Ace shows Billy the America of 1917, and the story of John Robert Anderson, a World War I fighter pilot who falls in love with and marries Ruth, the Colonel's daughter. Ace and Billy follow John Robert on his travels to Europe to fight in World War I.
By day, Billy shares his dream adventures with a schoolmate named Emily, who is also a bit of a misfit. Emily attempts to decipher clues in Billy's dreams as to who the pilots are, and why they are reliving their stories for him. The Milligans continue to try to forge a relationship with Billy, as his mother Elizabeth struggles to regain her stability in the hopes of having Billy return to her.
In his continuing dream adventures with Ace, Billy learns of John Robert's many triumphs in the skies over Europe, and the joyous news that Ruth is with child. On a particularly dangerous and heroic mission, Billy watches as John Robert is shot down over the western front and dies in the desolation of no-man's-land.
Frightened by the scene, Billy locks the model plane away, vowing not to allow Ace to visit his dreams again. Emily, pointing out his newfound excitement and courage since the dreams began, convinces Billy to learn the meaning of these stories.
Ace takes Billy back to 1940, and reveals that he is John Robert's son, raised by Ruth in the overbearing memory of a father he never knew. Billy witnesses Ace\'s struggle, as he goes against Ruth's wishes that he enlist to fly in the Air Force, and enrolls in college instead. At college, Ace meets and falls in love with the young Elizabeth. Billy realizes at last that Ace is in fact his father. Although confused and angry, once more Billy is persuaded by Emily to see the story through.
With the declaration of World War II, Ace submits to Ruth's demands and enlists. He is selected to join the elite Flying Tigers over the skies of China. On the home front, Elizabeth falls victim to her own fear and emotional frailty, as she learns that she is pregnant. In the final dream, Billy joins Ace on a mission over the mountains of Thailand where Ace is shot down and perishes, never knowing he left behind a wife who would bear his son.
In a final gesture of fatherly love, Ace encourages Billy to forgive his mother and to give her the model plane in the hopes that she will embark on her own journey of discovery and reconciliation.
Ideal for strong child role, great scenic possibilities
* * ATTENTION CUSTOMERS: ACE is currently restricted in Australia and New Zealand until further notice. * *
Cast Requirements: 7 Male, 7 Female, 4 Children, 10 musicians
Genre / Style: Historical, Family Drama, Pop Sound
Musical Numbers: In The Skies, Life Can Be Cruel, it Took This Moment, Make It From Scratch, Be My Bride, Letter From The Front, The Dogfight, Soaring Again, It\'s Just A Matter Of Time, I Know It Can Be Done, Missing Pieces, Sooner Or Later, In The Skies (reprise), We\'re The Only Ones, Seeing Things In A Different