INTO THE BLUE

I wrote this motion picture story under the banner of Transatlantic Pictures in the mid 1990’s, plus drew the ‘Jonograms’ storyboards. The story pays homage to Eugene Bullard, a black American from Georgia, who during the First World War, gained the distinction of being the worlds first black aviator.  It is a present day drama, but the bulk of it is seen as a flash back to 1915 ending in 1919.
Story © Jon Davison 1995. Lodged with the American Srceenwriters Guild.

Eugene Bullard was 11 years old when he stowed on board a ship bound for Scotland. He became a boxer, gravitated to France and join the Foreign Legion then fought in France during WW!. He eventually became a pilot flying for the French and claimed a few aerial combats. Although he was lauded a hero in France, he died relatively unknown in NYC. This has subsequently been remedied and in Georgia there is now a Eugene Bullard day.

BACKGROUND
1915. The United States has taken a neutral stance over the war in Europe. President Woodrow Wilson states; 
"we must guard against a breach of neutrality that may spring out of partisanship ...".
Yet a small but growing section of Americans feel that ‘…it would be a crime NOT to fight for 'the cause of humanity - the most noble of all causes". The large German immigrant population are at loggerheads with the sympathisers of the French cause.

THE TREATMENT

EUGENE JACKSON
Is a second generation French American. He is the senator for Massachusetts and on the senate committee for foreign affairs. His wife CARMINE, a stunning full blooded black American, is very dynamic lady and respected for her outspoken views. The local population warm to Eugene and his radical democratic views. Eugene's one love outside politics is the new world of aviation. It is his belief that flying will one day be for the masses. He advocates that the oceans will not be a barrier to powered flight.

His nineteen year old step son LUKE is not interested in politics. He is fascinated with aviation, and is a willing helper when Eugene flies his aeroplane to boost his campaigns. Luke has seen his fair share of racial discrimination, even in the liberal minded New England state of Massachusetts.

One of Luke's neighbours is JAMES GESSLER, whose father KARL has high hopes of James taking the future Republican seat of Massachusetts. Karl is a wealthy industrialist, whose interests are mainly funded by German financiers. His businesses are shipbuilding and automobile production. His operation would be crippled if the United States were to join the European war in France. Both Karl and Eugene are self made men. Karl has not got what it takes to be a politician - Eugene has. Karl will realise his wish through James his son. Eugene has always, unknowingly, gone one better than Karl, who is trapped in a loveless marriage.

Volunteers in their thousands sail to France, seeking adventure. Most believing that they are going to serve justice and free France from the tyrannical might of Germany.

BOSTON, USA 1876 (FLASHBACK)
A French steamer is disgorging immigrants to the quayside. Voice-over 'I was 6 years old when I came to Boston'. He is holding his bearded father's hand as the family descend gangway. 'It wasn't until I was in my late teens that I became interested in politics'.
 
A horse and carriage is approaching the quayside. In it are the GESSLER family, their names are written on the expensive trunks. A small boy is peering out of the rear window of the carriage towards the steamer. He looks in awe to the small boy descending the stairs of the steamer. They are about the same age. The boy in the carriage has his name sewn on his lapel 'KARL'. Inside the carriage are the boys parents, plus their black housemaid. They are prim and proper. The maid is subservient, her place is to serve.

Outside on the quayside, black men and women walk about freely, well dressed, happy etc. The maid cannot hide her amazement. The elder Gessler says '..in Atlanta…never' The maid knows her place. The Gesslers have just arrived to a new life in Boston. The two boys watch each other until the carriage goes out of sight.

THE BEACH, BOSTON 1915
The same voice that described his arrival in the US as he descended the steamers gangway, is now an enigmatic character in his mid 40's. His name is EUGENE JACKSON. He is holding a campaign rally. His name is visible everywhere.

ACT ONE

THE BEACH, COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS, 1915
EUGENE JACKSON gives a moving and impassioned speech to the local immigrants and negros of South Boston. 
His inspired words call for the people of Massachusetts to consider the plight of France, and that it would be the gravest of
crimes not to fight for "The cause of humanity - the most noble of all causes". It is a colorful event.

He will shortly be giving a flying display with his home-built machine to his constituents. His son, LUKE, is busily preparing the frail flying 
machine. His wife, CARMINE, looks on admiringly. There is an air of hope and joy to Eugene's words and in general about his presence
He is obviously a very well liked man. Carmine is moving in and out of the crowd chatting and keeping a check on things,
she flinches when anybody touches her.

HARVARD SQUARE, BOSTON 1915
KARL GESSLER is making a speech outside the nearly completed Widener Library. It is being dedicated to Harry Widener, a graduate who died on the Titanic two years before. Karl is reiterating the President's speech in that "we must guard against a breech of neutrality that may spring out of partisanship ... " He is protecting his interests. He ends by congratulating his son JAMES, saying that he will soon be standing for the Republican seat of Massachusetts.
Karl sees a poster promoting Eugene's flight and beach rally. He checks his timepiece and suggests they hurry. He smirks as he tells them that they shouldn't miss the show. James is not sure what it means.

THE BEACH
The aircraft is ready. Children and dogs run alongside the flying machine as it rolls along the wet sand. Luke and Carmine proudly watch it.
The propwash lifts hats, skirts, papers etc into the air as it passes. It becomes airborne and climbs above the dunes and crowd of people. Eugene comes in for a low pass. People hold their hats this time. Children scatter as it buzzes them at very low level. Eugene goes into a steep climb and turns at its peak. Suddenly the wing support wires snaps and a wing whips over the fuselage. The aircraft flops over like a dead bird and spirals down gaining speed.

Eugene is thrown out, the broken machine slams into the sea upside down. Eugene follows it. Total silence, nobody moves, then panic. Luke, mouth agape, races into the surf. His action prompts others and they all surge into the ocean. Eugene is floating face down. Luke and other hands lift him out and drag him to the sand. He is barely alive. He pulls Luke down to him and with his dying breath tells him to remember that 'All Blood runs Red'. Luke shakes Eugene trying to make him breath again. He screams to the sky.

 Karl and James GESSLER have watched the disaster. James is aghast and wants to do something. He sees his father just staring at the crowd gathered on the beach. He is smiling to himself and James records the look on his face. In the back seat of the car, Karl's aide silently slides a pair of wire cutters out of his pocket and passes them to Karl.
LATER. Luke stands along at dusk on the deserted beach. His mother slowly approaches him and takes him in her arms. He tells her he has made up his mind to learn to fly. He will fight for France, he has to go. He knows no white man will teach him to fly - there are no black flying schools. Only in France will he get the chance to fly, but he will have to join the Foreign Legion first. One day he will conquer the ocean that took his father. One day he will!

THE WESTERN FRONT, FRANCE 1916
Foreign Legionnaire, Luke Jackson, marches along a dusty road with his platoon. Vehicles and men pass them going the other way. It is a very congested supply road. The road is bordered by trees. An aircraft approaches them head on. Luke alone scans the sky. Through binoculars he sees the machines nose guns. He yells for everyone to take cover. Some do, but most assume he is wrong - no machines have forward-firing guns! The aircraft opens fire, causing total carnage amongst the troops. Men fall where they stand. An ambulance is hit and careers into a ditch, killing the men sheltering there. Men's screams pierce the din of machine guns and explosions. Anyone moving becomes a target.

 An American machine gun crew are wiped out in an open field by the aircraft. Bolting horses are caught in mid-stride. Chips of wood from the trees splinter everywhere. Helmets are scattered over the road along with bodies and wounded men. Luke is shaking with anger. He races across the field to the still warm machine gun and shelters behind the bodies. He waits until the German machine flies over him, then rakes the belly with bullets. The pilot is hit and the machine comes down ripping a wing off as it slams into a burning truck. The pilot is still alive but an Algerian Legionnaire runs up and shoots him in the head at point blank range.

 Luke surveys the carnage. The German aircraft finally explodes along with the truck. Machine gun bullets go off in the heat. Bodies are everywhere. "Only one machine has done all this - we're sitting ducks" Luke yells to nobody in particular. 
Luke knows that a volunteer American flying force must be created.
A plan is devised amongst Luke and some other air-minded Legionnaires, most of whom have come from pretty educated backgrounds with influence. They all agree that no more Americans should die at the hands of Germans aircraft.

BOSTON, USA 1917
Karl Gessler is getting more and more concerned. America looks like it will join the war in Europe. Karl's business is going to take a nose dive, but he is resourceful enough to capitalise on the situation. He suggests James should have a war record as it will look good and put him in good stead. James tells him that some of his friends have approached the French defence minister about an All-American Squadron. The only way it can happen is if it is a unit within the French Air Force. Karl says it will never happen.

TRAINING AIRFIELD, FRANCE 1917
An aeroplane comes careering through the treetops like a drunken duck on a suicide mission. It clips a building and finally crashes with a terrible noise of ripping fabric, smashing wood and screaming engine. It ends up in pieces looking nothing like a flying machine. After a deathly silence of almost a minute, the pilot crawls out from the wreckage and collapses on his back not believing that he is still alive. He feels himself for broken limbs - he is okay.

A long while later there is more movement in another part of the wreckage. A black man's face appears and out crawls Luke from under some twisted metal, his bloodied face grinning from ear to ear. The pilot does not find it funny at all and tries to slug Luke but he is too weak and both men collapse. After much swearing and cursing they sit up and light a cigarette. Luke carelessly throws away the match, there is a loud thump and the spilled petrol from the plane ignites. They both make a hurried exit.

In the distance, men running with buckets of water and an ambulance converge on the scene, not believing that anything could survive such a crash. They arrive to much swearing from the two aviators. Luke is saying that one day after the war he will be the first to fly the Atlantic Ocean. The pilot roars with laughter then coughs with pain. He points to the burning wreckage and shakes his head saying that it is an impossibility and that it will never happen. A fellow student, BRYAN HENDERSON, offers Luke a cigarette on the way back saying he has got to stick with it - flying is easy,.

LONDON 1917
Karl Gessler has cabled the editor of a national newspaper which he has interests in. Karl wants to have a reporter go out to France to cover his son's progress during his war service. Politically it will work wonders, not only for James, but also for Karl. Now that America is at war with Germany he cannot afford to be seen as pro neutrality any more. The editor says he will send out his best reporter, an American journalist, someone who understands his interests.

AMERICAN VOLUNTEER SQUADRON, FRANCE 1917
Aircrew in the wash room. Their French Commander is emphasising his personal belief in the need for camouflage exercises. In this instance, he has the men paint their faces with black dye for a night operation. The men find this highly amusing and a bit of a joke. The men are in the process of removing the messy stuff and 'one man' says he cannot get the stuff off no matter how hard he tries - there is laughter all around.

A new man is bought into the room - he is being shown around the squadron. He looks out of place in his new uniform - it is James Gessler. The C/O says that he is here on an important political PR mission - he is to be given all the help he can. He is here to learn to fly.
James introduces himself saying jokingly, "I hope that under all that paint you guys ain't really niggers!" All talk stops and one man whose face is covered with a towel lowers it slowly to reveal himself - it is Luke Jackson. Gessler's face turns white when he sees who it is. Luke smiles wickedly. The C/O knowingly suggests that Luke take James up on his first mission over the front line.

During the flight James has the crap scared out of him - literally. On returning, the mechanics hold their noses as they hose down the rear cockpit. James, his face a shade of green, is left standing by the aircraft in his soiled flying suit. Sniggers from the ground crew cease with the arrival of the C/O, who takes James to his billet, making sure that he walks a few paces behind James, the smell is vile.
Luke places his father’s pendant by his bunk, takes a long look at it then lies down to sleep.

LUKE’S DREAM
It is night. Luke is a frightened youngster. The screen door bursts open. Lightening flashes and illuminates the room casting weird shadows. A torch sways about the room searching for him. Luke is hiding. His mother is weeping silently on the floor. A man’s voice is telling his mother to keep her promise. A fire, flames raging on the floor, his mother near the flames. Screaming, sweaty bodies. Candlelight. A man singing in a language Luke can’t understand.

THE AERODROME, FRANCE 1917
Luke awakes in fear. Torchlight plays on his wall. He cannot understand if the dream still plays or not. He looks out of the window. Mechanics prepare the aircraft for the day’s missions. Torchlights sweep the line of aircraft, silhouetted by the pre-dawn glow. Luke rubs the sleep out of his eyes and gets his flying gear on.

Luke bumps into James Gessler, he congratulates him on his political career. He says that he still can’t get the black dye off his face - it just won’t come off. James says he is sorry about the racist comment he made yesterday. Luke says it is nothing, he is used to it.

ACT TWO 

The weather is lousy with nil visibility. Nobody is flying, it would be impossible. Airmen wander about, nothing to do but play cards and smoke.
An aircraft, hidden by the mist, roars low over the mess roof. Everyone drops what they are doing and race outside to wait the inevitable sound of the crash. The engine continues to sound and, what’s more, suddenly appears out of the mist, lands and rolls to a stop just outside the mess. The pilot confidently climbs down and motions to his passenger. Luke sees who the pilot is and yells his name.

Bryan Henderson and Luke embrace warmly. The C/O bollocks Henderson for even attempting to fly in this weather. Luke says that if anyone could do it Henderson could as he is a natural navigator. They have not seen each other since training. Henderson introduces his passenger. The helmet comes off to reveal a shock of blonde hair. NANCY EASTWOOD is the reporter here to cover Gessler’s time with the squadron.

The men, not sure about the woman, keep their distance. Luke speaks to her about his friend but he gets an icy cold response. He has seen it before, he is used to it. Nancy, being originally from Atlanta is not, it seems, used to talking to Negroes.
Luke decides that he will paint his aircraft all black. On the fuselage he paints his father’s pendant with the words ‘Eugene’s Dream’. Luke and Henderson get drunk along with the rest of the aircrew. Dancing on tables, smashing glasses and bottles and generally creating hell.

Nancy says that she cannot believe this is how officers should act. Luke tells her that war is a matter of survival - you do anything to stop thinking about it - it is just a job. Nancy walks off accompanied by James Gessler. The party is in full swing with the place looking like a bomb has hit it. The C/O reminds them that they have a dawn ‘job’ a fews hours from now.

Morning finds the pilots suffering from pounding heads sitting in their machines with engines running. Others stagger to the flight line. Mechanics help the men into the cockpits. Today is Gessler’s first solo mission over the lines. He must keep on Luke’s wing at all times and follow Luke’s lead.

THE DAWN PATROL
The aircraft bounce in the early morning air as they follow in each other’s wake. Flashes from the big guns are visible thousands of feet below. No anti-aircraft (Archie) shellfire yet, and no sign of the Hun. James’s eyes wide open in amazement, looks at the other machines and whoops for joy. Luke sees the glint of wings far below - the Hun! He knows better than to dive, he looks up and sure enough way above them more of the Hun - a normal trap.

 Luke indicates to Gessler NOT to dive and points above. Gessler for some reason assumes he can take on the German Air Force and dives into the attack. Luke curses and stays where he is, so do the rest of the flight. Looking up, Luke sees the Germans start their dive. He has no option other than to rise to meet them. Luke waves others to go down and protect Gessler.

 The dawn sunlight races along their fuselages as the machines twist and turn, now locked in the battle. All Luke can see as usual is the flash of planes, smoke, tumbling bodies, twisting and turning in his cockpit. Then it is all over, the battle spent with only one-to-one fights remaining. 

AN AMERICAN PLATOON
In their trench the soldiers see the falling debris from the aerial battle. Spent bullets clatter on their helmets. Smoke plumes mark the demise of the fallen victims. A pilot fallen or thrown from his stricken machine lands with a crunch in their trench. Gessler has escaped the battle and is flying serenely over the countryside. The battle is spent and the stragglers form up and return home. Luke sees Gessler low over the fields with a German hot on his tail. Luke holds back, shakes his head, looks up then dives to the attack.

 Gessler sees his wing being shredded and realises he is being shot at. He tries to evade but to no avail. Luke comes up behind the German. Gessler sees two planes behind him. Luke pours bullets into the German machine but no kill. The German is an ace and loops up behind Luke in an instant. Luke dives out of the way - the German is still there. Gessler does not know what to do and becomes a target. The German fires into his plane, smoke pours out and he goes down. The German behind him, Gessler panics and fires blindly at anything.

 
Luke is trying to catch up. He sees a flash of colour on the road they are following - people! Gessler’s shells slam into a woman and small child. The husband, farming in the field, sees the killing and races to their aid screaming. The German pulls away when he sees what Gessler has done and this gives Luke his chance. His shells hit the centre section of the German’s machine. The plane spins wildly and it tears itself to pieces amongst the trees.

Both Luke’s and Gessler’s machines are in trouble. Gessler heads West trailing smoke. Luke gains height, but eventually has to land amongst some Australian troops involved in a firefight with German snipers.

 Their colourful expletives describe what they think of his untimely entrance. He is told to grab a rifle and make himself useful. Luke does not care what happened to Gessler. After a fierce fight, the Australians clean up the snipers and make some coffee. Very laid back people. The Aussies arrange for artillery to shell the plane for fun. Luke has to find transport. He gets a ride with a maniac despatch rider who has been around the war zone for too long. 

Luke sees first hand what the war has done to the countryside. Skeletal trees pierce the grey sky, dead horses and shattered buildings dot the landscape. Smashed machinery and tanks litter the ground. Bits of bodies lie where they fell. Groups of soldiers with haunted faces rest against equally haunted buildings. New troops watch the survivors and wonder about their fate.

 Luke asks passers-by if they have seen Gessler’s plane. A few soldiers ask him why he’s dressed like an airman seeing he’s a negro. He replies that he has been to a fancy dress party and lost his way or he’s been robbing dead airmen which is why he’s asking. His angry humour does not go down well at all. Needless to say, Luke is nearly lynched. He does not find Gessler.
It is nearly dark by the time he gets a ride with an American ambulance team and promptly falls asleep.

LUKE’S DREAM
The torches sweep under the bed Luke is sheltering under. He is dragged out. Carmine tries to stop the man, but she is thrown across the floor. The man is doing something to Carmine but Luke cannot see exactly what it is. A torch glares in Lukes face.

LUKE wakes with a violent start in the ambulance. Bright lights are coming towards them along the road. The drivers are outside at a crossroads watching the approaching vehicles. Gaunt French soldiers slowly stand up from their foxholes and watch the procession. Luke is informed it is the official German surrender delegation, they are at Sedan. It is a silent and moving experience. The German generals looking beaten but proud. Slowly soldiers start clapping and cheering. Soon everyone is cheering. Luke starts dancing on his own and yelling away. Everyone looks at the odd black man as he cartwheels along the road. The ambulance drives off.

 THE AERODROME - FRANCE
A tired Luke arrives at the aerodrome and enters the squadron mess. He has been gone two full days. Gone is the jolly reception he normally gets, suffice to say that they assumed he was dead. He sees James Gessler and instantly goes for him. They both crash to the floor, Luke swearing that he put the entire flight at risk. Four good men were killed due to his incompetence. Others try to pull Luke off. Luke says that James shot two civilians in cold blood - a woman and child. A voice behind Luke says sternly "what the hell is going on here? So you're the flying negro eh? Your story is not the same one that I have heard mister, you'd better come with me." It transpired that the event was witnessed in part by allied troops. This information was passed on to the squadron.

James says sheepishly that the US has officially formed an Aero squadron, and that they are now part of this and the French have relinquished control to the US. This is the new Squadron Commander. Luke enters the office. The change is immediate, no French flag, nothing. In it's place , on the wall is a large Confederate flag. A Southerner!.

The Major says he understands from a witness that Luke shot a couple of civilians whilst chasing a German. Luke protests with vigour but is told to shut it. The Major is obviously looking for a way of removing Luke. He says that the new Aero Squadron will not be discoloured by any negroes. Luke tells James to back him up, James says he cannot remember very much, it all happened too fast. Luke knows what he is up against. Luke is told that the war is over and that he is lucky he is not given a Court Martial..

Luke turns to go, he sneers at James , thanking him for nothing. He then turns instantly and punches the commander in the face and walks out. He passes Nancy in the corridor, she looks at him as if he is a piece of dirt. In the mess his fellow pilots shrug their shoulders, most in sympathy. None of them will stand up for him even though they all saw Gessler dive on the German and put the flight at risk

He reminds everyone that it is approaching 11am. After one last flight he is leaving, he asks if anyone wants to fly with him over the lines.. Nobody wants to. He leaves as Nancy's ferry pilot arrives to take her back to London. The pilot hands Luke a message from Henderson.
Luke flies alone over the war ravaged landscape. No shelling, no 'Archie', no Huns, all quiet. The sky is empty, he can almost hear the cheering below. He flies low over the trenches.

 
Go to page two of story


All images & text © Jon Davison 1993