Cast Away Page #7

MOM:

Speaking of hatching, I could sure use

some more grandchildren.

Not a timely topic with Chuck.

CHUCK:

Mom, this is a farm. We've got real

strawberries growing outside, we've got

real cream.

MOM:

Oh no, the prodigal son's home. We bring

out the store bought.

Chuck takes a bite, winces a little as the cold strawberries

hit his teeth.

EXT. MOM'S HOUSE - LATER THAT DAY

Chuck fixes the drain pipe while Mom prunes the rose bushes

around the porch.

CHUCK:

Maybe I should take a few days off.

Roger's working now, you could use some

help around here...

MOM:

Don't you even think about it.

CHUCK:

The place is falling apart.

MOM:

I'm doing fine.

She looks pointedly at Chuck.

CHUCK:

Doing great, Mom, don't worry about me.

MOM:

There's settled folks, and there's

nomads. You're just not a settled folk.

You never belonged here.

Chuck finishes the drain pipe. Gives it a thunk with his

finger.

CHUCK:

Come on inside, Mom. You've had a long

day.

INT. FARM HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

In his boyhood room, we see Chuck's laptop, which is hooked

up to the internet FedEx homepage. All around him are models

of boats and planes, maps, pictures of far-off places. The

room of a boy who always fantasized about getting away.

Chuck is beside it, slumped down on the desk. Asleep.

EXT. FARM HOUSE - DAY

His mom waves to him as Chuck drives away.

INT. FEDEX OFFICE - LATER THAT DAY

Chuck enters his office, on the go. His assistant LESLIE is

waiting for him.

CHUCK:

I need the latest PDRs on St. Petersburg.

LESLIE:

And how was your Christmas?

CHUCK:

Terrific. Yours?

She nods, used to this.

CHUCK:

And get me in to the dentist. My tooth's

acting up.

Stan enters.

STAN:

Malaysia's tanking. We're meeting in ten

in operations.

CHUCK:

Right.

(to Leslie)

Get me everything on Indonesia, New

Guinea, all the way to Australia.

INT. OPERATIONS ROOM - MINUTES LATER

Chuck, Leslie, Stan and another executive from the meeting

named DICK are gathered around the TV screen. A squawk box

is on the table.

CHUCK:

Kamal? Kamal? Can you hear us?

The box squawks. The TV screen rolls an imperfect image.

DICK:

Can't we get this working?

A Technician is fiddling with the TV set.

TECHNICIAN:

Trying.

CHUCK:

Kamal, you're breaking up. Can you hear

us?

VOICE (SQUAWK BOX)

Kamal is not here.

CHUCK:

Who is this? Where is Kamal?

VOICE (SQUAWK BOX)

It is Ibrim, I, I am a sorter.

CHUCK:

What's going on down there?

VOICE (SQUAWK BOX)

Kamal is not here. We are very defused.

CHUCK:

Who's in charge then, where is Chinn?

The squawk box hums and crackles. Nothing. Chuck turns to

the Technician.

STAN:

We got Telex, e-mail?

TECHNICIAN:

Sure. Just not getting any answers.

Chuck turns to Leslie.

CHUCK:

When's the next Jumbo?

LESLIE:

The regular flight is scheduled for oh

three hundred tomorrow.

CHUCK:

Anything else?

LESLIE:

There's a sweep leaving Memphis in an

hour, goes through Sydney.

STAN:

Maybe you should get your ducks lined up

first.

Chuck looks over at Stan.

CHUCK:

Call Operations. Get me on it.

And Stan is impressed.

EXT. CHUCK'S HOUSE - DAY

Chuck leaves with his bag over his shoulder and the puppy

under his arm.

EXT. KELLY'S HOUSE - DAY - MINUTES LATER

Kelly opens the door. Chuck is there with the puppy.

KELLY:

That's your dog.

CHUCK:

It's our dog. It belongs to us.

KELLY:

There isn't any us.

CHUCK:

Yes there is.

Kelly can't stay mad.

KELLY:

I'm sorry about the presents. I got a

little carried away.

CHUCK:

No, it was great. Maybe a little

overkill --

KELLY:

I burned the Christmas tree.

She's half-laughing, half-wanting-to-cry.

KELLY:

Why didn't you come over, get mad at me,

tell me what a stupid b*tch I was.

CHUCK:

I guess I hadn't thought through how I

felt.

KELLY:

What, you were going to come over the

next day all calm and say, Kelly that

really made me mad? Don't tell me you're

mad. Be mad. Be who you are right now.

CHUCK:

Look, we'll do our trip as soon as I get

back.

KELLY:

Don't even start.

And then it hits her.

KELLY:

Get back? From where?

CHUCK:

Malaysia. They're holding the sweep.

She stares at him for a long moment, then at the puppy.

KELLY:

Give him to me.

He hands her the dog.

KELLY:

Chuck, you're breaking my heart.

CHUCK:

A week, max. Okay? Okay?

KELLY:

Go on. We'll be fine. I'll feed Jango

to the frogs.

She kisses the puppy.

INT. FEDEX PLANE - NIGHT

Chuck enters the cockpit, where two different pilots are

going through their checklists. Chuck repeats his familiar

patter.

CHUCK:

Al -- gotta be something wrong with our

physicals, you keep getting certified to

fly. John, aren't you worried?

JOHN:

I disconnected his controls. He only

thinks he's flying.

Chuck settles into his seat.

CHUCK:

You're on your way home, Al?

Al has an Australian accent.

AL:

Right. Down home, down under.

CHUCK:

We're on time, right?

AL:

On time, Chuck.

INT. FEDEX PLANE - NIGHT - HOURS LATER

Settled into the jump seat, Chuck finishes up his notes on

his PowerBook and begins his flight ritual.

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