The Flight of the Phoenix Page #5

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Nobody could find us.

That's right, Standish. Nobody will.

HARRIS:

It's time we tried to march out of here.

Oh?

You've heard the others.

You know what they're thinking?

It's five days,

we've had two sandstorms...

- ...we're not sure they're even looking.

- They're looking.

Nevertheless, if we're

100 miles off-course...

Which way were you thinking

of marching, captain?

What is our nearest water point?

You can show me on your charts.

Well, yes, I can do that. How many

were you thinking of taking with you?

Well, apart from Sergeant Watson,

I don't know yet.

Well, perhaps now's

the time to find out.

Yes, perhaps it is.

- He can't walk out of here.

- No, of course he can't, but...

- He's entitled to try.

- He's not entitled to kill himself.

Oh, don't worry, Frank. I don't think

he's aware of the problems involved.

I'll get the maps.

HARRIS:
Gentlemen, I made a decision

and I'd like you all to hear about it.

Now, I intend marching out of here.

The plan is to travel

at night when it's cool...

...and then rest as best

we can during the day.

We leave at sundown this evening.

Sergeant Watson, would you come here?

I'll take Sergeant Watson and anybody

else who wants to come with me.

Volunteers, give me your names...

...and we'll start making

the preparations.

MORAN:

Captain Harris?

You wanted to know our position.

If you'd like to come over here,

I'll show you.

Now, gentlemen, we're in

the middle of this circle...

...which runs through

the three water points.

[STUTTERING]

That's Marada in the north, Tazerbo

in the east and Namous in the south.

Marada is 106.

Say, London to Birmingham.

Marada's not a city,

it's a flea-bitten waterhole...

...with some borax quarries,

an oil well and a few lousy palm trees.

Well, that's our objective then, Marada.

Say, captain...

...you done much marching

in desert terrain?

- On exercises and that sort of thing.

- How far?

Ten or 15 miles.

Full equipment, of course.

- Plenty of water, I suppose?

- Sufficient.

[STUTTERING]

Look, I don't know what your practical

navigation's like, mine's not bad.

But I wouldn't march

10 paces from here.

In the daytime,

it's hitting 120 in the shade...

...and out there, there is no shade.

If you could take as much

as four pints a day with you...

- ...you'd still be sweating 10.

- We intend marching by night.

Fine, well, precisely in what direction?

- There are compasses, you know.

TOWNS:
That's fine.

That's just fine.

Someday I'll have you tell me...

...what your compass was reading as

you passed the Jebel Haroudj Mountains.

They're mostly magnetic rock...

...and that sort of makes nonsense

out of the compass.

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