease and hear this last word before we go in.
Maybe you won't get rich here. Maybe you won't get famous.
But you've got the biggest job in the world.
Keeping the B-52 combat-ready.
If you men can keep it flying up there, well, like the General says...
we're gonna keep it safe down here.
You got that in your heads?
Okay.
Now let's go in and get a shot in your arm and a shot in your other arm.
Then I'll introduce you to the flight line.
[Airplanes roaring]
[Whistle blows]