Airplane! Page #19

As he makes introductions, they shake hands.

STRIPED CONTROLLER

Captain McCroskey, this is Captain

Roberts. Captain Kramer, this is Captain

Colosimo. Captain Hinshaw, Captain Gatz.

Captain Kramer, Captain Gatz. Captain

Hinshaw, Captain Roberts.

KRAMER:

All right. Colosimo, you'll work the

relay. Roberts, double check all air

traffic within five miles.

Roberts is scratching his ear.

KRAMER:

And get that finger out of your ear. You

don't know where that finger's been!

Gunderson?

GUNDERSON:

Yes, Captain?

KRAMER:

Did you decide on a runway yet?

GUNDERSON:

Runway niner. It's the longest, and

directly into the wind.

HINSHAW:

And the foliage looks so pretty this time

of year.

Gunderson exits.

KRAMER:

(into mike)

Striker, you're going to have to work

fast. After this message, do not

acknowledge any transmission unless you

want to ask a question. Do you understand?

Striker, Striker, do you read me?

INT. TOWER - DIFFERENT ANGLE - NIGHT

Mrs. Oveur enters.

MRS. OVEUR

Steve!

McCROSKEY

Linda, your husband and the others are

alive but unconscious.

HINSHAW:

Just like Gerald Ford!

McCROSKEY

Now there's a chance we can save them if

Striker can get this plane down on time.

MRS. OVEUR

That isn't much of a chance, is it?

HINSHAW:

(appalled)

Where did you get that dress?! It's an eye-

sore!

INT. RADAR ROOM

Gunderson and an assistant are seated in front of radar

screens. One of them is a video anti-aircraft game.

GUNDERSON:

(into microphone)

Eight miles. Turn right to heading zero

eight niner.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

KRAMER:

(into microphone)

You are now eight miles from the airport.

Turn right to a heading of zero eight

niner, throttle back slightly and begin to

lose altitude to fifteen hundred feet.

ELAINE (v.o.)

We're now at twelve hundred feet, leveling

off.

KRAMER:

(to McCroskey)

Steve, I want every light you can get

poured on that field.

McCROSKEY

It's being done right now.

EXT. AIRFIELD - NIGHT

A truck is dumping a variety of lamps, fixtures, and light

bulbs onto the runway.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

KRAMER:

(into mike)

Tower to all emergency vehicles. Runway is

niner.

EXT. AIRFIELD - NIGHT

Ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars start to move.

KRAMER (v.o.)

(over P.A.)

Airport vehicles take positions one and

two.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

KRAMER:

(into microphone)

Civilian equipment, number three.

EXT. AIRFIELD - NIGHT

Ambulances, firetrucks, and police cars speed toward runway.

They are followed by a baggage truck, fuel truck, a taxi,

Coke truck, an ice cream truck, farm machinery, and a cement

mixer.

KRAMER (v.o.)

(over P.A.)

Air Force positions number four and five.

All ambulances to position three.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

HINSHAW:

(into mike)

It's a twister! It's a twister! Toto!...

Auntie Em!

EXT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT

THUNDER and lightning.

INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT

KRAMER (v.o.)

All right, Striker, put down twenty

degrees of flap. When your flaps are down,

retrim for level flight.

INT. CABIN - NIGHT

Passengers are wearing headsets and watching in-flight

movie. Randy approaches Mrs. Schiff.

MRS. SCHIFF

Stewardess, how soon 'til we land?

RANDY:

It won't be long now. Try not to worry.

Mrs. Schiff puts on a headset and watches movie. The movie

is airplanes crashing and burning.

EXT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT

flying erratically.

INSERT - ALTIMETER

fluctuating.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - NIGHT

A woman, applying facial makeup, smears it all over her

face.

INT. RADAR ROOM

GUNDERSON:

He's all over the place! Nine hundred feet

up to thirteen hundred feet! What an

a**hole!

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

KRAMER:

Watch your altitude, Striker. It's too

erratic. You can't come straight in.

You've got enough fuel left for two hours

flying. You've got to stay up there 'til

we get a break in the weather.

INT. COCKPIT

Striker reaches for microphone.

STRIKER:

I'll take it, Elaine.

(into mike)

Listen, Kramer, I'm coming in. Do you hear

me? I'm coming in right now! We have

people up here who will die in less than

an hour, never mind two. I may bend your

precious airplane, but I'll get it down!

Now get on with the landing check. I'm

putting the gear down now.

As he activates landing gear, Randy enters.

RANDY:

Mr. Striker, the passengers are ready.

STRIKER:

Thank you, Randy. You better leave

sweetheart. You might get hurt in here.

Randy leaves. There is a CRASH and Randy screams.

ELAINE:

Ted...

STRIKER:

Yes?

ELAINE:

I wanted you to know -- now -- I'm very

proud.

STRIKER:

Tell them the gear is down and we're ready

to land.

ELAINE:

(into mike)

The gear is down.

INT. TOWER

ELAINE (v.o.)

And we're ready to land.

McCROSKEY

He may not be able to fly, but he's sure

got guts.

Kramer nods.

EXT. LAX PASSENGER LOADING AREA - BUSINESSMAN - NIGHT

in Striker's cab cheeks his watch.

BUSINESSMAN:

Well, I'll give him another twenty

minutes, but that's it.

INSERT - METER

reads $389.10.

EXT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT

Fog, THUNDER, and lightning.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - NIGHT

MILTON:

I'm sure we'll both make it...but just in

case one of us...well, is there a message

you'd like me to give someone?

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