t you dare.
Yeah?
No, Odie, this is, uh...
Not a good time.
Well, for chrissakes,
We can't make the Hercules
if we don't have any aluminum.
Wait.
No. No.
I can hear you better now.
Look, you tell
the war production board
That this is an essential
strategic operation.
Odie, if they're giving aluminum
to Douglas, Northrop and Boeing,
They sure as hell can give
some to Hughes aircraft.
Don't set the ice cream--
Meantime, we gotta think
of something else.
If we can't get aluminum,
we'll have to find another way.
Christ. I don't know,
you tell me.
We'll find some alloy
that works just as well.
Right. Look, o--
If we can't get any aluminum,
We'll just have to
use wood.
Odie:
You can't make a 200-ton plane
out of wood.
Why the hell not? The damn thing
is a flying boat, right?
What do they use to make boats?
Oak.
Think of the Hercules
like a flying Spanish galleon.
Spanish galleons
could weigh 1200 tons.
Good luck today, huh?
Howard:
We just have to find
the right kind of wood.
Something light but strong.
Man:
Morning, Kate.
Odie:
Pine, cedar,
maybe birch.
Man:
Catch!
From my farm.
If you like it,
I can get you a bushel.
Trouble with Mr. Hughes?
[laughs]
There's too much Howard Hughes
in Howard Hughes.
[chuckles]
That's the trouble.
[light jazz playing]
[jazz continues playing
over radio]
Beautiful.
Don't you even
take Christmas off?
Nice to see you, bob.
Sorry, I've, ahem, got
grease on my hands.
Have we got something
to show you.
[%%]
Take a look.
The XF-11 reconnaissance flier.
Spy plane, really.
I figured I needed
to do 'em 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?
Eighty-six thousand,
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.
[all chuckle]
[clears throat]
Yeah.
Bob, you got
something on your suit.
Hmm?
Yeah.
On your lapel there.
You got something on your lapel.
Bob.
Right there, bob.
You missed it.
Right there.
Clean it off,
would you?
Here. Thanks.
No, throw it away.
No, over there.
Thanks.
So, uh, what do you call her?
The constellation,
but we can change that.
No, 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?
Bob: We'll give you the first
40 planes off the assembly line.
Jack: That should give us about
two years' exclusivity with her.
Hell, more than that.
United and American don't have
The imagination
for a plane like this.
Bob: Two years ahead
of Juan Trippe, then.
How much?
Four hundred and
fifty thousand each.
So that's 18 million
for the first 40.
[chuckles]
Hell, TWA can't afford that.
The damn airline's flat-broke.
[sighs]
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.
Noah [over phone]:
You have just placed
the largest order for airplanes
In the history of the damn
planet, Howard.
Lockheed just sent us a Bill
for $18 million.
Now, now. Don't you get all
hysterical on me, Noah.
It isn't good for you.
This is a lot of money
for some planes, Howard.
Yes, I know it's a lot of money.
It's too damn much.
You think I just got
$18 million in petty cash?
Look, I should've told you
earlier. It slipped my mind.
Slipped your mind?
Oh, for God's sakes.
Right.
Look, I'll get back
to you. Bye.
How could 18 million goddamn
dollars slip your mind?
Hey, honey.
What are you doing home?
You're not one for