Over Here (1996 TV Movie)

Samuel West: Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting

Quotes 

• Archie Bunting : About the American Squadron. Yes, well, I have made contact. Over.

  Hewitt : Thank god!

  Group Captain Barker : Any damage, Archie?

  Archie Bunting : Ah, well, one of them has a few tiny little holes in it - pinpricks really. Over.

  Hewitt : What about the Luftwaffe?

  Group Captain Barker : [Twitches]  Have you made any contact with the enemy, Archie?

  Archie Bunting : Well, actually, I think that was a bit of a false alarm. Erm, there are no enemy aircraft in the area. Over.

  Hewitt : What does he mean, no enemy aircraft - one of my planes just got turned into a tea strainer!

  Group Captain Barker : Sorry, Archie, we don't quite understand you, old boy. The American captain reported being under attack. Over.

  Archie Bunting : Ah, yes, it wasn't an enemy aircraft. It was, sort of, in a manner of speaking, me. Over.

  Hewitt : [Shocked]  He shot my plane?

  Group Captain Barker : Archie, why don't you come in now. Sort of land. perhaps we could have a little chat.

• Herschel Lenko : Boy, I envy you RAF guys.

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : Really? Why is that?

  Herschel Lenko : You've seen real action. That's where I want to be, right in the thick of it. Must be a great feeling.

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : Oh yes, it's tremendous fun.

  [laughs] 

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : . Do you know, I've seen some of my best friends blow to pieces right in front my eyes. One of them, what was his name? Ah, Sky Leggit we called him, his plane exploded about a hundred feet above me and a piece of his lower intestine slapped right across the windscreen. Couldn't budge the bugger.

  Herschel Lenko : [Lenko's cheerfulness gives way to a sad and solemn look]  .

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : I've been to more funerals than a hearse.

  [laughs] 

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : . Oh, it's tremendous fun.

  [Turns serious] 

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : . Listen to me, and understand what I'm saying. This is not a holiday, this is war.

  Herschel Lenko : I know it's not a holiday! And we don't say 'holiday', we call it a vacation.

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : Oh, I do beg your pardon. Look around our ward. There are sixteen men in there. Count how many arms and legs. Just what the doctor ordered.

• Tully : There is a war on, Bunting!

  Archie Bunting : Oh, Is that what it is! I wondered why the Luftwaffe were shooting down my planes and bombing the shite out of the country!

• Webster : Hey, little friend, this is your big buddy, we owe you a big one. Over

  Archie Bunting : Honestly, it was nothing!

• Group Captain Barker : You really let me down badly this time, Bunting!

  Archie Bunting : I've let you down? May I remind you, sir, that for the last 6 months, my squadron has been fighting one man short!

• Herschel Lenko : How's your leg?

  Archie Bunting : Marvellous - can't feel a thing!

  Herschel Lenko : Good! I hope you weren't looking forward to the Independence Day party too much, cause by the time I'm finished with you, you're not going to feel much like dancing.

  Archie Bunting : Get on with it, Lenko - I have to catch a bus into town, i'm going to pick up my bike from the garage.

• Herschel Lenko : [Watching Archie push his Silver Star across the table]  You can't bet with a Sliver Star! That's an award from the President of the United states!

  Archie Bunting : I've no money left! Besides, you have to beat my hand first.

  Herschel Lenko : I can beat your hand!

  Archie Bunting : How do you know?

  Herschel Lenko : Call it intuition.

  Archie Bunting : Well, let's put your intuition to the test then, shall we?

• [Lenko and the others watch Archie limp towards the pub door] 

  Herschel Lenko : Hey, what happened to your leg?

  Archie Bunting : Nothing, old boy! Like I said

  [Taps it three times with his cane, producing a matalic sound] 

  Archie Bunting : Can't feel a thing. See you at the dance!

  [Exits] 

• Hewitt : [Archie's been drinking, ordered by Barker to go to his quarters, but stops to talk to Hewitt - this is after the 'likewise' part]  Who the hell do you think you are, sir?

  [Hewitt stands up from the table] 

  Archie Bunting : I'll tell you who the hell I think I am, sir! I'm Squadron-Leader Blotto, Squadron-Bleeding Hunter, Hunt, Blunt, Something! I'm a pilot, sir, and a damn good one. I bid you goodnight.

  [Archie turns and leaves the bar knocking into something] 

  Archie Bunting : [Hewitt sits down looking at Archie as he stumbles out] 

  Group Captain Barker : [Getting two whiskeys from the barman]  Thank you, George.

  [Walks over to join Hewitt with the drinks] 

  Hewitt : That Bunting guy, does he always drink that way?

  Group Captain Barker : Hm? Oh no, no, no. Usually, he has to be carried out.

  Hewitt : Doesn't that worry you?

  Group Captain Barker : Sometimes, yes. But then I understand it. I understand them all. I mean, look at them Jack.

  [Camera pans over to Archie's squadron, drinking, talking and laughing] 

  Group Captain Barker : They're just lads. We taught them how to kill before they've learnt how to shave. And most of them believe that their next sortie will be their last one. So no, I'm not unduly worried about their future health. A drink makes more sense than a pension.

  [Hewitt smirks in partial understanding] 

  Group Captain Barker : Take that incident today. Archie believed that your chaps were being attacked by enemy aircraft. As far as he was concerned, he was a lone fighter facing ten, maybe fifteen Messerschmitts.

  Hewitt : That's all very well, but...

  Group Captain Barker : He still went in, Jack. He still went in. Now couldn't we pass this whole thing off as an honest mistake? I mean nobody can prove there weren't enemy planes in the area because our radar was down. But you could very well easily say, Bunting escorted your squadron home and that would be the end of it. What do you say, Jack? Eh?

  Hewitt : Well, I'll think about it Cyrill. I'm promising nothing.

  Group Captain Barker : Thank you, Jack. I appreciate that. Bunting may come across as a bit of a, a bit of a wild egg, but I know one thing. If I give that man an order he will follow it. Regardless of the consequences.

  [Archie drives off on his motorbike after Barker ordered him to walk home] 

  Group Captain Barker : Of course he's ex-grammar school which doesn't help!.

• Herschel Lenko : [In British hospital]  Hey, how's your leg?

  Archie Bunting : Hurts. That's why I drink to take the pain away.

  [Referring to the cognac Archie is drinking on the quiet] 

  Herschel Lenko : Oh, I thought you just liked it.

  Archie Bunting : This is war, Lenko. Things are rarely simple as they appear.

• Herschel Lenko : Boy, I envy you RAF guys.

  Archie Bunting : Really? Why is that?

  Herschel Lenko : You've seen real action. That's where I want to be, right in the thick of it. Must be a great feeling.

  Archie Bunting : Oh yes, it's tremendous fun.

  [laughs] 

  Archie Bunting : Do you know, I've seen some of my best friends blow to pieces right in front my eyes. One of them, what was his name? Ah, Sky Leggit we called him, his plane exploded about a hundred feet above me and a piece of his lower intestine slapped right across the windscreen. Couldn't budge the bugger.

  [Lenko's cheerfulness gives way to a sad and solemn look] 

  Archie Bunting : I've been to more funerals than a hearse.

  [laughs] 

  Archie Bunting : Oh, it's tremendous fun.

  [Turns serious] 

  Archie Bunting : Listen to me, and understand what I'm saying. This is not a holiday, this is war.

  Herschel Lenko : I know it's not a holiday! And we don't say 'holiday', we call it a vacation.

  Archie Bunting : Oh, I do beg your pardon. Look around our ward. There are sixteen men in there. Count how many arms and legs. Just what the doctor ordered.

• Butler : [Clears throat as he approaches Archie and Dougal on the lawn]  Ah-hem. Excuse me, sir. That was a call from your base. Your squadron leave's been cancelled, sir. You're to return forthwith.

  Archie Bunting : [Pained]  Oh no. Thank you, Butler.

  [Butler departs] 

  Archie Bunting : Right, Dougal. Get the others together and be quick about it.

  [Dougal looks shocked, as he is clearly hungover] 

  Lady Billingham : [Calling from far away]  Squadron-Leader!

  Archie Bunting : [Archie and Dougal look around to see where she is calling from. Archie spots her on some steps, nudges Dougal]  Lady Billingham, good morning. Thank you for yesterday. Lovely ceremony, very moving.

  Lady Billingham : [Not impressed]  Is that yours?

  [Points with her head to Archie's Spitfire gracefully sitting on the ornamental lawn] 

  Archie Bunting : Um, I believe it is!

  Lady Billingham : Well, why did you bring it with you?

  Archie Bunting : Well, I need it, it's part of my job.

  Lady Billingham : Who told you, you could land on my grounds?

  Archie Bunting : Charlie.

  Lady Billingham : Charlie?

  Archie Bunting : He's your son.

  [Lady Billingham looks pained] 

  Archie Bunting : He said, 'there's plenty of land, bring the kite'.

• Butler : [Morning after Charlie's wedding in the breakfast room with Archie's squadron in various form of hangovers. Butler walks over to Robbie's sleeping form on the dining table, pulls him up, removes a plate, and let's him drop tp the table, awaking Archie]  Squadron-Leader. Have you eaten, sir?

  Archie Bunting : [Groggily]  What? No...

  Butler : Can I get you something, sir? Fried egg? Bacon? Black pudding?

  Archie Bunting : No. Nothing. Thank you. Nothing.

  [Butler turns to food, and prepares something] 

  Archie Bunting : Umm, how did last night's reception go? Did everyone enjoy themselves?

  Butler : Well, you seemed to be having a wonderful time, sir. Brought a certain, uh, spirit and flair to the occasion. Everyone remarked upon it.

  Archie Bunting : [Worried]  Oh no. What about Charlie? I didn't upset or offend him, did I?

  Butler : Well, I couldn't say, sir. After you challenged him to a drinking contest, it was rather difficult to gauge his exact mood, sir.

  Archie Bunting : A drinking contest?

  Butler : Yes. Apparently it's an ancient tradition within your squadron. It was started, umm, what?

  [pauses to think] 

  Butler : All about a year ago. Needless to say, Master Charles lost.

  [Archie, embarrassed, nods and looks down] 

  Butler : The other members of your squadron, carried him from the marquee, howling his unconscious form above their heads in a simple but rather touching ceremony. Reminiscent to some long-forgotten Nordic ritual. Simply cried out I thought for a longboat and half a dozen Valkyries and we could have been back at the old Royal Opera House, Vienna. Have you seen Wagner's 'Gotterdammerung', sir?

  Archie Bunting : No.

  Butler : No, me neither. Thought I did see 'Fasswaller' once at the Finsbury Park Empire.

  Archie Bunting : What about the bride?

  Butler : I didn't spot her, sir. But there was a rather large audience.

  [Walks over to Robbie, pulls him up and puts a plate of food before him. Robbie's sleeping form begins to drop, Butler pulls him up by the shoulder] 

  Archie Bunting : No, I meant, did I offend her?

  Butler : [pauses, looks around, thinking]  Yes.

  [Archie nods and looks pained. Telephone rings] 

  Butler : Excuse me, sir, that may be the telephone.

  [Taps Robbie on the shoulder who wakes up, surprised and momentarily confused seeing food before him] 

• Hewitt : [Archie's been drinking, ordered by Barker to go to his quarters, but stops to talk to Hewitt - this is after the 'likewise' part]  . Who the hell do you think you are, sir?

  [Hewitt stands up from the table] 

  Hewitt : .

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : I'll tell you who the hell I think I am, sir! I'm Squadron-Leader Blotto, Squadron-Bleeding Hunter, Hunter, Blunt, Something! I'm a pilot, sir, and a damn good one. I bid you goodnight.

  [Archie turns and leaves the bar knocking into something] 

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : .

  [Hewitt sits down looking at Archie as he stumbles out] 

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : .

  Group Captain Cyrill Barker : [Getting two whiskeys from the barman]  . Thank you, George.

  [Walks over to join Hewitt with the drinks] 

  Group Captain Cyrill Barker : .

  Hewitt : That Bunting guy, does he always drink that way?

  Group Captain Cyrill Barker : Hm? Oh no, no, no. Usually he has to be carried out.

  Hewitt : Doesn't that worry you?

  Group Captain Cyrill Barker : Sometimes, yes. But then I understand it. I understand them all. I mean, look at them Jack,

  [camera pans over to Archie's squadron, drinking, talking and laughing] 

  Group Captain Cyrill Barker : they're just lads. We taught them how to kill before they've learnt how to shave. And most of them believe that their next sortie will be their last one. So no, I'm not unduly worried about their future health. A drink makes more sense than a pension.

  [Hewitt smirks in partial understanding] 

  Group Captain Cyrill Barker : . Take that incident today. Archie believed that your chaps were being attacked by enemy aircraft. As far as he was concerned, he was a lone fighter facing ten, maybe fifteen Messerschmitts.

  Hewitt : That's all very well, but...

  Group Captain Cyrill Barker : He still went in, Jack. He still went in. Now couldn't we pass this whole thing off as an honest mistake? I mean nobody can prove there weren't enemy planes in the area because our radar was down. But you could very well easily say, Bunting escorted your squadron home and that would be the end of it. What do you say, Jack? Eh?

  Hewitt : Well, I'll think about it Cyrill. I'm promising nothing.

  Group Captain Cyrill Barker : Thank you, Jack. I appreciate that. Bunting may come across as a bit of a, a bit of a wild egg, but I know one thing. If I give that man an order he will follow it. Regardless of the consequences.

  [Archie drives off on his motorbike after Barker ordered him to walk home] 

  Group Captain Cyrill Barker : . Of course he's ex-grammar school which doesn't help!.

• Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : [In British hospital]  Hey, how's your leg?

  Herschel Lenko : Hurts. That's why I drink to take the pain away.

  [Referring to the cognac Archie is drinking on the quiet] 

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : Oh, I thought you just liked it.

  Herschel Lenko : This is war, Lenko. Things are rarely simple as they appear.

• Butler : [Clears throat as he approaches Archie and Dougal on the lawn]  . Ah-hem. Excuse me, sir. That was a call from your base. Your squadron leave's been cancelled, sir. You're to return forthwith.

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : [Pained]  Oh no. Thank you, Butler.

  [Butler departs] 

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : . Right, Dougal. Get the others together and be quick about it.

  [Dougal looks shocked] 

  Dougal : [Calling from far away]  Squadron-Leader!

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : [Archie and Dougal look around to see where she is calling from. Archie spots her on some steps, nudges Dougal]  Lady Billingham, good morning. Thank you for yesterday. Lovely ceremony, very moving.

  Dougal : [Not impressed]  Is that yours?

  [Points with her head to Archie's Spitfire gracefully sitting on the ornamental lawn] 

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : Um, I believe it is!

  Dougal : Well, why did you bring it with you?

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : Well, I need it, it's part of my job.

  Dougal : Who told you, you could land on my grounds?

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : Charlie.

  Dougal : Charlie?

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : He's your son.

  [Lady Billingham looks pained] 

  Squadron-Leader Archie Bunting : He said, 'there's plenty of land, bring the kite'.