Odie:
Hey, you want the good news or the bad news?
Howard:
Bad news, always.
Odie:
Alright, we've installed the 450 radial, but the struts won't take the vibrations. [Gives Howard a magnifier to look at the strut] The minute we fire her up, the struts start cracking at the attach points.
Howard:
Well, what's the good news?
Odie:
There isn't any.
Howard:
Goddamn it, Odie, if the 450's too big, we just gotta figure something else out.
Odie:
Well, we've done everything. We've rebuilt her from top to toe. Now, if we drain the fuel tank for a couple of runs, she might make 180 MPH.
Howard:
I want minimum 200, alright?
Odie:
Yeah, well I want a date with Theda Bara, but that ain't gonna happen either.
Howard:
Ah, don't be so sure...Well, if the struts won't sustain the engine, then maybe we get rid of the struts.
Odie:
No, then the top wing falls off.
Howard:
...Then let it.
Odie:
What?
Howard:
Who-who says we need a top wing? Who says we need anything?
Odie:
[Realizes what Howard's thinking] A monoplane...
Howard:
A cantilevered monoplane, right? I mean, they're doing it in France. To hell with the top wing and the struts.
Odie:
Put in a 550 Wasp engine...
Howard:
100 octane fuel, that would give us a top horsepower of what?
Odie:
700.
Howard:
We squeeze that to 1,000, we've got the fastest plane ever built.
Odie:
You know, I just gotta say, we've already spent over $200,000 rebuilding this plane.
Howard:
Yeah, to hell with it. [Grabs a 2x4 and tosses it to Odie] Tear it up, Odie! Go on! [Odie swings the board at the struts, breaking them and the top wing]
