Memphis Belle Page #2

(CONTINUED)

5.

2B CONTINUED:

CO:

They haven't done it yet.

BRUCE:

They will. You'll make sure of

it.

He leans on the balcony and looks down at the crew. We

MOVE DOWN TO them.

EXT. CONTROL TOWER LAWN

The six boys anxiously watch for the last plane.

DANNY:

One more. It'd be great if

everyone came back today. With

the dance and everything.

CLAY:

I give them four to one. Any

takers?

JACK:

Me.

CLAY:

Show me your money, Jack.

JACK:

Gene, lend me some money.

EUGENE:

What do I look like, Wells Fargo?

DANNY:

There they are!

Danny points out at the horizon. The boys are relieved.

They push each other around a little, then turn and start

walking across the field towards the barracks. SOUND:

ENGINE SPUTTERING. (The following dialogue can be used

as the men walk away, if needed.)

VIRGE:

I heard they brought in a swell

band for the dance tonight.

DANNY:

Clay, maybe they'll let you sing

with them.

CLAY:

No siree.

(CONTINUED)

6.

3 CONTINUED:

EUGENE:

You sing to us in the plane all

the time.

CLAY:

Yeah, but you guys ain't got no

taste.

4 OMITTED

&

5

5A EXT. BASE - DAY

The plane is coming in to land. It has two feathered

props and only the left front wheel is down. The wheel

touches the runway and the plane immediately tips to

the right. It pivots on its single wheel, scraping its

belly on the runway. The props on the right side bend

back, slowing the PLANE's spin. It starts to come to

a halt, but just as it looks like it's safe, it EXPLODES

in a sudden fiery blast.

5B EXT. CONTROL TOWER LAWN - DAY

The six boys recoil with shock and disbelief. Danny

watches as long as he can, then turns away -- he

can't stand it anymore.

6 EXT. CONTROL TOWER BALCONY - DAY

Bruce is also looking at the burning plane with horror.

The CO is stony-faced. He shows no surprise and little

emotion -- he's seen it too often before.

CO:

Come on, Bruce, you wanted to meet

the officers of the Southern

Belle.

BRUCE:

Jesus, what happened? They were

almost home.

CO:

Almost. The pilot came in on one

wheel. He should have belly

landed.

(CONTINUED)

7.

CONTINUED:

BRUCE:

Are they all... ?

CO:

What do you think? Let's go,

Bruce.

He starts off the balcony. Bruce follows, but looks

over his shoulder once more at the burning plane.

6A EXT. BASE - DAY

The PLANE continues to burn. There's another small

EXPLOSION inside the plane and this BECOMES the white

flash of a photographer's camera.

7 OMITTED

thru

10

11 INT. MESS HALL - DAY

DENNIS DEARBORN is sitting stiffly in a chair, the

bomb group symbol behind him on the mess wall. Dennis,

at twenty-six, is the oldest of the crew. He's a

serious young man -- you never catch him smiling or

relaxing. His photo has just been taken by a Life

Magazine photographer. Bruce is behind the camera,

interviewing Dennis.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes