The Dam Busters Page #5

---

Certainly. I think this

ought to convince the committee.

Splendid!

After that, it's a matter

for the Ministry of Aircraft Production.

Under normal conditions, we should go

right ahead and give you every facility.

But I'm afraid at the present moment,

it's quite impossible.

But why, after that report?

You know how difficult things are,

Mr Wallis.

The shipping losses: half a million tons

last month alone,

most of it vital war material.

We haven't got an ounce to spare

for anything except the highest priority.

Bit surely, I only want to make a few

half size dummy prototypes of my bomb.

A new weapon like this

would need highly skilled labour,

special machine tools,

factory space.

Our factories are stretched

to the last inch of their capacity.

And you know the acute shortage

of skilled labour.

But you're making

new weapons all the time.

We're always trying to improve

upon weapons of known value.

It's a different matter when we come

to revolutionary ideas,

I might almost say fantastic ones,

like this.

You mustn't think

we're unimaginative or lukewarm.

We all see the possibilities

and we'd like to go ahead.

But at present, I'm afraid it's out of

the question. Possibly next year.

For goodness sake,

let's go as far as we can now

even if it doesn't go beyond

these half size prototypes.

You could practically make those

in a bicycle shop.

Even if we made a few dummy bombs,

you say you need a Wellington bomber

for test drops.

They're worth their weight in gold.

Do you really think the authorities

would lend you one?

What possible argument could

I put forward to get you Wellington?

Well, if you tell them that I designed it,

do you think that might help?

Looks a bit choppy down there.

Smooth or choppy, it's all the same

with this bomb, Mutt.

- Ready?

- Yes.

How is the speed, Mutt?

Set at 180.

Are we all right for height?

We're all right. Bet you half a crown

it doesn't work anyhow.

Look!

It's all right, it works!

Oh!

Well, I imagine with the

success of the trials,

they'll let me go right

ahead with the real thing.

Personally, I'd like to see you

go straight ahead,

but the position is more difficult today

than it was last month.

How so?

We can't even produce enough of

existing types of bombs,

much less begin to

work on something

completely new and

completely unpredictable.

Surely they must realise if we can burst

those dams and flood the Ruhr valley

they can save the thousands of bombs

that they're dropping on the factories.

I can only pass on to you

the decision of the Ministry, Mr Wallis.

It might help if you could get the support

of somebody with personal influence.

Whom do you suggest?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes