The Langoliers Page #12

Well, surely there's other airfields.

There are, but not big enough

to handle an airplane of this size.

No, it has to be LAX.

And I'll need at least...

At least 35 minutes to get there.

And that gives us

20 minutes at most

to figure this thing out

and get through the hole.

Now...

...how do we put everybody

to sleep at the same time?

Aren't you forgetting

the most important thing of all?

I mean, even if you figure out a way

to put us all out,

who's gonna land the plane in L. A?

We're out of luck, you know that,

don't you? Completely out of luck.

There has to be a way out of this.

There just has to be. Doesn't there?

There is a way out.

Damn it, there is.

What is it?

I can see you're on to something.

Pressure. That's what I'm on to.

Pressure.

Of course. Pressure.

Would you tell me

what you're talking about?

I'm talking about dropping

the air pressure in here

to seven psi, half sea level.

Do that and boom,

we're out like lights.

Only how do we answer

Laurel's question?

How do I wake up after we've come

through and land the plane?

One of us will have to stay awake

to turn the pressure up

just before we fly through the rip.

- So one of us will...

- One of us will have to die.

But who's gonna do it?

You all draw straws or what?

- No need for that. I'll do it.

- No.

Why should you do it?

Why shouldn't we draw straws?

Why not Bob? Or Albert? Or me?

- Come with me for a minute.

- Nick, there's not much time left.

I know. Start the things

you have to do.

Come on.

Laurel.

We could have something,

you and me.

Do you think I could be right about

that? Because if you do, say so.

There's no time to dance.

Absolutely none.

Yes, I do, I think that's right.

But we don't know for sure.

I mean, we can't know.

It all comes back to time, doesn't it?

Time and sleep and not knowing.

But I have to be the one, Laurel.

You see, I've tried to keep

a reasonable account of myself

during my life, and all my books

are deeply in the red

and this is my chance

to balance them, and I mean to take it.

I don't understand what you're...

Look, I wish I could tell you everything

about myself, but there's no time.

Would you do something special

for me? If you get out of this, that is.

- Yes. Yes, of course.

- Nick.

Yeah, I'm coming.

Listen to me. Listen very carefully.

I was going to quit it.

My mind was made up.

- Quit what?

- Doesn't matter.

What matters is that you believe me.

Do you?

I don't know what you're talking about,

but I believe you mean it.

- Nick, we're heading towards the rip.

- Yeah, I'm coming just now, damn it.

Listen, my dear old dad lives

in the village of Fluting.

It's about 20 miles south of London.

You ask for him in any shop

along the High Street. Mr. Hopewell.

Some of the older ones

still call him the gaffer.

You go to him and tell him

I was going to quit it.

You'll need to be persistent.

He tends to turn away and curse loudly

when he hears my name.

- Can you be persistent?

- Yes.

Good.

Now, you repeat what I told you,

and you tell him you believe me.

Tell him...

Tell him that I tried my best

to atone for what happened

outside the church in Belfast.

- In Belfast?

- Right.

And if you can't get him to listen,

you tell him

that he must listen

because of the daisies.

Because of the time

I bought the daisies.

Because when you

brought him daisies?

No, not to him, but it will do.

- Can you remember that as well?

- Yes, but...

It's okay.

Thank you so much, Laurel.

Nick.

Are we gonna feel like we're,

you know, choking?

No, no, no, you'll feel a little giddy.

Just kind of swimmy in the head,

and then nothing.

Right.

And you never know,

I might still be here.

Bad pennies do have a way

of turning up, don't they, Brian?

Anything's possible.

You folks all sit down.

Nick, up here beside me.

Let me show you what to do

and when to do it.

One second, please.

You had decided to quit.

You made up your mind.

And if your father won't listen,

I'm to remind him of the day

you bought the daisies.

Is that right?

It's letter perfect, my love.

That's the one to go on,

sure enough.

Shall we?

Let's do it.

I am starting to decrease pressure.

Check your seat belts, everyone.

I think you better put your belt on.

Oxygen mask right beside you.

All right.

Nick.

You know what to do.

I know. No fear.

Off to sleep.

Sweet dreams and all that.

Albert?

Would you hold me, please?

Yes.

If you'll hold me.

Nick.

I just...

I wanted to say...

...thank you.

You're welcome, mate.

It's been a flight to remember.

Even without the movie

and the free mimosas.

Remember about Belfast,

behind the church.

Act of atonement...

Oh, my God.

It's so

beautiful.

You're right, Brian.

It is beautiful. And why not?

This is the place where life,

all life maybe, begins.

The cradle of creation

and the wellspring of life.

No langoliers allowed

past this point.

Oh, my God.

It's so beautiful.

L.A. Approach,

this is American Pride 29.

Repeat, two-niner, 29 heavy.

Approach control.

I'm declaring an emergency here.

Quit it. Just quit it.

Sit down. Sit down.

Come on, sit down.

We're entering heavy traffic

unannounced.

There is no heavy traffic down there.

Look for yourself.

We're over L.A. All right.

But what do you see

out the window?

I'll tell you.

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

Here, put this on. Put it on.

And this one right here.

Buckle up. Buckle up, ladies

and gentlemen, we're coming in.

All right.

What is it?

Oh, no.

Oh, my God.

We're out of fuel.

Hang on. We're going in hard.

Hold on.

Watch out, you're gonna hit

that truck.

Damn.

Well, that is about as close

as I'd ever wanna cut it.

You should have let us crash.

Everything we tried, Dinah, Nick...

...it's all for nothing.

It's just the same here.

It's the same.

It's time to check on the others.

Let's get off the plane.

This time we'll use the cockpit exit.

Thanks.

What's that humming?

It sounds like electricity.

No, I don't think it's electricity.

I'm not sure what it is, though.

Well, it doesn't sound like anything

I've ever heard before.

Why don't we

try the Jetway service door?

Wait.

What?

What is it, Bob? What do you see?

Well, all I see is a deserted terminal.

But it's what I smell.

Jet fuel, oil,

- rubber, salt air. I can smell it.

- Holy cow.

Yeah, but that's not the only thing.

Listen.

Do you hear that?

What does it all mean?

If everything's normal,

why didn't we see any lights

when we were landing?

Where are the people?

And what's that noise?

It's getting closer.

Let's see if we can

get inside the terminal.

Wait a minute.

I can tell you know something.

What is it?

I wanna go in the terminal

and have a look around first.

Come with me. Quickly, please.

There's another door over here.

Here, Albert.

You open that and try it, quick.

Delicious. Absolutely delicious.

Good. Now, listen,

I think it's gonna happen real soon,

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