Passenger 57 Page #5

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GRANDMOTHER:

(slightly condescending)

I've been flying for forty-seven years.

CUTTER:

You must be tired.

CUT TO:

50 EXT. SKY 50

The 747 thunders overhead, headed west.

51 INT. 747 - LOWER GALLEY 51

Marti and Fiona are propping the rolling food carts. Marti rolls one into the elevator and closes the door. The ELEVATOR WHINES into service and up she goes.

Once Marti is gone, Fiona goes to the special food cart. She squats down, reaches into the lower shelf and nervously removes the package.

CUT TO:

52 EXT. NIGHT SKY 52

Just like Cutter's nightmare only this time it's for real. Fierce rain. Dense clouds. First the awesome ROAR -- then we see the massive underbelly of the 747 as it lumbers INTO FRAME. The clouds thicken. The big engines struggle against the mounting storm. There is a flash of lightning.

53 INT. 747 - MAIN CABIN 53

PING! The "fasten seatbelts" light comes on.

CAPTAIN (V.O.)

This is Captain Diehl. Folks, I've turned on the seatbelt sign. We've got some unfriendly weather up ahead and we're apt to bounce a bit. So just bear with us.

54 CUTTER 54

He's not doing so well. To him, every BOOM OF THUNDER is an exploding bomb. Marti appears in the aisle beside him.

MARTI:

How are you doing?

CUTTER:

(manages to smile)

Well, I'm not exactly flying the friendly skies.

MARTI:

Is there anything I can do to help?

CUTTER:

How about holding my hand?

MARTI:

(smiling sweetly)

I'm sorry, sir, but we're not allowed to do that. However, there's a three-year-old child up in First Class with a teddy bear. Maybe he'd let you borrow it. Shall I ask?

Cutter's a good sport. He knows when he's been shot down.

CUTTER:

Right between the eyes.

54 CONTINUED:
54

MARTI:

Don't forget. I'm a professional. I know all the lines.

CUTTER:

And all the comebacks, too.

MARTI:

Besides, you're married.

We see that Cutter still wears his wedding band.

CUTTER:

I guess I should take it off one of these days.

MARTI:

Divorced?

CUTTER:

Not exactly.

Marti looks at Cutter and she knows.

MARTI:

I'm sorry.

CUTTER:

Great. Now it looks like I'm trying for sympathy.

LIGHTNING CRACKLES. Cutter reacts.

CUTTER:

Damn. Can't you turn off the sound effects?

MARTI:

There's really nothing to worry about. Statistically speaking --

CUTTER:

Flying is still the safest form of travel.

They share a smile.

MARTI:

Heard it before, huh?

CUTTER:

Thanks for trying.

MARTI:

Sure you don't want that teddy bear?

CUTTER:

It's tempting but I think I'll tough it out.

Marti smiles, rises from her seat and makes her way up the aisle. Cutter checks her out from behind and likes what he sees.

CUTTER:

(to himself)

Yeah. Tempting.

Another BOOM --a flash of lightning -- and Cutter's had enough. He unbuckles and leaves his seat, making his way to the rear of the plane where he finds an unoccupied lavoratory.

55 INT. LAVATORY 55

Cutter bolts the door. He stares at himself in the mirror. A nervous stranger stares back.

In this tiny space, the SOUND OF the PLANE only increases Cutter's discomfort. He reaches into his pocket and takes out his DISC MAN. He puts on the earphones, punches play and cranks it. Loud R & B MUSIC drowns out the plane ambiance and Cutter closes his eyes, trying to get into the music, hoping it will help him forget where he is.

CUT TO:

56 EXT. NIGHT SKY 56

ENGINES STRAIN as the 747 climbs above the storm.

57 INT. 747 - FIRST CLASS 57

Dinner is underway. Fiona approaches Vincent. She's carrying a tray of empty glasses. Under the tray is the smuggled package. Fiona bends down and whispers in Vincent's ear-ringed ear.

FIONA:

Sir, it's time for the in-flight entertainment.

58 COACH 58

Pushing aside the curtain, Fiona leaves first class and enters coach, heading for the rear of the plane. The Indian leaves his seat and follows. So does the Student. Vincent brings up the rear, licking food off his fingers.

Fiona steps behind the partition wall that separates the main cabin from the rear lavatories (one of which is occupied by Cutter). There's only one person back here, a businessman who finishes up a call on one of the air phones and returns to his seat.

The Indian, the Student, and Vincent arrive. They acknowledge each other in a curt, professional manner.

VINCENT:

(eager)

Unwrap the present and let's get this party started.

Fiona opens the metal package. Inside are several automatic pistols and a grenade.

59 UPPER DECK 59

Duncan holds a spoonful of spinach to Wolfgang's mouth.

DUNCAN:

Eat your spinach or no dessert.

Manning chuckles. We RACK FOCUS. Behind them, silently ascending the spiral staircase is Vincent. Vincent raises his gun and takes aim at the back of Manning's head. The plane is bouncing and he'll have to be good to make a shot like this. He is.

Manning is to take his next bite when -- POP! --a BULLET enters the back of his head and comes out between his eyes. He slumps forward.

VINCENT:

He shoots, he scores!

As Duncan reacts to his partner's death, Wolfgang clamps his teeth down on the spoon, rips it free of Duncan's fingers and lunging forward, drives the end of the spoon into Duncan's left eyeball, savagely tearing upward into Duncan's brain.

60 BELOW - FIRST CLASS 60

The GUNSHOT has caused a chain reaction of panic throughout the entire ship. Fiona appears in first class.

The passengers are shocked to see a flight attendant pointing a gun at them!

FIONA:

(shouting)

Put your heads down!

61 UPPER DECK 61

Wolfgang pulls away from Duncan, the spoon (now bent) still clamped between his teeth. As Duncan writhes in agony, Vincent steps up and FIRES a bullet into his chest, finishing him.

Wolfgang spits out the spoon and smiles at Vincent, his teeth flecked with Duncan's blood.

WOLFGANG:

I hate spinach.

62 COACH 62

The Indian and the Student aim their guns at the now hysterical passengers.

STUDENT:

(shouting)

Put your heads down! Heads down now!

A macho man passenger stands up to protest and the Indian treats him to a brutal pistol whipping. Terrified, the other passengers put their heads down.

63 UPPER DECK 63

Vincent finds the key in Duncan's pocket and unlocks Wolfgang's handcuffs. Wolfgang tosses the cuffs away and stands, stretching like he just got up from a restful nap. He holds out his hand like a surgeon awaiting a scalpel. Vincent slaps a gun into it.

64 FIRST CLASS 64

A terrified WOMAN turns to the passenger beside her --a burly, florid-faced Catholic PRIEST who, oddly, is casually sipping a cocktail and popping peanuts into his mouth.

WOMAN:

Father --do something!

The Priest pats her thigh in a most un-Priestlike manner. *

PRIEST:

Excuse me. I'm needed by the man upstairs.

The Priest downs his drink, stands up and brushes the crumbs off his garment. He smiles at Fiona who allows him to climb the staircase to the upper deck, passing Vincent on his way down. They nod at each other in recognition.

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