better now.
Tell the War Production Board...
...that this is an essential
strategic operation.
If they're giving aluminum to Boeing,
they can give some to Hughes Aircraft.
Don't set the ice cream...
We gotta think of something else. If we
can't get aluminum, we'll find another way.
You tell me. We'll find
some alloy that works just as well.
Right. Look...
- lf we can't get aluminum, we'll use wood.
- You can't make a plane out of wood.
Why not?
The damn thing is a flying boat, right?
- What do they use to make boats?
- Oak.
And think of The Hercules
like a flying Spanish galleon.
Spanish galleons
can weigh 1200 tons.
Good luck today.
We just have to find the right wood.
Something light but strong.
- Morning, Kate.
- Pine, cedar, maybe birch.
Catch.
From my farm.
If you like it, I can get you a bushel.
Trouble with Mr. Hughes?
There's too much Howard Hughes
in Howard Hughes.
That's the trouble.
Catch.
From my farm.
If you like it, I can get you a bushel.
Trouble with Mr. Hughes?
There's too much Howard Hughes
in Howard Hughes.
That's the trouble.
Beautiful.
Don't you take Christmas off?
Nice to see you.
Sorry, I've got grease on my hands.
Have we got something to show you.
Take a look. The XF-11
reconnaissance flier. Spy plane, really.
Designed every inch of her myself.
She's got a top speed of 450...
...which means she can outrun
anything they throw against her.
After the Japs stole
my H-1 design for their Zeros...
...I needed to do them one better.
Yeah, she's my Buck Rogers ship.
She's a looker.
Okay, what do you got for me?
Jiminy Cricket.
Seating capacity for 60.
Wingspan, 123 feet.
Four Double Cyclone engines.
Her ceiling's 25,000 feet.
- Gross weight?
- 86,000, wing loading of 41 pounds.
So less drag on the plane in thinner air.
So high-cruise power, you're looking
at a top speed of around 340.
Giving her a range of about 3000 miles.
- Cross-country.
- Nonstop.
Bob...
...you know something?
You are a son of a bitch.
Yeah. Bob, you got
something on your suit.
Yeah.
On your lapel.
You got something on your lapel.
Right there, Bob.
You missed it. Right there.
Clean it off, would you?
Here. Thanks.
No, throw it away.
No, over there.
Thanks. So, what do you call her?
The Constellation,
but we can change that.
No, no.
It's pretty. I like her.
So, what kind of deal can you give me?
What kind of deal can you give me?
The first 40 planes off the assembly line.
That should give us about
two years' exclusivity.
Hell, more than that.
United and American don't have
the imagination for a plane like this.
Two years ahead of Juan Trippe, then.
How much?
Four hundred and fifty thousand each.
So that's 18 million for the first 40.
Hell, TWA can't afford that.
The damn airline's flat broke.
Guess I'll just have
to pay for them myself.
Build them, Bob.
Send the bill to Noah Dietrich.
Oh, and thank you.
Merry Christmas.
You've just placed the largest order for
airplanes in the history of the damn planet.
Lockheed sent us a bill for $ 18 million.
Don't get all hysterical on me, Noah.
It isn't good for you.
- This is a lot of money for planes.
- I know it's a lot of money.
It's too damn much. You think I've got
$ 18 million in petty cash?
I should've told you. It slipped my mind.
- Slipped your mind? Oh. For...
- Right.
- I'll get back to you. Bye.
- How could $ 18 million slip your mind?
Hey, honey.
What are you doing home?
You're not one for tears, and, well...
...neither am I,
so it's best to come out with it.
I've met someone.
I've fallen in love and I'm moving out.
If I could make it
any more gentle, I would.
But I can't, so...
...there we both are.
Let's be honest.
It's all been a grand adventure,
but it couldn't possibly last.
We're too alike, you and I.
You met someone?
Someone more appropriate.
To me, I mean.
What does that mean,
"more appropriate"?