Basil Sydney credited as playing...
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris (now Marshal of the Royal Air Force) G.C.B., O.B.E., A.F.C.
- Bomber Harris: Cochrane...!
- [gestures for him to wait]
- Bomber Harris: Don't go for a minute. What do you think of Wallis' idea for bursting the Ruhr Dams?
- Air Vice-Marshal Cochrane: It sounds a bit far-fetched. But, personally, I think it could be done.
- Bomber Harris: I hope you're right. Anyway, I've given it my support, and I've had orders to get ready. I want you to take it on.
- Air Vice-Marshal Cochrane: Right, sir. I'd like to. It'll mean taking a squadron out of the line for special training.
- Bomber Harris: No. We must form a special squadron for this. And man it with experienced crews who have just finished their present thirty trips. Some of those keen youngsters won't mind doing an extra one.
- Air Vice-Marshal Cochrane: Do you have anyone in mind to command the squadron?
- Bomber Harris: Yes. Gibson.
- Bomber Harris: [Harris arrives in the Operations Room to follow the progress of the attack. Officers in the room come to attention and salute] Carry on.
- [to Cochrane]
- Bomber Harris: Well, Cocky, how's it going?
- Air Vice-Marshal Cochrane: All right so far, sir. The first wave's about twenty miles from the Dutch coast. Enemy radar has probably picked them up by now
- Bomber Harris: [Wallis and Summers have come into his office] Hello, Mutt. Wallis.
- Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.: Good morning.
- Bomber Harris: What is it you want?
- Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.: I've got an idea for destroying the Ruhr Dams. The effects on Germany would be enormous.
- Bomber Harris: I know all that. I've read the report.
- [thumps file folder on his desk]
- Bomber Harris: But, do you *really* think you can knock down a dam with *that* thing?
- Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.: Yes.
- Bomber Harris: Well, it looks clever enough on paper. But that goes for *all* of these wheezy ideas. When you try to make them work, they fall down *flat*.
- Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.: This one doesn't.
- Bomber Harris: How do you know?
- Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.: We've tested it and proved it. I've got some films here I'd like you to see.
- Bomber Harris: [mildly surprised] Why... If you've proved the thing, why hasn't it been taken up?
- Doctor B. N. Wallis, C.B.E., F.R.S.: I don't know. But the films only take five minutes to run. You could see them and judge for yourself.
- Bomber Harris: Well... All right.
- [gets up from desk and heads toward projection room]
- Bomber Harris: Send the projectionist out of the room. If this thing's as good as you say, there's no point in letting everyone know.
- [indicates his aide, Air Vice-Marshall Saundby]
- Bomber Harris: Saundby can run the film.