Flight Page #8

WHIP is moved by the first realization of survival.

WHIP:

How many?

CHARLIE moves close to deliver the news.

CHARLIE:

102 souls on board including the

flight crew, and 96 of them

survived the crash. Six people

died. 2 crew, 4 passengers.

WHIP:

4 passengers. Are the rest badly

hurt? Who’d we lose on the crew?

A NURSE enters the room. CHARLIE nods to her.

42.

CHARLIE:

Listen, protocol is the NTSB has to

make the first contact with you and

the agent is here. Let me go get

him.

CHARLIE ducks out of the room. WHIP is alone and still

getting his bearings. He goes to scratch his head and

catches sight of his left hand. It’s swollen and sore --his

wrist is bandaged with a splint-brace. He now looks at both

of his hands in wonder.

WHIP hears a muffled conversation that gets clearer as do the

images of MANY PEOPLE entering the room. A POLICE OFFICER

accompanies a DOCTOR and TWO NTSB AGENTS.

An NTSB AGENT holds a small voice recorder towards WHIP.

NTSB OFFICER #1

Captain William Whitaker? Nod if

you can hear me and understand me.

(Whip nods)

I’m Craig Matson from the NTSB and

I’m required as the lead on the Go

Team to make an initial contact

with you after a major incident

like the one you had today.

WHIP nods as his senses are getting sharper.

NTSB OFFICER #1 (CONT’D)

You are in a hospital in South

Atlanta. Are you aware that you

were piloting a plane that went

down?

(Whip nods)

I have a doctor here who can

explain your medical situation.

WHIP offers a “thumbs up” gesture. The DOCTOR steps in.

DOCTOR:

I’m Doctor Kenan and the good news

is that you are in good condition.

You did suffer a concussion which

is the reason you have a bit of

blurred vision and a headache. You

have numerous lacerations around

your left eye. We’re going to leave

the patch on for a few days as a

precaution. But it seems your eye

is OK. MRI’s show strained tendons

in your left knee and ankle but you

didn’t break any bones.

43.

You have some deep bruising in your

left thigh and you have a few torn

ligaments in your left wrist.

Nothing serious. So as soon as we

clear you from the concussion, and

you feel well enough -- you can go

home. That could be a day, could

be 3 days. Okay?

WHIP quietly nods. The DOCTOR leaves and WHIP begins to

study his body. His left leg is wrapped, his left wrist has

a splint-brace -

NTSB OFFICER #1

I won’t ask too much of you

tonight, but as I said, the NTSB is

required to make initial contact.

How much do you remember about the

flight?

WHIP looks at the NTSB OFFICER and slowly speaks.

WHIP:

I remember everything until the

crash.

WHIP’s voice is failing him as his throat is sore and dry.

NTSB OFFICER #1

Okay Mr. Whitaker, that’s fine. I

am required to inform you that this

incident did result in the loss of

life.

(checks an index card)

The most current information states

that of the 102 souls on board we

lost 6. 2 crew members and 4

passengers. 59 people were treated

and released. 37 people remain in

the hospital and 3 of those cases

are listed as critical.

WHIP:

Who on the crew died?

NTSB OFFICER #1

Two flight attendants;

(checks a note card)

Camelia Satou and Katerina Marquez

WHIP tries to exhale as the loss of TRINA sinks in.

44.

NTSB OFFCIER #1

The rep from your Pilot’s Union,

Mr. Anderson, will act as our

contact for you. It’s important to

follow your Union’s guidance on

press and media. The pilot’s union

works closely with the NTSB. So,

I’m gonna head out. Good luck Mr.

Whitaker.

WHIP nods as the NTSB OFFICER leaves with the police and

other officials in tow. CHARLIE returns to WHIP’s side.

WHIP:

I knew Trina Marquez. We spent

some time together.

CHARLIE:

Apparently she wasn’t strapped in.

A survivor reported that she was

assisting a kid.

CHARLIE tries to put a reassuring hand on WHIP’s shoulder.

WHIP:

How’s Margaret Thomason?

CHARLIE:

(checks his notes)

Broken collar bone, cuts, banged

up, but she’s okay. She’s here

too. Ken Evans your copilot took a

bad shot to the head. They’re

keepin’ him in a coma to let the

brain swelling go down. He’s

listed as critical, but we feel

good about him. He’s gonna be

okay.

WHIP lets that information land as his head is swirling.

WHIP:

Charlie, why are you here?

CHARLIE:

I’m flying a desk now. I’m a

regional rep for the IAP.

WHIP:

You’re the rep for the pilots’

union?

45.

CHARLIE:

I’m one of a few union reps for the

southeast. When your plane went

down all the reps got a page and

since I know you I shot my hand up

and said I wanted to come and be

the first face you’d see.

WHIP:

I’m glad it’s you.

WHIP starts to weep as he needs to begin the long process of

expressing this trauma.

CHARLIE:

It’s good to see you too, Cowboy.

You’re gonna be okay. We’re gonna

take care of you. That’s my job.

WHIP nods as he wipes his eyes on his heavily bandaged hand.

CHARLIE (CONT’D)

The union will put out a statement

on your behalf. Condolences to the

families who lost loved ones and

gratitude to the brave men and

women on the flight crew.

(Whip nods)

And I know you and Deana have been

divorced for a while but maybe she

and your son...?

WHIP:

Yeah, Knuckles.

CHARLIE:

Yeah, how old’s he now?

WHIP:

15.

CHARLIE:

Wow, you weren’t even married when

we flew for Delta. We’re

dinosaurs, Whip. Do you want me to

reach out to Deana and see if she

and Will want to come? Any family

you want here, we’ll get them here,

stat.

WHIP thinks about his long since fractured family...

WHIP:

No, I’ll call her.

46.

CHARLIE:

Speaking of which, I have your

phone and some of your personal

effects from the plane.

CHARLIE has a zip-locked bag with his phone, keys, sunglasses

and wallet. WHIP looks at them, odd to see them encased in

plastic.

CHARLIE (CONT'D)

Your clothes are toast. Do you

need me to get you some stuff?

WHIP:

No, I’m okay. I’ll take care of

it.

CHARLIE:

I’m gonna head out, let you get

some rest. I’m coming back.

You’ll see plenty of me.

CHARLIE hands WHIP his card.

WHIP:

Thanks Charlie, I really...

(Whip begins to crack)

It means a lot to me that you came.

CHARLIE:

Okay. Get some rest now.

WHIP:

Charlie, that plane was f***ed.

CHARLIE:

I know. The way you landed that

plane was nothing short of a

miracle.

WHIP nods trying to pull it together. CHARLIE pats WHIP’s

shoulder before he leaves. WHIP sits up and pulls his phone

from the plastic bag. Dials, waits...

WHIP:

Harling...Harling...yeah, it’s

Whip. I’m in a hospital in South

Atlanta...what? You know where I

am? Okay well f***...yeah, I’m

okay. What? Well, I’m looking to

get outta here...hopefully

tomorrow. Yeah. But, listen, I

need you to bring me something to

wear.

47.

I don’t know -- clothes -- and

smokes, I really need smokes. Tee

shirt, sweat pants....Harling?

I’ll put you on the visiting list.

Yeah...and smokes. Just be low

key, no f***ing around, Harling.

Cigarettes. Okay? I need

cigarettes. Yeah. Good.

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