Flight Page #3

We follow TRINA whose ass looks as good in a tight navy skirtas it does split bare with orange fluorescence. MARGARET

speaks into the PA mic.

MARGARET:

Ladies and gentlemen, the captain

has turned on the seat-belt sign.

Please be sure your seat-belts are

securely fastened, and all carry-on

items are safely stored in the over

head bin, or under the seat in

front of you. Also, all personal

electronic devices must be switched

off, at this time. Today's flight

time to Atlanta should be 52

minutes. Flight attendants please

take your seats.

16 TRINA straps into her jump-seat. 16

INT. COCKPIT -- MORNING -- POV THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD

Heavy rain lashes the nose of the plane. Lightning FLASHES.

We watch the plane steer on to the GLOWING center-line.

INT. COCKPIT

Whip inhales his coffee and readies himself for take-off.

EVANS tries to relax, continuing with the checklist.

EVANS:

(reading the check-list)

Elevator trim - set. Flaps, One,

two, three - set. Radios - set.

12.

One, two, three altimeters - set.

Lights, pitot heat, de-ice - on.

Transponders, set.

TOWER:

(on radio)

SouthJet 227, wind is one-zero-zero

at seventeen. Runway 18L, cleared

for take off.

WHIP has razor focus as he places his hand on the throttle.

EVANS sits upright and prepares for battle.

EVANS:

(keys the mic)

Cleared for take off, SouthJet 227.

Whip pushes the throttles and the engines SCREAM as they

spool up to full thrust. After a beat, he releases the

brakes.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - DAY

The passengers are pressed into their seats like blades ofgrass as the breeze of the plane's momentum moves themtowards flight. The main lights in the cabin go out and thesmall glow of the aisle lights lead us back to the cockpit.

INT. AIRPLANE COCKPIT - DAY

WHIP mans the stick as he squints his eyes and tries to keepthe nose between the lights of the runway.

WHIP:

It's like a video game, right?

WHIP laughs and turns to his copilot. EVANS is visiblynervous as he begins the take-off check...

EVANS:

Airspeed’s alive, both sides...

Engine instruments are in the

green...100 knots crosscheck...

The JR-88 fishtails as the main gear begins to hydroplane.

WHIP:

Yep, nothing like a little 30 knot

cross wind to exercise that

sphincter muscle.

Evans is jostled violently.

13.

EVANS:

That’s wind shear! A micro burst!

Whip’s eyes are focused on the end of the runway.

The RED THRESHOLD LIGHTS are approaching fast. The plane is

not lifting off.

EVANS (CONT’D)

Less than a thousand feet to go!

Whip snaps at him.

WHIP:

Just watch my airspeed!

C.U. The airspeed indicator reads 145...

EVANS:

V1...and...

Now the air speed indicator climbs to 160...

EVANS (CONT’D)

...rotate.

Whip pulls back on the yoke, and...

The plane jerks up and we can hear the fuselage flex as weleave the ground. The plane is immediately buffeted by severeturbulence.

EVANS (CONT’D)

That’s wind shear for sure!

WHIP:

Yeehaw! Ride ‘em cowboy.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - DAY

The passengers are rattled like a bag of marbles.

INT. COCKPIT - DAY

The plane is loping up as the rain continues to pound thewindshield. The ascent is very bumpy as the turbulent windtosses the plane side to side. Copilot EVANS iscommunicating with Air Traffic Control...

14.

EVANS:

Orlando Departure...SouthJet 227,

climbing out of 2500 for 5thousand, runway heading.

ATC:

(on radio)

Roger SouthJet 227. Turn left

heading one-seven-zero. Climb,

maintain niner thousand.

EVANS:

Left to 170. Climb, maintain niner

thousand.

EVANS quickly dials the heading and altitude into the autopilot.

WHIP:

I don’t want the auto-pilot. I’m

flying.

ATC:

(on radio)

What’s your ride like, SouthJet

227?

Before EVANS can answer, WHIP jumps on the radio.

WHIP:

Ah, Departure, we’ve got some rough

chop here. I’d say moderate to...

WHUMP!! The plane hits a severe bump! EVAN’s headset turns

sideways and he quickly rights it. WHIP chokes back a

nervous chuckle.

WHIP (CONT’D)

(into his mic)

No, severe. Definitely severe

turbulence. No meal service today.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

Roger that.

Whump!! Once again the plane is violently rocked.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - DAY

The passengers audibly HOWL as the roller coaster dip liftsmost of their stomachs into their throats. A few overhead

luggage bins fly open and bags and coats rain down.

15.

The THREE ATTENDANTS calmly collect the luggage and stow itin the kitchen. They talk loudly for the benefit of the

passengers.

TRINA:

(to a passenger)

This happened last week, alwaysbumpy outta Orlando. Right Cam?

MARGARET grabs the cabin mic and addresses the passengers.

MARGARET:

Ladies and Gentlemen, the captainhas asked that until we clear this

air you stay seated with your seatbelts fastened. Thank you.

INT. COCKPIT - DAY

The plane rocks and shutters. WHIP seems oblivious as he

continues to serenade Evans.

WHIP:

(singing)

Feelin' alright -

Not feelin' too good myself -

Feelin' alright -

Not feelin' too good myself...

WHIP is interrupted by Air Traffic Control.

ATC:

(on radio)

SouthJet 227...Be advised there is

a large convective cell four milesat your 11 o’clock. And anothercell, 2 o’clock, 10 miles. Bothmoving rapidly.

EVANS:

Copy, Center.

(to Whip)

Did you get that?

WHIP:

Gottit Skippy. I'm just tryin' toget birdie here outta this windbowl...What did they clear us to?

EVANS:

We’re cleared to Flight Level oneeight-

thousand.

16.

THE PLANE TAKES ANOTHER VIOLENT DIP

EVANS' headset flies off. His tie and all the loose

equipment and coffee cups are thrown to the ground.

WHIP:

Goddamnit! Enough of this sh*t!

WHIP pushes the yoke forward. The plane pitches downward.

EVANS:

What are you doing!?

WHIP:

Leveling off.

EVANS:

What!?

WHIP points to the MFD screen.

WHIP:

See that sliver of blue sitting

between those two ugly bastards?

C.U. MFD screen:
A narrow line of blue is visible between the

two monstrous convective cells.

WHIP (CONT’D)

That’s a little pocket of smooth

air squatting right over Lake

Kissimmee...

EVANS nervously squints at the screen.

WHIP (CONT’D)

And we’re gonna thread that f***ing

needle. Turn me thirty degrees

right!

EVANS jumps on the radio.

EVANS:

(into his mic)

Center. This is SouthJet 227, We

need to divert 30 degrees right...

WHIP:

For weather.

EVANS:

(into his mic)

...for weather.

17.

ATC:

SouthJet 227, this is Jacksonville

Center. 30 Degrees, right,

approved. Report back on course.

EVANS:

Report back on course.

WHIP banks the plane to the right.

Suddenly -- the plane falls 200 feet in 2 seconds.

A huge air pocket pulls the rug out from under the JR-88.

From the cockpit we can hear the passengers scream. EVANS

holds on to his headset.

EVANS (CONT’D)

Oh, Lord!

WHIP:

He can’t help you now, brother.

WHIP remains cool as he rides more bad air. The plane nowbounces rapidly over a non-stop succession of speed bumps.

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes