The Loneliest Place in the World - Recap

Opens with the 918th squadron coming back from a bombing raid in Germany.
Lt. Col. Joe Gallagher sees General Savage’s plane smoking. He asks his co-pilot (Dan)
about it, but he thinks it’s just exhaust. A straggler B-17 is in view. Joe’s left waist
gunner spots it. Joe tells his co-pilot to fire the recognition flares, but the straggler
calls on radio. Since he seems legitimate, Joe tells the straggler to join the formation.
It does. Then the pilot of it tells his German crew to fire and General Savage is hit.
The wounded co-pilot tells Sergeant Komansky, the flight engineer, to fire the flares turning the command of the squadron over to Gallagher. Lt .Colonel Heindorf asks Gallagher if he can pursue the straggler. He says “negative”. Gallagher yells at the formation to close up, they’re flying all over the sky. With the General diving in flames, Heindorf asks Gallagher if he can ride herd on Savage. Negative. Heindorf pleads it is the skipper. Gallagher yells Get off the air! Look out for fighters and maintain radio silence.

(12 O’Clock High theme music with introduction and guest stars)

Act I
It is raining at night. A general’s staff car drives to command headquarters at the base. A gentleman with a cane emerges in his trench coat. Men salute him as he approaches the door. Inside, Heindorf complains that there was a blue arrow code and there was a blue
arrow up over Hamburg. Lt. Col. Frank Bailey says if Major Stovall can get confirmation… at that moment Stovall says “HUP!” General Britt says “At Ease.”
Stovall, Heindorf and Bailey introduce themselves by last names---Stovall, executive
officer, Britt demands Gallagher. “Heindorf, sir” “Bailey, sir.” Britt asks what they are doing. Heindorf says they are waiting for a call about the skipper. Britt makes himself clearer “With the charts, I mean.” They are hoping for “ …hoping for permission?” Britt finishes, knowing they want a mission of vengeance. Britt goes over to the chain of command picture board. He removes General Savage’s picture, indicating his death. He explains there was only one survivor: Sergeant Komansky, the flight engineer. Bailey bows his head in mourning. Gallagher comes in, salutes, introduces himself. Britt tells
him “At ease.” Britt tells Bailey and Heindorf that the Luftwaffe intends to bury Savage
with honors. All of them salute and leave, but Britt tells Gallagher to stay. Britt tells
Gallagher he saw his father last week : he looks fine. Britt expresses regret over Savage,
Gallagher says we all are one of a kind. Britt makes reference to Bailey and Heindorf’s
planning of the mission of vengeance. Gallagher answers that he doesn’t believe that
a heavy bomb group makes a very good posse, that they know they don’t make up their
own missions. Britt chides Gallagher for letting them do so, but Gallagher says it wouldn’t set well to tell them they couldn’t. Britt reminds Gallagher Savage made him
commander, but Gallagher corrects Britt that it was a temporary assignment, that he
(Gallagher himself) didn’t do a very good job. Britt chides that it was not a mistake
to leave Savage out alone, but Gallagher says letting the straggler join the formation
certainly was, but again Britt chides Gallagher for his assuming cooperation from the
Germans. Now Gallagher demands General Britt tell him why he’s here. General Britt
lifts the telephone “ I came here as a simple messenger, Colonel Gallagher, but when I got here I found the (hello, this is General Britt, I want to speak to Division, to General Pritchard) I found the commanding officer absent, and the senior officers in a coffee clotch playing a game of ‘hide and seek’ and ‘cops and robbers’ like a bunch of school kids!” “Sir my authority is---my authority is only technical. Orders have only been issued
making me a squadron commander.” “Oh, Colonel, if a piece of paper had authority we
could win this war with mimeograph machines: orders don’t make leaders!” Britt says
on the telephone he wants to stay to find a permanent commander for the group.

The flag at the base is lowered to half mast in mourning of General Savage.
Sergeant Komansky salutes. His buddies McVaigh, Shorty and Al want a first-hand
report on the General. McVaigh is very serious, but Komansky has a report to make
to Major Stovall. He inadvertently knocks General Savage’s desk name block out of
the technician’s arms onto the floor. Komansky apologizes, but upon seeing it is
General Savage’s name, he is dejected, bows head when he hands the block to the
technician. He salutes Major Stovall, Stovall says he’s glad Komansky made it back.


At base headquarters, General Britt questions Colonel Heindorf about his ability to
command the 918th. He says Col. Bailey’s candidate is Col. Bailey. They salute
to dismiss.

At headquarters Sergeant Komansky asks the technician about his pass to leave the base. He says to ask the Colonel (Gallagher). He knocks on the door. Gallagher answers come in. Komansky comes in, salutes. Gallagher answers with his salute, asks Komansky to
come over. He asks Komansky whether the General (Savage) had a chance. None of
them did. Komansky is impertinent and candid that everyone flew off and left them
all alone, but Gallagher answers that the group was acting in obeyance to orders,
following procedure. Komansky was ordered to bail out. Not wanting any more
wise remarks, Gallagher gives Komansky his pass. They salute, Komansky leaves
in proper about-face. Gallagher ponders Komansky’s bitterness.

Act 2
At base headquarters, Gallagher complains to Major Stovall that he has two planes
grounded because he can’t get simple engine parts. Stovall tells him that General Savage
had to fight for every nut and bolt. Gallagher is not appeased and asks angrily “Doesn’t anyone do any work around here?” Realizing he is just unloading on Stovall, Gallagher
apologizes. Stovall smiles, says it’s eight o’clock. Why don’t you call it a day?
Gallagher agrees. Gallagher tells Stovall to review the new recognition signals, that
any straggler who does not identify by CW with be shot down, and please make that clear
---it’s an eighth Air Force order, it applies to all planes and all pilots. Lt. Colonel Frank Bailey comes in, wants to see Gallagher. Bailey complains about Sergeant Komansky being assigned to his plane. Komansky is a good engineer, but Bailey dislikes his
sour demeanor, needs good morale. Gallagher is thrust into giving his buddy an order
that Komansky flies with him. Gallagher doesn’t like this, looks out window.

At the Langham Hotel (Wing command) restaurant, Gallagher comes in class “A” uniform (Army formal coat and tie). The tuxedo-clad waiter is about to take him to
his table, but Gallagher sees Sergeant Komansky at his own table. He greets Komansky,
talks of Komansky try at officer’s school. Suzanne Arnais arrives, Gallagher must leave,
but Suzanne says don’t leave because of her. Gallagher grins, “Definitely not because of you.” He explains he is waiting for someone. General Britt arrives, Gallagher explains
he is that someone. Suzanne says that General Britt is a good friend. Gallagher must now
go to the General, expresses his farewells. General Britt and Colonel Gallagher shake
hands. Britt waves to Suzanne. “Oh, she is a friend of yours.” “Something wrong with that?” “No, it’s very fortunate, now you can tell me who she is.” Britt explains that
Suzanne Arnais works for the Free French, she works as a liaison for the English news
media. Sergeant Komansky tries to get romantic, but Suzanne says since he told her to
meet her here, they’ll do business only. Colonel Gallagher complains he doesn’t want
Savage’s job, that he wanted to salute Col. Bailey, not tell him he had to do things his way. Britt asks why he didn’t give Bailey his way. “Because he needs a good engineer
and that is exactly what Komansky is.” Britt says he agrees with almost everything he
has done, now how is he going to take him off the job---he’s earning it. Britt tells the
waiter to bring Gallagher brandy.


The squadron is in the air. A straggler is identified by Gallagher’s right waist gunner at
4 0’Clock high. Gallagher orders the straggler to identify by CW. No answer. He counts
5,4,3,2,1 then orders all planes to shoot down the straggler. They do.

At base, Gallagher greets Major Stovall, General Britt and Suzanne Arnais. The general
breaks the bad news: Gallagher and his men shot down an American B-17. Gallagher
says, smiling, that’s the way it seemed to them. “That’s the way it was, Colonel.” They’re
sending back the dogtags of ten Americans as confirmation. Colonel Gallagher is
incredulous!
Act 3
General Britt enters the officer’s club to the salutes from those outside. The sign on the
Inside of the door reads: Good Flight training saves men and planes:
LOOSE LIPS DESTROY THEM BOTH Britt finds Gallagher sitting near the fire
moping, drinking brandy. Britt says he looked for him over at division. Gallagher laments General Savage must have killed so many men he must have ached. Britt explains he (Savage )didn’t kill anyone and neither did Gallagher, not the way you mean.
Britt says that brass has held him blameless, delicately chides him for moping.
Further in self-recrimination, Gallagher replies “And guys like me used to curse him (Savage) whenever his orders didn’t suit us.” Britt ignores this, asks if the brandy on
the mantle is his, helps himself to a drink. Gallagher asks “What’s the toughest decision
you’ve ever had to make?” “Same one you’re ‘rasseling with now: to quit.” “You too?”
“Sure” Britt says reassuringly. Britt then explains how he lost his right leg in
World War I when he was shot down. He wondered what kind of life he was saving
for himself, then told the young doctor to take the leg off, explaining you can’t play God.
“Well that’s what this is all about, isn’t it? Playing God?” Gallagher asks. Britt says
they’re not playing anything---they’re being something: a man, where a man is needed.
“You mean if I can overlook the useless slaughter of ten human beings then I’m a man?”
“You did nothing wrong out there.” “Well, they’re dead just the same.” Britt explains
there will be ten others, maybe ten thousand, that it is Gallagher’s responsibility to
keep them alive. Gallagher says he hopes Britt will not mind if he gets a little drunk.
“Colonels don’t get drunk: on occasion they slightly overindulge.” Gallagher says
this is one of these occasions.

It is raining in London. Gallagher staggers to Suzanne Arnais’ apartment. He takes out
his cigarette lighter to see on his paper if this is her address. He rings the manual doorbell. Suzanne answers and Gallagher answers “Bon soir” Suzanne opens the door.
and finds Gallagher overly genial, guesses correctly he’s a little drunk. Gallagher replies
no, Colonels don’t get drunk, they only slightly overindulge. Suzanne asks Gallagher if
he wants some coffee. He refuses. Suzanne turns on the light, to the squinting of Gallagher. He sees mobiles Suzanne has made and says he looks them. He kisses
Suzanne, to her obliging disapproval. Gallagher says she is spending too much time with her mobiles. Suzanne replies she is just sorry to be chosen by him for this (the kiss).
She goes on saying perhaps she should be flattered, that she knows why he came.
Gallagher feels jilted, says he was way off base and that he should leave. Suzanne wants
him to stay, that she does have some coffee. He nods for her to go ahead and pour him
some. He sits on the top of the sofa. Suzanne comes over and sits down on the sofa
properly. Gallagher is about to take the coffee, but slips down onto the seat of the
sofa, to the laughter of both of them. There’s a knock on the door. Suzanne answers it
and Sgt. Komansky is there. He explains her phone was “Bombs Out” and he couldn’t
call. Gallagher sees Komansky, is apologetic that he didn’t know Suzanne had a date.
She replies she didn’t, doesn’t remember. Komansky suddenly becomes angry and
rather abusive about officers cutting in and “rank has its privileges”. Gallagher tells
Komansky this isn’t necessary, but Komansky is insistent on this line of abuse,
ranting about how colonels make girls fell very sorry for them.
Now Gallagher is angry, tells Komansky to knock it off, but he only changes his
line of abuse to how officers are gentlemen, but they never want to pick up the tab.
Gallagher has had enough and grabs Komansky’s lapels, but Suzanne saves the
situation by saying “Please don’t.” Gallagher apologizes to Suzanne that this had
to happen here. He leaves, still angry. Komansky, bitter, tells Suzanne that he can
break Gallagher with a simple assault charge and that that he’ll do it for the fun of it.
Act 4
The squadron prepares its airplanes for action and Gallagher tells his men the
situation, that they’ll meet anti-aircraft guns which will keep them all awake.
Master Sergeant McVaigh salutes, tells Gallagher that Colonel Bailey won’t
be flying with them, his electrical system is out. Gallagher asks him if he can get him
an engineer, his is sick. McVaigh says he is still trying to find one. Gallagher spots
Bailey’s crew and goes over to Komansky. They salute and Gallagher tells Komansky
to fly with him. Komansky is impertinent, says maybe he has a choice this time.
“A choice? Yes you do: a mission with me or a court martial.” “You’re not forgetting
anything, are you?” “No sergeant, not a thing.” Komansky knows he has no real choice,
joins Gallagher.

The mission is completed and the planes are taking flak as they do a 180 to go back
to base. Gallagher takes a hit and his co-pilot is mortally wounded, he tells Komansky
to get up here and feathers his engines, as number two has blown a wire. He tells
him to fix the wire. He radios Colonel Heindorf to take the squadron back to base.

Later, a straggler appears and Komansky spots it. Gallagher tells the formation not to take
any chances with it. The straggler calls on the radio. Gallagher immediately recognizes
it is the same straggler that shot down General Savage’s plane and tells Colonel
Heindorf not to let it join the formation. The straggler fires, hits a plane, then Heindorf’s
plane. Heindorf alerts Gallagher that the plane is headed for his plane. Gallagher cuts
through Komansky’s impertinence by commanding “Komansky get me back that engine!” Although Komansky continues his impertinence, Komansky obeys and finally the plane is back on all engines. They climb to get a shot at the straggler’s belly. Komansky continues his impertinence as he gets into the top turret asking if Gallagher
wants someone else to do the job, but Gallagher says the job is Komansky’s. The straggler fires, but Komansky then does and blows up the straggler. Gallagher congratulates Komansky. One of the crew asks if this is cause for celebration. Komansky
says yes, a big party. Gallagher now says to knock it off, that they have a long way to go.
Let’s go home.
Epilog
The scene is division headquarters. A sergeant salutes an officer. Inside, General Britt is
angry and chews out Gallagher for risking his men’s life to shoot down the
straggler. Angry himself, Gallagher says that the situation called for a peculiar action,
that he needs no excuse. Britt calls Wing Command and says to cut a memorandum
that he will sign, promoting Lt. Col. Joseph Gallagher to the rank of full Colonel and
to give him command of the 918th squadron. Britt summons Sergeant Komansky into the office. They all salute “At ease.” Britt explains to Komansky that Gallagher and him had trouble last night, that this could be very serious. Komansky decides not to be a tattler and says that he provoked Gallagher’s attack on him. Britt decides to let Gallagher
and Komansky work it out between them. Komansky asks Gallagher why he didn’t
tattle on him. “Maybe for the same reason you said you provoked it.” Gallagher tells
Komansky that he is his engineer, to grab his gear and report to the proper quarters.
Komansky suddenly smiles and gets proper, asking if this is an order. Gallagher roles
his eyes, smiling “Yes Komansky, that’s an order”. They salute,. Komansky thanks him, leaves, and Gallagher continues smiling after this.


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