The Note Page #3

find 'em?

I'm not gonna find them,

we're gonna find them,

together.

Whoa!

A lot of email today.

I'm not surprised;

It's a phenomenal story.

A man writes a note,

minutes before his death,

and prays it'll find

its way home?

That's way cool.

Yeah, way cool -

if we can track down

the owner.

Grab a chair,

let's get to work.

By the way,

this is top secret,

okay?

absolutely.

Eyes only, chief.

Sorry.

All right, now,

the note was addressed

to someone

whose initial is "t".

"T".

Okay, what else?

That's it.

There is no "else".

That's it?

So we've just got

to find out who "t" is?

"T" is the son or daughter

of a man on that flight.

We're gonna have

to go through

all of the obituaries,

out of town newspapers -

all of them -

find the names

of the surviving children

and then narrow it down

to those whose names

begin with "t".

Macgruder.

Peyton, I need to see you

immediately.

Okay, I'll be right up.

Gotta go put out a fire.

I'm counting on you.

What's all this about a note?

What do you think

you're doing?

Exactly what you told me

to do.

I'm injecting more heart

into my column,

and I'm increasing

my readership.

There were more than

200 e-mails for me

in my box this morning.

200?

Yeah, yeah.

They're still coming in too.

Well, what if it turns out

to be a hoax?

It won't.

The f.A.A. Just confirmed

that the piece

of inflatable life vest

that I found with the note

is definitely from flight 848.

So I'm as sure

as anyone can be.

It's the real deal.

And if you can't find

the person?

I'll cross that bridge

when I come to it.

Well, I'm not convinced...

What is it?

All right, put him on.

Mr. pargrave,

how are you?

I just read Peyton macgruder's

column,

this business about a note

that fell out of the plane.

Yes, sir.

She's in my office right now.

We're just discussing that.

How certain is she

of her facts?

Well, she says

she is very certain.

All right, let's run with it.

This is good stuff.

It's pulling something inspiring

out of tragedy.

People love that.

Yes, I suppose they do.

All right, let's get her

an expense account,

let her travel if she has to,

within reason.

Let's see what she can make

out of this little mystery.

Fine, I'll do that.

You look like you just won

the lottery

but you lost

your ticket.

What's goin' on?

You first.

What're you really

doing out here?

I used to come down here

when I could smoke a stogie.

I discovered there

were no phones,

no interruptions...

Unless, of course,

there's a fire.

Or you find yourself in need

of a therapy session.

what's your problem?

It didn't really hit me

until I left Nora's office.

What hit you?

I'm gonna have

to interview people,

grieving people,

people who've just lost

a father on that flight.

Yeah. Sure, I mean...

Can't get around that.

But the thought of doing it

makes me...

Sick to my stomach.

Well, maybe it's hard for you

because...

You once were

on the receiving end

of the same kind

of questions.

Wait a minute.

How did you know about

my husband's accident?

Well, I, I googled you.

When?

When I saw you get off

the elevator.

This morning?

Four years ago;

Your first day on the job.

King!

Have you been

crushin' on me?

Maybe. So what?

Oh God.

So, so I'm...

I'm flattered.

Yeah.

I am, really.

Well, that's,

that's nice,

but we have not solved

your problem yet, have we?

No, we haven't.

And under

the circumstances,

I mean us just having

been necking here

in the stairwell

and all...

Necking?

Well, that's how I plan

to remember it in my memoirs.

Anyway, I...

I feel it's appropriate

for me

to offer up some advice

from my deep, deep well

of journalistic

experience.

I'm all ears.

You can either say to yourself,

"I'm intruding into the lives

of these poor grieving people."

Or?

Or...

You can say to yourself,

"I'm giving these

poor grieving people

the opportunity...

To talk to someone."

'Cause in the end,

what we all really need

is someone willing to listen.

Okay, we're finished

with the "k's"

and we're starting

with the "l's".

And I'm starting

to worry.

Why?

Well, at first, I was afraid

there'd be too many, you know,

like dozens and dozens,

but here it's the second day

and not a single one.

We haven't even gone through

half the list yet.

"T" is out there,

I know he is.

Caffeine confidence.

What is that, like your sixth

triple Grande espresso

since lunch?

Seventh,

but who's counting?

Besides you, I mean.

Oh my God.

I've got a live one.

Let me see! Let me see!

in morehead city...

Peyton macgruder's desk.

Yes.

Sh-she is.

Hold on one second, please.

You are never gonna believe

who this is!

Peyton macgruder.

Ms. macgruder,

Truman Harris.

Yes, Mr. Harris,

what can I do for you?

Well, first,

you can call me tru.

All right, tru.

What's up?

- I like your note story.

- It's a great premise.

How would you like

to take it national?

What do you mean national?

I'm leaving in a few hours

for New York

to do my show,

but maybe we can meet

before I go?

I could bring a crew,

get you talking about

the note on tape,

cut the footage into a tease.

We could air it

on tonight's show

if we work fast.

I don't know, Truman.

I don't think

I'd be interested.

Well, think of the exposure.

With TV coverage, you can find

your missing person in no time.

Thanks.

But I plan to do the story

as a continuing feature

for my readers.

Television isn't what

I had in mind.

Sorry.

Well...

I guess I'll just have to put on

my thinking cap

and come up with a way

to persuade you.

I wouldn't waste my time.

That's something I never do.

That was Truman Harris!

I know.

So spill.

What did he want?

A story,

our story.

And you said no?!

Yeah, I said no.

Come on, let's get back

to our guy in morehead city.

all right, Winston lavery,

survived by a daughter

and a son,

reverend Timothy - with a "t" -

lavery of St. Louis.

Are you crazy?

You said no to Truman Harris,

the hottest thing on TV?!

Before you completely

melt down,

will you please get me

a plane ticket to St. Louis.

There's a man there

to whom I hope to deliver

a very special Christmas gift.

+

Ho, ho, ho!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas,

everybody!

Dear readers:

I'll have no way of knowing

for whom the note was written

until I've talked

to each prospect.

I'm waiting for

the right person to identify

the shadows of concern

in this note

and recognize them

as a familiar love.

What would you say

to a loved one

if you only had a few seconds

to impart a last message?

What language does love speak?

That's what I'm hoping to find

on this leg of my journey.

Peyton macgruder's desk.

It's Truman Harris calling.

Is Peyton available?

Mr. Harris.

I- no, I'm sorry she's not.

that's too bad.

Who's this?

Me? I'm Mandi hillridge.

Hey, Mandi.

Are you a reporter too?

No, just an intern.

No, no such thing

as just an intern.

I bet you Peyton would

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes