Flight Page #26

WHIP:

No.

HUGH maintains a poker face; CHARLIE appears relieved.

ELLEN sorts through her notes one last time.

ELLEN BLOCK:

Okay, Mr. Whitaker, we’re about

done.

(She refers to her notes)

Due to the severe turbulence during

the early part of the flight, you

asked the flight crew to suspend

the beverage service on the plane.

Is that correct?

WHIP:

Yes. I suspended the drink

service.

ELLEN BLOCK:

Are you aware that our

investigators found two single-

service Vodka bottles in the galley

trash bin?

Slides now show the TWO SMALL VODKA BOTTLES in evidence.

WHIP:

Yes.

ELLEN BLOCK:

There were 5 crew members on board

the flight who would have had

access to the beverage trolley.

Less than an hour after the

accident, blood was taken from each

of the crew members. Yourself...

142.

A SOUTHJET CORPORATE PHOTO OF WHIP pops on to the large

monitors. After ELLEN references a member of the flight

crew, their photo pops on to the monitors...

ELLEN BLOCK (CONT’D)

First Officer Evans, flight

attendant Margaret Thomason and

posthumously from Camelia Satou and

Katerina Marquez.

KATERINA MARQUEZ PHOTO does not pop up on the screen...yet.

ELLEN BLOCK (CONT'D)

A toxicology analysis was performed

and three of these tests came back

negative, one was disqualified for

technical reasons...

Hugh smiles -- satisfied.

ELLEN BLOCK (CONT’D)

And one tested positive for

alcohol. It registered a .17 blood

alcohol level. Are you aware of

that?

WHIP:

I am now.

ELLEN BLOCK:

Miss Marquez was not only a

colleague, but you knew her outside

of work? Correct?

WHIP:

Outside of work? Not really.

ELLEN BLOCK:

Did you know Miss Marquez had a

drinking problem?

WHIP:

No. I did not.

ELLEN BLOCK:

Did you ever see her drink to

excess?

WHIP:

No. I did not.

143.

ELLEN BLOCK:

Did you know that she was twice

treated for alcohol addiction? The

last time was 16 months ago and

paid for by SouthJet Airlines?

WHIP:

No. I did not.

A picture of Trina’s beautiful smiling face FLASHES UP ON THE

BIG SCREEN.

ELLEN BLOCK:

Is it your opinion that Katerina

Marquez drank the vodka on the

plane?

WHIP smiles at the photo of TRINA as if she can see him. He

then shakes his head to snap from the memory of her great

spirit. He gets serious as he bears his look down on ELLEN.

WHIP:

Can you repeat the question?

ELLEN BLOCK:

Your opinion Captain. Is it your

opinion that Katerina Marquez drank

on that flight?

Whip shakes. He runs his trembling hand through his hair.

WHIP:

I’m sorry. My what...

ELLEN BLOCK:

Since her toxicology report is the

only toxicology report that is

admissable in this hearing, and she

in fact tested positive for

alcohol, is it your opinion that

Katerina Marquez drank those 2

bottles of vodka on the flight?

Whip drops his head and MUTTERS SOMETHING INAUDIBLE.

ELLEN BLOCK (CONT’D)

I’m sorry Mr. Whitaker, I couldn’t

hear you. What did you say?

WHIP:

I SAID...God help me...

144.

A confused MUMBLE rises in the room. Whip’s response

flusters ELLEN for a moment, but she recovers quickly.

ELLEN BLOCK:

Yes, well. However, is it your

opinion...

Whip cuts her off...

WHIP:

(excessively loud)

IT’S MY OPINION...

(lowers his voice)

It’s my opinion...

Trina DID NOT...drink the vodka.

ELLEN BLOCK:

Excuse me, Mr. Whitaker...

WHIP:

(softly, to himself)

She saved that boy’s life...

ELLEN BLOCK:

Captain Whitaker can you speak

louder-

WHIP:

(loud again)

I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT SHE DID NOT

DRINK THAT VODKA...

Whip stops. His whole body trembles, his face tightens. He

looks right at ELLEN...

WHIP (CONT’D)

...because I did. I drank the

vodka.

The crowd gasps, unsure of what they just heard...

CHARLIE rockets out of his chair.

CHARLIE:

OBJECTION!!!

NTSB OFFICER #2

Please be seated sir. This is not a

court room.

Now CHARLIE returns to his chair to find that HUGH is gone.

CHARLIE looks around for HUGH, no sign. He’s vanished.

WHIP leans close to the microphone.

145.

WHIP:

I drank the vodka bottles on the

plane.

ELLEN BLOCK:

Mr. Whitaker, in light of that

remark, would you like to

readdress...

WHIP:

You don’t have to readdress

anything. I DRANK THE VODKA!

ELLEN BLOCK:

On the three nights before the

accident, October 11th

WHIP:

On October 11th, 12th and 13th and

14th I was intoxicated. I drank

alcohol on all of those days. I

drank to excess.

Chaos erupts further as REPORTERS outnumber SECURITY. Flash

bulbs pop repeatedly and large lights are aimed at the fracas

on stage as video is taken of the bizarre melee.

ELLEN BLOCK:

Mr. Whitaker, on the morning of

October-

WHIP:

I was drunk. I’m drunk right now,

Miss Block...I’m drunk right...

(Whip finally breaks down)

I’m drunk now, because...

Because I’m an alcoholic.

We have pushed into a tight shot on WHIP’s face as the sound

in the room fades away. We stay tight on WHIP’s face as he

lets the moments unfold.

Suddenly the noise cuts to silence. WHIP is looking at the

assembly. WHIP wipes tears from his eyes. We hear WHIP’s

voice as the dialogue pre-laps the image of his face.

WHIP (V.O.)

That was it...I was done. It’s as

if I’d hit my life long limit for

lies.

A new angle shows WHIP speaking these words...

146.

WHIP:

I could not tell one more lie. And

maybe I’m a sucker. Because if I

had just told one more lie? I could

have walked away from that whole

mess and kept my wings and my false

sense of pride and most importantly

I would have avoided being locked

up here with all of you nice folks

for the last 13 months.

We hear laughter as we pull out from WHIP to realize that he

is in fact wearing a white penal jumpsuit and leading an AA

meeting in a Federal Prison.

WHIP (CONT’D)

It looks like I will serve every

day of the remaining 4 plus years

of my sentence. And that’s fair.

I betrayed the public trust. I

did. That’s what the judge

explained to me. I had betrayed

the public trust. The FAA took my

license. And that’s fair. The

chances of me flying again are slim

to none. And I accept that.

INT. MCRAE FEDERAL PENITENTIARY -- GEORGIA -- DAY

A large room houses an AA meeting for about 50 inmates

wearing white jumpsuits. WHIP continues his story.

WHIP:

I’ve had time to think about all of

it. Doing a lot of writing. I’ve

written letters to each of the

families that lost loved ones on my

flight. Some were able to hear my

apology, some never will.

I’ve also apologized to all the

people who tried to help me along

the way, but I couldn’t or wouldn’t

listen, like my wife, I mean my ex

wife...

(he gets emotional)

...and my son. Again, some were

able to forgive me...some never

will.

(collects himself)

But at least I’m sober, and I’m

grateful for that.

Whip gives it to us straight...

147.

WHIP (CONT’D)

And this is gonna sound really

stupid coming from a man who’s in

prison...but for the first time in

my life...I’m free.

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes