THE SPARROW
A Screenplay by Hugh Holub
Copyright 1985,2005 by Hugh Holub
White cloud-filled sky. JANUARY 1943 Supered. A C-47 emerges from the clouds.
CUT TO:
INTERIOR OF PLANE
Rows of men in uniform are sitting in their seats, talking and goofing around. Close in on two of the soldiers: JJ and CHARLES VRABEC. JJ is a burly good old boy in a dishelved uniform with a sack filled with mason jars on the floor in front of him. Vrabec, in his mid 30's, is so average looking he is the only Private in the United States Army Air Force whose uniform fits him perfectly. Vrabec is staring out the window. JJ reaches into his sack, pulls out a mason jar filled with clear liquid, opens it, and takes a long swallow. He nudges Vrabec and offers him the jar.
JJ
Sure you don't want somma the best white lightning this side of
Vrabec shrugs.
VRABEC
No thank you.
JJ
What's eating you, boy. we been on this darned aeroplane for the best part of a day and you ain't hardly said a word. That's downright unneighborly.
VRABEC
Sorry. What part of the South are you from?
JJ
The piney
woods of
VRABEC
A little town
in
JJ finishes off the contents of the mason jar and fishes out another.
JJ
You enlist or was you drafted?
VRABEC
Drafted. I was an accountant and they wanted me last March. But that was tax season so I got a postponement. They got me in May.
JJ
Well I signed up. Wanted to be a pilot. Didn't succeed though. Made me a clerk. What does Uncle Sam have you doing for the war effort?
VRABEC
They trained me to be a P-38 mechanic.
JJ
Figures. Bet you don't know owl poop about fixing them aeroplanes.
VRABEC
I know more than I did a year ago.
JJ
How come you're so unfriendly. If you're
from
Vrabec turns from the window, and looks at JJ for a moment. He points to the sack.
VRABEC
That home brew?
JJ
Made by me very own pappy.
VRABEC
Give me a jar and I'll tell you.
JJ grabs a jar, opens it, and hands it to Vrabec.
VRABEC (cont'd)
To tell you the truth I'm
terrified. This is the first time I've
ever flown on a plane. Since before
being drafted I was never more than about one hundred miles from where I was
born. I had a nice little practice and
was beginning to make a little money.
And then all of a sudden here I am flying over
Vrabec takes a lingering swallow of the moonshine.
JJ
Shucks you and me both and probably everyone else that's been sucked into this goddamned war. Be thankful you ain't in Infantry.
VRABEC
That almost happened. After I reported for induction they loaded us
onto five buses. Outside of San Antone the road forked and three buses went left and the
other two went right. As soon as we
cleared the fork an officer on my bus got up and told us this was our lucky
day. We were headed for
JJ shakes his head, reaches for another mason jar, and hands it to Vrabec.
JJ
Sumbitch. You need this stuff more'n I do. You got cause to celebrate. Maybe that was a good sign. Maybe you're luck'll hold.
VRABEC
I hope so. This might not sound very patriotic but as long as I'm in the Air Force, all I want to do is stay as far away from the fighting as possible, and never be involved with killing anyone.
JJ
I doubt if anyone in uniform would disagree with that. We didn't start this goddamned war. But we gotta do what we gotta do to stop it.
VRABEC
Maybe I can help in some small way in winning the war. But I don't want to fight it. I don't want people shooting at me. I don't want Germans dropping bombs on me. And I don't want to have to shoot back. All the way through boot camp and mechanics school I complained that I was an accountant, and I could be useful doing what I know how to do. And they don't give accountants rifles and send them to the front.
JJ shakes his head no.
JJ
You're wrong on that score. If you'd gotten on the wrong bus you'd be in a trench somewhere right now. And it ain't the Air Force way to put a man in a job he knows how to do. Take me for example. I worked at a little airfield near the farm part-time and I bet I could fix damned never anything with an engine in it. But they got me clerking. I'm supposed to be in Air Services. A shipping clerk. Makin sure this crate from there gets somewhere else. Ain't no justice. But ain't no one gonna be shooting at me, neither. Where you gonna be based?
VRABEC
JJ
An OFFICER starts working his way down the aisle on the plane handing out Survival Manuals.
OFFICER
Get'm while they're hot. We're over the Amazon and you boys will need this to survive if we crash.
He hands Vrabec and JJ copies of the Manual.
OFFICER (to JJ)
Skip all the stuff in the front and just read the last page. That's the only good part.
JJ turns to the last page and starts reading.
JJ
If you lose this survival manual, just remember that whatever the monkeys eat you can eat. If the monkeys are not eating anything, you can eat the monkeys.
Laughter from throughout the plane.
CUT TO:
EXT. C-47 LANDING
CUT TO:
There is a large sign hanging on
the wall that reads "WELCOME TO BELEM, BRAZIL, ARMPIT OF THE
UNIVERSE". The room is filled with
lines of soldiers waiting to present their papers to a row of bored looking men. There are ceiling fans slowly turning, but
everyone is covered with sweat. On the
remaining three walls are large maps showing air routes from the
TO
Next.
Vrabec hands him his orders.
TO
P-38 mechanic.
The TO stamps Vrabec's order twelve times quickly
VRABEC
How so, sir?
TO
We'll have you on a plane for
VRABEC
What's lucky about that?
TO
Could've assigned you to a ship. Next one is in a month. Takes 16 days to get across. Next.
JJ sidles up to the counter and drops his orders in front of the TO. He has to gently push Vrabec aside.
TO
Clerk.
JJ
Nope.
TO
Gotta good reason why I don't put you on the boat?
JJ reaches down into his duffel and pulls out a jar of moonshine.
JJ
Straight from the mountains. The best lightning in the south.
TO
Got any more where that came from?
JJ
You got a plane?
TO
Just say when.
JJ hands him the jar and grins. The TO opens it, takes a swig, and smiles back. JJ holds up the duffel and jiggles it.
TO
I say when once a week to keep your options open.
JJ
Deal.
Vrabec is standing in front of the same TO.
TO
Next. Oh you again. No plane. Come back tomorrow.
VRABEC
But I've got to get out of here!
TO
What's wrong? You don't like
VRABEC
Anything I can do to expedite my ride?
TO
Now that you've gotten smart like your buddy, what'd you bring from the states?
VRABEC
Just what the Air Force let me.
TO
Tough luck. Next.
INT. CANTINA. THAT NIGHT.
The Cantina is a low budget
operation, with War Bonds posters, American flags, and other decorations on the
walls indicating the owners are tying to attract the maximum number of U.S.
servicemen to their bar. The room is filled with
JJ
How's the world treatin' you?
VRABEC
Terrible. There's nothing to do except eat, sleep, drink, and swat mosquitoes. What've you been doing?
JJ
Found me a nice little Brazilian
girl and been shacking up with her. Name's
VRABEC
The way they run the transportation system, we could be stuck here for the rest of the war.
JJ
Suits me fine.
VRABEC
I almost wish I was in the Infantry. At least there'd be some excitement. Almost, but not quite.
JJ
Remember that Survival Manual?
JJ pulls his copy from his back pocket and lays it on the table.
JJ (cont'd)
How about us hunt some of them fierce monkeys? They did issue you a rifle?
Vrabec nods yes.
JJ
And unless you're some kind of
strange person, I'll bet you hunted some when you were back in
VRABEC
Deer mostly.
JJ
How about trying to shoot us some monkeys?
VRABEC
Why the hell not.
EXT. JUNGLE. DAY.
Vrabec and JJ shoot at monkeys and miss.
JJ
Fast little rascals aren't they.
VRABEC
A thousand rounds of ammo and we haven't hit one.
JJ
No one ever said a tommy gun was a precision tool. Let's try again tomorrow. Maybe we can round up some of the other strandees for some help.
EXT. JUNGLE. THE NEXT DAY.
Ten SOLDIERS are prowling through the jungle, sporadic shooting into the trees.
SOLDIER
JJ. I thought you said killing these monkeys would be easy.
JJ
We just don't have enough troops. Let's try tomorrow with some more help.
EXT. JUNGLE. THE NEXT DAY. SUNSET.
A hundred tired soldiers are sitting around a campfire swapping stories.
JJ
Vrabec, we're doing something wrong. We ought to be glad the damned Germans don't live in trees. We'd never win this war.
DARKNESS FALLS.
The jungle is alive with monkey sounds. The men are still sitting around the campfire. The eyes of the monkeys are reflecting the campfire light.
VRABEC
Are those monkey eyes?
JJ
The sum bitches are laughing at us.
VRABEC
You ever go coon hunting in
JJ
Yep. Went out with dogs and lanterns and treed'em. Shot'em out of the trees by the lights of their eyes. They'd freeze in the light. Easy pickens.
VRABEC
Are those monkey eyes?
He points all around.
JJ
You're absolutely right my friend. Men! Listen up. We just figured out how to kill us some monkeys and go home victors. Very carefully pick up your weapons.
The men rustle around and pick up their machine guns.
JJ
Point them at the eyes in the trees.
The men point their guns.
JJ
Fire!
The scene explodes in gunfire and howls. Dead monkeys start falling all around them. Then there is silence and the men stare at the monkey bodies.
JJ
Think we ought to tell them to re-write their survival manual.
(chorus of no's)
JJ
Gather up the kill. There's monkey meat on the menu tonight.
EXT.
The monkey hunters come marching down the street, with poles holding ten or twelve monkeys each. Crowds of people are lined up along the street, cheering the men as they march by.
INT.
TO
You again.
VRABEC
What's it gonna take to get me a flight?
TO
How much cash do you have?
VRABEC
Will $200 get me to
TO
Nope. But it'll get you to Ascension and that's
half way. Make yourself obnoxious once
you get there and they'll get you a lift to
VRABEC
Deal.
Vrabec hands over the money.
TO
Your flight leaves in 2 hours. Next.
INT. CABIN OF A C-47.
Vrabec is sitting amidst cages of cats. Hundreds and hundreds of cats. He goes to the cockpit and sits down in the empty co-pilot's chair. The PILOT is playing a harmonica.
VRABEC
Aren't you supposed to have a co-pilot?
PILOT
You mean you can't fly? I paid good money to that goddamned TO for a good co-pilot on this run. What the hell are you?
VRABEC
An accountant.
PILOT
Judas Priest! Fifteen hundred miles of ocean I've got to fly over by myself.
VRABEC
What're all the cats for?
PILOT
Ascension Base. Seems they've got a big problem with a bunch of goddamned birds nesting at the end of the runway. They call'em Wideawake birds.
VRABEC
How come?
PILOT
Every time a plane takes off its scares the birds and they fly up in front of the plane. Keeps the pilots wide awake. We've been crashing planes because of the birds.
VRABEC
And the cats are supposed to kill the birds?
PILOT (singing)
I know an old lady that swallowed a bird...
The sound of an enormous cat fight is heard in the background.
VRABEC
So they'll have to import dogs to get rid of the cats if the cats get rid of the birds.
PILOT
Right. The Air Force way. I'm glad I never saw the spiders they brought in the birds to kill. You know what beats all? I'm allergic to the goddamned sons of bitches. (sneezes).
VRABEC
The Air Force?
PILOT
The friggin cats. And the little rascals get air sick. This is my third load. Two thousand goddamned cats they want. Cleaned out every pound in the south.
VRABEC
Are the cats working?
PILOT
Nope. The goddamned birds are killing them. Or they're swimming back to
A cat crawls up into Vrabec's lap.
VRABEC
Nice little kitty.
PILOT
Get your ass out of my cockpit. (sneezes).
EXT. ASCENSION ISLAND 4 DAYS LATER.
There is not one stick of vegetation in sight, just the runway, volcanic ash, and an enormous number of birds nesting at the end of the runway and flying about. A group of officers and enlisted men are standing at the edge of the bird nesting area talking with an elderly man in a suit and wearing glasses - the BIRDMAN.
BIRDMAN
So you see, if we crush all their eggs, they'll decide this isn't the best place in the world to nest and they'll move somewhere else.
OFFICER
You're the ornithologist, so you want us to do what?
BIRDMAN
Get everyone on the island out here, and stomp their eggs.
EXT.
Out of the fog covering the
runway comes marching everyone on
A small room with a single desk. The Transportation Officer is playing with a bird egg. Vrabec approaches the Transportation Officer's desk. He is still covered with feathers and bird poop.
VRABEC
Did it work?
TO
Not a Wideawake in sight. Thanks for the help. Where you headed?
Vrabec hands him his orders.
VRABEC
TO
If you don't mind flying shotgun on a B-24 you'll be out of here at dusk.
VRABEC
Just so's the pilot doesn't expect me to fly the plane.
TO
Not to worry. It's a ferry. The plane is going to the British up in
VRABEC
What if we go down?
TO
Tough luck. Standing orders are no search and rescue between here and the African coast. Trying to get the worthless Navy to send some destroyers down to chase off the Germans, but they're too busy up north. Report here at 1600. And here's a momento of your stay at exotic Ascension.
The TO hands Vrabec a medal.
VRABEC
What's this?
TO
The boys in the machine shop knocked off some combat medals commemorating our battle with the Wideawakes. Wear it with pride.
The medal looks like a regular combat medal, only there is a bird engraved on the face of the bronze medallion. Vrabec pins the medal on his uniform and leaves.
CUT TO:
INT. AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND HEADQUARTERS OFFICE.
GENERAL JONES' office is large,
with a desk at one end piled with paper and looking like a pile of raked
leaves. At the other end is a conference
table. The walls are covered with
plaques and photos of the General's career.
In one corner is a
This ATC of yours is a holy
mess. We've got men and planes stacked
up all over the world. I hear we have
more of our boys down at
JONES
I've got two problems you can help me with. First is my command is subordinate to the Regular Army. The local commanders just take our planes for their own projects and foul up our system. The second problem is I need 60,000 more men.
How about this... effective immediately the ATC reports directly to the War Department. That means me. Your operations will be totally independent of the rest of the Air Force and the Army to boot. You report to me and I report to the Joint Chiefs. Below you no one outside your chain of command has one goddamned thing to say about what you do.
JONES
Can you get away with that?
Yep. The Navy still hasn't figured out what an
airplane can do. You'd think they'd've gotten to that one after
JONES
I like the way you think.
You were president of your own
airline company and you wrote
JONES
How about a couple of destroyers?
Franklin sits down as if the air had been let out of his body.
FRANKLIN
Remember the word reasonable. Why do you need destroyers?
JONES
My people report German U boats are sinking all the shipping that supplies our bases in Africa, and they pretend they're downed planes and sucker our planes for a looksee, and shoot them down. We're losing a plane a day off the coast of Africa.
FRANKLIN
Can't your goddamned pilots tell a sub from a plane wreck?
JONES
Not at night when they see an emergency flare.
FRANKLIN
Tell them to ignore the flares.
JONES
We have. But that still doesn't solve the problem of our supplies getting sunk.
FRANKLIN
I'll ask Admiral King for some destroyers. He'll say no. Then I'll give orders for you to do what you have to and stop this crap. The Navy wants to start its own Air Transport command.
Franklin pauses, then smiles.
FRANKLIN (cont'd)
If you don't get your destroyers I'll tell King we're going to start our own damned Navy. Think you could pull that off?
JONES
Let me understand something. You give me the authority to solve my problems and you don't ask questions how I do it, right?
FRANKLIN
As long as you don't steal the Air Force. Right.
JONES
And you back me to the hilt if the shit hits the fan?
FRANKLIN
You get me an air transport system that works and I'll stand in front of the fan.
JONES
I think I 'm going to enjoy this little vacation from running my own airline.
Franklin starts walking out the door of the office, then pauses.
FRANKLIN
You can take a lousy officer and no amount of training will make him a good officer. But you can take a good civilian and make him into a good officer. You give me my airline and prove the military worth of air transport in this war, and you're going to have a lot more to do running your own company once this war is over.
Jones stands and salutes using his left hand.
FRANKLIN
After this war, airplanes are going to be as important for transport as trains and boats are now. And goddammit you salute with your right hand.
Franklin salutes him back and leaves the office. Jones calls his SECRETARY into his office. She walks in.
JONES
New orders. To all ATC base commanders. If any personnel are encountered who do not have orders capable of immediate execution invite them to join the Air Transport Command if they are not already assigned to an ATC unit.
INT. OPS OFFICE ACCRA BASE. NEXT DAY.
Vrabec reports for duty and is shunted to the office of CAPTAIN WATERS, local commander of the ATC. Waters is wearing a regular Air Force uniform, but with a Pan American hat. All around men are painting out the words Pan Am on everything in sight, and painting ATC over. Waters is a small, gnomish looking man about 38.
WATERS
Vrabec, Private Charles A. P-38 mechanic. Don't have any P-38's to fix here. Anything else you can do?
VRABEC
Well... I was an accountant before being drafted.
WATERS
Can you count airplanes?
VRABEC
I suppose so.
WATERS
Here's the offer. I send you up north to a P-38 squadron operating out of Egypt. Or you can join the ATC.
VRABEC
The what?
WATERS
Air Transport Command. The miserable outfit that flew you over. How long did it take? Two weeks? A month to get from the states?
VRABEC
How close to combat do I get?
WATERS
How far away do you want to be?
VRABEC
The current range of the best bomber the Nazis have is 1,300 miles. Fourteen hundred would be nice.
WATERS
You'll be stationed right here. Last report puts us about 1,900 miles from the shooting. You'll be in charge of plans, forecasts, scheduling, and anything else I tell you.
VRABEC
I am a private.
WATERS
Not now you're not. As of this moment you're a Staff Sergeant. If you want, I'll get you commissioned in a couple of months. You want to be a Second Lieutenant?
VRABEC
Not really. I've figured out the average life span of a Second Lieutenant and it's not good.
WATERS
You like to figure things out? Good. There's lots to play with here. Report to Sergeant Johnson and he'll fix you up for quarters, process you in. Report to the Situation Room at 0 700. The first order of business for the day is how many airplanes we have in route from Homestead to India. Be ready with an answer when you report in.
INT. TENT.
Vrabec is unpacking his gear. JOHNSON, a Black, is briefing him about base operations.
JOHNSON
... and as far as creature comforts are concerned there are none. The best we can offer is Abdulh's saloon in town, the best whiskey the black market can provide, and if you can get on the good side of one of the British, you can to go their horse races.
VRABEC
I've got a question. Isn't the Army supposed to be segregated?
JOHNSON
It sure is. When Captain Waters dragooned me into this outfit, some of the Regular Army complained to Washington. Waters countered and pointed out this whole damned country is black, so what the hell. You're from the south, aren't you?
VRABEC
South Texas.
While Vrabec is talking to Johnson he is putting up a map of Africa on the tent pole. He draws a red line on the map in North Africa where the fighting continues. He then puts a tiny little figure on the map over Accra.
JOHNSON
Just what I need. Another rednecked bohunk.
VRABEC
I don't care for the term.
JOHNSON
Red-neck or bohunk? OK. Just don't let me hear the word "nigger" ever pass your lips and we'll get along fine.
VRABEC
What'd Waters want you for?
JOHNSON
I was assigned to Air Services. Supplies. It doesn't hurt to have someone around who knows where everything is, and how to get it, legal or otherwise. What are you supposed to be doing?
VRABEC
Counting airplanes. Schedules. Plans. I used to be an accountant.
JOHNSON
Good. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Say what's the medal you're wearing?
VRABEC
Combat. I helped kill birds over on Ascension.
JOHNSON
I think we're going to get along just fine. Here's a present from the good Captain.
Johnson hands Vrabec a bottle of Black & White scotch.
VRABEC
Where the hell did you get that? There's supposed to be nothing getting in or out of Britain these days due to the subs.
JOHNSON
Just remember, this little old black face can make nice things happen.
VRABEC
All right. Tomorrow morning I have to tell Captain Waters how many planes we have en route. How do I find that out?
JOHNSON
Check in with me a few minutes before you report and I'll have the dope.
VRABEC
What's this little favor going to cost?
JOHNSON
You said you'll be involved with schedules. Just let me know when you've got a passenger flying on secret orders, and this little dump of a base will get lots more comfy for you real quick. Say, what's the map and the little man all about?
VRABEC
Just keeping track of how far from the front I am.
INT. ATC SITUATION ROOM. NEXT MORNING.
The Situation Room is cluttered with desks. Three walls are covered with shingles of weather reports, orders and other papers. The fourth wall has clocks telling the time in Iowa, Belem, Accra, Cairo, Tehran, Assam, and China. In the center of the room is a table with the world from Florida to India on it, and tiny little planes scattered along the marked air routes. One little plane has a white star pinned to it. Waters is yelling at LT. CHASE. Chase is Life Magazines' image of a combat pilot. Vrabec is counting the little airplanes on the table.
WATERS
Who gave you authority to order a C-47 on a mission? Where's the damned plane going?
CHASE
It'll just fly around the base for a couple of hours. At 12, 000 feet. We loaded it up with beer so we could cool it down for the General and his staff.
EXT. C-47 CIRCLING
INT. C-47
Crew is drinking beer. Cargo area is stacked to the ceiling in cases of beer.
INT. SITUATION ROOM.
CHASE
It isn't every day the Commanding General of the ATC comes and visits.
A Regular Army Colonel storms into the Situation Room. COLONEL DROSS is a silver-haired, impeccably dressed, West Pointer. His face is beet red.
DROSS
How is it we have a General due to arrive in a few minutes and no one bothers to tell me, the Base Commander of this event.
WATERS
He's our general. ATC. Not yours.
DROSS
I don't care whose general he is. When's the Honor Guard going to form up? How come your men aren't in dress uniforms? How come there isn't a jeep ready with a star on it? Where is the detail that is going to meet him on the runway?
WATERS
He's just stopping in to pick up some fuel, take a leak, and head over to Belem. I'm going out to meet him. I'll probably take my new recruit Vrabec along.
CHASE
Me too.
WATERS
And Lt. Chase.
DROSS
No you're not. I'm going to handle the meeting.
WATERS
Begging your pardon. The ATC is not in your jurisdiction. The general is mine. Go back to your office.
DROSS
I'll have your court marshalled!
Dross storms from the Situation Room. Vrabec pushes the little plane with the star on it to Accra.
WATERS
That's the 124th time he's threatened to throw me in irons. He just won't get the message that we're no longer subordinate to his command authority.
JOHNSON
(to Vrabec) The ATC is processing paper to promote Waters to Bird Colonel so he'll outrank Dross.
VRABEC
Is Waters regular military?
JOHNSON
Nope. He was the boss of the Pan Am operation here. The ATC took over the Pan Am base and offered him two choices. First he could be sent home and drafted into the Infantry. Second he could stay right here, take a commission, and do pretty much as he always did. A lot of the staff are former Pan Am people.
VRABEC
Item 27 on today's orders is secret. How come you want to know this?
JOHNSON
You're classified confidential. The summary of orders is confidential. When someone's flying through on a secret mission, we're not supposed to know who they are, what they're carrying, or where they are going.
VRABEC
How can I make schedules and plan this operation if we've got people flying around and we can't know what's going on?
JOHNSON
Sometimes it's a whole plane. Or several planes. We just give them MEMT and ESPIO and send them on their merry way?
VRABEC
MEMT?
JOHNSON
Most Expeditious Means of Travel. ESPIO means Exigencies of the Service Precludes Issuing Written Orders. We just pretend like they don't exist.
VRABEC
How is this useful to you?
JOHNSON
Someone shows up and says they're Item 27 on today's orders which are secret, and who knows whether they are for real or not. Only problem is when two show up claiming the same orders.
VRABEC
And one of them might be yours?
JOHNSON
You want a silk suit from Hong Kong? Perfume from Occupied France?
VRABEC
Jesus Christ.
JOHNSON
Every passenger is allowed 40 pounds of baggage. For a small fee, some folks will carry anything. Uniforms you can get anywhere. But a Norwegian Ham?
VRABEC
This sounds seriously illegal.
JOHNSON
It is. But most of the stuff is for officers. Chase makes the arrangements. He's trying to curry some favor higher up and get transferred to Washington. I just help him out.
VRABEC
The beer upstairs being cooled?
JOHNSON
The general's favorite direct from the states. Budweiser.
VRABEC
Certainly he doesn't need a whole plane load.
JOHNSON
Of course not. But are you going to turn down a chance to drink a few bottles of cold beer in a country that doesn't have one single refrigerator.
EXT. RUNWAY.
General Jones' plane lands. Waters, Vrabec, Chase and Dross meet Jones as he gets off the plane. The C-47 with the beer taxies up, and the crew rushes over with armloads of cold beer. Jones nods as beer is loaded onto his plane. Vrabec is wearing his Ascension Island bird medal.
JONES
Captain Waters I presume.
WATERS
Staff Sergeant Charles Vrabec, Lieutenant Chase at your service.
DROSS
Colonel Dross, base commander.
Dross stands at attention, saluting. Jones ignores him.
JONES
Get me to a head quick.
WATERS
At your service.
All but Dross climb into a jeep and drive off towards the base. Dross continues to stand at attention, saluting, as Waters, et al., drive away. He finally throws his hat to the ground, muttering.
DROSS
I'll get those bastards if it's the last thing I do.
INT. JONES' PLANE
Jones and his STAFF AIDE are opening bottles of beer.
JONES
Did you notice something funny about that Sergeant with the foreign name?
STAFF AIDE
Vrabec. He was wearing some kind of medal I've never seen before.
JONES
It had a bird on it. Put Intelligence on it.
STAFF AIDE
Yes sir.
JONES
Who provided the cold brew?
STAFF AIDE
The Lieutenant. Chase.
JONES
Old man Wannamaker's son-in-law. I remember now. Wanted the prick sent to the most god awful base we had and kept there. Enterprising chap. He keeps this sort of thing up we'll have to reconsider.
INT. HANGAR AT ACCRA BASE
The entire ATC staff is gathered in the hangar, listening to a lecture from MAJOR GREEN of Intelligence. Green looks like a weasel.
GREEN
The Germans don't need spies. All they need is to read your mail.
He waves around a handful of letters.
GREEN
You write your moms or your girl friends back home and you tell them where you are, what you're doing, how many planes we have, and what kind of planes we have. The Germans would kill for information like this.
He throws the letters to the hangar floor and stomps on them.
GREEN
Do we have to sit in our offices with crayons and scissors removing all war related information from your letters? Do we have to waste our valuable time reading your letters? No. We can just throw all your letters into a fire. And that's exactly what we're going to do if the content of your letters home doesn't improve.
INT. ATC SITUATION ROOM. ACCRA. THE NEXT DAY.
The ATC staff are gathered around the bulletin board. Someone has posted a "SUGGESTED FORM LETTER HOME".
VRABEC
(reading) Greetings. After leaving where we were before we left for here, not knowing we were coming here from there, we could not tell if we would arrive here and not there.
The weather here is just as it is at this season, but of course, quite unlike the weather where we were before we came here. After leaving by what we came by, we had a good trip.
The people here are just like they look, but do not look to be like they were where we came from. From there to here is just as far as it is from here to there.
The way we came here is just like everybody comes from there to here. Of course, we had to bring everything we had with us, for we wear what we would wear here which is not like what we would wear there. The whole thing is quite a new experience here, because it isn't like it is where we were before we left for here.
It is time now, in all probability, to stop this somewhat too newsy letter before I give away too much information as the censor here is likely to be a spy.
The ATC crew dissolves in laughter. They are all seen writing letters home, using the form.
INT. GERMAN INTELLIGENCE COMMAND OFFICE
Several German intelligence officers are pondering on an enormous pile of letters they have intercepted, all of which the same--the form letter.
1ST GERMAN OFFICER
Vas is diss?
2ND GERMAN OFFICER
Is a new code, no?
1ST GERMAN OFFICER
Put our best men on it. Ve must break this new code immediately.
INT. SITUATION ROOM. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER.
Waters is pacing around the room, complaining. A woman in AAF uniform is standing at attention in the doorway, PRIVATE SHALE. She is in her late 30's or early 40's. The combination of her blonde hair, tanned complexion, her khaki uniform, and the feline grace in her movements make her seem like a cougar on two legs.
WATERS
How can they do this to me? Send me a goddamned woman out in the middle of nowhere to serve as my secretary. I thought women were supposed to only have the state-side posts.
Shale and Waters start stalking each other, arguing from opposite sides of the room. Everyone else has stopped what they were doing.
SHALE
I wanted to fly the ferries, but they said I was too old. I've won a lot of air races, and I hold the speed records for 100 miles. I'm also a very good friend of General Jones'.
WATERS
So you pulled rank and got assigned here.
SHALE
I would've preferred England, but here is where I am and here is where I'll stay.
WATERS
What'd you score on your service aptitude test?
SHALE
Perfect score.
WATERS
What were you before you enlisted?
SHALE
Professor at Oregon State University.
Waters stops moving.
WATERS
(surprised) And you're a private?
SHALE
I'm told you can arrange rather swift promotion in the ATC.
WATERS
You're a private. You'll stay a private. Anytime you want a transfer out of here just ask and you're gone.
CHASE
But she's a friend of General Jones'.
WATERS
I don't care if she was Roosevelt's daughter. She's a woman. She's the only woman on this goddamned base.
JOHNSON
You're forgetting the native women who...
Waters shoots Johnson an angry glare and interrupts him.
WATERS
They don't count. All right. Johnson, fix her up. Separate quarters. Jesus Christ. Get her a separate john.
SHALE
(grinning) You don't have to go out of your way for me.
WATERS
Get out! Christ, I hope she can type.
Shale pauses in the doorway as she leaves.
SHALE
120 words a minute. And I can probably drink you all under the table if given a chance.
WATERS
(to Vrabec) Good. Take her to Abdulh's tonight and give her the chance. Maybe I can have her court marshalled and sent home.
EXT. ABDULH'S. NIGHT.
A patio overlooking the beach, trellises covered with flowering vines; card tables, filled with American soldiers in uniforms and British gentlemen dressed in white tropical suits, the saloon is run by a 40'ish Arab named ABDULH, who spends most of his time sitting at various tables with his patrons. Abdulh is a dashing handsome man who looks like he is the Sultan of Arabia. Vrabec, Johnson, Chase, Waters and Shale arrive. All are looking happy except Waters.
ABDULH
You wish an ocean-side table? And what is this? Allah what a fine looking woman. You have women in your air force?
WATERS
Ocean-side. Beers all around except for me. I'm witnessing tonight.
ABDULH
Witnessing what?
WATERS
The prompt departure of Private Shale.
ABDULH
She looks like the lioness of the desert.
SHALE
And I'll bite your goddamned head off if we don't get something to drink immediately.
ABDULH
And she has the sting of the scorpion. Perchance are you married?
SHALE
Beer. And no I am not.
ABDULH
I think I may be in love.
Abdulh leaves, and the group sits down.
VRABEC
You ever have a fantasy of marrying a desert prince?
SHALE
Yes.
VRABEC
Now's your chance.
Waters starts laughing. The rest join in.
SHALE
You don't mean?
Abdulh returns with the beer. It is cold Budweiser.
ABDULH
I am not familiar with the customs of your country. Captain, you would be like her father since you are her commanding officer, is this not true?
WATERS
True.
ABDULH
In my country when a man wishes to ask for the hand of a woman in marriage, he must beseech the womans' father and offer many goats and camels in exchange for permission to marry her. Since you are acting in the capacity of her father, might I interest you in a dozen goats and three camels?
Shale chugs her beer, and takes one from in front of Chase and drains that one.
SHALE
What is going on here?
WATERS
Thirty goats and four camels and she's yours.
SHALE
Now wait a minute.
CHASE
Make it three dozen goats, four camels and a pound of gold.
ABDULH
I do not have that much gold. A dozen camels maybe?
SHALE
Not as long as you live. More beer.
The men at the table break into laughter. Shale scowls at them. Abdulh leaves to fetch more beer.
EXT. ON A HIGHWAY LATER THAT NIGHT.
The group is weaving down the middle of the road in a jeep. Waters is passed out in the back. Shale is driving. She is the only one who looks remotely sober. Chase and Vrabec are arguing about how much a camel is worth.
SHALE
I can't remember whether you're supposed to drive on the right side or the left side of the road.
VRABEC
This is a British colony. The left is the right and the right is the left.
CHASE
Drive down the middle of the road, and swerve left if anything is coming at you.
JOHNSON
Forty-eight goats and two dozen camels. For an Arab that is a princely sum for a woman. He could buy cheaper ones just about anywhere in Africa.
SHALE
I'm not for sale.
VRABEC
Poor Abdulh, his heart was broken. He is a prince, you know.
Shale stops the jeep.
SHALE
Get out. All of you. You can walk back to the base and sober up. Goats and camels. Like I was some kind of chattel.
She drives off leaving Vrabec, Johnson and Chase standing in the middle of the road. Waters is lying face down on the pavement. They pick him up and start carrying him down the road.
INT. VRABEC'S TENT. A FEW NIGHTS LATER.
Vrabec and Waters are sitting amidst piles of empty coconut shells, busy chopping the tops off fresh ones, pouring rum into them, and drinking the contents.
WATERS
An old native trick I learned. The coconut milk lines your stomach and you can drink to excess and survive.
VRABEC
Practicing for your next run at Shale?
WATERS
Goddamned woman. She's so goddamned competent I probably would be making a big mistake getting rid of her. Between your straightening out all the plans and schedules and her ability to do damn near anything, this operation is humming.
VRABEC
Something I've been meaning to ask you about...
WATERS
Johnson no doubt.
VRABEC
Are you aware of how big a black market operation he's running. And he's using our planes.
WATERS
I know about it. And so does the brass. As long as the planes fly, and the cargo they're supposed to be carrying gets where it's supposed to go, they ignore him. "Good for morale," they say. Have you heard about his newest caper?
VRABEC
Something to do with cattle.
WATERS
Nigeria is cattle country. Sort of like Wyoming. He's made a deal with the natives, and our planes are stopping at Kano and picking up beef. Steak is now on the menu at every officer's mess in Africa.
INT. C-47 FILLED WITH CATTLE
The plane is being piloted by the same pilot who flew the cats. Background sound is cows mooing.
PILOT
(singing) I know an old lady who swallowed a cow...
INT. ATC HQ. IN WASHINGTON.
General Jones is listening to a report from Major Green, Intelligence, on Vrabec.
GREEN
The bird medal was given to him by the men stationed on Ascension. Vrabec participated in the destruction of the Wideawake bird nesting grounds. This Vrabec is something of a numbers genius and has had a lot to do with all the African operations of the command improving so much. He's even memorized every telephone number on the base. But, the whole command is riddled with civilians who snub their noses at military protocol. I have 37 reports from a Colonel Dross requesting all the ATC personnel be court marshalled for various offenses including running a black market operation.
JONES
That would be Lieutenant Chase and his steaks. Did you know that ATC in Africa is knows as "The Outfit that Delivers"?
GREEN
Vrabec is from Ganado Texas, and his family are Czech. The word "Vrabec" means sparrow. His father is chairman of the county war bonds committee. They don't speak much English, but they're very strongly anti-German. Vrabec had a successful accounting practice before the War. The IRS has a great deal of respect for his abilities. He was originally drafted and put on a bus headed for Fort Bliss Infantry School. He changed buses at a lunch stop, and ended up in the Air Force. Trained in Santa Monica as a fighter mechanic. Ordered to Accra, and the ATC grabbed him.
JONES
Sounds like he landed in the right place.
GREEN
In my opinion, Dross is probably right, and something ought to be done about the whole bunch at that base.
JONES
Don't fix what isn't broke. Strange as those people may be, they're turning the ATC into a first class world-wide operation. After the war, airplanes are going to be just as important for transportation as boats and trains are now. Keep track of them. And report to me if they do something seriously out of line. But as long as those planes are flying on schedule, leave them alone. And keep me up to date about Vrabec. We might need his unusual abilities in the future.
FADE OUT:
INT. SITUATION ROOM. AUGUST 1943.
Waters is standing in front of the base supply officer's desk. CORPORAL KARP, a bespeckled clerk, has two baskets with signs on them that read "SUNK" and the second "NOT SUNK YET". The "SUNK" basket is overflowing with papers. The "NOT SUNK YET" basket has one page in it. The rest of the ATC staff are standing around.
WATERS
What's the status of our fuel shipment Corporal?
KARP
Just got word. U-boat got it off Dakar.
Karp takes the invoice for the fuel from the "NOT SUNK YET" basket and drops it into the "SUNK" basket.
KARP
Sunk. Along with everything else this month. If it doesn't come by air, it doesn't come.
WATERS
Johnson, can't you get us some fuel? We can't run this damned airline without gas.
JOHNSON
I've gotten all there was in the country from the British. Had to trade them several plane loads of ammunition for the gas.
VRABEC
So that's where the ammo went. Chaing Kai Shek has been complaining to Washington.
JOHNSON
Look, the ammo saved Montgomery's ass up in Egypt. Cairo would be a Nazi town if it wasn't for all the cannon shells we diverted. And the fuel kept our planes in the air. But the Brits are out. The subs are getting their boats too.
SHALE
Where's the Navy when you need them? I could call General Jones and maybe he could do something.
WATERS
Don't bother. Destroyers have been requested. The Navy might consider sending us a destroyer or two if we give them our bases at Dakar and Aden. Our people say no.
The RADIOMAN rushes in. He is wearing earphones.
RADIOMAN (breathlessly)
I've just got a transmission direct from Washington, Commanding General of the Army Air Forces. Ears only Captain Waters.
WATERS
Read the damned thing. No German spies in this room.
RADIOMAN
Captain Waters. USAAF, ATC, Accra Base. Stop. Regarding sub problem. No assistance forthcoming from US Navy. Suggest exercise local command authority and deal with problem yourself. Stop. Orders include starting own Navy. Stop. Report on progress of ATC Navy soonest. By Order of the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces.
The Radioman salutes and leaves.
WATERS
Start our own Navy?
JOHNSON
Well... the fishermen at Lagos owe me a favor, so we can get boats.
Chase starts writing busily on a note pad.
CHASE
Fill up the empty fuel drums with explosives and drop them from the boats on the subs.
WATERS
We can't just start our own Navy.
SHALE
I don't think we ought to do this one in uniform.
Vrabec jumps on the table/map in the middle of the Situation Room and starts an imaginary sword fight.
VRABEC
Pirates.
JOHNSON
Say what?
VRABEC
We dress up like local pirates.
JOHNSON
I've always wanted to wear a gold ring in my ear.
Johnson jumps up on the table and joins in Vrabec's shadow sword fight.
WATERS
How about your nose?
JOHNSON
That is a racist ...
SHALE
Perfect.
WATERS
Well ...
Johnson stabs Vrabec, who falls to the table, then jumps off and confronts Waters.
JOHNSON
You say when and you've got boats.
INT. ATC HQ. WASHINGTON
The Commanding General of the Air Force, Franklin, is meeting with the ATC Commanding General Jones.
JONES
Accra base reports it will have a fleet in the Gulf of Guiena on or before August 1st.
FRANKLIN
What sort of fleet?
JONES
Seems they have borrowed the entire fishing fleet from Lagos harbor, outfitted everyone to look like pirates, and have been practicing sailing around the harbor dropping oil drums off their boats. They don't have anything else to do because all our flight operations out of Accra are shut down due to lack of fuel.
FRANKLIN
Who figured this one out?
JONES
Lieutenant Chase.
FRANKLIN
A very talented fellow, our Chase. If this works, transfer him to Marrakesh. Leak the reports to the Navy. This is going to be very interesting.
EXT. LAGOS HARBOR.
Lagos harbor is a bustling, but dilapidated place filled with fishing boats. Five of the fishing boats sail out from the harbor. The ATC crew is seen on deck dressed in outrageous pirate costumes. Just as they reach open ocean, a Navy destroyer intercepts them. The destroyer orders the ATC command ship, with Waters in command, to heave to, and the destroyer crew boards it. CAPTAIN KLINE, USN, confronts Pirate Admiral Waters on the deck of the ATC fishing boat.
KLINE
What in the hell do you fly boys think you're doing on our ocean?
WATERS
We're just native pirates sir, out on a fishing expedition.
KLINE
Fishing for what?
WATERS
A very big and dangerous fish. It is called a Kraut Shark. Looks like a German submarine. Very big and very dangerous. Likes to sink ships filled with airplane fuel.
KLINE
See that ship over there? There's two more like them just over the horizon. The U.S. Navy. You bastards have the air, but we've got the ocean. Any Germans on or under the ocean are ours. Understand?
WATERS
Three destroyers?
KLINE
Three. And we'll be here a while. Now you have exactly five minutes to point your tubs back to shore, and get back to your airplanes, or we'll start by clearing the waters of pirates. Do I make myself clear?
WATERS
Yes sir.
Waters salutes Kline. Kline ignores him and jumps onto the deck of the Destroyer.
CLOSEUP: DECK OF FISHING BOAT.
As the sun sets in the background and the rest of the crew celebrate, Waters and Vrabec are leaning over the bow rail and talking.
WATERS
You almost got your chance to be in combat.
VRABEC
I was betting we'd never find any subs.
WATERS
Be glad the Navy showed up. I had good intelligence that said we would find our U boat about 10 miles from the harbor mouth.
Vrabec suddenly looks like he is about to be seasick.
VRABEC
That's a rotten joke.
WATERS
So help me it was true.
VRABEC
Let's get back to the goddamned land as fast as possible.
WATERS
Sure you don't want to drop one little depth charge before we quit?
Vrabec turns and stalks off towards the other end of the boat.
INT. ATC HQ. WASHINGTON.
General Franklin is reading report to ATC commanders.
FRANKLIN
From the Office of Naval Operations. Sighted ATC Navy and sank same. Five destroyers on station between Ascension and Lagos to clear shipping lanes of subs and any further incursions by the Air Force into Navy waters. Signed Admiral Browning.
JONES
The bastards did it.
FRANKLIN
They sure did. Where did you get these people anyway?
JONES
Don't ask.
FRANKLIN
By the way, on whose authority did they try to start their own Navy?
JONES
An erroneous message was transmitted to Accra that purportedly authorized them to start a navy to go after the subs.
FRANKLIN
Under whose name were these erroneous orders issued?
JONES
Yours, sir. But there is no evidence the message was ever sent or received.
FRANKLIN
This never happened, did it?
JONES
What happened, sir?
FRANKLIN
Transfer Chase to Marrakesh. I've been there. It's sort of like Paris used to be. Chase will like the duty. Any further word on that fellow Vrabec? The numbers wizard with the funny medal?
JONES
His CO wants him field commissioned as a Captain. After his own promotion to colonel comes through.
FRANKLIN
On what basis?
JONES
This fellow Vrabec has really had a lot to do with the improved operations. Some of Vrabec's systems are in use throughout the ATC. He's really very good. But according to Major Green and Colonel Dross, Vrabec is definitely not officer material. In fact we've received another 42 requests to court marshall both Vrabec and Waters, the latest having to do with unauthorized trips to Lagos.
FRANKLIN
I've read Green's report. He also noted Vrabec has memorized the telephone numbers for every base in Africa. Promote Vrabec to Captain once Waters' papers come through. And see if you can't get Dross reassigned to some island out in the middle of the goddamned Pacific.
INT. ATC SITUATION ROOM A FEW DAYS LATER.
Waters is reading a summary of the Extract of Orders from Washington ATC HQ.
WATERS
Effective immediately I have been promoted to full colonel. Sergeant Vrabec is now captain Vrabec. Lieutenant Chase has been reassigned to Marrakesh. And the best news yet. Colonel Dross has been reassigned to Espiritu Sanctu- an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. As soon as this day's work is done everyone has a pass into town tonight. See you all at Abdulh's.
EXT. ABDULH'S PATIO SALOON.
The ATC gang are celebrating the promotions and departure of Dross.
CHASE
As soon as I get to Marrakesh, I think I know how to make us all a lot of money.
JOHNSON
Say more.
CHASE
The natives in the next colony sell their bananas and get paid in French Francs. France is occupied, so they can't spend their money and the British in this colony won't accept the French money. But up in Marrakesh I can exchange Francs at face value for British pounds, then send the money back here and you can convert it to American dollars or money orders. But the Francs from the natives at half price, and double your money.
JOHNSON
We fly the money.
CHASE
Secret orders.
VRABEC
Let's see. I get paid $212 a month as a Captain, buy $424 worth of French money, you fly it to Marrakesh, Chase converts it to pounds, you fly the pounds back, I convert to dollars and buy $848 worth of francs and fly my money again...
CHASE
For a modest ten percent.
JOHNSON
Consider this the ATC's answer to flight pay.
SHALE
I'm in.
WATERS
I have heard nothing of this conversation. Johnson, any money you find in a brown paper bag with a banana in it is mine.
Abdulh joins the ATC group at the table.
ABDULH
Sixty two goats and thirty of the finest camels this side of Mecca.
SHALE
Bananas.
ABDULH
If you wish bananas, I can get you the finest bananas in the world.
JOHNSON
Abdulh, if you can buy every banana around for 50 percent off the face value of French money, you just might be able to afford Private Shale.
SHALE
I'm not for sale.
ABDULH
All right. Allah what a woman. One hundred goats and thirty of the finest camels from Mecca.
SHALE
No.
WATERS
You could start a nice ranch with a hundred goats.
SHALE
Oregon is cow country. And I wouldn't think of staying here for the rest of my life.
ABDULH
I'll come live in Oregon. But it would be very hard on the camels. Johnson, you can get me cattle, can you not?
JOHNSON
As many as you want.
ABDULH
One hundred of the finest cows and thirty of the camels from the Sheiks own herd from Mecca.
SHALE
One thousand head of cattle and one hundred camels, or no deal.
ABDULH
Allah but I am but a poor merchant. I cannot afford such a price. My heart is broken.
Abdulh slinks away in tears.
SHALE
(smuggly) He'll never come up with that many camels.
WATERS
What if he does?
SHALE
I'll be back in the states and safe by then.
Johnson starts singing, "Yes we have no bananas", and all join in.
EXT. BEACH IN THE PACIFIC.
General Dross is standing on the beach shaking his fist to the east.
DROSS
I'll get even with your goddamned Army of Terrified Civilians yet.
INT. VRABEC'S TENT. OCTOBER 1943.
Vrabec and Waters are counting out large piles of money. Prominent in the tent is a large map of Europe and Africa with the front lines of battle marked in red. From the front line a tape measure hangs. A little man figure is stuck to the map on Accra. Vrabec nods towards the map.
WATERS
Still safe?
VRABEC
I have an unconfirmed report the Germans have a new bomber with a 2,100 mile range. That gives me 17 miles leeway.
WATERS
That's the closest you've been to combat so far.
VRABEC
Not counting the monkeys.
Johnson enters and hands Vrabec a report. Vrabec gets up, and moves the front line of battle in North Africa a little farther north.
VRABEC
Now I have 80 miles of safety.
JOHNSON
Like those bananas?
WATERS
What bananas?
VRABEC
I wonder if the Germans are putting extra fuel tanks on bombers?
JOHNSON
When you figure their bomber has a range of 2,100 miles, is that one way or round trip?
VRABEC
Round trip.
JOHNSON
So they could reach a target 1,050 miles from their base?
VRABEC
Right. Unless they were on a suicide mission
JOHNSON
Forty pounds is a lot of money.
VRABEC
Let's see.
He piles up currency.
VRABEC
This about a pound of money?
WATERS
Depends on the denomination of the bills.
VRABEC
The average denomination of currency is 100 Francs. That would be 10,000 Francs to the pound...
JOHNSON
We'll still be in the banana business.
INT. ATC HQ. WASHINGTON A FEW MONTHS LATER.
A large map of Persia is hanging on the wall. General Jones is sitting at his desk and General Franklin is pacing back and forth in front of the map.
FRANKLIN
We've got a big problem in Tehran. Seems like the Russians won't accept our Lend Lease planes. They keep protesting to Washington the planes are unfit.
JONES
But they've flown half way around the world to get to Tehran for delivery.
FRANKLIN
I know it and you know it. But the Russians don't accept it. The White House has ordered the Joint Chiefs to find out what the problem is. The Joint Chiefs have ordered me to find out what the problem is. The problem is in the Ferry Command, and that makes it your problem.
JONES
We've got a new ATC colonel. Lets make it his problem.
INT. ACCRA SITUATION ROOM. FEBRUARY 1944.
Waters comes up to Vrabec who is busy adding up a long column of numbers. Waters is holding a copy of new orders.
WATERS
I have to find out why all our planes are stacking up on Tehran. Vrabec. How many planes have we flown to the Russians and are still sitting on the ground?
Vrabec pulls out another sheet of paper and quickly tallies the numbers.
VRABEC
One hundred nine P-39's.
WATERS
Vrabec is Russian, isn't it?
VRABEC
Czech.
WATERS
You speak Czech?
VRABEC
Yaksamash.
WATERS
Sounds close enough to me. You're going to Tehran in the morning to find out what the Russians are doing.
Vrabec gets up, pulls a tape measure from his pocket, and measures the distance between Tehran and the Russian front.
VRABEC
But that's only 900 miles from the German front. The HE-111's the Germans are flying these have a range of 1,300 miles. I'll be killed by German bombs.
WATERS
You'll only be there for a few days, and think of the bright side. The Germans only use their air force for tactical support and haven't figured out strategic bombing yet.
VRABEC
But you promised me.
WATERS
You're a Captain now.
EXT. THE ACCRA BAZAAR. THAT NIGHT.
The Bazaar is filled with merchants selling gold, spices, and camels, fortune tellers, jugglers, sorcerers, food, and hundreds of people in all varieties of African native costume. Vrabec is busy buying up every native good luck charm available.
EXT. THE RUNWAY AT ACCRA BASE. THE NEXT MORNING.
Vrabec is boarding a C-47. He is covered with native amulets and good luck charms. He is dressed in full combat regalia, and is carrying a machine gun. He boards the plane, only to find it filled with bananas. The pilot is the same one from the cat and cattle runs.
INT. COCKPIT C-47.
PILOT
Long time no see stranger.
VRABEC
Bananas?
PILOT
Better than cats or cows. Smells a lot better. I understand you own an interest in the cargo.
VRABEC
I do?
PILOT
Johnson arranged this flight. Seems like these bananas sell for a heck of a lot of money in Persia.
EXT. THE PLANE LANDS ON A DESERT RUNWAY
The runway is lined with airplanes.
INT. BARRACKS. TEHRAN.
A massive party is going on. Big, burly blond men are singing in Russian, pouring vast quantities of vodka down their throats, scantily clad women are being chased around the room. Vrabec confronts the Russian commander, PETROV.
VRABEC
I am Captain Vrabec United States Army Air Force. Are you the commanding officer of the Russian Air Force?
A very drunk individual sitting next to Petrov is the TRANSLATOR.
TRANSLATOR
(A Russian statement about twice as long as Vrabec's)
PETROV
(A Russian statement of short length--three words.)
TRANSLATOR
Yes. Colonel Petrov is the commander of the heroic Soviet Air Forces in temporary duty in this pest hole. What does the stinking capitalist swine want?
VRABEC
We have one hundred nine P-39's sitting outside that have flown 12,000 miles to be delivered to the Soviet Union. But your government claims the planes are unfit. I am here to find out why.
TRANSLATOR
(A Russian statement about half the length of Vrabec's.)
PETROV
(A Russian statement of about 20 words)
TRANSLATOR
These are extremely inferior airplanes. We must flight test them for weeks to discover all the flaws in their manufacture due to the slave wages your capitalistic robber barons pay the workers of America. The planes do not have red stars painted on their tales. We are not receiving the planes we were promised. These are not the best fighter planes you have available. They are junk. If you were a pilot, which you are obviously not, you would know.
VRABEC
(In Russian, he tells Petrov to put it where the sun doesn't shine.)
Petrov Laughs.
PETROV
You speak very bad Russian, but better than most Americans. You must be from Poland.
VRABEC
My family is Czech. Russian sounds a lot like our language.
PETROV
Good people the Czechs. Have some vodka.
VRABEC
No thank you. I didn't come here to fraternize with a bunch of drunk communists.
PETROV
We're not communists. We're farm boys who are now pilots. Soon we must fly back to the Motherland to kill Germans and probably die. If you want to talk about your airplanes, you must drink with me. Or get the hell out.
Vrabec sits down and takes a swig of vodka.
VRABEC
I've had worse.
PETROV
Now, just between you and me. Those are fine airplanes, But my men, they will soon die. They are in no hurry to go home. They fly your airplanes around the safe skies of Persia, get familiar with the planes, have a good time, then they go to fight the Germans. My government will say what it will. But we will not accept the planes until my men have their party. You want a woman tonight? Russian women are the best in the world.
INT. ATC HQ. A WEEK LATER
JONES
We have the report from Vrabec on the Russians. It seems they are very comfortably fixed with booze and broads. Vrabec says to ignore it. He notes our own people are very unhappy because the duty in Tehran is awful. The Russians are having a good time, and our boys are suffering.
FRANKLIN
Give that report to our resourceful Mr. Chase.
INT. VRABEC'S TENT, A FEW WEEKS LATER.
Vrabec and Waters are chopping the tops off coconuts. Shale is pouring vodka into them. There is a Persian rug on the floor.
SHALE
Where'd you get the Persian rug?
VRABEC
Just arrived today from Chase. A present. Seems he's been flying in refugee whores from France to keep our men happy in Tehran.
WATERS
Johnson is no doubt up to his ass in the deal.
VRABEC
No doubt. I wonder who's doing the flying?
INT. C-47 FILLED WITH WHORES.
Same pilot as on the cat, cow and banana flights. A WHORE is sitting in the co-pilots' chair.
WHORE
Thees plane. It smells of cat piss.
PILOT
(singing) I know an old lady who swallowed a whore...
INT. ACCRA SITUATION ROOM
Everyone is gathered around a notice posted on the Bulletin Board. In big letters are the words LION HUNTING SAFARI. Sign-up forms are attached.
WATERS
(to Johnson) Is this one of your projects?
JOHNSON
I made a little deal with the British who were short on fuel, and they've graciously agreed to allow a few of us to fly over to Kenya and hunt lions.
VRABEC
Sounds a lot better than hunting monkeys.
JOHNSON
That reminds me, I have a package from your buddy JJ over in Belem.
Johnson digs a package out of his desk. Vrabec opens it. It is a medal with a monkey face on it.
VRABEC
(reading) In Honor of a successful monkey killed in combat January 14, 1943. Belem, Brazil.
Vrabec pins it to his chest next to his bird medal.
WATERS
Now you can write home about being a much decorated combat veteran.
VRABEC
After monkeys and birds, lions ought to be easy. Count me in.
There is a rush for the sign-up sheets.
INT. ACCRA SITUATION ROOM. A FEW WEEKS LATER.
Johnson is busy passing out lion hunting medals to everyone who went on the trip.
EXT. NIGHT ABDULH'S. JULY 4, 1944
It is the night of the 4th of July, 1944. A radio is playing in the background with new accounts of the invasion of Normandy that is in full swing. The ATC gang are watching a fireworks show from Abdulh's patio.
SHALE
I sure miss home.
VRABEC
Maybe we'll get back to the states pretty soon.
WATERS
I doubt it. We didn't get involved with the Normandy invasion, so our next stop will probably be the Pacific.
JOHNSON
How do you figure that?
WATERS
Things will wind down on this route. But there's still a war to be won against Japan. Any day now I suspect we'll be getting orders to somewhere along one of the ATC routes across the Pacific.
VRABEC
Seems like we're destined to spend the war in hot, tropical places.
JOHNSON
Better that at the front.
WATERS
How far away are we from the front now?
VRABEC
Two thousand four hundred and twenty miles and improving daily.
Abdulh arrives and joins the discussion.
ABDULH
One thousand cows. One hundred camels. Would you not consider a few less camels?
SHALE
I've said my price. Come up with it or find a nice little Arab girl to marry.
ABDULH
I hear your base will be closing down soon.
WATERS
Where do you hear that?
ABDULH
German spies.
WATERS
What do they know?
ABDULH
They say your base will soon be closed and all of you transferred to the Pacific. It will be the end of my business. I'll never be able to afford the 100 camels.
SHALE
One thousand head of cattle.
ABDULH
No problem with the cattle. Thanks to Mr. Johnson I have made much money on bananas and have purchased the cows. But only a prince can afford 100 camels.
SHALE
I thought you were a prince.
ABDULH
I am. But I have many brothers and we are a poor family with no kingdom.
SHALE
Where are you from originally?
ABDULH
Lebanon. Beautiful country. But run by the British and the Christians. Not a good place for a humble Arab like me.
SHALE
Isn't it against your religion to own a saloon?
ABDULH
I do not drink. But there is nothing in the Koran that says I cannot sell liquor to Infidels.
SHALE
Don't think for a moment I'd convert if by some miracle you come up with the camels.
ABDULH
I doubt if I could be a very good Muslim in Oregon anyway. It is very far from Mecca. Is it true that it is very cold and wet in Oregon? That would be very sad for the camels.
SHALE
Eastern Oregon is hot and dry in the summer. Your camels would like it.
ABDULH
Our camels.
WATERS
You're pretty quiet tonight, Johnson. What gives?
JOHNSON
If we're going to be moved, my whole business is going down the drain.
VRABEC
You're probably rich enough you'll never have to work again for the rest of your life.
JOHNSON
There's a lot of overhead.
VRABEC
What're you going to do once the war is over?
JOHNSON
Stay in Africa if I can. I've sort of grown accustomed to being a part of the majority.
WATERS
Think you can pull it off?
JOHNSON
Once the war is over, there'll be a lot of changes. This colonial bullshit is going to end. I've been talking to a lot of the natives and this Gold Coast is someday going to be the free and independent nation of Ghana. They could use some help. It sure beats Harlem.
WATERS
What about you Vrabec? What're your plans?
VRABEC
Go back home and pick up where I left off.
SHALE
I'm probably going to buy a small ranch and raise some cows and a little hell.
ABDULH
Do not forget the poor camels.
WATERS
Me, I'm hoping the Air Force will have a niche for me after the war. If not, I think my experience ought to land me a nice job with an airline company. It's going to be a lot different after the war. Airplanes are the future. We've proven what airplanes can do with the ATC. Vrabec, how many airplanes today?
VRABEC
Lots.
EXT. BEACH IN FRONT OF ABDULH'S. LATER THAT NIGHT.
Abdulh and Shale are walking down the beach and talking.
ABDULH
How come you just left being a college professor and enlisted?
SHALE
I was bored.
ABDULH
Bored?
SHALE
My life had gotten pretty predictable. I'd accomplished everything I ever set out to do, and it still wasn't enough.
ABDULH
But you never married?
SHALE
No. There were times, though. But it would never work out. The men were attracted to me and I was attracted to them. But when things got serious, they would start about how I would have to change once we got married.
ABDULH
Change?
SHALE
It isn't very common for a woman to be a pilot. To have an advanced degree. To be a full professor. To run her own life the way she damn well wants to. I'm too much my own boss.
ABDULH
You are a very strong willed woman.
SHALE
Indeed I am, and that's the problem.
ABDULH
Problem?
SHALE
Take yourself. You want to marry me. I won't deny I'm just a little bit interested.
ABDULH
Seventy camels.
SHALE
The number of camels has nothing to do with it.
ABDULH
Forty camels.
SHALE
A hundred. Not one less.
ABDULH
Why so many.
SHALE
I don't think you'll be able to come up with them.
ABDULH
I can be pretty strong willed, too.
SHALE
I don't doubt you can. And that would be the problem.
ABDULH
You keep mentioning the problem.
SHALE
You're an Arab.
ABDULH
You have something against Arabs?
SHALE
No. You're really quite attractive. I had this fantasy when I enlisted. That I'd be sent to some remote and exotic land, meet a prince, and fall in love.
ABDULH
I am a prince. Sort of, anyway.
SHALE
But you come from a culture that is a thousand years behind mine. You still believe you can have more than one wife. Your wives are property. You're trying to buy me.
ABDULH
That is not so. Yes, I could have more than one wife. But I don't want more than one. One woman in my tent would be bad enough. Four? Allah! I would go crazy.
SHALE
How come you never got married? Or are you already?
ABDULH
I am not. I came to Accra a younger man, and started my business. There was so much to do, I just never got around to looking for a wife. That is, until I met you.
SHALE
Why me?
ABDULH
Let us say I am just not the traditional nomad of the desert.
He reaches for her hand, and she grasps his as they walk along.
SHALE
I just never felt that a man I was interested in loved me just the way I am, and didn't want to change me.
ABDULH
There is much about me you do not know.
SHALE
That I don't doubt.
ABDULH
Besides being beautiful...
She guffaws.
But you are. A little long in the tooth...
She punches him playfully.
We can tell how old a camel is by how long his teeth are.
She opens her mouth very wide.
But you have spirit. In a way like a camel. To master the camel you must meet him half way.
SHALE
Is that an Arab proverb?
ABDULH
Yes. And a sand dune is moved by the wind one grain at a time.
SHALE
So I'm just another camel to you.
ABDULH
You are more like the sand dune. Constantly shifting. Constantly changing.
SHALE
And gritty as hell.
ABDULH
I would only change one thing about you.
SHALE
(suspiciously) And what would that be?
ABDULH
Your last name.
SHALE
And nothing else?
ABDULH
When I first saw you in my humble establishment, I knew instantly you were the woman of my dreams. You are like the wild stallion that roams the desert free as the wind. No one can tame the horse. But it may, only may, agree to be ridden by the right person.
SHALE
I'm not impressed by your bucolic imagery.
ABDULH
If you break the spirit of the horse, it is just another animal to ride. But if you become the horse's partner, it can give you experiences you could never have otherwise.
SHALE
You have to be pretty brave to try and ride the wild stallion.
ABDULH
You must have great courage to want to marry a woman who has more heart then most men. If by some miracle I could get the hundred camels, are you serious about accepting my offer?
She stops, and stares at the ocean.
SHALE
I don't know.
INT. ATC HQ. WASHINGTON MARCH 1945.
FRANKLIN
The current forecast has us beating the Germans by July. We need plans to move all our planes and men out of Europe and re-deploy them to the Pacific.
JONES
That bunch down in Africa would be a real asset in the planning work.
FRANKLIN
Get them up here to headquarters.
FADE OUT:
INT. SITUATION ROOM ACCRA.
Waters rushes in waving a copy of the day's orders from Washington.
WATERS
We're going home! Johnson, Vrabec, you're both assigned with me to ATC Plans division. Washington DC.
SHALE
How about me?
Waters hunts through the orders.
WATERS
Sorry. You're going to Dakar. But don't settle in. As soon as we get stateside I'll do everything I can to get you moved to my command.
SHALE
How about a Commission?
WATERS
That too.
EXT. ABDULH'S THAT NIGHT.
The ATC gang, minus Johnson are celebrating. Shale looks glum. Abdulh is absolutely heart broken.
ABDULH
Fifty camels?
SHALE
One hundred and not one less.
WATERS
Where's Johnson?
VRABEC
Don't know.
ABDULH
When do you people leave?
WATERS
A week. Got a lot to do to wind up things here. But the base will stay open. You won't go broke.
ABDULH
Would you like some war souvenirs?
VRABEC
Sure.
ABDULH
Come by tomorrow. Sixty camels?
SHALE
One hundred.
EXT. OUT IN FRONT OF ABDULH'S THE NEXT MORNING.
Abdulh has rows and rows of German helmets lined up and is busy shooting holes in each one. Waters and Vrabec arrive.
WATERS
What in the hell are you doing?
ABDULH
You wish war momentos. I am making them. Your Mr. Johnson gave me the idea.
VRABEC
When'd you see Johnson?
ABDULH
He came by this morning to say goodbye. And he gave me a lead on where I can get 100 camels cheap.
WATERS
Goodbye? He's going with us next week.
ABDULH
He told me to tell you he was sorry. And he told me to say this very accurately. "Opportunity knocks but once."
WATERS
I don't understand.
ABDULH
He said you would say that. But he also said you'll know what he means very soon.
VRABEC
He's up to something big.
WATERS
We better get back to the base and find out what. I'll bet he's sold our entire air force.
INT. ATC SITUATION ROOM ACCRA. SAME DAY.
The room is in a turmoil. MP's are everywhere. Major Green is on the radio screaming. Waters and Vrabec arrive.
VRABEC
What the hell is going on?
GREEN
Your goddamned darkie stole a plane load of gold.
VRABEC
A plane load of what?
GREEN
Gold goddammit. G.O.L.D. The plane stopped in Cairo on its way to Russia. Some sort of really secret help to the Russians. Johnson got wind of it and stole it. There musta been a hundred million dollars worth of gold on the goddamned plane, and now no one can find it.
WATERS
Holy mother...
INT. C-47.
The Pilot and Johnson are sitting in the cockpit, playing with gold bars.
PILOT
(singing) Gold is the color of my true love's hair...
JOHNSON
I just knew those secret orders would pay off some day.
PILOT
This sure beats hauling cats and painted ladies.
JOHNSON
You are sooo right my man. Next stop Brazil.
INT. OPS CENTER BELEM A WEEK LATER
The OPS Center is jammed with soldiers waiting in line to have their orders processed. Vrabec and Waters are milling around the OP's office waiting for their plane to be refueled. Vrabec sees the same TO he encountered on his trip over.
VRABEC
How the hell are you. Remember me?
TO
You're JJ's buddy. The one I sent with the cats. Sorry about that. Never heard the last of it.
VRABEC
What ever happened to JJ?
TO
He's still in town. Married Rosa. You remember, the one that he shacked up with. Has two kids now.
VRABEC
How come he didn't ever get a ride out?
TO
Never was a seat available. Gosh darned. Things like that happen.
VRABEC
He didn't have that much moonshine.
TO pulls a mason jar from beneath the counter and takes a swig.
TO
He started making it here. Damned fine stuff.
WATERS
You know this gentleman?
VRABEC
Remember that ride with the cats. He's responsible.
WATERS
Maybe I can arrange to have him sent to the Pacific.
TO
Begging your pardon. I will make amends. You have a long flight home. Would some cold beer help?
WATERS
What kind of cold beer?
TO
Budweiser. Say. You're just in from Accra. What do you know about a shipment of camels to the states?
WATERS AND VRABEC
What?
TO
Some guy named Johnson made arrangements for a guy named Abdulh to ship 100 camels to Oregon.
WATERS
He didn't pay for this privilege in gold?
TO
Come to think of it I can't remember.
WATERS
You know you could be court marshalled and shot.
TO
I'm a Brazilian citizen. I don't think you can do that.
VRABEC
Well. We know where some of the gold went.
TO
Better than to the Russians.
WATERS
You're in big trouble.
TO
You may find yourself in Ascension if you aren't friendly.
VRABEC
Forget this jerk. We're going home.
TO
Want to buy some parrots cheap?
INT. NATIONAL AIRPORT
Vrabec and Waters are walking through the lobby carrying their duffels, and run into now Private Green, handing out leaflets.
WATERS
Isn't that our Major Green?
GREEN
Private Green thanks to you bastards. Dross was right. Should've court martialled the whole lot of you.
VRABEC
How come the bust in rank.
GREEN
Johnson. They blamed the whole mess on me. Some snot-nosed officer named Chase did an investigation and linked me to the leak of the secret order for the gold.
WATERS
Where is our Mr. Chase?
GREEN
Right here in Washington. He's got a nice fat job handling public relations for the Air Force. Here. Read this. Spies are everywhere.
Green hands Vrabec the leaflet. It is captioned HOW TO TELL SOMEONE IS A SPY.
INT. PENTAGON OFFICE OF COMMANDING GENERAL
An impressive office twice the size of General Jones' office. The walls are covered with pictures of airplanes, and General Franklin standing next to famous people including Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin, and movie stars. Vrabec, Waters, and Jones are sitting around a conference table with General Franklin.
FRANKLIN
As soon as Germany surrenders, we want to move 50,000 men a month back across the Atlantic, and everything that can fly. I see we have our Africans present. Anything you need?
WATERS
I'd like Private Shale transferred from Dakar into my command. And maybe Vrabec could be a Major?
FRANKLIN
For a bunch accustomed to their own Navy and free use of the entire air force for their personal benefit, that seems modest.
JONES
These two weren't responsible for Johnson's operations.
VRABEC
There's no way that many people can be moved with the normal procedures.
JONES
Do you have a suggestion?
VRABEC
Instead of cutting orders for each individual, give everyone entitled to fly a green ticket.
WATERS
How come green?
VRABEC
Green light to go home.
JONES
Brilliant. That's why we wanted these boys.
FRANKLIN
Do it. Waters and Vrabec. This is the capital of the United States of America. This is not Africa. We do things by the book here. Dross has made General, and he's stationed here at the Pentagon. He harbors a serious dislike for you two. You've had your fun. We've got wars to win. Shape it up and you'll have a place in the post war Air Force. Waters, you'll make general. Vrabec, if you stay you could too. If you don't you'll leave here a Colonel. And don't ever wear those damned hunting medals of yours again in this building.
EXT. SCENES.
Men lined up to board C-47's holding green tickets in Paris, London, Rome.
INT. SCENES AIRCRAFT CABINS.
Men joking and laughing about their trip home.
INT. SCENE C-47.
An OFFICER is passing out a green colored questionnaire. He hands two to a much decorated combat soldier sitting an aisle seat. The soldier hands one to his SEATMATE, a combat officer.
OFFICER
The ATC wants to know what you boys think of your flight home. Turn these in when you check in at New York.
SOLDIER
(reading) If you were to fly on an airline as a civilian, what would you like to make your flight more enjoyable?
SEATMATE
I heard the ATC was run by a lot of jokers drafted form the airlines who are itching to go back to their civilian jobs.
SOLDIER
Map? Yep. I'd like a map of what we're flying over. Something to read. Yep. I'd like a magazine. Beverages? Sure as hell yes. Booze. Cabin Attendant? That officer is sure an ugly bastard. Broads. That's what the flights need. Broads handing out drinks, maps and magazines.
SEATMATE
Sounds good to me.
OTHER PASSENGERS NEARBY
Great. Broads, booze, maps and a magazine.
The men on the plane are seen busily filling out the questionnaires.
INT. ATC HQ. JONES' OFFICE
Vrabec and Waters are being briefed about their next project.
JONES
Before we start, we still have one little problem with the Green Project. The customs people in Miami are complaining about everyone coming off the planes from Belem with parrots. Got any ideas?
VRABEC
There's a TO at Belem Ops. Brazilian. He's probably the source of the parrots. Check and see if exporting parrots is against their law.
JONES
Now to the serious stuff. One November code named OLYMPIC. The land invasion of Japan. One March 1946 code named CORONET. The second land invasion of Japan on Honshu. I need plans and forecasts to remove 400,000 estimated wounded by air back to the states.
VRABEC
400,000 ....
JONES
400,000. We're looking at 40,000 another killed. We don't need planes for them.
WATERS
Jesus Christ.
JONES
If you're religious, you ought to pray the Japanese decide to surrender. If we're lucky. We're going to have to fight house to house from one end of that country to the other.
WATERS
What are the chances they would surrender?
JONES
If I were them I would. They've got the Navy blockading them trying to starve them to death, MacArthur itching to land on their beaches, and we're trying to bomb them into the stone age.
VRABEC
How many bombs?
JONES
Current plans call for dropping two million tons on the Japanese islands in 11 months. LeMay wants to fire bomb their cities and burn them to the ground.
WATERS
How much did we use on Germany?
VRABEC
Two million one hundred twelve thousand ninety-six.
JONES
There's a big difference. Germany was a nation of brick and stone buildings. And we didn't really have effective daylight bombing until the P-51 came into use. Japan is a country of wood and paper buildings. LeMay will burn the country to the ground.
VRABEC
B-29's?
JONES
Yes. And so far we're not getting anything near the resistance from Japan's air force and anti-aircraft fire that we did over German. LeMay would like his 2 million tons dropped on Japan before the invasion. If he can do it, there won't be anything left to invade.
WATERS
Kill an awful lot of Japanese.
JONES
They should have thought about that before Pearl Harbor.
INT. VRABEC'S OFFICE. NEXT DAY.
Vrabec's office is tiny, and every flat surface is piled high with papers. He is busy tallying columns of numbers on a hand cranked adding machine. Waters comes bursting in all excited.
WATERS
Shale is arriving today. Finally. Now we can get something done.
VRABEC
Think we ought to tell her about the 100 camels being shipped to Oregon?
WATERS
Abdulh will probably take care of it himself.
VRABEC
Does she know?
WATERS
Nope.
INT. NATIONAL AIRPORT.
Vrabec and Waters meet Shale. They encounter Private Green passing out leaflets captioned "Japanese spies are everywhere".
INT. WATERS'S OFFICE.
Water's office is in stark contrast to Vrabec's Every flat surface is clean of any paper. Waters, Vrabec and Shale enter. Shale still has all her gear. She settles down in a chair and reaches into her duffel.
SHALE
I brought you boys something to remember Africa by.
She pulls out a bunch of bananas and drops them on Waters' desk.
SHALE
Since you all left the banana market has gone to hell.
WATERS
How was Dakar?
SHALE
Don't ask. I'm glad to be home. And thanks for getting me out of there.
WATERS
Orders are being processed to promote you to Captain. This is a high powered command and they don't want a lot of enlisted men on the roster.
SHALE
And enlisted women. What're we doing?
VRABEC
Air transport plans for the Japanese invasion. Re-route all planes in service. Move 600,000 men to staging areas in the Pacific. And plan for removal of 400,000 wounded once the invasion starts.
SHALE
400,000 wounded?
VRABEC
A hell of a problem. They had it easy coming out of France. Hop a transport over to just behind the front with just enough fuel to carry a max load of casualties across the Channel. Unload and turn around.
WATERS
But the Pacific is a damned big puddle of water, and the planes either have to make a lot of short jumps from island to island in order to carry a larger number of wounded, or fewer wounded and more fuel to make longer jumps.
SHALE
So you have a lot more aircraft engaged, and a lot longer time lapse between pickup and delivery to hospitals.
VRABEC
You got it. And that means a higher attrition rate.
WATERS
I'm glad I'm not the one who is going to decide who gets air evac and who doesn't.
SHALE
When's the shooting match going to start?
VRABEC
One November.
WATERS
Now for the serious stuff.
SHALE
The serious stuff?
WATERS
Dump your stuff at the barracks and meet us back here at 1900. We've got a place downtown to show you.
VRABEC
A sleezy belly dancing joint owned by an Arab.
SHALE
Not Abdulh?
WATERS
You haven't heard from Abdulh?
SHALE
When I left for Dakar he sounded very confident he was going to come up with the 100 camels.
VRABEC
Did he?
SHALE
Not as far as I know. Do you boys know something I don't?
WATERS
Don't worry about it. Let's have some fun tonight. Tomorrow we have some serious work to do.
INT. BELEM OPS CENTER
Two uniformed Brazilian police approach the TO.
1ST POLICEMAN
You are under arrest for the illegal sale of native birds.
TO
You must be kidding.
2ND POLICEMAN
Please come quietly.
TO
What's this all about?
1ST POLICEMAN
We have proof you have been selling parrots to American soldiers.
The policemen drag the protesting TO away.
INT. ALI BABA'S
Vrabec, Shale and Waters are seated at a ring-side table by the stage. The room is hazy, and decorated in cheap Arabic style. An aging and overweight belly dancer is ineptly trying to entertain the crowd. Their table is covered with empty beer bottles.
SHALE
This place does remind me a lot of Abdulh's.
WATERS
I think the owner is a relative of his.
SHALE
No kidding?
WATERS
Ali. Come here and meet our buddy from Africa.
ALI saunters over to the table. He looks a lot like Abdulh.
ALI
Your wish is my command.
WATERS
I'd like you to meet Naomi Shale. She worked with us in Accra.
SHALE
Pleased to meet you.
ALI
Ah. The lioness of the desert. The thief of my cousin's heart. I have heard much about you from Abdulh.
SHALE
What?
ALI
He wishes to convey a message to you. One hundred of the finest camels ever seen in Mecca are now suffering in Oregon.
SHALE
(makes choking sound)
ALI
Abdulh awaits your word as to when the ceremonies can take place.
SHALE
Ceremonies?
VRABEC
As in marriage. Remember. You agreed if he could come up with the camels, you'd marry him.
SHALE
But he's in Africa.
ALI
This is not true. He awaits in the kitchen for your word.
SHALE
The son of a bitch is here?
VRABEC
Colonel, did you know?
Waters grins. Ali scurries back to the kitchen. Abdulh emerges, comes to the table and sits next to Shale.
ABDULH
My primrose of the sands. I have emptied my pockets and bought a ranch in Oregon. I have purchased the finest camels. One hundred poor suffering beasts who have frozen all winter. I have bought 1,000 of the finest cattle. Your home awaits.
SHALE
Where'd you get that kind of money?
ABDULH
I sold my place in Accra. I made some money thanks to your Mr. Johnson. I have invested everything I have at your request. My entire family is here waiting for the news of when we can be married.
SHALE
How did you get into the country?
ABDULH
I have neglected to tell you. I am an American citizen. I was born in New Jersey.
VRABEC
I thought you were Lebanese.
ABDULH
Just as you are Czech. My parents emigrated to Newark to escape the Turks. They own a restaurant there. Yes I am Lebanese. But I am an American as well.
SHALE
I don't believe this is happening to me.
WATERS
It is.
Shale buries her face in her hands, and starts crying
ABDULH
Have I offended you?
Shale looks up, and wipes a tear from her eyes.
SHALE
This is so goddamned romantic. You really bought 100 camels?
ABDULH
I would prefer, for the camel's sake, that we sold them to the circus and some zoos. Your Oregon is not a very good place for them.
SHALE
Sell them.
ABDULH
Does that mean you accept?
SHALE
I do.
She hugs Abdulh. The BELLY DANCER, who has been grinding away in the background, and getting more and more frustrated with everyone's attention being focused on Shale and Abdulh, leans over and catches Abdulh's attention.
BELLY DANCER
May your wife be your curse.
ABDULH
Drinks on the house! Let the celebration begin!
The place explodes in music and dancing and wild celebration.
INT. PENTAGON HALLWAY
Vrabec is walking down the hall carrying a load of files. He encounters Chase.
CHASE
Vrabec! Fancy meeting you here.
VRABEC
Investigated Johnson, did you.
CHASE
Of course.
VRABEC
I wonder how much of that gold ended up in your pockets.
CHASE
I understand you have the highest level of security clearance now that you are involved in the war plans.
VRABEC
I do.
CHASE
Then come with me to my office and let's have a chat.
INT. CHASE'S OFFICE
Chase's office is equal in size to Jones. His desk is covered with folders marked "TOP SECRET".
CHASE
I'm not really involved in public relations.
VRABEC
What sort of contraband are you smuggling now to keep the brass happy?
CHASE
I'm really a G-2 officer.
VRABEC
Intelligence?
CHASE
Sometimes I think the words military and intelligence are mutually exclusive.
VRABEC
So what does that have to do with Johnson?
CHASE
Top secret. Johnson was one of us. The gold wasn't really stolen.
Chase picks up one of the TOP SECRET files and opens it.
VRABEC
Wasn't stolen?
CHASE
Roosevelt ordered the gold to be delivered to Stalin. Some people who shall remain nameless didn't think that was such a good idea giving Uncle Joe that kind of dough. The theft was a ruse. The gold is safely where it belonged in the first place. Fort Knox.
VRABEC
I don't believe any of this.
CHASE
Our Mr. Johnson officially has taken the blame for the theft. But he is happily ensconced back in Africa with a new identity.
VRABEC
Prove it.
CHASE
OK. You will receive a package by courier. Eyes only. Destroy what you find inside and never breath a word of this to anyone. Johnson wants you to know he's alive and well.
INT. VRABEC'S OFFICE A FEW DAYS LATER
Courier enters and has Vrabec sign for delivery of a package marked Top Secret. Vrabec opens the package and finds a photo of Johnson holding a newspaper from the day before. The newspaper is from Accra. Johnson is dressed like a native chief. There is a banana wrapped in a French Franc, and a note inside.
VRABEC
(reading) Us pirates should stick together. Kareem...
Vrabec whistles. Chase pops into the office.
CHASE
Satisfied?
VRABEC
I don't think I'll ever be satisfied. Or understand all of what is going on.
CHASE
Another tip. You're working on the invasion plans, right?
VRABEC
Right.
CHASE
It'll never happen.
VRABEC
The invasion?
CHASE
July 17th. Watch for a news story around then about an earthquake in New Mexico.
VRABEC
An earthquake?
CHASE
I still have to keep the brass happy. That includes keeping a bunch of eggheads in New Mexico down on the farm. They're building an atomic bomb.
VRABEC
Atomic what?
CHASE
A bomb so powerful it might destroy the whole state. We don't know yet. But if it works, we're going to use it on the Japs.
VRABEC
Why July 17th?
CHASE
We're going to test one. Very very secret.
VRABEC
You're pulling my leg.
CHASE
Just watch the papers. There will be a bright light in the west. And the war will soon be over if it works.
VRABEC
If this was for real, I'd think they'd tell us about it. We are planning for an invasion.
CHASE
If it works, your plans will have to change. And you'll be told officially. Don't act like you know anything. This is very hush hush. But I thought you should know. You're going to have to do some quick re-work on your plans. And a lot of people around here are impressed with you and Waters. Friends should always have an edge on things.
VRABEC
I don't exactly think of you as a friend.
CHASE
You'd be in Levenworth if it wasn't for friends like me. Play ball. And some day remember who helped you when the chips were down.
VRABEC
Prison?
CHASE
If Dross had gotten his way, yes.
VRABEC
An atomic bomb?
CHASE
You never heard about it.
INT. DAY ROOM. ATC HQ. JULY 17, 1945.
A drab room with naugahyde couches, olive drab wooden tables, a radio, and piles of newspapers and magazines. Vrabec is reading the morning's Washington Post. He catches a small item about an earthquake in New Mexico the night previously.
CLOSEUP: NEWS ITEM DATELINED JULY 18, NEW MEXICO. HEADLINE: "EARTHQUAKE NEAR LOS ALAMOS"
INT. POTSDAM. JULY 24, 1945.
President Truman, several of his cabinet, and General Franklin are meeting in an elegant mansion's dining room.
TRUMAN
The crews are in position?
FRANKLIN
They're set to fly from Tinian.
TRUMAN
Target cities?
FRANKLIN
Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Niigata and Kokura.
TRUMAN
I thought Kyoto was on the list.
FRANKLIN
Last minute change. Nagasaki was substituted. Kyoto is a cultural center and has no military value.
TRUMAN
How many bombs do we have?
FRANKLIN
Two for sure. A third will be ready by 14 August. More after.
TRUMAN
I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. This'll end the war before we have to invade. If we don't use the bombs, and your estimates are correct, I'd have to explain to the parent's of a lot of our boys why we didn't use this when we had it.
FRANKLIN
They're training school children and women to fight with sticks. If we have to hit those beaches we're going to have to fight for every inch of the country.
TRUMAN
I'm going to issue a surrender ultimatum. Hirohito has until August 2nd. Cut the orders. On or after August 2nd. All four cities as the bombs become available. Target choice is for the field commander.
INT. NATIONAL AIRPORT LOBBY SUNDAY JULY 29, 1945.
Vrabec is sleeping on a bench in the lobby. Two MP's approach him and roust him.
1ST MP
Major Charles Vrabec?
VRABEC
That's me.
2ND MP
Chase was right. Find the only air conditioned building on this side of the river and we'd find our man.
VRABEC
Am I in some kind of trouble?
1ST MP
We are advised that you know the combination to the safe containing the current war plans. Is that correct?
VRABEC
I've got a good memory for numbers.
1ST MP
They change the combination daily. You have today's combination?
VRABEC
I don't think I am authorized to answer that question.
2ND MP
By authority of the Commanding General of the United States Army Air Force you are under arrest. Please come with us and do not make things difficult.
EXT. PENTAGON
The two MP's escort Vrabec form a car and into the building.
INT. PENTAGON
Vrabec is led a safe in an office.
1ST MP
Open the safe.
VRABEC
No.
2ND MP
OPEN THE SAFE!
VRABEC
How do I know you're not enemy agents?
Both MP's pull their weapons and point them at Vrabec's head.
VRABEC
Go ahead and shoot me. I'm not going to do it.
The MP's cock their pistols. General Franklin walks in.
FRANKLIN
Goddammit Vrabec don't be a hero. We've got a room full of generals waiting for those plans and you're the only son of a bitch we could find on Sunday afternoon who could get the damned plans from the safe. Open it and come with me.
Vrabec opens the safe, removes a bundle of documents, and meekly follows General Franklin down the hall and into a large meeting room. Around the conference table are seated 12 generals.
INT. PENTAGON MEETING ROOM.
Vrabec deposits the war plans on the table, snaps a salute, and heads for the door.
FRANKLIN
Just where in the hell do you think you're going Major?
VRABEC
Respectfully sir, I was ordered to open the safe and deliver the plans. I'm done. Aren't I?
FRANKLIN
You helped develop these plans, didn't you?
Vrabec is standing at rigid attention, and beads of sweat are running down his face.
VRABEC
Yes sir.
FRANKLIN
Then give us a quick briefing about what's in those plans. First, though raise your right hand. The information you are about to hear is classified for release only by the President of the United States. Do you understand?
Vrabec raises his right hand. His hand is shaking.
VRABEC
I... I do.
FRANKLIN
Under penalty of death do you swear to preserve the information you may learn at this meeting until and unless released by the President of the United States?
VRABEC
I... I do.
FRANKLIN
At ease. (to the other generals) A good soldier. They were going to have to shoot the son of a bitch because he wouldn't open the safe.
Laughter.
FRANKLIN
Proceed. Will we be ready to invade the home islands on one November?
Vrabec fumbles with the plans for a moment.
VRABEC
I could do better if I could give a little background. It might be a little repetitive if you've studied the plans.
FRANKLIN
Proceed.
VRABEC
The plans are based on forecasts for one week, one month and eleven months into the future. They take into account our goals, our abilities, and try and match them. We constantly revise them based on actual experience versus the previous forecasts. The key to them are the assumptions driving the goals. The current plans call for the first invasion of Japan to commence on the first of November, and the second invasion the first of March. The war's end is currently forecasted at one June 46. But I have a lot of problems with the assumptions.
JONES
You do?
VRABEC
I do. First, the November invasion is premised on the re-deployment working and staging the first invasion by concentrating enough men, material, and aircraft by moving them from the European Theater to the western Pacific. The re-deployment out of Europe is working fine and we've exceeded our forecasts as far as getting everyone and everything back to the states. But most of the men coming home are high point and are being discharged.
NEWSREEL FOOTAGE
A ship in New York Harbor filled with happy men returning home from Europe.
VRABEC (cont'd)
We're 600,000 personnel short at the Pacific side. What we're ending up with is the burden of the invasion is going to fall on people that have been through hell conquering the Pacific islands, with all the new men being recent draftees with virtually no combat experience.
FRANKLIN
I am beginning to see the problem. The boys that fought in Europe are being mustered out, but the men in the Pacific still have months of fighting ahead of them.
VRABEC
We're losing a lot of our seasoned people from the Pacific as well. As many of them as can get orders to the states that are also high point are coming home. There's going to be a lot of inexperienced people hitting the beaches of Japan in November. And that's going to effect the casualty assumptions.
JONES
Explain.
VRABEC
The present casualty forecasts are based on Iwo Jima and Saipan. One island cost us 40,000 casualties.
NEWSREEL FOOTAGE.
Battle scenes from Iwo Jima.
VRABEC (Cont'd)
We're looking at ten times the men going into Japan, and opposition that will probably be more intense than anything we've seen so far. And we're looking at more than ten times the casualties because of the magnitude of evacuating those casualties. We're going to have to have ten times more capacity to airlift people back stateside for medical care and we were already stretched to our limits with much smaller battles. The dead to wounded ratio is going to be much higher simply because we're not going to be able to get them out of there fast enough to save them. The present forecast assumes 400,000 dead by June first. A million would be more realistic. That's four times what we've suffered since Pearl.
FRANKLIN
Christ.
VRABEC
There's a third problem.
FRANKLIN
More?
VRABEC
Maybe much worse. We've pushed our production limits and draft to the maximum. And the country is drained. People want the war to be over tomorrow, not almost a year form now. Europe is in ruins and we've got to do something about millions of people who are going to starve.
NEWSREEL FOOTAGE:
Scenes of devastation in Germany.
VRABEC
We are forecasting dropping two million tons of bombs on Japan over the next 11 months... as much as we dropped in Europe over three years. I think we could be looking at five million dead in Japan, and maybe an equal amount in Europe by next June due to starvation and disease.
FRANKLIN
How accurate do you think your interpretations of the forecasts are?
Vrabec gets up, and walks to the end of the room.
VRABEC
To the point it scares the hell out of me. If you take the plans to their logical conclusions, the world is going to be a very grim place in another year. We'll win the war, but we'll be so exhausted the peace will be the peace of the grave for millions. Most of the world will be back in the middle ages, and we're not going to be in a whole lot better shape.
Vrabec stops, folds his arms across his chest, and looks at the floor. There is a moment of stunned silence in the room.
FRANKLIN
Unless Hirohito surrenders it sounds like we don't have any choices.
Several generals who are seen staring at their hands look up and nod slowly.
FRANKLIN
Major Vrabec. We have a new weapon in our arsenal that will be used on the Japanese on or after August 2nd. The weapon can destroy an entire city in a single explosion. Four targets have been chosen. Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata and Nagasaki. It is called an atomic bomb and we have three of them available by the 14th, and more if needed. Unless the Japanese surrender by August 2nd, these bombs will be used. Gentlemen, how long do you think it will take them to get the message once we use this new bomb?
VRABEC
Two weeks.
FRANKLIN
Thank you Major. Jones, in spite of himself Major Vrabec has been one hell of an asset in this war. We're buying new fangled machines called computers that can't do half what this soldier has been able to accomplish. Those war plans he just summarized are mostly his work. I asked you to build me an airline and you did. And I've gotten a lot of bonuses from the men you picked to run your outfit. A bigger bunch of rabble I've never seen, but they did one hell of a job. (To Vrabec) I understand when you were drafted you didn't want to have much to do with our little war?
VRABEC
(Sheepishly.) No sir. I just wanted to stay alive and I didn't want to hurt anyone.
FRANKLIN
That could be said for all nine million of us in uniform. But war doesn't give men like us happy choices. Major, you've done your job exceedingly well. I'm going to be recommending you for a medal for extraordinary service to the United States. And after this damned war is over, I'd sure be pleased if you'd stay with us because we have an Air Force to build for the future.
Vrabec stands there dumbstruck.
VRABEC
(stuttering.) A medal?
JONES
It sure as hell looked to me like you were ready to get shot for refusing to open that safe. And your plans and report give us clearly no option but to go forward with the use of the atom bombs. I'd say that kind of courage and contribution rates a medal.
The other generals nod in approval.
FRANKLIN
Thank you Major Vrabec. Your commanding officer will have new orders on his desk in the morning. You are to plan for a war's end in mid-August and your unit will be responsible for air lifting in 250,000 occupation troops by one September. Thank you. Dismissed.
A stunned Vrabec leaves the room, and walks dazedly down the hall.
INT. WATER'S OFFICE. THE NEXT MORNING.
Waters has called Vrabec in. A manila envelope is lying on his desk, marked Top Secret.
WATERS
The general just delivered this little package himself. He said you know what it's about.
VRABEC
Open it.
Waters opens the envelope, looking strangely at Vrabec.
VRABEC
There was a meeting yesterday. I was the only one they could lay hands on who had the combination to the safe where the war plans were.
Waters reads the orders.
WATERS
A war's end in two weeks. But it doesn't say why. That's a rather sudden change in assumptions.
VRABEC
You don't want to know what the new assumption is all about
WATERS
You do?
VRABEC
God I wished I didn't. It might've been better if they'd shot me.
WATERS
Shot you?
VRABEC
Some day maybe I'll be able to explain. Trust me. You'll know soon enough.
WATERS
Get the rest of the staff in here pronto. We're going to burn some midnight oil.
INT. ATC PLANS SITUATION ROOM.
A large room with maps of the various theaters of operation on the walls, people are rushing in and out. The entire staff is feverishly at work on the new plans.
EXT. DECK OF A DESTROYER. AUGUST 2, 1945.
President Truman is standing on the deck looking out over the ocean. An AIDE is standing next to him.
TRUMAN
They didn't surrender?
AIDE
No sir. And General Franklin reports the invasion plans are questionable. Says some guy named Vrabec raised serious questions about accomplishing the One November target date.
TRUMAN
Cable General Franklin. The 24 July order stands. Proceed. No hard copy of this message to be preserved.
AIDE
Anything else?
TRUMAN
Are you a religious man?
AIDE
No sir. Not really.
TRUMAN
If there is a God, and I believe there is, we should all pray tonight. Goddamned Roosevelt had to die on me.
INT. ATC PLANS SITUATION ROOM. AUGUST 5, 1945.
The staff is busy and looking like they have not had any sleep for days. Vrabec is seen staring out the window, doing nothing.
WATERS
Wake up. Is something wrong?
VRABEC
What day is it?
WATERS
August 5th.
Vrabec shakes his head as though waking up, and gets back to work.
INT. NATIONAL AIRPORT LOBBY, NEXT DAY.
Vrabec is sitting on a bench reading the newspaper when a radio broadcast is made through the PA system.
RADIO BROADCAST
An immensely powerful new bomb called an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima at 8:16 a.m., this morning Tokyo time. Initial reports are that the entire city was destroyed by a single bomb. President Truman will hold a press conference in a few moments. We are switching to the White House for President Truman...
Vrabec folds up the newspaper and walks slowly to the door.
INT. ATC PLANS SITUATION ROOM. A LITTLE LATER.
The entire plans staff is clustered around a radio listening to President Truman. Vrabec walks in.
WATERS
Vrabec. You knew about this didn't you?
Vrabec nods, and goes to his desk and starts working. Waters comes over.
WATERS
Is this it?
Vrabec has written the number 3 on the pad in front of him.
WATERS
Three more?
Vrabec hastily crumples up the paper.
WATERS
Goddammit man. Three more cities?
VRABEC
And I even know their names.
Waters grabs him by the shoulders.
WATERS
What is going on? What did you have to do with this?
VRABEC
They wanted to know about the status of the invasion. I told them. Hell they could've found out if they'd read the stuff themselves. They probably knew what the plans said. But they made me tell them. And then they decided to proceed.
Waters sits down next to Vrabec
WATERS
It's the fault of the Japs. When they bombed Pearl Harbor. They used airplanes to drop bombs on us. Ever since, the airplanes have gotten better and the bombs have gotten bigger.
VRABEC
Remember when I told you how we would drop the 2 million tons on Japan by November 1st if enough planes and bombs could be gotten?
WATERS
Yes.
VRABEC
One B-29 with an atomic bomb does the work of 100 B-29's on a regular mission. If we had 100 of those bombs, the 2 million ton goal could be reached in a single attack.
WATERS
We only have three more?
VRABEC
For now.
INT. PENTAGON HALLWAY. AUGUST 10, 1945
Vrabec is walking down the hall carrying a load of files. General Franklin is just leaving his office and sees Vrabec.
FRANKLIN
Major Vrabec. Come here.
He shows Vrabec a cablegram.
FRANKLIN
Since the Nagasaki strike, you've been probably wondering about the third bomb. Truman has ordered it held back. We think the Japs are ready to surrender.
FRANKLIN
Kokura and Niigata won't get hit?
COM GENERAL
Probably not.
The general walks away leaving Vrabec standing there.
INT. ATC PLANS SITUATION ROOM. THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 14.
The ATC plans staff are celebrating the end of the war. Vrabec is standing by himself holding a drink. He is looking very somber.
WATERS
It's over. Come on and celebrate.
VRABEC
Remember how I used to keep a map in my tent in Accra showing where I was and what the range of German bombers was?
WATERS
Yep. And you always wanted to be somewhere beyond the range of the bombers.
VRABEC
We're going to keep building better planes. You said so yourself. They are going to have longer and longer ranges. And they'll keep making atomic bombs. The bombs always seemed to get bigger and better.
WATERS
That's probably true. The Russians aren't our friends.
VRABEC
They'll build better planes and better bombs. We'll build better planes and bigger bombs.
WATERS
The Russians don't have atomic bombs.
VRABEC
Maybe someday they will. Mark my words. We're going to live to see the day when there's no place on earth a fellow like me is going to be able to get outside the range of enemy bombs.
MONTAGE:
NEWSREEL FOOTAGE OF CROWD SCENE IN TIMES SQUARE CELEBRATING VJ DAY.
HEADLINE FROM NEW YORK TIME ANNOUNCING THAT THE SOVIETS HAVE DEVELOPED THEIR ATOM BOMB
TELEVISION NEWS FOOTAGE OF ICBM BEING LAUNCHED FROM SILO
INT 747 LIVE ACTION:
Stewardess is handing out drinks and magazines.
CREDITS START ROLLING.
PHOTOS OF EACH MAIN CHARACTER IN BOX OVER 747 SCENE WITH A CUTLINE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO EACH OF THEM AFTER THE WAR.
* * *
PHOTO: JJ WITH A WIFE AND 12 CHILDREN
CUTLINE:
JJ became a Brazilian citizen in 1954 and is now the Chairman of the Board of Brazil Distilleries.
* * *
PHOTO: THE PILOT UNLOADING CHICKENS FROM A C-47.
CUTLINE:
The Pilot is the owner of Trans-Brazil Cargo Service.
* * *
PHOTO: GENERAL DROSS
CUTLINE:
General Dross retired from active duty in 1950 and is a resident of Sun City.
* * *
PHOTO: CHASE SITTING BEHIND AN ENORMOUS DESK
CUTLINE:
Robert Chase is President of the Bank of New York, after having served as the chief of Defense Intelligence for 8 years.
* * *
PHOTO: ABDULH SITTING ON A HORSE DRESSED AS A COWBOY
CUTLINE:
Abdulh is chairman of the Oregon Cattle Growers Association.
* * *
PHOTO: SHALE
CUTLINE:
Naomi Shale was elected to Congress from the 2nd Congressional District and served as chairwoman of the House Armed Services Committee from 1952 to 1960.
* * *
PHOTO: JONES
CUTLINE:
General Jones returned to his post as President of Interworld Airlines in 1946.
* * *
PHOTO: WATERS
CUTLINE:
General Waters retired in 1956 and became Vice President for European Operations of Pan American Airlines stationed in London.
* * *
PHOTO: GREEN
CUTLINE: Served as chief investigation for Senator Joe McCarthy.
* * *
PHOTO: JOHNSON
CUTLINE:
Kareem was appointed the first Air Minister of the Republic of Ghana and built Ghana International Airlines into the best airline in Africa due to a loan from the Bank of New york approved by Chase.
* * *
PHOTO: VRABEC
CUTLINE:
Colonel Charles Vrabec left the Air Force returned to Texas in 1946 and resumed his accounting practice. On the day of the Soviet Blockadge of Berlin he was drafted into the Air Force by order of General Dross.
THE END.
