Wings
Wings
Wings
453
pages
in: Episodes, Season Two, Joe Hackett Episodes,
and 3 more

The Story of Joe

Sign in to edit


The Story of Joe is the second episode of the second season on Wings and the eighth episode overall in the series.

Synopsis[]

At Logan Airport in Boston, Brian awaits the arrival of two final passengers, Cliff Clavin and Norm Peterson, from Boston to board the plane. Although Cliff is initially seated in the co-pilot seat, he annoys Brian so quickly that Brian has him change seats with Norm.

At the Nantucket airport, Fay announces the arrival of Flight 44 from Boston as Joe cleans the utensils place in front of him by Helen at the lunch counter. Joe discusses how nervous he is about being interview for a profile in American Flyer magazine. Joe is optimistic despite Roy's chiding. Brian enters visibly annoyed with Cliff's insensent prattling. As Cliff and Norm discuss chartering a fishing boat, Lowell offers up his houseboat as a rental, but Cliff and Norm are put off by the idea of Lowell Junior's rash. Joe recommends they speak with Jack O'Shea and they leave. Ted Cobb, the reporter for American Flyer magazine, enters looking for Joe. After begging bombarded with Aeromass swag by Roy, Ted and Joe head into the office where Ted tells Joe he's only writing this story because his editor's aunt fly on Sandpiper and thought it would be a cute story and Ted is not happy about it. As Joe starts to tell his story, Brian enters the office and immediately takes the spotlight from Joe with his charisma and stories. Joe angry leaves and heads to the lunch counter to complain to Helen (with Cliff and Norm drinking drinks at the counter). Joe asks Helen for good stories about himself until Lowell approaches to tell him the plane is ready to fly. Joe tries to talk himself up and finally works up the courage to go and show up Brian but as he approaches the office Brian and Ted are exiting and Ted plans to go on the next flight with Brian and then get lunch with him. Joe's dreams are seemingly dashed.

At The Club Car, Joe and Helen enter and are dismayed to see Cliff and Norm. When Joe spots Brian and Ted, he suggests they join them and Helen realizes she was only brought along so it wouldn't look like Joe was pathetically following them. When they sit down, Joe tries to entice Ted with a story of flying in a storm, but he is mostly uninterested and leaves to the bathroom. At the table Joe accuses Brian of trying to steal his story. Brian denies the accusation and forces Joe to read Ted's notes proving that Brian has been talking about Joe nonstop. When Ted returns, he informs them that his editor has killed the story due to disinterest and Joe's dreams are seemingly dashed again.

That evening at the airport, Cliff and Norm return arguing about the size of a seafood platter from Captain Andy's and leave to board an Aeromass flight back to Boston without having fished at all on their fishing trip. In Joe's office, Brian tries to hail Joe over the radio. When Brian finally does contact Joe they discuss the article not working out and reconcile.

Credits[]

Main Cast

Guest Cast

Quotes[]

  • Brian Hackett - "Um, sir. We are pretty full up at the moment. I don't think we have room for that case of beer."
    Cliff Clavin - "Put that down Normie. They aren't going to wait til you drink all those. Are ya?"
  • Brian Hackett - "Just one more preflight adjustment to make.
    Cliff Clavin - "What's that?"
    Brian Hackett - "Would you two guys mind switching seats?"
    Cliff Clavin - "Ah! I get it. Redistribution of payload. It's your, uh, R.D.P. Excuse me ladies and gentlemen. We're just movin."
    Norm Peterson - "Is this, uh, for safety reasons?"
    Brian Hackett - "Yeah. If he had stayed up here, I would have killed him."

You do now." [as he opens a can of beer from his pocket]

  • Roy Biggins - "Please, please forgive me Mr. Bigshot. I didn't mean to rain on your parade."
    Helen Chapel - "Then cover you mouth when you talk. You're spraying like a garden hose."
  • Norm Peterson - "He's an okay guy, it just takes a little time to get used to him. I'm about two years away myself."
  • Joe Hackett - "So what angle are you going to take for this article? I mean, you have the romance of the one man, one plane. And there's the drama of David versus Goliath. I guess it just depends on what you're looking for."
    Ted Cobb - "I'm looking to fill three pages."
  • Joe Hackett - "Grant Brian is a little more outgoing and all, but I think I'm a pretty interesting guy too."
    Helen Chapel - "Oh, I'm sorry Joe. What?"
  • Joe Hackett - "Hey, why am I trying to compete with Brian? I got my own story and it's a damn good one. I mean, I started this airline with nothing but $5,000 dollars and my own sweat and spit."
    Fay Cochran - "Joe, that's kind of disgusting."
  • Joe Hackett - "You know Brian, I don't know why I was trying to so hard to prove myself to that jerk. I don't care what he thinks. I mean, I may not have lived in all the exotic places you have and done all the death-defying things, but that doesn't matter. So...I don't make good copy. I'm a damn good pilot and I'm proud of it. And, I'm happy with who I am, it's just that every once in a while...Now, I'm going to say something, but you have to promise me you won't ever throw this back at me or tell anyone I ever said it. ...Sometimes I wish I was a little more like you. ...Brian?"
    Brian Hackett - "Hey Joe, I just found out the coolest thing. If I turn this dial a little to the left, I can pick up the dog races from Miami. I'm sorry what did you say?"
    Joe Hackett - "Uh, uh, nothing. I'm heading home. Leave a light on for me. Out."
    [Brian turns of the radio]
    Brian Hackett - "Sometimes I wish I was a little more like you too."

Trivia[]

  • This is the first episode in the series to feature characters from Cheers.
  • Fay reveals that her favorite color is blue and the she was the first stewardess to use the emergency exit gesture.
  • Joe reveals that his childhood hero was Chuck Yeager, a brigadier general in the United States Air Force, flying ace, and record-setting test pilot who in 1947 became the first pilot in history confirmed to have exceeded the speed of sound in level flight.
  • Brian reveals that he fly with Iguana Airlines while living on Mustique.
  • Joe implies that the Hacketts are Catholic as he discusses Brian ruining his confirmation ceremony.

Gallery[]

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.