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Scripts Aloud brings drama right into your ears. By using text-to-speech software, theater scripts go from the page into drama, every week. Typically 10-minute scripts are presented in each episode. It's like having a Theater Festival - right on your phone!
SCRIPTS ALOUD.
Over Needles
By Rick Regan, August 2020,
The story is about a flight from California to Las Vegas that gets remote-controlled into landing at Needles, California air strip. Some men come on the plane to carry off one of the passengers.
[Scene: Interior of commuter commercial airplane, loading passengers]
HELEN:
(head flight attendant)
Thank you for joining us today, ladies and gentlemen. Once everything is stowed and everyone is seated, we’ll close the cabin doors and begin our flight.
WENDY:
Can you put this up above for me hon’?
ORVILLE:
Can you give me a minute, here? I’m trying to get down the aisle and now I have you breathing down my neck.
WENDY:
Oh sure, take your time. It’s not like the whole plane is waiting for you behind me. No, they have plenty of time to watch you fold your jacket. Is your newspaper creased and folded right too?
ORVILLE:
OK, Ok. Give me your bag. There. Are you happy now? Can we just sit down and buckle up. I don’t feel so good. You know I hate flying. Especially when we are flying to visit your mother.
WENDY:
You sit by the window. So if you fall asleep you won’t be leaning on me and breathing all over me!
(people are seated, Helen closes the door)
HELEN:
(on microphone)
Thank you ladies and gentlemen. We are glad to welcome you on board today for our Canada Air flight 301, departing today from sunny Orange County, John Wayne Airport. Our destinations today will be Las Vegas, Nevada; Flagstaff, Arizona; Las Cruses, New Mexico; up to Amarillo, Texas; then swinging north to Wichita, Kansas; Lincoln, Nebraska; then a long stretch up I-29 to Fargo, North Dakota; and finally back home for our crew based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Now sit back and relax as we enjoy the ride in this Canadian-built Bombardier Business Jet. We will prepare for take off.
CAPTAIN:
Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is the captain speaking. We sure are glad to have you fly with us at Canadian Air today. Please take a moment to notice the exits and follow all of the instructions of Chief Steward Helen and her award-winning flight crew. We should have a pleasant ride today. Looks like smooth flying all the way to Manitoba. Now sit back and enjoy the ride.
ORVILLE:
Geez, can we get on with it already?
WENDY:
And how about some air?
ORVILLE:
I’m sweating like I’ve been drugged. I am going to be drenched by the time we get to your mother’s.
WENDY:
I know, right. By the time we get to Fargo I’m going to feel like a basketball. Going up and down, you know. Like a basketball.
ORVILLE:
Geez, why did we sign up for this puddle jumper? You know how my nerves are. Eight take-offs and landings before we get out of this flying egg carton? Just to save a couple of nickels.
WENDY:
Tom, do you know how hard it is to find a flight from California to North Dakota? It’s a good thing we made this flight or we would have waited another sixteen hours for the next one.
ORVILLE:
It’s going to take sixteen hours just to get to Fargo. Oh doctor!
WENDY:
Listen, just settle yourself. Once we’re in the air you can look out at the scenery. You know that relaxes you.
ORVILLE:
What relaxes me is sitting at my desk in front of my keyboard. I write and think, and slowly the world changes.
WENDY:
The world doesn’t change because of your writing. You pen a blog about the gold and silver markets. That’s not going to change the world.
ORVILLE:
You think my work is not important? You think I’m wasting my time telling investors the truth about the fraud in the gold market? It’s how I make a living. You know that.
WENDY:
I know that you have been banging the drum for your “subscribers” that there is some deep-seated conspiracy and, any minute now!, you are going to blow the lid off the whole thing. I can’t believe there are so many dupes and rubes that would pay you for your opinion on the gold market. What a racket!
ORVILLE:
But the cover is almost blown. In two weeks the whole thing is going to come crashing down! They don’t have enough gold in London to cover their positions…
WENDY:
Save your breath. I’ve heard it a million times. “The gold market is manipulated.” “The bullion banks are a fraud.” And on and on. And, you know what, nothing has ever happened.
ORVILLE:
I am shining the light. I am telling the truth. I am providing real and valuable insight to my subscribers.
WENDY:
Your ignoramuses with no common sense, you mean.
ORVILLE:
Oh, why bother… I’m going to get some sleep.
TOWER: (in the headset of the Captain)
CANADA 301, this is the tower. You ready to roll?
CAPTAIN: (in the headset, to the Tower controller)
Tower, CANADA 301 here, ready to roll.
TOWER:
Very good, CANADA 301. Take a position behind AGEAN 48 Heavy, in the blue and white. Then easy out and churn and burn.
CAPTAIN:
Roger that, Tower. CANADA 301 out behind AGEAN 48 Heavy. We’ll give him plenty of room and then it’s up and out.
TOWER:
10-4 CANADA 301. Thanks for visiting Orange County and have a safe flight today.
CAPTAIN: (over the cabin intercom)
Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up because we are lined up for take off. We’ll be in the air shortly.
WENDY:
It smells like gas. Is it supposed to smell like gas? Maybe the plane is leaking. (rings flight call button) Excuse me!
HELEN: (comes down the aisle)
What’s the matter here?
WENDY:
It smells like gas. Is the plane broken?
HELEN:
No, the plane is not broken. The tower has us lined up behind a very large jet. Sometimes when they are waiting to take off, there is a strong smell of aviation fuel. It will go away once we are away from the big plane.
ORVILLE:
I wish I was on the big plane.
HELEN:
Now just relax. We’ll be in the air shortly.
WENDY:
It just stinks. That’s all.
CAPTAIN: (through intercom)
OK folks. Here we go.
(engines roar and airplane takes off)
CAPTAIN: (to Tower)
Tower, this is CANADA 301. We are clear and heading to Las Vegas.
TOWER:
Very good, CANADA 301. Proceed to twenty thousand feet and I will hand you off to flight control LAS.
CAPTAIN:
Thank you, John Wayne. See you next time. CANADA 301 out.
HELEN: (into flight intercom, to the Captain)
Captain, when we reach cruising altitude, is there anything I can get you? A coffee or snack?
CAPTAIN:
Thank you, Chief Helen. A coffee would be nice. I will ring the chime in a moment.
HELEN:
Very good, Captain.
HELEN: (into the cabin intercom)
Ladies and gentlemen, in a moment the captain will ring the bell indicating that we have reached cruising altitude. It will be safe to move about the cabin and I will be offering a selection of beverages and snacks.
(cabin bell: Bong!)
ORVILLE:
What happened to flying? It used to be glamorous. Dinner served with linen napkins and fine china. Now it’s plastic wrapped cookies and coffee out of a rubber bladder.
WENDY:
When were you ever on a flight with real china plates? You haven’t left Burbank in twenty years.
ORVILLE:
In my college years, you know. I travelled. I saw things.
WENDY:
I bet you’ve never seen the inside of a jumbo jet. Like a 747. They say they used to have a cocktail lounge in the upstairs of the 747. That’s what was in the hump, you know on the top.
ORVILLE:
Yes, I know what a 747 is. When gold is transferred from the refiners in Switzerland to the vaults in New York, they use a especially outfitted Boeing 747. No passengers. Just the elite flight crew and the gold bars.
WENDY:
What happens if the hit turbulence? Do the bars just get jumbled up and fall all over the place? And how do they keep the crew from sliding a few bars into a paper sack? Nobody would know.
ORVILLE:
Of course they’d know. The gold people have an inventory number for every single bar. That, and the crew gets weighed before and after each flight. It’s foolproof!
WENDY:
I bet. Maybe a guy walks onto the scale and he’s already got two red bricks in his pocket. Did you ever think of that?
ORVILLE:
Of course they have thought of that. They have thought of everything.
WENDY:
Sure, sure.
(cabin bell: Bing-Bong!)
HELEN: (phone to captain)
Yes, Captain?
CAPTAIN:
I’d take some of that coffee if you have some fresh.
HELEN:
Right away, sir.
(Helen prepares the coffee and knocks on the cockpit door. The door opens and Helen goes in, closing the door behind her.)
HELEN:
Here you are. Nice and fresh.
CAPTAIN:
Thank you, Helen. Say, tell me, how did you get stuck on this milk run? I thought your seniority would have you on the trans-Atlantics or Toronto-Cuba.
HELEN:
Captain, well, you know how the schedule works. I’m trying to get back to Ottawa, if I can jump-seat from Winnipeg. How about you? You’re awfully senior to be hot-stopping in Witchita.
CAPTAIN:
I just got back from Hawaii for two weeks with my kids. Now back in the rotation at the bottom of the stack, just like a junior rookie. It’s alright. Lot of good flying on this run.
HELEN:
Captain, excuse me, but isn’t it too early to be descending?
CAPTAIN:
What the…? We are descending and turning. This is not in the flight plan. The controls are not responding. I have switched the autopilot off but I can’t control the plane.
HELEN:
Could somebody remote control us?
CAPTAIN:
Not that I have ever heard of. You go back and prepare for landing. I will contact flight control Las Vegas.
HELEN:
Ladies and gentlemen, the captain has asked that everyone remain seated and he is turning the seat belt light on. Please remain seated.
WENDY:
What’s going on? Are we going to crash?
ORVILLE:
We just took off. That’s when the accidents always happen, taking off or landing.
WENDY:
Orville I want to tell you something, before… you know. Orville, I have always loved you.
ORVILLE:
But? Is there a but? You have loved me, but…?
WENDY:
No buts, Orville. That’s all.
ORVILLE:
Oh, ok. Sure. I love you too. So there.
CAPTAIN: (into microphone to Las Vegas air control)
L-A-S this is CANADA 302.
TOWER:
CANADA 302, this is McCarran Tower. Go ahead.
CAPTAIN:
Tower, I have to declare an emergency. I have lost control of the airplane.
TOWER:
302 I have you on the screen and all systems report normal. You are making a smooth descent, on approach to Needles Field.
CAPTAIN:
Tower, I am not flying the plane. Nobody is. The autopilot is off.
TOWER:
302 It looks like an angel is flying with you then because you are on course for a smooth landing into Needles Field.
CAPTAIN:
Tower, we are lined up and almost at touchdown. I am not flying the plane.
(Plane lands, tires screech, engines wind down, flaps deploy)
CAPTAIN: (over cabin intercom)
Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we didn’t have our paperwork all lined up and air traffic asked us to make a quick stop off here in Needles. Please remain seated while we get this sorted out.
(a big black SUV roars up outside the plane)
ORVILLE:
Needles? Is that one of their stops? I don’t even see any other planes.
WENDY:
Who knows? If they stop in Las Cruses maybe they stop in Needles. But who would want to stop here?
TOWER: (into CAPTAIN’s headset)
CANADA 302, this is ground control Needles Field. Do you copy?
CAPTAIN:
10-4 Tower. What is the meaning of this?
TOWER:
CANADA 302, we have a report of a potential terrorist on board your aircraft. We have reason to believe he is a danger to all souls aboard.
CAPTAIN:
A terrorist?
TOWER:
That’s correct, 302. We are going to wheel out a ramp and a few of our fellows will come in to apprehend the suspect.
CAPTAIN:
Negative, Tower. This is a Canadian plane. I will not allow an unauthorized entry. This is Canadian property.
TOWER:
302, you are on U.S. soil, amigo. Just open the door. We’ll have you back in the air in under 10-minutes.
(cabin bell, Bing-Bong!)
HELEN: (phone to captain)
Yes, captain?
CAPTAIN:
Helen, there are some men who want to apprehend one of the passengers. They say he is a suspected terrorist. Do you see anybody who looks like a terrorist?
HELEN:
No, Captain. Just a bunch of regular people.
CAPTAIN:
Helen, they will approach the door but do not open the door. Only open the door on my orders.
HELEN:
Yes, captain.
(A man bangs on the side of the door, showing some kind of badge)
WENDY:
What’s going on? Who are these people?
(The man bangs on the door again.)
HELEN: (opens the door)
Who are you?
(three men come in, they go past Helen and straight to Orville)
FED1:
You a one, Orville, McGuinn?
ORVILLE:
Yes. Who are you?
WENDY:
What do you want with my husband?
FED1:
You are coming with us.
ORVILLE:
Why? What for? What are the charges?
FED1:
We’re not the police, Mr. McGuinn. Come with us.
(one of the men cuts Wendy’s seatbelt and lifts her out of the seat)
(the other man reaches Orville’s seatbelt, unbuckles it and grabs Orville by the shirt, dragging him into the aisle)
ORVILLE: (is being dragged to the front)
What is this about?! Who sent you?! This is about the gold, isn’t it?! Isn’t it?!
WENDY:
Honey!! Orville! Let him go! Let my husband go!
(Wendy is restrained by one of the men, she struggles against him)
ORVILLE:
You don’t really have it?! Do you?! You DIRTY BASTARDS!! You never had it! Not in England! Not in New York! They are probably selling red bricks wrapped in gold foil! I knew it! I knew it!
FED1:
Shut up! You are coming with us.
(Orville is dragged out of the front of the plane)
(Captain opens the cockpit door to see the men dragging Orville away)
WENDY:
I’m going with him! If you are taking him, I’m going too. You have to take me too.
HELEN: (to Wendy, she whispers)
Madam, he’s not coming back. If you go with him, you will be dead too.
WENDY:
Aaaaggghhh!! Or-VILLE!
(Helen holds her back)
CAPTAIN:
What the hell is going on? You can’t come in here! Release that man, immediately!
FED1: (to Helen, quietly)
Render unto Caesar.
HELEN: (to Fed1, quietly )
Render unto Caesar.
CAPTAIN:
I am the Captain of this ship!
(Captain, grabs the man holding Orville, on the platform just outside the door)
(Captain, pulls out an automatic pistol, puts it to the man’s head)
CAPTAIN:
Unhand him. Now!
(the man lets go of Orville.)
ORVILLE:
Oh, my God!
CAPTAIN:
Return to your seat!
ORVILLE:
Yes, sir. Right away sir. Yes, sir!
(Orville goes down the aisle)
WENDY:
Orville!
ORVILLE:
Wendy, we have to sit down immediately! The captain said we have to sit down. We have to sit down! Sit down, Wendy!
CAPTAIN: (to the man with the gun at his head)
Now you listen to me. I am going to let you go and we are going to close this door. Then we are going to fly away. Do you understand?
FED1:
It’s not worth all of this, Captain. We’ll just catch him someplace else. That’s all. This was just a convenient and safe way to put our hands on him.
CAPTAIN:
Who are you people? FBI?
FED1:
Not exactly. More like the Justice League. You know, from the comic books. Now can you put the gun down?
CAPTAIN:
Are you going to let us fly away? How did you get us here?
FED1:
It’s something we learned to do in I-raq, take control of the autopilot remotely. It is very handy. Yeah, sure. Just put the gun down and we won’t bother you. Fly away. Sorry for the inconvenience. I just thought we had the way paved already.
(FED1 looks at Helen)
CAPTAIN:
Are you part of the government, the military?
FED1:
Indirectly. That’s all I can say.
CAPTAIN:
Helen, are you in on this? Are you part of their plan?
HELEN:
Captain, I work for Canadian Airlines. You know that. I don’t know anything about this.
(Captain, swings his gun and pushes it against Helen’s forehead)
CAPTAIN:
You had better tell me the truth. What’s going on, Helen?
FED1:
It’s like she said, she didn’t know this was going to happen. She’s as innocent as you are, aren’t you Helen?
HELEN:
Captain, put the gun down. Let’s continue our flight and get these people to their homes. Put the gun down and get back into the cockpit. These men will not interfere in our flight.
CAPTAIN: (lowers the gun)
Who are you?
HELEN:
Get into the cockpit. Start the engines. Let’s go.
(Helen closes the door on the man on the platform. The engines start up again. The plane starts rolling for takeoff.)
CAPTAIN: (through intercom)
Prepare for takeoff.
HELEN: (through intercom)
Ladies and gentlemen, please buckle yourselves in and prepare for takeoff. When we get to cruising altitude, I will continue our beverage service before we arrive in Las Vegas.
(Engines roar, plane takes off)
WENDY:
Orville, I was so worried about you. The woman said they would kill me if I went along with you.
ORVILLE:
Those men wanted to kill me. They want to silence my voice. But I’m right. The whole thing is about to explode! The whole global economy is going to self-destruct, right in front of our eyes.
WENDY:
Why would they want to kill you, Orville?
ORVILLE:
Because I have exposed very powerful people as being corrupt and, worse, broke! They want to keep the circus going but I am speaking the truth.
WENDY:
But will they be there when we get to Las Vegas? Or Las Cruses? Or Wichita? They will hunt us down!
ORVILLE:
We’ve got to have a plan! We’ve got to be invisible, disappear.
HELEN: (appears in the aisle)
I brought you both some water, or coffee if you like. I’m so sorry for the misunderstanding. They said it was a medical emergency.
WENDY: (drinks the water)
Oh thank God. What were they going to do to him?
ORVILLE: (drinks the water)
Kill me, that’s what!
HELEN:
Oh, no, Probably ask a few questions. Surely it was a mistake. I’ve never had that happen before. It was so sudden. Now try to get some sleep. We’ll be in Las Vegas before you know it.
ORVILLE:
It must be the shock but I just want to go to sleep. Wendy, move over… Are you asleep already? Wendy?
HELEN:
She’s just sleeping
ORVILLE: (looks at the water)
Wait, you did this! You did this! It was you!
(Orville slumps down in seat)
HELEN:
You folks just rest up. We’ll be on the ground soon.
(Helen goes back to the front)
HELEN: (through intercom)
Ladies and gentlemen, please prepare for landing. We will be touching down in Las Vegas in a few moments.
(cabin bell: Bing-bong!)
HELEN: (on cockpit intercom)
Captain, all set for landing.
CAPTAIN:
Helen, I want some straight answers when we get on the ground.
HELEN:
Yes, Captain. And, sir, one more thing. We may need medical services when we land. It appears that two of the passengers have become ill.
CAPTAIN:
Is it serious?
HELEN:
I’m afraid so, sir.
(The end)