FLIGHT

Written by
John Gatins

White:
Aug.
Blue:
Sep.
Pink:
Oct.
Yellow:
Oct.
Green:
Oct.
Goldenrod: Nov.
Buff:
Nov.
Salmon:
Nov.
Cherry:
Dec.
Tan:
Dec.

27,
25,
10,
19,
24,
04,
08,
22,
06,
12,

2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011

THIS MATERIAL IS THE PROPERTY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND IS

INTENDED AND RESTRICTED SOLELY FOR PARAMOUNT PICTURES
PERSONNEL. DISTRIBUTION OR DISCLOSURE OF THIS MATERIAL TO
UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS IS PROHIBITED. THE SALE, DISPLAY,
COPYING OR REPRODUCTION OF THIS MATERIAL FOR ANY REASON, IN
ANY FORM, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DIGITAL OR NEW MEDIA
IS ALSO PROHIBITED.

CHYRON -- ATLANTA 6:12 AM

EXT.

SOMEWHAT SEEDY TWO-STORY HOTEL IN ATLANTA -- PRE-DAWN

Its still more night than day as we look down on the HOTEL
ATLANTA. The lit sign for the HOTEL ATLANTA may be the only
source of light as we hear a metallic rattle.
EXT.

HOTEL ATLANTA -- SECOND FLOOR -- PRE-DAWN

We follow the metallic rattle to a door.

and we watch the knob slowly turn.

The rattling stops

Tight on a feminine arm with a tattoo that announces hope.

We pull back to find that both arms are employed in the
pulling of what looks like a large suitcase.
NICOLE MAGGEN, a beautiful but tired woman, finishes pulling
the suitcase that we now surmise to be a folded-up massage
table out of the motel room. With her bra in one hand and
the rickety table resting against the wall of the exterior
2nd floor hallway of the motel, she assesses her situation.
She digs in her purse, lights a cigarette and continues
digging in her purse. She finds a beat-up candy tin. She
opens it and quickly sorts through a collection of burnt
foils, heroin foils, looking for residue. Nothing.
She now finds and holds up the 100 bucks she just made. She
flips open her cheap phone and makes a call...she thinks
better of it and hangs up.
EXT.

HOTEL ATLANTA -- PARKING LOT -- MOMENTS LATER

NICOLE forces the clumsy table into the hatchback of a 1988

Toyota Tercel and slams it shut.
INT.

1988 TOYOTA TERCEL -- PARKING LOT -- SAME TIME

We hear the electronic ring of her cheap cell phone on

speaker phone mode. The phone rests on the passenger seat.
We pull up to find NICOLE slumped with her head resting on
the steering wheel. She is exhausted and irritated...
NICOLE
(as the phone rings)
Dont pick up...dont pick up...
dont pick up...

2.
A MAN answers with music in the background...Yo..
quickly picks up the phone.

NICOLE

NICOLE (CONTD)
It's Nic, do you have any? Good
morning to you too. Youre what?
Well, where are you guys shooting
today? Where? Text me the
address. You have some...Okay.
She hangs up the phone and catching herself in the rearview
she tries to smile.
CHYRON -- ORLANDO 7:14 AM
EXT.

AMERICAN VALUE SUITES - HOTEL -- ORLANDO -- MORNING

The sun would be rising if the sky wasnt swirling with grey
clouds. We see the American Suites Hotel and recognize it as
a decent commuters hotel near the airport in Orlando. The
sound of a clock radio breaks the calm of our picture.
INT.

AMERICAN VALUE SUITES - HOTEL -- ORLANDO -- MORNING

Through the clock radio we loudly hear two morning drive-time

radio personalities spewing nonsensical patter...
An attractive YOUNG WOMAN wrestles free of the covers and
gets out of bed. She crosses naked through the room as a
cell phone starts ringing.
Back to the bed as WHIP WHITAKER rises into frame and
inhabits the room like a lazy ape at the zoo. WHIP wears his
40 some years of life experience like a medal. Smoke hangs
in the air and empty beers, a pint of vodka and two empty
carafes of cheap hotel wine clutter the table as WHIP
snatches up his phone and answers...
VOICE
For the love of Christ! Look...just
hold...HOLD ON.
He aggressively drains the last four inches of beer from a
clear bottle and cracks the last fresh one that bobs in the
hotel ice bucket.
The naked, YOUNG WOMAN bends over to pick up her clothes.
We witness her ass as a tanned glass vase with a perfect
crack down the middle. Whip smiles, taking it all in...

3.
WHIP
(into the phone)
I've been up since the crack 'a
dawn. What check? Tuition? How
much does it cost to go there?
The YOUNG WOMAN has re-lit the last half of a joint and is
puffing it to life as WHIP is beckoning with his large hands.
The YOUNG WOMAN, looking more like a stripper by the second,
hands the joint to WHIP who takes a masterful drag. WHIP
shakes his head in violent disapproval to what he hears on
the phone. He exhales in anger as he shouts into the phone.
WHIP (CONTD)
NO! NO! NO! You decided he needed
private school...lemme talk to
Knuckles. Hes not? Tellem the
phone works both ways. Oh he's my
son because you need a tuition
check...that's great Deana. I'm
glad you tracked me down in Orlando
at 7 in the fucking morning to
shake me down for money. Does he
even like the fucking school? No
Ive never seen it. Yeah I wonder
why not too. I gotta 9 o'clock
flight, sit tight 'till I get back
to Atlanta. How am I a liar?
What? No, Ill call you.
WHIP hangs up and continues to make quick work of the last
beer as he stares through his thoughts and out the window.
YOUNG WOMAN
Was that your wife?
WHIP
That was my ex-wife. But you
Trina, you could be my second or
third wife if youd just Cmere.
The YOUNG WOMAN we now know as TRINA smiles seductively...
TRINA
Whip, dont even joke about that.
Our flight's at 9, lets hit it.
TRINA is still naked but she holds a navy blue skirt and a
white blouse as she hands WHIP his pants. WHIP cant help
but pat that perfect ass as TRINA tries to skip away.
ON THE RADIO We hear the opening bars of a familiar rock
anthem...JOE COCKERs Im Feeling Alright

4.
WHIP
Yeah, I'm feelin' a little lightheaded. I shoulda ate somethin'.
WHIP leans over the motel table, picks up a soda straw that's
been cut in half. He efficiently sniffs up a line of coke.
INT.

AMERICAN VALUE SUITES HOTEL-ORLANDO-HALLWAY-MORNING

WHIP wears his pilot Blues and carries his hat as he strides
confidently down the hallway. JOE COCKER continues to wail,
perfectly narrating the heros swagger that WHIP maintains
while passing bad light fixtures and ornate wall paper.
EXT.

AIRPORT SOUTHJET TARMAC - AIRPLANE - MORNING RAINING

WHIP leans against the landing gear of the JACKSON-RIDGEFIELD

88 PASSENGER JET -- He takes a swig from a small bottle of
mouthwash -- gargles, then spits the green foam on the
tarmac. WHIP wipes fatigue from his face as he stashes the
mouthwash in his pocket, then quickly completes his visual
walk around. He looks at the sky again as he steps on to the
jet way ladder. His foot slips, sending his shoe SPLASHING in
to a puddle.
WHIP
Son of a bitch!
Whip shakes the rain out of his shoe as he continues up the
stairs.
INT.

ORLANDO AIRPORT TERMINAL - JETWAY -- DAY

WHIP enters the jetway from the exterior door at the entrance
of the plane. TRINA is greeting a MAN and his SON.
WHIP
Morning Miss Marquez.
TRINA
Morning Captain Whitaker.
WHIP waits as TRINA politely parts the stream of folks to
allow WHIP to enter the plane.
INT.

AIRPLANE GALLEY -- MOMENTS LATER

WHIP exchanges a look with a MATURE FLIGHT ATTENDANT,

MARGARET THOMASON. She cant help but smile...

5.
MARGARET
Captain Whitaker, that sky gonna
hold? Youre not gonna make me
spend another night in Orlando?
WHIP
Dont worry, Margaret Im gonna get
you home for your prayer meeting
at...what is it? Jesus Christ
Superstar 27th Baptist King Church?
TRINA and CAMELIA SATOU, the other flight attendant, laugh.
MARGARET
Thats right, Christ the King First
Baptist Church on Hazel and 9th
Street. And Im still saving you a
seat next to me. Offer
stands...come on down.
WHIP
One of these nights, Margaret, Im
comin. You hold my seat.
The girls laugh at the familiar exchange.
INT.

AIRPLANE COCKPIT - MORNING

WHIP enters the cockpit, removes his hat and nods to KEN
EVANS, our clean-cut, young first officer.
WHIP
Gmorning. Walk around is complete.
Whip pulls his emergency oxygen mask off the bulkhead and
takes a huge hit.
WHIP (CONTD)
Emergency oxygen, checks.
(offering the mask to
Evans)
You want a hit?
EVANS
No thank you sir.
WHIP
(tries to break the chill)
My pleasure to share the chair with
ya'. Didnt we fly together...
EVANS lets him hang...

6.
EVANS
No sir, not that I remember.
Evans, sir.

Ken

WHIP
Call me Whip.
Yes sir.

EVANS

WHIP studies this little Bible Thumper for a second before...

WHIP
(calls to the galley)
Margaret.
(she appears)
Sweetie, will you get me a coffee,
black, lots of sugar. And some
aspirin. You want something?
EVANS
(looks to Margaret)
No maam. Thank you.
(she leaves)
Sir, its 8:50.
WHIP
Then lets push.
time record.

I got a great on

EVANS
Yes sir, you gottit.
feeling today, sir?

And how you

WHIP focuses on EVANS, trying to read into that statement.

WHIP
Tired, sir. But, this is a quick
turn for me. Ten turns in three
days. Off tomorrow.
MARGARET returns with the coffee, placing it down near WHIPs
chair on an airline cocktail napkin.
MARGARET
Heres your coffee and the final
manifest. 102 souls on board.
WHIP
Thank you, thank you, thank you,
youre a life saver. And Margaret
gettem tucked in, were ready to
push.

7.
WHIP goes to the head.

MARGARET and EVANS exchange a look.

CUT TO:

EXT.

ATLANTA SUBURB - STONE MANSION

- DRIVEWAY - DAY

NICOLE gets out of her Tercel and slams the door twice before
it closes. She checks the address on her phone and looks up
at the enormous mansion.
INT.

ATLANTA -- STONE - MANSION - DAY

NICOLE pushes through the overly tall front door of the

house. At first glance, its completely empty, unfurnished.
A GUY in cargo pants and a baseball hat sleeps sitting up
against the huge dual staircase that leads to the second
floor. Random boxes of video equipment are now evident as
are thick cables that lead to a staircase going down.
On the staircase she immediately encounters another YOUNG
CREW GUY holding a tiny lap dog while standing next to a
NAKED GIRL wearing a Shakespearean Military Helmet. The
YOUNG CREW GUY holds up the be quiet finger to his lips.
NICOLE quietly makes her way down a few steps, stopping at
the odd duo. We now hear activity downstairs, music.
SUDDENLY the YOUNG CREW GUY frantically points at the NAKED
GIRL.
NAKED GIRL IN HELMET
Othello you bastard!
And she grabs the TINY DOG and hustles downstairs.
waits with the YOUNG CREW GUY until we hear....
CUT!

NICOLE

KIP (O.S.)
CUT THAT!

NICOLE is free to walk all the way downstairs now.

INT.

MANSION -

OTHELLO PORN SET - BEDROOM SUITE - DAY

NICOLE enters to reveal a large porn set with a Shakespearean

theme, specifically Othello.
We see an Elizabethan Fourposter bed with a canopy surrounded by stone arches and
cardboard Venetian Columns. In the bed we find an AFRICAN
AMERICAN PORN ACTOR laying with TWO FEMALE ADULT ACTORS.
A GIRL WITH DYED-BLONDE HAIR stands naked next to the throne
smoking a joint as she shaves her crotch with a man's
electric razor.

8.
NICOLE approaches a YOUNG TATTOOED MAN who only wears board
shorts. He's talking with an OLDER ASIAN MAN as they groom a
pile of coke for snorting.
Kip-

NICOLE
He sniffs a quick line and gets up to kiss her, she turns her
cheek avoiding the coke-frozen kiss.
KIP
Nicole, this is Tiki Pot. He's my
partner in this new series, he
knows a lot about porn.
NICOLE
Kip I need 2 grams of h.
KIP
Tiki and I are trying to put the
narrative back in porn. Our
Desdemona hasnt shown yet.
(a great idea hatches...)
You should play Desdemona. FUCK
YEAH! You got that fair skin.
KIP is flirting, seeing if shell consider it...
Desdemona?

NICOLE
What the fuck?

TIKI does a line and comes up babbling.

TIKI POT
She do anal, two thousand, one
hour.
NICOLE
I dont do porn, Kip.
see the "h."

Just lemme

KIP
Just listen, we're doing an Othello
theme where the Moor finds you in
bed with your nurse andNICOLE
He fucks me in the ass?

9.
KIP
Well...yeah. Were giving a whole
new meaning to the beast with two
backs. Thats actually a title
were toying with...beast with two
backs or Hole-thelo or Butt Holethelo...would you be up for it?
TIKI POT
College kid, very clean...BRETT?!
A tall thin kid joins them. He wears a Moorish Headdress and
has a bath towel wrapped around his waist.
TIKI POT (CONTD)
Show her the pipeBRETT drops the towel...
NICOLE
Fuck you Tiki, you put that in your
ass and call me in the morning.
Kip, have I ever done that shit for
you? Never. Asshole.
NICOLE walks away.

KIP follows her...at the door.

KIP
Nic...sorry, were tweaked, okay
baby girl. Hey, cmon you wanna
stay and shoot some stills for me,
youre pics are awesome. And
whats going on with you? You were
clean for a while and...
(she begins to cry)
Sweetheart, don't cry.
NICOLE
I just need a little to smoke.
(flashes the cash)
Ive got 100.
KIP pulls a small tin foil square from his vest pocket.
KIP
No, keep your money, okay? But,
Nicole, this is the Taliban baby,
very big time. It will take you
down.
NICOLE
I can handle it.

10.
KIP (cont'd)
Dont shoot this shit, it is way
too heavy.
NICOLE
I'm just gonna smoke it.
done needles in weeks.

I haven't

KIP
Okay, no needles and take a little
coke and if you start going down
just whiff a little. Okay? I
wanna see you...
KIP hands her a tiny baggy of coke.

He kisses her cheek.

CUT TO:

INT.

COCKPIT -- MORNING

Out the window...nothing...the rain pounds. WHIP leans close

to the windshield in an attempt to improve his view.
EVANS reaches down and throws a switch. The windshield
wipers go on. We can now see very clearly the path of lights
the plane is to follow. WHIP looks to EVANS, smiles with
stoned eyes.
WHIP
Thanks junior.
EVANS looks out at the rain...
EVANS
Looks pretty ugly, sir.
WHIP
A little rain never hurt anybody.
Were not made of sugar. Whats
the RVR?
EVANS
Half a mile. Right at minimums.
Winds gusting to 29. 30 is our
crosswind max.
WHIP
I know what our crosswind max is.
Tellem were good to go at the end.
EVANS just stares at WHIP.

11.
GROUND CONTROL
(on radio)
SouthJet 227, say intentions.
WHIP looks right at EVANS.

EVANS keys the radio.

EVANS
Orlando ground. SouthJet 227 will
be ready to go at the end.
WHIP stares forward, not looking at EVANS.
INT.

PASSENGER CABIN - DAY

Nervous passengers stare out the windows as the JR-88 lumbers

along the tarmac, headed for the runway.
We follow TRINA whose ass looks as good in a tight navy skirt
as it does split bare with orange fluorescence. MARGARET
speaks into the PA mic.
MARGARET
Ladies and gentlemen, the captain
has turned on the seat-belt sign.
Please be sure your seat-belts are
securely fastened, and all carry-on
items are safely stored in the overhead bin, or under the seat in
front of you. Also, all personal
electronic devices must be switched
off, at this time. Today's flight
time to Atlanta should be 52
minutes. Flight attendants please
take your seats.
16

TRINA straps into her jump-seat.

INT.

COCKPIT -- MORNING -- POV THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD

Heavy rain lashes the nose of the plane. Lightning FLASHES.

We watch the plane steer on to the GLOWING center-line.
INT. COCKPIT
Whip inhales his coffee and readies himself for take-off.
EVANS tries to relax, continuing with the checklist.
EVANS
(reading the check-list)
Elevator trim - set. Flaps, One,
two, three - set. Radios - set.

16

12.
One, two, three altimeters - set.
Lights, pitot heat, de-ice - on.
Transponders, set.
TOWER
(on radio)
SouthJet 227, wind is one-zero-zero
at seventeen. Runway 18L, cleared
for take off.
WHIP has razor focus as he places his hand on the throttle.
EVANS sits upright and prepares for battle.
EVANS
(keys the mic)
Cleared for take off, SouthJet 227.
Whip pushes the throttles and the engines SCREAM as they
spool up to full thrust. After a beat, he releases the
brakes.
INT.

PASSENGER CABIN - DAY

The passengers are pressed into their seats like blades of

grass as the breeze of the plane's momentum moves them
towards flight. The main lights in the cabin go out and the
small glow of the aisle lights lead us back to the cockpit.
INT.

AIRPLANE COCKPIT - DAY

WHIP mans the stick as he squints his eyes and tries to keep
the nose between the lights of the runway.
WHIP
It's like a video game, right?
WHIP laughs and turns to his copilot. EVANS is visibly
nervous as he begins the take-off check...
EVANS
Airspeeds alive, both sides...
Engine instruments are in the
green...100 knots crosscheck...
The JR-88 fishtails as the main gear begins to hydroplane.
WHIP
Yep, nothing like a little 30 knot
cross wind to exercise that
sphincter muscle.
Evans is jostled violently.

13.
EVANS
Thats wind shear! A micro burst!
Whips eyes are focused on the end of the runway.
The RED THRESHOLD LIGHTS are approaching fast. The plane is
not lifting off.
EVANS (CONTD)
Less than a thousand feet to go!
Whip snaps at him.
WHIP
Just watch my airspeed!
C.U. The airspeed indicator reads 145...
EVANS
V1...and...
Now the air speed indicator climbs to 160...
...rotate.

EVANS (CONTD)

Whip pulls back on the yoke, and...

The plane jerks up and we can hear the fuselage flex as we
leave the ground. The plane is immediately buffeted by severe
turbulence.
EVANS (CONTD)
Thats wind shear for sure!
WHIP
Yeehaw! Ride em cowboy.
INT.

PASSENGER CABIN - DAY

The passengers are rattled like a bag of marbles.

INT.

COCKPIT - DAY

The plane is loping up as the rain continues to pound the

windshield. The ascent is very bumpy as the turbulent wind
tosses the plane side to side. Copilot EVANS is
communicating with Air Traffic Control...

14.
EVANS
Orlando Departure...SouthJet 227,
climbing out of 2500 for 5
thousand, runway heading.
ATC
(on radio)
Roger SouthJet 227. Turn left
heading one-seven-zero. Climb,
maintain niner thousand.
EVANS
Left to 170. Climb, maintain niner
thousand.
EVANS quickly dials the heading and altitude into the autopilot.
WHIP
I dont want the auto-pilot. Im
flying.
ATC
(on radio)
Whats your ride like, SouthJet
227?
Before EVANS can answer, WHIP jumps on the radio.
WHIP
Ah, Departure, weve got some rough
chop here. Id say moderate to...
WHUMP!! The plane hits a severe bump! EVANs headset turns
sideways and he quickly rights it. WHIP chokes back a
nervous chuckle.
WHIP (CONTD)
(into his mic)
No, severe. Definitely severe
turbulence. No meal service today.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
Roger that.
Whump!! Once again the plane is violently rocked.
INT.

PASSENGER CABIN - DAY

The passengers audibly HOWL as the roller coaster dip lifts

most of their stomachs into their throats. A few overhead
luggage bins fly open and bags and coats rain down.

15.
The THREE ATTENDANTS calmly collect the luggage and stow it
in the kitchen. They talk loudly for the benefit of the
passengers.
TRINA
(to a passenger)
This happened last week, always
bumpy outta Orlando. Right Cam?
MARGARET grabs the cabin mic and addresses the passengers.
MARGARET
Ladies and Gentlemen, the captain
has asked that until we clear this
air you stay seated with your seat
belts fastened. Thank you.
INT.

COCKPIT - DAY

The plane rocks and shutters.

continues to serenade Evans.
WHIP
(singing)
Feelin' alright
Not feelin' too
Feelin' alright
Not feelin' too

WHIP seems oblivious as he

good myself good myself...

WHIP is interrupted by Air Traffic Control.

ATC
(on radio)
SouthJet 227...Be advised there is
a large convective cell four miles
at your 11 oclock. And another
cell, 2 oclock, 10 miles. Both
moving rapidly.
EVANS
Copy, Center.
(to Whip)
Did you get that?
WHIP
Gottit Skippy. I'm just tryin' to
get birdie here outta this wind
bowl...What did they clear us to?
EVANS
Were cleared to Flight Level oneeight-thousand.

16.
THE PLANE TAKES ANOTHER VIOLENT DIP
EVANS' headset flies off. His tie and all the loose
equipment and coffee cups are thrown to the ground.
WHIP
Goddamnit! Enough of this shit!
WHIP pushes the yoke forward. The plane pitches downward.
EVANS
What are you doing!?
WHIP
Leveling off.
What!?

EVANS

WHIP points to the MFD screen.

WHIP
See that sliver of blue sitting
between those two ugly bastards?
C.U. MFD screen: A narrow line of blue is visible between the
two monstrous convective cells.
WHIP (CONTD)
Thats a little pocket of smooth
air squatting right over Lake
Kissimmee...
EVANS nervously squints at the screen.
WHIP (CONTD)
And were gonna thread that fucking
needle. Turn me thirty degrees
right!
EVANS jumps on the radio.
EVANS
(into his mic)
Center. This is SouthJet 227, We
need to divert 30 degrees right...
WHIP
For weather.
EVANS
(into his mic)
...for weather.

17.
ATC
SouthJet 227, this is Jacksonville
Center. 30 Degrees, right,
approved. Report back on course.
EVANS
Report back on course.
WHIP banks the plane to the right.
Suddenly -- the plane falls 200 feet in 2 seconds.
A huge air pocket pulls the rug out from under the JR-88.
From the cockpit we can hear the passengers scream. EVANS
holds on to his headset.
Oh, Lord!

EVANS (CONTD)
WHIP
He cant help you now, brother.
WHIP remains cool as he rides more bad air. The plane now
bounces rapidly over a non-stop succession of speed bumps.
INT.

PASSENGER CABIN - DAY

The passengers clutch each other as they rattle like bobble

head dolls; it's getting worse.
INT.

COCKPIT - DAY

WHIP pushes the throttle and the 17-year-old JacksonRidgefield JR-88 accelerates directly into a huge black
cloud. He begins to dip the nose level to the ground.
EVANS
Why are you leveling off, sir?
WHIP
I'd like to spend less time in this
shitty air, Kenny. Is that alright
with you?
WHIP pushes the 17-year-old Jackson-Ridgefield JR-88 directly
into a huge black cloud. He begins to dip the nose towards
the ground.
EVANS
Were approaching maximum airspeed!

18.
WHIP
Fucking right! Im gonna need some
speed to punch through this crap.
INT.

PASSENGER CABIN - DAY

The passengers howl in fear as the plane pitches forward.

INT.

COCKPIT - DAY

EVANS calls out to WHIP...

EVANS
Youre over-speeding!
Not yet!!

WHIP

The AIRSPEED INDICATOR moves from GREEN right up to the

YELLOW line.
WHIP banks the plane steeply to the right.
HEAR the passengers SCREAM!

From the cabin we

Now ATC comes on the radio...

ATC
(on radio)
Uh, SouthJet 227, this is
Jacksonville Center. Say altitude.
WHIP
Tell em were climbing.
EVANS
(scared and lying badly)
Center...uh...SouthJet 227 is
leaving niner thousand...for Flight
Level 180.
ATC
(on radio)
SouthJet 227, this is Center. You
need to check your Mode-C. Your
transponder indicates youre
descending.
EVANS looks at WHIP -- panicked.
WHIP
Youre useless Evans, shit!
(keys the radio)

19.
Center. This is SouthJet 227, weve
encountered some bad air here. Some
pretty severe downdrafts. Were in
our climb now.
ATC
(on radio)
Roger.
The shaking gets incredibly violent. WE HEAR SCREAMS from
the cabin. Evans points to Whips airspeed indicator.
EVANS
(terrified)
Look at your airspeed! Youre too
fast for this rough air!
WHIP
Im right on the line Kenny.
on the line.

Right

WHIP starts to hum the Joe Cocker song again as he cranes his
head up close to the windscreen -- looking intently at the
dark sky.
WHIP (CONTD)
C'mon sweetheart, show me the sun.
Suddenly, we see a beam of light breaking through the black
clouds -- 12 oclock high. A God ray.
WHIP (cont'd) (CONTD)
Finally, daylight.
WHIP banks the plane hard, lifting the nose -- pointing it
directly at the crack in the darkness. He shoves the
throttles to full power.
The plane is banking, rising and accelerating.
INT.

PASSENGER CABIN - DAY

The screaming passengers go quiet with the strange new

development. The shaking has eased from a 10 to a 5.
INT.

COCKPIT - DAY

Whip keeps the plane climbing steeply. The Vertical Speed

Indicator shows were ascending 2,000 feet per minute. The
altimeter spins up past 12,000 ft.

20.
The murky grey outside becomes lighter and brighter, until
suddenly, in a dramatic reveal...
WE BREAK THROUGH THE CLOUDS!
Instantly the air becomes perfectly smooth.
Whip levels off and maneuvers between the two towering cloud
walls -- smooth as silk.
Gliding over the fluffy white clouds and through the
shimmering rays of the sun -- it feels like WHIP just flew
the JR-88 into heaven.
A joyous CHEER ERUPTS from the passenger cabin
WHIP pulls the power back and switches on the auto-pilot.
EVANS is cheery, almost giddy...
EVANS
Glad thats over.
WHIP, however, is very shaky and beaded with sweat.
WHIP
How tall are we?
EVANS
16 thousand. That was incredible
sir...
WHIP
Ken, turn us north and take us
home. Your plane.
EVANS looks at him and nods.
My plane.

EVANS

WHIP
(picks up the phone)
Margaret, Im coming out.
WHIP hangs up, puts on his pilot hat and exits the cockpit.
EXT. NICOLES GEORGIAN GARDENS APTS FRONT DOOR-ATLANTA-DAY
NICOLE has her keys out as she hustles for her door. She
looks to find the door slightly open. She pushes it fully
open to see FRAN, the building manager, standing in her
living room holding her camera. He tries to be casual...

21.
FRAN
Where you been Nicole?
She is scared and pissed by his invasion of her space.
Fuck!

NICOLE
Fran...get out.

FRAN
Youre like a little ghost. I
never know when youre here.
NICOLE
Get the fuck out Fran!
She grabs the full-bodied 35 MM camera from him.
FRAN
As the building manager I have a
legal right to enter an apartment
if I believe the occupant is
unwell. Especially if said
occupant is not current on her
rent.
He takes a slimy step towards her.

She steps away.

NICOLE
Fran, please just gimme a minute.
Get out. I have the rent. I will
bring it down to you. Just let me
shower.
FRAN
You could just bring the check down
now, use my shower. I got good
water pressure. You know that...
FRAN leans against the door frame, trying to strike a
seductive pose. NICOLE smiles and holds up her camera.
NICOLE
Youre in the perfect light Fran.
(he smiles, preening)
Back up a little...little more.
FRAN steps outside and on to the landing.
INT.

NICOLES APARTMENT FRONT DOOR -- ATLANTA -- DAY

NICOLE kicks the door shut and locks it, escaping FRAN who
calls through the door.

22.
FRAN (O.S.)
Tricky tricky, girl. Alright, so
you shower up and come down. For
real. We dont gotta talk about
the check. Hang out a lil bit...
NICOLE puts her camera down gently on the table.
NICOLE
(sotto)
In your fucking dreams.
She now flings her purse on the ground in frustration...the
contents spill on to the carpet. Amidst the flotsam we focus
on yet another candy tin that springs open. NICOLE fixes her
stare at the hypodermic needle resting inside.
INT.

CABIN - GALLEY - DAY

WHIP exits the lavatory drying his hands with a towel. He

looks down the aisle to see TRINA far down the cabin.
TRINA
sees WHIP, comes back up the aisle and stands with her back
to him watching the passengers.
WHIP opens a bottle of orange juice and takes a big swig. He
then pours half of it in the sink. WHIP places the open
juice bottle on the liquor cart, reaches up, and grabs the
cabin mic to address the passengers.
WHIP
Folks, this is Captain Whitaker.
If you look up, Im here in the
galley. I will wave to you.
WHIP steps into the aisle so the passengers can see him.
WHIP waves with a calm smile that would put anyone at ease.
WHIP (CONTD)
Good Morning. I apologize for the
bumps, but Florida just doesn't
seem to like us Georgians. Must be
the beatin' the Bulldogs put on the
Gators last fall.
Titters of laughter from the passengers as WHIP moves the
half step he needs to put himself behind the liquor cart.
WHIP (CONTD)
Stretch out and relax. The air
might stay a little cranky so Im
gonna ask that you sit tight if you
can, with your seat belts fastened.

23.
We now watch from behind WHIP as his free hand reaches into
the top drawer of the liquor cart and pulls three small vodka
bottles out.
WHIP (CONTD)
We wont have beverage service but
the girls will walk through with
water and snacks and Ill have you
in Atlanta in about 40 minutes.
Thank you.
WHIP puts the mic to its hook. Alone in the galley and out
of view, he quickly empties the vodkas into the orange juice
bottle and replaces the cap. Whip shakes the juice as he
tosses the little empties into the galley trash. Whip takes
a healthy pull from the spiked juice, downing nearly half.
WHIP knocks on the cockpit door.
disappears in to the cockpit.
INT.

MARGARET emerges and WHIP

NICOLES APARTMENT -- ATLANTA -- DAY

Framed photos on a bureau show: Christmas around the tree

with Mom (30) and Dad (33) and a girl whos 8 and a boy whos
5. (In the reflection of this photo we see a flame cooking
heroin in a spoon.)
Another photo depicts an 8 year-old girls birthday party.
(In the reflection of this photo see wee Nicole tying off.)
A last photo shows NICOLE (30)and her mom (54). They are
both wearing kerchiefs. We can see that her mom is gaunt and
has no hair under her kerchief. (In the reflection of this
photo we see the needle injected into her arm.)
A HYPODERMIC NEEDLE is placed in front of that picture. Next
to the photos is a small CD station that NICOLE taps to life
and turns up. The opening bars of Michael Fitzpatricks
Medication begin to play.
We pull wide to see NICOLE pull the bra from her arm that she
used to tie off with. Her face is pure happiness.
Clothes and a peach crate filled with camera equipment join a
suitcase on its side that acts as a coffee table. NICOLE
picks up her camera and admires it before putting it down.
She picks up the cigarette she had staged pre dope fix and
reaches for the lighter. She laughs and hums, pulls out gum,
a brush...She's holding the brush when the first heavy wave
of narcotic death washes over her. She leans back and uses
the wall for support. Medication is hitting its chorus...

24.
Oh man...

NICOLE
She puts her arms out at her sides, euphoria. A slow, sloppy
smile breaks across her face. She exhales slowly. She
reaches for the now burning cigarette when the second wave of
heavy drugs hits. NICOLE looks up with fear.
NICOLE (cont'd) (CONTD)
Oh no, oh no, oh no...
She reaches for the little bag of coke that KIP gave her.
Next she grabs her phone, flipping it open. As she tries to
dial it, she crumbles to her knees. NICOLE somewhat controls
her fall to the ground, but her eyes are fading. The little
bag of coke falls from her fingers.
There's no way to stem the tide of the oncoming overdose.
NICOLEs arms stretch out in a frozen reach as her body sinks
to the floor. On her back like a girl making angels in the
snow as her eyelids flutter, she slips away.
We hear a pounding on the door.

FRAN is on the other side...

FRAN (O.S.)
Open up, Nicole! I can smell that
shit cooking! Open Up! Nicole.
Nicole!
INT.

COCKPIT - DAY

WHIP is now passed out in the seat next to EVANS. He has two
approach plates (charts) folded and tucked between his
sunglasses and eyes, creating a makeshift sleeping mask. His
lower jaw hangs open as his head bobs in deep sleep.
Margaret leans in through the cockpit door talking to Evans.
MARGARET
How long has Sleeping Beauty been
out?
EVANS maintains a military posture as he monitors the plane's
progress. The flight is smooth and the sky appears clear.
EVANS
(looks at his watch)
26 minutes. Were going to start
descending any second now.
MARGARET
Well, I guess youll need to
wake...

25.
The radio interrupts...
ATC
SouthJet 227, Atlanta Center.
Descend and maintain Flight Level
30 thousand.
EVANS
Descend and maintain 30 thousand.
Evans dials 30,000 into the auto-pilot, but just as he rolls
the thumb switch to the Descend position...
BANG!

THE PLANE SUDDENLY PITCHES SIDEWAYS

Instantly the autopilots Shut-Off SOUNDS.

WHIP jolts awake and pushes up his sleeping shades.
WHIP
The fuck was that?
Evans grabs his yoke and pulls.
EVANS
The stabilizer feels really stiff.
WHIP
Dont force it.
EVANS does, we HEAR a big mechanical SNAP.
MARGARET
(referring to the noise)
That came from the back!
EVANS
I have very little trim control
sir.
WHIP
Margaret, get everybody strapped in
tight.
Margaret runs to the PA, leaving the cockpit door open.
EVANS
Its pulling right. Hard!
WHIP
Shit! It's locked up, ease up on
the trim don't...

26.
BANG!
DIVE.

THE PLANE PITCHES DOWN VIOLENTLY AND BEGINS A NOSE

EVANS
(panic)
I have no trim at all!

The instrument panel LIGHTS UP like a Christmas tree -- A

WARNING HORN BLARES.
WHIP
We lost our hydraulics!
WHIP pulls on his headset and keys his mic.
WHIP (CONTD)
Center, this is SouthJet 227, we've
lost our hydraulics...and, ah shit!
(to Evans)
Power. Pull back the power!
Evans pulls the throttles to idle.
WHIP (CONTD)
(into his mic)
...we lost hydraulics and looks
like...also our horizontal
stabilizer.
ATC
SouthJet 227, Atlanta Center.
Understand youve lost hydraulics
and stabilizer?
WHIP
(to Evans)
Turn on the back-up pumps!
Evans engages the emergency hydraulic pumps.
WHIP (CONTD)
(into mic)
Center, thats affirm. We are in a
descent, an uncontrolled...
WHOOOAAAAA!!!!
The plane starts to bank to the right, WHIP puts his hand
against the wing-window to stay in his seat. EVANS grabs his
harness with both hands. The passengers shriek with terror.
ATC
SouthJet 227, do you wish to
declare an emergency!?

27.
MARGARET stumbles into the cockpit.
MARGARET
Everyone's belted in. Are we going
down?
The plane suddenly pitches up, begins to roll, and dives
again.
WHIP
Get belted in, everyone belt in.
Brace position!
MARGARET rushes to the bench in the galley.
Whip grabs his yoke and pulls. The plane inches up.
WHIP (CONTD)
Ive got some control on my side!
My plane!
EVANS
Your plane.
Whips keeps back pressure on his yoke.
EVANS (CONTD)
Its stiff as hell. Were pitching
up. Slowing a bit.
ATC
SouthJet 227, say your condition.
Whip continues to give orders to Evans.
WHIP
We need drag. Throw out everything
weve got. Speed brakes. Gear...
(keys his mic)
Uh, Center were in a dive...lost
vertical control.
ATC
SouthJet 227, Roger.
Evans deploys the landing gear and applies the speed brakes.
The wind ROARS as the gear doors drop. The airframe shakes
and rumbles violently.
WHIP
(to Evans)
...there enough hydraulics to drop
the gear?

28.
EVANS
Gears down. I dont think
hydraulics is the problem.
WHIP
Throw out the flaps.
EVANS
Too fast for flaps.
WHIP
We need to start dumping fuel.
Evans hesitates.
Do it!

WHIP (CONTD)

Evans quickly throws the EMRG FUEL DUMP switch.

The airplane bucks and drops violently -- A chorus of
terrified SCREAMS ERUPTS from the main cabin.
Whip pulls on his yoke with all of his strength and the dive
shallows out a bit.
ATC
(on radio)
SouthJet 227, Atlanta Center.
do you hear?

How

WHIP
(keys his mic)
Atlanta. This is SouthJet 227. We
are in an uncontrolled dive,
descending out of...shit I dont
know...
EVANS
(calls to Whip)
21 thousand!
WHIP
(into his mic)
...21 thousand. We are declaring an
emergency! We are dumping fuel! We
have a jammed stabilizer...or
something. We need a block of
altitude to work the problem...and
a heading to the nearest airport!
(YELLS to Evans)
Im starting to lose it!
The yoke pressure pulls Whip hard against his harness.

29.
ATC
SouthJet 227. Hartsfield-Jackson
International is 10 Oclock and 20
miles from your present position.
Maintain block altitude, Flight
Level 10 thousand through Flight
Level 20 thousand. Turn left
heading 260.
WHIP
(keys mic)
260...well do our best.
(to Evans)
Its getting away from me! I cant
hold...dump the flaps!
EVANS
Were still fast.
The yoke is ripping away from Whips hands.
WHIP
DO IT! 30 percent!
Evans dumps in the flaps. The JR-88 slows dramatically and
balloons up.
WHIP (CONTD)
That bought us a little time. We
need to revert to manual control.
Your side first, pul...
Whip is interrupted by the radio.
ATC
(on radio)
SouthJet 227, Atlanta. Fuel dump is
approved.
WHIP
(keys mic)
Thank you.
Evans is confused and panicked, he throws his hands up.
WHIP (CONTD)
Evans, look at me! Manual
Reversion. Red lever, on the floor,
far side of the console.
Evans sees it.
I got it.

EVANS

30.
WHIP
Pull it up, turn it clockwise, push
it back down.
Evans does exactly that, then pulls back on his yoke -nothing!
EVANS
Nothing! No control!
WHIP
Goddamn it!!
Once again, the plane pitches into a dive. Whip strains to
hold on.
WHIP (CONTD)
I cant let go! Can you reach mine?
Evans strains to reach Whips Reversion Pull-Handle -- but
cant.
EVANS
I cant reach it.
Evans moves to release his harness, but Whip stops him.
WHIP
No! Dont! Stay strapped in!
(calls over his shoulder)
Margaret! Margaret!
Margaret tumbles into the cockpit, catching herself on Whips
chair. Shes crying.
MARGARET
Oh God, Whip. Whats happening?!
WHIP
Get strapped into the jump-seat.
need your help.

Margaret opens the jump-seat and starts to pull on her

harness. Throughout the scene she is struggling with her
harness.
WHIP (CONTD)
Margaret, see that red lever on the
floor next to my chair? The one
that says, Manual Control?
Yes.

MARGARET

31.
WHIP
On the count of three you pull it
up, turn it clockwise, then push it
back down. OK? You ready?
With tears streaming down her cheeks, she gives Whip a brave
nod.
WHIP (CONTD)
Here we go. One, two...
Whip releases back pressure from his yoke, pushing it forward
-- the plane noses downward 20 degrees!
...three!

WHIP (CONTD)

MORE TERRIFIED SHRIEKS come from the back. Margaret quickly

disengages then re-engages the large red handle.
Whip pulls back on his yoke. The plane pitches up.
WHIP (CONTD)
Ok. OK. We got something. Its
still stiff as hell. Evans, put in
some power!
Evans pushes up the throttles. Whip gingerly applies pressure
to his stick. His face fills with worry.
WHIP (CONTD)
I dont know. It feels like the son
of a bitch wants to nose over.
Then suddenly... WHAP! Whips yoke flies out of his hands and
SLAMS forward!
The plane banks right and drops! Margaret SCREAMS!
WHIP (CONTD)
SHIT! POWER BACK!
(he pulls back the power)
I CANT FUCKING BELIEVE THIS!
OH NO!

EVANS

Now, ATC comes on the radio...

ATC
SouthJet 227, Hartsfield-Jackson is
eleven oclock and niner miles. I
see you below 10,000. How are you
doing?

32.
WHIP
(keys his mic)
Not good. You got anything closer?
Were in a rapid dive here...
ATC
Roger, SouthJet 227. Uh...Clayton
County is 2 miles at your 4
oclock.
WHIP
Negative. Were too high...we cant
pitch for glide. We have no
stabilizer control.
ATC
Copy, SouthJet 227.
The plane continues to drop, increasing its nose-down
attitude and speed.
WHIP pushes both of his feet forward, stretching his body to
get leverage as we can see him pulling on the yoke, trying to
get the plane out of the dive its in.
Evans is starting to lose it.
EVANS
Oh Lord, were descending at 4,700
feet per minute, out of 7,000. I
SEE NOTHING BUT HOUSES!
WHIP
OK! Heres what were going to do!
(to Evans)
When I say, you retract the gear,
retract the flaps and trim both
ailerons. But every things gonna be
opposite, so be sure to trim down.
Margaret...
EVANS
Trim down?! What are you gonna do?!
Whip takes Margarets hand and puts it on the throttle
levers.
WHIP
When I ask for power, push both of
these forward. Got it?
(Margaret nods)
Whats your sons name?

33.
Trevor.

MARGARET

WHIP
Say I love you Trevor.
EVANS
You mean trim up?! Right?
want me to trim up?
Why?

You

MARGARET

WHIP
The black box.
MARGARET
I love you Trevor. Be a good boy.
Mommy loves you.
EVANS
What are we doing?!
trim down?!

Why would I

WHIP
Were gonna roll it. Ready? Here we
go. Ive got control.
EVANS
(terrified)
WHAT! WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ROLL IT?!!
WHIP
Just a little barrel roll. Dont
panic. Relax. Let it roll.
WHIPs body is fully extended as he pulls back on the yoke
and turns into a steep bank.
WHIP (CONTD)
EVANS, FLAPS!
FLAPS UP!

EVANS

WHIP
MARGARET FULL POWER! EVANS, TRIM
US! GEAR UP!
The G-force of the roll presses Evans away from the console.
EVANS
I CANT REACH THE GEAR!

34.
WHIP
Margaret! Can you reach it?
Margaret bends forward and pulls the lever.
WHIP (CONTD)
WHATS OUR ALTITUDE?
EVANS
3,000...I think.
WHIP
Let it roll. I got it!
Whip quickly retracts the speed brakes, then PUSHES HIS YOKE
FULL FORWARD! The clumsy liner does a slow, ungraceful roll.
INT.

PLANE CABIN - SAME

WE WATCH as the PASSENGERS scream as the plane rolls over and

they are suspended upside down.
EXT.

SKY OVER ATLANTA - SAME

The JR-88 finishes its barrel-roll, skimming over suburban

rooftops and trees. A CLOUD-TRAIL of Jet-A SPEWING from its
wings.
As the INVERTED PLANE ROARS overhead the CAMERA PANS to find NICOLE
Being rushed out of her apartment on a stretcher. The TWO
PARAMEDICS and Fran (the landlord) instinctively duck as the
jet SCREAMS over.
FRAN
(at the sight of the jet)
Jesus Christ! What the Fuck!?
INT.

FLIGHT DECK - SAME

THE PLANE IS COMPLETELY INVERTED!!

THRU THE WINDSCREEN -- THE PLANE LEVELS OFF -- ITS INVERTED
NOSE RISES TO MEET THE HORIZON.
EVANS hangs in his harness straps as dust and smoke swirl
around him. The inverted wings make an EERIE WHISTLING SOUND
as the plane SHUDDERS violently side-to-side.

35.
EVANS
Oh Lord Jesus! Were inverted!
WHIP reaches over and pulls the throttles back. He suddenly
seems strangely calm, comfortable with his fate...
WHIP
Were level. We can maintain
altitude like this.
MAIN CABIN -- WE WATCH OVER TRINAS SHOULDER AS SHE HANGS
TRINA struggles to stay in her seat as she looks at the
passengers hanging. She watches as a YOUNG BOY loses his
grip and flops to the ground.
TRINA unhooks and flops to the ground. We follow her as she
runs on the ceiling of the cabin towards the BOY. She gets
there and starts lifting him towards his FATHER.
COCKPIT -- SAME TIME
The ATC voice now plays loudly through the entire cockpit.
ATC
SouthJet 227, Atlanta Center. I see
your position 4 and a half miles
southeast of the airport.
Descending out of 1,800. Are you
OK?
It takes Whip a second to find the mic key on his inverted
yoke...
WHIP
Uh, Atlanta...were inverted.
Theres a very pregnant pause...
ATC
Uh, SouthJet 227...say again sir.
Did you say inverted?
EVANS seems calmed by WHIPS workaday attitude about their
insane tragedy. But suddenly...
WARNING LIGHTS BEGIN FLASHING!
EVANS
WERE LOSING OIL PRESSURE! PUMP
FAILURE. BOTH ENGINES!

36.
WE HEAR A HORRIBLE, METALLIC GRINDING SOUND as the engines
become oil-deprived.
WHIP
Were flying!
WHOOP, WHOOP, WHOOP! -- THE ENGINE FIRE ALARM SOUNDS!
EVANS
FIRE IN THE LEFT ENGINE!
WHIP
PUT IT OUT!
Evans pulls the Fire Bottle handle.
Whip BARKS at air traffic control.
WHIP (CONTD)
(into his mic)
HOW FARS THE AIRPORT!?
ATC
227, three miles, and one oclock.
WHIP
(into his mic)
Were not gonna make that!
WHIPS POV -- THRU THE INVERTED WINDSCREEN -A small white church on a hill -- 100 yards past the church
is a soy bean field and a two-lane blacktop.
WHIP (CONTD)
(into his mic)
Theres a field and a road
ah...were gonna put it down in
that field.
ATC
Roger, SouthJet 227.
BACK TO ACTION -- CLOSE ON WHIP -- HE CALMLY FIGHTS ON.
EVANS is breathing heavy as his face is beet red from the
blood rushing to it.
EVANS
WERE LOSING THE LEFT ENGINE!

37.
WHIP
WERE COMING BACK OVER! EVANS, WHEN
I START THE ROLL, THROW EVERYTHING
BACK OUT!
THE NERVE-WRACKING ALARMS CONTINUE TO SOUND!
EVANS
FIRE IN THE RIGHT!
Evans deploys the right engine Fire Bottle.
WHIPS POV -- WERE HEADED TOWARD THE CHURCH -WHIP
(into his mic)
WHATS MY ALTITUDE!?
ATC
(on radio)
Eight hundred, descending...
A NEW ALARM SCREAMS!
EVANS
WE LOST THE LEFT ENGINE!
WHIP
We have enough speed to fly!
EVANS
WERE LOSING POWER IN THE RIGHT!
WHIP
HERE WE GO!
WHIP PULLS HARD ON HIS YOKE -- THE PLANE SLIPS SIDEWAYS AS IT
STARTS TO RIGHT ITSELF. Whip yanks back the throttles!
WHIP (CONTD)
FLAPS FULL! GEAR DOWN!
Evans and Whip deploy every bit of drag they can think of.
ATC
SouthJet 227, altitude 500
indicated, descending. Do you
concur?
We follow WHIPs eye line that takes us off the control panel
and to the windshield.
THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WE SEE -- the landscape and the church
steeple getting closer and closer.

38.
The plane does a clumsy roll to the right -- AND GETS STUCK
PERFECTLY ON ITS SIDE!
WHIP
MARGARET, POWER!!!!
EVANS pushes the power to full thrust AND THE PLANE FINISHES
ITS ROLL!
THE PASSENGERS HOWL!
INT.

MAIN CABIN -- GALLEY -- SAME TIME

TRINA is still struggling to strap herself in to her

jumpseat. The plane rolls! She sees Camelia...
P.O.V. -- Camelia is tossed across a row of SCREAMING
passengers.
TRINA loses her grip and is violently thrown against the
galley wall!
Like a rag doll, CAMELIA is hurled down the cabin aisle as
the plane plummets!
Trina slides across the galley floor and CRACKS her head on
the jumpseat.
INT.

COCKPIT -- SAME TIME

Whip frantically spins the trim wheel!

THRU THE WINDSCREEN -THE CHURCH SPIRE IS COMING RIGHT AT US -- BOOM! -- THE RIGHT
WING CLIPS THE STEEPLE, SHEARING OFF THE CROSS!
WE HEAR A HORRIFIC, METALLIC GRINDING -- followed by a
TERRIFYING SILENCE -- RIGHT ENGINE STOPS.
EVANS
WE LOST ALL POWER!
An unnerving quiet descends over the passenger cabin. The
only SOUND is the wind RUSHING past the air-frame.
CLOSE ON WHIP -WHIP
(to himself, incredulous)
Are we gliding?

39.
THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN -WERE DROPPING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE GROUND -- A GROUP OF PEOPLE
GATHERED NEAR A POND IN THE CHURCHYARD SCATTER -- some are
wearing long white robes.
CLOSE ON WHIP -WHIP (CONTD)
WERE IN A GLIDE! PITCH FOR GLIDE!
EVANS (O.S.)

Oh God.

CLOSE ON THE YOKE -- WHIP PULLS WITH ALL HIS MIGHT -TRIM IT!

WHIP

CLOSE ON THE TRIM WHEEL -- WHIP SPINS IT TRIM UP -WHIP (CONTD)

PITCH FOR GLIDE!
THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN -- THE BEAN FIELD RUSHES UP AT US...
CLOSE ON WHIP -BRACE!

WHIP (CONTD)
BRACE FOR IMPAC...

ALL SOUND FADES AWAY AS THE SCREEN BLEEDS HOT WHITE -OVEREXPOSED.
IN GRAPHIC SLOW-MOTION -- THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CRUMPLES AND
COLLAPSES AROUND WHIP -And in a final, ironic, cosmic gesture -WHIPS CONTROL YOKE HURDLES TOWARD HIM -- IMPACTING HIM
BETWEEN THE EYES -CUT TO BLACK:
NOW WE HEAR -- SHOUTS, SCREAMS -- A WOMAN SOBBING.
FADE IN:
WHIPS POV -WE SEE Whips lower torso being pulled from the wreckage -There is swirling SMOKE AND DUST, SMALL FIRES --

40.
Evans strapped in his chair, bleeding -Margaret SOBS uncontrollably -FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
EXT.

CRASH SITE -- SLOW MOTION - HILLSIDE -- DAY

WHIPs being pulled up a grassy hillside. In the distance

WHIP can see the shattered airplane lying in a crater. Fires
smoulder around the impact zone. Passengers are joined by
first responders as they frantically carry, drag and walk the
injured and the dead from the plane. WHIP sees a fire truck
fly by him, down the grassy slope towards the burning plane.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
WHIPS POV -LOOKING UP at the sky -- WE SEE black, oily SMOKE billowing
across the shattered church steeple -WE GLIMPSE PEOPLE rushing past, some are wearing white
flowing robes -WE HEAR DISTANT SIRENS APPROACHING AND PEOPLE PRAYING -FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
A LOUD SIREN SCREAMS -WHIPS POV -LOOKING UP at the ceiling of an ambulance -TWO EMTS are urgently attending to him -FADE OUT.
FADE IN:

41.
WHIPS POV -- NIGHT
A halogen overhead light and an air-conditioning vent -brown-stained acoustic ceiling tiles -WE HEAR the rhythmic BEEP of a heart monitor -INT.

HOSPITAL ROOM -- NIGHT

WHIPs eyes open to see the halogen overhead lights of a

hospital room. He turns his head slightly to see the flicker
of a TV with no sound.
TELEVISION -- NEWS - NO SOUND -- GRAINY CELL PHONE FOOTAGE
A news show runs a loop of eye witness cell phone footage of
the plane turning over and crashing belly down.
A MAN who has been watching the TV turns to see that WHIP is
awake. The MAN turns off the TV, gets up and approaches
WHIPs bedside. WHIP knows him.
WHIP
Charlie Anderson.
CHARLIE ANDERSON is a late 50s former military pilot who
carries that familiar air of Texas comfort and entitlement.
CHARLIE
How you feelin Whip? Initial
reports look like you pulled some
move up there, kid. You saved a
lot of lives.
WHIP is moved by the first realization of survival.
How many?

WHIP

CHARLIE moves close to deliver the news.

CHARLIE
102 souls on board including the
flight crew, and 96 of them
survived the crash. Six people
died. 2 crew, 4 passengers.
WHIP
4 passengers. Are the rest badly
hurt? Whod we lose on the crew?
A NURSE enters the room.

CHARLIE nods to her.

42.
CHARLIE
Listen, protocol is the NTSB has to
make the first contact with you and
the agent is here. Let me go get
him.
CHARLIE ducks out of the room. WHIP is alone and still
getting his bearings. He goes to scratch his head and
catches sight of his left hand. Its swollen and sore --his
wrist is bandaged with a splint-brace. He now looks at both
of his hands in wonder.
WHIP hears a muffled conversation that gets clearer as do the
images of MANY PEOPLE entering the room. A POLICE OFFICER
accompanies a DOCTOR and TWO NTSB AGENTS.
An NTSB AGENT holds a small voice recorder towards WHIP.
NTSB OFFICER #1
Captain William Whitaker? Nod if
you can hear me and understand me.
(Whip nods)
Im Craig Matson from the NTSB and
Im required as the lead on the Go
Team to make an initial contact
with you after a major incident
like the one you had today.
WHIP nods as his senses are getting sharper.
NTSB OFFICER #1 (CONTD)
You are in a hospital in South
Atlanta. Are you aware that you
were piloting a plane that went
down?
(Whip nods)
I have a doctor here who can
explain your medical situation.
WHIP offers a thumbs up gesture.

The DOCTOR steps in.

DOCTOR
Im Doctor Kenan and the good news
is that you are in good condition.
You did suffer a concussion which
is the reason you have a bit of
blurred vision and a headache. You
have numerous lacerations around
your left eye. Were going to leave
the patch on for a few days as a
precaution. But it seems your eye
is OK. MRIs show strained tendons
in your left knee and ankle but you
didnt break any bones.

43.
You have some deep bruising in your
left thigh and you have a few torn
ligaments in your left wrist.
Nothing serious. So as soon as we
clear you from the concussion, and
you feel well enough -- you can go
home. That could be a day, could
be 3 days. Okay?
WHIP quietly nods. The DOCTOR leaves and WHIP begins to
study his body. His left leg is wrapped, his left wrist has
a splint-brace -NTSB OFFICER #1
I wont ask too much of you
tonight, but as I said, the NTSB is
required to make initial contact.
How much do you remember about the
flight?
WHIP looks at the NTSB OFFICER and slowly speaks.
WHIP
I remember everything until the
crash.
WHIPs voice is failing him as his throat is sore and dry.
NTSB OFFICER #1
Okay Mr. Whitaker, thats fine. I
am required to inform you that this
incident did result in the loss of
life.
(checks an index card)
The most current information states
that of the 102 souls on board we
lost 6. 2 crew members and 4
passengers. 59 people were treated
and released. 37 people remain in
the hospital and 3 of those cases
are listed as critical.
WHIP
Who on the crew died?
NTSB OFFICER #1
Two flight attendants;
(checks a note card)
Camelia Satou and Katerina Marquez
WHIP tries to exhale as the loss of TRINA sinks in.

44.
NTSB OFFCIER #1
The rep from your Pilots Union,
Mr. Anderson, will act as our
contact for you. Its important to
follow your Unions guidance on
press and media. The pilots union
works closely with the NTSB. So,
Im gonna head out. Good luck Mr.
Whitaker.
WHIP nods as the NTSB OFFICER leaves with the police and
other officials in tow. CHARLIE returns to WHIPs side.
WHIP
I knew Trina Marquez.
some time together.

We spent

CHARLIE
Apparently she wasnt strapped in.
A survivor reported that she was
assisting a kid.
CHARLIE tries to put a reassuring hand on WHIPs shoulder.
WHIP
Hows Margaret Thomason?
CHARLIE
(checks his notes)
Broken collar bone, cuts, banged
up, but shes okay. Shes here
too. Ken Evans your copilot took a
bad shot to the head. Theyre
keepin him in a coma to let the
brain swelling go down. Hes
listed as critical, but we feel
good about him. Hes gonna be
okay.
WHIP lets that information land as his head is swirling.
WHIP
Charlie, why are you here?
CHARLIE
Im flying a desk now. Im a
regional rep for the IAP.
WHIP
Youre the rep for the pilots
union?

45.
CHARLIE
Im one of a few union reps for the
southeast. When your plane went
down all the reps got a page and
since I know you I shot my hand up
and said I wanted to come and be
the first face youd see.
WHIP
Im glad its you.
WHIP starts to weep as he needs to begin the long process of
expressing this trauma.
CHARLIE
Its good to see you too, Cowboy.
Youre gonna be okay. Were gonna
take care of you. Thats my job.
WHIP nods as he wipes his eyes on his heavily bandaged hand.
CHARLIE (CONTD)
The union will put out a statement
on your behalf. Condolences to the
families who lost loved ones and
gratitude to the brave men and
women on the flight crew.
(Whip nods)
And I know you and Deana have been
divorced for a while but maybe she
and your son...?
WHIP
Yeah, Knuckles.
CHARLIE
Yeah, how olds he now?
15.

WHIP

CHARLIE
Wow, you werent even married when
we flew for Delta. Were
dinosaurs, Whip. Do you want me to
reach out to Deana and see if she
and Will want to come? Any family
you want here, well get them here,
stat.
WHIP thinks about his long since fractured family...
WHIP
No, Ill call her.

46.
CHARLIE
Speaking of which, I have your
phone and some of your personal
effects from the plane.
CHARLIE has a zip-locked bag with his phone, keys, sunglasses
and wallet. WHIP looks at them, odd to see them encased in
plastic.
CHARLIE (CONT'D)
Your clothes are toast. Do you
need me to get you some stuff?
WHIP
No, Im okay. Ill take care of
it.
CHARLIE
Im gonna head out, let you get
some rest. Im coming back.
Youll see plenty of me.
CHARLIE hands WHIP his card.
WHIP
Thanks Charlie, I really...
(Whip begins to crack)
It means a lot to me that you came.
Okay.

CHARLIE
Get some rest now.

WHIP
Charlie, that plane was fucked.
CHARLIE
I know. The way you landed that
plane was nothing short of a
miracle.
WHIP nods trying to pull it together. CHARLIE pats WHIPs
shoulder before he leaves. WHIP sits up and pulls his phone
from the plastic bag. Dials, waits...
WHIP
Harling...Harling...yeah, its
Whip. Im in a hospital in South
Atlanta...what? You know where I
am? Okay well fuck...yeah, Im
okay. What? Well, Im looking to
get outta here...hopefully
tomorrow. Yeah. But, listen, I
need you to bring me something to
wear.

47.
I dont know -- clothes -- and
smokes, I really need smokes. Tee
shirt, sweat pants....Harling?
Ill put you on the visiting list.
Yeah...and smokes. Just be low
key, no fucking around, Harling.
Cigarettes. Okay? I need
cigarettes. Yeah. Good.
WHIP closes his eyes and exhales. He now stares at the foot
of the bed for a long, long moment. WHIP squeezes his eyes
shut tight -- holding back tears. Then quietly, as if
whispering a prayer...
WHIP (CONTD)
Goddamn it...
INT.

HOSPITAL -- ELEVATOR DOORS -- MORNING

The Stones Sympathy for the Devil kicks up as we wait...

The doors split open and HARLING MAYS steps out. HARLING has
a pony tail and a goatee and is probably wearing a Tommy
Bahama button down shirt.
We follow HARLING as he strides down the hall. With ear buds
in, HARLING points a Sanyo pistol-shaped cam corder at the
ATTENDING NURSE at the nurses station, recording her...
HARLING MAYS
Im on the list baby girl. Check
the list for Mr. Mays. Harling.
The Stones continue to wail as Harling strolls on, adjusting
the duffel bag he has slung over his shoulder.
EXT.

HOSPITAL ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

HARLING stands in the doorway looking in.

He sees...

The MORNING NURSE is helping WHIP to stand.

his camcorder at WHIP and the NURSE.

HARLING points

HARLING MAYS (O.C.)

If this is gonna turn into a sponge
bath, Ill come back.
Sir-

NURSE

HARLING immediately goes to WHIP and supports him.

48.
WHIP
Its okay, Harling.
HARLING MAYS
Thats right honey, Im on the
list. Harling Mays. Some say they
Harling knew me.
HARLING boxes her out.
Honey can
daiquiris
On second
booze. I

She steps away.

HARLING MAYS (CONT'D)

you hustle us a couple of
and a cocktail weenie?
thought just bring the
brought my own weenie.

No reaction as the NURSE collects the trash and towels.

HARLING focuses his camcorder on the NURSE and leaves WHIP in
an unsteady stance. HARLING films her and comments...
HARLING MAYS (CONTD)
Shes offended, and she should be.
Im a pig. And I hate me. Thats
what we have in common Nurse
Ratched...we both hate me.
And shes gone.

HARLING turns to WHIP.

HARLING MAYS (CONTD)

Whip? What the fuck my man?
Theyre sayin, Sweet Jesus, what
a fuckin stud that pilot is.
Youre a hero, no shit. You will
never pay for another drink in this
life time. There is crazy news
people all over, look at this shit-HARLING helps WHIP to the window...
EXT.

HOSPITAL ROOM -- PARKING LOT -- DAY

From WHIPs window we can see a slew of news vans with signal
towers as well as reporters milling about -- a small zoo.
INT.

HOSPITAL ROOM -- DAY

HARLING and WHIP stare for a moment at the circus below.

WHIP doesnt last long and slowly returns to the bed as
HARLING continues to gawk.

49.
HARLING MAYS
Classic hero worship, youre a rock
star man. You gotta see the video
Ive got -- Im making a doc about
you, well us, yknow?
HARLING pulls an iPad out of his knapsack and flips it open.
He lets a collection of videos run...
HARLING MAYS (CONT'D)
This is outside your condo...
On HARLINGs iPad we see footage of PRESS swarming outside
WHIPs condo. We also see the crash scene footage.
HARLING MAYS (CONT'D)
Look thats me, and thats Mark
Mellon...you know that douchey
talking haircut from local Atlanta
channel 3? I said a few words.
Just straight talk, yknow?
WHIPs hands shake as he grabs the bed frame.
notice and stashes the iPad...

HARLING takes

HARLING MAYS (CONTD)

You okay Captain Whitaker? Easy...
HARLING helps him get settled.
WHIPs lip and forehead.

We see the beads of sweat on

WHIP
The meds theyre giving me are
fucking me up -- Im all shaky and
dried out. I cant sleep good.
HARLING immediately picks up the small paper cup that holds
WHIPs pain meds. He fishes out the two pills and stares at
them. HARLING shakes his head.
HARLING MAYS
Aprazolam? Thats generic Xanax and
this Hydrocodone is generic
Vicodin. Its shit, prolly
Canadian.
HARLING casually tosses the pills down his gullet and
expertly swallows them without water. He grabs WHIPs
medical chart and scours it as he prattles on...
HARLING MAYS (CONT'D)
We want the premium stuff. Blue
label...not the fucking well shit.
Wheres the dihydromorphinone?

50.
Or just some fucking Palladone
would suffice. What is this?
Fucking amateur hour over here?
Get that goddamned doctor in here.
You just saved a 100 people from
death, they should get your fuckin
meds right.
(calls to the door)
YO! ROOM SERVICE!
WHIP
Listen Harling, leave it alone.
(Harling chills)
So you got my message and decided
not to call me back? Did you bring
me smokes?
HARLING MAYS
I decided to come by instead. And
yes I got your fucking message and
yes I brought you smokes.
HARLING hands WHIP a pack of smokes from his pocket.
pulls out a carton of smokes from his backpack.

He also

HARLING MAYS (CONTD)

Here is a fresh carton, enjoy. You
fucking earned it -- you smoke your
nuts off, champion. If I were you
Id fire up right here in the God
damn room. Fuckem, youre
immortal, youre a fucking God man.
Harling...

WHIP

WHIP motions with his hands to calm down.

HARLING MAYS
Sorry Whip. Its just...this is
big time, man. Youre a hero in a
time when we really need heroes.
WHIP
Shut the fuck up, Harling...Six
people died.
HARLING MAYS
96 people lived! When are you
gonna take yes for an answer? Pick
up the phone, man. Fuck.
HARLING pulls something from his vest pocket and puts it in
WHIPS hand. WHIP looks at it and back at HARLING.

51.
HARLING MAYS (CONTD)
Heres a pint of Smirnoff and a few
Red Bulls. You know what Im
sayin? I know my customer.
HARLING continues to pull items from the bag.
WHIP
Harling, take the vodka with you.
HARLING freezes his frenzied energy with this odd command.
HARLING MAYS
What?! Take the vodka? Dude, are
you insane? Im gonna just tuck it
in the bottom of yourWHIP
Take the fucking vodka!
HARLING hears him this time and raises his hand and nods,
putting the VODKA back in his own duffel. HARLING tosses a
tee shirt, sweat pants and flip-flops on the bed, then...
HARLING MAYS
Okay man. Check it out.
HARLING holds up a silk Japanese Happi Coat, with elaborate
stitching depicting colorful birds flying around Mt. Fuji.
WHIP
Look, Im tired man.
Im out.

HARLING MAYS
You rest up.

WHIP
You gotta come and get me,
tomorrow.
WHIP pulls his keys from the bag that CHARLIE gave him.
WHIP (CONT'D)
Here are my keys. Go to the condo
and bring me some nice clothes I
can wear, my phone charger and grab
the veal outta my fridge. Its
marked.
The veal?

HARLING MAYS

52.
WHIP
Yeah, the veal thats in my
freezer.
HARLING MAYS
Done and done. What time you need
me here?
Tomorrow.

WHIP
Ill call you.

HARLING MAYS
Send the mayday and youre outta
here in 7 minutes.
(a smile)
I got you a few stroke mags too.
Ive been in hospitals. I know
what you need. JUGS, HOT MILFS in
heat. ASSMASTERS. You should just
stroke it all day. Youre a hero -know what Im saying? If I was in
here Id be jerkin it all day
long. See, theres a smile.
HARLING puts his hand on WHIPs forehead in an attempt to
reassure him. A quiet moment before HARLING slips out.
INT.

HOSPITAL ROOM -- 11 PM -- SAME EVENING

WHIP wakes up in a cold sweat. He is breathing heavy as he

scans the room. LIGHTENING FLASHES from outside the window.
Thunder RUMBLES.
WHIP looks to the night stand where we see a pack
gum has been chewed through. WHIP uses his hands
the edge of the bed. He roots through the duffle
HARLING left and finds a pack of smokes and a Bic
still in its package.

of nicotine
to get to
bag that
lighter

Determined to smoke, WHIP eyes a WHEEL CHAIR that has been

placed next to his bed. Leaning against the wheelchair is a
medical cane.
INT.

HOSPITAL

-- QUIET HALLWAY -- MOMENTS LATER

Wearing his Happi Coat (or robe), WHIP limps in to the empty
hallway with the use of his cane. He checks the quiet
corridor as he begins his quest...

53.
INT.

HOSPITAL -- FIRE DOOR -- 11:38 PM

The door swings open, and no one appears to be on the other

side. Now WHIP fights to push the heavy door open again to
slip through. A hand grabs the door and holds it. WHIP
walks into the sanctity of the stairwell.
INT.

HOSPITAL STAIRWELL -- SAME TIME

We find the owner of the helping hand was NICOLE who returns
to a quiet spot along the wall of the stairwell as she
demurely smokes a cigarette.
Thank you.

WHIP

WHIP leans his cane against the wall and carefully pulls a
pack of smokes from his pocket.
WHIP (CONTD)
I didnt think anyone would have
the same devious thought about
using the fire stairs to have a
smoke...
NICOLE smiles and looks down, awkward around men when she is
not loaded. She drops her cigarette which we see was barely
smoked as she maneuvers to leave.
Dont go.

WHIP (CONTD)
Ill be quiet.

He offers her a cigarette, she takes it.

WHIP (CONT'D)
We dont have to talk. Be nice to
just smoke with someone.
And they do. They sit in silence as the stairwell fills up
with smoke. After a long beat...
NICOLE
Were you on the plane?
WHIP studies her, shes beautiful in an exhausted way...
WHIP
Yeah, I was. Were you?
Nicole shakes her head.
NICOLE
Where were you sitting?

54.
WHIP
Up near the front.
Again it falls silent as we let them smoke and think in the
sanctity of the fire stairs.
A VOICE breaks their silence.
VOICE (O.S.)
Tobacco's but an Indian weed,
Grows green in the morn, cut down
at eve; It shows our decay, We are
but clay;...I love the smell of
Nicotina in the morning. Smells
like...victory.
We hear a metallic rattle and WHIP and NICOLE look to the
stairs.
VOICE (CONTD)
Dont flee dear comrades!
wait for me, please.

Really,

A GAUNT YOUNG MAN makes his way to their landing. He is

dressed in a hospital gown and carrying an I.V. pole on which
hangs a small bag of clear liquid. The mans hair has
completely left him. His skin is gray. Eyes hollowed from
his battle with cancer.
GAUNT YOUNG MAN
Can I bum a smoke?
WHIP offers him a cigarette. He takes it and fires it up
with a lighter he keeps stowed in the pocket of his gown.
GAUNT YOUNG MAN (CONTD)
I should quit, my cancer might get
cancer.
(silence)
Joke. You guys in the plane crash?
He was.

NICOLE

WHIP looks at the ground as the GAUNT YOUNG MAN studies him.
GAUNT YOUNG MAN
(it hits him)
Youre the fucking pilot.
Nicole gives Whip a look.

55.
GAUNT YOUNG MAN (CONTD)
I saw you on TV. Holy shit, man.
Tough deal, but you walked away or
it looks like you limped away.
WHIP
Yeah, Im lucky.
tomorrow.

Goin home

GAUNT YOUNG MAN

Home. Home for me is the basement,
they keep cancer treatment in the
basement. Im livin here.
WHIP
Youre living here?
No.

GAUNT YOUNG MAN

Im dying here.

WHIP
What kind of cancer?
GAUNT YOUNG MAN
Fibro-mixzoid sarcoma, soft tissue
sarcoma. Very rare, God chose me.
GAUNT YOUNG MAN laughs.
WHIP
God chose you? You believe in God?
GAUNT YOUNG MAN
Fuck yeah bitch. Youre a stupid
fucker if you dont believe in God.
The GOD topic has silenced the stairwell...
GAUNT YOUNG MAN (CONTD)
As soon as you realize that the
random events in your life are
God...you will live a much better
life. You spend your life
believing that you have all the
control over what happens.
Bullshit. The plane youre flying
goes down? Out of your control.
God gives you cancer. I have no
control over that. Did God give me
cancer? You bet your ass God gave
me cancer. You think if I begged
for cancer God would have given it
to me?

56.
No...because I assure you I have
begged for God to take it away and guess what? I have no control
over that.
GAUNT YOUNG MAN smokes the cig to the nub and rubs the
remains against the smooth concrete wall.
GAUNT YOUNG MAN (CONTD)
Can I get another smoke? Whats
wrong with you honey? Youre
beautiful, do you know that? Do I
scare you? People either have to
pretend they dont see me or
theyre drawn to me. Its funny
because people see me as being
close to the other side -- they
feel like I have power or wisdom.
They think I have the answers. Who
knows? Maybe I do. Death gives
you perspective. I lived my life
so indecisive, in a haze. But now
that Im dying everything is so
clear. It all makes sense somehow.
Im sorry but I cant get over how
beautiful you are? Look at your
arm, you an addict?
NICOLE looks at him.

She nods.

GAUNT YOUNG MAN (CONTD)

Whats your name?
Nicole.

NICOLE

GAUNT YOUNG MAN

What do you do in the world Nicole?
She laughs, what a question.
NICOLE
Not much. I was a photographer and
then I was a masseuse and I wash
hair at a salon sometimes.
GAUNT YOUNG MAN
Where is it? Ill come by, Im
easy, you can wash my head.
(she smiles)
Do you think youre gonna die?
NICOLE laughs to keep from weeping.

57.
GAUNT YOUNG MAN (CONTD)
Youre not. Youre not gonna die.
The men watch as NICOLE quietly cries, its powerful.
GAUNT YOUNG MAN (CONTD)
Dont you love her?
WHIP
I dont know her.
GAUNT YOUNG MAN
Bullshit, I do. Random act of God?
Dont think so. Survive a plane
crash to meet a gorgeous girl in a
stairwell. Fuck you man.
(he reflects, then...)
Im sure theyre looking for me.
My family just showed up from Utah.
You know its bad when they start
flying in. Every morning is
special now, Im so grateful. Its
a trip, wish I could bottle this
feeling I have...about how
beautiful every breath of life is..
GAUNT YOUNG MAN starts laughing.

WHIP joins him.

GAUNT YOUNG MAN (CONTD)

Can I get a smoke for the road?
WHIP
Heres a pack.
GAUNT YOUNG MAN
Thank you, Ill pass them out in
the cancer ward. Take care Nicole,
youre gonna be okay.
The GAUNT YOUNG MAN leaves, clanging away with his I.V. pole.
NICOLE wipes away her tears, we see her hospital bracelet as
well as her track marks.
NICOLE
Chemo brain. Chemo makes you
pretty foggy.
Yeah?

WHIP

58.
NICOLE
They call it chemo brain, my mom
used to slur her words and get all
chatty.
WHIP
Your mom had cancer.
NICOLE
Breast cancer, she was only 54.
Its quiet.
WHIP
But whyd that guy ask you if you
were gonna die?
NICOLE
I dunno. I flat-lined twice in the
ambulance. Heroin addicts who use
needles tend to die. Especially
women for some reason.
WHIP
Is that right?
NICOLE
I have a pamphlet to prove it. A
girl from AA just came to see me -(its quiet)
That guy was a trip. He made it
feel like, I dunno...we were the
last people left on the planet..
(drops her smoke)
...and together we should save the
world.
NICOLE steps on her cigarette and puts the nub in her pocket.
She begins to leave. WHIP stops her.
WHIP
Well, where should we live? If
were gonna save the world, where
should we do that?
NICOLE laughs.
What?

WHIP (CONTD)

NICOLE
You dont want me.
WHIP laughs.

59.
What?

NICOLE (CONTD)

WHIP
You dont want me either.
NICOLEs laugh tapers off as she senses his honesty.
WHIP (CONTD)
Where do you live?
NICOLE
Why you wanna come visit? Its
luxurious.
(silence between them)
I live in Bankhead, its south
Atlanta, near the bus station.
WHIP
The luxurious bus station?
Yeah.

NICOLE

WHIP
Ill come visit you.
NICOLE
Youre sweet.
I will.

WHIP
Whats your address?

She measures him.

NICOLE
I live at the Georgian Gardens on
Taylor street.
WHIP
Georgian Gardens?
Yeah.

NICOLE

WHIP
How long are you staying here?
NICOLE
Trying to stay as long as I can but
I dont have insurance to cover
rehab. Ill prolly be out
tomorrow.

60.
Oh.

Okay.

Yeah.

WHIP
And youre a masseuse?
NICOLE

WHIP
What kind of masseuse?
NICOLE
Ive been every kind of masseuse
there is.
There is strong tension between them. An orderly busts
through the down the stairs. This breaks their stare.
WHIP
Good luck Nicole.
You too.

NICOLE

WHIP leaves NICOLE where he found her.

EXT. ST. FRANCIS REGIONAL MEDICAL HOSPITAL-LOADING DOCK-DAY
WHIP is wheeled out of a service exit by an ORDERLY who also
holds the duffle bag of WHIPs stuff around his neck. Whip no
longer wears the eye patch but has a butterfly bandage over
his left eye brow.
HARLING jumps out of his 2001 Cadillac STS and immediately
takes over, grabbing the duffel bag.
WHIP
Thanks Mike.
The ORDERLY tries to hand WHIP a medical file.
snatches it.

HARLING

HARLING MAYS
Yeah, thanks Mike.
(Harling tips him)
Heres 20 American.
Thanks.

ORDERLY MIKE
Good luck, sir.

HARLING hugs WHIP who hangs on tight.

chair around and heads back inside.

The ORDERLY spins the

HARLING uses his key fob to remotely pop the trunk and stow
Whips duffel.

61.
HARLING MAYS
This is how they get the Stones out
of Madison Square Garden, man. 4
smoked black limos fly outta the
VIP driveway and the fans jump on
the limos...mayhem. Those limos?
Empty. Meanwhile, Mick and the boys
go out the service exit into
delivery vans -- casual, rock star
type shit.
HARLING helps him into the front seat and they pull away.
The Stones, Gimme Shelter starts to play...
53

As they drive off, we see media mayhem collected in front of 53

the hospital. Trucks with towers, cameramen, stringers and
newscasters add to catering trucks and coffee stands as the
vultures wait for the carrion of sound bytes and footage of
survivors.
INT.

HARLINGS CADDY -- DAY

Whip watches through the rear window -- the Media Circus

disappears as the Caddy rounds a corner. The back seat is
piled with Whips clothes, most of them still on hangers.
HARLING lights a cigarette and hands one to WHIP who takes
it.
HARLING MAYS
I couldnt find any suitcases so I
just put your shit in grocery bags.
HARLING pulls a cold Becks from a cooler on the floor of the
back seat and uses a bottle opener thats been screwed to the
dash of his car next to the radio to open the beer. He
offers the beer to WHIP who waves it off. HARLING gladly
keeps it for himself... Gimme Shelter continues to play...
HARLING MAYS (CONTD)
So youre stayin with me down on
University, right? Its nice. A
lotta young people...good vibe.
Harling tosses Whip a freezer bag marked:VEAL -- Whip
begins to open it.
No.

WHIP
Im gonna go to the farm.

HARLING MAYS
The fucking farm?

62.
WHIP
My dads place.
condo.

I cant stay at my

HARLING MAYS
I thought you sold that fucking
place.
Not yet.

WHIP

HARLING MAYS
Im not sure I wanna stay at the
farm.
WHIP
Youre not. Just take me to the
airport to get my car.
Whip finishes opening the freezer bag -- its full of cash.
HARLING starts to laugh...
HARLING MAYS
Veal? Really? Dont you know the
first place every two-bit thief
looks is in the freezer?

58

EXT.

58

ATLANTA RURAL SUBURBAN ROAD - WHIPS FARM - DAY

WHIPs BUICK turns off the blacktop past a small weathered

billboard: WHITAKER CROP DUSTING. Also a real estate FOR
SALE sign is posted in front.
EXT.

WHITAKER FARM -- DRIVEWAY -- DAY

Whip pulls into a long, dirt driveway that approaches a onestory farm house. He gets out of the car. With his cane in
one hand, he uses his free hand to toss the grocery bags
close to the steps and heads inside.
INT.

WHITAKER FARM -- LIVING ROOM - DAY

WHIP ambles in and we see the interior of the house bears the
fading patina of a proud American Family. We see PHOTOS -WHIP in his NAVAL FLYER UNIFORM. A GROUP MILITARY PHOTO -- a
SQUADRON of NAVAL FLIERS on a carrier. WHIPs PARENTS next
to the farm house. WHIPs FATHER stands next to WHIP who is
holding his infant son.

63.
INT.

WHITAKER FARM -- LIVING ROOM -- DESK AREA - DAY

WHIP empties his pockets onto the desk top. His keys, wallet
and his cell phone are placed next to an old rotary phone
attached to an old answering machine. WHIP plugs in his cell
phone charge, dials in for his messages and puts it in
speaker mode as we hear...
CELL PHONE
You have 127 messages.
(a beep)
Message one...Captain Whitaker,
this is Jim Court Im with CNN.
Wed like to schedule an
interview...
(he deletes that message)
Message two...This is NBC
affiliate KGAT in Athens were
looking to contact William J.
Whitaker for...
(he deletes and moves on)
Message three...Captain Whitaker,
this is Karen James, media
relations with the pilots
union...
WHIP again deletes the message and decides to just shut the
phone down. He continues to empty his pockets. In his jacket
pocket he finds a prescription bottle of pain pills.
WHIP holds it up, opens it and pours a few out in his hand.
INT.

WHITAKER FARM -- BATHROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

WHIP pours the pain pills into the toilet. He then opens the
medicine cabinet and starts to empty all of the bottles into
the toilet.
INT.

WHITAKER FARM -- KITCHEN -- MOMENTS LATER

WHIP goes to the collection of liquor bottles next to the

sink that act as a makeshift bar. He picks up a bottle of
vodka. He unscrews the cap and sniffs the contents. He
slowly tips the bottle and pours it into the sink.
Whip opens the refrigerator and removes an assortment of
beers. He pops them open and pours them in the sink. The
faucet running to offset the pungent smell.

64.
INT.

BEDROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

Whip opens a dresser drawer and finds a couple of zip-lock

bags of bud hidden under the socks.
INT.

BATHROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

Whip dumps the weed into the toilet and FLUSHES it.
INT.

LIVING ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

A cigarette dangles from WHIPs mouth as he ferrets around

the room, showing the focus and determination of a serial
killer cleaning his kill site. He finds rolling papers,
roaches, more liquor and weed -- he reaches into the Shell
Bag thats hanging next to the shotgun rack and finds another
pint.
INT. KITCHEN -- LATER
Whip opens the freezer to put in his frozen dinner and his
packet of veal and finds another fifth of vodka.
He pours the vodka in the sink and tosses the bottle into the
trash -- which is piled high with empties.
Through the kitchen window, Whip sees the farms old
weathered barn. Whip furrows his brow.
EXT.

WHITAKER FARM -- BARN -- DAY

WHIP slides open the heavy barn doors to reveal -- A VINTAGE

CESSNA 172 -- covered in dust and bird shit from the years of
stagnant storage.
WHIP lights a smoke as he marvels at the little piece of
aviation history resting in his barn.
INT.

WHITAKER FARM -- BARN -- AIRPLANE -- DAY

Whip walks past the plane and starts to examine the large,
two-story, open-ceilinged barn that is junked full of farm
equipment and old furniture. He finds...
A WALL OF PHOTOS -- WHIP WITH HIS FATHER NEXT TO A PLANE.
HIS GRANDFATHER, FATHER and WHIP pose next to the barn.
A CROP DUSTER acts as the background for a picture with a 15
year old WHIP and his father next to a small plane.

65.
A series of pictures feature the PLANE in flight and SHOTS
TAKEN FROM THE PLANE, aerials of the farm, etc.
WHIP holds the framed shot of he and his dad as he walks back
to the plane, resting his arm on the wing.
WHIP pulls himself from the wall of photos and stares at his
stuff. We recognize what must be the stuff he took from his
house after his divorce. We see bikes, weights and fishing
gear.
Whip rummages through a box of things packed from his home
office. Trophies, sports memorabilia, citations -- A PHOTO OF
HE AND HIS WIFE from happier times. THEIR WEDDING PHOTO.
Now Whip comes upon A FRAMED BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO of he and
Charlie in their younger, Navy days -- wearing flight suits
and standing on a carrier flight deck in front of an F-14
Tomcat. Big smiles, full of hotshot pilot swagger.
WHIP puts the photo back and spots his golf bag.
out a pint of cheap vodka from the inner pocket.

He roots

Next he finds a fifth of bourbon in his bicycle saddle bag.

He goes to the workbench and removes a couple of bottles from
the paint shelf.
EXT.
63

Whip dumps out the liquor onto the grass as he hobbles back 63
to the house.
EXT.

65

BARN -- DAY

WHITAKER FARM -- NIGHT

WHIP uses just his cane now as he drags a garbage bag full of65
empty liquor bottles to his garbage cans. He tosses the bag
of empties in a can. His work done, WHIP lights a smoke and
stares at the empty fields that run forever as does the
landscape of his mind. He quietly tries to grasp the horror
he endured and the reality of his survival.
INT.

KITCHEN TABLE -- LATER THAT NIGHT

We hear the microwave beep and WHIP retrieves a frozen

dinner.

66.
INT.

WHITAKER FARM--LIVING ROOM DESK AREA--MOMENTS LATER

WHIP sits at the coffee table eating his frozen dinner while
watching news coverage of the crash.
PHONE RINGS
WHIP is startled by the phone that never rings.
the TV using the remote.

He snaps off

WHIP is in no hurry to answer the phone as the old time ring

continues.
WHIP goes to the desk where the phone rests and
he watches the old answering machine click on. We hear...
WHIPS FATHERS VOICE
Youve reached the Whitaker Crop
Dusting Company, flying lessons and
plane rides. Please leave a message
and it will be returned. Thank
you.
VOICE MAIL
...I think that was the beep.
Cowboy, its Charlie again.

Hey

WHIP reaches for the phone but decides to just listen to

CHARLIE...
CHARLIE
(speaking to voicemail)
Im back in town and I stopped by
the hospital tonight but they said
you went home...so I guess youre
feelin pretty good, but um we went
out to your condo and the manager
said you had not returned.
INT.

CARRS OFFICE -- ATLANTA BASEBALL STADIUM -- NIGHT

CHARLIE sits at a beautiful wooden table in a modern glasswalled office above a baseball field. The table is populated
with casually-dressed businessmen and lawyers as this afterhours meeting was called on the fly.
CRASH SCENE PHOTOS and FILES fill the table top.
a photo or two of the WHITAKER FARM.
VOICE MAIL
So...you may be with relatives,
which I understand. I was really
hoping to see you for breakfast.
Im at the St. Regis downtown.

We also see

67.
Theres an executive buffet on the
16th floor - 10 oclock, okay? If
you get this, please come. Some
important stuff to cover. Be good.
INT.

WHITAKER FARM -- LIVING ROOM -- DESK AREA -- NIGHT

WHIP stands still as a beep sounds, ending the message.

INT.

ST. REGIS HOTEL -- EXECUTIVE BUFFET -- MORNING

The executive buffet is a staple at the ST. REGIS. A long

center table with silver trays houses eggs and breakfast
meats. Fruit, bagels and a staff of servers cater to the
business elite of Atlanta.
CHARLIE ANDERSON sits at a corner table with HUGH LANG, a
young, well-dressed African American man. CHARLIE and HUGH
are chatting in jocular spirit when WHIP approaches, walking
much more confidently with his cane.
CHARLIE
Whip, hey buddy. Glad you got my
message. Grab a seat.
WHIP studies HUGH as he pulls out his chair.
CHARLIE (CONTD)
Whip this is Hugh Lang; hes an
attorney from Chicago.
HUGH stands and shakes hands with WHIP.
HUGH
Nice to meet you Captain Whitaker.
WHIP and HUGH remain standing, both feeling a little alpha.
CHARLIE
Siddown. Coffee?
(Whip nods, sits)
Miss, can we get some fresh coffee?
She smiles and nods.

Shes off to get the coffee.

CHARLIE (CONTD)
We were just talking about your
copilots wife. She told a
newspaper that God landed that
plane.

68.
WHIP
God landed the plane?
WHIP just stares at the two men who have large buffet plates
surrounding them.
CHARLIE
I too believe that God landed that
plane. The same way I believe that
God should hit the buffet, the
turkey sausage is excellent.
WHIP
Im good with coffee.
CHARLIE
Len Caldwell was really trying to
get here this morning.
(Whip seems lost)
Len is the president of the pilots
union and he wanted to be here with
us and meet with you but they
wanted him at the crash site. So..
WHIP is quiet, anxious to hear the purpose of the meeting.
CHARLIE (CONTD)
Whip, as you know, when a plane
crashes, the NTSB sends a go team
to the crash site immediately.
WHIP
They find the flight data
recorders?
CHARLIE
Yes they found them, perfectly
intact.
WHIP
Great. That solves everything.
The recorders will tell the story.
Why do we need a lawyer from
Chicago?
CHARLIE
Hughs an attorney who specializes
in criminal negligenceWHIP
Criminal negligence?
The WAITRESS returns with the coffee.
wait for her to finish. She does.

Its quiet as they

69.
HUGH
Death demands responsibility. Six
dead on that plane, someone has to
pay.
WHIP
The plane fell apart at 30 thousand
feet.
CHARLIE
The airline will try to prove
equipment failure. Which would
make the manufacturer responsible.
The manufacturer of the plane will
try to prove poor maintenance of
the equipment by the airline.
HUGH
Or pilot error.
WHIP
I had to fly that plane inverted,
that means upside down, Hugh. Do
you get the picture? 100
passengers hanging upside down, 500
feet off the ground. Do you have
any idea what that sounds like?
HUGH
I do. I heard the black box last
night.
WHIP
Are you a pilot?
HUGH LANG
No Im not.
WHIP
Then you dont know what the fuck
youre talking about.
CHARLIE
Hughs on our team and its the
NTSBs ball game. They run the
investigation and they will
ultimately rule on the cause.
HUGH
They interview the entire flight
crew and the passengers. They hold
public hearings-

70.
WHIP
Charlie, what do I need to know?
Im already tired of this guy.
HUGH
The NTSB go team collects blood,
skin and hair from the flight crew
for a toxicology report.
WHIP studies the two men, trying to read their poker hands.
WHIP
When did they do that?
HUGH
In the hospital. Its the first
thing they do. Do you remember
having your blood drawn on the
night of the crash?
WHIP looks at CHARLIE and then to HUGH...
WHIP
Do they have the results of these
blood tests?
HUGH
Yeah, they do.
The WAITRESS checks in.
WAITRESS
Anything else for you gentlemen?
WHIP
Did I just see warm cinnamon rolls
come out?
Yes sir.

WAITRESS

WHIP
Bring me one wouldya? Actually
bring me two, okay sweetie?
Comin up.

WAITRESS

An awkward silence as they wait for her to clear out.

HUGH
An initial report shows alcohol in
your bloodstream at a level of .24.
In the U.S.

71.
-- one of the most lenient drunk
driving countries in the world -you go to jail for driving with a
number over .08. And by driving, I
mean a car.
They all digest the information as the WAITRESS delivers the
cinnamon rolls. She leaves. Its still quiet.
WHIP
What does that mean? I had a beer
the night before I flew. And
what...That made the tail of the
plane explode?
CHARLIE
Separate issues WhipWHIP
I need a lawyer.
CHARLIE
Hugh is your lawyer.
WHIP
I need a bigger lawyer. A lawyer
who understands that I flew a
broken plane and without me at that
stick thered be 102 funerals, not
6.
HUGH
Were talking about prison not
funerals. Somebody hasWHIP
To write checks, well its not me I
promise you that. And as long as
theyre writing checks, write me
one because someone put me in a
broken plane. Id love a check.
Easy Whip-

CHARLIE

HUGH
This tox report states that you
were drunk and high on cocaine,
felonies punishable by 24 years in
jail. And if your intoxication is
proven to have caused the death of
the 4 passengers youll get 4
counts of manslaughter. That could
be life in prison.

72.
Can I now do my job on your behalf
and kill this tox report?
WHIP is listening.

CHARLIE tries to reign it in.

CHARLIE
Hell get it done, Whip. Its what
his entire life is about. Trust
me, trust him.
(Whip stares at Hugh)
Dont worry Whip, youre gonna walk
away the hero you deserve to be.
WHIP
Im not worried, Charlie. I promise
you that. No one could have landed
that plane like I did, no one.
68

The WAITRESS returns with a coffee pot.

INT.

WHIP leaves.

ST. REGIS HOTEL -- LOUNGE -- DAY

Close on TV -- A SPLIT SCREEN -- CNNs PIERS MORGAN on one

side of the screen asking questions of JIM TILMON, an
aviation expert.
WE NOW SEE A PHOTO OF WHIP IN HIS SOUTHJET AIRLINE UNIFORM.
PIERS MORGAN
Captain Tilmon, we wanna play a
portion of the black box that all
of the news outlets have grabbed
hold of...
WHIP
(on television)
When I ask for power, push both of
these forward. Got it? Whats your
sons name?
WIDER...WHIP STEPS UP TO THE BAR, GLANCING AROUND.
The BARTENDER steps up to serve WHIP...
BARTENDER
Whatll you have?
WHIP
Can I get an orange juice?
The BARTENDER leaves to grab the orange juice.

68

73.
TELEVISION -- The transcription and AUDIO of the cockpit
recording continues...
Trevor.

MARGARET (O.S.)

WHIP (O.S.)
Say I love you Trevor.
Why?

MARGARET (O.S.)

WHIP (O.S.)
The black box.
MARGARET (O.S.)
I love you Trevor. Be a good boy.
Mommy loves you.
The BARTENDER returns with the orange juice.
Thats it?

BARTENDER

WHIP
And a double shot of Stoli.
The BARTENDER nods and turns in acknowledgement of the order.
PIERS MORGAN
(on television)
Wow. That audio paints a strong
picture. Captain Whitaker is
surely a hero in my opinion.
JIM TILMON
(on television)
Absolutely. However, every
incident is different. The actions
of the pilots on SouthJet 227 will
be heavily scrutinized. Its
protocol for any investigation.
The BARTENDER returns with a frosted glass and pours two
shots over the ice.
WHIP downs the vodka in a flash.
The OTHER BARTENDER has the remote and starts searching for
more coverage of the crash. He stops at a local report.
ON TELEVISION WE SEE

74.
EXT.

CRASH SITE -- DAY

A REPORTER gives a lead in at the crash site.

CRASH SITE REPORTER #1
Kevin, its still chaotic here at
the site. Apparently a small
ministry was conducting services
near to where the plane came down.
So the scene here is a mix of
survivors and first responders, I
was able to catch up with an actual
passenger moments ago...
A YOUNG SHORT HAIRED BLONDE MAN GIVES HIS ACCOUNT
PASSENGER 1
We were in a nose dive and people
were screaming and yelling and then
the plane turned upside down and we
had to hold on to our seat belts to
keep from falling out of our chairs
-- I saw one kid fall to the floor
and this flight attendant picked
him up and handed him to his
dad...I didnt see her again.
CRASH SITE REPORTER #1
More details and more reports of
the casualties are continuing to
fly around. I can tell you that
there appears to be many, many
survivors. Thats all I have for
now. Kevin?
Another reporter has a passengers account.
CRASH SITE REPORTER #2
Rebecca, surviving passengers are
being put in ambulances, police
cruisers and even first responder
vehicles and they are being taken
to local hospitals for treatment.
Some of the injured appear serious
and its safe to assume at this
point that there are at least a few
fatalities. Lets roll the tape of
the passenger I caught up with
earlier.
A MAN with SHORT DARK HAIR explains his experience.

75.
PASSENGER 2
We turned like a corkscrew and all
I could think was, this is really
happening, Im going to die and
then all of a sudden the plane was
upside down but steady and the
pilot must have known how to fly it
that way. He flipped it back over
and landed it hard.
CRASH SITE REPORTER #2
Obviously a harrowing ordeal for
those on the troubled plane. This
is Callie J Kenner for News 5.
A third Reporter gets a FEMALE NEIGHBORs perspective.
CRASH SITE REPORTER #3
Folks in the houses that border
this field came running from their
houses...
NEIGHBOR
I thought it was thunder at first.
But it shook the ground hard.
Thunder dont do like that. I ran
outside and I could hear people
yelling and I could see a small
fire at first. I just took the
dogs and headed down there. Then I
saw the plane crumpled on the
ground. I never seen nothing like
that in my life.
CRASH SITE REPORTER #3
Just like that plane, this
community is shattered. Folks here
remain on edge as media trucks
continue to line their small road
and crowd the field where the plane
still lies. Back to you, Tom.

EXT.

CRASH SITE -- NIGHT

A news light shines on a lone reporter who stands atop a

small hill above the crash field.

76.
CRASH SITE REPORTER #4
Were gonna take another look at
the cell phone footage that
captured the last moments of
SouthJets Flight 227.
WE SEE THE GRAINY CELL PHONE FOOTAGE OF THE PLANE
After the PLANE levels off and smacks down in the field, we
return to REPORTER #4 in the crash field.
CRASH SITE REPORTER #4 (CONTD)
Many hours have passed since the
footage you just watched but the
crash site remains active as
investigators work through the
night. Using flood lights and
miners caps, teams continue to
comb the crash field looking for
the answers to the hard questions
as to what brought down SouthJets
flight 227. Those answers remain
in darkness as do the broken pieces
of the aircraft. Hopefully
sunlight will bring answers. For
now this is Kent Johnson reporting.

INT./EXT.

WHIPS BUICK -- QWIK STOP LIQUOR STORE -- DAY

A 12-pack of beer hits the passenger seat as Whip climbs

behind the wheel. Whip cracks open a handle (half-gallon)
of vodka and takes a liberal pull. Whips shoulders relax as
the alcohol kicks in.
71

After a moment, he starts the car, shifts into gear -- downs 71

another huge slug of vodka -- and pulls out.
INT.

WHIPS BUICK -- ATLANTA STREET -- DAY

Whip is at the wheel. A cigarette in one hand, an open beer

in the other. He cruises slowly -- searching street signs
with his beer-buzzed eyes.
WHIP
(to himself)
Taylor street, Taylor st...ah, here
we are.
Whip rolls the Buick to a stop and scans the street.

77.
P.O.V. THROUGH DRIVER SIDE WINDOW
WHIP spots a SIGN: Georgian Gardens Apartments Suddenly,
NICOLE flies into frame and tosses a box into the back of her
Toyota. She hustles off leaving the hatchback open.
72

WHIP raises an eyebrow, and drives toward the building.

EXT.

72

THREE STORY APARTMENT BUILDING -- ATLANTA -- DAY

WHIP parks his car at a fire hydrant right in front of

NICOLEs building and gets out with his cane. He pops a fresh
beer and looks at the building, looking for a proper
entrance. He notices Fran walking quickly along the second
story balcony -- carrying a baseball bat.
Whip thinks nothing of it and begins casually poking through
the stuff in Nicoles car -- a random collection of junk
including clothes and photographs -- mostly of rock bands
performing.
Now, WHIP HEARS an argument escalating between Fran and
NICOLE.
FRAN (O.S.)
The guy in Unit 1 just told me you
stayed here last night?!
NICOLE (O.S.)
Franny relax, Im just getting my
shit outta here, okay?
FRAN (O.S.)
What about the rent! YOU OWE ME
MONEY!
He heads off...
EXT.

THREE STORY APARTMENT BUILDING -- STAIRCASE -- DAY

WHIP does a decent job of making his way up the exterior

staircase. That beer is making his leg feel a little better.
WHIP moves more aggressively up the stairs as the ARGUMENT
GROWS LOUDER...
FRAN (O.S.)
Who do you think broke down this
fucking door to let the paramedics
in there? Huh?! -- You gotta pay
for all this.

78.
NICOLE (O.S.)
Im sorry. Just let me get my shit
and get outta here. I will pay you
when I can.
FRAN (O.S.)
I know, just take a shower with me.
How hard is that? Cmon.
No.

NICOLE (O.S.)
Im not doin that.

FRAN (O.S.)
If I had a bag a dope youd be on
your knees in my shower right now,
right? Come on...
NICOLE (O.S.)
DONT TOUCH ME!
WHIP PICKS UP THE PACE OF HIS LIMP TOWARDS THE FRACAS.
FRAN (O.S.)
Gimme the camera, for collateral.
Whats it worth?
NICOLE (O.S.)
No fucking way! I will kill you if
you touch this camera! I will pay
for all of this! I will pay, okay!
WHIP crests the top of the staircase to see...
SCENE 75 COMBINED WITH SCENE 74
INT.

NICOLES APARTMENT -- SAME

FRAN, the landlord, wielding a baseball bat as he berates

NICOLE. NICOLE has her full-bodied 35 MM camera hanging from
a strap around her neck. FRAN points the bat at her head.
Whip WHACKS Fran with his cane.
WHIP
The fuck are you doin!?
FRAN stumbles and falls as the bat goes flying to the ground
and rolls away. WHIP licks the foaming top of his excited
beer.

79.
FRAN
(gives Whip a puzzled
look)
Hey, dont I know you?
Whip jabs him again with his cane.
WHIP
Keep your fucking hands off her!
NICOLE who is crying, now laughs in relief. She cant believe
it. Americas Hero has just come to her rescue.
WHIP moves to comfort her..
WHIP (CONTD)
You okay?
(she nods)
Is this all the stuff you want from
here?
NICOLE
(nods again, recovering)
Just this stuff.
She points to a camera tripod and a box of broken portfolios
with photos dripping out.
WHIP
Okay, start taking that stuff down.
FRAN has gotten up and stands a safe distance from WHIP...
FRAN
She owes me 1100 bucks! Plus
damages!
WHIP
You wanna spend a thousand bucks
suing her and get jack shit? Or do
you want to make a cash deal with
me?
FRAN
Give me 700 in cash.
WHIP
Youre a creep...with your baseball
bat bullshit...
Whip flings his beer at Frans head, then pulls out his
billfold.

80.
WHIP (CONTD)
(sorts through his cash)
Ill give you 400 in cash.
Whip throws the money on the floor.
FRAN sorts the options...none...he tentatively bends down and
picks up the cash. Keeping a wary eye on Whip.
WHIP (CONTD)
Good boy. Now help her get that
box in her car.
NICOLE
Ah...my car doesnt run. It wont
start. Im taking this with me.
WHIP
Your car doesnt run? What were you
gonna do?
NICOLE
I dont...I...I was...
I dont know what I was gonna do.
Fran smirks.

Whip drills Fran with his eyes...

WHIP
(with deliberate malice)
Then put the fucking box in my car.
FRANs smirk fades. He relents and picks up the box as WHIP
grabs the lighter shoulder bag and they head downstairs.
INT.

WHIPS BUICK -- DAY

NICOLE stares out the window as the city disappears.

WHIP pulls a beer from the box and offers it to Nicole.
NICOLE smiles, thinks about it...she shakes her head, no.
WHIP pops the top and takes a drink.
NICOLE
Whats your name?
WHIP looks to her, she to him. They begin to laugh at the
absurdity. When it subsides...
Whip.
NICOLE nods.

WHIP

A long moment quietly passes.

81.
NICOLE
Thank you, Captain Whip.
INT.

WHITAKER FARM -- LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles You Really Got a Hold on

Me plays as WHIP eases himself into a recliner using his
cane. On the small table next to him rests his beer and an
unopened bottle of bourbon with a glass of ice. WHIP cracks
the seal on the bourbon bottle and pours a drink. He takes a
sip and chases it with his beer.
WHIP now starts to remove the brace that we clearly see under
his basketball shorts. As he takes it off he tries to
massage his aching leg.
NICOLE enters the living room, fresh from a shower.
studies her -- shes beautiful and innocent.
You okay?

WHIP

WHIP

NICOLE
I was gonna lay down, get some
rest.
Okay.

WHIP

WHIP takes another sip before returning to massaging his leg.

NICOLE
Is it really okay that I stay here?
Yea.

WHIP
I want you to stay.

NICOLE walks over to WHIP and kneels down and gently takes
over massaging his leg. WHIP exhales.
WHIP (CONTD)
That feels better.
NICOLE
Its throbbing because the blood is
having a hard time getting back to
your heart.
78

NICOLE continues to soothe his aching leg. After a moment, 78

NICOLE stands and takes the drink out of WHIPs hand and sets
it down. She now bends down and kisses him softly. She now
stands and takes his hand, leading him in to the bedroom.

82.
INT.

WHITAKER FARM -- WHIPS BEDROOM -- DAY

WHIPs been awake for hours as he sits at the foot of the

bed. Whips wearing a long sleeve tee shirt and sweat pants
and no shoes. He looks at NICOLE -- sleeping angelically on
her side of the bed. Whip watches her sleep for a long
moment, until...
80

He hears something. He gets up and goes to the window. Its a80

car pulling up the driveway.
INT./EXT.

WHITAKER FARM -- KITCHEN DOOR -- DAY

WHIP opens the door to find HUGH in his driveway.

WHIP casts a strange figure with his bare chest, boxers and
brandishing a shotgun. They stare at each other.
HUGH
Do you wanna shoot me or can I come
inside?
Cmon in.

WHIP
Ill shoot you inside.

HUGH walks closer to the porch.

WHIP questions him.

WHIP (CONTD)
You just decided to drop by?
HUGH
Your voice mail is full and you
never answer your cell phone. I
called your cell 10 times.
WHIP
I turned it off.
HUGH nods as the explanation lands.
HUGH
I thought wed take a ride.
WHIP measures HUGHs intention...
WHIP
Okay, gimme a minute.
82

Wait here.

HUGH nods and recedes from the door as WHIP goes to get
dressed.

82

83.
EXT.

CRASH SITE -- OBSERVATION SCAFFOLDING -- DAY

WHIP joins HUGH on a rectangular platform on top of a twostory scaffolding frame. The platform provides a perfect
view of flight 227s final resting area. We see the awesome
devastation that 50 tons of metal flying at 140 miles an hour
can do to a hillside.
HUGH
You can see the initial impact
sheared the right wing clean off.
If only the left wing had come off
at impact, I think everyone would
have walked off that plane.
WHIP
The left wing partially pulled awayHUGH
It snapped but stayed connected to
the airframe. So it whipped back
towards the plane, hit the fuselage
in front of the tail. If you were
sitting in the last 6 or 7 rows on
the left side, it was like being
hit by a train.
WHIP
I drank a lot the night before that
flight. I drank that morning too
and I used coke to straighten up.
HUGH
I know, its in the toxicology
report.
WHIP
But thats not the reason this
happened.
I know.

HUGH

WHIP looks at HUGH expecting him to finish his thought.

holds his look for a beat before changing thoughts.
HUGH (CONTD)
The John the Baptist Pentecostal
Mission.
We hear voices; a low murmur that gets louder, chanting.
WHIP looks to the top of the hill to see...
PENTECOSTAL MASS IN PROGRESS

HUGH

84.
A MINISTER in a dark purple cloak calls from the new
testament as the CONGREGATION responds in unison.
MINISTER
He will wipe away every tear from
their eyes, and death shall be no
more, neither shall there be
mourning, nor crying, nor pain
anymore, for the former things have
passed away. -- Revelation 21:4
There are at least 50 people sitting in white folding chairs
at the foot of the hill. A small brook babbles behind them.
WHIP continues to take in the bizarre scene.
HUGH
They helped pull survivors out of
the wreckage. Now they come out
here every day and have a mass 30
minutes prior to the crash. And
then they sit in silent prayer for
10 minutes at 9:42...which is when
you went down.
WHIP is overwhelmed by the magnitude of the crash field and
the WORSHIPPERS. WHIP looks back at the crash site to see...
NTSB INVESTIGATORS
Inside the crash site, a small group of INVESTIGATORS with
NTSB jackets following the lead of a CONFIDENT WOMAN. HUGH
answers the question in WHIPs mind...

HUGH (CONTD)
Ellen Block, shes the head of the
investigation for the NTSB. Shes
the one thats gonna ask the tough
questions.
WHIP
Whyd you bring me here?
HUGH
I needed you to see this.
WHIP
You trying to scare me?
HUGH
I need to know that you can handle
all this.

85.
WHIP continues to stare at the awesome dent in the earth.
HUGH (CONTD)
Listen clearly. There was a
mechanical issue with the plane,
but what you and I know? Is that
this was an act of God. Im gonna
fight to get the NTSB to place act
of God on the probable causes
list.
WHIP
Whos God would do this?
Its quiet before HUGH makes his case.
HUGH
So heres the deal. Avington Carr,
the owner of the airline, is on our
side...and hes got big friends in
Washington. He wants to sit down
with us. 10 Oclock tomorrow
morning.
WHIPs had enough.

He starts to walk away.

HUGH stops him.

HUGH (CONTD)
You cant drink. Youre under the
microscope. You cant be out
buying liquor. No bars, no drugs.
WHIP
Ill stop. I can stop.
(Hugh stays quiet)
I told you I can stop. I wont
drink.
HUGH
10 Oclock tomorrow morning with
Mr. Carr, the owner of the airline.
INT.

CARRS OFFICE - ATLANTA BASEBALL STADIUM -- DAY

A huge office with a glass wall that looks out over the
diamond. We are high above the outfield; if GOD was a
baseball fan, this would be his office. We now meet AVINGTON
CARR, a very righteous and self-satisfied, wealthy, southern
gentlemen.
MR. CARR
I never wanted that fuckin
airline. Neither did my brother.

86.
CARR scans the room, reading faces, holding court.
MR. CARR (CONTD)
It was my father that wanted it.
like baseball.

Ornate, wood furniture helps to announce the political feel

of MR. CARRs world. Presidential photos and commendations
pepper the walls. Its quiet...
HUGH LANG
I like baseball.
Everyone looks to HUGH as it gets oddly silent... We get our
first look at LEN CALDWELL, the president of the pilots
union. LEN tries to wrest some control and exude some
confidence.
LEN CALDWELL
Everyone in Georgia likes baseball.
MR. CARR
Yeah...so whats the deal Lenny?
Is your union gonna survive this
one? More importantly? How big a
check you think Im gonna have to
write?
LEN CALDWELL
There were 6 fatalities on the
planeHUGH LANG
The 2 crew members dont get
settlements like the passengers.
Thats a workmans comp claim, part
of the union contract -- they do a
dangerous job and they know it.
MR. CARR
Youre the lawyer for the pilots
union?
LEN CALDWELL
No, this is Hugh Lang, the attorney
we brought in to handle the
criminal side of Captain Whitakers
situation.
MR. CARR
Yes, and what is Mr. Whitakers
situation? NTSB is up my ass with
a flashlight. We had to give them
access to everything.

87.
(shakes his head)
And everyone is curious about
Captain Whitaker.
Through a glass wall we see...
WHIP SITS ON A COUCH READING A MAGAZINE IN A RECEPTION AREA.
CHARLIE
I flew with him. Hes a great
pilot.
MR. CARR
Is he a drunk?
CHARLIE
Hes a heavy drinker.
bring him in?

Should I

Everyone steals glances at WHIP as CARR continues to

dominate.
MR. CARR
In a minute. Alright, so lets get
down to it, Lenny. What does the
union plan to do about this blood
test that says Whitaker was high on
booze and coke? This guys a real
peach.
HUGH
Im gonna kill the toxicology
report.
(feels eyes of disbelief)
It was done incompetently. The
last time the toxicology equipment
they used was calibrated was in
June of 2009, which is 18 months
past code. Their log that should
clearly state who labeled the blood
vials and when, is very incomplete.
And they arent sure who stored
them. They used a preservative in
the vials that has in some cases
caused blood to ferment and
register higher in an alcohol test.
Thats what Ive done so far. I
can handle this.
MR. CARR
I like this guy Lenny. He makes me
wanna go out and sniff a few lines
and fly a jet.

88.
LEN CALDWELL
Mr. Carr, were gonna fight to push
all the fault on Jackson
Ridgefield, the manufacturer.
MR. CARR
Oh and you think theyre gonna just
open their check book and buy us
all lunch? Good fucking luck.
Whats my exposure Jim?
CARRS BUSINESS GUY
The awards to the families could
kill the airline.
MR. CARR
Fuck the airline. The insurance
companies can have the goddamm
airline. I just dont want them to
come sniffing in my other pockets.
LEN CALDWELL
Speaking for the pilots union? We
dont want your airline to go away.
We enjoy your contract with us and
we will protect Captain Whitaker
and in turn protect your airline.
MR. CARR
Thats sweet Mr. Caldwell, but if
the NTSB leaks that toxicology
report showing my pilot was flying
that plane drunk? Were all
fucked.
CHARLIE
So far weve been lucky.
MR. CARR
Lucky?! Are you that goddammed
dumb?! You think theyre waiting
for a light news day to splash the
headline, Drunk, coke-addled pilot
crashes a plane?!
EVERYONE goes quiet as CARRs anger commands silence.
MR. CARR (CONTD)
My brothers in DC on his knees at
the foot of the throne begging for
forgiveness. And so far its
working.

89.
Theyve got their boot on the neck
of this girl Ellen Block runnin
the show for the NTSB and she is
pissed. Can you handle that?
HUGH cant stifle a laugh.

They look to him.

HUGH LANG
Trust me, Im gonna kill the
toxicology report. Thats my job.
CARR looks to his lawyer who nods...
CARRS ATTORNEY
I wish you luck, but were still
sorting out the best way to go
forward legally. We might split
from you and go it alone.
CARR stands to signal the end of the meeting.
stop him.

HUGH stands to

HUGH LANG
To go it alone? Without us? That
would be what the French call a
big fucking mistake.
MR. CARR
Does Whitaker know hes going to
jail?
HUGH LANG
I havent had a client go to jail
yet.
MR. CARR
Hes going to jail. He belongs in
jail. You bet your ass hes going
to jail, the question is...is he
gonna die in jail?
HUGH LANG
Youre wrong, Mr. Carr.
CARRS ATTORNEY
Last time I checked, 6 counts of
manslaughter is life in prison.
MR. CARR
Life in prison, what we in Georgia
call all day long.
It goes quiet as everyone reflects on that reality.

90.
INT.

CARRS OFFICE -- WAITING ROOM -- DAY

WHIP stands up as the meeting spills into the waiting room.

Handshakes are exchanged as CARR walks to WHIP and offers his
hand to shake.
MR. CARR
They tell me youre some kind of
pilot.
86

CARR nods, sizing WHIP up. WHIP returns the nod as HUGH
86
quickly puts a hand on WHIPs back and leads him away like a
heavyweight being returned to his corner after pre-fight
instructions.
THE TELEVISION IN WHIPS LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
We are now in WHIPs living room watching HOME MOVIES...
WHIPS VOICE
Get up! What? You cant get up?!
(Whip is laughing...)
Cmon, Knuckles Whitaker drags
himself up and goes long...go.
We watch an 8 year-old WILL WHITAKER run long as the ball
flies to him. He catches it and on-screen WHIP hollers.
WHIPS VOICE (CONT'D)
Touchdown Whitaker! Atta boy!
Cmon back. What? Come back and
do it again. Tired? Junior, you
dont know tired. Im not going
out. You go out. Keep running.
We pull away from the screen to find WHIP who sits on the
couch. A large bottle of vodka appears empty amidst many
dead beers and an ashtray that overflows.
WHIP moves in drunken slow motion as he attempts to free a
cigarette from the pack and light it. He freezes at one
point and places his hands straight out in front of himself,
a strange, involuntary, drunken reset. His stare is a 1000
miles offshore; he is anywhere but on this planet. Oblivion.
The light from the HEADLIGHTS of a car in the driveway wash
across the walls of the living room. We hear a car door open
and women exchange good byes.
SHEILA (O.S.)
Keep coming back, Nicole.
at a time.

One day

91.
NICOLE (O.S.)
I know, one day at a time.
87A

We hear them laugh as WHIP still stares in to space.

INT.

87A

WHITAKER FARM -- DOOR -- NIGHT

The door pushes open and NICOLE comes in with the Big Book of
AA in her hand.
NICOLE
Hey. Sorry Im a little late, but
we went for coffee after the
meeting...
(Whip doesnt look)
Whip?
NICOLE goes close to see WHIP look at her with a non-focused
stare. She sees the table and reads the situation.
NICOLE watches as WHIP stands up.
to focus.

In his oblivion he tries

WHIP
Dont, dont, dont! Ill get him.
Knuckles, junior. See him. Yeah.
Im not calling again. Fuck him.
He didnt call. Not back. Not
calling back.
NICOLE backs away as she watches the blacked-out ballet play
itself out in slow, tragic fashion. WHIP motions to his lips
as if he is smoking. He freezes and then steps forward and
trips in to the coffee table. Whip falls to the ground.
NICOLE checks WHIPs face to see his eyes partially opened
but passed out. NICOLE goes to the bedroom and returns with
a blanket that she covers WHIP with. She also places a
pillow under his head making sure that his head is titled to
the side so he doesnt choke.
NICOLE looks around the room.
bottles and straighten up.
INT.

She begins to collect the

WHITAKER FARM -- BEDROOM -- MORNING

CLOSE ON WHIPs FACE as he struggles with a thick hangover.

He rubs his face and smacks his lips, hes dry as a bone.
WHIP shakes his head as he tries to focus his look through
the bedroom window. He looks out to see NICOLE sitting on a
chair enjoying the landscape. WHIP rubs his head before
walking to the kitchen.

92.
INT.

WHITAKER FARM -- KITCHEN -- MOMENTS LATER

WHIP pulls open the door to the fridge and pulls out a gallon
of water in a plastic jug. WHIP stands and takes a long pull
of the cold water.
EXT.

WHITAKER FARM -- PORCH -- MORNING

NICOLE sits with her camera staring at a candle on the table

in front of her. An AA Book rests on the table. She snaps a
picture of the flame and then focuses out to the grassy
landing strip and the rolling hills.
WHIP enters carrying the large plastic bottle of water from
the kitchen.
Morning.

WHIP

WHIP coughs and rubs his eyes.

NICOLE
Are you okay? You were in bad
shape when I got home.
Tired.
A bit?

WHIP
Guess I drank a bit.
NICOLE

WHIP
You wanna count the fuckin beers?
Theyre still in the garbage.
Vodka too, is that okay with you?
NICOLE
Its more than okay, Whip.
Good.

WHIP

Its quiet as they let the awkward exchange pass.

NICOLE
Ive been watching the sky change
as the sun rises. Beautiful.
(holds up the camera)
Perfect light, I went out and took
some great shots.
WHIP reaches for the camera.

She hands it to him.

93.
WHIP
Lemme see that camera.
NICOLE
My mom got it for me. Towards the
end, when she knew she wasnt gonna
recover. She maxed out her credit
card to buy me that camera and a
lighting kit.
NICOLE takes a moment to tamp down some emotions.
NICOLE (CONT'D)
Its just so beautiful here.
you grow up here?

Did

WHIP still holds the camera as he sits down.

WHIP
It was my grandfathers farm, my
dad grew up here. He was a pilot
in World War II, flew with the
332nd.
See the landing strip out
there? He built that. He ran a
crop duster outta here until the
EPA put an end to that.
(she nods, listening)
He traded the crop duster for a
used Cessna. He flew that damn
thing all over. Its still in the
barn. I was gonna sell this place
after my dad died. Then I got
divorced...
NICOLE
And your mom?
WHIP
Dead...shes dead.
alive?

Your dad still

NICOLE
Im pretty sure my father lives in
Colorado.
WHIP
You got no relationship with him.
NICOLE
He drank. It was my mom that
raised me. She was incredible.
NICOLE lights a cigarette as the memories are tough.

94.
NICOLE (CONTD)
She held it together for so long, I
couldnt tell how sick she was.
Even through chemo she looked
beautiful.
NICOLE leans over and blows out the candle.
NICOLE (CONTD)
They gave her very heavy meds for
pain. Dilauded, morphine,
oxycontin. I started taking them
with her. We would get all
medicated and sit in our back yard
and talk and talk and watch the sun
go down. Wed be so stoned that we
couldnt get up to go inside when
it got dark.
(laughs, fights the pain)
I know it sounds crazy to get
hooked on dope with your mom, but
she was dying and we spent her last
seven months together like
teenagers, trading stories about
boys and whatever. She loved me.
WHIP lifts the camera and points it at NICOLE. She contorts
her face into a sly smile. WHIP snaps it...she laughs.
89A

A CHURCH BELL SWINGS INSIDE A STONE BELFRY

89A

The blue sky is the perfect backdrop as we reveal...

INT.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC CHURCH -- DAY

WHIP in a dark suit walks amidst mourners who file out of the
church. The center of attention is a large, distraught woman
in her 60s being consoled by what appears to be her son and
his wife. The WOMAN wears a pin that holds a photo of TRINA.
WHIP stands at the bottom of the steps, watching folks,
looking for someone. Suddenly, a 9 year-old BOY stands in
front of him. The BOY locks eyes with him.
BOY
Im Trevor. You saved my mom.
WHIP looks up to see MARGARET THOMASON walking towards him.
She has her left arm in a sling underneath her jacket. We
can see a bandage along her hairline. WHIP smiles, obviously
uncomfortable. MARGARET hugs him.

95.
MARGARET
Its great to see you, Whip.
WHIP
You too Margaret.
bone?

Broken collar

MARGARET
Yeah, and some stitches but Im
fine. I really am.
(she goes quiet)
It was a nice service. I mean,
look at all these people that
wanted to say goodbye. She looked
beautiful in there.
(Whip is blank)
Didnt you think so, Whip? Like
she was gonna wake up and smile.
WHIP
I didnt go in.

I couldnt.

MARGARET is sensing WHIPs struggle.

MARGARET
Trevor, find Dad. Hes by Mr.
Benton, there.
(Trevor leaves)
Are you okay? You should come to
the counseling group. The union
has great people for us to talk to.
WHIP
No. I cant, really.
just not now.
Its quiet.
the cheek.

I will, but

MARGARET smiles and leans in and kisses WHIP on

MARGARET
Take care Whip, okay?
She starts to leave...WHIP stops her with...
WHIP
Yeah...yknow...Im in the middle
of this investigation. The NTSB is
investigating the crashMARGARET
I know. Im going in to see them
next week.

96.
WHIP
Im nervous because I was out the
night before the crash at dinnerMARGARET
With Trina...
WHIP
Yeah and I had two glasses of wine.
And they might ask you about my
condition that morning and if you
thought I had anything to drink.
MARGARET appears speechless...
What?

WHIP (CONTD)

MARGARET
Ive known you 11 years and youre
gonna stand here and tell me you
and Trina went to dinner and you
drank two glasses of wine? Sounds
like a nice restaurant Whip, which
one was it?
WHIP
You have to tell them it was an
ordinary day. I mean it was an
ordinary day. You know I was in
shape to fly. You have a problem
with saying that?
MARGARET
Its a lie. Whip, its a lie.
Trina told me you two hadnt been
to sleep.
WHIP
My lack of sleep made the plane
fall apart, huh Margaret? Im just
trying to get it straight. You
think that another pilot would have
been able to land that plane and
save more lives?
MARGARET
I didnt say that Whip. I cant
imagine another pilot doing-

97.
WHIP
Well can you imagine Trevor at this
same church looking at you in that
box in there? Or my son having to
come and see me in prison?
MARGARET fights tears as WHIP has struck a blow.
MARGARET
Please Whip, enough. Dont you
think weve all had enough.
(Whip is quiet)
What do you want me to say?
WHIP
It was an ordinary day. The storm
right after we took off was very
severe, but as far as the flight
crew was concerned it was a
perfectly ordinary day.
The tears flow now as MARGARET cant hold them in. WHIP
realizes hes gone too far. Not knowing what to do, WHIP
walks away.
EXT. PEACH STREET DRUGS - AZURE BLUE SKY OF AUTUMN -PHARMACY -- PARKING LOT - DAY
WHIP watches an airliner fly over head as he stands by his
car smoking a cigarette. He wears his suit from the funeral.
NICOLE approaches. Shes in a great mood.
NICOLE
Are you okay? How was it?
WHIP
It was okay, okay.
doin?

Howre you

A beat.
NICOLE
Well, I got through my first day.
They havent fired me.
WHIP
Thats good. Cause for a
celebration.
NICOLE
They needed someone to work the
night shift. They asked me and
its time and a half so...

98.
She sorts through her shoulder bag...
NICOLE (CONT'D)
I gotta vest and heres my name
tag. Oh oh oh....I got you
something..
(hands him a nice lighter)
Its a P-51 mustang on there...
(flies her arms like
wings)
Youre dad flew a P-51, right?
WHIP
(stares at the lighter)
He did. So should we get some
dinner?
NICOLE
I promised Sheila I would be at the
meeting tonight. She's the one
thats been helping me, my sponsor.
Can we do it tomorrow night? And
Please, Whip dont make me choose
between dinner with you and the
meeting.
WHIP nods, playing with the lighter.
WHIP
No, its okay. You should go.
NICOLE
Why dont you come with me? Well
eat after. Its an open meeting.
WHIP
Open meeting?
NICOLE
That means anybody can come.
Anybody.
Even me?

WHIP

She is bubbling with happy spirit; shes hot.

deny as WHIP cant help but smile at her.
INT.

Shes hard to

ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH -- ATLANTA -- NIGHT

A MAN stands at a podium wearing a coat and tie.

in the energized retell of a story.

He is lost

99.
A.A. SPEAKER # 1
The cop is shining his flashlight
on me. Im standing there behind
the dumpster, wearing nothing but
my girlfriends panties, vomit on
my chest and I say to the
cop...about two beers.
The room erupts with laughter. NICOLE is really taken by the
candor of the speaker as she joins the room in laughter.
A.A. SPEAKER # 1 (CONTD)
Thats why they call me Two-Beer
Barry.
BARRY makes eye contact with a STERN LOOKING OLD TIMER.
BARRY holds up a loose leaf binder and addresses the man...
A.A. SPEAKER # 1 (CONTD)
Dont worry Ed, I got the format
right here. Im sorry, Eds giving
me the stink eye. Let me get back
to the format...
(reads from the format)
Im Barry. Im an alcoholic.
THE ASSEMBLY
(in unison)
Hi Barry.
A.A. SPEAKER # 1
Are there any other alcoholics
present?
WHIP glances around to find himself in a sea of raised-handed
alcoholics. A few look at WHIP with no judgement.
A.A. SPEAKER # 1 (CONTD)
I like meetings that have us all
identify. Because it makes me tell
the truth about who I am. It
reminds that I never ever told the
truth. I lied about everything.
My whole life had been a lie. And
I was told that I would never get
sober if I kept lying.
WHIP is very reserved, poker-faced.
A.A. SPEAKER #1
I mean, lyings what Im good at.
If I know anything in this life
its how to lie, especially about
my drinking.

100.
We pan the faces and everyone seems immediately connected.
Except WHIP who leans over to NICOLE.
WHIP
I gotta go. Okay?
(Nicole nods)
Can uh...
(points to Sheila)
NICOLE
Yeah, Sheila. She can take me back
to work.
SHEILA
(extends her hand)
Im Sheila.
WHIP shakes her hand before quickly escaping as if from a
fire. We stay close on WHIPs face as he walks out. BARRY
continues his pitch.
A.A. SPEAKER #1
Like I said, I would lie about
everything. It didnt matter what
it was. My whole life had been a
lie. A series of lies strung
together by me. And when I drank?
It was worse. What I came to
understand was that, my lies were
killing me. And that remains the
great fact for me...My lies will
kill me.
93

WHIP is gone.
INT.

ROUND TABLE RESTAURANT -- BAR -- MINUTES LATER

WHIP enters the bar and we hear off camera a voice coming
from the TV above the bar.
PIERS MORGAN (O.S.)
The NTSB is focusing their
investigation on the flight crew,
specifically Captain Whitaker.

KEN EVANS (O.S.)

Sir, I am not at liberty to discuss
Captain Whitaker or any of the
flight crew.
WHIP looks up to the TV.

93

101.
CLOSE UP TELEVISION -- KEN EVANS IS ON TV LIVE FROM HIS
HOSPITAL BED.
KEN EVANS
(on television)
And in truth, I dont have much to
say about him.
PIERS MORGAN
(on a split screen)
So, safe to say that he remains a
mystery.
KEN EVANS
(on television)
Sir, those are your words not mine.
WHIP exits as fast as he arrived.
continues from the TV...

Hes gone.

PIERS MORGAN

PIERS MORGAN
(on television)
Ive been speaking to some people
who are very close to the NTSB
investigation and they are very
confident that they will be able to
determine exactly what brought this
plane down.
KEN EVANS
(on television)
Im sure they will sir.
PIERS MORGAN
(on television)
Thank you, Ken and Vicki Evans.
KEN EVANS
(on television)
Thank you, and God bless.
INT.

HOSPITAL HALLWAY -- NIGHT

WHIP steps off an elevator and walks down the quiet hospital
hallway toward a room where a few TECHNICIANS are packing up
the last bits of TV equipment.
INT.

HOSPITAL ROOM -- KEN EVANS ROOM -- NIGHT

WHIP stands in the doorway and addresses EVANS...

102.
WHIP
Howre you feeling, Ken?
EVANS stares at WHIP with a blank look.
EVANS
Happy to be alive.
VICKI EVANS
Blessed to be alive.
WHIP
Im Captain Whitaker, I was flyingVICKI EVANS
I know who you are.
WHIP senses an unwelcome undercurrent. He locks eyes with
EVANS trying to read him. Silence before EVANS speaks to the
ATTENDING NURSE...
EVANS
Maam can you give us some privacy?
Thank you.
(to Whip)
Come on in sir. Shut the door.
The ATTENDING NURSE files out placing a chair next to the bed
as she leaves. WHIP enters. Its again quiet.
WHIP
Listen, how long have you been...
EVANS
Outta the coma? Two days.
WHIP
I didnt mean to disrupt your whole
day. I know they been swamping you
with interviews. You were great on
CNN...
EVANS smiles at WHIP.
EVANS
Both my legs were crushed and my
pelvis snapped. Ill probably
never walk again, least not without
a walker or braces. Ill certainly
never fly again.
WHIP
Im sorry Ken.

103.
EVANS
That plane was doomed the second
you sat in the chair. You reeked
like gin or somethin. I called
Vicki from the plane before we took
off. Thats when the rain kicked
up.
VICKI nods, holding her cross with the chain across her lips.
WHIP
I dont know how much you remember,
but the plane started to fall
apart.
EVANS
I remember everything until we
crashed. I know what went on.
WHIP
What are we talking about?
EVANS
I dont know Captain Whitaker, what
are we talking about?
WHIP
I just wanted to get a sense from
you what you thought caused the
crash.
EVANS
Was it the fact that you got on the
plane drunk from the night before?
WHIP goes white and drops his head.
EVANS (CONTD)
The NTSB is coming back tomorrow to
finish taking a deposition from me
about the events on the flight.
WHIP
You think youd be alive without me
on that plane?
EVANS
No, wed all be dead. But are you
gonna argue that your physical
state was tip top?
WHIP
Im not gonna argue anything with
you.

104.
WHIP gets up.
EVANS
Sit, please sit.
(Whip sits)
I never shared my opinion about
your physical state the morning of
the flight. Ive never said word.
WHIP sits and studies EVANS.
EVANS (CONTD)
The flight was pre-ordained. Ive
prayed on it Captain. Vicki and I
have prayed on it. Theres only
one judge -VICKI EVANS
Praise Jesus.
EVANS
And he has a higher plan for you
sir. This event although tragic in
its loss of life is also a
celebration of life.
EVANS begins to mist up with sincere inspiration.
EVANS (CONTD)
Nothing happens in the Kingdom of
the Lord by mistake.
VICKI EVANS
Praise Jesus.
EVANS
Captain, will you pray with me?
WHIP stares into EVANS eyes and sees a believers
conviction. EVANS reaches out his hand to WHIP.
WHIP slowly moves out of his chair and kneels at the side of
EVANS bed. WHIP takes EVANS hand and bows his head as he
reaches for VICKIs at the same time. Its quiet before...
EVANS (CONTD)
Jesus our Lord and savior we thank
you for blessing Captain Whitaker
with courage and wisdom. For
guiding his hand on that fateful
morning. In his divine light we
were saved. Praise Jesus.

105.
VICKI EVANS
Praise Jesus.
It is quiet for an extended beat.

Finally...

WHIP
Praise Jesus.
97

WHIP looks at EVANS and his WIFE whose heads are bowed with 97
reverence.
EXT.

WHITAKER FARM -- DRIVEWAY -- NIGHT

A small pickup truck rambles to a stop in the driveway.

hear music and laughter as NICOLE gets out.
NICOLE
Thanks for the ride guys.
you tomorrow.

We

Ill see

COWORKER
Keep it up Nicole, you could be
employee of the year.
They all laugh; Nicole waves as they drive off. She walks
towards the house which is dark. She hears music and looks
towards the barn to see bright light escaping through the
sagging doors and split wood walls.
EXT.

WHITAKER FARM -- BARN -- NIGHT

NICOLE slowly approaches the almost glowing barn door.

curiosity compels her to pull it open.
INT./EXT.

Her

WHITAKER FARM -- BARN -- NIGHT

The door swings open to find the plane pointed towards the
driveway with an aged patina but revitalized shine. Lenny
Kravitz, Fly Away blares from the stereo...
WHIP emerges from the cockpit. Hes still in his suit but
with his jacket off and sleeves rolled up. Hes energized
like an excited kid. He runs up and kisses her.
NICOLE notes the cloud of smoke hanging in the air and the
burning cigarette in the ashtray, empty beers.
WHIP
Looks great right?

106.
NICOLE
Its kind of...beautiful.
WHIP wipes at his nose.
WHIP
Its a Cessna 172, it was my dads.
He kept it perfect.
NICOLE takes in this cool trinket of aviation history.
NICOLE
Does it work...
WHIP
Yeah, he flew this plane a few
months before he died. I learned
to fly in this plane. You can land
it anywhere.
WHIP laughs, remembering...
WHIP (CONTD)
My friend Harling and I flew it to
Jamaica.
Jamaica?

NICOLE
In this?

WHIP
We set off for an overnight fishing
trip two hours south of here. We
ended up in Bethel, Jamaica.
NICOLE
Youre insane.
WHIP
It was like a picture on a post
card. The white sand and sky blue
water. Most beautiful place Ive
ever been.
NICOLE
Was the water warm?
WHIP
Yeah, really warm.
NICOLE
Thats my kind of place.
Lets go.

WHIP

107.
NICOLE
Sure, why not.
NICOLE laughs thinking theyre playing a game.
WHIP
Lets go tomorrow.
NICOLE
Youre serious?
WHIP
Well leave in the morning...well
just go. Start over.
NICOLE realizes hes serious as he opens another beer.
NICOLE
Whip, we cant.
WHIP
Its a beautiful beach, its
paradise.
NICOLE
Im worried about you.
WHIP
(laughs a bit lit)
Im fine thanks.
NICOLE
No youre not, youre really not.
You need help, Whip. I think you
need rehab.
WHIP
You go to a couple of AA meetings
and all of a sudden you think
youre Jesus Christ? Worry about
yourself.
NICOLE
Were the same Whip, you and me,
were the sameWere notWe are-

WHIP
NICOLE

108.
WHIP
I didnt suck dick to get high.
And dont give me a whole...
NICOLE
Never Whip, I never in my lifeWHIP
Your mom died and dad drank and
bullshit, bullshit, bullshit -Stop.

NICOLE
Please stop.

WHIP
Is that why you shot dope?
NICOLE
Thats not fairWHIP
Well theres a lot of people out
there who lost their mom whove
never had a drink in their life.
NICOLE
Youre sick, Whip.
NICOLE walks away, leaving WHIP with his plane and his dream
of freedom. WHIP calls after her.
WHIP
I choose to drink.
NICOLE
Do you? You choose it? I dont
see a lot of choice goin on.
WHIP
I choose to drink! And I blame it
on me. Im happy to. Ive got an
ex-wife and a son I dont see.
Why? Because I choose to drink!
INT.

WHITAKER FARM -- WHIPS BEDROOM -- NIGHT

We follow WHIP as he enters the house and approaches the

doorway of the bedroom. WHIP sees NICOLE sitting on the bed.
She quickly tucks her cell phone away as WHIP holds up his
hand to signal a truce.

109.
WHIP
Alright look, I was loaded when I
crashed that plane. With this
investigation going on, I dont
know whats gonna happen. Come to
Jamaica with me.
Whip.

NICOLE
Im afraid Ill use again.

WHIP
Come with me. I need help, I do.
NICOLE
Id love for you to get help, Whip.
WHIP
When we get to Jamaica we can go to
the local hospital. Ill do it for
you. Anything you want.
NICOLE looks at the sincere love in his eyes.
NICOLE
I dont wanna use again.
I wont make it back.

I cant.

WHIP
Ill be sober. I wont force you
to stay. I promise if you dont
like it or if I dont clean up?
You can leave.
This is the most sincere plea shes ever heard.
WHIP (CONT'D)
Its so beautiful there. Well
leave before noon. Im a great
pilot. Youll get to see so much.
WHIP wraps his arms around her. We stay on NICOLEs face as
he holds her tighter and tighter.
INT.

WHITAKER FARM -- KITCHEN -- EARLY MORNING

NICOLE is dressed and sitting at the kitchen table.

NICOLE we can see WHIP lying in bed.

Past

She has all her possessions in a crate and a duffel bag at

her feet. She finishes a handwritten note and places it
down. NICOLE picks up the note and begins to reread it.

110.
She hears a car in the driveway -- she picks up her stuff and
takes one last look at the sleeping WHIP. She leaves,
careful not to make a sound.
EXT.

WHITAKER FARM -- FRONT DOOR -- EARLY MORNING

NICOLE quietly exits the house, carrying a crate of her

stuff. She has a duffel bag of clothes over her shoulder as
she makes her way to SHEILAs car that we see parked at the
top of the driveway, far from the house.
INT. WHITAKER RANCH -- BEDROOM -- LATER SAME DAY
WHIP stirs, wakes up and looks around. WHIP walks around
looking for NICOLE. He finds the note and reads it. The
reality of her disappearance sets in and he moves to the
window and stares out at the barn.
WHIP returns his look inside the house and he sees the big
book of AA on the table near where the letter was left. WHIP
picks it up and throws it across the room. He then grabs the
back of a chair and tosses it against the wall.
After wiping photos off of the wall he picks up an empty beer
bottle and fires the bottle at a shelf on the opposite wall.
The bottle explodes and WHIP stops as he realizes he came
within an inch of shattering a framed photo of he and his
son.
We hear the antiquated ring of the OLD HOUSE PHONE. WHIP
relaxes his shoulders as the ringing phone distracts him.
Whip is now drawing heavy breaths as the ringing phone is
answered by the old machine...

WHIPS FATHERS VOICE

Youve reached the Whitaker Crop
Dusting Company, flying lessons and
plane rides. Please leave a message
and it will be returned. Thank
you.
The beep concludes...
CHARLIE
(speaking to voice mail)
Hey Whip, if youre there
pickup...I got some good news...
WHIP snatches the phone of the hook.

111.
WHIP
Yeah, Im here.
104

Whats goin on?

WHIP listens as CHARLIE talks...

EXT.

104

NTSB HANGAR -- RAINING -- DAY

WHIP sits in his car. Rain pounds the windshield as we watch

him expertly add vodka to a half-full bottle of orange juice.
WHIP gives the bottle a shake before taking a long drink.
WHIP takes another drink before re-capping the bottle and
stowing it in the glove box.
WHIP gets out and we watch him
walk in the rain towards the door of the hangar. A SECURITY
GUARD meets him and takes him inside.
INT.

NTSB HANGAR -- THE REMAINS OF FLIGHT 227 - DAY

WHIP is now alone in the huge, brightly lit hangar.

the plane.

He sees

The JR-88 has all of its pieces laying as close together as

possible. Like the skeleton of a T-Rex in a museum. The
sight is awesome, breathtaking. WHIP walks closer to the
twisted wreck and stops. WHIP is overwhelmed by the sight
and as he is about to leave...
CHARLIE steps out of the passenger door and calls down to
WHIP.
CHARLIE
Heres our guy. Cmon.
WHIP walks towards a ramp that leads up to the hole in the
plane where the door used to be. CHARLIE stands at the top
of the ramp. Suddenly HUGH steps out of the plane...
HUGH
Captain Whitaker, weve won.
WHIP doesnt move as HUGH starts down the ramp.
HUGH (CONTD)
This is what we call in my
profession a walk over.
CHARLIE
Theyve scheduled the hearing. Its
in 10 days.
CHARLIE and HUGH reach the bottom of the ramp.

112.
HUGH
But these hearings can be tough.
You just need to stay sharp and on
course and answer the questions
correctly. Its no longer a
question of your condition but the
condition of the plane.
This picks directly at the scab of WHIPs guilt.
HUGH (CONTD)
Ive had an Act of God
successfully added to the list of
probable causes.
WHIP
Look, its simple.
plane.

I flew a broken

CHARLIE
You got it. Thats right.
WHIP
And what about my toxicology
report?
HUGH
(trying to stay calm)
I killed it. They have no physical
proof that you were intoxicated on
that plane. And no eye witness
claims. But theres a problem.
This stops WHIP cold.
HUGH (CONTD)
Because of the turbulence at the
beginning of the flight and then
the crash, there was never any
drink service on the flight. But,
they found two little vodka bottles
in the galley trash bin. There was
no physical evidence found on the
bottles, no DNA, no finger prints.
But both the bottles were uncapped
and empty. The only people who had
access to those bottles and could
have drank them were the flight
crew. Margaret, Evans and Camelia
Satou all had clean tox reports.
That leaves you and Trina Marquez.
They let that land.

WHIP nods.

113.
WHIP
Okay. I see...where this is going.
Thats funny that they found two
bottles.
Why?

HUGH

WHIP
Because I drank three.
missing.

Ones

HUGH explodes in frustration.

HUGH LANG
When I met you I couldnt believe
what a flip, drunk, arrogant
scumbag you were.
WHIP
Fuck you too, Hugh.
HUGH LANG
But I did the research and heard
the analysis from the experts. Im
in awe of what you did.
WHIP
Can I go now?
HUGH gets big as he has to add the final piece of credence to
the coronation.
HUGH LANG
THE NTSB AND THE FAA TOOK 10
EXPERIENCED PILOTS AND PLACED THEM
IN SIMULATORS. THEY RECREATED ALL
OF THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THIS
PLANE FALLING OUT OF THE SKY!
HUGH is so loud and emotional even WHIP lends focus.
HUGH LANG (CONTD)
Do you know how many were able to
safely land these broken planes?
Everyone waits for the response as HUGH acknowledges the
debris around them...
HUGH LANG (CONTD)
Not one. Every pilot crashed and
killed everyone on board.

114.
Yeah.

So?

WHIP

HUGH
You have no capacity to accept the
responsibility for the miracle you
performed and the lives you saved.
Great.

WHIP
Im going home.

WHIP pulls out his cigarettes and frees a smoke from the
pack.
HUGH LANG
Do you want to go to prison?
trying to save your life!

Im

CHARLIE steps between them as this exchange spirals.

WHIP
What fucking life?! Dont kill
yourself on my account, Hugh.
WHIP starts to walk away.
HUGH
Okay, Im done here. Im running
out a faith that this guys gonna
make it, Charlie.
WHIP
(turns on Hugh)
You wanna talk about me like Im
not here? Like Im fucking dead?
HUGH
(to Whip now)
This NTSB hearing is a Federal
Agency Hearing. Do you understand
that? Its in 10 days and if I
show up with you like this?!
WHIP turns and walks.
up.

HUGH wheels on CHARLIE and lights him

HUGH (CONTD)
Everything weve done? Everything
Ive done? Goes out the window.
Thats not on me. I did my job.
Its your job, Charlie, to get him
straight and get him to the church
on time.

115.
WHIP
Yeah Charlie just get him home.
Sober him up long enough to save
the unions contract and that fat
fucks airline. Fuck you. I
shoulda died on that plane.
106

WHIP walks away from them -- away from the bright, clean, 106
shiny floor of the hangar and into the growing rain storm.
EXT.

ROAD OUTSIDE THE WHITAKER FARM -- DAY

The rain has subsided as WHIP pulls up to his driveway.

Whip turns into the driveway and spots a NEWS VAN in front of
his house. He makes a U-turn and speeds away.
EXT.

NICE MODEST SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD -- DAY

The rain has completely stopped but everything remains wet as

WHIP bangs his front tire in to the curb as he attempts to
park in front of a well-maintained house.
INT.
111

WHIPS BUICK -- PARKED - SAME TIME

WHIP checks the mirrors before taking a long drink from a

large orange juice bottle.
EXT.

111

NICE MODERN SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD -- MOMENTS LATER

WHIP gets out of his car and makes his way across the street
and towards the house. We notice...
The DRIVER OF A BLACK PRIUS that has been parked farther down
the street gets out of his car, talking on a cell phone.
EXT.

FRONT DOOR -- NICE SUBURBAN HOME -- SAME TIME

WHIP walks up the steps and knocks on the door. He waits a

beat and knocks again. Finally, it opens -- DEANA, an
attractive, well-dressed woman in her 40s, stands there
staring.
DEANA
What are you doing here?
WHIP
Its lovely to see you too Deana.
May I come in?

116.
DEANA takes a moment before stepping aside to allow WHIP in.
INT.

SUBURBAN HOME -- SAME TIME

WHIP glides into the kitchen of this fastidiously kept home.

WHIP
Thought Id come see you and Will.
(calls out, loudly)
KNUCKLES! YOU HERE?
(its very quiet)
We havent talked at all since this
whole thing happened and I just
thought we should talk.
DEANA
You know that I prefer that you
call us.
WHIP
Call you? Like anyone in this
house has called me in the last
three years to say anything other
than Wheres the money?
DEANA
Have you been drinking?
WHIP
Well that took...what? 17 seconds?
(fake checks his watch)
It took 17 seconds for youDEANA
Im gonna ask you to step outside
of the house, please.
WHIP
(has continued to rant)
LADIES and GENTLEMEN it took
EXACTLY 17 SECONDS FOR DEANA
COLEMAN to ask me if I have been
drinking! A NEW WORLD RECORD!
DEANA
Im calling the police.
WHIP
Youre asking me to leave the house
I bought for you?! Very good.
WILL (O.S.)
Im telling you to leave.

117.
WHIP turns to see his 16 year old son, WILL, standing at the
foot of the stairs near the door.
WHIP
William Whitaker, junior. The man
of the house. Nice of you to call
me back.
WILL
Im telling you to leave.
You are?
house?

WHIP
Are you the man of the

WILL
You upset my mother.

You gotta go.

WHIP
Im your father, tough guy.
WILL
Youre a drunk.
out!

Now get the fuck

WHIP
You dont know who the fuck I am!
WILL
(pulling open the door)
I sure dont.
WHIP
What did you say?
WILL
I said, I sure dont. Why dont
you tell me? Who the fuck are
you?! Who are you? Huh? WHO ARE
YOU?!
DEANA now steps between them and pushes WILL towards the
stairs as she puts her hand on the doorknob.
WHIP
Im outta here. Im outta here.
know where Im not wanted.
WHIP turns quietly.
find...

He opens the door and walks outside to

118.
A GROWING GALLERY OF NEWS RATS START JOSTLING FOR PICS
WHIP is completely caught off guard.
the tiny landing with him.

They step right onto

Through the fracas we hear a variety of questions lobbed at

WHIP.
DEANAS PORCH REPORTER #1
How come you wont talk to the
press?
DEANAS PORCH REPORTER #2
A lot of people are going out of
their way to keep you out of the
media, are you hiding something?
We hear the squelch of a police siren as a COP CAR lands on
the scene.
DEANAS PORCH REPORTER #3
Do you still live here, Captain
Whitaker?
DEANAS PORCH REPORTER #1
How well did you know Katerina
Marquez, the flight attendant that
died?
A REPORTER trips down the stairs. WHIP grabs one of these
news rats and just before pounding him, he breaks in to a
relaxed smile.
WHIP
Folks, please give us some room.
(gets down the stairs)
At the appropriate time I will tell
my story. Now is a time for
grieving and taking care of those
injured. Thank you. I appreciate
your interest in me but I ask that
you leave my family in peace.
The GALLERY quiets to listen and record his words. WHIP
again is incredibly smooth and intuitive while drunk and
under pressure. We can hear the squawking of POLICE SIRENS
approaching.

WHIP starts to head down the porch and the frenzy erupts
again.

119.
The POLICE begin to disperse the NEWS RATS.
officer aside.

WHIP pulls an

WHIP
Im Captain Whitaker, I wasYOUNG COP
Yes sir, I know who you are.
WHIP
Can you get me to my car?
YOUNG COP
(studies him)
Anything you need, sir.
WHIP walks with the YOUNG COP who shields him from the fray.
INT.

WHIPS BUICK -- DEANAS STREET -- MINUTES LATER

We can see the YOUNG COP standing in front of the driver side
door, shielding WHIP from the press who stay away.
116

WHIP exhales, trying to slow his racing heart and head.

drunk but controlled. He looks at his hands. They are
shaking.
INT.

Hes
116

CHARLIES HOUSE -- OFFICE - CLOSE ON TELEVISION - NIGHT

We see WHIP on the TV repeating the speech he gave reporters

on DEANAs front lawn...
WHIP
Now is a time for grieving and
taking care of those injured.
Thank you. I appreciate your
interest in me but I ask that you
leave my family in peace.
A REPORTER now wraps up the piece...
TELEVISION
A reasonable request from a quiet,
heroic man whos been through so
much. This is Tilda Banden
reporting from Devonwood.
Now a DESK ANCHOR changes stories...

120.
DESK ANCHOR
In a related story, tonight at 10
Cale Rawson talks with aviation
experts to see if the tragedy of
flight 227 could have been avoided.
We boom down to find WHIP who looks drained as he sits on
CHARLIEs couch in the fastidiously neat office. WHIP holds
an unlit smoke.
The WOODEN POCKET DOORS SLIDE OPEN and CHARLIEs WIFE
gestures towards WHIP. WHIP stands as CHARLIE enters.
WHIP
Hey, Charlie. Thank you. Amanda
was so nice to let me in. Its
just...I couldnt find a safe
place.
AMANDA slides the door shut as CHARLIE throws his bag and his
coat down with gusto. He reaches up and pushes a button on
the TV and it goes off.
CHARLIE
What the hell is wrong with you? I
spoke to Hugh, he told me that you
went to your ex-wifes house?
Drunk as a skunk and the news crews
showed up?
(Whip just stares)
And the police escorted you out?
WHIP
I think its okay. Ive been
watching and I think its okay.
CHARLIE
Hugh checked every media outlet
that covered it and it looks like
were good. You come off fine.
WHIP
Okay. Good then.
heres the deal-

Listen Charlie,

CHARLIE
No Whip. No deals. Look at you.
I have no idea what youre gonna do
or say, ever. Youre all over the
place. I was the one guy in your
court. I was your apologist, your
defender. But not anymore.

121.
No.

WHIP
I can do this.

CHARLIE
Youre about to be questioned by a
Federal Agency about piloting an
airliner drunk...an airliner that
crashed. And you continue to drink
and stumble around. What kind of
crazy do you have to be to do that?
Im scared of you.
WHIP
Lets just stick to the plan.
CHARLIE
You cant stick to anything.
WHIP
This whole thing has just been so
heavy, its killing me. Tell Hugh,
I can do it. Look, I really wanna
fly again, get back to my life and
be done with all this shit.
CHARLIE
This hearing is 10 days away. Hugh
busted his ass to try to get you
excused, but theres no way. You
have to appear.
WHIP
Let me stay here. They have my
houses all staked out now. Let me
stay here until the hearing,
Charlie. I wont leave the house.
CHARLIE takes a long look at his old, troubled friend.
CHARLIE
You cant drink here, Whip. You
cant drink in my house. Can you
do that?
WHIP
I wont drink.
118

CHARLIE nods, hoping that WHIP can deliver on that promise 118

122.
INT.

ST. JEROME HOTEL -- GUEST HALLWAY -- NIGHT

We watch a can of Coca Cola swing in WHIPs hand. We pull

out to find WHIP walking with CHARLIE down a hallway of THE
ST. JEROME HOTEL. Time has passed as WHIP looks the best
weve ever seen him look. He is well rested, well dressed
and carrying a suit in a wardrobe bag.
As we approach the open door to a guest room, HUGH pops out.
A plain clothes SECURITY GUARD follows HUGH out of the room
and stands behind him.
HUGH
You look great, Whip.
Thank you.

I mean that.

WHIP
I feel really good.

HUGH
I heard you havent had a drink in
8 days.
WHIP
9 days...
(checks his watch)
Two hours and 26 minutes...but
whos counting?
CHARLIE addresses the SECURITY GUARD.
CHARLIE
Officer Edmonds?
Yes sir.

OFFICER EDMONDS

CHARLIE
Whip, Officer Edmonds will be
staying here tonight. Any problems
hell handle it.
HUGH stands by the open door and gestures CHARLIE and WHIP
inside...
INT.

THE ST. JEROME HOTEL -- WHIPS ROOM -- NIGHT

HUGH walks in to the center of the room and turns to WHIP.

HUGH
Well, Whip we just wanted to make
this as easy for you as possible.
WHIP puts his wardrobe bag down on the bed.

123.
CHARLIE
Just get a good nights rest.
Relax, order up a steak, get a
movie.
WHIP is checking his phone. HUGH gestures to CHARLIE for him
to leave so they can be alone.
CHARLIE (CONTD)
Okay, cowboy, Im out. The hearing
starts at 10, so we should plan on
9 for breakfast here in the room.
WHIP
Wait, Charlie, thanks for letting
me stay with you. I needed it.
CHARLIE
You did great cowboy.
WHIP
Youve got a beautiful family.
CHARLIE
Im very blessed.
CHARLIE leaves and HUGH joins WHIP at the window.
WHIP a thick folder.
HUGH LANG
I made you a copy of my entire file
on you and the investigation. I
also tried to anticipate what you
might be asked under oath and I
wrote out some non-damaging
responses. Its all in there;
photos, testimony, interviews...I
called Ellen Block let her know
that youre here and all tucked in.
WHIP
So does she have the knife out for
me?
HUGH LANG
Remember shes limited in what she
can ask you. Youre not on trial
but you are under oath. Shes
probably not happy that I killed
the tox report, but youll be fine.
WHIP laughs a little.

HUGH hands

124.
HUGH LANG (CONTD)
Ill see you in the morning.
The two respectfully nod. HUGH leaves and the door shuts
behind him. WHIP puts the folder on the table and steps to
the mini-bar. He bends down and opens the fridge...
WHIP sees the fridge is overly stocked with soda and juices.
Every soft drink you can imagine. No booze, anywhere. WHIP
chuckles about the alcohol removal as he grabs a coke.
WHIP unbuttons his shirt and pulls it out of his waist line.
INT.

THE ST. JEROME HOTEL -- WHIPS ROOM -- LATER

Whip sits on the edge of the bed eating a room service steak.
The File Folder sits on the table.
WHIPS ROOM -- LATER
Now in his undershirt and shorts, Whip lies propped up on the
bed watching television. The File Folder now rests on the
bed.
WHIPS

BATHROOM -- LATER

Whip is meticulously shaving. He stares a long while at the

disposable razor as the water runs over its blade. After a
moment he goes back to shaving.
WHIPS ROOM -- MUCH LATER
Whip sits at the small table looking through the file. He
leafs through photos, with no recognizable emotion. He looks
to the clock radio -- 12:37.
WHIPS ROOM -- BATHROOM -- LATER AGAIN
We hear the shower running and steam fogs the mirrors.
WHIPS ROOM -- LATER THAN THAT
WHIP wears boxers and a tee shirt with a towel around his
neck. He looks to the clock -- 2:07
WE WATCH HIS SUIT BE PULLED FROM THE WARDROBE BAG.
WHIP lays the suit out neatly on the couch, separating the
shirt which he hangs from a light fixture to relax any
creases.
WHIPS ROOM -- LATER YET AGAIN

125.
The room is dark. A soft wind RATTLES the window sash.
WHIP lies on the bed. He sighs, sleep is alluding him and
the anxiety of tomorrows events on no sleep has his head
spinning. He hears a metallic click. He stays quiet to
listen for it...there it is again. An annoying click.
The clock reads 3:43-He sits up and switches on the LIGHT. He rubs his eyes and
goes to the table and sees the file folder laying there. As
he is about to pick it up he hears the metallic click again.
He goes to investigate.
HOTEL ROOM CONNECTING DOOR -- SAME TIME
The connecting door is unlocked. WHIP arrives and waits. He
now watches as the connecting lock-bolt CLICKS against the
frame -- the door swinging in a draft. He looks up to see
the culprit -- a heating vent. WHIP flips the vent closed.

Whip now pushes the door with his finger, opening it a few
inches. Nothing. Darkness.
WHIP
Hello? Anyone?
Whip enters.
INT. CONNECTING HOTEL ROOM -- SAME
The room is vacant. The bed is made. The drapes are pulled
open.
WHIP walks quietly on the carpet towards the window. The
night is clear. Quiet. Whip takes in the city lights.
WHIPS POV -Among the glass and steel office buildings, Whip spots a
church spire. A simple cross is perched on top.
Whip looks at the church, deep in thought.
Then suddenly...
We HEAR A HUM. THE GENTLE HUM OF AN ELECTRIC MOTOR.
WHIP turns from the window and scans the room...
Its the MINI-BAR refrigerator -- HUMMING to life.

126.
Whip stares at the gleaming black box. The WHIR of the motor
seems to get LOUDER. Calling Whip. Beckoning him...
Whip looks at the fridge. His face is blank, His eyes tell us
nothing. Then...
Whip steps toward the box.
CLOSE ON THE MINI-BAR. Whip swings open the door.
WHOOSH -- OUR DARK SCREEN LIGHTS.
COLORS SPARKLE as a cadre of tiny liquor bottles GLOW like
jewels in a chest.
WHIP stares at the glimmering gems for a long, long time -vodka, gin, wine, bourbon. The bottles SHIMMER -- AMBER,
CRYSTAL, EMERALD, RUBY.
WHIP reaches for a frosted vodka mini bottle -- he gently
pinches the neck of the bottle and lifts it out of the
fridge. He holds up the mini vodka and considers it.
Now Whip slowly removes the stopper and smells the White
Whiskey. He looks at the bottle once more, then slowly twists
the tiny cap back on.
With a look of solemn resignation, Whip places the frosted
mini bottle on top of the fridge and walks away.
WE STAY CLOSE ON THE BOTTLE. The CAMERA FOCUSES on the small
bottle as a small droplet of condensation runs down its side
-- ever so slowly, slowly. Then suddenly...
WHAP!!! In a flash, WHIP SCOOPS THE VODKA OUT OF FRAME!!
INT.

THE ST. JEROME HOTEL - ELEVATOR DOORS - MORNING

The ELEVATOR DOORS open and HUGH and CHARLIE step out and
head down the hallway.
We follow our guys as they approach WHIPs room, finding
OFFICER EDMONDS exactly where we left him -- in front of
WHIPs door.
EXT.

THE ST. JEROME HOTEL - HALLWAY - WHIPS DOOR - DAY

OFFICER EDMONDS stands up as CHARLIE and HUGH approach

carrying coffees.
CHARLIE
Good morning, hows our man?

127.
OFFICER EDMONDS
Not a peep.
CHARLIE knocks on the door and checks his watch as he waits
for WHIP to answer. CHARLIE cocks his head, knocks again.
CHARLIE
I think your pilot overslept.
HUGH
You didnt let any girls in there
last night did you?
OFFICER EDMONDS
No sir, not a soul. No one came in
or out.
They all wait awkwardly as HUGH checks his watch and knocks
on the door. More silence...
OFFICER EDMONDS (CONTD)
I have a room key.
CHARLIE takes the room key and lets himself in.
INT.

THE ST. JEROME HOTEL -- WHIPS ROOM -- MORNING

CHARLIE carefully enters WHIPs room. He is spooked by the

silence. HUGH joins him as they take in the room. The bed
looks slept in and the room service dinner tray rests
politely on the dining table but WHIP is nowhere to be found.
HUGH LANG
Did he disappear?
CHARLIE tentatively walks around the empty room, the
bathroom, the closet, until he finally sees the adjoining
room door. He turns to HUGH with a surprised look.
Whip?

CHARLIE
Hello?

CHARLIE knocks on the slightly opened adjoining door.

response, so CHARLIE lightly tosses the door open.
INT.

No

ADJOINING ROOM -- SAME TIME

CHARLIE looks in to find the scene of the crime. Smoke still

hangs in the air and empty bottles and cans cover every
surface in the room. HUGH joins him...

128.
HUGH
Where is he?
Whip?

CHARLIE
WHIP!

CHARLIE closes his eyes and says a silent prayer as he heads

for the bathroom...
BATHROOM -- ADJOINING ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER
CHARLIE is stopped by the sight of WHIPs lifeless body
wedged between the tub and the toilet.
WHIP?!!!

CHARLIE
WHIP!!!

CHARLIE turns WHIP over to see his non-responsive face.

arrives and freaks out.
HUGH
Is he dead?
CHARLIE
I DONT KNOW!!!
HUGH
IS HE DEAD?!
WHIP
Yes!!! Im dead!!!
CHARLIE shows immediate relief that WHIP is breathing.
OFFICER EDMONDS has joined them.
OFFICER EDMONDS
Should I get an ambulance?
Yes!

CHARLIE

HUGH
Wait!...just wait, Charlie...lets
think about this.
The two stare at each other and realize they are both
breathing heavily from the shock and stress of their
predicament.
CHARLIE
Get him to the bed...
(to the Officer)

HUGH

129.
Can you wait outside and dont let
anyone in here? Thank you.
EDMONDS leaves. CHARLIE and HUGH drag WHIP out of the
bathroom and flop him on the bed. HUGH explodes.
HUGH
Son of a bitch! You worthless
motherfucker, what a waste! I
cleared the decks for you...you
piece of shit. You just fucked it
all up like the piss drunk you are!
HUGH grabs at WHIPs collar and WHIP actually sits up and
reaches for HUGH, a nice sign of life from WHIP.
CHARLIE
WOAH!!! WOAH!!! WOAH!!!

Enough!

CHARLIE pulls HUGH away from WHIP who falls back on the bed.
CHARLIE (CONTD)
What time is it?
HUGH
9:14, the hearing is in 46 minutes.
CHARLIE
How much grace do you think we got?
WHIP
Amazing grace...how sweet the
sound...that saved a wretch like meHUGH
Shut the fuck up you drunk...
WHIP
I once was lost and now Im found
was blind but...now...well Im
still kinda blind.
CHARLIE
We probably have an hour before we
really need to get him to the
hearing and its just downstairs.
HUGH
We need a wheel chair.
WHIP
Call Harling Mays.

130.
CHARLIE
Harlings got a wheel chair?
WHIP
Harlings got cocaine.
Cocaine?

HUGH
Cocaine?!

HUGH and CHARLIE exchange a desperate look...

CHARLIE
WHATS HIS NUMBER!?
HUGH
This is fucking insane.
criminal.

And

WHIP
609-237-1184. Were in 609 so
just...
CHARLIE
(dialing)
237...1184...
WHIP
Tell him I need bananas...

129
INT.

THE ST. JEROME HOTEL -- WHIPS ROOM -- MORNING

CHARLIE prays for a voice on the other end...it appears...

CHARLIE
Harling? Harling this is Charlie.
Im a friend of Whips...yeah. We
need you to do a very early, very
discreet...uhm...Whip needs bananas
and you need to bring them to The
St. Jerome Hotel downtown...how
many bunches of bananas?
(Whip holds up 3 fingers)
3 is the answer Im getting -- you
will be well compensated...the The
St. Jerome Hotel room 1027...
CHARLIE hangs up and looks at WHIP who is mostly passed out
again. CHARLIE looks to HUGH.

129

131.
INT.

THE. ST. JEROME HOTEL -- ELEVATOR BANK -- SAME TIME

The elevator opens and we see HARLING step from the elevator
with his knapsack over his shoulder. Teva sandals,
sunglasses.
INT.

THE ST. JEROME HOTEL -- WHIPS ROOM -- MORNING

WHIP has a towel around his neck as he tries to sip coffee.

CHARLIE sits opposite him at the small table by the window.
The door bursts open, and HARLING storms in.
HARLING MAYS
(singing)
Come mista tally man tally me
banana...Whip, whats the deal man
you look like youre hurtin for
certain...shut the door, interior
lock!
HARLING places a leather doctors bag on the table. An
anxious CHARLIE reaches for the bag which sets HARLING into a
frenzy.
HARLING MAYS (CONTD)
YOU DO NOT TOUCH THE MERCH
MOTHERFUCKER!!!
Its quiet as HARLING gives orders.
HARLING MAYS (CONTD)
Everyone except Whip and myself
take three steps away from the
table.
As they step away, HARLING now pulls a beautiful silverframed mirror from his bag and a blue coke grinder, he calmly
but sternly delivers orders...
HARLING MAYS (CONT'D)
I need three things.
(focuses on Charlie)
Two glasses of water, a credit card
and a hundred dollar bill.
CHARLIE
All I have is a twenty.
HARLING MAYS
(takes the card and bill)
Thatll do. And I need to make a
coco puff.

132.
HARLING Tosses a pack of smokes to CHARLIE.
A what?

CHARLIE

HUGH takes the smokes from CHARLIE and pulls out a cigarette.
HARLING stops grinding, opens the lid and pours out a nice
smooth pile of coke. He begins a masterful ballet of cocaine
manipulation.
HUGH
Millions of dollars hang in the
balance.
HUGH is removing the last quarter of an inch of tobacco from
the end of the cigarette.
CHARLIE
They hang on the consumption of a
300 dollar bag of cocaine.
HARLING uses the credit card to groom the coke into neat
piles and lines. He has a system.
WHIPs head sags as he again appears ready to pass out.
HARLING MAYS
Okay Whip, just two small whiffs
first...one on each side...just a
primer.
Using the mirror as a tray, HARLING holds the rolled up 20
dollar bill just above the line of coke. WHIP slowly manages
to place his face in position to ingest the coke. Its tense
as his head wobbles. He finally zeroes in and snorts the
first line. HARLING quickly switches nostrils. WHIP sniffs
the other side.
HARLING MAYS (CONTD)
Atta boy, head back now. Swallow.
Water, chief, you! Water.
CHARLIE puts the glass of water to WHIPs mouth.
drinks.

WHIP

HARLING MAYS (CONTD)

(snaps his fingers)
Coco puff...
HUGH hands HARLING the cigarette with a slightly hollowed out
tip. HARLING leans over the coke with the cigarette in his
mouth and hoovers up a small pile, sucking the coke through
the cigarette.

133.
HARLING sits up, careful to keep the cocaine in the end of
the cigarette. He tips it up and lights it.
HARLING MAYS (CONTD)
Little coco puff buddy. Cmon
banana man. Whos the banana man?
WHIPs head levels a look to Harling with a smile that leads
us to believe that he is actually making a rally.
HARLING MAYS (CONTD)
Good man, focus up big dog. Heres
the train comin to you.
HARLING takes a puff and holds it as he extends the cocaine
cigarette to WHIP. WHIP is more nimble now as he cocks his
head in acceptance of the cigarette. WHIP takes a drag and
holds it.
HARLING MAYS (CONTD)
(still holding the smoke)
Keep it down big dog, banana boats
comin tell me the banana boats
comin...
WHIP finally exhales the smoke, HARLING does too.
smiles.

WHIP

WHIP
The banana boat is here.
HARLING MAYS
Nothing can keep you down dog.
Nothing keeps the big dog down.
CHARLIE
Okay, we gotta go.
HARLING has crafted 4 big lines now, he snorts one himself in
record time. Looks to HUGH and CHARLIE.
HARLING MAYS
You guys are up.
HUGH
No, Im good. Charlie?
CHARLIE
Are you fucking crazy?
WHIP jumps in and sniffs 2 huge lines.
WHIP
Thanks brother, Im back.

He looks to HARLING.

134.
HARLING gathers his things, stands and hugs WHIP.
HARLING MAYS
I love you man.
WHIP
I love you too.
HUGH and CHARLIE are quiet as they watch the strange but
sincere drug-fueled emotion pass between two old friends.
HARLING eyes CHARLIE before handing him a baggie.
HARLING MAYS
Theres a gram in here, you paid
for it and he might need it. My
work here is done. See you all on
the dark side of the moon.
HARLING leaves and our TRIO exchange looks, Did that just
happen?
EXT.
133

THE ST. JEROME HOTEL -- GUEST HALLWAY -- DAY

The opening bars of Joe Cockers Feelin Alright crackle 133

just before we see WHIP step out of the hotel room and begin
a relatively steady strut down the hallway. Deja Vu.
Sunglasses on, WHIP is backed by HUGH and CHARLIE who flank
him from a few steps behind. Further back we can see that
OFFICER EDWARDS also exits the room wearing latex gloves,
carrying a large plastic garbage bag that obviously holds any
evidence of the debauched night or the mornings
resurrection.
INT.

THE ST. JEROME HOTEL -- ELEVATOR -- DAY

WHIP, HUGH and CHARLIE ride the elevator. WHIP is buttoning

his shirt and fixing his tie. It is miraculous how the coke
has revived him. A MOM and her 8 year old DAUGHTER get on
the elevator.
Morning.

CHARLIE

We watch as a small trickle of blood escapes from WHIPs left

nostril. HUGH pulls a handkerchief from his pocket, hands it
to WHIP.
HUGH
Your nose...
WHIP accepts the handkerchief and wipes his nose.
blood on the cloth and tilts his head back.

WHIP sees

135.
We now see that there is a mirrored ceiling to the elevator.
WHIP tries to study his reflection in the ceiling as he holds
the hankie to his nose. WHIP begins to wobble and CHARLIE
helps him regain his balance.
INT.

THE ST. JEROME HOTEL-ELEVATOR LOBBY-MOMENTS LATER

Our TRIO walk as tall as they can towards the hearing room.
HUGH
Im gonna head in and tell Ellen
Block that were here.
HUGH hustles off as CHARLIE pulls close to WHIP.
CHARLIE
Youre gonna make it. Remember, if
they ask about your drinking, its
totally acceptable to say, I dont
recall.
WHIP wheels on CHARLIE and unloads with focused anger...
WHIP
Do not tell me how to lie about my
drinking. Ive been lying about my
drinking my whole life.
As we disappear in to WHIPs weary eyes we hear the
distinctive sound of a jetliner screaming through the air.
INT.

THE ST. JEROME HOTEL - BALL ROOM - NTSB HEARING-DAY

On TWO LARGE SCREENS we watch the grainy cell phone footage

shot by a witness of SOUTHJET FLIGHT 227s final moments in
the sky. ACCOMPANYING the Video is the REAL AUDIO of the
cockpit voice recording...
The room has a dais where the NTSB board members sit. A
large blue curtain is the backing for the round NTSB shield
that hangs above the proceedings. A large drop down screen
will show images, graph and text as needed by the NTSB.
A confident woman, ELLEN BLOCK, approaches carrying a file
which she lays on the podium.
ELLEN BLOCK
Those are difficult images to
watch. For the record, Im Ellen
Block, Hearing Officer for this
hearing. Captain Whitaker, good
morning.

136.
We see WHIP who looks rough but stable in his witness chair.
Morning.

WHIP

ELLEN BLOCK
What was captured on that video is
that the aircraft was in a
relatively stable glide just prior
to the moment of impact.
However, according to the data we
retrieved from the cockpit data
recorders, at exactly 9:34, after
flying 27 minutes without incident,
the transponder recorded a loss in
altitude in excess of 4800 feet per
minute in what is considered a
full pitch nose down attitude.
Then at 9:42, according to the data
recorders, a decision was made to
invert the aircraft. The NTSB has
created animated simulation that I
would like to play at this point.
ELLEN points to the screen...
An NTSB animation shows the plane pitching down and we follow
it through the inversion of the plane while listening to the
real audio of the flight crew.
The animation has a split screen that also shows the
instruments and printed text of whats being said.
We hear...Whats your sons name? Why? The black box
I love you, Trevor. Be a good boy, Mommy loves you. What
are we doing?! Why would I trim down?! Were gonna roll
it. Ready? Here we go. Ive got control.
That last statement seems to echo as the presentation stops
and the lights come back up. We return to the hearing in
progress.
ELLEN BLOCK (CONTD)
That audio is tragic and
compelling. I chose to play that
part of the cockpit recording to
highlight a key moment aboard
flight 227, wherein you say Were
gonna roll it, here we go, Ive got
control. You made a very
conscious decision to invert the
airplane, to roll the plane upside
down. Is that correct?

137.
WHIP
Im not sure it was conscious.
was more of an instinct.

It

ELLEN BLOCK
What led to that decision?
WHIP is clearly struggling in his chair.
there but it may start to fail him soon.

The coke got him

WHIP
I dont recall.
ELLEN BLOCK
Let me quote from an investigative
summary...From 9:34 until 9:42 the
events on the aircraft are...again
I quote, bold and remarkable...
By inverting the plane, Captain
Whitaker arrested the descent and
allowed the aircraft to level off
enabling him to glide the aircraft
away from any populated areas and
allowing him to execute a forced
landing in an open field.
We hear a smattering of applause as the facts of his actions
are remarkable.
WHIP
I heard a metallic bang. We
pitched nose down. No control.
WHIP looks ashen as the booze and chemicals are still
coursing through his exhausted frame.
ELLEN BLOCK
You had no idea what was wrong with
the aircraft?
WHIP
There was a lot of things wrong
with that aircraft.
WHIP glances towards HUGH and CHARLIE who are poker-faced.
ELLEN BLOCK
As I said before you can add any
details you like to any comments I
make. Do you remember any thing
else that was out of the ordinary?
Did you feel the flight crew was in
their best shape?

138.
WHIP takes a minute to digest this question.
Yes.

WHIP

ELLEN BLOCK
It was raining very hard the
morning you took off, wasnt it?
WHIP
There was some convective activity
in the area. However, my first
officer and I discussed the
conditions on the field and
determined that we were safely
within our visibility and crosswind
minimums.
ELLEN BLOCK
Yes, first officer Evans testimony
confirms the same.
WHIP goes quiet as ELLEN BLOCK looks at him over her glasses,
seeing if he has any reaction. WHIP smiles.
ELLEN BLOCK (CONTD)
I want to show you something.
HUGH is frozen in a steely gaze; CHARLIE seems to hold his
breath.
ELLEN BLOCK (CONTD)
Nothings happening.
ELLEN points her remote at the projector but it doesnt work.
ELLEN BLOCK (CONT'D)
This remote is not working.
Apologies. I can do it manually.
She shrugs and heads down onto the stage closer to WHIP where
she can advance the slides by touching the projector.
We now see a screen where a slide is showing a long metal
screw the size of a trombone.
ELLEN BLOCK (CONTD)
This is the jackscrew on the tail
assembly which articulates the
horizontal stabilizer--also known
as the elevator. As you can see,
the threads on this screw are
almost entirely gone.

139.
Substandard thread life is how we
reported it. This part was
suggested as a maintenance
replacement in January of 2010. It
was never replaced.
This had 1200 additional hours of
flight on it. It finally failed.
AN ANIMATION SHOWS THE TAIL ASSEMBLY.
We watch the elevator acting as a wing on the tail that goes
up or down and makes a plane get lift or descend.
ELLEN BLOCK (CONTD)
Our investigators have concluded
that the jackscrew snapped and the
elevator was frozen in a fixed
position, locking the elevator in a
down position which forced the
plane into a dive. The loss of the
elevator was, and I quote our
report, a catastrophic event, from
which recovery was improbable and
stable flight impossible.
Everyone goes quiet as those words resonate. ELLENs tone
changes as she understands how hard this is for some people
to hear as they think of their loved ones spending their last
living minutes on this earth in sheer terror.
It is deathly quiet in the ballroom.
silent.

Even the PRESS are

ELLEN BLOCK (CONTD)

Again I quote...From 9:34 until
9:42 the piloting decisions made by
Captain Whitaker were bold and
remarkable. The fact that Captain
Whitaker commanded that the
aircraft stay inverted while
descending to an extremely low
altitude shows a miraculous
intuition that in this instance
saved 96 lives.
A genuine applause spreads from the hearing room.
BLOCK allows this moment to happen.

ELLEN

WHIP is fading, dazed and uncomfortable with the unexpected

adulation. He stands up.
WHIP
I appreciate that.

140.
The room gets quiet as WHIPs demeanor seems terse.
WHIP stares at ELLEN, white with sweat and chemicals. We see
HUGH grind his jaw as this line of questioning has him on
tilt.
ELLEN BLOCK
Mr. Whitaker, I want to talk about
the days leading and hours leading
up to the accident. But before I
do, I want to remind you that you
are under oath and any testimony
that you give here today will be
considered admissable in any
subsequent hearings or criminal
proceedings, do you understand what
that means?
WHIP nods.
ELLEN BLOCK (CONT'D)
Captain Whitaker, for the record I
need you to verbalize your answer.
WHIP
Yes, I understand.
ELLEN BLOCK
On the three days leading up to the
day of the accident -- Tuesday,
October 11th, Wednesday, October
12th or Thursday, October 13th of
2011 -- did you consume any alcohol
or other intoxicating elements?
WHIP takes his time.
WHIP
No. I did not.
HUGH AND CHARLIE
Sit stone faced in the second row feeling the relief of
months of hard work.
ELLEN BLOCK continues with a rote posture...
ELLEN BLOCK
On the morning of the accident,
Friday, October 14th, did you
consume any alcohol or ingest any
chemicals or drugs that may have
impaired your ability to perform
your job?

141.
WHIP
No. I did not.
ELLEN wraps up this line of questions...
ELLEN BLOCK
Mr. Whitaker, do you now or have
you ever had a problem with alcohol
dependency, alcoholism or drug
addiction?
WHIP waits for her to look at him...this takes a while...
No.

WHIP

HUGH maintains a poker face; CHARLIE appears relieved.

ELLEN sorts through her notes one last time.
ELLEN BLOCK
Okay, Mr. Whitaker, were about
done.
(She refers to her notes)
Due to the severe turbulence during
the early part of the flight, you
asked the flight crew to suspend
the beverage service on the plane.
Is that correct?
WHIP
Yes. I suspended the drink
service.
ELLEN BLOCK
Are you aware that our
investigators found two singleservice Vodka bottles in the galley
trash bin?
Slides now show the TWO SMALL VODKA BOTTLES in evidence.
Yes.

WHIP

ELLEN BLOCK
There were 5 crew members on board
the flight who would have had
access to the beverage trolley.
Less than an hour after the
accident, blood was taken from each
of the crew members. Yourself...

142.
A SOUTHJET CORPORATE PHOTO OF WHIP pops on to the large
monitors. After ELLEN references a member of the flight
crew, their photo pops on to the monitors...
ELLEN BLOCK (CONTD)
First Officer Evans, flight
attendant Margaret Thomason and
posthumously from Camelia Satou and
Katerina Marquez.
KATERINA MARQUEZ PHOTO does not pop up on the screen...yet.
ELLEN BLOCK (CONT'D)
A toxicology analysis was performed
and three of these tests came back
negative, one was disqualified for
technical reasons...
Hugh smiles -- satisfied.
ELLEN BLOCK (CONTD)
And one tested positive for
alcohol. It registered a .17 blood
alcohol level. Are you aware of
that?
I am now.

WHIP

ELLEN BLOCK
Miss Marquez was not only a
colleague, but you knew her outside
of work? Correct?
WHIP
Outside of work?

Not really.

ELLEN BLOCK
Did you know Miss Marquez had a
drinking problem?
No.

WHIP
I did not.

ELLEN BLOCK
Did you ever see her drink to
excess?
No.

WHIP
I did not.

143.
ELLEN BLOCK
Did you know that she was twice
treated for alcohol addiction? The
last time was 16 months ago and
paid for by SouthJet Airlines?
WHIP
No. I did not.
A picture of Trinas beautiful smiling face FLASHES UP ON THE
BIG SCREEN.
ELLEN BLOCK
Is it your opinion that Katerina
Marquez drank the vodka on the
plane?
WHIP smiles at the photo of TRINA as if she can see him. He
then shakes his head to snap from the memory of her great
spirit. He gets serious as he bears his look down on ELLEN.
WHIP
Can you repeat the question?
ELLEN BLOCK
Your opinion Captain. Is it your
opinion that Katerina Marquez drank
on that flight?
Whip shakes.

He runs his trembling hand through his hair.

Im sorry.

WHIP
My what...

ELLEN BLOCK
Since her toxicology report is the
only toxicology report that is
admissable in this hearing, and she
in fact tested positive for
alcohol, is it your opinion that
Katerina Marquez drank those 2
bottles of vodka on the flight?
Whip drops his head and MUTTERS SOMETHING INAUDIBLE.
ELLEN BLOCK (CONTD)
Im sorry Mr. Whitaker, I couldnt
hear you. What did you say?
WHIP
I SAID...God help me...

144.
A confused MUMBLE rises in the room. Whips response
flusters ELLEN for a moment, but she recovers quickly.
ELLEN BLOCK
Yes, well. However, is it your
opinion...
Whip cuts her off...
WHIP
(excessively loud)
ITS MY OPINION...
(lowers his voice)
Its my opinion...
Trina DID NOT...drink the vodka.
ELLEN BLOCK
Excuse me, Mr. Whitaker...
WHIP
(softly, to himself)
She saved that boys life...
ELLEN BLOCK
Captain Whitaker can you speak
louderWHIP
(loud again)
I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT SHE DID NOT
DRINK THAT VODKA...
Whip stops. His whole body trembles, his face tightens. He
looks right at ELLEN...
WHIP (CONTD)
...because I did. I drank the
vodka.
The crowd gasps, unsure of what they just heard...
CHARLIE rockets out of his chair.
CHARLIE
OBJECTION!!!
NTSB OFFICER #2
Please be seated sir. This is not a
court room.
Now CHARLIE returns to his chair to find that HUGH is gone.
CHARLIE looks around for HUGH, no sign. Hes vanished.
WHIP leans close to the microphone.

145.
WHIP
I drank the vodka bottles on the
plane.
ELLEN BLOCK
Mr. Whitaker, in light of that
remark, would you like to
readdress...
WHIP
You dont have to readdress
anything. I DRANK THE VODKA!
ELLEN BLOCK
On the three nights before the
accident, October 11thWHIP
On October 11th, 12th and 13th and
14th I was intoxicated. I drank
alcohol on all of those days. I
drank to excess.
Chaos erupts further as REPORTERS outnumber SECURITY. Flash
bulbs pop repeatedly and large lights are aimed at the fracas
on stage as video is taken of the bizarre melee.
ELLEN BLOCK
Mr. Whitaker, on the morning of
OctoberWHIP
I was drunk. Im drunk right now,
Miss Block...Im drunk right...
(Whip finally breaks down)
Im drunk now, because...
Because Im an alcoholic.
We have pushed into a tight shot on WHIPs face as the sound
in the room fades away. We stay tight on WHIPs face as he
lets the moments unfold.
Suddenly the noise cuts to silence. WHIP is looking at the
assembly. WHIP wipes tears from his eyes. We hear WHIPs
voice as the dialogue pre-laps the image of his face.
WHIP (V.O.)
That was it...I was done. Its as
if Id hit my life long limit for
lies.
A new angle shows WHIP speaking these words...

146.
WHIP
I could not tell one more lie. And
maybe Im a sucker. Because if I
had just told one more lie? I could
have walked away from that whole
mess and kept my wings and my false
sense of pride and most importantly
I would have avoided being locked
up here with all of you nice folks
for the last 13 months.
We hear laughter as we pull out from WHIP to realize that he
is in fact wearing a white penal jumpsuit and leading an AA
meeting in a Federal Prison.
WHIP (CONTD)
It looks like I will serve every
day of the remaining 4 plus years
of my sentence. And thats fair.
I betrayed the public trust. I
did. Thats what the judge
explained to me. I had betrayed
the public trust. The FAA took my
license. And thats fair. The
chances of me flying again are slim
to none. And I accept that.
INT.

MCRAE FEDERAL PENITENTIARY -- GEORGIA -- DAY

A large room houses an AA meeting for about 50 inmates

wearing white jumpsuits. WHIP continues his story.
WHIP
Ive had time to think about all of
it. Doing a lot of writing. Ive
written letters to each of the
families that lost loved ones on my
flight. Some were able to hear my
apology, some never will.
Ive also apologized to all the
people who tried to help me along
the way, but I couldnt or wouldnt
listen, like my wife, I mean my ex
wife...
(he gets emotional)
...and my son. Again, some were
able to forgive me...some never
will.
(collects himself)
But at least Im sober, and Im
grateful for that.
Whip gives it to us straight...

147.
WHIP (CONTD)
And this is gonna sound really
stupid coming from a man whos in
prison...but for the first time in
my life...Im free.
We hold close on WHIPs face as we hear the metallic clang of
prison doors shutting. On the sound we cut to...
INT.

FEDERAL PENITENTIARY -- CELL -- DAY

We pan across the concrete cell wall, looking at a small,

personal photo collage. We see a photo of NICOLE and SHEILA
and a few other AA FOLKS surrounding WHIP who sits in front
of a birthday cake in the common room of the prison. We see
a photo of WHIPs DAD as an airman. We ultimately land on a
photo of NICOLE. We recognize it as the photo WHIP took on
the porch of the Whitaker Farm.
We pan down to find WHIP writing in a journal.
to the front of his cell.

A GUARD comes

GUARD
Whitaker, you got a visitor.
WHIP looks at the GUARD and nods before taking a last glance
at the photo of NICOLE.
EXT.

FEDERAL PENITENTIARY -- GUEST YARD -- DAY

WHIP sits at a lone picnic table in a fence-enclosed

courtyard. He checks his watch and looks up.
WHIP stands and walks towards us, towards his visitor. As he
gets closer we see a smile break across his face. A smile we
havent seen since he first saw NICOLE. We reverse to see...
WILL -- WHIPs 17 year old son stands next to a GUARD.
GUARD
You have 40 minutes.
WHIP
Knuckles, youre looking good.
(beat)
I sent you something for your
birthday.
Yeah.

WILL
I got it.

Another beat as they cant find a way in to a conversation.

148.
WHIP
This is a real surprise; a great
surprise. I havent seen youWHIP chokes up. WILL nods. Its intense. WHIP motions to
the table and they both sit. WILL pulls out a notebook.
WILL
College counselor thought I should
come and interview you.
Great.

WHIP
An interview.

Okay.

WILL
Im writing essays for college
applications.
WHIP studies him and laughs...WILL nods and tries to smile.
WHIP
Listen Will, it means everything to
me that you came here. You are an
amazing kid and you deserve great
things...
Again WHIP has to tamp down his emotions.
WILL
So can you help me with this essay?
Yeah.

WHIP
Of course.

WILL pulls out a small voice recorder and clicks it on...

WILL
This essay. I have to do an essay
called, the most fascinating
person Ive never met.
The two men just look at each other.
WHIP
And thats me?
WILL nods, both men are struggling to keep it together.
WILL
Can we pick up where we left off?
WHIP nods, unsure as to where this is going.

149.
Okay.

WHIP

WILL
Who are you?
WHIP
Good question.
WHIP smiles...a great, familiar question. He begins to
alternately laugh and sob as there is great relief in the
promise of a connection with his son.