Flightplan Page #2

Darkness, pierced by a single lamp. We see MOVING BOXES, lots

of them, in rows on a Living Room floor. High ceilings, large

radiators beneath the windows, hardwood underfoot.

...and ten huge FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS, relegated to a corner.

And an answering machine with "27 Messages" on it.

INT. KYLE'S APT. ENTRY/FRONT DOOR - SAME (NIGHT)

A woman lingers by the front door, tears in her eyes. She is

KAROLINA - 50, Polish, a nanny.

Kyle is a few feet away. The feeling couldn't be more somber.

KYLE:

It's not impossible, Karolina. I've

already made a few calls.

KAROLINA:

Thank you.

KYLE:

There are working Visas. The State

Department issues them.

Karolina tries to smile, but she clearly believes that this

is the last time she'll ever see Kyle again.

KYLE (CONT'D)

She's so attached to you.

Karolina sniffs back a tear.

KAROLINA:

I am... I'm so sorry. I...

KYLE:

I can reach you at your brother's,

right?

Karolina nods. The moment hangs. She steps out.

KAROLINA:

Please. Try to sleep tonight.

Their eyes lock. Kyle smiles thinly. Karolina goes. Kyle

pauses a moment, then shuts the door.

INT. KYLE'S APARTMENT - DEN - LATER NIGHT

This was an office just a few days ago. A desk is strewn with

files, notepads, books - all of it regarding Rudyard Kipling.

Five boxes marked "David's Research" wait. But they're empty.

Kyle sits on the floor, her back against a bare wall...

wearing that thousand-mile stare again. Just can't move.

JULIA (O.S.)

Mommy?

That was the voice of a little girl. Kyle doesn't react.

JULIA (O.S., CONT'D)

Mommy?

Now Kyle turns, as if awakening from a dream.

JULIA, 4, stands in the doorway, wearing pajamas. In her hand

is a one-armed chenille teddy-bear named Harry.

JULIA (CONT'D)

Everything's in boxes.

Kyle tries to smile, but the effort is obvious.

JULIA (CONT'D)

Is Daddy in one of them?

That cut right through Kyle.

KYLE:

No, sweetheart...

INT. KYLE'S APARTMENT - JULIA'S BEDROOM - LATER NIGHT

Kyle, still dressed, lies beside Julia as the child sleeps.

A carousel-nightlight throws moving reflections across the

walls:
horses and cows and cherubs, chasing one another

against pale blue wallpaper. Kyle, wide awake, eyes them.

More MOVING BOXES in here. Everything has been packed except

an outfit for tomorrow: (jacket, tights, boots, etc.)

The curtains are open. Kyle rises, careful not to awaken

Julia, and crosses to them. She reaches for the curtains,

then notices something, through the window:

TWO MEN, visible across this building's courtyard. They seem

to be looking from their third story window into this one.

They're Middle-Eastern. Persian. Maybe Turkish - but staring

right at us. Kyle shuts the curtains.

A beat. She turns to go, then turns back - just has to look

through those curtains again. She peeks out.

Shutters have now been drawn where the Persian-looking men

were standing only seconds ago. Odd...

INT. KYLE'S APARTMENT - MASTER BATHROOM - CONTINUING

Kyle turns on a light, and crosses to a tiny make-up bag on

the counter. She opens it, and pulls out a bottle of

PRESCRIPTION PILLS. Klonepin. For anxiety.

She swallows two and leaves without looking in the mirror...

INT. KYLE'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - NEXT DAY - (3 P.M.)

The apartment's empty. Sheets cover pieces of furniture.

Those floral arrangements remain unclaimed on the floor. We

hear the sounds of a WINTER STORM outside. Whipping wind.

INT. JULIA'S ROOM - SAME

Stripped bed, bare dressed, nothing else. The boxes are gone.

INT. DAVID'S OFFICE - SAME

"David's Research" remains unpacked, the boxes empty. Through

the window we now see the WINTER STORM raging out there.

INT. KYLE'S APARTMENT BUILDING - STAIRS - SAME (3 P.M.)

Kyle, bundled for weather, trudges down stairs carrying THREE

HUGE SUITCASES, heavy as hell. Her eyes are red from lack of

sleep; her head feels foggy.

Behind her we hear a sound: THUMP, THUMP, THUMP - its source

unknown to us. Kyle continues on, almost sleepwalking.

INT. KYLE'S APT. BLDG. - SECOND FLOOR LANDING - CONTINUING

She hits a TIMER SWITCH on a hallway light. It brightens.

Again we hear the THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. Kyle turns.

...as Julia rounds a corner, half a flight of steps above

Kyle, emerging from shadow. Julia is carrying her BACKPACK,

which is hitting each step. Hence the thump, thump, thump.

KYLE:

Doin' okay, Jules?

Julia mumbles an "uh-huh."

KYLE (CONT'D)

Almost there, Sweetheart.

INT. KYLE'S APARTMENT BUILDING - LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER

At last, they're down the steps. Kyle releases the suitcases;

feeling her arms relax. Julia reaches the last step and drops

her pack, sighing exaggeratedly. Kyle finds that pretty cute.

Kyle turns, heads for the door, but:

JULIA:

Mommy?

Kyle looks back, and realizes that Julia isn't following. The

kid has frozen in her tracks, right by the stairs.

JULIA (CONT'D)

I don't wanna go out there.

We can't tell what's scaring Julia so. Through lobby doors we

see that huge SNOWSTORM. And a waiting car. And a DRIVER.

And that badly-damaged PLANTER POT. Kyle's eyes soften.

KYLE:

It's okay, Honey. I promise.

JULIA:

I don't wanna go out there. I'm

scared.

Kyle pauses, eyeing her little girl...

KYLE:

What if I hid you? Would that be

okay?

(Julia doesn't understand)

On my shoulder, under my coat...

JULIA:

The whole way?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes