04x02 - Sky Robbers

[bunniefuu]

[airplane engines whirring]

- [Announcer] Out of the
clear blue of the Western sky,

comes Sky King.

[pleasant orchestra music]

- 15,000 bucks, boy that's a lot of money.

- Peanuts compared to what they'll take in

at the box office.

Why they come from all over
the state to see these races.

- Are you kiddin', in this one horse town?

- One horse town, huh?

Two bucks to throw for general admission

and some guys are putting up
as much as 100 for a box seat.

Sweet charity.

[airplane engines whirring]

- [Mushy] What's he turnin' for?

- Why didn't Greg land?

- He's gonna stop off at
that Sky King's ranch first.

When Greg Nelson plans a job,
he don't leave any loose ends.

[airplane engines rumbling]

[pleasant orchestra music]

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Mr. King around.

- No, he isn't, but I'm his niece, Penny.

- Greg Nelson.

I apologize for sitting
down on the private strip

but I just pulled in the Grover yesterday

and I didn't have a car
in town to drive out here.

- That's not a bad looking
taxi cab you got there.

- That's not a bad looking
egg crate you've got.

- Isn't she great?

I only wish you were mine

but at least I get the fly
her in the race this Saturday.

- That's what I came
to see Mr. King about.

I'm here for the air meet.

- Oh, you are?

I feel kind of sorry for you
flying against my Uncle Sky.

- I can take care of
myself in the clinches.

- I wouldn't be too sure.

Well, I guess there isn't
any reason why you can't come

in the house and wait for Uncle Sky.

He's out marking a fence line.

I don't think he'll be too long.

[airplane engines whirring]

- All right, get ready to
throw out another, Chuck.

- Okay boss.

It sure is the lazy man's
way of marking a post line.

- It beats trucks across these hills

with a field light and chain.

Get ready to drop another.

All right, now.

- Hey, what if a wind comes up, boss.

- Take a might strong wind
to dislodge that slack line.

When you take that
ground crew out tomorrow

you won't have any trouble
running the fence line.

- Could ya figure out a way
to lay the wire from here?

Sure would save a lot of walking.

- [chuckling] I've been working on it.

There's the section marker
and the end of the line.

Toss out another we'll head for home.

- Right.

[airplane engines whirring]

- So that's the famous Grover trophy.

- Uncle Sky's won it twice in a row.

- Yeah, it's like buying a
car on the installment plan.

One more payment and it's all mine.

You better take one long
last look at it, Penny.

I'm gonna take it home with me Saturday.

- Oh no, you're not.

It's been right here
for the past two years.

And by now it's part of the family.

But if anyone else has
to win it I guess you can

keep the dust off of it as well as I can.

- Well, you must've made
quite an impression on Penny

for her to concede even that much.

- Oh, he did not, it just um,

would you like me to
make you a pot of coffee?

- That would be an
excellent idea, young lady.

- All right.

[laughing]

- Quite a gal, your niece.
- Yup.

- Flies too, huh?

- Very well.

- I suppose you wonder
why I'm here, Mr. King.

- Well, I'll tell you the truth,

I have been a little curious.

- Well, I've been flying
for quite a few years now

but I don't know too many
members of the association

and, well, I've been wanting
to get in that Grover race.

- Yeah?

- They tell me, you need two
members of your association

to sponsor your application.

Well, after Bob Farley
signed he said that you-

- Bob, you know Bob Farley?

- Yes, he's an old friend of mine.

- Well, why didn't you say so.

If Bob Farley vouches for you
that's good enough for me.

Hand me that application.

I suppose you have a pen too.

[pensive orchestra music]

- How'd it go?

- Smooth as silk.

Soon as they saw King's signature
on the application blank

they even look at it any further.

- Well, where do we go from here?

- They're having a meeting
over in the office at 10:00.

- Ben, you come with me.

You two boys keep out a site.

- Okay, Greg.

Come on, boys.

[talking softly]

- Greg, how'd you make out?

- All set, thanks to you.
- All right.

- This has Ben Mersin my mechanic.

- Nice to know you, Ben.

- How are ya?
- Fine.

- By the way, what's our racing course?

- Come here, I'll show you.

Now from kickoff point we
fly a northwesterly course

to Cedar Mountain.

Turn south at Cedar Mountain
down the Black Butte.

Now be sure and turn inside Black Butte

then fly a north-easterly
course back to the field.

- It doesn't sound too complicated.

- It isn't.

- Can I get a map of the course?

- Sure, Mr. Marsh has got a lot of 'em.

Pat, give Mr. Nelson a map.

- Sure, help yourself.

- Here, Ben, take one, Ben.

- Hi Penny.

What are you doing?

- She's drooling over the
trophy for the Debutante Derby.

It's her first competition.

- Isn't that beautiful?

- Here, take it, from me to you.

- I wish it were that easy.

Oh golly, I hope I win it.

- You will.

- Attention everyone,
we're going to draw for

the starting positions in the main event.

Contestants will leave the starting line

at three minute intervals.

The race will be 100 miles.

The winner decided on elapsed time.

Sheriff Hargrove, will you draw the names

for starting positions?

- Gladly.

- I've written the names
of five entries here

on the slips of paper.

Can I use your hat, sir?

- You best.

- I'll guarantee you that's
the most important thing

that's ever been in that hat.

[chuckling]

- Now, pick the first start.

- Charles Hastings.

- Mr. Hastings starts first.

- Harvey Mason.
- Mr. Mason started second.

- Glad I didn't draw a first position.

- I drew next to last
and the Debutante Derby.

- Lou Henry.
- Lou Henry starts third.

- Greg Nelson.

- That's my lucky number.
- Mr. Nelson goes fourth.

- And Skyler King.
- Our good friend goes last.

The course will be open
to contestants from today

until the morning of
the race for practice.

Thank you and may the best man win.

- Making cracks about my hat.

I'll see that you come last.
[phone ringing]

- Right, I may be last but I'll win.

- Hello?

Speaking.

Hmm, just a moment.

It's Wilbur at the bank.

He wants to know what
time he should pick up

the gate receipts.

- Well tell him if it's all right with him

as late as possible.

It takes time to tally everything up.

Now, the sheriff says late as possible.





I don't like all that money lying around

but I'll be sittin' on
it like a hen on a nest.

[laughing]

- Hi Ben.
- Hi.

- Well, how'd it go?

- Great, the only thing
between us with that money

is a hick sheriff.
[laughing]

- I flew the course today
and here's the layout.

The Black Butte is about


just off the race course.

It's well beyond any
roadblocks in case anything

should go wrong.

Right behind the Butte is a dirt road

that leads into highway nine.

You and Mushy have the car there.

I'll fly behind the Buttes, drop the money

and come back on the
course and finish the race.

- Well, why bother to finish the race?

We'll have the money with us.

- If I should drop out of the
race they might suspect me.

Besides, I wouldn't mind
taking that trophy away

from Sky King.

[upbeat orchestra music]

[engines whirring]

[crowd cheering]

- Now remember, Penny,
cut the pylons close,

but don't lose airspeed.

- Don't lose pylons and cut the airspeed.

[Sky groaning]

You know I know what you mean.

- Sure and keep your radio on.

- [Loudspeaker] Your attention please.

Your attention please.

The next event is the
Debutante Derby for lady fliers

to be flown on the lake side of the field.

- I gotta go, I gotta get in.

- Pen, Pen, hey, simmer down.

Now take a deep breath.

- Okay.
[breathing deeply]

- There, that's better.
- Okay.

- Okay, up you go.
- All right.

Oh boy.

- [Loudspeaker] You attention,
entrance for Debutante Derby

report to the starting line please.

- Now you make this a good race, huh?

- Okay.

- Remember what I told ya.

[engines whirring]

- Calling X3Y, calling
X3Y, come in X3Y, over.

- Yes, Uncle Sky.

- Penny, the next time you round
the pylon give her full g*n

and keep her nose down.

[airplanes whirring]

- How's that, Uncle Sky?

- You're doing fine
but hold your altitude.

[airplanes whirring]

- [Loudspeaker] Plane
number one, lapse time



[airplanes whirring]

- That's great, Penny,
now give her a little more

throttle if you've got any.

- She's way open now, I'm on my last lap.

[airplanes whirring]

- [Loudspeaker] Plane number two,

no it's number four finishing.

Elapsed time for plane number four,



The winner, Miss Penny King.

- Aw, you did it, kid!
[laughing]

- Did I?

- Oh, I'm proud of you, Penny.

- Now I have a trophy too.
- You sure do.

Listen, I got to warm up the Songbird.

Wanna come along?

- Oh ah, look no, I have
something I should do.

- Ah, I suppose you want to
see one of my competitors, huh?

- Oh, Uncle Sky.
- Okay.

- Sheriff'll be picking up
the receipts anytime now.

I'm all set, boss.

- Hi.
- Hi Penny.

- Shake hands with a winner.

- Congratulations.
- Thank you.

- [Loudspeaker] Ladies and
gentlemen, your attention please.

Next will be in the main event.



- That's us.

- Well, I can't wish ya too
much luck against my Uncle Sky.

- Don't worry about Greg.

He'll do all right.

- Well, he may a best man win.

I'll see ya after the race.

- That's what she thinks.
[laughing]

- Hi, Mr. Marsh.
- Congratulations, Penny.

- Thank you.

Oh, isn't it beautiful?

- You can't take it now, Penny.

The governor's got to
hand it to you tonight

at the official presentation.

- Oh, that's right, I forgot.

- That's not all you win, Penny.

You got the prize money too.

- Oh, I don't care about
anything with this.

Mr. Marsh, will you give my
cash prize to the charity farm?

- I sure will, Pen.

And that's mighty fine of you.

- Well, I gotta run
because I wanna see Sky

before he kicks off and, oh, Mr. Marsh,

don't you dare let
anybody steal my trophy.

- [Mr. Marsh] I'll guard it with my life.

- [Penny] Hi Sheriff.

- These receipts are
better than last year.

- Ah good.

- Lots of money there.

- That'll make a lot of kids happy.

- Even better.

[pensive orchestra music]

- [Loudspeaker] Your attention please.

Five minute warning for the main event.

- Sheriff just took the
money in the office.

- Okay, I'm all set.

[phone jingling]

[phone ringing]

- Hello?

Just a minute.

It's for you, Sheriff.

- Sheriff Hargrove speaking.

- Yeah, yeah.

Okay, I'll be right there.

An accident at the main gate.

[tense orchestra music]

- [Loudspeaker] Your attention please.

Entrants in the main event,
please report to the start.

- Sky!

Sky!

- [Loudspeaker] Plane number
one is that the starting line,

runway 36, plane number one
piloted by Mr. Charles Hastings.

Plane number two with Harvey
Mason, to the starting line,

runway 27.
[dramatic orchestra music]

- What's the matter?

- Someone hit me from behind.

- Where's the money?

- It's gone.

- [Loudspeaker] And starting
now is plane number three,

Mr. Drew Henry.

- That phone call was a phony.

There was no accident.

Give me the main gate please.

- [Loudspeaker] Plane number four,

Greg Nelson to the starting
line, runway 27, please.

[airplane whirring]

Plane number five, Sky
King, at the starting line,

runway 36.

[airplane whirring]

[pensive orchestra music]

- Hi Sheriff.
- Hi Penny.

- Sky's just takin' off.

- Oh, I thought I might catch him.

- Why what's wrong?

- Somebody just stole every
last cent we've taken in today.

- Oh no.

- I've covered the main gate,

the boys are setting up roadblocks.

- XC101 calling headquarters.

XC101 calling headquarters,
come in please.

[airplanes whirring]

No, I haven't any
description, nobody saw him.

All I know is the money
was in a white canvas bag.

- White canvas bag?

Well, I saw a man give
Greg a white canvas bag

just before he took off.

- Hold on a minute.

What'd he look like?

- Well I dunno, he looked
like Greg's mechanic

only he wasn't dressed like a mechanic.

- Come on, Penny, think.

How was he dressed?

- Well, he had on, on dark trousers.

Oh, they were brown and a sports jacket.

It was just kind of a beige-y tweed

and a brown tie and a white shirt.

- And if he wasn't Greg's mechanic

he was about the same size.

- Yes, that's right.

- Okay.

I have the description of the suspect.

[airplane whirring]

[dramatic orchestra music]

[airplane whirring]

Well, regardless of
whether it's his mechanic

or somebody else, Greg
must be in on the job.

- I just can't believe it.

[airplane whirring]

- [Sheriff] Sheriff calling Songbird.

Sheriff calling Songbird, come in please.

- This is the Songbird, come in, Mitch.

- Sky, switch over to channel B.

- Okay, I'm on channel B, come in.

- [Sheriff] The box of
receipts have been stolen.

Penny saw a man give the
money bag to Greg Nelson

just before he took off.

- Well, that sounds incredible, over.

- Where's Greg now?

- [Sky] He's right in front of me

headed for the finish line, over.

- If he veers off, follow him
and keep in touch with me,

over and out.

- Roger, Songbird out.

- We picked up this man
going out the main gate.

He answers the description.

- He's the one, he's Greg's mechanic.

- What's this all about?

- He's the one who gave the bag to Greg.

- Take him down and book him.

- Okay.

- [Loudspeaker] Plane number two coming in

and almost together, plane number four.

Elapsed time, 25 minutes, 11 seconds.

And plane number five,
the winner, Mr. Sky King,

elapsed time. 22 minutes, 14 seconds.

[tense orchestra music]

- Well, Penny, I guess
your uncle gets to keep

that trophy after all.

- That's right.

- Maybe you've already
got your prize in here.

- Why does he wanna look in my plane?

- Greg, there's been a robbery.

Indications are you may be mixed up in it.

Penny says she saw a man
hand you the money bag.

- He was your mechanic.

- Your victory must've gone to your head.

Nobody gave me anything.

- I didn't find anything, Sky.

- You didn't?

- Penny?
- Huh?

- Are you sure?

- I'm positive, Sky.

- I don't like being accused
of something I had no part of.

- Mitch.

- [Loudspeaker] Your
attention, please clear

the operational area.

While I was following Greg in the race,

he got off course over by Black Buttes.

- Mmm hmm.

- Now he could have made a drop.

Why don't you hold him
while I check that out?

- Good idea.

- This is ridiculous.

- Maybe it is, but let's go.

[airplane engines whirring]

- Calling XC101, calling
XC101, come in please.

- XC101, come in Sky.

- I think I have him spotted.

There's a black sedan
headed toward highway nine,

traveling at high speed.

It looks like the same car
I saw inside the hangar

Greg was using, over.

- Don't lose sight of it, Sky.

Over and out.

That car is outside the roadblock.

- Let's go.

[airplane engines whirring]

- That plane is following us.

And it's not Greg.

- Mitch, can you put down
a block on highway nine?

- Car four is covering
that, I'm heading there now.

Try and delay them, Sky.

- [Sky] Okay, Mitch.

[airplane whirring]

- I still have some
lines sacks in the plane.

I'll b*mb the car.

Songbird out.

- What's he doing?

- I don't know.

[brakes squealing]

Calling XC101, calling
XD101, come in, please.

- [Sheriff] Yeah, Sky.

- If your boys looked real hard, Mitch,

they'll find a black sedan
with a white windshield

in a ditch alongside highway nine

just past the dirt road, over.

- And the men?

- [Sky] They may be a little roughed up

but they'll be okay.

I'll ride herd on 'em until you get there.

- I'm practically there now.

Nice work, Sky.

- Thanks, Mitch, Songbird out.

[pleasant orchestra music]

[humming like engines]

- What are you doing, Penny,
flying the race all over again?

- Well I'm just seeing how I,
how I could've done it better.

- Oh you did great, honey.

I couldn't have flown that
course any better myself.

- No kidding?
- No kidding.

- Say ah, Uncle Sky, ah.
- Yeah?

- Do you remember when I
caught my very first marlin?

- Oh I sure do.

Golly, I was proud of you.

I went off the very next day

and bought you your own fishing rod.

- Yeah and do you remember when I

really learned how to ride?

- I bought you your own horse.

- Yeah and now that I
really know how to fly.

- Buy me an airplane.
- Buy me an airplane.

- Yeah.
- Yeah?

- No.
- Oh.

[laughing]
[dramatic orchestra music]