Air Force One Page #12

Gibbs banks the plane into a curve, then activates the auto-

pilot.

GIBBS:

Call me if something changes.

ZEDECK:

That's it?

GIBBS:

To fly a 747 you need to know three

things. How to take of f, how to

land, and how to engage the autopilot.

INT. AIR FORCE ONE - NIGHT

SERIES OF SHOTS--

The terrorists, from every corner of the plane, lead the

stunned survivors, hands on heads, to the central conference

room.

As Korshunov walks Rose up the corridor, he meets up with

Gibbs, descending from the upper deck.

KORSHUNOV:

The rest of the secret service?

GIBBS:

Dead.

KORSHUNOV:

How many others killed?

GIBBS:

Nine.

KORSHUNOV:

Any of us?

Gibbs touches his bulletproof vest.

GIBBS:

No damages.

ROSE:

Where's my daughter?

GIBBS:

She's alive, ma'am, for the time

being.

Rose allows herself a half-sob of relief.

ROSE:

And my husband?

GIBBS:

The secret service did their job,

ma'am. The President is safely off

the plane.

(to Korshunov)

But that still leaves us plenty to

bargain with.

Eyes filled with hatred... Rose SLAPS Gibbs face.

ROSE:

Mr. Gibbs. You, of all people...

Gibbs doesn't react.

GIBBS:

Follow me, ma'am.

INT. WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM - DAY

High-tech maps and communications systems line the walls,

surrounding an austere main conference table. Laptop computers

and secure telephones by every seat. Side tables. Tele-type

machines spitting out classified information.

VICE PRESIDENT CHANDLER analyzes the projected course of Air

Force One on the tactical vid-map.

V.P. CHANDLER

We should have the President secure

within minutes. Do we know who these

terrorists are or where they're going?

GENERAL NORTHWOOD, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...

GENERAL NORTHWOOD

General Greely says it looks like

the Middle East.

V.P. CHANDLER

Does your office have anything to

add, Mr. Dean?

National Security Advisor WALTER DEAN leans forward.

DEAN:

The garners believe that, given the

scenario, there's an 86% chance that

we'll be dealing with a hostage situation and not an

assassination attempt. Not much else until there's more data.

V.P. CHANDLER

If we're dealing with an airborne

hostage situation what's our

procedure?

The Under-Secretary of Defense, THOMAS LEE, punches up a

scenario on the lap-top.

LEE:

Our only policy assumes the plane is

on the ground. Our hands are

completely tied while they're in the

air.

V.P. CHANDLER

Okay, Gentlemen, we'll take no action

until we confirm that the president

is off the plane... Lee, go huddle

with the D.O.D. I want an options

paper on this in 20 minutes.

LEE:

Twenty minutes?

V.P. CHANDLER

You heard me.

(points to an aide)

You. Congress and cabinet heads.

The aide nods and picks up a telephone.

AIR FORCE COLONEL

Madame Vice-President?

Chandler turns toward the door. The Colonel enters the room,

holding a black briefcase identical to Perkins'.

V.P. CHANDLER

Yes?

AIR FORCE COLONEL

National Command Authority. All

previous launch codes have been

cancelled. You're carrying the ball

now.

V.P. CHANDLER

Thank you, Colonel. Have a seat.

EXT. GERMAN FARMLAND - NIGHT

A HUEY, flanked by a pair of APACHES, skims the surface of

wheat fields at maximum velocity.

INT. HUEY COCKPIT - NIGHT

The pilot checks his instruments. He's honing in on a signal.

EXT. GERMAN FARKD - NIGHT

The swirling spotlights of the Apaches finally illuminate

the Seal of the President atop the EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT POD.

The Huey drops in for a landing and a half dozen Army Rangers

in full combat gear deploy to the pod. They open it.

But.........

IT'S EMPTY.

INT. BAGGAGE DECK GANGWAY - NIGHT

Bruised and battered, some blood smeared across his tuxedo

shirt... PRESIDENT JAMES MARSHALL lowers himself from one of

the overhead wing struts.

He emerges into the bowels of Air Force one.

He stands quietly a moment, listening... for footsteps, for

gunfire. All quiet except for the whine of the jet engines.

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