Script: "Final Destination" Origionely Called "FLIGHT 180"

EARLY DRAFT

Written By: James Wong and Glen Morgan

January 15, 1999

**NOTE**** THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS A SPOLIER FOR THE MOVIE **** DON'T READ

ANY FURTHER IF YOU HAVEN"T SEEN THE MOVIE OR IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE

SPOILED*****

The whole ending was changed for the movie. They changed it so the ending in

this first draft is not in the final product.

Read the script and at the end it will tell you the new ending.

Submitted By: AlexClare13

My EMAIL: alexclare13@hotmail.com

DEVON SAWA....... ALEX BROWNING

ALI LARTER....... CLEAR RIVERS

KERR SMITH....... CARTER HORTON

KRISTEN CLOKE.... MS. VAL LEWTON

DANIEL ROEBUCK... AGENT WEINE

ROGER G. SMITH... AGENT SCHRECK

CHAD DONNELA..... TOD WAGGNER

AMANDA DETMER.... TERRY CHANEY

SEAN W. SCOTT.... BILLY HITCHCOCK

TONY TODD........ BLUDWORTH

BARBARA TYSON.... BARBARA BROWNING

BRENDAN FEHR..... GEORGE WAGGNER

Awaiting......each of us; a cold...dark...lonely place.

Deny its finality. Dride it's totality. Dread the enescapable

invitability......it will arrive.

The BLACK SILENT SCREEN senses this moment before a distant blues harp

introduces a contemporary band's cover of Blood, Sweat, and Tears' campy,

yet haunting, gospel, "And When I Die."

As the Introduction closes, RESONATES... A FLASH OF LIGHTING!

A CRACK OF THUNDER!

CUT TO:

Int. ALEX'S BEDROOM - NIGHT - CLOSE - BED

An airline ticket is tossed INTO FRAME beside a suitcase; "ERO-AIR. FLIGHT

#180. New York City (JFK) - Paris, Charles de Gaulle (CDG.) Departure:

Thursday 13May. 16H25 - Arrival: Friday 14May. 05H40."

"And When I Die" Continues throughout the MAIN TITLES:

AN OLD TABLE FAN

swivals beside and open window. Outside, a humid spring THUNDER STORM drops

warm, ominous rain. The figure of a seventeen year old boy, ALEX BROWNING,

packing for a trip, passing the fan...

THE BED

A Paris guidebook is tossed atop the plane ticket. CAMERA PUSHES IN ON THE

BOOK as the fans breezes flip throught the pages.

THE TABLE FAN

turns, head swiveling away from the bed.

TIGHTER - THE GUIDEBOOK PAGES

stop flipping, REVEALING A GULLOTINE from the Reign of Terror.

As an American passport is dropped beside the guidebook...

THE TABLE FAN

swivals, returning towards the guidebook on the bed.

THE GUIDEBOOK PAGES

FLIP. FLIP. FLIP. Alex's faint shadow continues moving about the room. The

fan head swivals away, allowing the pages to settle... upon a Louvre

masterpiece, Francisco de Zurbarans Lying-in-the State of St. Bonaventura.

CAMERA CREEPS IN, teasingly on the dark faced corpse. The pages begin to

turn once again.

TIGHTER, OMINOUS ANGLE - THE DESK FAN

There is more of a hint of conincidence as the blades whirl and head

swivels. The boys figure passes, blocking the breeze.

THE GUIDEBOOK PAGES

stop dead on... Jim Morrison's decorated tomb in the Cemetiere du Pere

Lachaise. A pilgrim has spray painted "This is the End." Which in fact, it

is... of the MAIN TITLE

BARBARA

Alex...

CAMERA ADJUSTS, to fully reveal Alex Browning as he turns toward the bedroom

door. Alex is an average kid; handsome. A high school "everyman."

One the wall amongst Yankee and Knicks posters, hangs a pennant;

"Mt. Abraham High School, New York. The Fighting Colonials!"

Alex's mother, BARBARA, 45, walks in, excited and a bit anxious.

BARABRA (Cont'd)

Tod and Georges dad just called,

he's picking you up at 10 in the morning.

Bus leaves the high school for JFK at

noon.

Barbara moves towards the suitcase to help him pack. Alex's father, KEN

BROWNING, 48 appears, leaning against the door threshold, smiling envoiusly

at his son.

KEN

My suitcase workn'out for ya

Alex nods and buckles it. Barbara reaches in to tear off an airline baggage

I.D. ticket attached from the previous flight.

ALEX

Whoa! Whoa! Mom, you gotta leave

that on. It's like... the tag

made the last flight without

crashin' or anything, right?

So, it should stay on, or with,

the bag for good luck.

BARBARA

Where would you get a nutball

idea like that?

EXTREAMLY CLOSE - THE AIRLINE BAGGAGE MARKER

is torn away from the suitcase handle.

RETURN

As Barbara picks up the suitcase to place it on the floor... a dozon old

baggage I.D. tickets spill from the outer compartment. She looks at Ken, as

if "you?" The guilty party shrugs.

KEN

I'm still here.

Barbara shakes her head as Alex smiles at his dad.

KEN (Cont'd)

Seventeen and on the loose.

Ten days in Paris. In the

springtime! Live it up, Alex...

CAMERA INCHES INTO KEN as he winks at his son...

KEN (Cont'd)

Got your whole life ahead

of you.

ALEX

CAMERA CREEPS IN as, oddly, the words strike him portentously...

CUT TO:

INT. ALEX'S BEDROOM - LATER

The storm has ceased. The room is QUIET.

As if itself a presence, CAMERA CREEPS across the dark and motionless room

TOWARD Alex, sleeping soundly. CAMERA CRANES DOWN to the level of the bed

until Alex is in the f.g. and the room is visible behind him.

On the rear wall, the Fighting Colonials pennant begins to flutter slightly,

as if affected by the moving breeze. The path, of which is continues toward

the bed, rustling the sheets, subtly blowing Alex's hair and continuing OVER

CAMERA.

Even in his sleep, Alex shivers from the passing cold. His eyes open

surprised to be suddenly awakened. He considers for a beat, then looks

toward...

THE WINDOWS

which... are closed.

ALEX

puzzled, checks...

THE TABLE FAN

which is off.

ALEX

perplexed, rolls over toward his digital clock. It's 1:00 a.m., however...

the middle digit bar in the first zero faintly flickers so this time appears

to read... 1:80.

AIRPORT P.A. (V.O.)

(overlapping)

Attention airline travelers...

CUT TO:

INT. JOHN F. KENNEDY AIRPORT - MORNING - TELEVISION MONITOR

FLIGHT 180 departs 4:25. Gate 39.

AIRPORT P.A. (V.O.)

This airport does not

support solicitors...

CAMERA ADJUSTS FROM the "Arrival-Departure Schedule" to REVEAL forty high

school KIDS, and four TEACHERS and several PARENTS are gathered inside the

International terminal at J.F.K. Several of the students wear Fighting

Colonial leterman's jackets or hats and shirts displaying "Mt. Abraham High,

New York."

AIRPORT P.A. (V.O.) (CONT'D)

You are not required to give

money to solicitors.

Alex gathers his bags, as does his best friend TOD WAGGNER and his older

brother GEORGE WAGGNER, standing before their father, JERRY WAGGNER. For

Alex, any psychic tension from the night before seems forgotten in the fun

and excitement of the trip.

MR. WAGGNER

Alright, you guys got everything?

TOD

Yeah, we're all set Dad.

MR. MURNAU, the French teacher (any further description necessary?) and

leader of the class trip waves his arm.

MR. MURNAU

Les estudients, allons en France!

MR. WAGGNER

Does that mean "go?"

Tod shrugs, "I guess." as he moves to his father and gives him a warm hug

goodbye. Mr. Waggner then gives his older son a hug.

AIRPORT P.A. (V.O.

Atencion senores pasajeros. No

es necesario contribuir...

MR. WAGGNER

I'll miss you guys.

Tod and George gives a wave, as does Alex, who is slapped on the back by Mr.

Waggner.

MR. WAGGNER

Take care of those two, Alex.

ALEX

I will. Don't worry.

The group begins down the airport toward the check-in counter. In the f.g.,

before the boys, strides a girl, CLEAR RIVERS, 17, reading the TROPIC OF

CANCER. The loner in the group, Clear wears dark colors against the

insecerity of her sex appeal. She appears aloof and more wordly then the

other students.

Readying his ticket and documents, Tod flips open his passport, checking out

his photo.

TOD

I didn't think anything could

worse than my yearbook picture.

GEORGE

Now you know how I feel haven'

to look at you all the time.

AIRPORT P.A. (V.O.)

Avis aux passagers...

Mr. Murnau stops the group. Excited, he cups an ear with one hand while

raising a finger toward the public address system.

MR. MURNAU

Entendez classe, qu'est ce que

c'est l'announce?

Everyone begrudgingly stops to listen.

AIRPORT P.A. (O.S. CONT'D)

Vous n'etes pas dans l'obligation

de contribuer aux demandes des quemandeurs.

CARTER HORTON

is the class dickhead who mix and matches his role models in the most

superficial manner. His hand is tucked into his girlfriend, TERRY CHANEY'S,

waistband...

CARTER

(re: MURNAU)

What the fuck's he want?

Terry, hot now, but with no idea what time will do to her in just five

years, smiles obsequiously and mouths "shh."

P.A. SYSTEM (O.S., CONT'D)

cher aeroport n'est responsable

pour leurs activities.

Mr. Murnau scans the group, his expression looking for an answer. Clear

Rivers keeps her head in her book as...

CLEAR

The airport doesn't endorse solicitors.

MR. MURNAU

Tres bien, Clear! Tout droit!

She doesn't react. Her expression remains cool as Murnau leads the

procession forward. The boys continue. Alex sighs...

ALEX

Fuh-ck, do we have to put

up with that shit the whole time.

A hand reaches out to gently detain Alex. He looks up to find a HARE

KRISHANA, dressed in everyday clothes, but head shaved and a mark on his

nose.

HARE KRISHANA

Death is not the end.

CAMARA PUSHES IN ON ALEX... unsettled by the soft spoken, yet ominous,

"Solicitation." The Krishana offers a small book, REALITY BEYOND THE MATTER:

VAISHNAVA PHILOSOPHY.

As he hands the book to Alex, a female form ENTERS FRAME between them. The

women is MISS VALERIE LEWTON, 30, a feisty English teacher whose figure

inspires all the boys' fantasies.

MS. LEWTON

It will be for you if you harass

my students.

She places a hand on Alex's shoulder, herding him to the group.

HARE KRISHANA

(pissy)

Hare Rama.

Ms. Lewton turns and, while walking backward, flashes a smile...

MS. LEWTON

(mouths)

Fuck off.

As she turns her back and continues down the terminal...

CUT TO:

INT. CHECK IN DESK - AIRPORT - DAY

Alex's passport and ticket are set INTO FRAME and picked up by a female

TICKET CLERK. Alex waits as she busily types into the computer and checks

his passport...

TICKET CLERK

I have a few questions to ask

you , this afternoon.

O.S., LOUD, EXAGGERATED plastic tiles rapidly CLICK and CLACK

TICKET CLERK (CONT'D)

Did you pack these bags yourself?

The CLACKING CONTINUES, demading Alex's attention. His eyes turn forward.

ALEX'S POV - THE FLIGHT INFORMATION BOARD

Plastic tabs CLACK rapidly, settling on the word... "CANCELLED."

ALEX

CAMARA CREEPS IN on his dawning paranoia...

TICKET CLERK (CONT'D, O.S.)

Have your belongings remained in your

possession the entire time?

Alex absently nods. Again, O.S., CLACK CLACK CLACK. His eyes move to...

ALEX'S POV - (TIGHTER) - FLIGHT INFORMATION BOARD

The plastic tabs FLIP and CLACK rapidly, stopping on... "DEPARTED."

TICKET DESK

Alex is still considering the "messages..."

TICKET CLERK

Have you recieved any packages

from persons unknown to you?

Alex quickly runs the day through his head and flashes her the REALITY

BEYOND MATTER book. She smiles, then leans over toward the baggage scales.

Alex's eyes turn toward...

CLOSE - (MOTION SLOWED)- ALEX"S LUGGAGE

a new airline I.D. marker is attached to his bag.

RETURN

Alex eyes the new tag hoping it's "good luck." As the clerk returns his

ticket and passport... CLACK, CLACK, CLACK.

TICKET CLERK

Same as your birthday.

Alex is puzzeled by the comment. He shakes his head if, "pardon me?" CAMARA

INCHES INTO the ticket clerk gesturing pleasantly to the passport and

ticket...

TICKET CLERK (CONT'D)

April 25th. Four-twenty-five...

your birthday is the same as your

departure time.

CLACK. CLACK. CLACK. Alex's eyes flash toward...

ALEX'S POV - (Full FRAME) - FLIGHT INFORMATION BOARD

the title settles upon... "TERMINAL."

CUT TO:

INT. SECURITY AREA - AIRPORT - MONITOR

The ghastly green and reds of the X-ray monitors flash as carry on bags

flash through the machine. CAMARA MOVES COUNTER to the direstion of the

conveyor belt. The pace and excitement of the collective group escalates as

departure approaches.

Carter Horton and his girlfriend, Terry, take cuts in line with smug,

bullying expressions. Unseen by the chaperones, no student, has the nerve to

protest Carters action. Alex, Tod, George and BILLY HITCHCOCK, heavy set

with a New York Rangers jersey watches Carter and Terry with disgust.

BILLY

I can't believe they let that dickhead

on this trip.

GEORGE

His parents bought a ton of those trip

certificates we had to sell, just

to get him out of their hair for ten days.

Excited, Tod speaks in a convert tone over Alex's shoulder.

TOD

Dude, I so worked the ticket clerk

so your sittin' next to Christa and

I'm next to Blake.

Alex looks up ahead of the metal detectors...

ALEX'S POV - TWO GIRLS

Attractive and they know it, CHRISTA MARSH and BLAKE DREYER appear clearly

out of Alex and Tod's league.

TOD (CONT'D)

That's seven hours and most of

it is in the dark.

ALEX AND TOD

The boys dump their change in a plastic bowls...

TOD

Dude, if we don't get someone

going on thif flight, we should

just call Dr. Kervorkian and put

ourselves out of our fuckn' misery.

As Alex and Tod pass through the metal detector, their eyes performing

reconnaissance on Christa and Blake, the opening drum BLASTS of Boingo's "No

One Lives Forever" OVERLAPS...

CUT TO:

INT. AIRLINE GATE - AIRPORT - AFTERNOON - CLOSE - GATE 39

CAMERA ADJUSTS from the sign indicating GATE 39. The class is squirrely and

excited. Mr. Murnau, Ms. Lewton, and the parent chaperones are allowing kids

to burn off steam at the gate, hoping for a calm flight.

CAMERA MOVES ALONG the awaiting passengers... Carter and Terry are making

out, a step away from heavy petting...

Blake and Christa are flipping through Parisian fashion magizines... Billy

Hitchcock lays into a Burrito Supreme...

CAMERA MOVES to an empty seat. Clear Rivers ENTERS FRAME and sits,

struggling with her Walkman, coffee, books, and a cassette box handmarked

"Boingo" (a cheat the We hear the song)

As she places her stuff on the unoccupied seat beside her, a Paris guidebook

falls on the floor, opened but face down. A passing, unidentified, student

reaches down and hands her the book, still open and face down.

CLEAR

Thanks.

The student continues down toward the observation deck. Clear looks at the

opened guidebook.

CLEAR'S POV - GUIDEBOOK

Princess Di's Mercedes is totaled in a Paris tunnel. Besides the photo are

two portraits of Diana and Dodi Al Fayed.

CLEAR

CAMERA INCHES IN as she shakes off a shiver down her spine. She looks up

from the book toward the student who handed it to her, the identity of which

is fully REVEALED to be Alex Browning.

He stands at the gate window, looking out at the plane.

ALEX'S POV - 747

It is raining. In the distance, MUFFLED THUNDER RUMBLES.

CAMERA CREEPS AWAY from the plane... huge, seemingly incapable of flight and

yet we unquestioningly trust our lives in this machine. Emotionless. Cold.

Lifeless, and yet soon full of life.

ALEX

Camera inches in on him

TOD (O.S.)

Dude, let's take a dump.

Tod MOVES INTO FRAME beside Alex...

ALEX

Man, that is one George Michael

notch from being gay.

TOD

Dude, get wisdom. We're about to

board a seven hour flight. The toilets

in coach are barely ventilated closets.

What if your body wants that airplane food

out of your system and you have to go torgue

a wicked cable and then right after you walks

in Christa or Blake? You want them

to associate with you with that reflexive gag

and the watery sting in your eyes?

Alex takes a beat to consider...

CUT TO:

INT. MEN'S ROOM - AIRPORT - OVERHEAD

CAMERA LOOKS DOWN on two stalls. Alex sits in one, Tod sits in the other.

O.S., OVER the airports P.A. SYSTEM John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High"

begins...

ALEX

John Denver...

Upon the mention, CAMERA CRANES DOWN, TURNING, TWISTING UNTIL FINDING ALEX

in a straight on CLOSE-UP. He listens, tense...

JOHN DENVER (O.S.)

He was born in the summer of his twenty

seventh year...

ALEX

He died in a plane crash.

A P.A. ANNOUNCMENT breaks into the song...

P.A. SYSTEM

Ladies and Gentlemen, thank-you for

your patience, at this time we would

like to begin pre-boarding of Euro-Air

Flight 180 to Paris through gate 39.

Really for the first time, Alex appears a bit tentative and pale. It is

intensified by the return of the song...

JOHN DENVER (O.S.)

It's the Colorado Rocky Mountian High/

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky...

CUT TO:

INT. BOARDING AREA - GATE 39 - CLOSE - ALEX'S BOARDING PASS

is torn along the perforated edge and handed back.

ALEX

looks down the paasenger ramp.

ALEX'S POV - RAMP TUNNEL

CAMERA CREEPS toward it... lit to cheat of feeling of no return.

O.S., distant THUNDER RUMBLES...

WIDER

There is something more emotionally tense about the moment of boarding than

take-off. CAMARA PICKS UP Ms. Lewton searching...

MS LEWTON

Anyone seen Billy Hitchcock?

How'd we lose him?

Tod nudges Alex toward the tunnel, the three boys start down the ramp,

passing Mr. Murnau who checks his list, counting heads...

MR MURNAU

Vingt huit, vingt neuf...

passenger ramp

Alex, Tod, and George catch up to Christa and Blake, excited. As always,

everyone becomes bottlenecked just at the point of entering the plane. Alex

looks out the ramp's side porthole window toward the back of the plane.

ALEX'S POV - THROUGH PORTHOLE

The enormous engine. The expansive wings. Behind the tail, distant, a bolt

of lightning FLASHES!

ALEX

looks away. Just ahead, in the plane, FLIGHT ATTENDANTS greet the

passengers. He is next to enter the plane.

CLOSE - FLOOR

a slice of opening from where the ramp meets the plane provides a sense of

how high up one actually stands.

ALEX

CAMERA PUSHES INTO HIM as he takes his first step into the plane.

CLOSE - AIRLINE CABIN FLOOR

Alex's Nikes land on the carpet.

INT. 747 - FIRST CLASS CABIN - AFTERNOON - CLOSE - BABY

SCREAMS! It's parents desperetly comfort the child.

CAMERA ADJUSTS, LEADING George, Alex and Tod through the aisles. Alex and

Tod wince at the screaming child. George, however feels comforted.

GEORGE

Good sign. Younger the better.

It would be a fucked up God to

take down this plane.

INT. ECONOMY CLASS CABIN - 747 - AFTERNOON

In the first row slumps a young man with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. A

cannula is set in his nostrils leading to an oxygon tank beside him.

The kid sneak sympathetic yet anxious glances at the man while continuing in

their seats. George whispers over his shoulder...

GEORGE

A REALLY fucked up God.

Alex's tension increases as he continues up the aisle.

ALEX'S POV - OVERHEAD COMPARTMENTS

CAMERA INCHES IN ON "Row 25. Seats H, I, and J."

ALEX

climbs into the row, carrying his backpack. He takes his window seat and

reaches up to the air flow valve.

CLOSE - AIR FLOW VALVE

turns, HISSING, air streaming full blast.

CAMERA INCHES IN ON HIM as he takes in deep breaths of the stale air. He

presses his face to the window.

ALEX'S POV - THE LEFT WING

Rain falls. GEARS WHIR as the ailerons are tested.

CLOSE - ALEX

CAMERA CREEPS TOWARD HIM, face to the glass; eyes scanning the plane and

outside area.

CHRISTA (O.S.)

Alex?

He turns toward the aisle.

ALEX'S POV -CHRISTA AND BLAKE

Man, they look great and they're workin' the sex appeal.

CHRISTA

Could you trade seats with Blake

so she and I can sit together? I

asked Tod, but he says he's got some

medical thing?

ALEX

sneaks a quick check with Tod.

ALEX'S POV - TOD

shakes his head. "NO! NO! DON'T DO IT."

ALEX AND THE GIRLS

He looks to them and knows he is just plain overmatched. Alex shrugs,

"Sure." In front of him Tod throws up his arms, disgusted. Alex climbs out

of his seats. The girls are touchy - feely thankful, but only know guys dig

that.

CHRISTA AND BLAKE

You're so sweet. Thanks, Alex.

Alex crames up into the aisles, making his way to Tod, sitting two rows up

in 22 H.

Alex climbs over Tod to take the window seat. Clear Rivers sits in the seat

directly behind Alex.

TOD

(mouths)

Fag.

ALEX

C'mon, man, like you really

thought you were tittie fuck 'em

over Greenland, or something?

TOD

Because of you, I gotta sit

here and watch fuckn' "Stepmom."

As Alex sits, the tray table falls from it's upright position.

He lifts the tray back up, but as he turns the latch, it BREAKS OFF in his

hand. He briefly tries to jimmie the tray into postition, then gives up.

CAMERA FOLLOWS ALEX'S HAND as it rises. CAMERA SWEEPS IN EXTREAMLY CLOSE to

the ATTENDANT CALL BUTTON. As Alex's finger engages the button, it lights up

orange.

ALEX

The jet lurches. He looks...

OUT OF THE WINDOW - ALEX'S POV

The 747 begins rolling out of the gate.

ALEX

As he looks back, searching for the nearst flight attendant...

ALEX'S POV - THROUGH THE SEATS - CLEAR RIVERS

reads her book. Another leans to look out the window.

ALEX

lifts a bit out of his seat, searching for any flight attendant O.S., A

PING.

CAPTAIN (V.O)

Flight Attendants prepare for

departure.

Looking fore in the cabin...

ALEX'S POV - NEAR THE FLIGHT DECK

The flight attendants strap themselves in for take-off.

ALEX

O.S., the ENGINE VLOUME INCREASES in PITCH and INTENSITY as the jet begins

to taxi. Alex sits back as the tray over his lap. He looks out the window.

ALEX'S POV - THE RIGHT WING

appears motionless in the f.g. as the tarmac and runway signs roll past the

window. THE ENGINE PITCH RISES...

ALEX

The ENGINES WHIR as the jet gathers SPEED. He checks the window.

ALEX'S POV- THE RUNWAY

is a blur. The airport terminals in the b.g. streak past. The wings lift,

angeled as the jets leaves the ground.

ALEX

O.S., hois classmates CHEER and "raise the roof." The trip has begun.

CAMERA PULLS AWAY FROM ALEX, as if reflecting his easing of annoyance with

the tray situation. He finally appears to notice the raucous reaction and

settles back in his seat, slightly pushed by mild-g force. The upwarding

angle increasing...

The cabin buffets, as if passing mild turbulance. Then...

The cabin sharply JOLTS! Everyone tenses, GASPS. CAMERA SWEEPS BACK TO ALEX.

And just as he clenches his backpack... the cabin BANGS, ROCKS. THE ENGINES

SPOOL TO A STALL. METAL TWISTS under extreme PRESSURE. The cabin dips,

angles, sharply to the right.

ALEX'S POV - THE CABIN

Passengers SCREAM! Unrestrained personal belongings fly across the aircraft

INTO CAMERA, which BUFFETS and SHAKES...

OXYGEN MASKS

deploy from the overhead compartments. A prerecorded message, like that

recorded by the black box of the crash of JAL# 123 August 12, 1985, BLARES

over the P.A., with erie calm...

MESSAGE (V.O.)

Fasten seat belts...put on

oxygon masks...

ALEX

his hand trembles as he reaches for the oxygon mask and places it over his

face. The ENGINES resuscutate. SCREAMING. WHINING. Alex checks out his

window.

ALEX'S POV - OUT OF WINDOW

The plane is on it's side losing altitude. A slow, sick spin.

ALEX

breaths deep into his oxygon cup.

The JET ENGINES GRIND AND WHIR, as if the craft were in the midst of a last

ditch effort to regain stability; the sounds DEAFENING over the PASSENGERS'

cruelly hopeless SCREAMS.

Then...

KA-BOOM

A DEVASTATING EXPLOSION ERUPTS across the cabin, blasting a five foot hole

in the fuseluge. Human limbs and blood sprays, craft and passengers torn to

shreds.

Dead students sit lifeless in their seats.

Every unrestrianed object on board flies to the hole and through the fire;

paper, books, luggage, pillows. A PARENT and a STUDENT clutch their seat in

terror, SCREAMING before they are pulled into the sky.

Wind. Screams. Dying Engines, a deafining blare.

ALEX AND TOD

SCREAM, pale, knowing there is no hope, no escape as the ENGINES DIE. The

cabin begins to tilt downwards... then straight down. Debris tumbles toward

the flight deck as if falling from a cliff.

OUTSIDE... the sick familiar SOUND of an aircraft going down.

ALEX is strapped to his seat, upper body facing downward toward the water.

FIRE, WIND, AND BLOOD WHIP across him. A BUILDING WHINE CRESCENDOES before a

second EXPLOSION RIPS ACROSS FRAME...

CUT TO:

CLOSE - ALEX'S TERRIFIED EYES

dilating rapidly, as the shock of what appears to be happening before him

washes over his every psyche.

CHRISTA (O.S.)

Alex?

ALEX

Drenched with sweat, trembling in his seat, his eyes dart toward Christa and

Blake. They look great and the're workin' the sex appeal.

CHRISTA

Could you trade seats with

Blake so she and I can sit

together? I asked Tod, but he's

got some medical thing.

Alex turns sickeninly disoriented. His eyes dart about searching for

evidnece of the catastrophe. There are none to be found. Alex blots from his

seat, startling the two girls. He scrambles toward Tod, who looks at his

friend, concerned.

TOD

Dude, what up?

Frenzied, Alex climbs over his friend, on top of the seat. Alex's panic has

alerted the other students and a MALE FLIGHT ATTENDANT who makes his way to

the row.

ALEX

grabs the tray table latch before the vacent seat. IT BREAKS OFF, JUST AS

BEFORE. CAMARA PUSHES INTO ALEX, terrified. He begins to hyperventilate.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT

Is there a a problem, sir?

Alex's wild eyes and expression convey "no fucking kidding there's a

problem." The flight attendant realizes this passenger is expiriencing a

serious episode.

Directly across the aisle, Carter Horton and Terry look at him with severe

expression.

CARTER

What's your fuckin' problem?

Mr. Murnau and Ms. Lewton unfasten their seat belts and rush toward Alex.

MR. MURNAU

Alex? Qu'est-ce se?

ALEX

Qu'est-ce se?! THE PLANES GONNA

EXPLODE!

Obviously, no one ever wants to ever hear that. The students tense.

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT

immediatly turns to other attendants, sighaling for assistance with a quick

definite gesture. In the b.g., attendants hustle toward the economy class

cabin.

CARTER AND TERRY

CARTER TERRY

Shut up, Browning! You're not funny.

ALEX

frenzied, begins moving toward the aisle.

ALEX

We have to get out!

This frightens everyone. Not the " prophecy," but his panicky, irrational

behavior.

ALEX (CONT'D)

We have to get off this plane!

CLEAR RIVERS

CAMARA PUSHES INTO HER, hearing Alex's declaration.

ALEX (CONT'D)

Now! NOW!!

RETURN

Alex is desperately climbing over Tod, who is trying to calmly restrain his

friend. Across the aisle, Carter Horton stands ready to quiet Alex, with

force.

CARTER

Sit! DOWN! Browning!

TOD FLIGHT ATTENDANT

Alex. Alex! Easy, man. Take it Sir, if this is a joke, we

easy. don't tolerate such humor.

The flight attendant restrains Crter with an extended forearm.

ALEX

I'm not joking! I'm not joking!

Ms. Lewton and Mr. Murnau move to the seats. Flight attendants try

restraining Alex from reaching the aisle.

MS. LEWTON MR. MURNAU

Alex, Knock it off. It's alright. Settle down, Alex.

ALEX

Listen to me! This plane will explode

on take-off!

FLIGHT ATTENDANT

Sir, we will remove you from the

aircraft if this continues.

CARTER

I'll remove him.

ALEX

Fuck you! I'll remove myself!

Carter reaches for Alex, who pushes back, trying to get out. Carter

responds aggressivly and now the flight attendant, Tod, and the two teachers

are in the midst of the melee.

The Co-Pilot arrives to secure the situation. He grabs Alex and begins

forcibly ushering him up the aisle.

A male flight attendant choke holds Carter from the back. Carter struggles

but the attendants postioning has the advantage. He begins removing Carter

from the plane as well.

TERRY

He didn't do nothin'!

She follows the attendant, hitting him to help her boyfriend.

Just arriving in the cabin, Billy Hitchcock tries to fight passed a

STEWARDESS to get to his seat. He is blocked by the mass of compatants as

they are escorted out.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT

(he's had it)

Anybody in the aisle is off the plane!

BILLY

No, wait, I was late... that's

my seat right there!

Inder protest, Billy gets pushed back off the plane. Mr. Murnau and Ms.

Lewton follow the pack of students and airline personnel as they move toward

the exit, calling out to seated teachers and parents while hustleing up the

aisles.

MS. LEWTON MR. MURNAU

Everybody just stay where you Mr. Carpenter, keep an eye on

are. Just sit tight. things for a moment.

Tod watches, amazed and concerned for his friend. He looks across the cabin

to...

TOD'S POV - GEORGE

his brother gestures, mouths... "you should go with him."

TOD

starts off down the aisles. CAMERA COUNTERS... ADJUSTING TO CLEAR RIVERS.

Amongst the chaos, she considers for a beat, then grabs her backpack, stands

and moves into the aisle to exit the plane.

CUT TO:

INT. BOARDING AREA/TUNNEL - GATE 39 - DAY

Alex, the co-pilot, Carter, the attendant, Mr. Murnau, Ms, Lewton, Terry,

Tod and Billy proceed down the tunnel. Billy is confused by the chaos.

BILLY

I didn't do anything! I have

my ticket right here!

Arriving SECURITY OFFICERS quickly have control of the situation. Alex is

taken to a seat at the gate and dropped there by the co-pilot, who, winded,

eyes the officers.

CO-PILOT

You got this?

The officers nod. One moves toward Carter as he dropped in a seat away from

Alex. Terry sits behind Carter.

The co-pilot and attendants start back toward the plane. Ms. Lewton hustles

over to them and an airline representitive.

CO-PILOT

No one get's back on board.

That's my call.

MS. LEWTON

PLEASE... I've got forty

students going to Paris...

As these negotiations... CAMERA MOVES PAST Ms. Lewton and the Co-Pilot to

the boarding ramp door...

Clear Rivers exits and takes a seat away from the others, aware she is

unnoticed in the confusion. CAMERA INCHES IN as she looks up toward...

ALEX

CAMERA MATCHES THE MOVE TO HIM AS TOD and Mr. Murnau attemp to calm him

down.

TOD

It's alright. It's alright.

You're off the plane. You're

the plane...

Rattled, Alex is attmpted to compose himself. Ms. Lewton appears, hurriedly

pulling aside Mr. Murnau.

MS. LEWTON

Airlines not taking this very well.

They'll let one of us back on and

the rest can grab a six ten flight

Get's in two hours later at DeGaulle.

It's alright. It's not that big of a

deal.

MR. MURNAU

I'll stay.

MS. LEWTON

No, you know the whole French

thing. Get on the plane.

Murnau understands this point and takes off toward the boarding ramp door.

Pleading his case, Billy follows Murnau.

BILLY

I was in the bathroom.

The lock was stuck. I didn't

fight with anyone!

Hustling toward the door. Mr. Murnau gestures toward Ms. Lewton as if "talk

to her." He disappears down the ramp. CAMERA PUSHES IN as airline personnel

CLOSE THE DOOR...with an ominous THUD.

EXT. GATE 39 - AFTERNOON - CARTER, TERRY & BILLY'S POV

Flight 180 pulls out of gate, taxiing toward the runway.

INT. GATE 39 - OBSERVATION WINDOW - AFTERNOON

Carter turns over his shoulder, looking back angerily towards Alex. Terry

wraps a calming/restraining arm around Carter's shoulder, but he starts

towards Alex, seated with Ms. Lewton.

MENS ROOM ACROSS FROM GATE 39

Tod races out of the bathroom with a dampened paper towel.

CAMERA FOLLOWS as he hands it to Ms. Lewton seated next to Alex. The teacher

places it on Alex's forehead.

TOD

I called your mom and dad

and they're on their way.

MS. LEWTON

Alex, talk to me. What happened?

Alex looks at Tod, sho nods. His friend's expression is soothing and open.

With lowered tense tone, meant for only two people beside him...

ALEX

I... I saw it... like, I don't

know... the plane took off. I saw

it leave the runway... I looked down

and saw the ground...

Ms. Lewton and Tod exchange concered glances.

ALEX (CONT'D)

And then the cabin banged and the

left side exploded. The the whole

plane... blew up. It was so real.

Exactly how everything goes.

TOD

Been on many planes that blew

up, have you?

Good point. Alex looks away.

MS. LEWTON

You must have fallen asleep.

CARTER

We get thrown off the plane

and blow a half day in Paris

because Browning has a bad dream?

(Mocking Alex)

It's going to explode! It's

going to explode!

TOD

Fuck off, Horton.

MS. LEWTON

Tod...

A raw nerve, Alex stands.

ALEX

Only trip you're gonna take

is to the fuckin' hospital.

Carter scoffs while moving aggressively toward Alex.

Carter makes a quick move and grabs Alex. The two sicurity guards rush in to

break it up. Chaos erupts agian as the two boys wrestle in the terminal.

OBSERVATION DECK

CAMERA PUSHES INTO Billy Hitchcock, depressed as he watches the plane take

off...

BILLY

There they go and here we stay.

AIRPORT TERMINAL

One guard restrains Alex; another Carter. In the b.g. out of the observation

deck window... Flight 180 lifts off the runway.

CARTER

You're payin' for my trip

Browning!

ALEX

I wish you were on the plane!

In the b.g. the 747 head and taillights suddnely, violently, ERUPT into a

gigantic fireball of flame.

It takes a few seconds for the CONCUSSION to hit the terminal, but when it

does... BOOM! A window SHATTERS! Chairs rock! People are knocked off their

feet.

CAMERA SWEEPS INTO ALEX... stunned as he turns to the window...

ALEX'S POV - FLIGHT 180

The unceremonious speed of obliteration of hundreds of lives as cruel as

flaming debris plummets from the early evening sky.

CLEAR RIVERS

CAMERA PUSHES IN ON HER, rattled, afraid, but aware of Alex as she is first

to turn her eyes toward him.

GATE 39

Billy Hitchcock walks backward from the window, shocked by shocked step. Ms.

Lewton drops to her chair as her legs give out.

O.S., ALARMS BEGIN. The two security guards tear off toward more urgent

duties. O.S., OUTSIDE, SIRENS WAIL as emergency vehicles race to the

tragady.

CAMERA BEGINS TO MOVE toward ALEX... as Tod's head turns toward him, then

Terry's... then Carter's. In the chair, beginning to cry, Ms. Lewton eyes

Alex, as if afraid of him.

CAMERA CONTINUES. SIRENS PIERCING. The emergency vehicles' strobing red

lights reflect in Alex's eyes, now in TIGHT as he looks out, frozen with

shock... upon the doomed FLIGHT 180.

CUT TO:

INT. JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - PRESS ROOM #10 - NIGHT

SILENCE

A pair of Airline REPRESENTATIVES sit with the seven survivors, each numb

with shock. Everyone is too raw with reidual fear to show any emotion. They

sit on folding metal chairs in an empty room, too bright from the

fluorescent lights. Beneath their obvious trauma resulting from the

catastrophe... each feels uneasy by Alex's presance.

The others sit away from Alex and Tod. Alex appears wrought with guilt. He

checks the others out of the corner of his eye.

ALEX'S POV - THE ROOM

Ms. Lewton, Carter and Billy glare at Alex. Terry averts her eyes from Alex

to bury her face in Carter's shoulder.

ALEX

frightened as anyone over what has happened, tenses, defensive and scared.

With soft spoken strength...

ALEX

You're lookin' at me as if I

cuased it. I did not cuase this.

LEWTON, CARTER, TERRY, AND BILLY

maintain their uncertain expressions. With strained apprehansion, as if not

wanting to "dabble in the occult," but needing in immediate answer.

MS. LEWTON

Is everyone dead? Are there any

survivors?

WIDER

Alex is taken back by the question, yet even his best friends looks at him

for an answer.

ALEX

How would I know? You think I'm

some sort of...

CLEAR

He's not a witch.

CAMERA PUSHES IN ON Alex, relieved and thankful, as he turns to her...

CLEAR RIVERS - ALEX'S POV

CAMERA MATCHES the move INTO HER as she looks up at Alex, not with fear or

repulsion... but with knowledge of an unwanted but irrefutable connection.

WIDER

Causing a startle, the DOOR OPENS. Everyone's head whips reflexively toward

the entrance. The strange event of the flickering lights is quickly

forgotten.

A half dozen MEN and WOMEN enter the room, displaying official badges and

passes. All but two are dresses in casual clothing, having been called in

from home; the pair being F.B.I. Special Agents WEINE and SCHRECK. HOWARD

SEIGEL and DON HAWKS are representatives of the National Transportation

Safety Board. EILEEN WHALE and JACK ARNOLD are members of the Euro-Air

"Trauma Team."

The officials are sympathetic and calm, exuding the confidence and security

trauma victims look for at this time.

SEIGAL

Hello. I'm Howard Seigal, National

Transportation Safety Board vice

chairmen. We've notified your families

and they are on their way. Does anyone

feel they need medical attention or

spiritual counseling at this time?

Although the words are comforting, being in the position of having to hear

them macabre. Ms. Lewton reacts, snapping...

MS. LEWTON

Have they found any survivors?

What's going on?

Seigel is calm, yet honest... carefully honest.

SEIGAL

The cause of the explosion

is undetermined. Nassau county

authorities are on the scene. Naval

search and rescue are on rought.

He gestures... "and that's all we know." The group slips deeper into

despair.

WEINE

We understand how you must be

feeling at this hour... and although

we know it may be difficult, we must

ask you some questions... regarding

today's events, while it's still

fresh in your minds.

The survivors dread the thought of recounting the horrible experience, yet

collectively are ready to co-operate.

WEINE

It may be valuable to our rescue

attempts, or any potential...

criminal investigation.

The agents, F.B.I. badges displayed in their pockets, turn their eyes,

suspicioulsy, toward Alex.

ALEX

reacts, puzzled, as he realizes the Agents are focused on him...

CUT TO:

INT. A ROOM - AIRPORT - NIGHT - CLOSE - SCHRECK & WEINE

are direct and professional, with no hidden agenda in searching for the

truth. Seigal and Hawks from the NTSB are behind them taking notes...

SCHRECK

You said...

(checks notes)

"Listen to me! This plane will

explode on take-off."

(to Alex)

How did you know that?

ALEX

CAMERA PUSHES IN as he looks up, nervous... not about suspicion toward him,

but trying to explain what even he doesn't understand.

ALEX

I got this... feeling... a weird

feeling... I can't explain it...

WEINE

Did you take any seditives before

boarding, or on the plane. Sleeping

pills?

ALEX

No. I saw it. I saw it!

Tears well as he grows frustrated trying to convey the unique experience.

Being trained, veteran officers, Schreck and Weine obsereve; allow him to

talk.

ALEX

Not like a dream... more than

that. I experienced the plane

exploding... it was so horrible...

I know what they all went through

tonight...

The officers remain quiet, gauging his explanation.

ALEX (CONT'D)

I'm not a pyschic... I've never had

this happen before...

The officers study him, unsure yet, carefully...

SCHRECK

Did this "weird feeling" have

anything to do with you saying

you wished Carter Horton was on the

plane... just before it exploded?

Alex looks up, stunned. He didn't even recall this until now.

ALEX

No!

SCHRECK

Why'd you say it?

He considers, owing them an explanation. The he realizes...

ALEX

Because... I... never thought

it would really happen.

Weine leans foward...

WEINE

If that's the case, Alex...

why did you really get off the

plane?

CAMERA INCHES IN as Alex considers, confused, emotional...

CUT TO:

INT. A ROOM - AIRPORT - NIGHT - TOD

CAMERA CONTINUES THE MOVE on Tod... as if just realizing...

TOD

My brother... told me to keep

an eye on Alex. He stayed... and I

went to make sure Alex was okay.

(a whisper)

He told me to get off the plane.

INT. A SECOND ROOM - AIRPORT - NIGHT - MS. LEWTON

displaying a similar sickened expression as Tod...

MS. LEWTON

Larry Murnau told me to get back

on... but I told him to go.

(pause, guiltily)

I sent him back on the plane.

INT. A ROOM - AIRPORT - NIGHT - WEINE

WEINE

No one forced you to get off the

plane. You told us you aren't friends

with any that did... so, why did you

leave the airplane?

CLEAR RIVERS

CAMERA INCHES IN as she looks up. With total resolve...

CLEAR

Because I saw and I heard Alex.

And... I believed him.

CUT TO:

INT. JFK INTERNATIONAL BUILDING - PRESS ROOM #10 - NIGHT

The surviviors have all returned to the room. They may be a group, but they

are alone with their thoughts. The door is opened by Ms. Whale.

Alex's Mother and Father lead by a g