Airplane! Page #18

KRAMER:

I told him to watch that oil temperature.

What the hell's he doing up there?

He picks up the mike.

KRAMER:

Striker, that plane can't land itself! It

takes a pilot who can handle pressure.

McCROSKEY

Ease up, Rex! He hasn't flown for years!

It's not his fault. It could happen to any

pilot.

HINSHAW:

It happened to Barbara Stanwyck!

INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT

STRIKER:

He's right. I can't take the pressure. I

was crazy to think I could land this

plane.

ELAINE:

But Ted, you're the only...

STRIKER:

I don't care. I just don't have what it

takes. They'd be better off with someone

who'd never flown before.

As Striker leaves he puts autopilot into pilot's seat.

Elaine is on the verge of tears.

DRAMATIC MUSIC.

INT. DISPATCH - NIGHT

Air Controller #2 enters.

AIR CONTROLLER #2

Bad news. The fog's getting thicker.

HINSHAW:

And Liz Taylor is getting larger!

McCROSKEY

Ya know, this would be a tough landing for

anyone to make. Maybe, if we hold them off

for a bit we'll get a break in the

weather.

KRAMER:

All right, but let's wait until they reach

the control area.

EXT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT

THUNDER and lightning.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - NIGHT

Outside stewardess' alcove. Striker fills a cup from

drinking fountain then pours it on his head. He sits down

dejectedly on stewardess' fold-out seat. Rumack approaches.

STRIKER:

I know what you're going to say, so save

your breath.

Rumack sits.

DR. RUMACK

No. I haven't a thing to say. You've done

the best you could. You really have. The

best you could. I guess we can't expect to

win 'em all. I want to tell you something

I've kept to myself for years. I was in

the war myself -- the Medical Corps. I was

on duty late one night when a badly

wounded pilot was brought in from a raid.

He could barely talk, but he looked at me

and he said, "Doc. The odds were against

us up there but we went in anyway, and I'm

glad we did. The captain made the right

decision." The pilot's name was George

Zipp.

Striker looks up. Notre Dame Fight Song is heard in b.g.

STRIKER:

George Zipp said that?

DR. RUMACK

And the last thing he said to me, "Doc,"

he said, "Sometime when the crew is up

against it and the breaks are beating the

boys, tell them to go out there with all

they've got and win just one for the

Zipper. I don't know where I'll be then,

Doc," he said, "but I won't smell too

good. That's for sure."

STRIKER:

(rejuvinated)

Excuse me, Doc, I've got a plane to land.

Striker boldly starts toward cockpit.

INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT

Striker enters. Elaine, unaware of his return, is listening

to Kramer on the radio.

KRAMER (v.o.)

All right, you'd better stay up there for

a bit. As soon as the fog lifts, we'll

bring you in.

STRIKER:

I'll take it, Elaine.

She turns to face him. A dramatic moment. Striker enters

pilot seat and takes mike from Elaine's hand.

STRIKER:

Listen to me, Kramer. Doctor Rumack says

the sick people are in critical condition

and every minute counts. We've got to land

now!

KRAMER (v.o.)

Don't be a fool, Striker. You know what a

landing like this means. You more than

anybody. I'm ordering you to stay up

there!

STRIKER:

No dice, Chicago. I'm giving the orders,

and we're coming in...I guess the foot's

on the other hand now, isn't it, Kramer?

INT. CHICAGO DISPATCH - NIGHT

McCROSKEY

He'll never bring it down in this soup.

Never! Not one chance in a million.

KRAMER:

I know. I know. But it's his ship now, his

command; he's in charge, he's the boss,

the head man, the top dog, the big cheese,

the head honcho...

Air Controller #2 rushes up to McCroskey and Kramer,

carrying a newspaper.

AIR CONTROLLER #2

Chief, look at this!

Kramer grabs newspaper.

KRAMER:

(reading)

'Passengers Certain to Die?!?!'

McCROSKEY

'Airline Negligent?!?!'

He hands the paper to Hinshaw.

HINSHAW:

(looking at newspaper)

There's a sale at Penny's!

McCroskey grabs paper from Hinshaw.

KRAMER:

(to men in Dispatch)

All right, I'll need three men up in the

tower.

(pointing)

You, Neubauer. You, Macias.

HINSHAW:

Me John. Big tree.

He puts his ear to the ground.

HINSHAW:

Wagon train comes three, maybe four day

away.

KRAMER:

(into microphone)

Stand by, Striker. I'm going to the tower.

And good luck.

Kramer exits.

McCROSKEY

(into phone)

We're going to the tower.

McCroskey exits.

HINSHAW:

(excitedly)

The tower! Oh! Rapunzel! Rapunzel!

EXT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT

THUNDER and lightning.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - NIGHT

Randy is talking to passengers and demonstrating.

RANDY:

In a moment we'll ask you to assume crash

positions. Your life jackets are located

under your seat.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - ANOTHER AREA - NIGHT

Jack and Shirley are watching.

RANDY (v.o.)

Remove the jacket and unfold it so that

the red arrow points up.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - ANOTHER AREA - NIGHT

The Krishnas are watching.

RANDY (v.o.)

Place the jacket over your head, and when

I give the word pull the cord under the

left side flap.

BACK TO RANDY:

She pulls the cord and it inflates into a child's duck-

shaped inner tube.

INT. CHICAGO TOWER - NIGHT

Hinshaw, Kramer, and McCroskey enter. Three Controllers are

there. One is wearing a black striped shirt.

STRIPED CONTROLLER

We're all ready, sir.

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