Flight Page #22

WHIP:

Hey, Charlie. Thank you. Amanda

was so nice to let me in. It’s

just...I couldn’t find a safe

place.

AMANDA slides the door shut as CHARLIE throws his bag and his

coat down with gusto. He reaches up and pushes a button on

the TV and it goes off.

CHARLIE:

What the hell is wrong with you? I

spoke to Hugh, he told me that you

went to your ex-wife’s house?

Drunk as a skunk and the news crews

showed up?

(Whip just stares)

And the police escorted you out?

WHIP:

I think it’s okay. I’ve been

watching and I think it’s okay.

CHARLIE:

Hugh checked every media outlet

that covered it and it looks like

we’re good. You come off fine.

WHIP:

Okay. Good then. Listen Charlie,

here’s the deal-

CHARLIE:

No Whip. No deals. Look at you.

I have no idea what you’re gonna do

or say, ever. You’re all over the

place. I was the one guy in your

court. I was your apologist, your

defender. But not anymore.

121.

WHIP:

No. I can do this.

CHARLIE:

You’re about to be questioned by a

Federal Agency about piloting an

airliner drunk...an airliner that

crashed. And you continue to drink

and stumble around. What kind of

crazy do you have to be to do that?

I’m scared of you.

WHIP:

Let’s just stick to the plan.

CHARLIE:

You can’t stick to anything.

WHIP:

This whole thing has just been so

heavy, it’s killing me. Tell Hugh,

I can do it. Look, I really wanna

fly again, get back to my life and

be done with all this sh*t.

CHARLIE:

This hearing is 10 days away. Hugh

busted his ass to try to get you

excused, but there’s no way. You

have to appear.

WHIP:

Let me stay here. They have my

houses all staked out now. Let me

stay here until the hearing,

Charlie. I won’t leave the house.

CHARLIE takes a long look at his old, troubled friend.

CHARLIE:

You can’t drink here, Whip. You

can’t drink in my house. Can you

do that?

WHIP:

I won’t drink.

118 CHARLIE nods, hoping that WHIP can deliver on that promise 118

122.

INT. ST. JEROME HOTEL -- GUEST HALLWAY -- NIGHT

We watch a can of Coca Cola swing in WHIP’s hand. We pull

out to find WHIP walking with CHARLIE down a hallway of THE

ST. JEROME HOTEL. Time has passed as WHIP looks the best

we’ve ever seen him look. He is well rested, well dressed

and carrying a suit in a wardrobe bag.

As we approach the open door to a guest room, HUGH pops out.

A plain clothes SECURITY GUARD follows HUGH out of the room

and stands behind him.

HUGH:

You look great, Whip. I mean that.

WHIP:

Thank you. I feel really good.

HUGH:

I heard you haven’t had a drink in

8 days.

WHIP:

9 days...

(checks his watch)

Two hours and 26 minutes...but

who’s counting?

CHARLIE addresses the SECURITY GUARD.

CHARLIE:

Officer Edmonds?

OFFICER EDMONDS:

Yes sir.

CHARLIE:

Whip, Officer Edmonds will be

staying here tonight. Any problems

he’ll handle it.

HUGH stands by the open door and gestures CHARLIE and WHIP

inside...

INT. THE ST. JEROME HOTEL -- WHIP’S ROOM -- NIGHT

HUGH walks in to the center of the room and turns to WHIP.

HUGH:

Well, Whip we just wanted to make

this as easy for you as possible.

WHIP puts his wardrobe bag down on the bed.

123.

CHARLIE:

Just get a good night’s rest.

Relax, order up a steak, get a

movie.

WHIP is checking his phone. HUGH gestures to CHARLIE for him

to leave so they can be alone.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

Okay, cowboy, I’m out. The hearing

starts at 10, so we should plan on

9 for breakfast here in the room.

WHIP:

Wait, Charlie, thanks for letting

me stay with you. I needed it.

CHARLIE:

You did great cowboy.

WHIP:

You’ve got a beautiful family.

CHARLIE:

I’m very blessed.

CHARLIE leaves and HUGH joins WHIP at the window. HUGH hands

WHIP a thick folder.

HUGH LANG:

I made you a copy of my entire file

on you and the investigation. I

also tried to anticipate what you

might be asked under oath and I

wrote out some non-damaging

responses. It’s all in there;

photos, testimony, interviews...I

called Ellen Block let her know

that you’re here and all tucked in.

WHIP:

So does she have the knife out for

me?

HUGH LANG:

Remember she’s limited in what she

can ask you. You’re not on trial

but you are under oath. She’s

probably not happy that I killed

the tox report, but you’ll be fine.

WHIP laughs a little.

124.

HUGH LANG (CONT’D)

I’ll see you in the morning.

The two respectfully nod. HUGH leaves and the door shuts

behind him. WHIP puts the folder on the table and steps to

the mini-bar. He bends down and opens the fridge...

WHIP sees the fridge is overly stocked with soda and juices.

Every soft drink you can imagine. No booze, anywhere. WHIP

chuckles about the alcohol removal as he grabs a coke.

WHIP unbuttons his shirt and pulls it out of his waist line.

INT. THE ST. JEROME HOTEL -- WHIP’S ROOM -- LATER

Whip sits on the edge of the bed eating a room service steak.

The File Folder sits on the table.

WHIP’S ROOM -- LATER

Now in his undershirt and shorts, Whip lies propped up on the

bed watching television. The File Folder now rests on the

bed.

WHIP’S BATHROOM -- LATER

Whip is meticulously shaving. He stares a long while at the

disposable razor as the water runs over its blade. After a

moment he goes back to shaving.

WHIP’S ROOM -- MUCH LATER

Whip sits at the small table looking through the file. He

leafs through photos, with no recognizable emotion. He looks

to the clock radio -- 12:37.

WHIP’S ROOM -- BATHROOM -- LATER AGAIN

We hear the shower running and steam fogs the mirrors.

WHIP’S ROOM -- LATER THAN THAT

WHIP wears boxers and a tee shirt with a towel around his

neck. He looks to the clock -- 2:07

WE WATCH HIS SUIT BE PULLED FROM THE WARDROBE BAG.

WHIP lays the suit out neatly on the couch, separating the

shirt which he hangs from a light fixture to relax any

creases.

WHIP’S ROOM -- LATER YET AGAIN

125.

The room is dark. A soft wind RATTLES the window sash.

WHIP lies on the bed. He sighs, sleep is alluding him and

the anxiety of tomorrow’s events on no sleep has his head

spinning. He hears a metallic click. He stays quiet to

listen for it...there it is again. An annoying click.

The clock reads “3:43”-

He sits up and switches on the LIGHT. He rubs his eyes and

goes to the table and sees the file folder laying there. As

he is about to pick it up he hears the metallic click again.

He goes to investigate.

HOTEL ROOM CONNECTING DOOR -- SAME TIME

The connecting door is unlocked. WHIP arrives and waits. He

now watches as the connecting lock-bolt CLICKS against the

frame -- the door swinging in a draft. He looks up to see

the culprit -- a heating vent. WHIP flips the vent closed.

Whip now pushes the door with his finger, opening it a few

inches. Nothing. Darkness.

WHIP:

Hello? Anyone?

Whip enters.

INT. CONNECTING HOTEL ROOM -- SAME

The room is vacant. The bed is made. The drapes are pulled

open.

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