Twelve O'Clock High Page #3

I'd go ahead and fly it.

I was gonna bring these to you.

Had to steal them from the RAF.

Hope they're the kind you wanted.

Yeah.

Yeah. Thanks, Frank.

I won't need them at 9000.

It'll be plenty hot.

I'd better get back.

Stay put. Thought I might

run down tomorrow to see you.

- How many do you expect to put out?

- Eighteen.

- Pretty bad luck today?

- Not good.

One broke through the runway

at takeoff. Threw us late.

He never made it up. Cost us plenty.

I don't know how anybody

outguesses that one.

No.

I'd like to help locate the trouble.

What about your formation?

I can tell you where the real trouble

is, and it isn't formation.

- Shoot.

- It isn't down in the groups either.

It's up here, where a bunch of boys

get to be nothing but numbers.

Do they know what my boys

have been taking?

They'll be up all night to get 18

in the air. How much can they take?

They fall asleep at briefing.

They'll crack!

- Take it easy, Keith.

- Bomber Command can take it easy!

They'll die for you,

but they need a chance.

A man's chances run out

in 15 missions.

Somebody's gotta give them a limit.

What do you think they're made of?

Look, Keith...

[INTERCOM BUZZES]

- Yes, sir?

MAN:
Got the reports. Come up, Frank.

I'll be there in a minute, sir.

Those things are coming.

Replacements. Combat limits.

But right now the deal is to hang on.

You've got to find a way

to save yourself a bit.

You can't carry all the load.

It's too big.

Don't worry about me.

Worry about the crews,

you and the old man.

You'd better go on up and see him.

- Give him my love.

- Lf I do, he'll send you his.

He rates you high.

Not according to Lord Haw Haw.

Good night.

Never mind the reasons. You can't

make anything else out of it.

Five missing, and they'll only put up

18 tomorrow. It gets worse.

I've just been talking to Keith.

He's low enough about it.

Did he tell you what happened?

No, he had tomorrow ahead of him.

What do you make of it?

Hard luck. There's always

some outfit picks up a jinx.

You don't believe that.

Fill yourself a drink.

Thanks.

Might scare off that bug of yours.

I don't believe in hard luck.

There's always a reason.

What have you got on your mind?

Spill it.

I'd rather not.

Let's have it, with the bark on.

You won't like it. I don't.

It's the group commander.

Keith?

It's always the group commander.

It's his job, isn't it?

That's funny. He's your friend.

- I didn't ask you to ask me.

- I didn't mean it like that.

It's okay.

I don't believe it, though.

I don't think I do.

On paper Keith looked like the best

group commander we've had.

He's flown every mission.

His men are loyal to him.

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