The Adventures of Captain Contraband

 

EXT. TWENTY-THREE-THOUSAND FEET -- NIGHT

A raging storm with lightning and CRACKING, ROLLING THUNDER. Cloud breaks here and there. We HEAR the DRONE of a large piston aircraft. Suddenly, between two massive thunderheads, a tiny white and red plane flies into view.

ANGLE ON THE AIRPLANE

It is a Lockheed Constellation with red and white TWA markings. The ENGINES ROAR with power but the plane is tossed by the turbulence.

ANGLE ON THE COCKPIT

The FLIGHT OFFICERS can be seen in the cockpit, nervously glancing back towards the passenger cabin.

ANOTHER ANGLE ON THE COCKPIT

Through the window we see the Flight Officers are battling the turbulence. The ENGINE=S POWERFUL ROAR is punctuated by THUNDER. A STEWARDESS rushes in and grabs the CAPTAIN=S shoulder. She gestures back towards the passenger cabin with an anxious look. The Captain barks something at the Co-Pilot who takes the yoke as the Captain unbuckles, rises and turns to exit the cockpit in a smooth, confident motion. The Flight Engineer slaps the Co-pilot on the back and both begin to laugh.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN -- WELL LIT

The Captain enters the NOISY passenger cabin rolling up his sleeves. The ANXIOUS PASSENGERS seem to calm. The Captain kneels and bends over a FALLEN PASSENGER, GLYNNIS WALKER. The STORM RAGES outside, MUTED now by the PAINED SCREAMS of the supine passenger. The Captain is quietly confident.

 

 

 

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

CAPTAIN

It=ll be okay, Mrs. . . .

GLYNNIS

Walker. Glynnis Walker.

CAPTAIN

We=re almost there now.

CAPTAIN=S POV

Glynnis, a young lady, is supported in the aisle by another STEWARDESS and a YOUNG MAN, WILEY WALKER.

WILEY

Have you ever done this

before?

Glynnis SCREAMS and looks up at the Captain who smiles and replies:

CAPTAIN

Never in a thunderstorm.

WIDER ANGLE

Suddenly, the SCREAMS STOP. Silence for a moment. Then, with a flash of lightning shining through the windows, a SLAP is heard. Then a LOUD CRY with a ROLL of thunder. The stewardess shouts:

STEWARDESS

It=s a boy, Mrs. Walker!

It=s a boy!

MUSIC CUE: AIT=S A BOY, MRS. WALKER@ from ATOMMY@ by THE WHO.

The Captain holds the CRYING CHILD up. We hear the ENGINES ROAR over the storm again and the child looks out the windows. He quiets and slowly smiles and GURGLES in delight and wonder.

 

 

 

INT. BABY=S ROOM -- DAY

ANGLE ON

The crib. The PARENTS, WILEY and GLYNNIS WALKER, stand beside it. We hear COOING and GURGLING as the parents and CHILD, PETER CHARLES WALKER, Aconverse.@ A mobile hangs over the crib.

ANOTHER ANGLE FAVORING

The CHILD seen through the framework of the mobile.

REVERSE

The parents seen through the framework of the mobile.

WILEY

He=s beautiful, Glynn.

GLYNNIS

Do you think he really

recognizes us?

WILEY

Of course he does. See,

he=s smiling.

BABY=S POV

The parents are blurry. The mobile is in sharp focus. It is a collection of airplanes.