【誰にともなしに、独り言レス―その3079】
初期スクリプト―
INT THEATER
SMALL SCREEN AGAIN. CARD: “LOS ANGELES, March 5, 1952” And onto the screen: “BREAKING THE SOUND BARRIER”. It’s the British film, just made, starring Ralph Richardson.
INSIDE THE THEATER. Yeager is watching the film. It’s six years later (more skies have burned his eyes), dressed in ill-fitting mufti in a row of important military types (including Military officer from last scene). Pancho, Ridley, the Liason Man and Glennis sit nearby, flitting glances at him as he fidgets.
DISSOLVE TO: LATER IN THE FILM.
RALPH RICHARDSON
Can a vision be evil, Sue ? Can it ? To make a man doubt ?
Yeager is sweating. He just doesn’t like this film. Just then the young pilot announces he wants to take one more shot at the sound barrier.
PILOT
I think I can beat this nose-heavy business by reversing the controls ! I’m going to give it a try !
～
PILOT (on verge of hysteria)
I did it ! I did it ! One-four to tower. On the fourth run Mach Meter showed 1 point 0 - 1 ! (screaming). By putting the stick forward ! Have you got that ?! Stick forward !!
OUTSIDE THE THEATER, Yeager and the Brass move out. Yeager’s bewildered. Then he hears that STRANGE BUBBLING SOUND like locusts or root weevils swarming. Flashbulbs pop all around him as men with camera faces move in around him.
REPORTERS
Is that him ? …We’re told you’re the first American to break the sound barrier. Can you tell us how you felt at that moment ?
LIASON MAN
Fellas, we’ve got a little announcement to make here. Yeager was not just the first American to break the sound barrier,he was the first, period…
～
REPORTERS
Did you learn to break the sound barrier from the English ?
YEAGER
From the English ?
～
LIASON MAN
Yeager, you know the Secretary of the Air Force?
SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE
Sure. Say, Chuck, do you mind if I ask you something ? Is it true that you broke the sound barrier by reversing the controls ?
Yeager looks at him, unable to believe he’s hearing this.
YEAGER
No sir ! That is not correct. Anyone who reversed the controls going transonic would be dead.
The Press bubbles and makes Root Weevil sounds. The Secretary who has just seen the film looks at him with doubt.
SECRETARY
Are you sure, Chuck ?
YEAGER
Yes sir ! I am sure !
これじゃ、素直すぎるくらいに原作のままなので使わなかったのが正しいでしょう。
それに、サム・シェパードのイェーガーとはイメージが違うし、連絡官の “Yeager was not just the first American to break the sound barrier” なんてセリフは変に深読みされそうだし。
