Passenger 57 Page #3

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Cutter, Sly and Ramsay are deep in discussion.

CUTTER:

These are facts. Over the last year, there's been a forty percent increase in terrorist actions against Trans Pacific. Most of these incidents occurred in-flight. Most of them could have been prevented.

RAMSAY:

How?

CUTTER:

By doing what the Israelis do... having trained security specialists 'ride shotgun' on all international and coast-to-coast flights.

RAMSAY:

I hope you aren't suggesting we put armed guards on our planes. Our passengers would never stand for it.

CUTTER:

I'm not talking about armed guards. I'm talking about trained counter-terrorists -- disguised as passengers. Their identities would be known only to the flight crew. You want to stop terrorism?

CUTTER (CONT'D)

Then you gotta send a message. Let the terrorists know you're not afraid to fight back.

RAMSAY:

(amused)

Maybe we could use it as an advertising gimmick. 'Fly Trans Pacific -- We'll Get You There Alive.'

(a friendly smile)

John... air travel is supposed to be a pleasant and relaxing experience. We don't want the public to think their lives are in danger every time they get on a plane.

CUTTER:

But their lives are in danger.

Cutter knows this only too well. Ramsay considers for a moment.

RAMSAY:

(turns to Sly)

He doesn't pull his punches, does he? What do you think?

SLY:

I'm with John. I've worked up some numbers and it's not as expensive as you might think. Not in the long run.

RAMSAY:

Well, you guys are the experts... but it seems kind of extreme to me.

CUTTER:

Terrorism is a growth industry, Mister Ramsay. It should be your number one priority.

RAMSAY:

I can understand why you feel that way.

CUTTER:

You can?

RAMSAY:

You've been a victim of terrorism yourself.

Caught slightly off-guard. Cutter turns to Sly.

SLY:

I told him about Lisa.

RAMSAY:

I'm very sorry for your loss. I know it's got to be painful.

Cutter nods, remains stoic.

CUTTER:

It's been two years. I'm not over it -- I never will be -- but I can talk about it now. Yeah. I'm a victim of terrorism. Pan International Flight 107. The ironic part is, I wasn't on a job. I was on my honeymoon. We were halfway to Buenos Aires when a bomb went off in the cargo hold. One second we're making jokes about the lousy food. The next...

(too painful; stick to the facts)

One hundred and forty-two people lost their lives. Twenty-seven survived. They tell me I was lucky but the truth is, a big part of me died in that crash.

RAMSAY:

I apologize. I know this is a sensitive area. But I have to know if your own experience has made you a bit... over-zealous when it comes to airline security.

CUTTER:

If anything it's made me realize that terrorism isn't something that only happens to other people. It can happen to any of us... at any time.

RAMSAY:

I appreciate your honesty. One more question and we're through.

(a slight beat)

Do you always travel by train?

Sly sits up like he's been stuck with a red-hot poker. How the hell did Ramsay know that? Even Cutter looks perplexed... until he follows Ramsay's eyes to the Amtrak brochure poking out of his breast pocket. Cutter removes it, playing for time.

CUTTER:

You mean this?

SLY:

(butting in)

I thought I told you. Cutter took the train so he could have time to relax and work on his presentation. But he's returning to L.A. tonight -- by air.

(giving Cutter a strained look)

The six o'clock flight, I believe.

CUTTER:

(playing along)

Right. The six o'clock.

RAMSAY:

Well, that's a relief.

(joking)

We wouldn't want to hire an airlines security specialist who's afraid to fly.

SLY:

(laughing)

We'd have to be pretty crazy to do a thing like that.

CUTTER:

Stark raving mad.

Ramsay's WATCH goes BEEP.

RAMSAY:

Guys, I'm late.

(standing)

John -- most impressive. Sly and I will run your ideas by Addison Cale and see what the old man thinks. I hope the next time I see you will be to welcome you on board.

(they shake hands)

Have a nice flight.

CUTTER:

Thanks.

But Ramsay is gone. Cutter and Sly exchange uneasy smiles.

SLY:

You think he bought it?

CUTTER:

He's an a**hole but he's not a fool.

SLY:

I know him. He'll check to see if you're on the plane. I'd better make you a reservation.

(calling to a waiter)

Phone!

CUTTER:

Don't bother.

SLY:

(as if betrayed)

You gonna make me a liar?

CUTTER:

Oh, man. Don't give me that look.

SLY:

What look?

CUTTER:

What look? The 'Please, mister, don't shoot my puppy' look. Forget it. Sly. I agreed to come here and take a meeting. That's all. Nobody said nothin' about flyin' on a plane. So don't try to talk me into it because my mind's made up. And don't try any of your blackmail tricks.

SLY:

Fine. End of discussion.

A waiter arrives with a cordless phone. Sly takes it and punches some numbers.

SLY:

(into the phone)

Honey, it's me. I think you should put the house up for sale...

CUTTER:

Aw, man...

CUT TO:

18E EXT. ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - ARRIVAL ZONE - DAY 18E

A convertible pulls INTO FRAME and stops. Sly is at the wheel. He turns to Cutter in the passenger seat and tries not to smile.

CUTTER:

Get it straight, you smug sonovabitch. I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it for me.

SLY:

I understand.

CUTTER:

What? You're not even gonna say thanks ?

SLY:

Why should I? You're not doing it for me. You're doing it for you.

Cutter shakes his head.

CUTTER:

I gotta get some new friends.

Sly breaks into a happy smile.

SLY:

Thanks, flyboy. You're saving both our asses.

CUTTER:

(like it's no big deal)

Hey, it's just a little plane ride. A couple hours from now we'll be talking on the phone and laughing about it.

Cutter reaches over and squeezes Sly's neck affectionately. They shake hands. Cutter gets out, hefts his bag and enters the terminal.

CUT TO:

19 thru 28 OMITTED

29 EXT. TERMINAL 5 - PARKING BAY 29

A Trans Pacific 747 is being prepped for flight. FROM an OVERHEAD ANGLE the jumbo jet looks like a patient on life support with all the machinery and vehicles hooked up to it -- tow tractor, fuel truck, cargo belt loaders, cabin/galley and lavatory service -- all coming and going with swift, military precision.

30 ANGLE 30

A Sky Cuisine catering truck is parked alongside the 747. A fat man wearing orange coveralls pushes a food cart into the open cargo door of the plane. Then he goes back for the next cart. Making sure no one's watching, the fat man produces a square metal package, slips it into the bottom tray of the cart and pushes the cart into the plane.

31 INT. 747 - LOWER GALLEY 31

The plane's lower galley is accessible by a small elevator located mid-ship.

Two flight attendants steer the food carts into their bays. MARTI SLAYTON is in her mid-twenties -- dark, very pretty, friendly and outgoing. FIONA RITCHIE is Irish, a tall, hard-bodied redhead.

MARTI:

(friendly)

Marti Slayton.

FIONA:

Fiona Ritchie. I just transferred from London/Chicago.

MARTI:

(as they work)

Single?

FIONA:

Don't rub it in.

MARTI:

Then you'll like Orlando/L.A.

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