The Blue Max

[Funeral for an enemy pilot]

Willi von Klugermann:
Well, aren't you coming? It's an order.

Bruno Stachel:
Why?

Willi von Klugermann:
Because our commanding officer has made it one. He believes in chivalry, Stachel.

Bruno Stachel:
[poring himself a drink] Chivalry? To kill a man, then make a ritual out of saluting him - that's hypocrisy. They kill me, I don't want anyone to salute.

Willi von Klugermann:
[Stachel slams down his glass] They probably won't.

Willi von Klugermann:
By the way, Stachel... there's an impression around that... you care more about your unconfirmed kill than you do about Fabian's death.

[long pause]

Bruno Stachel:
Perhaps it's force of habit. In the trenches, we couldn't even bury the dead; there were too many of them. I've never had the time... to discuss them over a glass of champagne.

General Count von Klugermann:
I'm afraid it's rather a small medal, Willi, but it's the highest Germany can give.

Willi von Klugermann:
Thank you... Uncle

General Count von Klugermann:
Stachel. I want him brought to Berlin immediately.

Holbach:
Yes, Herr General.

General Count von Klugermann:
There is some difficulty?

Holbach:
Well, I don't know what you have in mind, Herr General, but, uh, with the offensive at its height, well, there'd have to be some legitimate excuse to order him to come.

General Count von Klugermann:
He's wounded, isn't he?

Holbach:
Yes, Herr General.

General Count von Klugermann:
Hmm. A mentionable wound?

Holbach:
Uh, in the arm.

General Count von Klugermann:
Good. The people like soldiers who were shot in the right places. Order Stachel to Berlin for special hospital treatment. I want you to ensure that all our newspapers give full prominence to this gallant episode - photographs, everything.

General Count von Klugermann:
Take a look outside. See that? Revolution is just beneath the surface! If that happens, everything we stand for will be DESTROYED - unless the German officer corps stands like a rock, intact! And what is more important, untarnished. I made this Stachel into a national hero for good military reasons. If I court-martial him now, it will reflect on the integrity of the whole officer corps.

Otto Heidemann:
Herr General, I see now, I have notions of honor which are outdated.

General Count von Klugermann:
Ahh, they're not outdated! [pause] Stored. With care, and love, for better times.

Ziegel:
I can't keep these barges flying forever - I'm a mechanic, not a magician.

Otto Heidemann:
No, Ziegel, you ARE a magician, whether you like it or not.

Bruno Stachel:
[resignedly] Well, I suppose I might as well say it.

Countess Kaeti von Klugermann:
Say what?

Bruno Stachel:
You're beautiful.

Bruno Stachel:
Do you think I came all this way to run off to Switzerland with you?

Countess Kaeti von Klugermann:
You gambled your life for me once with Willy.

Bruno Stachel:
That was about flying, Kaeti, not about you!

[about von Klugerman's kills]

Bruno Stachel:
You've got 18, haven't you?

Willi von Klugermann:
Squadron Rule #1, Stachel: Gentlemen never parade their military achievements.

Bruno Stachel:
Any rule against... saying how long it took you?

Willi von Klugermann:
I would say that was covered by the same rule, wouldn't you?

Bruno Stachel:
No. I wouldn't. How many rules are there?

Willi von Klugermann:
I don't know: none of them have been written down.

Otto Heidemann:
Yes, I understand - but I don't agree with killing helpless men!

General Count von Klugermann:
Otto, this is 1918 - things have changed. Unrestricted submarine warfare, bombing of civilians, poison gas. Ask your wife - she's a nurse. Ask Elfi about the mustard gas casualties.

Otto Heidemann:
So you approve of this kind of ruthlessness!

General Count von Klugermann:
We fight to win, Otto.

Otto Heidemann:
It's a cruel world Stachel.

Bruno Stachel:
[while testing the engine of his aircraft] The oil pressure is still too low!

Ziegel:
[Looking in the engine cover] Well, that's all you'll get out of her! She wasn't made yesterday!

Bruno Stachel:
Oh, is that what it is!

Willi von Klugermann:
[after picking up Stachel from the aid station] You know, I was quite pleased at first when you posted missing.

Bruno Stachel:
Thank you [sarcastically]

Willi von Klugermann:
It was just that, the war seemed, a bit more, peaceful. And then, this is the odd thing, I had a sense of loss.

Bruno Stachel:
I'm touched

Willi von Klugermann:
No, no, seriously, I've had things in my life too easy. I'm inclined to be lazy. I need a challenge. Some one around me who is hard to beat. And you fulfill that role.

Willi von Klugermann:
[Willi finds out about Stachel and Kaeti in Berlin] We've tolerated you here because we've had to! One day, Stachel - or should I call you Bruno? One day, I'm going to shake you up considerably. I wonder if you're as good as you think you are... in or out of bed.

General Count von Klugermann:
[Just after Kaeti's lover is killed in the crash] Stand up Kaeti!... We'll be late for lunch.

Willi von Klugermann:
[When Willi picks wounded Stachel at the aid station] Does it hurt?

Bruno Stachel:
...Yes.

Willi von Klugermann:
Tell me... ah... never having suffered it personally, what does it feel like... to be shot down?

Bruno Stachel:
Well... well, I'd rather you found that out for yourself.

Bruno Stachel:
But I saw it! It was a kill!

Kettering:
...Then you have the deep satisfaction of knowing you have served the Fatherland.

Bruno Stachel:
[looking at a picture of von Richtofen wearing a Ble Max] Two more kills and you'll have one of those.

Willi von Klugermann:
Hmm, a pretty medal, The Blue Max.

Bruno Stachel:
It's the only one worth having. People respect it.

Willi von Klugermann:
Tell me, uh, never having suffered it personally... what does it feel like to be shot down?

Bruno Stachel:
I'd rather have you find that out for yourself.

Otto Heidemann:
[saddened by Willi's death] He was a better man than you.

Bruno Stachel:
Well, he's dead!

Otto Heidemann:
Is that your test?

Bruno Stachel:
Yes! And that was his test too!

Otto Heidemann:
What do you ,mean?

Bruno Stachel:
There's nothing I want to run away from Kaeti - not even myself.