Flight Page #23

WHIP walks quietly on the carpet towards the window. The

night is clear. Quiet. Whip takes in the city lights.

WHIP’S POV --

Among the glass and steel office buildings, Whip spots a

church spire. A simple cross is perched on top.

Whip looks at the church, deep in thought.

Then suddenly...

We HEAR A HUM. THE GENTLE HUM OF AN ELECTRIC MOTOR.

WHIP turns from the window and scans the room...

It’s the MINI-BAR refrigerator -- HUMMING to life.

126.

Whip stares at the gleaming black box. The WHIR of the motor

seems to get LOUDER. Calling Whip. Beckoning him...

Whip looks at the fridge. His face is blank, His eyes tell us

nothing. Then...

Whip steps toward the box.

CLOSE ON THE MINI-BAR. Whip swings open the door.

WHOOSH -- OUR DARK SCREEN LIGHTS.

COLORS SPARKLE as a cadre of tiny liquor bottles GLOW like

jewels in a chest.

WHIP stares at the “glimmering gems” for a long, long time --

vodka, gin, wine, bourbon. The bottles SHIMMER -- AMBER,

CRYSTAL, EMERALD, RUBY.

WHIP reaches for a frosted vodka mini bottle -- he gently

pinches the neck of the bottle and lifts it out of the

fridge. He holds up the mini vodka and considers it.

Now Whip slowly removes the stopper and smells the White

Whiskey. He looks at the bottle once more, then slowly twists

the tiny cap back on.

With a look of solemn resignation, Whip places the frosted

mini bottle on top of the fridge and walks away.

WE STAY CLOSE ON THE BOTTLE. The CAMERA FOCUSES on the small

bottle as a small droplet of condensation runs down its side

-- ever so slowly, slowly. Then suddenly...

WHAP!!! In a flash, WHIP SCOOPS THE VODKA OUT OF FRAME!!

INT. THE ST. JEROME HOTEL - ELEVATOR DOORS - MORNING

The ELEVATOR DOORS open and HUGH and CHARLIE step out and

head down the hallway.

We follow our guys as they approach WHIP’s room, finding

OFFICER EDMONDS exactly where we left him -- in front of

WHIP’s door.

EXT. THE ST. JEROME HOTEL - HALLWAY - WHIP’S DOOR - DAY

OFFICER EDMONDS stands up as CHARLIE and HUGH approach

carrying coffees.

CHARLIE:

Good morning, how’s our man?

127.

OFFICER EDMONDS:

Not a peep.

CHARLIE knocks on the door and checks his watch as he waits

for WHIP to answer. CHARLIE c*cks his head, knocks again.

CHARLIE:

I think your pilot overslept.

HUGH:

You didn’t let any girls in there

last night did you?

OFFICER EDMONDS:

No sir, not a soul. No one came in

or out.

They all wait awkwardly as HUGH checks his watch and knocks

on the door. More silence...

OFFICER EDMONDS (CONT’D)

I have a room key.

CHARLIE takes the room key and lets himself in.

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

CHARLIE carefully enters WHIP’s room. He is spooked by the

silence. HUGH joins him as they take in the room. The bed

looks slept in and the room service dinner tray rests

politely on the dining table but WHIP is nowhere to be found.

HUGH LANG:

Did he disappear?

CHARLIE tentatively walks around the empty room, the

bathroom, the closet, until he finally sees the adjoining

room door. He turns to HUGH with a surprised look.

CHARLIE:

Whip? Hello?

CHARLIE knocks on the slightly opened adjoining door. No

response, so CHARLIE lightly tosses the door open.

INT. ADJOINING ROOM -- SAME TIME

CHARLIE looks in to find the scene of the crime. Smoke still

hangs in the air and empty bottles and cans cover every

surface in the room. HUGH joins him...

128.

HUGH:

Where is he?

CHARLIE:

Whip? WHIP!

CHARLIE closes his eyes and says a silent prayer as he heads

for the bathroom...

BATHROOM -- ADJOINING ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER

CHARLIE is stopped by the sight of WHIP’s lifeless body

wedged between the tub and the toilet.

CHARLIE:

WHIP?!!! WHIP!!!

CHARLIE turns WHIP over to see his non-responsive face. HUGH

arrives and freaks out.

HUGH:

Is he dead?

CHARLIE:

I DON’T KNOW!!!

HUGH:

IS HE DEAD?!

WHIP:

Yes!!! I’m dead!!!

CHARLIE shows immediate relief that WHIP is breathing.

OFFICER EDMONDS has joined them.

OFFICER EDMONDS:

Should I get an ambulance?

CHARLIE:

Yes!

HUGH:

Wait!...just wait, Charlie...let’s

think about this.

The two stare at each other and realize they are both

breathing heavily from the shock and stress of their

predicament.

CHARLIE:

Get him to the bed...

(to the Officer)

129.

Can you wait outside and don’t let

anyone in here? Thank you.

EDMONDS leaves. CHARLIE and HUGH drag WHIP out of the

bathroom and flop him on the bed. HUGH explodes.

HUGH:

Son of a b*tch! You worthless

motherf***er, what a waste! I

cleared the decks for you...you

piece of sh*t. You just f***ed it

all up like the piss drunk you are!

HUGH grabs at WHIP’s collar and WHIP actually sits up and

reaches for HUGH, a nice sign of life from WHIP.

CHARLIE:

WOAH!!! WOAH!!! WOAH!!! Enough!

CHARLIE pulls HUGH away from WHIP who falls back on the bed.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

What time is it?

HUGH:

9:
14, the hearing is in 46 minutes.

CHARLIE:

How much grace do you think we got?

WHIP:

Amazing grace...how sweet the

sound...that saved a wretch like me-

HUGH:

Shut the f*** up you drunk...

WHIP:

I once was lost and now I’m found

was blind but...now...well I’m

still kinda blind.

CHARLIE:

We probably have an hour before we

really need to get him to the

hearing and it’s just downstairs.

HUGH:

We need a wheel chair.

WHIP:

Call Harling Mays.

130.

CHARLIE:

Harling’s got a wheel chair?

WHIP:

Harling’s got cocaine.

HUGH:

Cocaine? Cocaine?!

HUGH and CHARLIE exchange a desperate look...

CHARLIE:

WHAT’S HIS NUMBER!?

HUGH:

This is f***ing insane. And

criminal.

WHIP:

609-237-1184. We’re in 609 so

just...

CHARLIE:

(dialing)

237...1184...

WHIP:

129 Tell him I need bananas... 129

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

CHARLIE prays for a voice on the other end...it appears...

CHARLIE:

Harling? Harling this is Charlie.

I’m a friend of Whip’s...yeah. We

need you to do a very early, very

discreet...uhm...Whip needs bananas

and you need to bring them to The

St. Jerome Hotel downtown...how

many bunches of bananas?

(Whip holds up 3 fingers)

3 is the answer I’m getting -- you

will be well compensated...the The

St. Jerome Hotel room 1027...

CHARLIE hangs up and looks at WHIP who is mostly passed out

again. CHARLIE looks to HUGH.

131.

INT. THE. ST. JEROME HOTEL -- ELEVATOR BANK -- SAME TIME

The elevator opens and we see HARLING step from the elevator

with his knapsack over his shoulder. Teva sandals,

sunglasses.

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

WHIP has a towel around his neck as he tries to sip coffee.

CHARLIE sits opposite him at the small table by the window.

The door bursts open, and HARLING storms in.

HARLING MAYS:

(singing)

Come mista tally man tally me

banana...Whip, what’s the deal man

you look like you’re hurtin’ for

certain...shut the door, interior

lock!

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