Doolittle looks around the room. No one's smiling.
DOOLITTLE:
Listen you guys. I'm the first plane -- then McCawley, Walker, the rest of you.
I'll have the shortest run. If I don't make it, you don't go.
RAFE:
Colonel...we're all going. Whether you make it or not.
DOOLITTLE:
I know.
EXT. BRIDGE OF THE CRUISER NASHVILLE - DAY The cruiser Nashville is at the perimeter of the task force.
It's lookouts spot Japanese patrol boats ahead.
INT. BRIDGE OF THE ENTERPRISE - DAY The message is handed to Admiral Halsey.
OFFICER:
Sir, lookouts on the cruisers report patrol boats, ten miles away!
HALSEY:
The Japs have set up a picket line!
日本人已经设立了纠察线!
Order the cruisers to open fire! We've got to sink them before they get a message away.
EXT. PACIFIC - DAY The cruiser NASHVILLE begins firing rounds at the Japanese patrol boat; round after round misses.
INT. HORNET'S RADIO ROOM - DAY The operators hear the excited voices of Japanese radio traffic.
RADIO OPERATOR:
They've reported our position! Tell the Admiral.
EXT. HORNET - DAY Doolittle hurries up to the command bridge, with the naval officers sent by the Admiral to fetch him. Doolittle sees the cruisers next to the carrier firing its guns -- at Japanese boats in the distance.
INT. BRIDGE OF THE HORNET - DAY Doolittle finds the Admiral gathered with his staff, their mood is grim.
DOOLITTLE:
How far are we from Tokyo?
ADMIRAL:
Seven hundred miles.
INT. PILOT'S WARD ROOMS - SERIES OF DISSOLVES Rafe, Danny, and the other pilots are alone at their bunks, taking advantage of the lull before the mission.
Rafe has paper and pen to write a letter, but he can't think of anything to write.
Danny holds the "Picture of Paradise" that Sammy took, of Evelyn and the nurses in the sun. He tucks it inside his shirt, when he hears --
LOUDSPEAKER:
Army pilots, man your planes!
EXT. FLIGHT DECK - THE HORNET - DAY The pilots run onto deck. The cruiser next to the Hornet is still firing away at the Japanese patrol boat.
Doolittle runs onto deck, shouting orders.
DOOLITTLE:
Load in every bit of extra gas you can carry! And strip everything you don't need out of the planes. I mean EVERYTHING!