EXT. WOODS - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers are rushing through the forest.
There is the distant sound of the dogs.
EXT. THE DIRT ROAD - DAY
Al, clad only in underwear, gets to his truck, opens the
door, shoves in the suitcase, hops in beside it.
Al grabs the ignition key from over the sun visor, starts the
engine, and takes off down the road.
EXT. THE TRAIN AND JUNIOR'S PATROL CAR - DAY
Junior's patrol car, siren blaring, lights flashing, is
speeding along the highway, parallel to the speeding train.
The train engineer looks out with amazement at the patrol car
as it moves up even with the train engine.
Junior motions for the engineer to pull over.
EXT. DIRT ROAD - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers reach their SUV, jump in. They
take off down the road, Curly behind the wheel.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Al's truck turns recklessly onto the highway from the dirt
road.
INT. AL'S TRUCK - DAY
Al is driving with determination.
INT. SUV - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers are speeding along the dirt road.
Chuckie is cleaning slop from his clothes.
CHUCKIE
We'll never catch him. He'll head
straight for his plane.
MAC
Let's go get yours.
CHUCKIE
What would I say to Mom?
(then)
I know where to get one. Take
a left up here.
EXT. TENBRINK MANSION - DAY
Junior's patrol car pulls up in front, Lanny and Junior get
out.
EXT. A COUNTRY ESTATE - DAY
The SUV screeches to a halt in front of a luxurious mansion.
Chuckie and the kidnappers pile out, hurry toward the front
entrance.
Chuckie suddenly stops them.
CHUCKIE
Act normal.
They proceed at a casual pace.
INT. TENBRINK MANSION - DAY
Mrs. Tenbrink looks incredulously at Lanny, Junior also
present.
MRS. TENBRINK
The kidnappers have my son again?
LANNY
Well, Mrs. Tenbrink, I think it's
more a case of -
MRS. TENBRINK
(interrupting)
What are we standing around for?
You say they've gone somewhere for
a plane?
LANNY
That's my hunch. If you'll just
let your chauffeur take me up,
ma'am, I'll -
MRS. TENBRINK
(interrupting)
There is no chauffeur.
LANNY
What?
MRS. TENBRINK
I fired him for drinking on the
job. I'll take you up myself.
As Mrs. Tenbrink heads for the door:
LANNY
Now wait a minute, ma'am. You
can't fly that plane.
She stops and turns.
MRS. TENBRINK
What do you mean I can't fly it?
As Mrs. Tenbrink heads on out:
LANNY
Well, I mean, uh . . .
As Lanny and Junior follow her:
LANNY (cont'd)
You can fly it?
INT. THE OTHER MANSION - DAY
Chuckie is talking urgently to a fellow RICH KID, 22, the
kidnappers politely waiting:
CHUCKIE
This is really important to me. I've
got to show these gentlemen that land
today or they may not buy. If my
plane was just ready -
RICH KID
I don't know what Dad might say.
CHUCKIE
I'll take full responsibility for
your dad's plane, don't worry. In
fact, I might buy it, if he still
wants to sell it.
The rich kid notes the blood under Chuckie's nose and the
slop on his clothes.
RICH KID
How come you're bleeding?
CHUCKIE
I got punched in the nose.
RICH KID
What's that all over you?
CHUCKIE
I fell in some slop.
EXT. AIRPORT - DAY
Al's truck screeches to a halt at the trailer.
Al gets out with the suitcase. Mary comes out of the
terminal building and calls to him:
MARY
Al? . . .
Al opens the trailer door.
AL
Mary, gas up the plane!
MARY
Al, what's going on?
Al gestures with the suitcase:
AL
I dropped the money in the wrong
place!
Mary looks thrilled.
MARY
Sweetheart!
AL
They'll be coming after us, Mary!
Gas up the plane!
Mary runs to do what he says, Al hurries into the trailer.
INT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
Mrs. Tenbrink and Lanny are fastening their seat belts, the
single engine not yet running.
LANNY
I didn't mean nothing, ma'am. I
just didn't know, with your own
chauffeur-pilot and all, that you
bothered to learn how to fly.
MRS. TENBRINK
It pays to know what to do, Sheriff,
in case of emergency. You never know
what may happen in the air.
LANNY
You can say that again. Ever iced
up a carburetor?
EXT. BEHIND RICH KID'S MANSION - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers are getting into a single-engine
Cessna. Chuckie yells to the rich kid watching from the
patio:
CHUCKIE
Appreciate it, man! Don't worry,
we'll be right back!
INT. TRAILER - DAY
Al, in mechanic's coveralls, is hurriedly selecting a few
belongings and mementos, throwing them into a flight bag.
INT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
Mrs. Tenbrink starts the engine, Lanny beside her.
INT. THE BORROWED PLANE - DAY
Chuckie starts the engine, Mac beside him, Bryna and Curly in
back.
EXT. AIRPORT - DAY
Al comes out of the trailer with suitcase and flight bag. He
sees his plane, apparently ready to go, by the gas pump.
Through the terminal-building window Al sees Mary, talking to
someone on the phone. She's not looking Al's way.
Al hurries toward his plane.
INT./EXT. TERMINAL BUILDING - DAY
Mary speaks impatiently on the phone:
MARY
(into phone)
Yes! . . . Well how soon do you
think you -
She stops, surprised as she looks out at Al's plane. Al is
climbing onto the wing with the suitcase and flight bag.
MARY (cont'd)
(into phone)
Wait! Hang on!
She lays down the receiver, runs for the exit.
EXT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Mary comes running from the building, as Al has opened the
plane door, throws in the flight bag. Mary stops, as if
wanting to tell him something.
MARY
Al, wait -
AL
You can't go, Mary. I'm going
alone.
MARY
What do you mean?
Al is getting into the plane, pulls the suitcase in with him.
AL
Let's face it, Mary. We both know
it's over.
MARY
Not anymore!
AL
I want you to file for divorce.
MARY
On what grounds?
AL
Desertion.
Al slams the door shut.
EXT. RUNWAY - TENBRINK MANSION - DAY
The Tenbrink plane heads down the private runway for takeoff.
INT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
Mrs. Tenbrink is at the controls, Lanny beside her.
EXT. RUNWAY - DAY
The Tenbrink plane takes off.
EXT. BEHIND RICH KID'S MANSION - DAY
The rich kid watches as the borrowed plane takes off.
EXT. IN FRONT OF RICH KID'S MANSION - DAY
The escapee has emerged from the woods, peeks out from some
bushes. He's wearing Al's clothes, too small. He sees the
parked SUV.
The escapee runs over to the SUV, sees the key still in the
ignition. He gets in, starts the engine, and speeds away.
EXT. BEHIND MANSION - DAY
The rich kid is watching the departing plane. He notices the
SUV speeding off past a bend in the road.
The rich kid looks up at the plane, looks off at the SUV. He
scratches his head.
EXT. AIRPORT RUNWAY - DAY
Al's plane has taxied for takeoff.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
As Al starts his takeoff, he sees Mary on the apron,
screaming at him, shaking her fist, giving him the finger.
EXT. RUNWAY - DAY
Al's plane takes off.
EXT. AIRPORT APRON - DAY
Henry has arrived, comes out to join Mary, who stands
watching Al's plane.
Henry starts singing seductively.
MARY
Knock off the crap.
HENRY
Where's Al going?
MARY
Not very far. He didn't give me
a chance to tell him. We're out
of gas here. He'll be lucky to
go five miles.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al opens the suitcase beside him. He looks at the cash,
takes out a handful and kisses it.
INT. THE BORROWED PLANE - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers are flying toward the airport,
already in sight. Chuckie spots Al's plane in the distance.
CHUCKIE
There he is. We're just in time.
Chuckie turns the plane to head after Al's.
EXT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
Mrs. Tenbrink and Lanny can be seen inside, looking around as
if lost.
INT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
As Mrs. Tenbrink and Lanny are looking around:
LANNY
Are you sure we're flying toward
the airport?
MRS. TENBRINK
No, I'm not.
After a moment, as if he's afraid to ask,
LANNY
Mrs. Tenbrink, how long have you
been flying?
Mrs. Tenbrink is busy looking around.
MRS. TENBRINK
I had my first two lessons this
week, from the chauffeur. Well,
one really. He was too drunk to
give me the second.
LANNY
You mean you've got me up here and -
MRS. TENBRINK
(interrupting)
We're going to save my son,
Sheriff.
She flies them right into a cloud. Visibility is now zero.
LANNY
Mrs. Tenbrink . . .
MRS. TENBRINK
Yes?
Lanny looks like he could use a drink about now.
LANNY
Did that chauffeur leave any booze
on board?
EXT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
As the plane comes out of the cloud, it almost collides with
the borrowed plane, flying by with evasive action.
INT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
All look shaken as Chuckie is righting the plane, getting
them back on course.
BRYNA
What the hell was that?
CHUCKIE
Some idiot!
INT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
Mrs. Tenbrink starts turning the plane.
LANNY
Where are we going?
MRS. TENBRINK
After that plane. That may have
been them.
LANNY
Mrs. Tenbrink, you've got to get me
down from here.
MRS. TENBRINK
In due course, Sheriff.
Mrs. Tenbrink notes Lanny's anxiety.
MRS. TENBRINK (cont'd)
Don't worry, Sheriff, I've watched
the chauffeur land this plane a
hundred times.
LANNY
Any way to get him up here now?
INT./EXT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers are looking off at Al's plane as
they're moving toward it.
INT./EXT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al ripples a big handful of thousand-dollar bills. He stuffs
them into a pocket of his coveralls.
Now he suddenly notices the borrowed plane, closing in. He
grabs hold of the yoke, his mind back to flying.
EXT. THE TWO PLANES - DAY
The borrowed plane starts tracking Al's.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
The engine sputters. Al looks with shock at the gas gauge,
tries the second tank. The gauge shows empty.
AL
Goddamn you, Mary!
INT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers are watching Al's plane. They see
his propeller start windmilling.
CHUCKIE
I think his engine's quit.
CURLY
What's he trying to pull?
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
The engine has quit. Al banks the plane toward a pasture.
The plane is gliding down parallel to a highway, separated
from the pasture by a thick stand of trees.
A few COWS graze in the pasture.
INT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers watching.
EXT. THE PASTURE - DAY
Al's plane touches down.
INT. AL'S PLANE - DAY
Al looks ahead with alarm as the plane is moving across
the ground.
A cow is walking obliviously into the plane's path.
AL
No . . .
Al desperately watches, hoping the cow will stop or turn, but
it doesn't.
AL (cont'd)
Dumb stupid cow.
Al turns the plane to avoid collision.
EXT. PASTURE - DAY
Al's turning plane tips, a wing snags the ground. The plane
cartwheels, landing upside down.
INT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
The plane banking, Chuckie and the kidnappers are looking
down at:
EXT. THE PASTURE - DAY
The cow stands looking at the wrecked plane. She moos.
Al, shaken but unhurt, crawls out of the plane, pulling the
suitcase with him.
Al gets to his feet, gives the cow a look, then looks toward
the borrowed plane, banking to come back toward him.
Al looks toward the highway, behind the stand of trees. He
hurries toward it with the suitcase.
The borrowed plane descends, makes a low pass over his head,
as Al is making for the trees.
The plane banks, turning again.
INT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers are in a quandary as Chuckie turns
the plane.
CHUCKIE
What do we do?
MAC
Try landing.
CHUCKIE
You kidding? Give me an airstrip
or give me death. We've got no
cowcatcher either.
EXT. THE HIGHWAY - DAY
Al emerges from the trees, lugs the suitcase up to the edge
of the highway. He's almost exhausted.
He glances back as the plane passes low in b.g., parallel to
the stand of trees.
EXT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
Banking out of a cloud.
INT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
Banking, Mrs. Tenbrink sees something below, Lanny about out
of his mind.
MRS. TENBRINK
Sheriff - look!
Below is Al's plane in the pasture.
MRS. TENBRINK (cont'd)
There's a plane down in that field.
As they're banking, Lanny looks fearfully ahead.
LANNY
Look out!
Ahead is the borrowed plane on collision course.
Mrs. Tenbrink banks them into a roll. The borrowed plane
takes evasive action as the Tenbrink plane rolls by.
Bringing them out of the roll, Mrs. Tenbrink looks back.
MRS. TENBRINK
I know that plane!
Lanny's looking bug-eyed ahead. They're heading down toward
Al on the side of the highway.
LANNY
Mrs. Tenbrink!
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Al, trying to hitch a ride from passing cars, sees the
Tenbrink plane swooping straight down toward him.
Al starts to run, leaving the suitcase, dives to the ground,
and the plane zooms by, just a few feet off the ground,
before climbing.
INT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
As they're climbing now, Mrs. Tenbrink banking the plane
around, Lanny looks vacant-eyed, at peace.
LANNY
Lord, I'm coming home.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Al, back by the suitcase, starts trying to thumb a ride while
warily watching the sky.
EXT. THE STOLEN SUV - DAY
The SUV is coming along the highway.
INT. THE SUV - DAY
The escapee, driving, is pleasantly surprised to see Al and
the suitcase on the roadside in distance.
The escapee quickly picks up a pair of dark sunglasses and
puts them on. He starts slowing the SUV.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
The SUV stops beside Al, the escapee smiling. Al doesn't
recognize him.
ESCAPEE
Throw it in, pal!
AL
Thanks!
Al opens the back door, heaves in the suitcase. He slams the
door shut, starts to reach for the front one - but the SUV
takes off, leaving Al.
INT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
The plane banking, Chuckie and the kidnappers looking down.
CHUCKIE
Did you see that?
MAC
Stay with that vehicle!
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Al is having a fit, frantically trying to flag down a ride.
INT./EXT. THE SUV - DAY
The escapee is laughing, looking back in the side mirror.
Now he looks off ahead - and whatever he sees wipes the smile
off his face.
It's Junior's patrol car, cruising along from the opposite
direction.
The escapee adjusts his sunglasses, tries to look casual.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
The SUV and patrol car pass each other.
INT. PATROL CAR - DAY
Junior, casually driving, sees something off ahead with
surprise.
It's Al, on the far side of the road, frantically flagging
him down.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Junior's patrol car makes a U-turn, pulls up beside Al. Al
leans in the open right window, points off up the road:
AL
The guy in that SUV! He stole my
suitcase!
Al starts to open the door, but Junior takes off without him.
As Al goes into a rage:
AL (cont'd)
Wait for me!!
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Junior's patrol car, siren blaring, is chasing the speeding SUV.
The SUV has a good, though dwindling, lead.
The borrowed plane, not far overhead, is tracking the SUV.
EXT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
Descending toward the highway.
INT./EXT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
Mrs. Tenbrink is looking off ahead at the SUV-car-plane chase
in progress on the highway.
MRS. TENBRINK
They're all chasing somebody down
there, Sheriff.
Lanny, bent over beside her, is puking into a bag.
MRS. TENBRINK (cont'd)
I don't know what's going on,
Sheriff, but we're gonna fly right
along with 'em.
Lanny lifts his head to say,
LANNY
God, I hope so.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Junior's patrol car is chasing the SUV, while the Tenbrink
plane now joins the borrowed plane in tracking.
INT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
Looking down at the SUV, Mac suddenly seems to realize
something, while Chuckie, looking off at the Tenbrink plane,
realizes something too.
MAC
Wait a minute -
CHUCKIE
What's going on -
MAC
- That's our SUV.
CHUCKIE
- That's my plane.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Al, in the middle of the road, tries to flag down a car like
a madman. The car goes off the road to go around him,
without slowing down.
Al stands there in a quandary. Then sudden hope - he sees a
truck coming, it looks like Henry's.
INT. HENRY'S TRUCK - DAY
Henry looks relieved to see Al flagging him down on the
roadside.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Henry stops his truck, Al opens the passenger door, jumps in.
INT. HENRY'S TRUCK - DAY
As Al urgently points off, Henry looking baffled:
AL
That deputy, he's chasing an SUV,
it stole my suitcase! Let's go!
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Henry's truck gets going.
INT. HENRY'S TRUCK - DAY
As Henry is accelerating the truck:
HENRY
Mary told me you'd run out of gas.
I came looking -
AL
Yeah, Mary's all heart. Step on
it, will ya?
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Junior's patrol car is chasing the SUV. The patrol car is
closing the gap. The planes track overhead.
EXT. A SIDE ROAD - DAY
Jimmy Paul's patrol car, siren blaring, is speeding toward
the highway.
INT. JIMMY PAUL'S PATROL CAR - DAY
Jimmy Paul is driving with determined look.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Junior's patrol car is chasing the SUV as before.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Jimmy Paul's patrol car comes straight off the side road and
stops, constituting a roadblock.
Jimmy Paul jumps out, moves to the front of the car, near the
edge of a high embankment, where he smugly waits.
Around a blind curve in the road is the sound of Junior's
approaching siren.
INT./EXT. THE SUV - DAY
The escapee is desperately driving.
Speeding around a curve, he suddenly sees Jimmy Paul and his
patrol car, blocking the highway.
With little time to react, the escapee looks determined to
run the roadblock.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Jimmy Paul sees the SUV coming straight at him.
Jimmy Paul jumps off the embankment. The SUV speeds off the
highway and down:
EXT. THE EMBANKMENT - DAY
The SUV is careering, and Jimmy Paul rolling, toward the
woods at the bottom.
The escapee jumps out of the careering SUV, and takes a hard
roll. The SUV crashes into a tree.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Junior's patrol car comes speeding around the curve.
Junior jambs on the brakes, tires squealing. The swerving
car slams into Jimmy Paul's.
Junior, rattled but unhurt, starts hurriedly getting out of
his car.
INT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
The plane is banking right, Chuckie and the kidnappers
looking down.
EXT. EMBANKMENT - DAY
Junior is hustling down the embankment.
INT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
The plane is banking left, Mrs. Tenbrink looking down, Lanny
not caring, head lolling, he's sick as a dog.
EXT. BELOW EMBANKMENT - DAY
Junior, pistol drawn, looks down at the escapee, lying on the
ground, painfully holding his leg.
JUNIOR
That leg broke?
ESCAPEE
Yeah.
JUNIOR
Good.
Jimmy Paul sits up groggily in a thicket, where he tumbled
from the highway, as Junior comes over to check on him.
JUNIOR (cont'd)
You okay? I gotta keep this guy
covered.
INT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
Chuckie and the kidnappers as before.
MAC
We've got to land, and quick. It's
our only chance for that money.
CHUCKIE
Land down there?
From the backseat Curly sticks a pistol to Chuckie's head.
CURLY
Land this plane, you son of a
bitch!
Mac takes hold of the right-hand yoke.
MAC
Hands off. I'm taking over.
INT. HENRY'S TRUCK - DAY
Henry is driving the speeding truck, Al looking worried,
impatient.
EXT. BELOW EMBANKMENT - DAY
Junior takes a look for victims inside the SUV. In the
distance overhead is the sound of:
EXT. THE BORROWED PLANE - DAY
Heading into a turn.
INT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
Mac is at the controls now, turning the plane.
EXT. BELOW EMBANKMENT - DAY
Junior, turning from the SUV, looks up briefly, with
curiosity, at both banking planes, then heads back toward the
escapee, still on the ground.
A moment later, Junior, standing over the escapee, takes a
card from his pocket to refer to. He doesn't notice as Jimmy
Paul keels over nearby, apparently unconscious, before he can
even get up.
The escapee curiously watches the borrowed plane descending
quietly beyond the trees, behind Junior, who is looking at
his card unaware.
JUNIOR
I'm gonna read you your rights.
EXT. FIELD - DAY
The borrowed plane lands safely. A wooded area separates
field from embankment.
INT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
As Mac is bringing the plane to a stop on the ground:
MAC
I'll keep the plane ready, y'all
get the suitcase.
CHUCKIE
I'll stay here too. I can't let
'em see me.
EXT. BELOW EMBANKMENT - DAY
Junior is reading slowly from the card to the escapee, still
on the ground.
JUNIOR
(reading)
" . . . You have the right to
remain silent - "
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Henry's truck comes speeding around the curve.
INT. HENRY'S TRUCK - DAY
Henry and Al react to the two patrol cars, still sitting
where they collided, blocking the highway. Henry hits the
brakes.
HENRY
Shit a brick!
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
The truck screeches to a halt, within a hair of hitting the
patrol cars.
INT. HENRY'S TRUCK - DAY
Henry heaves a sigh of relief. Then there is the sound of
tires screeching behind the truck.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
A braking car slams into the back of Henry's truck, knocking
it forward into Junior's patrol car.
INT. HENRY'S TRUCK - DAY
As Al is hurriedly getting out, Henry sits fuming.
HENRY
This ain't my day.
EXT. BELOW EMBANKMENT - DAY
Junior is reading slowly to the escapee:
JUNIOR
" . . . If you want an attorney and
can't afford one - "
BRYNA
Don't make a move.
Junior freezes, then turns slowly to see Bryna and Curly.
They've already sneaked to the SUV. Bryna holds a pistol on
Junior, and moves toward him.
BRYNA (cont'd)
(to Curly)
Get the suitcase.
(to Junior)
I'll take that gun of yours.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
While Henry is flagging down cars on the curve, Al steps to
the top of the embankment, anxiously watches what's going
on below.
EXT. BELOW EMBANKMENT - DAY
Bryna has Junior's revolver, and backs toward the SUV.
BRYNA
(to Curly)
You got it?
Curly has pulled the suitcase, still intact, from the wreckage.
CURLY
I got it.
Curly heads for the trees with the suitcase, Bryna following,
covering the rear.
Above is the sound of a siren, as -
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
- a state highway patrol car arrives, lights flashing.
Al, standing beside Henry, is in a quandary at the top of the
embankment, curious PASSERSBY getting out of their cars.
INT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
Mrs. Tenbrink starts turning the plane, Lanny groggy beside
her.
MRS. TENBRINK
I'm going to land, Sheriff.
LANNY
No!
MRS. TENBRINK
We've got to land sooner or later.
LANNY
Let's do it later.
MRS. TENBRINK
My hunch is, they've got Chuckie in
that plane down there.
LANNY
You keep me in this one up here.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Al, the STATE TROOPER, Henry, and passersby are watching the
Tenbrink plane descending toward the field behind the trees.
EXT. FIELD - DAY
From the trees, Jimmy Paul, groggy but game, aims his
revolver at Bryna and Curly, heading with the suitcase for
the borrowed plane, engine running.
JIMMY PAUL
Halt!
Bryna turns and fires, Jimmy Paul fires back, Bryna fires
again.
INT. TENBRINK PLANE - DAY
Mrs. Tenbrink is concentrating on landing, sick Lanny bracing
himself.
EXT. FIELD - DAY
Curly, with the suitcase, stops, looking off, just before
reaching the borrowed plane, Bryna exchanging shots with
Jimmy Paul.
CURLY
Look out!
Bryna looks, sees the Tenbrink plane bumpily landing, heading
straight toward them.
Bryna and Curly run for safety, Curly dropping the suitcase.
The Tenbrink plane noses down as it's landing, barely missing
the borrowed plane.
The Tenbrink plane's propeller cuts through the suitcase
standing up on the ground, and paper money starts flying, in
the prop wash of both planes.
Bryna and Curly look at the money flying around them, Bryna
still with gun in hand.
JIMMY PAUL
Drop it! We gotcha covered!
Bryna and Curly, covered by Jimmy Paul and the trooper, give
up with disgust.
EXT. HIGHWAY AND FIELD - DAY
Al despairs, his shoulders slump, as he, Henry, and passersby
watch paper money flying around above the field.
EXT. FIELD - DAY
The borrowed plane starts moving as if to get away.
Lanny, sick and woozy, has gotten out of the Tenbrink plane,
to join the trooper, Jimmy Paul, and Junior, who has
retrieved his revolver.
LANNY
Where are they going?
JIMMY PAUL
How we gonna stop 'em?
TROOPER
Shoot out the tires!
As groggy Lanny draws his pistol with effort:
LANNY
Start shooting!
Junior, Jimmy Paul, the trooper, and Lanny shoot out the
tires, the borrowed plane comes to a halt.
INT. BORROWED PLANE - DAY
Mac resignedly cuts the engine, sits back, looks at Chuckie,
as outside Jimmy Paul and Junior are warily approaching the
plane, pistols at ready.
MAC
Ever been to prison, Chuckie?
CHUCKIE
No, but there's always a first
time.
MAC
It's the wrong place to be.
(beat, then)
Tell me about that trust fund.
EXT. FIELD - DAY
Mrs. Tenbrink has gotten out of her plane. She worriedly
moves off to see about Chuckie, in the borrowed plane covered
by Junior and Jimmy Paul.
The trooper, looking around at the scattered money, checks on
Lanny, standing guard over Bryna and Curly.
TROOPER
You okay, Sheriff? You look a
little woozy.
LANNY
I ought to be. Can't help it
though. We've still got to gather
up all this money.
TROOPER
Good luck. I don't see how you're
gonna get it all now.
LANNY
I don't either. There's only one
thing I know for sure.
TROOPER
What's that, Sheriff?
LANNY
Man was not meant to fly.
EXT. HIGHWAY - DAY
Al and Henry still stand looking off at the scene in the
field. Henry looks quizzically at Al.
HENRY
You said that suitcase full of
money was yours?
AL
(beat)
Nah. It was Tenbrink's. I was
just trying to get it back for his
widow.
Al puts a hand casually on a bulge in his pocket. The big
wad of bills is still there. Al sighs, looking somewhat
comforted.
OVERLAP SOUND:
REPORTER (V.O.)
And so, yet another surprise
chapter in the Tenbrink drama -
EXT. TENBRINK MANSION - DAY
The reporter is being taped again by a mobile TV crew, the
mansion in b.g.:
REPORTER
- as Chuckie Tenbrink himself goes
to jail.
INT. ON A TV SCREEN - DAY
Chuckie, his head covered with a coat to hide from
PHOTOGRAPHERS, is shown being led toward the entrance of the
jailhouse by Junior and Jimmy Paul, who are smiling for the
camera.
REPORTER (V.O.)
To add to his troubles, young
Tenbrink - as you're about to see -
suffered a mild concussion while in
custody.
Junior and Jimmy Paul, looking smilingly at camera, walk
covered-up Chuckie right into a post, knocking him out.
The reporter is shown again in front of the mansion.
REPORTER (cont'd)
And once again, the hero of
the day was airport manager Al
Findlay -
Al and Mrs. Tenbrink now appear on the TV screen, standing
together before REPORTERS at a mansion news conference.
REPORTER (cont'd)
- or I should say, former manager.
MRS. TENBRINK
(to reporters; on TV)
In appreciation for Al so bravely,
unselfishly retrieving, just for
me, almost all of the two million
dollars . . . though I feel like
I've lost a son, at least
temporarily . . . I'm proud to
announce -
As she takes hold of smiling Al's hand:
MRS. TENBRINK (cont'd)
- that I've gained a new chauffeur.
EXT. AIRPORT - DAY
Mary and Henry exit the terminal building, on their way to
Henry's plane. Both carry luggage, and Henry wears coat and
tie. Henry looks troubled.
MARY
Boy, I can't wait to get back to
Pensacola. And for you to meet my
mama.
HENRY
Mary, are you sure Al was trying to
get away with that money?
MARY
Sure I'm sure. Now he's got a good
job anyway. With the settlement I
can get from him now, he's gonna
wish he had got even part of that
money.
A beat, Henry seemingly in a quandary as they walk.
HENRY
I hope your mama knows some good
pickers, so I can start a new band.
MARY
Give it up, Henry.
As they stop, for Henry to make his point:
HENRY
What do you mean "give it up"? You
don't understand. It's destiny.
I've got a mission in life.
MARY
What's that?
HENRY
To put cheatin', lyin', and drinkin',
back into country music.
MARY
Does that mean I'm your inspiration?
Henry looks resentful now and uncertain.
HENRY
Well, you were.
MARY
"Were"? What does that mean?
Henry, are you getting cold feet?
HENRY
Yeah, I reckon I am. Pensacola's
the wrong place for me. I'm
staying right here.
MARY
You're staying here?
As Henry starts walking away:
HENRY
I'm sorry, Mary, I just can't go
with you.
MARY
You son of a bitch! Come back here
and fly me to Pensacola!
Henry stops to look back.
HENRY
In fact, how did Al get stuck with
you anyway?
Henry resumes walking, Mary lividly watching.
EXT. A TWIN-ENGINE PLANE - DAY
Al is at the controls, Mrs. Tenbrink beside him, in the brand
new plane.
INT. THE PLANE - DAY
Al contentedly piloting. Mrs. Tenbrink sighs.
MRS. TENBRINK
Oh Al, it's so good to get away.
From this place, the whole thing.
Though I feel like I'm abandoning
my son.
AL
Oh, he'll be out in a couple of
years, with good behavior. We can
fly back for visits.
(then)
I'm glad to get away too, Mrs.
Tenbrink. I don't know how to
thank you for this job. Fact is,
all this time, I've just been in -
like the name of that joint.
MRS. TENBBRINK
You mean the wrong place?
Mrs. Tenbrink looks at him fondly.
MRS. TENBRINK
It's a new beginning for us both.
Mrs. Tenbrink looks away - but her hand moves flirtaciously
to Al's leg.
MRS. TENBRINK (cont'd)
What's the first thing you'd
like to do, Al, when we get to
California?
Al smiles a bit awkwardly, unsure how to react, her hand
squeezing his leg.
AL
Well, if it's all right with you -
if you don't really mind -
MRS. TENBRINK
Yes? . . .
AL
Besides being your chauffeur,
of course, I'd - kind of like
to run a little airport.
She looks a little let down, but then smiles at him, moves
seductively toward him.
AL (cont'd)
Nothing fancy, understand,
just . . .
MRS. TENBRINK
(sensuously)
I'll buy you one.
Al reacts with boyish delight.
AL
A little airport?
MRS. TENBRINK
Sure.
She's clinging to him now, caressing him, starts nibbling his
ear.
AL
Could I have some little airplanes
to go with it?
MRS. TENBRINK
Of course . . .
Mrs. Tenbrink tongues his ear.
MRS. TENBRINK (cont'd)
Whatever you desire . . .
She grabs his chin, turns his face toward her, begins kissing
him.
EXT. THE PLANE - DAY
The plane flies erratically for a moment, then steadies
again.
EXT. THE AIRPORT - DAY
Lanny's patrol car arrives, siren blaring.
As Lanny and Junior get out, they are met by an anxious Carl.
CARL
She's gone crazy, Sheriff. I
thought I better call you.
As they head for the terminal building:
LANNY
I thought she and Henry were flying
away to Pensacola.
CARL
Henry changed his mind. Now she
says you can't get there from here.
LANNY
She can take a damn bus.
CARL
I think she's taken a streetcar
named Insane.
INT. THE TERMINAL - DAY
Mary, berserk, is smashing everything in the place with a
baseball bat.
Lanny and Junior enter, to look on with stunned amazement as
Mary continues her destruction.
JUNIOR
There ain't nothing worse than a
woman scorned - or something like
that.
Lanny shakes his head, watching.
LANNY
I ain't never seen nothing like
this. Well, we better try to stop
her.
JUNIOR
You know what her trouble is, Lacy?
She's been in -
JUNIOR & LACY
(simultaneously)
- the wrong place.
LANNY
That's where I've been too. They
ought to rename this town.
As Lanny moves off toward Mary:
JUNIOR
Rename it what?
EXT. AN AIRPORT - CALIFORNIA - DAY
ESTABLISHING SHOT of a small airport. It's not unlike the
one in Perryville, but this one looks new and well-kept,
with several small planes around.
INT. THE AIRPORT - DAY
Mrs. Tenbrink sits at a desk. As she busily hangs up the
phone and picks up a note:
MRS. TENBRINK
Al, we've got another dead body to
fly out of town. Go pick it up at
the funeral home.
Al, disgruntled, steps to the desk and takes the note that
she hands him.
AL
I'm supposed to give a flying
lesson this afternoon.
MRS. TENBRINK
Then cancel it. I told the funeral
home you're on the way.
AL
Another dead body. The last one
I flew burped while we were in the
air.
MRS. TENBRINK
Just be glad he didn't say "excuse
me."
As Mrs. Tenbrink points to a nearby cardboard box:
MRS. TENBRINK (cont'd)
Al, why haven't you had that box of
books picked up that I'm donating
to Chuckie's prison library?
AL
I haven't got around to it. Say,
I thought I was gonna run this
airport.
MRS. TENBRINK
That's what you get for trying to
think. What do you want to do, Al,
go back to Perryville?
AL
That doesn't sound half bad.
EXT. "THE WRONG PLACE" - NIGHT
REESTABLISHING SHOT. OVERLAP SOUND of Henry and the Volts
(V.O.) performing.
INT. "THE WRONG PLACE" - NIGHT
On stage, Henry, backed by the Volts, is singing one of his
cheating songs for the PATRONS, and he seems to be singing it
directly to Reuben's girl Sadie, who makes eyes back at him.
Sitting next to Sadie is HERMAN, 25, enjoying the music and
the company of Sadie too.
Reuben suddenly appears, getting in Herman's face.
REUBEN
You know what the name of this
joint is?
HERMAN
"The Wrong Place"?
REUBEN
That's where you are, buddy.
CUT TO:
BLACK SCREEN as CREDITS ROLL with up-tempo country music.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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