In the center aisle is a little boy fast asleep. You’d think he is dead from the awkward angle he is skeeping in.
In the front of the plane JENNIE and IAN sit next to each other. The newly wed syndrome is in full effect.
JENNIE
No I love you more!
IAN
You’re the best. I can’t wait to meet your family.
JENNIE
Ya I know, They are so excited to meet you.
IAN
As I am too. You didn’t tell them everything about me did you?
JENNIE
No those things stay between us. Hold that thought I need to use the little girls room.
JENNIE gets up to walk to the first class bathroom but the faint sound of mile high club members could be heard inside.
JENNIE
Seriously?
She walks down to the rear of the plane where the bathroom is empty.
JENNIE locks the door and looks at herself in the mirror.
JENNIE (to herself)
Are you sure you want to do this?
Across the aisle from the bathroom A man in his mid twenties is sitting by the window. He reaches up to turn his light on and pulls out the paper with the day’s cross word puzzle.
He thinks in his head.
DANIEL (V.0.)
Four letter word for predestination…I hate these puzzles. Where’s the sudoku at?
A light catches his eye out the window and he glances up.
DANIEL
OH ****!!
A small passenger plane collides splitting the plane in half.
30 seconds
DANIEL (V.0.)
I was what, ten years old? I killed a pigeon at summer camp because Kyle Anderson dared me to. I have never felt worse than that in my life.
26 seconds
DANIEL (V.0.)
VCR Tapes were cool. The race car rewinder was even better. Head lights lit up and everything. My dad bought that for me the day before he left us.
19 seconds
DANIEL (V.0.)
Mom couldn’t afford to pay for our hair cuts so she did it herself. I was in the fifth grade. Kids at school had a field day with that one.
14 seconds
DANIEL (V.0.)
Prom was fun. Nicky didn’t mind that I couldn’t have a stretched limo for us to ride in. instead it was my mom’s 1987 Camry. Later fumbling with the hotel key trying to get the door open. Ha ha I was an idiot. I was really nervous too. She was excited.
11 seconds
DANIEL (V.0.)
Where did we get caught? Was it in her parent’s house? Ha ha ya it was. Her dad blew his lid.
8 seconds
DANIEL (V.0.)
Found Nicky online a week ago. Didn’t think it would cost me my life though. I wish I was with her now.
5 seconds
DANIEL (V.0.)
Little boy in the middle row. His mom is holding him close to her chest. He’s never going to get his Nicky.
2 seconds
DANIEL (V.0.)
Is this going to be it? I love you mom and dad.
EXT - MOUNTIAN RANGE - EVENING
The front of the plane crashes into the southern side of the mountain range while the tail end of the plane lands on the northern side. Debris fall from the sky like confetti during a parade.
INT - TAIL END OF PLANE - MORNING
Sirens in the background slowly awake DANIEL from the crash. He shakes the debris off of him while looking around. An officer, middle aged enters the wreckage.
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Ya’ll alright in here?
DANIEL
(Groans)
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Where’s dis voice here comin’ from?
DANIEL
(Groan cont.)
Officer approaches DANIEL in the rear of the plane
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Hey son you all‘ight?
DANIEL
I uh… I don’t feel alright.
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Well I wouldn’t blame you! You fell out of the sky like some god damn boulder without any wings!
DANIEL
Man…I can’t feel my left foot and… I think my… Nicky! Where is Nicky!!
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Now hold them there horses feller.
DANIEL
Where is she?! Is she okay?
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Let me go on’n get my flashlight and I’ll have a look around…
DANIEL
(Groans) Please!…she could be really hurt.
INT - FRONT END OF PLANE - MORNING
Few people survive the crash. No sirens can be heard on this side of the mountain. Only the wind.
RAYMOND
Well this doesn’t look like the airport.
KEVIN
You think thats funny? I was suppose to be in a meeting half an hour ago!
RAYMOND
It is what it is you know?
KEVIN
No, I don’t know. Somebody is going to pay for this.
RAYMOND
Right. Well have you seen anybody else?
KEVIN looks around the mountain sarcastically.
KEVIN
No man! Its just us and this guy other there who keeps crying about god knows what.
INT - CITY HOSPITAL - AFTERNOON
Inside average hospital two of the survivors, DANIEL and Jennie are laying in a hospital bed.
JENNIE
Oh… what happened? Where am I?
DANIEL
Um… I think we were just in some sort of crash.
JENNIE
A WHAT?! A FREAKING CRASH?! OH my gosh please tell me I’m not in heaven…
DANIEL
I hope not cuz I’m not spending eternity laying here.
JENNIE
What was that?
DANIEL
Nothing. How you feeling?
JENNIE
I guess I’m alright. I mean, I mean I feel alright.
DANIEL
Yea …things could’ve been a lot worse.
JENNIE
Are you feeling alright?
DANIEL
Ya I have a few bumps and bruises but I’m ok.
Daniel reaches up onto the counter and grabs his wallet. A sort of familiarity comes over him but at the same time confusion. Opening the wallet is a picture of him hugging this beautiful woman.
DANIEL (V.0.)
Look at this babe. Is this my girlfriend? Or could this be my sister? I hope its not my sister cuz that means you are one sick dude.
JENNIE
What are you looking at?
DANIEL
This picture in my wallet. I’m trying to remember who it is.
JENNIE
Can I see?
DANIEL
Ya
JENNIE
You don’t know Who’s this? She’s very pretty.
DANIEL
I don’t remember. I think it’s my sister but it could also be… uh…
JENNIE
Your what?
DANIEL
A friend.
JENNIE
Oh. I see.
DANIEL
What?
JENNIE
Nothing. It’s just that it’s inappropriate to be having a picture like that in your wallet. It’s disrespectful to me.
DANIEL (V.0.)
Is this really my girlfriend? This could be my sister laying next to me. **** I wish I remembered.
EXT - SOUTH SIDE OF MOUNTAIN - DAY
The three survivors struggle in the snow getting ready to search for shelter.
KEVIN
We need a plan here guys. We’re not going to survive without a game plan.
RAYMOND
Yea I agree. We need some sort of plan if we wanna get out of here alive,
IAN
Where is everybody else?
RAYMOND
Its just us. I’ve searched and didn’t come up with anything.
IAN
My fiancé? She was on the plane too!
After a few moments of searching and ripping apart the interior he comes up empty handed and collapses onto the
snow and buries his head in his hands.
RAYMOND
What was her name?
IAN
Jennie. We were on our way to visit her family and have our wedding.
RAYMOND
My condolences man.
IAN
What does that mean? Is that like some sort of band aid you just say and everything’s all better?
RAYMOND
My bad I just thought it would help.
IAN
No I’m sorry I shouldn’t have snapped like that. It just…she meant the world to me.
KEVIN
Guys I really would love to play this soap opera talk show game. Really I would, but there’s a storm a comin’
IAN
Right. Sorry. Lets find us some shelter.
KEVIN
We should go this way down the mountain. People should be living down there.
RAYMOND
How do you know people are that way?
KEVIN
Its just a hunch.
IAN to RAYMOND
IAN
We are going off of a hunch? Don’t you think that’s a bit drastic?
RAYMOND
Ya but he seems to know so we’ll try this first. I mean the main thing is we have to go downhill.
EXT - NORTH TOWN - AFTERNOON
Daniel and Jennie are released from hospital. They walk down the street trying to recollect what they just went through.
DANIEL
Come on… Are you still mad about the picture? Its probably just a picture of my sister.
JENNIE
But you don’t know that for sure do you Daniel?
DANIEL
Well not really, no. but what do you remember before the crash?
JENNIE
I remember you taking me out to a fancy dinner. I remember you proposing to me and then us getting on the flight to see my family.
DANIEL (V.0.)
Is this for real? Could I be the one mistaking? I mean ****, I thought I had better taste… and I for sure would remember proposing to a woman.
A paper airplane is thrown from one of the elementary kids walking home and as the wind takes control it crashes hitting Daniel in the face.
Flashback of the plane crashing.
JENNIE
What’s wrong?
DANIEL
I just remembered a glimpse of the crash. I was sitting in my seat. I looked out the window and I saw the plane coming towards us.
JENNIE
That must have been scary
DANIEL (V.0.)
NO ****…
Daniel
Ya it was.
JENNIE
The only thing I remembered was getting up to use the restroom. Then this hillbilly officer getting me out of the wreckage.
Daniel looks at the mountain for a moment as if the answers were going to come to him. Just then OFFICER WILLIAMS pulls up to the side of the curb.
OFFICER WILLIAMS
They gon let you out already? Same day service huh?
Daniel
Yea well we were a little banged up but nothing major.
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Well I’m glad to see you two are okay. I still remember you screamin for your girl. Now that I look back it was funnier than ****!
JENNIE
Now that’s enough okay. He was worried for my life.
OFFICER WILLIAMS
A regular Romeo. I’ve been a looking for ya folks. Get on in. We need to talk.
INT - RESTAURANT - AFTERNOON
As they enter the restaurant OFFICER WILLIAMS removes his hat. They are seated and start eating.
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Mmm. This food here is modern marvel. I can never get enough.
JENNIE AND DANIEL
Mm hmm
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Mmm its so good…So I’m gon get right to it. There is something real interestin’ about your crash.
DANIEL
Whats that?
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Well, have you noticed that there are non of them news reporters around? Or any of them helicopters buzzin over our heads?
JENNIE
I was thinking about that earlier. Why aren’t they here yet?
OFFICER WILLIAMS
(clears throat) well, they wont be a comin to report any of this.
OFFICER WILLIAMS dips his fork into the hash browns smothered in ketchup.
DANIEL
WHAT?! So you’re saying that A major airline has crashed into your mountains and many have lost their lives! What do you mean nobody is going to report on it?
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Woah boy lets set you straight right quick. That ain’t my mountain over there. that’s Barley’s gig. He’s runnin the show on the south side of that there montain.
DANIEL
WHO THE **** IS BARLEY?
EXT - SOUTH SIDE - LATE AFTERNOON
The group continues the expedition in the snow. Patients are wearing thin as hope dwindles away…
IAN
We’ve been walking for hours… when is this going to stop?
RAYMOND
Soon. We’ll get there soon.
KEVIN
What’s that off in the distance? Is that a house? I see a house!!
KEVIN sprints off to the house
RAYMOND
There you go boss.
KEVIN
My oasis!
They all run up to this tiny little house and nock on the door.
The intercom turns on
Barley
He-Hello? Who’s out there?
IAN
Sir? Hello? We’ve just bee-
KEVIN pushes IAN out of the way
KEVIN
We’ve been in a plane crash! Can you let us in so we can get out of this nasty weather?
Barley
Well I’ll be fartin’ pancakes! Let me come on up and get the door for ya’ll.
IAN
Thank you sir!
RAYMOND
Come on up? it’s a small shed where is he coming from?
IAN
Maybe there’s a basement or something to it.
Minutes go by as they stand there waiting for the door to open.
KEVIN
Where the hell is this guy? How long does it take to open the door?
IAN
Easy guy… maybe he had to put his pants on.
RAYMOND
Maybe he thinks we’re girl scouts. Haha.
KEVIN
That’s dumb.
The door rattles and it creaks open. An older man is standing in the doorway. He is pale as a ghost like he hadn’t been in the sun for years. He sees three guys dressed like they are going on a vacation. All of them shivering.
Barley
well I’ll be a monkey‘s uncle! You boys sure weren’t kiddin’
IAN
We would really appreciate it if we could come in and stay until the weather breaks.
Barley
Ya I would imagine its a lot nicer inside.
RAYMOND
So what do you say boss?
Barley thinks for a moment. An awkward moment passes as he just stands and sips from his cocoa.
Barley
Ya I suppose I could use the company. Wipe your boots off before you come in.
IAN
Thank you sir!
IAN looks at RAYMOND uneasy. As they enter the house.
INT - HOUSE - EVENING
As they look around the shed there is nothing to it. Just four walls, a recliner, and a elevator like door.
Barley
Close the door behind you there. So are you them boys that’s been makin all that racket on my hill?
RAYMOND
Racket? You mean the plane crash? Ya We are lucky to be alive.
Barley
You scared my dog pretty good. I think he deserves an apology.
Barley motions toward his dog that’s been preserved and stuffed
KEVIN
Your dog?
Barley
Boy don’t you stand there like you don’t see him. I snap my fingers and he’ll be having you for dinner.
IAN
I uhh… I’m sorry I crashed and made all that noise on your hill doggy.
Barley
****** ****! Boy don’t you go and get on my bad side. His name is carrots.
IAN
I’m sorry carrots. No disrespects.
Barley
Good. Now that that’s outa the way lets eat.
Barley steps up to the elevator door and pushes the button. After a short moment the door opens and Barley steps inside. He hesitates for a moment.
Barley
Good. Well I’m so hungry I could eat the south end of a northern bound skunk. You guys hungry or ain’t ya?
KEVIN
I’m starving
IAN to RAYMOND
IAN
Northern bound skunks? What the ****? Are you sure we should…
RAYMOND
Yea I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? He’s just an old man.
Everybody piles into the elevator and the elevator heads down.
DANIEL (V.0.)
The police report stated that there was some sort of struggle and a possible confrontation. The guys never saw it coming.
INT- RESTAURANT - CONTINUED
With the food all gone the three sit in a booth talking about the mountain trying to get some answers out of OFFICER WILLIAMS.
OFFICER WILLIAMS
About oh… thirty some odd years ago this town became prosperous. I ain’t talking like Hollywood prosperous. No I’m talkin like gold minin’ prosperous. It was a gold rush like you ain’t never seen. People came from miles for their chance to get rich.
JEENIE
Well what happened?
OFFICER WILLIAMS
What do ya think? The mountain ran out of gold.
DANIEL
That must have been devastating.
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Well, after that the curtains were drawn on that show and everybody went home. About a week later I get reports that a man is still minen’ away. Down there all by himself.
DANIEL
Just him down there?
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Just him and Nobody else. He had his dog with him though. He was really loyal SOB. What was his name? It was some sort of food. Celery? Pizza? Carrots! that’s it. Freakin weird dog name if you ask me.
JENNIE
That’s really disturbing…
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Oh it gets worse. We’ve had some hikers disappear on his side of the mountain about six years ago. No trace or nothing. Just gone like some fart in the wind or something.
JENNIE
He killed them!?
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Well hold a sec there. I never said that. I’m just sayin that we’ve had far more people disappear on that side of the mountain than this side. All in all we’ve lost sixty people in the last twenty or so years. Including my pap.
DANIEL
I’m sorry to hear that.
JENNIE
Me too.
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Since he was sheriff back then it was his role to figure out whats going on. He left one day and never came back.
OFFICER WILLIAMS takes a moment
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Our town hall meeting voted that nobody is goin go past Parkinson’s Point which is last stop before his part of the mountain. All roads goin through there were torn down. Barley is all by himself there if he’s still a kickin.
INT - ELEVATOR - DAY
Inside the elevator it is reminiscent of an old mine shaft elevator. The cage rattled as it went deeper into the mountain.
IAN
So… this is nice.
BARLEY
You bein sarcastic boy?
IAN
Uh… no I’m saying this is an antique.
BARLEY
well I’m sorry if I ain’t got the latest vinyl record for ya’ll to listen to down here.
RAYMOND
How long have you been living down here Barley?
BARLEY
You tryin to change the subject? Your friend here isn’t grateful of ****. We goin have to change that.
As the elevator lands on the floor they all step out into another small room containing three doors.
BARLEY
So this here is my main lobby. You probably won’t appreciate my simple furniture here but it’s the best I can do.
KEVIN
You have a phone down here? I need to make a call.
BARLEY
A what?! A phone? Haha. Boy I haven’t seen one of them in ages.
BARLEY turns around to lock the cage to the elevator.
BARLEY
So for those of you who can’t count I got three doors here. And for those of you that can’t read the signs above it, the left one is for play, the right one is for work, and the center is mine and its off limits.
INT - RESTAURANT - CONTINUED
OFFICER WILLIAMS
My theory is that he isn’t killing these people.
JENNIE
What’s he doing with them then?
OFFICER WILLIAMS
I think he be working them folks to death.
DANIEL
What? Like modern slavery?
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Its only a theory boy. I don’t have a clue what’s happenin on that mountain. But I brought you guys here because we’ve heard of a second wreckage.
DANIEL
Where is it?…oh let me guess.
OFFICER WILLIAMS
Ya that’s right. Part of the plane landed on the south side of the mountain and I’m afraid if there were any survivors they might somehow fall into his hands.
INT - ROOM - LATE EVENING
BARLEY
Okay gents lets all gather round me. Incase you’ve been wonderin’ this is a worken gold mine and I’m willing to let you gents in on some of the profit.
KEVIN
No ****? Show me where to go.
BARLEY
The only catch is I need all of you to help me out cuz its hard work for just me.
KEVIN
Guys come on this is our chance to get rich quick.
IAN
Really though I just want to go home.
RAYMOND to IAN
Listen man, I know we’ve been through a lot here. But this is a rare chance to get some extra bank. All my life I’ve been trying to get ahead here and this is a great chance.
IAN
(sigh) all right, where do I sign up?
BARLEY
You guys gon have so much fun down here.
Barley takes out his keys and unlocks the door with the “PLAY” sign above it.
INT - PLAY ROOM - NIGHT?
As they walk into this room immediately it dwarfs any Costco size warehouse. Its larger than that. In the closest corner to them is a living room setup that contains furniture from the 1960’s.
Lining the walls are coat hangers with outfits hanging from them. The coat hangers stretch two full walls and a portion of a third. And each outfit worn and torn like it had been worn for years.
KEVIN
Holy **** look at all of them outfits! Those are antiques.
BARLEY
Oh ya, people have helped me out along the years and before they leave I get an outfit to hang in their memory.
IAN TO RAYMOND
Hey man I don’t want to rain on this freaky deaky parade but more of these clothes have blood shed on them. He could freaking do whatever to us and fabricate a story to go along with it. Aren’t you just the slightest worried about what is going to happen down here?
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