Aces High

Let us pray.

I've got one thing in particular to say to you.

Just one thing we've talked about before.

One thing that gives us peace of mind

even amidst the struggle that we find our country in.

It's a Christian thing and a British thing.

It's what the Bible teaches. It's what the Christian martyrs suffered for.

It found root in England,

and not only began to fill the land, but became the heritage of Empire.

It's the story of the crusaders,

the downfall of the Armada, the destruction of Napoleon,

and now the thing that will scatter our enemies again.

The thing is this.

Playing the game for the game's sake.

Gresham needs no introduction.

I have joined the Royal Flying Corps.

It's our new weapon to punish the Hun.

And we're giving them a good beating.

We are caning them.

And you will want to cane them too when your turn comes.

I only hope it isn't all over before you get the opportunity.

- Good-bye! - Good-bye!

- Good-bye! - Good luck! Cheers!

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Yes, please, sir? Can I help you, sir?

Yes. I'm Croft. Second Lieutenant Croft.

- You're the replacement, sir? - Yes.

- Just you, sir? - That's right.

- I'll show you to your billet, sir. - Thank you.

I'm Bennett, sir.

If there's anything you want, sir, you ask me.

I'm the best corporal, sir.

I expect you could do with a little light refreshment, couldn't you, sir?

- Yes, please. - Tea and biscuits, sir.

In the mess in 10 minutes.

Sorry about that, sir. It should have been sent on, sir.

- See you in the mess, sir. - Yes. Thank you.

I'm Croft.

Are you?

Where is everyone?

Flying. Whizzing around in circles.

Oh.

I hope you like Rich Tea, sir.

I wangled some Bourbon, but they got nicked.

- Is Rich Tea all right, sir? - Yes. Of course.

Grit biscuits.

If there's anything else you want, sir, just call.

Shall I pour?

Yes, dear. You pour.

- You're not up today, then? - Hmm. So it appears.

- Neuralgia. - Oh, dear!

Oh, just in time for tea.

- You must be Croft. - Yes.

Well, I'm very pleased to meet you.

- My name's Sinclair. - How do you do?

- You've met Crawford, I take it? - Well, not exactly.

Croft. Crawford.

Welcome to Saint Urbain. Not much of a place, I'm afraid.

- Have you had much experience with S.E.5s? - Well, about four hours.

Oh, you'll be all right then.

Mine's an Avro.

We've been doing some alterations on the windscreen.

- Do you want to look over her? - Oh, yes, very much.

"Oh, yes, very much."

Two weeks.

That's how long you're lasting now. 14 days.

So I wouldn't be so, "Oh, yes, very much," if I were you.

That's just a piece of impartial advice. Take it or leave it. Please yourself.

I'm afraid all the planes are out on patrol except...

- Except mine. - Except Crawford's, of course.

Help yourself.

- Climb all over the bloody thing. - Oh, thanks.

- Gresham is the CO here. - Yes, I know.

Incredible stroke of luck.

- Oh, you know him then, do you? - We were at the same school.

- Oh. - (man whistling)

How near the front are we?

Oh, about 10 miles due east of here.

It seems terribly quiet.

Don't worry about that. It gets much noisier in the Ypres sector.

If the wind's right. (chuckles)

- How do you like my old bus? - Marvellous.

As a matter of fact, it wasn't really a stroke of luck.

- What? Oh? - Well, me being here with Gresham.

No. I asked to come.

Pulled strings and that.

I know you shouldn't, but Gresham's a... Well, you know.

He was my House Captain.

You know, you mustn't expect him to be...

- Well, he's bound to have changed. - Oh, yes.

Come on. I'll show you Crawford's.

We had Pups before. We're damn lucky to get these.

Everybody's after them. Isn't that right, Joyce?

Yes, sir.

Go on, climb aboard.

We also got a couple of FEs

and Gresham has a Nieuport he absolutely swears by.

I can't wait to get up.

I expect he'll want you to go up with him, get to know the landmarks and so on.

It sounds like the patrol is coming in, sir.

Let's go up and see him.

- Shall we? - Mmm? Oh, yes, of course.

- You all right, sir? - Fine.

I think we've been hit on the starboard side.

Better check to see if these lines are working.

Right, sir.

Sergeant. Sir.

- We seem to have been hit on the strut. - (Croft) Gresham.

- I think we should repair this one... - Gresham.

- It may need replacing. - (Man) I'll re-rig it, sir.

It's Croft.

Sinclair. Sinclair.

We lost Dickson. He went down somewhere behind Grand Corps.

You better ring Divisional HQ. He may be all right.

Right away.

- Have those spares arrived yet? - I'm afraid they haven't.

- (Gresham) But they promised. - Well, there's still time.

- I know, but they promised. - It's not 5:00 yet.

I'll phone them now.

- Who are the replacements? - Only one.

Look, send him somewhere else, can't you?

Oh, I think that would be most irregular.

Come on, Uncle. We're all bloody irregular.

That's damned unkind.

He thinks an awful lot of you.

Oh, yes, I'm his bloody hero.

Well, that's only natural.

Maybe, but how long does it go on for? And when does it stop?

This damn thing's gone again.

And how many squadrons are there out here right now, 200?

And he arrives right here. A bloody coincidence!

- You should be pleased. - I am.

He's an awfully nice fellow.

Look at this.

Notice anything?

That's his sister.

- Oh, my God. - She thinks I'm bloody wonderful, too.

If only she knew I couldn't get inside a cockpit,

let alone fly a plane, unless I was completely plastered.

- Now, look here, old chap. - Oh, come on, Uncle.

John.

- Why don't you put in for some leave, hmm? - And go where?

Go home and breathe whisky in her face? Pretend I've got neuralgia?

No, thanks.

I'll stay here and look after him.

Well, that's what we're here for, isn't it? Looking after him and people like him.

All right?

You're all so damn young.

- (men laughing) - (playing piano)

- You know where I'm going after this? - Where?

You want to know? I'll tell you. To the hangar.

- And you know why? - Why?

To check my ammunition, run the engine, try the controls.

No offence to the mechanics they're splendid fellows, all of them,

but they don't have to go up in the sodding things.

Oh, come off it, Thompson. You'll unnerve him.

Oh! I am just telling him.

What makes me carry on when others falter.

Why I'm still here.

The MC, I have not got.

- But the CMD, I have. CMD? - Oh.

Confidence in Mechanical Details.

Oh, thank you.

- (both laughing) - (whistling)

- (soldier) Bravo! - All right.

- Have you had a drink, Croft? - Yes. Thank you, sir.

- Incredible coincidence, you being here. - Yes, wasn't it?

- How many hours have you put in? - Fifteen.

- Four of them on S.E.5s. - Oh, we'll soon knock that up.

Yes, starting tomorrow at daybreak.

Excuse me, sir. Some bad news, sir.

It's the sugar, sir, for the custard.

It's the depot, sir. They sent 200 pounds of salt in error, sir.