Flightplan Page #6

JULIA:

Huh?

KYLE:

Last couple rows are empty. We could

take a couple seats each. Would ya

like that?

Julia half-smiles. Kyle gives her a confident grin. We HOLD

on them for a moment, as the plane continues its climb. That

orange juice carton trembles on an empty seat...

Then we DESCEND... through the floor of this cabin...

...into the Main Deck, then through its floor, into:

INT. AIRJET - FORWARD HOLD - SAME

We're in the belly of the plane now, mid-takeoff.

This hold is 60 yards deep, 25 yards wide, seven feet high,

packed tight with LD-3's (LUGGAGE BINS, five-feet tall, five

feet wide, eighteen abreast.)

We DOLLY THROUGH the hold, finding row after row of them.

Then we find a Mercedes sedan, on a pallet, protected by a

metal superstructure. Then another row of square bins...

...then the casket, wedged between that last row of luggage

bins and the FORWARD WALL of this hold.

Like everything else down here, the casket is shuddering from

all these RPMs as the Airjet makes its climb...

FADE TO BLACK...

...and come in on Kyle, sound asleep.

INT. AIRJET - UPPER DECK - ROW 35 - TWO HOURS LATER

Kyle sleeps across four middle seats in Row 35, back of the

plane, no one else within five rows of her.

She stirs a bit, awakening, turns toward Julia.

But Julia's not in 35-A. There's a mussed blanket on the

seat. But no Julia. Hmmm...

Kyle cranes her neck to look down the aisle.

Most of coach is asleep. Light flickers from video screens:

movies, sitcoms, soccer broadcasts. Some passengers work on

laptops. Some read. But we don't see Julia among them.

She must've returned to their original seats. Of course. Kyle

rises and heads down the aisle, unalarmed.

INT. AIRJET - UPPER DECK - ROW 24 - CONTINUING

Kyle nears their original seats. Row 24.

KYLE:

Sorry, Honey. Mommy fell asl--

Kyle stops herself, mid-word. Julia's not here either.

That's odd. Still not alarming, but odd. Where the hell is

she? Kyle begins to scan the plane, as:

CARSON (O.S.)

Ever seen this movie?

Kyle turns. Here's Carson, in 25-D, watching a movie.

KYLE:

No.

CARSON:

Not too funny. 'Course, when you're

at 35,000 feet you can't just up and

walk out of the theatre, can ya?

KYLE:

Did you happen to see a little girl

go by here?

CARSON:

No. Sure didn't.

KYLE:

My daughter.

(Carson shrugs)

How long've we been flying?

CARSON:

Two hours. A little more maybe.

Kyle heads up the aisle, reminding herself that it's only in

parks and malls where losing a kid can be dangerous...

INT. AIRJET - UPPER DECK - LEFT AISLE - CONTINUING

On the Coach bulkhead, a screen shows us an animated plane

trekking across the Atlantic, with data reading: "Air speed

634 mph, Altitude 43,400 feet, Time to Destination 5h 12m."

There are two LAVATORIES at Row 17. Both lavatory doors are

closed, but only one has its "OCCUPIED" light lit.

Kyle looks inside the vacant one. No Julia.

Kyle waits... as that "Occupied" light turns off on the other

lavatory. Now this door opens.

...and a WOMAN emerges. Damn.

Kyle turns, looks over the whole Coach cabin.

No sign of Julia. Kyle moves aside a blue curtain, entering:

INT. AIRJET - UPPER DECK - BUSINESS CLASS - CONTINUING

It's nice up here. Sleeper seats, plenty of wine. We see the

door leading to the Flight Deck up ahead. Fiona serves

chateaubriand and plastic knives. She notes Kyle.

FIONA:

Can I help you?

KYLE:

I'm looking for my daughter.

FIONA:

There's a girl in the galley, talking

to some of the crew. could that be

her?

Instant relief on Kyle's face.

KYLE:

Yes. Thank you.

Kyle heads for the Forward Business Galley, chiding herself

for having worried.

... as the Loud daughter, Brittany, emerges from the Galley,

carrying some peanuts. Kyle sags, turns to Fiona:

KYLE:

No. She's four. My daughter.

FIONA:

Oh. Sorry. She hasn't been up here.

Kyle nods a thank you, then checks the Galley anyway.

INT. AIRJET - UPPER DECK - BUSINESS - AISLE - CONTINUING

Fiona serves another tray to a passenger. Kyle walks down the

opposite aisle now.

KYLE:

She has long hair. Probably carrying

a chenille teddy bear with one arm.

FIONA:

What's she carrying with the other

arm?

KYLE:

No, the bear. It only has--

Kyle stops herself - just realized Fiona was making a joke.

She breathes out a laugh, well aware that she must look

pretty silly just now.

KYLE (CONT'D)

Probably just found some other kids

to play with.

Fiona smiles warmly.

INT. AIRJET - MAIN DECK - RIGHT AISLE - MOMENTS LATER

Kyle's on the MAIN DECK now, scanning the cabin with an

unease that's beginning to grow. Up ahead, two Flight

Attendants, Mike and ANNA, serve Coach-meals from a CART.

Kyle's in their way. And they're in hers. Mild turbulence

makes some mini-bottles clink. Then a sharper jolt hits.

ANNA:

I'm sorry, Ma'am. Would you mind

using the other aisle?

KYLE:

I'm looking for my daughter.

ANNA:

Well, she can't have gone too far.

In other words, "This meal-cart isn't moving. You are."

KYLE:

I'll go around.

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