D.B. Cooper
- Year:
- 1971
- 131 Views
Dan Cooper
Written by
Arthur L Burton III
1 (914) 830-2833
ARTHURLBURTON@OUTLOOK.COM
FADE IN:
RALPH, 40s, Caucasian male, medium build, Lead FBI Agent. He
sits in his office in Portland, reviewing case files. He
leans back in his swivel chair and stares at a case file on
his desk.
His job was stressful, so he often hummed at his desk to help
him think. Among all the Agents in the office, Ralph was very
detailed. His comrades gathered around his desk as he spoke
about the cases, and they all discussed the situations
regarding the cases.
Ralph got up from his desk and left the office.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. DINER - NIGHT
Ralph sat at a booth in the rear of the restaurant and
ordered a coffee.
The WAITRESS walked over to him with a cup of hot coffee.
Ralph picks up the menu and looks at the Diner's four choices
for dinner.
The waitress stood at the table as Ralph ordered the meatloaf
with a side order of extra mashed potatoes.
Ralph reached into his pocket to remove his wallet, and the
Waitress stepped backward. His shoulder holster was exposed,
so he pulled out his badge and showed it to the Waitress.
WAITRESS:
Thank Goodness, I thought we were
being robbed.
RALPH:
Sorry, I always forget to take out
my wallet, so people don't see my
gun.
WAITRESS:
I'll be right back with your
dinner, sir.
RALPH:
Please, call me Ralph.
2.
The Waitress smiles and leaves to get Ralph's dinner.
Ralph opens the newspaper and spreads it out on the table.
Later...
Ralph folds the newspaper and places it on the chair next to
him.
The waitress brings two plates and sits them at the table
before him.
WAITRESS:
The chef sent an extra helping of
Meatloaf, and it's on the house.
RALPH:
Thank you.
WAITRESS:
Let me know if you need something
else.
RALPH:
Could I get a large coke?
WAITRESS:
Sure, I'll be right back with it.
Ralph finishes eating, picks up the folded newspaper, and
leaves the restaurant.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE THE DINER - NIGHT
Ralph stands outside and lights a cigarette. He leans against
the wall next to the restaurant and watched the people as
they walked by. He examined each person that passed from head
to toe.
Later...
He walks over to a black sedan, opens the door, and gets
inside. The car sits there for a few minutes, the engine
starts, and the car drives away.
DISSOLVE TO:
3.
The weather outside is 48 degrees and cloudy as Northwest
Orient Airlines Flight 305, a Boeing 727 aircraft operated by
Northwest Orient Airlines, is being fueled, and passengers'
suitcases are loaded into the plane's cargo bay.
Flight 305 is now fueled and being pulled to the runway to be
positioned for passengers to come onboard.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. NORTHWEST ORIENT AIRLINES TERMINAL - DAY
Dan walks into the airport and takes a seat in the terminal.
He sits there for hours and fumbles with the black briefcase
on his lap. He wears a dark suit, a white shirt, and a clipon
tie with a small pearl tie-clip.
After one hour, at approximately 2:31 PM, Dan rises and goes
to the counter and purchases a plane ticket.
The TICKET AGENT, 20s, female, smiles as Dan approaches the
counter.
DAN:
Good afternoon. Can I have one
ticket to Seattle?
TICKET AGENT:
Sure sir. Do you have a preference
for where you sit?
DAN:
I want to sit in seat 18C if it's
available.
TICKET AGENT:
Sure, that's the aisle seat, and
it's available.
DAN:
Thank you. How long is the flight?
TICKET AGENT:
DAN:
That's perfect.
TICKET AGENT:
Would you like to check your bag?
4.
DAN:
(impatient)
No, I need this to stay with me.
TICKET AGENT:
Sure, sir, it's no problem. I'll
put you on the roster for one
carry-on bag.
The Ticket Agent hands Dan his airline ticket, and she calls
the next person in line. Dan disappears to the loading area
of Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 305. Dan looks out the
window and admires the Boeing 727 as it pulls onto the
runway.
At 2:
40 PM, FLORENCE SCHAFFNER, 23, slim, attractive, andvery vibrant, Flight Attendant walks into the waiting area
and lines up all the passengers. She quickly examines
everyone's ticket and then leads them onto the Boeing 727,
Flight 305.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FLIGHT 305 - DAY
Dan sits in the aisle seat, and the flight attendant's jump
seat is next to his.
Everyone is seated, and the boarding door is closed.
Captain Scott announces that the plane is getting ready to
take off and for everyone to remain seated.
At 2:
58 PM, Dan hands Florence a note. She takes it and dropsit into her bag.
At 2:
59 PM, Florence passes by Dan again, and he leans intothe aisle and touches her hand. She leans closer toward Dan.
DAN:
You better read that note.
Dan taps his briefcase case.
DAN (CONT'D)
I have a bomb.
Florence looks at the note, reads it, and her eyes open in
horror. The message read: I HAVE A BOMB IN MY BRIEFCASE. I
WILL USE IT IF NECESSARY. I WANT YOU TO SIT NEXT TO ME. YOU
ARE BEING HIJACKED. I WANT 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TWENTY
DOLLARS BILLS BROUGHT TO ME ON THE AIRPLANE.
5.
ALSO, PLEASE LIMIT RADIO TRANSMISSIONS SO WE DON'T SET OFF
THE BOMB ACCIDENTALLY.
Florence sits in the seat next to Dan. She keeps looking at
the briefcase case on his lap. He remains silent for a few
minutes and then looks at her.
FLORENCE:
Can I see it?
DAN:
See what?
FLORENCE:
Can I see the bomb?
DAN:
Of course.
Dan smiles, cracks open the briefcase case slightly, and
shows her the wires. He looks at her and then slams it shut.
FLORENCE:
What do you want?
DAN:
For now, sit here.
FLORENCE:
Okay.
TINA MUCKLOW, 21, Caucasian female flight attendant, sits
near the cockpit. She notices that Florence is sitting down
next to a passenger, and she walks over, and Florence hands
her the note that Dan gave her.
Florence stands and starts walking away, and Tina sits next
to Dan and lights his cigarette.
Dan stands and lightly touches her wrist.
Florence turns.
FLORENCE (CONT'D)
Yes.
DAN:
I would also like a drink. Bourbon
and water.
FLORENCE:
What should I do first?
6.
DAN:
Talk to the Captain and then bring
my drink.
FLORENCE:
Okay.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COCKPIT - DAY
CAPTAIN SCOTT, late 20s, Caucasian male, sits in the cockpit
of flight 305.
CO-pilot William also sits in the cockpit.
Florence walks into the cockpit and shows Captain Scott the
ransom note.
FLORENCE:
(Shaky voice)
A man is sitting in seat 18C
holding a briefcase. Inside the
briefcase, he has a bomb.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
How do you know it's a bomb?
FLORENCE:
I asked to see it.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
Then what happened?
FLORENCE:
He opened the briefcase and showed
me.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
Can you describe it?
FLORENCE:
Yes. When he opened the briefcase,
I saw four-cylinder cartridges
connected to several blue and red
wires.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
I think Tina should go and sit with
the hijacker. Florence, you stay
here in the cockpit and record
everything from this point on.
7.
FLORENCE:
Yes sir.
Tina sits next to Dan. She watches as he clutches his
briefcase.
TINA:
Are you upset with the airline? Do
you have a grudge?
DAN:
I don't have anything against this
airline... But I do have a grudge.
Dan turns to her, smiling, and looks out the window.
DAN (CONT'D)
(calmly)
I have some additional demands.
TINA:
Okay.
DAN:
I want the money first, then I will
release the 37 passengers once I
have the money, then I want four
parachutes and four crew meals,
then I want the plane re-fueled,
and I’m going to need several maps.
TINA:
Is that all?
DAN:
I want some crew members to remain
on the plane.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COCKPIT - DAY
Captain Scott talks to ground control and lets them know the
plane has been hijacked for ransom.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
The highjacker demands that he have
two hundred thousand dollars in
twenty-dollar bills by the time we
land.
8.
GROUND CONTROL:
We are insured to two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars. We will
have the money when you land.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
Thank you.
Captain Scott announces that the landing in Seattle will be
delayed.
CAPTAIN SCOTT (CONT'D)
Dear passengers, this is your
Captain speaking. Unfortunately, we
Seattle Tacoma International
Airport. We apologize for this
inconvenience.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FLIGHT 305 SEATTLE TACOMA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY
The Boeing 727 circles the airport, and all the passengers
2 Hours later, the plane lands...
The passengers are told to remain seated.
Tina lowers the stairs, leaves the plane, and locks the door
behind her.
Co-pilot Williams announces for everyone to stay seated.
CO-PILOT WILLIAM
Please stay in your seats until you
are directed by the flight
attendants to leave the plane.
Passenger 1 leans over and taps passenger 2.
PASSENGER 1
Do you know how much longer we will
be on this airplane?
PASSENGER 2
It was supposed to be a 37-minute
flight.
Passenger 1 lights a cigarette and hands the pack to
Passenger 2, who takes one.
9.
Tina returns to the plane and hands Dan a backpack with two
hundred thousand dollars. She sets the cash onto the seat
next to Dan.
TINA:
Can we release the passengers?
Dan checks the bag and then releases the passengers.
Florence leads the passengers from the plane.
About a mile from the terminal, a school bus arrives and
shuttles them to the airport.
DISSOLVE TO:
Newscasters are awaiting the passengers as they exit the
plane.
NEWSCASTER 1 rushes to a passenger as he leaves the plane and
sticks the microphone in the man's face.
PASSENGER 1, male, stops and stares at NEWSCASTER 1.
NEWSCASTER 1
How do you feel after being on the
hijacked plane?
PASSENGER 1
Hijacked?
NEWSCASTER 1
Yes, were you not aware that the
plane was being hijacked?
PASSENGER 1
I had no idea, but it makes sense
now. The flight should have been 37
minutes, but we circled the airport
for hours.
PASSENGER 2
I noticed that there was something
off. I was sitting next to a man
with dark sunglasses, and the
Stewardess stayed with him for
almost the entire flight.
NEWSCASTER 1
Did the man look dangerous?
10.
PASSENGER 2
Not in the least. He was an
average-looking middle-aged man.
Passenger 3 stands next to Passenger 2.
PASSENGER 3
You mean the man with the
sunglasses?
PASSENGER 2
Yes.
PASSENGER 3
He's still on the plane.
NEWSCASTER 1
Did he say anything to anyone
during the flight?
PASSENGER 3
Not to me.
PASSENGER 2
He only spoke with the two flight
attendants.
PASSENGER 1
He smoked a lot of cigarettes.
Every time I looked, the flight
attendant used her lighter to light
another one for him.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FLIGHT 305 - NIGHT
Dan gets a little impatient now that all the passengers are
off the plane.
DAN:
What about refueling the plane?
TINA:
I spoke with the captain, and
there's enough fuel to make the
trip to Mexico.
DAN:
(impatiently)
Where are the four parachutes and
the four crew meals I asked for?
11.
TINA:
I'll bring the parachutes onboard
in a few minutes. They have been
left outside the plane.
DAN:
Thank you.
Shortly...
TINA:
Here are the four parachutes you
requested.
Shortly after their conversation, the plane was in the air.
Dan looks out the window as the plane takes off. Tina sits
close to Dan and listens as he talks.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COCKPIT - AFTERNOON
Scott Williams looks at Florence.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
How is his mood?
FLORENCE:
Who?
SCOTT:
The hijacker.
FLORENCE:
You know it's weird. The man is so
calm. He is very relaxed and
friendly, but he sits with a bomb
on his lap.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
Are you sure it was a bomb?
FLORENCE:
It looked very real to me.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
Okay. I need to radio the tower.
Scott reaches for the radio in the cockpit.
Florence writes down the time that he calls dispatch.
12.
FLORENCE:
You want me to write down what you
say too?
Scott nods his head while he squeezes the mic button on the
radio.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
In five minutes, Tina will be
returning to the cockpit so we can
relay the information to the
skyjacker. Will the money waiting
when we land in Seattle?
GROUND CONTROL (V.O.)
The money will be held in the
terminal. Who will come and collect
it?
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
We will need to ask the Skyjacker.
GROUND CONTROL (V.O.)
Okay... Keep us informed.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
I will.
GROUND CONTROL:
What is your take on the skyjacker?
Is he dangerous?
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
He has a bomb... I would say, yes,
he is dangerous. I think we will be
fine if we do exactly what he says.
GROUND CONTROL:
Okay.
Tina comes back into the cockpit.
TINA:
He wants to know if the money has
been confirmed.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
It's confirmed.
TINA:
Okay, let me get back to him.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
Are you okay?
13.
TINA:
I am. He's looking out the window
and telling me about the sites. He
is very familiar with his flight
plan.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
airlines?
TINA:
Could be. What do you think,
Florence?
FLORENCE:
The way he talked, I thought he did
too.
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
We need to write this down, too,
Florence. Make sure we can tell the
FBI when they question us.
FLORENCE:
Question us?
CAPTAIN SCOTT:
They will want to know everything
that happened while we were on this
flight.
FLORENCE:
Okay, I'll keep detailed notes.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FBI AGENT RALPH'S HOME - AFTERNOON
Ralph is at home relaxing on his living room couch.
PHONE RINGS...
Joice, Ralph's wife, runs into the living room and hands him
the phone.
JOICE:
It's an emergency, dear!
Ralph answers the phone, listens, and then hangs up.
DISSOLVE TO:
14.
PA (V.O.)
Attention all agents there is a
skyjacking happening.
At that moment, the boss comes into the office and looks at
FUHRIMAN, 20s, Caucasian Male, FBI Agent.
FBI AGENT 1
I need you to drive me to the
airport right now!
FUHRIMAN:
Yes sir.
Fuhriman grabs his documents off his desk and crams them into
his briefcase.
CUT TO:
INT. IN ROUTE TO AIRPORT - DAY
On their drive to the airport, they were escorted by two
motorcycle cops and two marked police cars.
The Senior FBI agent was on the phone speaking with airport
security and the tower.
Fuhriman drives with the flashing blue siren lights on and
follows the motorcycle cops quickly through the afternoon
traffic.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FLIGHT 305 - NIGHT
The weather turns to cloudy skies, and it becomes dark
outside. There is no movement inside the plane as all the
passengers are now off.
Dan counts the money in the bag and moves it to the next seat
on his left. He motions for Tina to take a seat.
Tina sits back down.
DAN:
How long have you worked for the
airline?
15.
TINA:
About a year.
DAN:
Do you like it?
TINA:
The money is good.
DAN:
But you always need to do something
you love.
TINA:
I agree.
DAN:
I don't mean to scare you.
TINA:
I'm not afraid.
DAN:
That's good because I don't want to
hurt anyone. I need to take care of
my grudge.
TINA:
I thought it wasn't with the
airline.
DAN:
It's not. Like I said before, I do
have a grudge.
TINA:
You have your money... What are you
planning to do now?
DAN:
I plan on going on with my life.
TINA:
That's a good plan.
DAN:
Thank you. Can you light my
cigarette?
TINA:
Of course.
Tina removes her lighter, and she lights his cigarette.
16.
Dan is careful not to use his left hand because his finger is
on a trigger that will detonate the bomb.
Tina stares at his hand.
Dan inhales deeply on the cigarette.
DAN:
Stay calm. This will be over soon.
TINA:
(shaky voice)
Okay.
DAN:
Are we en route to Mexico?
TINA:
We don't have enough fuel to make
it to Mexico, but we can go to
Phoenix or Reno.
DAN:
Reno.
An hour passes, and Dan smokes another cigarette. It is now
pitch black outside, and the weather has taken a turn for the
worst. It is cold and wet, and there are strong winds.
The plane drops from 10,000 feet to 5,000 feet.
DAN (CONT'D)
Why does the plane feel like we're
flying lower?
TINA:
I can check.
DAN:
Please do.
Tina walks up the aisle to the cockpit and leaves the door
open.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT
Scott flies the plane while his co-pilot William is observing
the flight instruments. The cockpit is fully illuminated with
dim lights. The plane moves upward and downward due to high
winds and turbulence.
17.
Tina catches her balance due to the motion of the plane.
TINA:
He's demanding we fly to Mexico.
And he wants to know how low we are
flying.
SCOTT:
Tell him we aren't lying and don't
have enough fuel to make it to
Mexico. Reno is safe. If we try to
go to Mexico, we will run out of
fuel and crash. We are at 5000 feet
because of the weather outside.
CUT TO:
Tina walks back to Dan.
TINA:
(shaky voice)
They said if we tried to make it to
Mexico, we would run out of fuel
and crash.
DAN:
Let's go to Reno, then.
Tina walks back to the cockpit.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT
Tina sits in the pilot jump seat located directly behind the
captain.
SCOTT:
How are you doing, Tina?
TINA:
I'm holding up. How about you?
SCOTT:
As well as can be expected. I am
getting a little bit tired.
TINA:
I'd better head back.
WILLIAM:
Whatever you do, don't upset him.
18.
SCOTT:
Well..uh..he's got the money. I
don't know why he'd be upset.
TINA:
I agree, but not sure what his next
move could be.
WILLIAM:
Think about it. If he wanted to
blow us out of the sky, he could've
when we first took off. So that's
good news.
The plane runs into turbulence that causes the plane to
vibrate uncontrollably for a few seconds. The aircraft enters
into smooth air as it emerges from a cloud patch.
WILLIAM (CONT'D)
Better check on our passenger.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FLIGHT 305 - NIGHT
The plane's turbulence causes the interior of the aircraft to
shake horribly.
Dan wipes the spilled drink splatter off his suit jacket. and
quickly asks Tina for another one.
Tina lights his eighth cigarette, and the seat's ashtray is
almost full.
DAN:
(impatient)
Did you find out what altitude
we're at?
TINA:
(shaky voice)
I did. Where at around 5000 feet.
DAN:
(calm)
Thank you.
TINA:
You're welcome.
Dan stands and removes the parachute from one of the canvas
bags. He then stuffs the money into it.
19.
He then ties it tight to his waist using the string. He puts
on his raincoat, removes his tie, and drops it on the ground.
Tina stands up next to the exit door with Dan.
DAN:
I'm going to need your help.
Tina looks at him nervously.
Dan stares silently at Tina for a few seconds.
DAN (CONT'D)
Never mind, I can do it myself. Go
to the cockpit.
Tina hurries to the cockpit.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT
Co-pilot William turns quickly as the cockpit door opens.
Tina walks in, and Scott and William smile.
SCOTT:
Thank God it's you.
WILLIAM:
Yes, I was scared when I heard the
door open.
SCOTT:
What is our passenger doing?
TINA:
SCOTT:
Jump from where?
TINA:
The plane.
SCOTT:
He'll never get the door open or
the stairs down.
DISSOLVE TO:
20.
Dan struggles with the lever on the door. He picks up the
phone hanging on the wall near the door.
There's a lot of noise because of the wind.
DAN:
I can't get the stairs down.
WILLIAM (V.O.)
I can't hear you.
DAN:
(yells)
I can't get the stairs down!
WILLIAM (V.O.)
Hold on.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. COCKPIT - NIGHT
William grabs the throttle and slows the plane down. The rear
aft door warning light appears on the screen.
WILLIAM:
(shouts)
They should come down now.
SCOTT:
Tina sits down in a jump seat behind the pilots.
The plane rocks back and forth in an upward and downward
motion.
WILLIAM:
Hold her steady. A little bumpy. We
won't crash. Just fly the damn
plane.
They feel a big bump.
Tina opens the cockpit door, and the plane is empty.
TINA:
He's gone.
SCOTT:
Did he jump?
21.
TINA:
Looks that way.
WILLIAM:
Where are we heading... We're
almost out of fuel.
Scott makes the call.
SCOTT:
Mayday... Mayday... This is
Northwest Orient Airlines flight
305.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
This ATC15443...
SCOTT:
Skyjacker is gone... I repeat,
skyjacker is gone... We are
requesting permission to land at
the nearest airport.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
We are sending over new
coordinates. You are authorized to
land.
SCOTT:
We are bearing 00789 en route. We
are low on fuel and will be coming
in fast.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
Copy that... Emergency teams will
be waiting. Has the threat been
eliminated?
SCOTT:
He jumped out wearing a parachute.
No other information is available.
WILLIAM:
Runway 35R in the site.
SCOTT:
40-degree flaps. Keep it steady.
DISSOLVE TO:
22.
EXT. AIRPORT - NIGHT
The back wheels touch down first and then follow the front
wheel. The plane lands on runway 35R and comes to a
SCREECHING stop.
Emergency teams quickly approach the plane.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FBI - NIGHT
Fuhriman sits in Northwest Orient Airlines Terminal. He
watches as people walk through the terminal without knowing
there was a highjacking just a few hours ago. He waited for
the airport executives to arrive. When they did, he sat and
waited for their news interview. Scott, William, Florence,
and Tina sat at a long table.
Several Newscasters gathered around the table as the camera
crew set up the lighting.
Fuhriman took notes of everything that was occurring at the
time. The Flight 305 staff kept looking at Fuhriman. Agent
Tier sits with Fuhriman.
TIER:
Do they look nervous to you?
FUHRIMAN:
They look exhausted.
TIER:
Probably a bit of both.
FUHRIMAN:
We'll have to question them.
TIER:
Maybe we should do that tomorrow.
FUHRIMAN:
We'll see. I know it's early, but
do we have boots on the ground?
TIER:
Not yet, and because of the
weather, it probably won't happen
until tomorrow.
23.
FUHRIMAN:
chopper and going to try and scan
the terrain.
TIER:
Good luck with that cause the
weather is still terrible, and it's
dark.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HELICOPTER - NIGHT
The wind is blowing profusely, and it's freezing.
Frank and Jim sit in a helicopter and fly over the terrain
near the Columbia river. The chopper is hard to control,
veering left and right and up and down.
JIM:
(yells)
We better turn this chopper around
before it's too late.
FRANK:
I agree; we need to turn back.
DISSOLVE TO:
Agent Fuhriman stands behind his desk with a cup of steamed
coffee. He spills a little on the edge of a file before
setting it down.
He calls AGENT 1 and AGENT 2 into his office.
FUHRIMAN:
Gentlemen, we have our work cut out
for us. As you well know, we'll be
working on one of if not the
craziest heists ever pulled off.
AGENT 1
I get it. If we solve this one,
we'll get a promotion.
AGENT 2
No. We'll make you look good.
24.
FUHRIMAN:
Never thought of it that way, but I
guess you're right.
AGENT 1
Does that mean we'll be up both day
and night?
FUHRIMAN:
You got a problem with that?
The office is busy. Agents are working on different cases.
FUHRIMAN (CONT'D)
Remember, you swore to hunt down
criminals and bring them to
justice.
AGENT 2
Is any other agency like the State
Police department?
FUHRIMAN:
We will work on the D.B. COOPER
case called NorJak, with the State
police and possibly DOJ.
AGENT 1
This case should be opened and
closed because he's dead.
FUHRIMAN:
Says who? Not this department.
Agent 1 and 2 turn their chairs backward and sits with their
legs spread apart, tuning out everything around them.
Agent 2 has a pencil behind his ear, and Agent 1 removes a
handkerchief to blow his nose a few times before putting it
away in his back pocket as he raises himself.
FUHRIMAN (CONT'D)
Catching a cold?
AGENT 1
It's because of the weather.
FUHRIMAN:
I'm ordering you to refrain from
calling out from work at any time
during the investigation.
AGENT 2
This could take years.
25.
FUHRIMAN:
Welcome to the FBI...Besides, my
wife understands my call to duty.
AGENT 1
Mine doesn't.
AGENT 2
I'm engaged for the third time.
FUHRIMAN:
What're you doing? Trying to break
a record?
AGENT 1
I get it. Relationship not lasting
long enough to tie her down, or
tying you up? Which one is it?
They both LAUGH...
Other officers peep inside Furhiman's office as they continue
to walk back and forth from one side to the other in a fastpaced
motion as files fall to the floor, gently bump into a
few messy desks aligned next to other, also a sign that the
office needs a paint job, especially the walls, and columns.
FUHRIMAN:
I didn't invite you in to talk
about your personal life. Leave
that outside the door. D.B. Cooper
AGENT 1
capture?
FUHRIMAN:
Not for us. We're doing our job.
Let's try to find him and the
$200,000 before anyone else does.
AGENT 2
What happens if we don't find
either?
FUHRIMAN:
I refuse to look like a fool. Too
educated, (2) head of this
investigation, (3) Nowhere near
retirement. We don't quit. That's
for losers, anyway.
26.
AGENT 2
Where do we start, and when?
FUHRIMAN:
With all these files, and now.
The agents look in the direction he is pointing. He points to
a ledge near the window with files stacked against each other
in rows, boxes, and file cabinets.
FUHRIMAN (CONT'D)
None of these files are to leave
this office. If they do, you'll
find yourself behind bars. We're
held to a higher standard.
AGENT 1
Oh, that's right. Even higher than
the average criminal.
FUHRIMAN:
Yep. It's because we're the law in
the eyes of the public and
government officials.
AGENT 2
Corruption isn't part of my DNA.
FUHRIMAN:
Glad you brought that up. We have
no leads, clues, or even DNA.
AGENT 1
That'll make the investigation even
more difficult.
FUHRIMAN:
Those skills will set you apart
from others, and that's how you
move up.
AGENT 2
Don't say it...
AGENT 1
Say what?
AGENT 2
You're here to collect a paycheck.
AGENT 1
Better than that. Make a living or
get a life.
27.
FUHRIMAN:
In this business, sometimes it's a
life for life than an eye for an
eye.
AGENT 1
I hope this isn't an insult, but
you're not much older than us.
FUHRIMAN:
I know what you're thinking. I'm
too young to give you orders or
oversee an entire department, yet I
get mad respect.
AGENT 2
I took the words right out of my
mouth and could still keep a wife.
FUHRIMAN:
AGENT 1
Are you serious?
FUHRIMAN:
Same as the air we breathe.
AGENT 2
We can fix that, you know.
The agents LAUGH.
The agents begin to ramble and scramble through pages of
documents, files, and microfilms in the hope of finding
clues, which leads to the unsolved mystery of a man that
vanishes into thin air.
DISSOLVE TO:
Fuhriman places a new and separate phone on his desk. He
opened a file folder with a list of over 800 names.
Agent 1 walks into the office, takes off his suit jacket, and
hangs it on the back of the chair. He then removes his hat
and hangs it on a hook behind the door.
AGENT 1
I've set up the interview with the
Captain of Flight 305.
28.
FUHRIMAN:
What time?
AGENT 1
4:
00 PM. If he's on time.FUHRIMAN:
What do you mean?
AGENT 1
He originally said he wasn't going
to show.
FUHRIMAN:
Oh.
AGENT 1
Yeah, then I told him I could get a
subpoena. He decided that he would
come without it.
Fuhriman laughed.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. INTERVIEW ROOM 1 - AFTERNOON
Scott sits inside the interview room as Fuhriman watches him
through the mirror in another room.
Agent 2 walks into the room.
Agent 1 already sits at the table.
AGENT 1
What is your job at the airline?
SCOTT:
I'm the first officer.
AGENT 1
Does that mean you are the Captain?
SCOTT:
It does.
AGENT 1
Tell me what happened on flight
305.
SCOTT:
The skyjacking?
29.
AGENT 1
Yes.
SCOTT:
I don't know too much about it.
AGENT 1
Weren't you the Captain of the
plane?
SCOTT:
I was.
AGENT 1
So how come you only know a little?
SCOTT:
I had to fly the plane. I never saw
the skyjacker.
AGENT 1
I find that odd that you weren't
curious.
SCOTT:
I was very curious, but I didn't
want to make him nervous... He had
a bomb.
AGENT 1
That will be all.
Scott gets up to leave.
Agent one stands to open the door.
AGENT 1 (CONT'D)
One more thing. What kind of
clothes was the jumper wearing?
SCOTT:
I don't know.
AGENT 1
Oh, that's right... You did say you
never saw him. Thanks for your
time.
Scott leaves.
Fuhriman steps into the room.
30.
FUHRIMAN:
suspect.
AGENT 1
I agree.
FUHRIMAN:
Who's next?
AGENT 1
The co-pilot.
FUHRIMAN:
When's he due to arrive?
AGENT 1
Any minute now.
FUHRIMAN:
Okay, I'll take this one.
Agent 1 leaves the interview room.
Co-pilot William steps into the interview room and looks
around.
WILLIAM:
Are you with the FBI?
FUHRIMAN:
I am. Please have a seat.
WILLIAM:
Thank you.
FUHRIMAN:
I want to ask you a few questions
about the Skyjacker.
WILLIAM:
Sure.
William takes a seat.
FUHRIMAN:
Did you see our skyjacker?
WILLIAM:
I didn't. I stayed in the cockpit.
FUHRIMAN:
cockpit?
31.
WILLIAM:
He didn't. We both stayed and flew
the plane.
FUHRIMAN:
How about the stewardess?
WILLIAM:
There were two of them. They were
the only ones to have contact with
the skyjacker.
FUHRIMAN:
Did they tell you about him?
WILLIAM:
They did. They said a man in a
business suit had a bomb. He wanted
200,000 thousand dollars.
FUHRIMAN:
What did you do?
WILLIAM:
I announced for all passengers to
stay in their seats.
FUHRIMAN:
Why?
WILLIAM:
I didn't want them walking around
the plane and maybe interacting
with the skyjacker.
FUHRIMAN:
Did you know the skyjacker?
WILLIAM:
No... I didn't even know his name
until after he jumped.
FUHRIMAN:
Who saw him jump?
WILLIAM:
No one. We were all in the cockpit.
FUHRIMAN:
Thank you, that's all the questions
I have for you today.
WILLIAM:
Thank you, I hope you catch em.
32.
Fuhriman sits with two nighttime Agents.
Baker and Fred sit at adjoining desks facing Fuhriman.
Fuhriman sips his coffee and frowns.
FUHRIMAN:
This is too cold.
BAKER:
You want another cup?
FUHRIMAN:
I better not.
BAKER:
I want to discuss something with
you.
FUHRIMAN:
What's that?
BAKER:
So I am looking at one witness
here.
FUHRIMAN:
Who's that?
BAKER:
Robert Dalton.
Fred quickly thumbs through his documentation.
FRED:
Yes, I agree this was very
interesting.
FUHRIMAN:
Break it down for me.
BAKER:
Let's look at Ted. He's a great
candidate because of his skydiving
skills. I don't like him for this,
though.
FUHRIMAN:
Let's cut to the chase. Who do you
like for this?
33.
BAKER:
Barbara Dalton.
FUHRIMAN:
Why? She seems like some nut job
trying to get attention.
BAKER:
I don't think so.
FUHRIMAN:
Why?
BAKER:
Her account of the reason why she
hijacked the plane was a motive.
FUHRIMAN:
What motive is that?
Fuhriman starts fumbling through his files.
BAKER:
She wanted to be a pilot but was
never accepted. On the plane, he
said he didn't have a grudge
against the airline... He had a
grudge against the system.
FUHRIMAN:
Ummm. That makes a lot of sense.
BAKER:
Let's call her in tomorrow and chat
with her.
FUHRIMAN:
Okay... Let's call it a night.
The agents all got up. Put on their black suit jackets and
their hats, then left.
Fuhriman drove a mile to a hotel. He didn't feel like taking
the long drive home.
DISSOLVE TO:
Fuhriman was stretched out onto the bed, watching the news
and drinking a beer. After a few hours of watching TV, he
falls asleep.
34.
A bottle comes flying into his window, and glass shatters
onto the bed. He quickly rolls off the bed and onto the
floor.
Fuhriman looks at the leather chair across the room and sees
his gun in its shoulder holster. He pauses, then runs to the
chair and grabs his gun. He peeks out the window, and the
parking lot is empty. The only car parked is his.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. HOTEL - NIGHT
He rushes outside and heads downstairs to the office with the
gun in his hand.
DISSOLVE TO:
The HOTEL CLERK, Caucasian male, is on the phone. He sees
Fuhriman with the gun, drops the phone, and places his hands
in the air.
FUHRIMAN:
(yells)
Put your hands down... I'm an FBI
Agent! Call the police!
The Hotel clerk picks up the phone and dials 911.
DISSOLVE TO:
Police officers fill the room. You can see the lights
flashing from inside.
FUHRIMAN:
Why do you guys leave your siren
lights on when you arrive on a
scene?
POLICE OFFICER 1
(curt)
Protocol.
Police Officer 1 ignores Fuhriman and starts writing in his
notepad.
Fuhriman calls it into his local FBI bureau.
35.
Sirens are heard in the background, and within seconds FBI
agents dressed in black suits and white shirts walk in. The
police officers are asked to leave, and the FBI continues the
investigation.
Police officer 1 continues to stand and write. Fuhriman walks
over and takes the pad from the officer's hand.
FUHRIMAN:
You're dismissed.
Two FBI Agents escort Police Officer 1 out of the Hotel room.
Fuhriman stands around in the room with the other agents
smoking cigarettes.
DISSOLVE TO:
BARBARA DALTON, 30, Caucasian Transwoman, walks into the FBI
interview room and takes a seat without speaking.
Fuhriman enters the interview room and then starts talking.
FUHRIMAN:
Ms. Dalton. How are you?
BARABRA:
I am great. I suppose you want to
ask me if I skyjacked a plane.
FUHRIMAN:
That's very forward.
BARABRA:
I try to be forward. I'm a man who
had surgery to become a woman in
1969. Forward is the only way I
know how to be.
FUHRIMAN:
Then this interview should be easy.
What is your experience with
explosives?
BARABRA:
I'm an expert.
FUHRIMAN:
Excuse me?
36.
BARABRA:
I am an expert with explosives.
FUHRIMAN:
You're a pilot, too, correct?
BARABRA:
(smiles)
Right again.
FUHRIMAN:
Are you Dan Cooper?
Silence fills the interview room.
Barbara shifts in her seat left and right.
Fuhriman leans on the table and looks Barbara in the eye.
FUHRIMAN (CONT'D)
Are you... Dan... Cooper.
BARBARA:
My name is not Dan Cooper. My name
is Robert Dalton.
FUHRIMAN:
Is there anything you'd like to
share with us?
BARBARA:
Not at this time.
FUHRIMAN:
Thank you for your time, Ms.
Dalton.
Barbara rises, and then she leaves.
Fuhriman and two Agents stand in the interview room.
BAKER:
What do you think?
FUHRIMAN:
I think Barbara is an excellent
suspect.
BAKER:
So, what do we do?
37.
FUHRIMAN:
Don't spook her. She's a good
suspect but not our only one. Let's
continue with our quick interviews.
BAKER:
McCoys next.
FUHRIMAN:
How long? He should be here in
fifteen minutes. Well, let's smoke.
Fifteen minutes have passed, and McCoy doesn't show.
Baker checks his name off the list.
BAKER:
I guess he's got something to hide.
Fred walks into the interview room.
FRED:
He called and said that he was
going to be a little late.
BAKER:
Okay.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FBI INTERVIEW ROOM 1 - EVENING
AGENT LAWRENCE, 20s, tall slim, wearing a black suit, sits
across the table from McCoy. Agent Lawrence calls Fuhriman
from the interview room.
LAWRENCE:
I'm about to speak to Mr. McCoy
MCCOY:
You mean Barbara Dalton.
LAWRENCE:
Correction... Barbara Dalton.
He nods and then hangs up the phone.
MCCOY:
Is he coming?
LAWRENCE:
He's not coming, so it'll be just
you and me.
38.
MCCOY:
That's okay with me. What do you
need from me?
LAWRENCE:
Where were you on November 24,
1971?
MCCOY:
Getting ready for Thanksgiving.
LAWRENCE:
Were you home?
MCCOY:
No, I went out gambling at Atlantic
City.
LAWRENCE:
MCCOY:
Well, no, I drove there alone, and
I didn't meet anyone there. It was
empty because it was the day before
the holiday.
LAWRENCE:
Not too good for you, sir.
MCCOY:
It's fine for me... Because I'm
innocent of whatever I feel accused
of.
LAWRENCE:
I haven't accused you of anything
yet.
MCCOY:
Well, of your insinuations, then.
Look, what is this all about?
LAWRENCE:
MCCOY:
Huh?
LAWRENCE:
Did you skyjack an airplane?
39.
MCCOY:
No sir. And how would I have gotten
off the plane if I had skyjacked
it?
LAWRENCE:
With a parachute.
MCCOY:
From where?
LAWRENCE:
About 10,000 feet in the air above
Reno?
MCCOY:
You crazy man!
LAWRENCE:
Why?
MCCOY:
That's impossible to do.
LAWRENCE:
I guess you haven't seen the news.
MCCOY:
I haven't.
LAWRENCE:
Follow me.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FBI INTERVIEW ROOM 2 - NIGHT
McCoy follows Agent Lawrence out of the interview room and
into a small office with a TV.
Lawrence turns on the TV and uses the remote, and clicks
play.
The news starts, and pictures of DB Cooper are all over the
screen. He watched in silence, and then when it was over, he
stayed seated.
MCCOY:
So, are you going to arrest me?
LAWRENCE:
40.
MCCOY:
Well, it wasn't me.
LAWRENCE:
Okay... But you look a lot like
that guy on the plane.
MCCOY:
Yeah, but if it was me, I had all
that money. Trust me. I'd be living
somewhere far away.
LAWRENCE:
Okay, listen to me closely...
McCoy leans in with his ear facing Lawrence.
LAWRENCE (CONT'D)
I'm letting you go for now. If I
get any evidence, circumstantial or
whatever... I'm coming for you.
MCCOY:
(smiles)
So I can go?
Lawrence steps back and points at the door.
LAWRENCE:
Be my guest.
McCoy gets up, tosses a chiclet into his mouth, and chews it.
Lawrence follows him out the door.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. ROY AND BETH'S HOUSE - NIGHT
ROY, 6'0, late 50s, chubby, Caucasian male, and his wife
BETH, 40s, 5'2, Caucasian female, sit on their small brown
couch laughing. They are watching an old Zenith floor-model
TV, and the doorbell rings.
Beth gets up and answers the door.
NANCY, 40s, Caucasian female, and LARRY, 40s, caucasian male,
walk inside carrying a bottle of Seagrams gin.
Larry heads over to the loveseat directly across from Roy,
plops in the chair, and places the gin on the coffee table.
41.
Nancy and Beth head into the kitchen and reappear, carrying
two drinking glasses each. They place them on the table and
sit next to their husbands.
Roy points to the empty black leather lazy boy chair.
ROY:
Anyone hear from Barbara today?
LARRY:
I saw her at the store today, and
she said she was coming tonight.
ROY:
Okay, let's give her a few minutes
before we start drinking.
LARRY:
That's cool. Nancy, I left the
burgers in the car.
NANCY:
Stay there; I'll get them.
Nancy opens the door, and Barbara is ready to ring the bell.
BARBARA:
Hey.
NANCY:
Hey, go ahead. I need to get the
burgers out of the car.
Barbara walks into the house with another bottle of gin and
ginger ale.
Nancy returns, hands everyone two giant hamburgers, and then
sits next to Larry.
LARRY:
How did you all meet Barbara?
BETH:
We met Barbara at the airfield.
Every day she's out there flying
her airplane, except in the bad
weather. One day it was raining,
and we weren't able to fly. We all
realized we all had a lot in
common.
LARRY:
Like what?
42.
BETH:
We both love to fly. We both tried
to get our pilot's license and were
refused it.
LARRY:
Did you fail the exam?
BETH:
No, we were biased because we are
women.
BARBARA:
Well, I have a confession.
Larry, Roy, Beth, and Nancy sit and listen.
BETH:
What is it?
BARBARA:
I was born a man.
BETH:
(laughs)
Come on, stop.
BARBARA:
Seriously my real name used to be
Robert Dalton.
BETH:
Wow.
BARBARA:
BETH:
Tell us.
BARBARA:
I am Dan Cooper.
BETH:
Dan Cooper?
LARRY:
You mean DB Cooper?
BARBARA:
Yes. But that's a media mistake. I
never signed the flight log as DB
Cooper. I bought my ticket under an
alias... Dan Cooper.
43.
LARRY:
(nervous)
Shouldn't you keep this information
to yourself?
BARBARA:
Well, I'm hoping that I am with
friends. The kind that knows that
they better keep a secret.
LARRY:
Let's forget about all this and
have a drink.
BARBARA:
Yes, let's drink.
They all began drinking. Larry and Nancy left after an hour.
Barbara opens a new bottle and fills the glasses on the
table.
ROY:
Yes, let's toast to Dan Cooper.
BARBARA:
Yes, we can do that.
BETH:
Where's all the money?
BARBARA:
I buried it.
BETH:
Let's dig it up.
BARBARA:
Sure, if you need some of it, we
can.
ROY:
We're just kidding... We have
enough money with the business.
BARBARA:
How can I prove to you who I am?
ROY:
Tell us the whole story about the
jump from the plane.
44.
BARBARA:
Okay, listen closely.
CUT TO:
EXT. FLIGHT 305 - FLASHBACK
A man sits in seat 18C. His name is Dan Cooper. He sits
wearing dark sunglasses and a black business suit with a
clip-on dark-colored tie.
Dan sits sipping on bourbon with a splash of seltzer water,
leaning over to a Stewardess. The Stewardess reads a note and
then looks back up at him. He opens the attache case and
shows the bomb to the stewardess.
A MAN sits in the aisle across from them and glances at them
every once in a while.
The Stewardess hands the note to TINA, Stewardess, and she
takes it into the cockpit.
The plane flies, and Dan holds a small trigger in his left
hand. He has a cigarette in his mouth, and the stewardess
lights it.
The plane lands Dan sits in the seat by himself. Tina walks
toward him carrying a knapsack and places it on the seat next
to him.
Tina unzips the bag.
Dan looks and sees the money, and nods.
TINA:
(whispers)
Can we let the passengers go now?
DAN:
(low)
Yes, but I want the Pilot, the copilot,
and you to remain on the
plane.
TINA:
Sure.
DAN:
Have the other stewardess lead the
passengers off the plane.
TINA:
Okay.
45.
Tina walks over and whispers to Florence.
Florence immediately goes into action. She grabs the mic.
FLORENCE:
Everyone, please exit the plane in
an orderly fashion.
The plane empties.
Tina raises the stairs of the plane. She walks over and has a
seat next to Dan.
TINA:
(yells)
We're all secure!
The plane vibrates and then starts moving slowly.
Tina buckles her seat and leans over, and buckles Dan's too.
The plane drives the runway, and Dan looks out of the window
as the plane takes off. They fly into the air for several
hours, and now all you can see out the window is darkness.
Dan takes out another cigarette and leans over to Tina.
Tina takes out her lighter and lights his cigarette. She
watches as his left hand never lets go of the bomb's
detonator.
Dan finishes smoking his cigarette, and then he stands. He
stuffs the money into the parachute bag and ties it around
his waist. He then takes four crew meals and ties them into
the parachute bag with the money.
He takes another parachute and secures it to his back. He
takes his clip-on tie and tosses it onto the floor.
DAN:
I need your help.
TINA:
(nervously)
Sure.
Dan looks at the fear in her eyes.
DAN:
Never mind. I think it's safer if
you go into the cockpit.
Tina hurries into the cockpit.
46.
Dan tightens the straps of his parachute, walks to the door,
and presses down on the handle. The door alarm starts
BEEPING... He then tries the second lever, but nothing
happens.
Dan reaches for the phone on the wall and puts it to his ear.
DAN (CONT'D)
I can't open the door.
SCOTT:
Hold on, let me slow down.
Scott pulls down on the throttle, and the plane slows down.
DAN:
The door is opening.
Dan hangs up the phone.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FLIGHT 305 COCKPIT - NIGHT
The pilot, the copilot, and Tina look through the windshield.
The storm is wicked, the wind is blowing at over 100 miles an
hour, and the windshield is freezing.
SCOTT:
Is he still out there?
TINA:
He jumped.
INT. OUTSIDE - NIGHT
Dan is flying through the air at a rapid pace. He's thrown
around wickedly but keeps his hands tightly to the ripcord
handles. As he hears the ground, he pulls the parachute and
floats into a large set of trees, scratching his legs and
arms. He rapidly hits the ground and rolls over. The raincoat
that he wears keeps most of his clothes dry. He quickly rubs
his body to make sure that he's okay. He gets up and starts
limping through the woods until he reaches the Columbia River
and a small cabin.
DISSOLVE TO:
47.
When he gets into the cabin, he removes his clothes and
lights a small fire. He goes under the bed and pulls out a
small suitcase. He opens it and removes a wig and several
pieces of women's clothes. He draws some of the money and
wraps it in a paper bag.
Dan sits in front of the fireplace until he is warm. Then he
puts the money into the small suitcase and leaves the cabin.
On his way out of the place, he tosses in several pints of
gasoline, and the house begins to burn.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. INTESTATE - NIGHT
Dan moves quickly through the woods, now disguised as
Barbara. Barbara makes her way to the interstate, where she
has a car parked a few miles away. She walks alongside the
interstate and makes it to the car.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BARBARA'S CAR - NIGHT
Barbara wipes off the water from her face, tosses the small
suitcase in the back, reaches into the ashtray, digs in the
back, and pulls out a set of keys. She puts the key into the
ignition and starts the car. She drives away.
CUT TO:
INT. ROY AND BETHS HOUSE - BACK TO PRESENT
Beth looks at Barbara and smiles.
Roy sits, nodding his head yes.
Barbara leans onto the coffee table, removes a pair of
sunglasses, and puts them on. She looks forward at Roy.
Roy stands up excitedly.
ROY:
Look, Beth!
BETH:
You look just like DB Cooper.
48.
BARBARA:
That's because I am. Don't tell
anyone what I've told you.
BETH:
(confused)
That you're a man?
BARBARA:
Well, that too, but don't tell
anyone that I am Dan Cooper.
BETH:
Oh, we won't say a word.
ROY:
You have our word.
Barbara drank her gin in the glass, walked to the door, and
left.
BETH:
I hope she doesn't come back and
kill us at night, realizing she
just told us her darkest secret.
ROY:
I agree. Lock the door and all of
the windows.
Roy and Beth spent hours after Barbara left going through the
house and locking the windows, doors, and the basement
entrance. They planted booby traps around the house.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. AIRPORT - DAY
Morning came, and the sun shone brightly in the sky, and they
went to the airport, as usual, to open up.
Barbara's plane was gone.
They painted new lines on the airstrip the whole day, but
Barbara's plane never returned.
Roy and Beth got into their car and drove away from the
airport.
DISSOLVE TO:
49.
A YEAR LATER...
DARCY, the owner of the town's general store, hung a large
sign outside... COME AND DRINK IN CELEBRATION OF DB COOPER =
THE MAN THAT STUCK IT TO THE AIRLINES...
Darcy moved all the merchandise off the counter tables and
turned the tables into makeshift bars. Crowds came from
around the globe to celebrate at the General store.
MAN 1 stands at the door holding a drink in the air.
MAN 2 walks over and clicks his glass.
MAN 1
(yells)
You think he'll show?
MAN 2
Who?
MAN 1
Cooper.
MAN 2
I doubt it. He's probably still
hiding from the police.
MAN 1
They should let him go if they
catch him. What he did was
incredible.
MAN 2
Incredible? You mean impossible.
Some people say he died and never
made it.
MAN 1
Then where's the body? Where's the
money?
Lawrence from the FBI walks into the General store and looks
around at everyone celebrating DB Cooper day. He smiles and
walks to the table, and gets a drink. He buttons his suit
jacket to hide his gun and begins mingling.
Roy and Beth come into the General store and get two drinks.
They see Lawrence standing by himself, so they start talking.
50.
ROY:
Howdy.
LAWRENCE:
Hello.
Lawrence shakes hands with Roy.
ROY:
My name is Roy, and this is my
wife, Beth.
Beth shakes hands with Lawrence.
LAWRENCE:
This is some celebration. Does DB
Cooper ever come?
ROY:
This is the first time they are
doing this. It's going to be an
annual thing.
LAWRENCE:
That sounds like something.
ROY:
It is.
LAWRENCE:
Do you know who Dan Cooper is?
ROY:
(laughs)
We know the truth about Dan Cooper,
even if we told it... No one would
believe it.
BETH:
(smiles)
That's right.
Beth holds her drink in the air laughing loudly.
Roy guzzles his drink down and walks back to the liquor
table.
Lawrence follows him to the table and gets another drink for
the three of them. They spend some time talking about the
store owner and then.
LAWRENCE:
So tell me about Dan Cooper.
51.
BETH:
It's been about a year since we saw
her.
LAWRENCE:
Her?
BETH:
Yes, her.
LAWRENCE:
Dan Cooper's a man.
ROY:
He used to be a man.
LAWRENCE:
Ummm...
ROYSOME TIME:
I know you don't believe us.
LAWRENCE:
I do... You're talking about
Barbara Dalton.
ROY:
(curious)
How do you know that?
LAWRENCE:
Let's say I met her.
ROY:
Oh, you met her too.
LAWRENCE:
Yes.
ROY:
We met her at my airstrip office.
LAWRENCE:
She has a plane?
ROY:
Yes, and she's an outstanding
pilot.
BETH:
Yes, we used to watch her fly for
hours.
52.
LAWRENCE:
Did she move away?
BETH:
We don't know. As we said, we
haven't seen her in almost a year.
LAWRENCE:
That's too bad. Do you know where
she used to live?
BETH:
I think Roy knows.
ROY:
(curious)
I do, but who's asking?
LAWRENCE:
Just a fan like you all.
ROY:
(smiles)
Okay, okay... I can show you where
she used to live. But tomorrow...
Today we drinking.
LAWRENCE:
Okay.
Roy turns up his drink, walks back to the table, and grabs
more drinks.
There's a crowd inside the General store now, and people are
walking back and forth communicating.
Lawrence walks around and starts speaking with all the other
people.
After some time, Roy walked over to Lawrence and handed him
ROY:
Give me a call tomorrow, and I'll
take you to Barbara Dalton's place.
LAWRENCE:
I'm about to leave too. I'll call
you 10 tomorrow morning.
ROY:
That'll be perfect. We aren't
opening the airport tomorrow
because I drank too much today.
53.
LAWRENCE:
Okay, is it far from here?
ROY:
It's not. I can drive past it on
the way home and show you.
LAWRENCE:
Okay, that's fine with me.
ROY:
I won't stop, but I'll honk the
horn as we pass it. You can slow
down and pull right up in the
driveway.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE THE GENERAL STORE - EVENING
Roy and Beth climb into their pickup truck.
Lawrence gets into his black sedan, drives up behind the
pickup, and honks his horn.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 15 - EVENING
Lawrence follows Roy and Beth's pickup; they exit off the
road and drive down a small dirt road. There's a large house
to the right of the road.
Roy BEEPS...
Lawrence puts his hand out of the window and waves to Roy as
he returns off the road.
Roy waves back and keeps driving down the lonely road.
It's starting the get dark as Lawrence parks in front of the
large house. He drives around to the back of the house
slowly. All the shades are closed, so he cannot see inside.
He moves to the side of the garage and stops.
DISSOLVE TO:
Lawrence gets out and looks in the window of the garage, and
he sees a nice sedan inside.
54.
He walks to the backdoor of the house, and he knocks hard. He
waits, and no one answers, so he leaves.
DISSOLVE TO:
In the room, there are only four pieces of furniture. An end
table with a phone and a black book on top, a bed, a chair,
and a dresser. He lay back on the bed, and he reached on the
Lawrence writes down all he had done today and the people he
spoke with. He picks up the phone.
LAWRENCE:
I need another agent here with me.
RALPH (V.O.)
I'll come. I can be there in 8
hours.
LAWRENCE:
That would be perfect, boss.
RALPH (V.O.)
I'll let Joice know, and I'll get
on the next plane to you.
LAWRENCE:
Okay, see you tomorrow.
Lawrence places his book on the end table and turns out the
light.
DISSOLVE TO:
Ralph sits on the chair in Lawrence's room. Lawrence is
putting on his suit jacket.
RALPH:
So you been by her place?
LAWRENCE:
I have. No one was there, but her
cars were.
RALPH:
You did mention to me that she had
a plane.
55.
LAWRENCE:
Yes.
RALPH:
So, she may have flown somewhere
and then seen that the FBI was
homing in on a suspect.
LAWRENCE:
So, you think she got spooked?
RALPH:
I'm not sure. I think that Barbara
Dalton is weird, and she may just
have gone away and will come back.
LAWRENCE:
But she's been gone a year.
RALPH:
Who says?
LAWRENCE:
Roy and Beth said.
RALPH:
No, you told me that they said they
haven't seen her in a year.
LAWRENCE:
That's true. So, should we go back
to her place and look for clues?
RALPH:
Here's the deal! We don't have a
warrant and will need to break and
enter. If we find anything in her
home, we can't use it.
LAWRENCE:
At least we'll know.
RALPH:
I agree... You in, or out?
LAWRENCE:
I'm in. Let's do this.
RALPH:
Okay.
Ralph stands and buttons his suit jacket.
DISSOLVE TO:
56.
Barbara Dalton sits in the cockpit of a small single-engine
aircraft. She presses a few buttons and then starts her
descent.
She heads for a small runway and brings the plane down until
it is on it. She brakes the aircraft and then gets out. She
drives her small plane into the hangar she rents and then
locks it.
Roy and Beth walk into the hangar smiling and hugging
Barbara.
BETH:
Why would you leave for so long and
not tell us?
BARBARA:
I left you guys a note on your
door.
BETH:
We didn't get it.
BARBARA:
So many times, I wondered if I
should call.
BETH:
You should of. We've missed our
friend.
BARBARA:
I'm sorry. I'm back now.
ROY:
Yeah, and I think the FBI is here
looking for you.
BETH:
What do you mean, Roy?
ROY:
Don't tell me you believed that guy
at the general store is a fan.
BETH:
I did.
ROY:
Nah, he looked like an FBI Agent to
me. We thought you were gone, so we
drove him by your house.
57.
BARBARA:
I'm not worried; they don't have
anything to hold me on.
ROY:
Maybe they know your DB Cooper.
BARBARA:
I may tell them that myself. I'm
tired of living with this secret...
It haunts me.
ROY:
I understand, but make sure that
they can't persecute you. If they
can, you recant your story and say
you were under psychological
stress.
BARBARA:
Very good, Mr. Roy. I think I am
going to take your advice.
ROY:
You should. It's good, and it's
free.
They all laugh loudly.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. BARBARA DALTON'S HOUSE - DAY
Lawrence and Ralph walk around the exterior of the house,
observing everything.
Lawrence stops and stares at the garage doors because they
are open wide.
He then looks at the back door, and he notices the window
next to it where the shades are now open.
LAWRENCE:
Someone's inside.
RALPH:
How do you know?
LAWRENCE:
Yesterday the shades were closed.
58.
RALPH:
Okay, let's knock on the door. This
way it doesn't look like we're
snooping.
Lawrence and Ralph walk up a short number of stairs. Lawrence
raises his hand to knock on the door, and Barbara opens it
with a small revolver in her left hand.
Lawrence raises his hands in the air.
LAWRENCE:
FBI.
BARBARA:
ID?
Ralph shows his ID.
Barbara lowers the gun.
BARBARA (CONT'D)
Come inside.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BARBARA'S HOUSE - DAY
Barbara offers Lawrence and Ralph a seat at the kitchen
table.
They sit.
Ralph quickly scans the kitchen.
Barbara puts her gun back in the cabinet near the door. She
removes a tea kettle from the stove and places it in the
center of the kitchen table. She goes into the cabinet and
puts three cups on the table.
BARBARA:
All I have is tea. I hope that's
okay.
LAWRENCE:
Thank you, tea is fine.
RALPH:
Yes, tea is fine.
LAWRENCE:
We have a few questions for you.
59.
RALPH:
And please don't take this the
wrong way... Are you Robert Dalton?
Barbara pauses for a moment and then smiles.
BARBARA:
I used to be but haven't been since
1969. After my sex change surgery,
I changed my name to Barbara
Dalton.
RALPH:
Thank you. Do you know anything
about skyjacking?
BARBARA:
interviewed by a man named
Fuhriman.
RALPH:
Yes, I do remember someone telling
me that. He only asked you a few
questions, and we have some more.
BARBARA:
Sure, ask away.
RALPH:
Are you the infamous DB Cooper?
Barbara takes a long pause.
Lawrence and Ralph look at each other and then back to
Barbara.
BARBARA:
I don't know how to answer your
question.
RALPH:
Why not?
BARBARA:
Because it will incriminate me.
RALPH:
For now... Unofficially, are you DB
Cooper?
BARBARA:
I am.
60.
LAWRENCE:
Wait... Did you skyjack the plane?
BARBARA:
My unofficial answer is yes.
LAWRENCE:
Can you tell us how you did it?
BARBARA:
Are you asking me how I survived
the jump?
RALPH:
Yes.
Barbara leans back on her chair and starts telling her story.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FLIGHT 305 - FLASHBACK
DB jumps from the plane and is tossed around by the wind. He
holds the ripcord and descends at a fast rate.
He's counting in his head until he gets to 504, and then he
pulls the ripcord.
There's wind and rain all whipping, and hail is all around
him.
He flies right into a bunch of trees in the forest, rapidly
hits the ground, and rolls over.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. BARBARA'S HOUSE - BACK TO PRESENT
Lawrence, Ralph, and Barbara sit at the kitchen table.
Ralph sips his tea.
BARBARA:
I hit that ground at about twenty
miles an hour and still have the
scars on my thighs to prove it. I
missed my landing by over 5 miles.
I was walking through the woods,
about to give up, and finally made
it to the cabin.
61.
RALPH:
Cabin? We didn't find a cabin along
the trail.
BARBARA:
That's because I wasn't walking on
the trail. I stayed in the woods
because it offered more shelter
from the bad weather.
RALPH:
Wow, we were really off in our
investigation.
BARBARA:
About a half mile, but that makes a
difference, I guess.
RALPH:
It does. Had we seen the cabin we
may have been able not to spend 40
hours in the woods and turn up
nothing.
Lawrence starts writing in his little black book.
BARBARA:
What are you writing?
LAWRENCE:
I'm just taking notes.
BARBARA:
I thought this was an unofficial
conversation.
LAWRENCE:
You're right.
Lawrence places his book on the table.
RALPH:
Can you show me the bomb?
BARBARA:
I dismantled it long ago.
LAWRENCE:
Do you have any pictures of it?
BARBARA:
Sorry, but no.
62.
RALPH:
Okay, I want to thank you for your
time.
Ralph and Lawrence stand and shake hands with Barbara and
then leave.
DISSOLVE TO:
Lawrence reviews the notes he wrote down. He turns in his
seat and looks at Ralph.
LAWRENCE:
Did you believe that story?
RALPH:
arrested Barbara.
LAWRENCE:
I think so too, but all she has to
do is recant her story.
RALPH:
Not true. If we can find this cabin
with her DNA, we can arrest her.
LAWRENCE:
That's pushing it.
RALPH:
It's what I got... You got
something else?
LAWRENCE:
Nope. I guess we're driving to the
woods now.
RALPH:
We are. You got a map in this car?
LAWRENCE:
I don't, but there's a raggedy gas
station a mile up.
RALPH:
That'll work. Maybe we can ask the
gas station attendant about the
cabin.
63.
LAWRENCE:
He's probably been living here his
whole life and would possibly know.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. RUN DOWN GAS STATION - DAY
Lawrence and Ralph drive into a run-down gas station and stop
at the gas pump. The pumps were so old you could see rust on
them.
A MAN 4 wearing some overalls steps outside and walks to the
window. He speaks with a southern accent.
MAN 4
You need some gas?
LAWRENCE:
No sir.
MAN 4
Then what you want?
LAWRENCE:
A map or directions.
MAN 4
Which one do you want?
LAWRENCE:
Can you tell me if there's an old
cabin nearby the Columbia River?
MAN 4
It used to be.
LAWRENCE:
Can you direct us? And what do you
mean by used to be?
Lawrence hands Man 4 a fifty-dollar bill.
Man 4 grabs it and looks at it, and smiles ear to ear.
MAN 4
Drive straight until you get to the
fork in the road, and then turn
right and park. Walk through the
woods for about half a mile, and
you'll see it.
64.
LAWRENCE:
Thanks.
Ralph drives up the road following Man 4's instructions.
They park and open the car doors.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS - DAY
Lawrence stands looking down at the ground.
Ralph looks up in the air.
The woods are thick with high grass and tree branches that
have broken off the very large trees.
The two walk deeper into the woods.
RALPH:
(clears his throat)
I flew right over this area here.
LAWRENCE:
You sure?
RALPH:
Yes, the chopper got caught in a
whirlwind, and the red flag flew
off the control bar. It flew and
got caught up in a tree.
Ralph points up in the air and a red flag is wrapped around a
branch.
LAWRENCE:
Wow... Now that's something.
RALPH:
Yeah, because of the weather, we
tried to stay in the shallow part.
LAWRENCE:
What happened?
RALPH:
After we got caught in the
whirlwind, we were forced to turn
around.
LAWRENCE:
Look over there.
65.
RALPH:
Where?
Lawrence points to a space between two trees.
LAWRENCE:
You see it?
RALPH:
It looks like it used to be
something there.
LAWRENCE:
The closer we get, the more I can
ground.
RALPH:
Right, but the point is that
Barbara is right.
LAWRENCE:
Can we arrest her?
RALPH:
I doubt it.
LAWRENCE:
Why?
RALPH:
Because she's made sure she's
destroyed any trace of a DNA
sample, we could have gotten to
prove she was in there.
LAWRENCE:
Smart.
RALPH:
Yeah, it pisses me off too.
LAWRENCE:
What should we do now?
RALPH:
See if we can get an official
confession from her.
LAWRENCE:
That would be great, but I doubt
it.
66.
RALPH:
Let's go home and interview a few
more people. Keep Barbara Dalton
and Mr. McCoy as our two prime
suspects.
CUT TO:
Barbara sits at the bar drinking bourbon and soda. Roy and
Beth entered the bar with a JERRY, 30s Caucasian male. They
all sit with Barbara.
ROY:
This is our new friend Jerry.
BARBARA:
(smiles)
It's a pleasure to meet you.
JERRY:
(smiles)
Likewise.
BARBARA:
Are you from around here?
JERRY:
I'm just visiting my sister for the
holidays, and I met Roy and Beth.
BARBARA:
That's nice.
JERRY:
Yes, it is. What's everyone
drinking? My treat.
BARBARA:
Bourbon for me.
ROY:
Same for us.
JERRY:
Bartender 4 rounds of bourbon and
keep them coming.
The BARTENDER, 20s, Caucasian female, walks over.
Jerry pulls out his card and hands it to the Bartender.
67.
They drink, and a MAN 5 walks over to their table and tosses
a glass on top of the table, and it shatters.
Jerry stands...
JERRY (CONT'D)
What is your problem?
BARBARA:
He has a problem with me.
JERRY:
With you?
BARBARA:
Yes... Look, man I told you before
that I want nothing to do with you.
MAN 5
You need me. I'm the only one that
understands you.
BARBARA:
Then let me be... We can talk
another time. Allow me to be with
my friends and enjoy this evening.
Man 5 walks away with his head down.
ROY:
Wow, he's still trying to get you
back out with him?
BARBARA:
He is, but he is too violent when
he doesn't get his way.
BETH:
We should call the Sheriff on him.
JERRY:
I agree.
BARBARA:
No, he will be fine for tonight.
JERRY:
You sure?
BARBARA:
I'm positive... Trust me.
DISSOLVE TO:
68.
INT. FBI OFFICE WASHINGTON - NIGHT
Inside the office sits Ralph, Lawrence, and several other
agents in a conference room.
Ralph stands and points at a whiteboard with several names on
it. He stops when he gets to Robert Dalton. He uses a green
marker and writes, Barbara Dalton.
AGENT 4
Who is Barbara Dalton? Is that
Robert's sister?
RALPH:
No, Barbara is Robert. In 1969
Robert underwent a sex change
operation overseas and came back as
Barbara Dalton.
AGENT 4
Legally?
RALPH:
Of course... She has had her name
changed legally.
AGENT 4
Okay, so what about her?
RALPH:
We believe she is Db Cooper, and
she has admitted unofficially that
she is.
AGENT 5
So let's go and arrest her?
RALPH:
With what proof?
AGENT 5
You said she admitted who she was
to you.
RALPH:
All she has to do is recant.
AGENT 5
We have to try at least.
RALPH:
Let's call in the warrant and pick
her up.
69.
AGENT 4
I'll get right on that, sir.
AGENT 4 leaves the room.
Ralph continues to talk as the other agents listen...
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. BARBARA DALTON'S HOUSE - DAY
FBI cars surround Barbara's home. There are Agents at the
front and the back doors banging on it. Two agents are in the
garage checking out her cars.
Ralph and Lawrence walk around the house, looking into the
windows.
LAWRENCE:
Looks like she's not home. Should
we come back or take the door?
RALPH:
Since we have the warrant to
arrest, we should probably come
back another time.
The Agents get into their cars and start to leave.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. JERRY'S CAR - DAY
Jerry and Barbara pull up and park.
Barbara rolls down the window.
JERRY:
What's going on?
BARBARA:
I think I'm about to be arrested by
the FBI.
JERRY:
Not good.
BARBARA:
Don't worry. I'll be out by
morning.
70.
JERRY:
What's it all about?
BARBARA:
DB Cooper.
Jerry looks curiously at Barbara.
Barbara gets out of the car.
CUT TO:
EXT. BARBARA DALTON'S HOUSE - DAY
Barbara gets out of the car with her hands held high.
Ralph and Lawrence walk over quickly to her.
Lawrence turns her around and handcuffs her hands behind her
back.
LAWRENCE:
You're under arrest.
BARBARA:
You bastards. You said that our
conversation was unofficial.
RALPH:
It was... This next conversation
is.
BARBARA:
What are the charges?
RALPH:
Guilty knowledge.
BARBARA:
I guess you guys make it up as you
go along.
RALPH:
Sometimes. Let's go.
Ralph puts Barbara in the back seat.
DISSOLVE TO:
Lawrence drives the sedan through heavy traffic.
71.
Ralph sits in the back of the car with Barbara.
Barbara looks out the window with a blank expression.
BARBARA:
Are we going to 3rd street?
RALPH:
Yes... Same place.
BARBARA:
Ok.
RALPH:
Why?
BARBARA:
Just wondering how long the ride
back from here to my house is going
to be.
RALPH:
Oh, you're pretty confident you are
going to be released.
BARBARA:
(smiles)
That I am.
RALPH:
What makes you so sure?
BARBARA:
Because DB Cooper is dead, and the
world knows it.
RALPH:
Oh.
BARBARA:
Yes, and when the trial begins, you
two will look like idiots.
LAWRENCE:
(laughs)
You're insane.
BARBARA:
Look, I was a man but I was a woman
at the time of the jump. I have my
own money and always have. Why
would I need to hijack a plane for
200,000 dollars?
72.
LAWRENCE:
BARBARA:
(sarcastically)
Me? I have no idea what you're
talking about.
LAWRENCE:
Look, we know you're DB Cooper...
You admitted it. We've been to the
cabin.
BARBARA:
And.
LAWRENCE:
We saw how you burned it down.
BARBARA:
Are you sure you were at the right
cabin?
LAWRENCE:
Wait... Are there more cabins in
the woods?
Barbara laughs and continues looking out of the car window.
RALPH:
So you're not going to tell us?
Barbara remains silent.
They drive the rest of the way in silence.
When they arrive at the FBI headquarters in Seattle, there
are several reporters standing outside the entrance.
LAWRENCE:
We're going to have to move
quickly.
BARBARA:
Isn't there a backdoor to this
place?
LAWRENCE:
Not that we can access.
BARBARA:
Great... Now all of the business is
on the street.
73.
LAWRENCE:
Just move quickly into the building
and don't stop and talk.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FBI OFFICE SEATTLE WASHINGTON - DAY
Reporters are blocking the doorway.
FBI security officers come outside and move them back.
Lawrence pushes Barbara past the reporters and into the lobby
of the FBI building on 3rd street. The lobby is filled with
FBI personnel watching as Barbara is brought into the office.
They walk to the elevator bank and press the up button.
DISSOLVE TO:
FBI OFFICE SEATTLE WASHINGTON INTERVIEW ROOM 6 - DAY
The interview room is dim and cold.
Barbara is taken inside, her handcuffs removed, and sat at a
long table.
The only furniture in the room is the table, 8 chairs, and a
video camera on a tripod at the other end of the table.
Barbara is leaning back on her chair, looking up at the
ceiling.
Fuhriman walks into the interview room and sits across the
table from Barbara. He opens a manila folder, removes a
picture, and slides it across the table to Barbara.
Barbara looks down at the picture and shrugs, and slides it
back.
FUHRIMAN:
Is that you?
BARBARA:
Yes, that's a picture of me...
Well, it's a picture of Robert
Dalton.
FUHRIMAN:
You are Robert Dalton.
74.
BARBARA:
I am Barbara Dalton... Robert no
longer exists. He was a woman
trapped in a man's body.
FUHRIMAN:
Technically he's still you.
BARBARA:
There is nothing technical about
it... I am Barbara Dalton, and you
will address me as such, or our
time here will get very uneasy.
FUHRIMAN:
Okay, let's move past that.
Fuhriman slides another picture across the table to Barbara.
Barbara studies the picture for several minutes and then
slides it back.
BARBARA:
That's Dan Cooper.
FUHRIMAN:
Interesting.
BARBARA:
What is?
FUHRIMAN:
You addressed the man as Dan Cooper
rather than DB Cooper.
BARBARA:
I don't know why you find that
interesting.
FUHRIMAN:
Because the entire world is calling
him DB Cooper, and the one person
we believe is him is referring to
his correct name.
BARBARA:
I don't get it but continue.
FUHRIMAN:
So a media mistake caused everyone
to believe that Dan Cooper's name
is DB Cooper when in fact, its not.
I want to ask you... Are you Dan
Cooper?
75.
BARBARA:
I am not.
FUHRIMAN:
But you admitted to two Agents that
you were.
BARBARA:
I recant that statement.
FUHRIMAN:
What part?
BARBARA:
Everything.
Barbara stands...
FUHRIMAN:
Where are you going?
BARBARA:
I'm leaving.
FUHRIMAN:
I need you to sit back down. This
interview is not over.
BARBARA:
I believe it is.
FUHRIMAN:
The interview is over when I say
it's over.
BARBARA:
Lawyer.
FUHRIMAN:
Excuse me?
BARBARA:
I want a lawyer.
Barbara leans forward and rests her arms and head on the
table.
FUHRIMAN:
How did you know about the cabin?
BARBARA:
Lawyer.
76.
Fuhriman stands and leaves the interview room.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. INTERVIEW ROOM 6 ADJOINING ROOM - DAY
Fuhriman walks into the adjoining room and stares at Barbara
through the one-way glass.
Ralph and Lawrence are sitting in an adjacent room to
interview room 6.
RALPH:
Cut her loose.
FUHRIMAN:
What?
RALPH:
We don't have anything solid. To
hold her now will destroy any
future charges.
FUHRIMAN:
I know you're right, but... She
feels right for this.
RALPH:
I agree, but what can we do?
LAWRENCE:
I'll go in and cut her loose.
RALPH:
Okay.
Lawrence leaves the room.
FUHRIMAN:
I find that broad too cocky.
RALPH:
She has done some research on the
law, I guess.
FUHRIMAN:
True.
RALPH:
Well, she looks good, but we have a
list of 800 suspects that we need
to eliminate before we can come
back to Mrs. Dalton.
77.
FUHRIMAN:
I understand.
RALPH:
I'm going up in the chopper to fly
around the jump zone one more time.
FUHRIMAN:
What are you looking for?
RALPH:
A parachute, a body... anything
that can make sense in this case.
Ralph stands to watch Lawrence escort Barbara out of the
interview room.
DISSOLVE TO:
YEARS LATER...
INT. FBI OFFICE WASHINGTON DC - DAY
NOMAD, 50s, African American Male, smoking a cigar, sits in a
large office next to the Director of the FBI's office. Nomad
looks out of the 10th-floor window into the mass of cars
sitting in the gridlock of the overpopulated city.
He picks up the phone on his desk and presses a clear button.
GINGER (V.O.)
(pleasant)
Yes, Assistant Director Nomad.
NOMAD:
Please come into my office for a
moment.
GINGER (V.O.)
I'll be right in.
GINGER, 30s, African American female dressed in a woman's
blue business suit, walks into Nomad's office. She takes a
seat across from Nomad's desk.
NOMAD:
Are you familiar with the DB Cooper
case?
GINGER:
Very.
78.
NOMAD:
Tell me, why do we have a whole
Seattle, Washington team working on
this case longer than you have been
alive?
GINGER:
I don't know, sir. I've looked over
their expenditures, costing the
department over three hundred
thousand dollars a year.
NOMAD:
Whoa... We need to shut it down
before the director gets wind of
it. I want you to handle this
personally.
GINGER:
Okay, I'll call Miriam and have her
cover my desk.
NOMAD:
Thank you, Agent.
GINGER:
You're welcome, sir.
NOMAD:
I have another question before you
go.
GINGER:
Sure, what is it?
NOMAD:
Why do you choose to work as my
assistant?
GINGER:
The pay is good, and I'm home by
five every day.
NOMAD:
I know, but you were such a great
agent, and then you requested to be
taken out of the field.
GINGER:
Administration is a better fit for
me, sir.
79.
NOMAD:
Okay, but if you ever want back in,
let me know.
GINGER:
Okay, but trust me... I'm over the
double O7 stuff.
Nomad laughs and salutes Ginger.
Ginger salutes back and then leaves the office.
DISSOLVE TO:
Ginger sits in the airport waiting area. She reads through
some files with the FBI seal on them. She hears an
announcement on the loud speaker and packs the case files
into her large pocketbook.
ANNOUNCER:
Flight 162 to Seattle is now
boarding at gate 12.
Ginger walks quickly to gate 12 and stands in line.
The STEWARDESS, 20s, Caucasian, walks over to Ginger.
STEWARDESS:
Business class?
GINGER:
Yes.
Ginger hands her the ticket.
The Stewardess smiles and walks her and two other people onto
the plane before everyone else.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT
Ginger takes her seat in the business class section.
The plane loads quickly, and the doors are closed as they
prepare to take off. After several minutes the plane is in
the air.
Ginger raises her hand and orders a gin and tonic.
80.
The stewardess brings her the drink.
Ginger opens the case file and reads it until the plane
lands.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. AIRPORT TAXI WAITING AREA - NIGHT
There are lines of taxis waiting at the airport. There's no
one in the line, so Ginger opens the door carrying her
overnight bag and large pocketbook.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TAXICAB - NIGHT
The taxi drives onto the interstate and then moves to a small
hotel in the business district called the Waterfront.
Ginger hands the driver her debit card, and he charges the
fare to it.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. THE WATERFRONT HOTEL - NIGHT
Ginger's hotel room is very elaborate. The room is a small
one-bedroom apartment. It has a living room, bedroom, and
den. The view of the city is beautiful from her window, and
she can see the FBI headquarters building.
Ginger picks up the phone and orders dinner and a large
bottle of wine. After dinner, she decides to take a walk
outside.
EXT. THE WATERFRONT HOTEL OUTERBANK - NIGHT
Ginger sits on a wall enjoying a cigarette.
Lawrence is walking along the hotel strip and stops when he
sees Ginger.
Ginger catches Lawrence's eyes looking at her.
Lawrence walks over and pulls out a cigarette from his pack.
LAWRENCE:
Can I get a beautiful light?
81.
GINGER:
(smiles)
Now you know you have a match, Mr.
Handsome.
LAWRENCE:
I do, but I thought we were a
match, so I asked for one.
GINGER:
(giggles)
I like you already. You want to go
and get some drinks.
LAWRENCE:
I most definitely do.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. THE WATERFRONT HOTEL -DAY
Lawrence rolls over in the large bed, and he places his hand
on Ginger's naked thigh. He glances at the clock and yawns.
Ginger rolls over under Lawrence's arm. She looks at the
clock and gets up. It's bright in the room, and she watches
Lawrence getting dressed. She notices his gun and holster.
LAWRENCE:
I'm not running out on you. I hope
we can see each other.
GINGER:
Of course, we can. I had a great
time with you. I live in DC, but
I'll be here for two to three
months for work.
LAWRENCE:
That's good. I was thinking about
transferring to DC.
GINGER:
That's good because we can see
where this leads. I don't randomly
meet men and sleep with them on the
first date.
LAWRENCE:
82.
GINGER:
(smiles)
Good.
Lawrence leaves.
Ginger runs into the shower and gets ready to head to the
Seattle office.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FBI OFFICE SEATTLE WASHINGTON - DAY
It's 8 am and Ginger sits in the office of Fuhriman. He was
not there yet, so she showed her credentials and made herself
home at his desk.
It's 9 am and Ralph walks into the office.
RALPH:
Hi Deputy Inspector. You probably
don't remember me.
GINGER:
How's Joice Ralph?
RALPH:
(smiles)
She's good. I was just joking.
GINGER:
What are you doing down here?
RALPH:
This is my region.
GINGER:
Wow, are you still teaching us
recruits?
RALPH:
New... Shoot one more promotion for
you, and you'll be the director.
GINGER:
I'm in administration now. It got
to be too much for me out in the
field.
83.
RALPH:
Me too. I was brought in on this
case, but I'm mostly admin too.
GINGER:
Nothing wrong with that. It just
ensures that we make it to
retirement.
RALPH:
I agree... I'm curious about
something.
GINGER:
Sure.
RALPH:
What brings you here?
GINGER:
I've got to shut down the Norjak
case.
RALPH:
It is about time, I guess.
GINGER:
It's time we take this one as an
unsolved.
RALPH:
I'm on my retirement journey now.
I've been here for years, stuck
working on this case.
GINGER:
I feel for you, but you've done
well for yourself regarding your
work grade.
RALPH:
That is true. I'll be retired once
this case is closed.
GINGER:
I wish you all the best. It will
take us about three months to shut
this down and get all the records
sent to the archives.
RALPH:
Are you the official closer?
84.
GINGER:
Of course not... I'm behind the
scenes, and then one of the media
Agents will get on the news and
take credit for our work.
RALPH:
A few of our suspects are already
dead. The ones we thought were
guilty we had zero evidence.
Fuhriman walks into the office and sees Ralph and Ginger
talking. He stops and looks at her and immediately recognizes
her.
FUHRIMAN:
This can't be good if you're here.
GINGER:
(laughs)
Am I the evil one or something?
FUHRIMAN:
(smiles)
Now you know exactly what I'm
saying.
The three of them laugh.
GINGER:
Unfortunately, I'm shutting down
the Norjak case.
FUHRIMAN:
Shoot, I'm glad. I'm ready to
retire and have worked on this case
every day of my career. It's a
shame, though, because I wanted to
crack this case.
RALPH:
Me too.
Lawrence walks into the office and stares at Ginger, and she
stares back.
FUHRIMAN:
And here's the young agent on the
case.
RALPH:
Yes, he's been great for us. Now
that we're leaving, you're going to
be the senior agent.
85.
GINGER:
Hi Larry.
LAWRENCE:
Hi Ginger.
RALPH:
Do you two know each other?
LAWRENCE:
Yes, we do.
FUHRIMAN:
I dare ask how.
LAWRENCE:
It's a bit personal.
GINGER:
(smiles)
Yes, it's a bit personal.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. THE WATERFRONT HOTEL - NIGHT
Lawrence and Ginger sit on the edge of the bed, eating
dinner. He opens a bottle of juice and passes it to her. She
drinks it, hands it back to him, and he puts it on the table.
LAWRENCE:
How do we close this case?
GINGER:
First, we need to make sure we have
all the interviews on the computer.
Then we burn the data onto storage
drives, and then afterward do an
online data backup. Its a lot of
sitting around and making phone
calls.
LAWRENCE:
Okay, I'm up to it.
GINGER:
If not I can request you go on
another assignment.
LAWRENCE:
No I want to stay where you are.
86.
GINGER:
Are you coming to work in DC?
LAWRENCE:
I am and I will be administration
so its a 9 to 5 mostly unless
something out of the ordinary comes
up.
GINGER:
I know it, I'm living that dream
now myself.
LAWRENCE:
How is it?
GINGER:
It's good. I'm home every night.
LAWRENCE:
I was worried I may regret it.
GINGER:
You won't... and besides you won't
be alone, you'll be with me.
LAWRENCE:
That is the best part. I don't know
how I got so lucky to meet you.
GINGER:
I feel the same way.
DISSOLVE TO:
Ginger walks through the airport terminal and asks the TA
officer to take her to the control tower. On their way to the
control tower, she was intercepted by OSCAR HINES, 40s,
Caucasian male, airport head TA officer.
Hines stops them at the entrance to the tower.
HINES:
How can we help you, Agent?
GINGER:
I need to get to the Airport's
control tower. Then I need all of
the data you have concerning
Norjak.
87.
HINES:
Norjak? What are you talking about?
GINGER:
If you stop delaying me, I can get
to the right people to get me the
information I need.
HINES:
Look, I'm the law here, so you
listen to me... You better have a
warrant.
GINGER:
I do, but since it's not for you,
I'll hand it to someone in the
tower.
GINGER GINGER:
Since you think it's your call,
I'll give you 30 seconds to move
out my way or call my agents and
have them arrest you.
TA Hines moves over and lets Ginger pass.
INT. TOWER CONTROL SERVRE ROOM- DAY
XAVIER, African American male, 40s, Airport IT, transfers the
data onto external drives and erases their information from
their servers.
Ginger sits inside the tower in the server room with the
tech.
Xavier removes the large external drive from being attached
to the server and places it into an archive box.
XAVIER:
It's all done.
GINGER:
Everything is erased from your
servers?
XAVIER:
Yes.
GINGER:
And the backup servers?
88.
XAVIER:
Yes, I took them offline and
deleted their cache and databases.
GINGER:
Thank you.
Xavier leaves the tower leaving Ginger in the server room by
herself.
GINGER (CONT'D)
We're ready.
RALPH (V.O.)
I'm sending the escorts now. They
should be to you in five minutes.
DISSOLVE TO:
A large white truck with no tags and no license plates is
escorted by black unmarked cars with siren light bars to the
front of the airport's entrance. FBI officers are all dressed
in black riot gear with AR-15 assault rifles.
They rolled a large box into the terminal.
The TA police tried to stop them, and they continued walking
with their federal shields hanging around their neck.
Hines walked out into the airport lobby and waved for his men
to let them pass.
HINES:
(yells)
Let them pass!
The TA officers just stood by and watched as the Agents
walked past the metal detectors ringing. The Agents didn't
stop walking, and they made eye contact with everyone as they
passed through the metal detectors.
Passengers in the airport moved quickly out of their way as
the Agents passed them. The agents headed straight to the
server room.
DISSOLVE TO:
89.
INT. TOWER CONTROL SERVER ROOM - DAY
The Agents are all inside the server room packing the
external drives.
Ginger hands AGENT 6 a form to sign.
Agent 6 looks at the form, counts the external drives, signs
it, and hands it back to Ginger.
Ginger takes the form, and then they leave.
DISSOLVE TO:
Ginger stands outside her vehicle on the phone.
Hines walks up to her and reaches his hand out to shake hers.
Ginger declines and disconnects her phone call.
GINGER:
What do you need, Mr. Hines?
HINES:
I am sorry for the way I
disrespected you.
GINGER:
I'm used to it. I'm a woman, and
I'm black... It comes with the
territory.
HINES:
Well, for what it's worth. I
apologize.
GINGER:
Thank you, I do appreciate it.
Ginger reaches out her hand and is now willing to shake.
They shake hands.
Ginger gets into her car and drives away.
Ginger calls from her car phone.
GINGER (CONT'D)
It's all erased... The hard
evidence has been secured and is
being transferred to the archive.
90.
Ginger hands up.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FBI OFFICE SEATTLE WASHINGTON - DAY
Ginger sits around and watches Ralph packing.
Fuhriman walks into the office and sits with her.
GINGER:
Don't you need to pack?
FUHRIMAN:
I still have another five weeks
before I'm able to retire.
GINGER:
Okay, so I and you will be here
together until that time.
FUHRIMAN:
Yes. I think Lawrence is staying
with us.
GINGER:
I heard he is, and then he's off to
DC.
FUHRIMAN:
Here he comes now.
Lawrence walks into the office smiling and holding two cups
of coffee.
LAWRENCE:
Here you go.
Lawrence hands Ginger a cup of coffee.
GINGER:
(smiles)
Thank you.
FUHRIMAN:
If I were a thinking man, I would
suspect you two are sweet on each
other.
GINGER:
I hope you are not a thinking man.
91.
FUHRIMAN:
I am, but what I'm not is a
tattling man.
GINGER:
(smiles)
We thank you for that.
LAWRENCE:
(smiles)
I concur.
GINGER:
What are you going to do when you
retire?
RALPH:
The good thing about retirement is
that I don't have to do anything.
GINGER:
No way you'll make it. If you don't
have something to do, you will
drive yourself crazy.
RALPH:
That's true... So I've got a golf
membership, which should hold me
for the next 20 years.
GINGER:
Well, that's a plan for the summer,
but what happens when it's cold
outside?
LAWRENCE:
Or raining.
RALPH:
I'll chill at home with my wife.
GINGER:
RALPH:
(laughs)
Heck yeah!! I'm not too old for
that.
GINGER:
I'm sure you're not.
92.
Ralph packs the rest of the things and then hugs everyone. On
his way out the door, he stops and looks at his old office
again for several minutes. A lone tear runs down his face as
he closes the door and leaves the office for the last time.
DISSOLVE TO:
AGENT MEDINA stands in front of several hundred reporters.
They are all holding their microphones in his face. He takes
one step back and looks over to his left. He motions for
Ginger to come and stand next to him at the podium.
MEDINA:
Attention everyone... We have some
important information to share.
Today we regret to inform everyone
that we are closing the DB Cooper
case.
MEDINA MEDINA:
He was the man who skyjacked an
airplane and demanded a ransom.
Somewhere between here and Reno, he
jumped out of the moving plane with
a parachute strapped to his back.
NEWSMAN 1
Isn't it true that no one could
have survived a jump from that high
in such lousy weather?
MEDINA:
Ginger, if you would.
Ginger steps up to the podium and the microphone.
GINGER:
Most of us believed the same thing.
Unfortunately, as we started
investigating this case, we found
many others who did it and
survived. We also found several
suspects that fit the bill.
MEDINA:
So the FBI knows the identity of DB
Cooper?
GINGER:
We do not. If we did, this case
would not be closing.
(MORE)
93.
GINGER (CONT'D)
Several agents have spent their
ghost. Every turn, in this case,
has been a mystery. People have
accused their husbands, uncles, and
friends of being Dan Cooper or the
one you call DB Cooper.
NEWSCASTER 2
GINGER:
thought we had more evidence, we
would continue, but most suspects
and witnesses are too old to give
us a believable account. As time
passes, stories change, and actual
events get mixed with fiction; it's
just how it is.
NEWSCASTER 2
So what happens now?
GINGER:
Now we close the case. We encourage
anyone with information concerning
this case please call us. But until
we get any credible information,
this case is officially closed.
NEWSCASTER 1
One more question, agent?
GINGER:
Yes, please go ahead.
NEWSCASTER 1
What do you believe?
GINGER:
Meaning?
NEWSCASTER 1
I mean, what do you believe? Do you
think Db Cooper died during the
jump?
GINGER:
I did at first.
NEWSCASTER 1
What about now?
94.
GINGER:
survived, then made it, and stayed
in Seattle. We have one person who
had a sex change with a grudge, and
we have another man who hijacked
the airline twice and both times
escaped by jumping out of the
plane. There is so much proof that
a man can jump and survive, but we
don't have the proof to pin it on
one person.
NEWSCASTER 1
That's too bad.
GINGER:
It is, but we have so many other
cases that need to be resolved that
we must move forward. This is a
great mystery here. I'll turn it
back over to my colleague Mr.
Medina.
Ginger walks off the stage as Median continues to speak.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FBI OFFICE WASHINGTON DC - NIGHT
Ginger sits outside the FBI building in DC and watches people
walking by. She gets up, sips on her coffee, reaches into her
pocketbook and looks at her phone. The screen has no calls.
She puts the phone back in her pocketbook and walks into the
FBI building.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FBI OFFICE WASHINGTON DC - NIGHT
Ginger sits in her office chair. Her new office has a
beautiful view of Washington DC, an enormous mahogany desk, a
large computer screen, and a black leather chair. The carpet
is a light tan that matches the credenza against the wall.
She has a large television hanging on her wall, showing CNN.
The office is empty. The office is dark.
Ginger leans back on her chair and closes her eyes. The night
passes, and morning comes before she wakes. She stands and
looks at her computer.
95.
She opens her emails and sees 20 emails regarding DB Cooper.
She opens them one by one, which takes up all her mornings.
Nomad walks into Ginger's office, and he smiles.
NOMAD:
Welcome back!
GINGER:
And thank you for this office.
NOMAD:
Are you kidding me?
GINGER:
I'm serious.
NOMAD:
We both know you should have my
job. The only reason I still have
it is my family's involvement in
politics.
NOMAD NOMAD:
Soon though, you are going to be
the boss.
GINGER:
I doubt it. I'm enjoying my new
position, though.
NOMAD:
9 to 5 still, but I saw you
sleeping in this office when I came
in. I assume you were here all
night.
GINGER:
You caught me.
NOMAD:
What about your personal life?
GINGER:
Ah... I thought I had one, but he's
so far from me.
NOMAD:
Well, then, you need to change
that.
GINGER:
What do you mean?
96.
NOMAD:
You're running your team. You call
the shots. If you want to work
remotely, then do it.
GINGER:
(smiles)
I don't know. I'll think about it.
NOMAD:
Yes, please do that. The one thing
I've learned about working here is
that I still need to maintain a
personal life.
GINGER:
I agree.
Ginger looks down at her phone, and still, she has no calls.
NOMAD:
Well, go home and get changed, and
when you return, I bet everything
will have changed.
GINGER:
How can you be so sure?
NOMAD:
Trust me. I'm good with things like
that.
GINGER:
Okay, I'll be back in a few hours.
NOMAD:
Take your time. We can take it from
here.
Ginger stands and grabs her pocketbook and phone. She walks
to the elevator.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. GINGER'S HOME - DAY
Ginger's home is a cute small house with two bedrooms in the
suburbs of DC. She finishes her shower and walks into her
bedroom. She picks up her phone off the bed and stares at
Larry's number. She then tosses her phone onto the bed, gets
dressed, and leaves home.
DISSOLVE TO:
97.
INT. GINGER'S CAR - DAY
Ginger is driving in her car, so she's stuck in gridlock
traffic.
PHONE RINGS...
GINGER:
Hello?
FUHRIMAN:
I'm in DC. Can you pick me up?
GINGER:
(excited)
What are you doing here?
FUHRIMAN:
I've got to attend a special event
at headquarters.
GINGER:
I thought you retired?
FUHRIMAN:
I did this is something really
special.
GINGER:
Okay, where are you?
FUHRIMAN:
At the bus station.
GINGER:
I'll be there in ten minutes. Meet
me out front.
FUHRIMAN:
Okay, see you soon.
Ginger pulls up in front of the bus station and blows the
horn. She sees Fuhriman wearing a suit and tie but has no
luggage. She raises her hand out of the window while tapping
the horn.
Fuhriman gets into the car.
Ginger hugs him.
GINGER:
You're looking good.
98.
FUHRIMAN:
Retirement agrees with me.
GINGER:
Well, that's what I love to hear.
FUHRIMAN:
How far are we from the office?
GINGER:
minutes; there's a little traffic
out here, so it may be a little
longer.
FUHRIMAN:
That's fine.
Fuhriman checks his watch.
Ginger looks at him.
GINGER:
What time is the event?
FUHRIMAN:
I've got time.
GINGER:
I'll try and make it quick. The
elevators are slow are hell,
though.
Ginger parks in front of the FBI headquarters building. She
pulls out her FBI parking plaque from her glove compartment.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FBI OFFICE WASHINGTON DC - DAY
Ginger walks in and checks Fuhriman in with her.
Fuhriman pushes the up button.
He and ginger get into the elevator.
INT. FBI OFFICE WASHINGTON DC - DAY
Ginger is in her office typing an email.
Fuhriman and Nomad walk in.
99.
NOMAD:
Can you come with us, please?
GINGER:
Right now!
NOMAD:
Yes... It's rather urgent.
GINGER:
Okay, let me log off.
Ginger follows them as they rush into the kitchen.
INT. FBI OFFICE WASHINGTON DC KITCHEN - DAY
Lawrence stands in the center of ten agents and is on his
knee.
Ginger gasps when she sees him on his knee.
Lawrence opens a small blue velvet box. Inside there is a
giant diamond ring.
LAWRENCE:
Ginger, will you marry me?
Ginger has tears flowing from her eyes.
GINGER:
(smiles)
Yes, of course, I will.
Lawrence puts the ring on Ginger's finger. He stands, and
they hug and kiss.
Nomad and Fuhriman all clap and cheer.
GINGER (CONT'D)
Fuhriman... did you come here for
this? I was dying wondering why I
hadn't heard from Larry. All you
guys were in on it?
FUHRIMAN:
I'm so sorry, and to make it even
worse. I deliberately went to the
bus station to delay you. We needed
more time to get ready.
GINGER:
I love you guys.
100.
They all hug together.
FUHRIMAN:
Even though we closed the DB Cooper
case... It did something unique...
It brought us all together.
FADE TO BLACK.
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