Living on Velvet

1

Are we going to be late

for the dance, Terry?

Don't worry, Sis'. The "Parker Express"

will get to Newport alright.

It's getting pretty thick, isn't it, son?

Not so bad.

Is anything wrong, Terry?

Not a thing, mother.

Out of gas, son?

Pretty low, Dad.

I've got to find a hole quick.

What's the matter, Terry?

Nothing, mother.

I'm just trying to shake this fog.

[ Tannoy ]

"Nine pursuit planes are to take

off in an echelon "V" formation."

"Captain Ramsay will lead."

Who in the blazes is that?

Watch out for this crate coming under.

We can't understand what's going on.

This plane, that came from nowhere,

is raising havoc with the "V" formation.

Follow me.

He's disrupting the entire

formation .. what a mess.

Land by section.

Now he's waving the plane to the ground.

Either he's a practical joker,

or he's just insane.

Captain .. bring that man to me.

The Major would like

to have a talk with you.

Here he is, sir.

What's your name?

Terence C. Parker.

What the devil were you doing out there?

The "C" stands for Clarence.

Oh, I was doing a bit flying up there.

Oh, you were.

You deliberately made a

mess of our manoeuvres.

You better have a good

explanation and be quick about it.

I'm afraid if I'm quick about it,

it won't be a very good explanation.

However, with a few minutes talk

I'm sure I can give you a Jim-Dandy.

What did you say your name was?

Still, Terence C. Parker.

The "C" stands for Clarence.

Didn't you fly the airmail

a few years back?

Ah ..

Major .. this is the Terry Parker who

flew the New York/Chicago route.

You remember when, for no reason, he flew

the mail to Montreal instead of Chicago.

For no reason at all?

Oh no, that's not fair.

Have you any idea of the monotony of

flying between New York and Chicago?

And Chicago/New York, night after night.

I see .. and I suppose you thought

our manoeuvres were monotonous?

You're right, Captain. There is nothing

more monotonous than a "V" formation.

Hold this man in custody.

Now just a minute, please.

Have I violated a law or an ordinance?

I'm a licensed pilot .. I flew the

prescribed distance above the ground.

There are no speed laws

in the air, and I'm a citizen.

You violated the ..

You broke the ..

Captain, there is a perfectly good

reason for holding this man. What is it?

Sorry, Major.

You see, some good may

result from this episode.

We all realize the need

of laws for the air.

I suggest we all write our

Congressman immediately.

Gibraltar.

Hello Terry.

Lawton told me you showed up

this morning bagging baggage.

Then I discovered that

my plane was missing.

And when I heard on the radio that some

lunatic had joined the Army manoeuvres.

Well, I just put two and two

together and got "Terry".

Ah, the old mathematical genius.

Me, I never could add.

You meant to say that it was

your plane that he was using?

I'm Walter Pritcham .. a very

good friend of General Schwartz.

I'll take charge of Parker here

and see that he behaves.

I assure you we want no part of him.

Shall I warm up the plane?

No thanks. We're going

back by car and I am driving.

If you wait a minute, I'll steal

two bicycles. It's safer.

Come on.

Or a wheelbarrow made for two.

No danger at all if you push gently.

Bye Major, bye Captain, bye Lieutenant.

Bye, Private.

I see .. all in all, a

fine eighteen months.

A trip to Alaska .. thoroughly aimless.

Four months in China. Ten days in jail

for disturbing the peace in Venezuela.

Two plane smash-ups, two

broken ribs, one lawsuit.

And now an uninvited participant

in the Air Corps manoeuvres.

That sums it up nicely.

And money.

You had fifty thousand in the

bank a year and a half ago.

I'll bet you haven't

got ten thousand left.

The exact amount hovers

around five hundred.

Five hundred?

What have you got to show for it?

Cancelled cheques.

And when the five hundred

is gone, then what?

Well ..

No man living on velvet ..

What he does, or how much

he spends .. really doesn't matter.

Oh, it's that thing again.

I know Terry, but that

was two years ago.

I suffered three scratches

and a headache.

But Dad .. mother .. Cynthia ..

Fini.

I really shouldn't have lived.

The three dearest people

in the world were dead.

I have no right to take

advantage of a miracle.

So you see, Gibraltar, I ..

I really died with them.

At that moment.

Every minute since then.

Every minute from

now on .. is Pure Velvet.

Of course, I appreciate

your feeling. Everybody does.

But after all ..

Is all this aimless shifting

about the world necessary?

And this mania for mad flying.

What on earth makes you do it?

I don't know.

It's something ..

Up there.

Something that tried to get

me once .. and didn't.

I'm giving it another chance, that's all.

That's sportsmanship.

That's bosh!

We've a lot of respect for each

other, the heavens and I.

We've even grown sort of friendly.

Lawton, phone Curtis Field and have them

keep my plane in a hangar overnight.

Yes, sir.

Have you any idea why I am shaving?

You're going to a party.

Oh. Who's party?

Amy Prentiss's party.

Who is Amy Prentiss?

The girl I might marry.

Oh. Well in that case, I'll have

to give myself a good shave.

What's she like?

About 45. Weighs a little over 200.

Her eyes are blue.

The good one, that is.

Complexion, spotty. She's ..

I'm sure she's divine.

The exact word.

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