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airframe
Unauthorized Screenplay by Maurice S. Devaraj Dated 1st August, 2001
Based on the novel “Airframe” by Michael Crichton.
fade in:
We skim across the smooth sea at an incredibly fast speed, light just beginning to break out. We begin to ascend, slowly at first, increasing rate of ascent and we suddenly enter clouds. White fog and the sounds of a high pitch whine from a Airplane engine can be heard. A moment later we break out of the clouds to see a wide bodied passenger Aircraft moving in sync with us.
We see “TRANSCONTINENTAL AIRWAYS” on the side. The tail carries the company emblem and the letters “TPA 545”
We slowly zoom in to a port side window. Emily Jansen, a good looking woman, probably late twenties, disheveled hairs squints out.
cut to:
Shot of a baby, P.O.V of a handycam wielded by TIM JANSEN, early thirties. The baby is SARAH, cute, very cuddly, seven months old.
tim
Sarah.. saaaraaah.. Smile for daddy.. smi..le
Tim elevates to include mom.
emily
Tim.. No Tim.. I look awful.
She turns her head away. Sarah puts her foot in her mouth. A couple of people walk by in the aisle in the background. There are both Chinese and Americans. A few are the off duty flight crew in uniforms.
tim
That taste good Sarah? Not waiting for breakfast?
O.S sound of Emily laughing. A sudden mechanical GROAN. Almost imperceptible.
SNAP ON Emily whose face carries Alarm. She snaps her head to the window. Fearful of the unknown.
emily
What was that?
tim
Take it ease..
The plane jars visibly.
There is a sudden impression of the plane falling through air.
SCREAMS
Tim flies up, hits the overhead compartment. A Chinese woman, fat rolls bumps and lurches along the aisle towards the fore in the b.g.
Tim’s video camera can be seen flying from his hand.
He smashes his head into the back of the seat in front of him.
Yellow oxygen masks drop down.
Tim slams back on the seat. He is pushed back in his seat. The plane is climbing at an incredible angle. Almost vertical.
Tim suddenly slams forward into the opposite seat. A teenage boy smashes into the same seat having free fallen from the aisle. A splash of blood hits the POV.
The boy tumbles off.
The plane is now diving steeply again.
A man with his seat belt fastened vomits from his seat. People are being thrown about everywhere.
One man crashes head first into the overhead luggage compartment. One of the compartments opens spilling luggage on the seats below. More screams from the passenger. There’s a sound of a child howling in fear.
One man suddenly flies in out of nowhere and hits the ceiling. He seems to stick there. He falls down a long time later with a crash. His eyes stare wide open into the camera.
The plane seems to have stabilized into level flight.
Dead silence in the b.g for what seems to be a long moment.
TIGHT CLOSE IN OF DEAD MAN’S brown EYE
transition to:
marshall
(Nearly screaming into the mike)
FORTY Ambulances?
Pilot (V.O)
(Slightly indecisive)
Affirmative.
(Beat)
We had turbulence.
marshall
TPA 545.. you have priority clearance for emergency landing.
(Beat)
I copy request for forty ambulances.
Spins in his chair. Gestures to his assistant, a woman. Mouths words ‘shit. Forty ambulances’ His eyebrows raised in inquisition.
marshall
Any structural damage? Engine failure?
(beat)
Hijackers?
pilot (V.o)
Negative.
marshall
Anyone unconscious?
pilot (V.O)
No.
(Beat)
But two dead.
Marshall covers the mike with his hand and turns. He frowns at the room in general.
He turns back to the mike.
Marshall
Two dead from turbulence? What the hell’s going on?
He uncovers the mike.
cut to:
Still ribbon of black Tarmac. SOUND of ambulance sirens. Increasing in pitch as they near. One by one Ambulances.
TPA 545 lands. Doors open
Medical personnel swarm every where. Four crew members walk towards an ambulance carrying one of the pilots. He is bare headed and apparently unconscious.
Though the shot is three quarters profile, we can make out that they are Chinese. The group seems to move surreptitiously.
cut to:
A street. We precede a pair of jogging shoes and gray sweatpants hitting the pavement rhythmically. As we move upwards towards the person’s waist, it is obviously a woman.
There are short beeps. We see Casey Singleton break stride, panting and check the beeper. Attractive, nearing forties, long limbed.
ON PAGER as the words roll.
“IRT WAR ROOM SEVEN OR YOUR ASS”
cut to:
A Lexus stands and a man Casey’s ex husband JIM smoking a cigarette waits as their daughter ALLISON ties shoelaces on the steps.
Casey Jogs to a stop.
casey
Jim
Jim grins irritatingly.
Casey
(Panting from her run)
I thought we said no cigarettes before Ally.
JIM
Don’t try to dictate to me.
casey
Jim..
allison
Bye mom.
She reaches for a hug.
Casey sighs and turns. She hugs Ally. Her face reflects the wrenching feeling that she feels inside to be parted from her daughter for a week.
casey
Bye Ally. Remember your sweater.
But Allison is already getting in the car and chatting excitedly to her dad
ally
Will you take me to the beach daddee? Please.. mom says she has no time. And maybe horse riding…
The car drives away without either JIM or Allison looking back.
Casey stands looking hurt.
cut to:
ON CASEY as she drives and fiddles with her radio tuning into one station after another. She gets frustrated after some time. Hits the dash with her fist.
The car phone rings. She picks it up.
casey
Oh morning Norma! Hi.
(Pause)
What? New Kid? Assistant?
She wrinkles her face in distaste.
casey
Norton family? Shit. Okay walk him to administration. I’ll pick him up on the way.
(Pause)
What’s this about an IRT?
(Pause)
No Idea? That’s okay. Bye.
She hangs up the phone.
We Angle up through the windshield to see the wide gates with a sign reading GATE 7.
ON Casey as she hurriedly shows her badge before clipping it to her blouse.
The gates open and she drives in.
Ahead it is a aircraft plant. Huge. To a side, there is a glass fronted building with a painted sign that reads ADMINISTRATION.
cut to:
Casey brings the car to a stop but does not kill the engine. A tall young man saunters over. Boyish looks. Sports coat and tie, khaki slacks and penny loafers. He’s BOB RICHMAN.
richman
Ms. Singleton? Bob Richman. Your new assistant.
He extends his hand. Casey shakes it hurriedly.
casey
I’m Casey Singleton. Get in. We’re late.
richman
(Incredulous surprise)
Late? It’s not even seven.
casey
(Through clenched teeth staring straight ahead and engaging gears)
We start at six.
Car races off, spinning the wheels for a second before accelerating.
cut to:
The car comes to a screeching stop. Casey climbs out. Richman affecting boredom follows.
They walk into the huge hangar and climb up a staircase of metal steps. Their footsteps CLANG. Planes in various stages of construction stand lined up.
richman
Why’re we here?
casey
IRT
richman
IRT?
Casey Sighs
casey
Incident review team. We meet whenever there’s an accident
(Beat)
Or incident.
They come to a landing. Richman pauses but Casey keeps going.
Richman shouts out after her.
richaman
You have an incident now?
casey
Probably yes. That’s when we get called here.
Richman
How often do you meet?
Casey stops and turns.
casey
Once in two months at an average.
richman
That often?
Casey does not reply. But simply shakes her head in seeming resignation.
Richman catches up with her at a catwalk which they have arrived at.
richman
Why is this place empty?
He points down to the shop floor where the Airplanes stand.
Casey looks down at the work floor and up at Richman’s eyes for a long moment making him feel uncomfortable.
casey
There are approximately five thousand people working there at the moment.
(Beat)
But you’re right. Five thousand is kinda empty.
richman
Five thousand?
She turns away leaving him gaping and walks to a glass walled room at the end of the catwalk seemingly suspended from the roof.
casey
Welcome to the War room.
She goes in.
There’s a round Formica table and simple tubular metal chairs. Five men in shirtsleeves and a secretary are already there.
ON CASEY as she stops for a perceptible moment, her face registering surprise.
In the room are John Marder, COO, looking slick and corporate. DOUG DOHERTY, glum face, bad dress sense, Nguyen Van Trung, Vietnamese, Ken Burne, Red headed, hot tempered and looks as though he’s looking for a fight.
RON SMITH insignificant and bald but genius. MIKE LEE, Chinese.
casey
Morning everyone. This is my new assistant Bob Richman.
marder
Sit down. You’re late.
casey
I..
She’s interrupted by the secretary giving her a thin folder with the company logo on the cover.
Casey
Thank you.
marder
(Attention on everyone.)
Casey’s handling press. She’s now representing Quality Assurance at this IRT. Okay everyone?
(Without waiting for any response he continues)
Transpacific Air, TPA 545, N-22 fuse, departure from Kaitak, Hong Kong at twenty two hundred hours yesterday.
richman
(Whispering to Casey)
Fuse?
casey
Fuselage.
marder (cont’d)
Hit turbulence at approximately five hundred hours this morning.
There’s a collective groan.
marder
There were severe pitch oscillations.
burne
Altitude?
marder
Thirty seven thousand feet.
casey
Fatalities?
marder
Two stiffs. Fifty six injured.
casey
Weather anomalies?
marder
None apparently but you’ll have to go through the sat maps and other flight weather reports. They’re on the way.
trung
The crew’s been debriefed I presume?
marder
(Pause. Looks at Mike Lee)
They caught a connecting flight out.
Surprise written large on everyone’s face and they collectively turn to Mike Lee.
lee
(Uncomfortable)
They have to report and attend the hearing in China.
burne
Who was the pilot?
marder
John Chang. Best in the business. Re-certified on our flight simulators only last month.
van trung
The FDR?
Richman leans to Casey to ask a question. Casey beats him to the punch.
casey
(Whispered)
Flight data recorder. The famed black box.
doherty
Maintenance?
marder
Faultless.
There’s a long silence.
marder
We’ve eliminated human error, weather and maintenance. So what are the possibilities?
Mark lee
The engineering.
There is anger written on the faces around the moon. Everyone starts to talk. Conversation overlapping
doherty
That’s THE best wide body aircraft in the world Lee.
burne
Where’s your fucking crew lee? Maybe it’s pilot error after all. Maybe they turned their tails and ran.
casey
Ken..
Marder
Quiet everyone..
(Pause. The shouting continues)
I said Shut up.
The room goes quiet.
Marder
We’re here to find out if N-22 design is at fault. We are here to show that it’s not N-22 at fault here.
ken burne
(Glaring at Mark Lee)
We’ll have it nailed John. I have full confidence in the N-22.
(Beat. He transfers his look to Marder)
I have it nailed within the month.
Marder
(Clenching teeth)
I’m afraid we don’t have a month. I have to make an announcement. We have a letter of intent from the Beijing Government to purchase fifty N-22.
(Pauses for effect)
There is pin drop silence around the room. Every one holds their breath.
dougherty
(Whispers)
Jesus.. It was true after all..
marder
And we’re finalizing the deal at the end of the week.
(Another pause)
Burne realizes what this means.
burne
Shit..
marder
So you have one week. One week to find out what went wrong with TPA 545. It means life or death for this company.
(Beat)
And if you fail, the company is in deep shit. And everyone of us is out of a job.
He gets up, looks at every individual in the room to stress his point. Turns and walks out of the room.
burne
Asshole.
smith
What?
burne
He’s setting us up. We’ve be getting competition from Boeing and Airbus and if he fails at getting the order, he’ll place it squarely on us.
dougherty
Either way it’s lose lose lose for us.
trung
Let’s go take a look at the plane.
cut to:
An orange mini van comes to a stop. The only aircraft occupying the hangar is the TPA545. The doors open and the IRT members step out.
The six IRT members stride abreast purposefully across the hangar. TPA 545 stands in the middle with technicians all over it.
Richman follows at a distance looking over the place.
burne
Let’s do it.
Like a Swat team in action, the engineers break into a run climbing up ladders onto the massive wing.
Richman jogs to catch up with Casey.
Richman
(Critically)
They all go right to the wing.
Casey
It’s the most important part. Any fault with the aircraft itself would come from there.
richman
Where are we headed?
casey
Inside.
They go towards the nose and climb a roll in staircase.
Richman wrinkles his nose at the top.
richman
Phew!! What is that smell?
casey
Vomit.
They enter the forward cabin door just behind the cockpit. Casey and Richman stop.
Richman
Jesus!
The scene is like that of the remnants of a hurricane. Odd things litter the floor. Personal stuff. Some oxygen masks hang from the overhead compartment. Many are missing and some are on the floor. Vomit and blood splatters are everywhere.
Some seats are broken. Bloody handprints and smears can be seen on the ceiling.
richman
What the hell happened here?
Casey stoops over. She comes up with a mass of broken plastic and entangled tape. She hands it to Richman
richman
What do I do with this?
casey
Keep it.
She moves forward.
casey
People were rolled about like dice in a cup.
Richman is speechless. Casey goes aft sidestepping Norton IRT clean up crew in blue uniforms collecting the material and putting them in plastic bags. Back, the destruction is even worse.
An overhead bin is partially open. Nylon mesh hangs in what appears to be a bunch. Looks like a large bag Almost completely hanging out. One of the clean up crew tries to free the nylon mesh. He pries the door up.
Suddenly the mass of plastic swings free to end up just before Casey’s horrified face. It is the body of a middle aged Chinese man. The mouth and the eyes are wide open and the neck is twisted at an unnatural angle.
Casey screams.
Sounds of running steps as Richman flees.
clean up crew guy
Sorry ‘bout that ma’am. Looks like his foot is wedged inside.
Casey nods. Trying to straighten her composure.
casey
How did he get there?
CUCG
Dunno ma’am. He was just hanging there. Someone’s wrapped him in the mesh to hide him. He looked gory.
Another clean up guy passes by carrying a plastic bag with a blue cap inside.
casey
Just a moment. I’d like to see that.
The man hands the plastic bag. It’s a pilot’s cap with a stripe. Silver wings on the front and the yellow transpacific medallion in the center.
casey
Where’d you get this?
Clean up man
Outside the aft Galley. Near the cafeteria.
Casey looks at the cap pensively.
cut to:
Richman gets up as Casey walks into the room.
richman
Sorry about running out.
casey
I got unnerved too.
The four engineers walk in.
casey
Anything?
van trung
Avionics fine.
doughtery
So is structure. Control systems. You name it. Everything’s fine.
Burne
Aircraft’s perfect.
richman
Maybe it’s just turbulence like the pilot said.
Burne glares at Richman.
Doherty interposes himself.
doherty
Straighten him out Casey.
casey
Turbulence is a catch all phrase. It happens but pilots have warning systems. Radar, other aircraft. Even if it hits your plane, there is time for the pilot to change course and evade it.
Richman
I’m not sure about that. I’ve been on flights with pretty rough turbulence.
Burne
(savagely)
Have you ever seen anyone Killed on those ROUGH flights?
richman
No but.. what else is it?
casey
That’s what we’re here to find out.
Casey’s mobile phone rings. She walks to a distance and answers it. A moment later she joins the group.
She looks at all of them.
casey
That was Mark Lee.
richman
What does he say?
casey
Guy’s you’re not going to like this.
richman
Like what?
casey
He’s been getting taped eyewitness evidence from the passengers. He probably feels guilty about the crew.
richman
He has no business doing that. Does he? I mean he represents the carrier.
burne
Shut up kid.
casey
A passenger says that there was a groan from a wing.
All the engineers groan. Doherty slips to the floor and clutches his head.
casey
And an Air hostess says that the pilot said it was an..
all the Engg together
Uncommanded Slats extension.
richman
What’s that?
casey
Uncommanded slats extension. How do I explain it..
van trung
Do we have the UG demo software from UCLA? Show him that.
burne
Do we have to waste time on this? Jesus we have just one week and we have to teach this guy kindergarten stuff? Our asses are on the firing line.
Casey ignores Burne’s outburst. To Trung.
Casey
You mean the thing we did for the UG course. The PR thing.
richman
What’s that?
trung
Yes.
casey
Good Idea.
Casey walks to a corner of the room where there is a computer with a twenty nine inch monitor.
Casey
(back to us as she works on the computer)
We had some undergrads come here and do this as a project. A PR thing.
A simple solid model commercial jet appears on the monitor with the Norton insignia. As Casey speaks, the relevant pictures appear.
casey
The airplane flies entirely due to the wing structure. It’s the most important part of the aircraft.
The video shows the wing loom into focus and the wing break into a cut section to show the camber profile.
Casey (cont’d)
Do you know Bernoulli’s principle?
richman
I am a law graduate.
burne
Fucking Clarence Darrow.
Casey
Okay. It’s a simple concept. When air flows over and under the wing profile, the air flow over the wing surface is relatively slower compared to the air flow below the wing surface. Got that?
Richman nods.
The video shows fluid arrows demonstrate the airflow around the wing profile.
casey
Okay. This causes a lower pressure above the aerofoil and a higher pressure under the wing. So the wing lifts and the airplane flies.
(Beat)
The monitor reverts to the complete plane. As Casey proceeds the relevant control surfaces are demonstrated on the video and the movement that they produce in the aircraft.
casey (cont’d)
Now the controls. There are the axes of controls. The pitch, the yaw and the roll.
She turns to the monitor.
casey
These are the control surfaces. The rudder for yaw or turns to the left and right, slats in the leading surface of the wing for initial increased lift combing with ailerons at the trailing surface and the ailerons also give banking movement. That is angled turn.
richman
All this is interesting but..
casey
When we say uncommanded slats deployment, that means that the slats move forward during high altitude flight. Like this.
She turns to the computer and the slat deployment is again illustrated on the monitor.
casey
When that happens at high altitude..
Richman
It’s just going to climb higher.
Burne
Shut up Clarence and listen.
casey
The speed and lift produced makes it go up and stall. Pilot tries to compensate nose up flight but it becomes unstable with slats out. So it pitches.
She again turns to the computer.
casey
See what happens? That’s what is called porpoising.
richman
So you have a case of uncommanded slats deployment. The aircraft’s at fault.
casey
No.
Richman raises his eyebrows in a mixture of sarcasm and surprise.
richman
Has there been a problem with slats?
casey
Eight separate incidents.
richman
So uncommanded slats deployment does occur on the N-22.
casey
It used to. Not anymore.
richman
No? But that seems obvious it does. You said the aircraft porpoised and you showed that slats deployment causes pitching. It’s obvious..
burne
Nothing is obvious. Come with me.
casey
Where are you going?
burne
Back to LAX. I want this slat thing settled for once and all.
cut to:
Back at the LAX maintanence hangar, everything is quiet now. The clean up crew has finished and just a couple of them remain.
Casey Richman and Burne come into the cockpit. It is a typical commercial aircraft cockpit. Burne seats himself in the co-pilot’s seat and gestures Richman to sit in the pilot’s seat.
burne
Now Clarence, This is the pedestal.
He points to the central boxy structure between the seats. There are many lever in slots on the pedestal. Burne points to one little lever with a dome covering it.
burne
Okay. This is the slats deployment lever. An uncommanded slats deployment is when the slats lever is accidentally knocked to the extend position. That is what used to happen earlier. We’ve fixed it.
Now engage the slats.
richman
(Sarcastic)
I’ve never flown a plane before.
burne
(Equally sarcastic)
Good for us. Pull the lever up, then right and then down.
Richman opens the dome and does as instructed.
burne
Now look at your display.
The indicator light reads SLATS EXTENDED.
burne
Now your slats are extended. Now retract the slats.
Richman complies reversing the procedure.
burne
Good. Now you’re going to do an unintended slats deploy anyway you can. Go ahead. Anyway you can.
Burne leans and closes the dome down on the lever. Richman tries to hit the dome. His hand simply slides off the cover. He tries all angles. The dome doesn’t even budge.
burne
Here try that clipboard. Maybe it’ll give you some leverage.
Richman hesitates.
burne
(Screams at Richman unnerving him)
Go ahead. You were the one who said anything was possible. Hit the sucker.
(Pause as Richman tries)
Are you a wimp? Smash that lever if you can.
Richman tries with the clipboard. No effect.
richman
Maybe the dome was open.
Burne
Good thinking. Maybe the dome was open.
He reaches out and opens the dome.
burne
Now try.
Richman looks doubtfully. He again tries with the clipboard, with his hand. Every time the dome prevents contact with the lever or falls down closing it.
Eventually Richman gives up, sweating with the effort.
richman
Okay. I get the point.
Burne has let off enough steam too.
burne
(Very slowly)
An uncommanded slats deployment is impossible on this aircraft.
Richman gets off the pilot’s seat and walks out of the cockpit.
Casey begins to follow when she feels a restraining hand.
burne
A moment Casey.
casey
Sure.
He looks out and around to see if everyone is out of earshot.
burne
What’s with the kid?
Casey shrugs.
casey
He’s a Norton relative.
burne
What else?
casey
Marder sent him to me.
burne
You check him out?
casey
No. Why?
burne
I did. My friends in Marketing tell me he’s a weasel. Check him out.