Airplane! Page #21

STRIKER:

It's stuck. It won't move!

He bangs the control panel and "TILT" light up.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

McCroskey is staring at radio equipment.

KRAMER:

Bring it down! Easy!

McCROSKEY

Look at all those buttons! Oh that's

beautiful! Just beautiful!

EXT. RUNWAY - STRIKER'S POV - NIGHT

INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT

KRAMER (v.o.)

Watch your nose! It's too low!

Striker is struggling with wheel. The wheel begins to fight

back, pushing Striker.

KRAMER (v.o.)

You're coming in too hot!

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

KRAMER:

Remember your brakes and switches! Get

ready to flare it out! You're coming in

too fast! Watch your speed!

McCROSKEY

(hysterical)

He's coming right at us!

McCroskey turns and leaps through tower window. All activity

momentarily stops. Everyone looks back at window. Then

activity resumes.

KRAMER:

You're coming in too hot! Put down full

flaps! Watch your nose!

EXT. RUNWAY - STRIKER'S POV - NIGHT

Runway swerving underneath him.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

KRAMER:

Now ease her down! Down!

EXT. RUNWAY - NIGHT

Plane is a few feet from ground.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

KRAMER:

Lift the nose! Throttle back!

EXT. RUNWAY - STRIKER'S POV - NIGHT

Closer to ground.

INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT

Striker pushes wheel forward as tires SCREECH.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

KRAMER:

The brake! Pull the red handle!

INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT

Striker pulls red handle. It comes off in his hand. He

pushes brake with feet.

EXT. RUNWAY - CLOSEUP - TIRES - NIGHT

SCREECHING.

INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT

Dr. Rumack pokes his head in the door.

DR. RUMACK

I just wanted to tell you both good luck.

We're all counting on you.

EXT. RUNWAY - STRIKER'S POV - NIGHT

Runway passing underneath.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

KRAMER:

(into microphone)

Hold her steady, hold her steady!

EXT. RUNWAY - PLANE - NIGHT

skidding.

INT. O'HARE TERMINAL BUILDING - GATE 7 - NIGHT

P.A. SYSTEM (v.o.)

You attention, please. Trans American

Flight 209 non-stop from Los Angeles is

now arriving at Gate seven...Gate eight...

People in Gate seven waiting area move to Gate eight.

INT. COCKPIT - STRIKER - NIGHT

is struggling with controls, sweating profusely.

INT. TOWER

KRAMER:

Pull a lever!

EXT. RUNWAY - PLANE - NIGHT

skidding.

INT. COCKPIT - STRIKER - NIGHT

is struggling with controls. Water is gushing down his face

ridiculously.

INT. O'HARE TERMINAL BUILDING - GATE 13 - NIGHT

P.A. SYSTEM (v.o.)

...209 arriving gate thirteen...gate

fourteen....gate fifteen...

People in Gate thirteen move to Gate fourteen.

EXT. RUNWAY - PLANE - NIGHT

skidding.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

KRAMER:

Push a button!

INT. COCKPIT - STRIKER - NIGHT

Striker is struggling with controls.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

KRAMER:

(into microphone)

You're too low! You're too low!

INT. O'HARE TERMINAL BUILDING - NIGHT

P.A. SYSTEM (v.o.)

...gate twenty-three...twenty four...

twenty-five...

People are running THROUGH FRAME right to left.

EXT. RUNWAY - NIGHT

Ground crewman with red flashlights nonchalantly directs

plane. Suddenly he realizes the plane is not stopping. He

throws his flashlight at the plane and runs off, terrified.

EXT. RUNWAY - PLANE - NIGHT

skidding.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - NIGHT

Randy approaches a passenger in crash position.

RANDY:

Can we help arrange hotel accommodations

or a rent-a-car during your stay in

Chicago?

EXT. RUNWAY - NIGHT

Landing gear snaps off; plane starts to slide on its belly.

PLANE:

is heading toward a building. On the side of the building is

a billboard with a man drinking milk.

INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT

Elaine screams and covers her face. St. Christopher statue

covers its face.

EXT. RUNWAY - PLANE - NIGHT

is getting closer to building. Billboard man is looking at

plane, terrified.

INT. TOWER - MRS. OVEUR - NIGHT

is screaming.

EXT. RUNWAY - PLANE - NIGHT

is skidding.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

HINSHAW:

(seated in wheelchair)

Wheel me to the West Wing. I wish to view

the Degas.

EXT. RUNWAY - PLANE - NIGHT

skids to a stop.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

Kramer sighs in relief as controllers and Mrs. Oveur dash

from room.

INT. CHICAGO DISPATCH - NIGHT

Controllers celebrate safe landing, reporters rush from

room.

INT. DISPATCH LOBBY - NIGHT

Five reporters run into bank of phone booths and the booths

topple over.

EXT. RUNWAY - NIGHT

SCREAMING ambulances race toward plane.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - NIGHT

Passengers rise slowly, shaken but uninjured. Milton and

Bernice look at each other, relieved, and embrace. Mrs.

Schiff gets up to leave.

INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT

Rumack pokes his head in door.

DR. RUMACK

I just wanted to tell you both good luck.

We're all counting on you.

Striker and Elaine get up to leave cockpit.

KRAMER (v.o.)

Striker, Striker, are you all right?

STRIKER:

(into microphone)

Yeah, we're okay.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

KRAMER:

Ted, that was probably the lousiest

landing in the history of this airport.

But there are some of us here...

INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT

KRAMER (v.o.)

...particularly me, who'd like to buy you

a drink and shake your hand.

Striker and Elaine leave.

KRAMER (v.o.)

...and, Ted, I just want you to know, that

when the going got tough up there, when

the chips were down...

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - BOARDING AREA - NIGHT

Randy is assisting Jack and Shirley, the Hammens, and the

nun from the plane.

RANDY:

Hurry now. Please be careful.

INT. TOWER - NIGHT

Air controllers leave as Kramer continues.

KRAMER:

...Lonliness, that's the bottom line. I

was never happy as a child. Christmas,

Ted, what does it mean to you? For me, it

was a living hell. Do you know what it's

like to fall in the mud and get kicked? In

the head? By an iron boot? Of course you

don't. No one does. That never happens.

Sorry, Ted. Dumb question. Strike that.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - BOARDING AREA - NIGHT

Randy is assisting Hari Krishnas and Black Dudes from plane.

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