The Flight of the Phoenix

Mr Moran, we going to be on time in Benghazi?

I don't see why not, Gabriele.

I'll ask Captain Towns to make a special point of it.

'1350. Radio out of service.

'Voltage regulators inoperative.

'Holding course for Benghazi.'

Thanks, Mike. I'll let you have them back.

- How's it going up there? - Lousy.

Never yet taken off in one of Arabco's old tubs without something being wrong.

This time we've got faulty regulators and a duff radio.

Yeah, well, don't let that hold you up, mate. I've got two months' leave coming in.

It's not the company's time we're flying on.

Radios are no good anyway. I got a radio.

Record players are nice, though. Reliable.

Thank you, Doctor.

- Cigarette? - No, thank you.

It's good of you oil people to give the Army a lift.

Not at all.

That's not much good, is it, Sergeant? Stow it away with the cargo.

Oh, I meant to tell you,

the number four control pulley on the starboard side seems a bit noisy.

Perhaps binding a bit. I don't know, I couldn't see properly.

I don't feel it up here.

I'd better have a look.

Hand me the flashlight.

- Are you ready for another flying lesson? - Haven't recovered from the last one yet.

Oh, now, I got her all trimmed up for you.

Just hold her straight.

Straight and level, two-zero degrees. Here, I'll take that.

Straight. Now, don't over-control it. Don't sway it.

Thank you very much.

I say, don't leave me holding this thing forever, will you?

Hi, skipper.

How are you?

Hey, Mr Bill. Here, try this.

It's real good for you.

One drink, the girl comes out of the picture and bites you.

Hey, skipper, you want some ouzo?

- Make you fly real good. - No thanks, son. I'm driving.

I reckon I deserve this. Listening to that wog music has given me a headache.

The pulley's all right. Squeaking a little, that's all.

- How are you getting along with your work? - Magnificently.

But I think someone up there knows that I'm flying this thing.

That's quite a respectable sandstorm he's sending our way.

Yep, I've seen it.

So much for your weather report.

Let's have a look at that chart.

- If this thing closes in on us... - This old bird will need a coat of paint.

- What alternate did you nominate? - El Aouzzad.

Three stinking mud huts and a poison well. That's not a place, that's a disease.

Oh, now, Lew, don't worry.

We're not about to start turning to alternates just yet.

We're bigger than a little local sandstorm.

Old Auntie at traffic management's gonna have kittens.

A pilot is supposed to use his own judgement, don't you think?

Gee, if it weren't for that...

I don't know, Lew...

I suppose pilots are just as good now as they ever were,

but they sure don't live the way we did.

Well, I can tell you that there were times

when you took real pride in just getting there.

Flying used to be fun.

It really did, Lew.

It used to be fun.

- You don't think perhaps we should...? - Head for the alternate?

You'd better take a look out the window. We're being followed.

There goes our alternate.

That stuff up ahead looks like it's rising.

We'd better find out just how high it does go.

I must say, without a radio, I would have expected them

to turn for the alternate airport by now.

Wouldn't you?

I don't know you, do I, boy? Are you from the oil field?

My brother is there. Dorfmann.

I went to visit him on my holiday.

- You went to visit your brother in Jebel? - Yes.

He's chief analytical geophysicist for the Arabco Oil Company.

That pilot...

I would have thought he was a little elderly to be flying without a co-pilot.

Wouldn't you?

That sand's a bastard, you know that?

A real bastard.

Hey, Standish.

Not while the train's in the station, eh?

It's not gonna let up, Frank.

There she goes.

Are we gonna put her down?

That right engine didn't make it, the other one probably won't either.

We're gonna have to put her down before this one quits, too.

Can you get any lift out of her at all?

Well, maybe enough to hop over a few sand dunes.

I'm gonna have to make it on the first try, if that's what you mean.

We going in with our wheels down?

I'd give anything not to, but we'll never get up again if I don't.

No, I suppose not.

What's happening? What is it?

The lights are shorting out. It's gonna start a fire.

The cargo!

It's breaking apart!

Oh, no!

Lew?

Lew?

Come on, come on. Get a flashlight.

Let me out of here. Come on, run. Run!

It's gonna blow! Get away from the plane!

Maria.

Maria...

Harris, keep those guys together. She won't burn now.

Get them back there under the wing before we lose somebody.

Lew, see if you can get the emergency lighting system...

There are three trapped in the back. Three trapped in the back!

Dr Renaud!

Dr Renaud!

Dr Renaud!

Come on. Come on!

Careful. All together now. Easy.

Here it comes.

The leg is entirely crushed.

- See if you can find my bag. - What about the other two back here?

- They've had it. They've what?

Frank.

Skipper!

What are we gonna do now?

Do you want to say something?

Like what? "Sorry"?

There. Make it secure, will you?

Captain, don't you think it's time we started getting things organised all round?

Yes, I think you're right.

I'll get Sergeant Watson to make up some containers for flares.

- We'll need some of your fuel. - Leave that to Moran.

Maybe you'd better check on our water supply and figure up some kind of rationing.

How much longer do you estimate we'll have to be here?

I mean, I take it there will be an air search before long.

Um...

Yes, well, we're not due in Benghazi till... well, now.

He's a right little organiser, your captain, isn't he?

Yeah, they're all the same.

Toffee-nosed bunch of gits.

You shouldn't have joined, should you?

I never did.

I was what they call a boy soldier. Me dad joined me.

- Did he? - Attendant at the public baths, he was.

November 21st, 1934.

Me mum made me a sponge cake for me birthday tea.

Next morning the old man walked me down our street straight into the barracks.

"You'll be all right," he said. "You'll like it. I know you will."

1934, eh?

You didn't have to join for bleeding life, did you?

I don't know.

One thing leads to another, doesn't it?

Hey, Fritz!

Give us the loan of your book when you're finished, will you?

I don't think you'll find it interesting.

Oh, incidentally...

My name is Dorfmann, Heinrich Dorfmann.

Go on. Is it really?

Yes.

Hey, Sergeant, his name's Dorfmann. Heinrich Dorfmann.

What's the matter, Doc? - Nothing, Mr Cobb. Nothing.

- How are you feeling today? - All right.

What do you care? Anyway, why ask me?

You got it all written down in that little black book, haven't you?

No, no. I have nothing written down, Mr Cobb. Nothing.

Yeah?

- Then why don't you show it to me, huh? - Any time you wish.

Right now, though, I have to have a look at Gabriele.

What a crummy quack.

They're all alike, huh? Huh?

'1600 hours. March 17th.'

What...

What about my wife, Doctor?

No, don't think about it now. She'll be all right. She'll be fine.

Do you have any kind of liquor on board?

Well, there's still some morphine left. Wouldn't that be better?

Erm...

I would like to save it for when the pain gets worse.

Doctor.

'Cause of crash: pilot error.'

Is it all right if we issue the water ration now, Mr Towns?

Sure, go ahead.

- Work something out? - Yes, I think so.

Could I have your attention, please?

We have something important to say concerning our water supply.

Now, there is just under a full measure for each of us here.

And Dr Renaud informs me that we shall require, as an absolute minimum,

one pint of water per person per day. Is that right, Doctor?

Yes, that's right.

Now, on the basis of the 15 gallons in the emergency tank,

that gives us roughly 10 to 11 days.

That is, of course, if we just sit here and don't exert ourselves in any way.

Hey, Lightning, do you hear that?

You're not to wear yourself out.

As we are somewhat off our original course,

and unless we are certain of being picked up,

I think we ought to make do with the absolute minimum.

- Is that understood? Hear, hear.

Hear, hear. Hear, hear.

Yeah. - All right, Mr Towns?

Sounds reasonable.

If we have enough water for all that time,