Guión fringe

FRINGE
“Pilot”
By J.J. Abrams

ACT ONE FADE IN: INT. AIRLINER – NIGHT CLOSEUP on SHUDDERS. FLASHES of as a tense a FASTEN SEAT BELT sign, ILLUMINATING as the plan A jumbo jet. International flight, half-full. an ELECTRICAL STORM through otherwise BLACK windows PA ANNOUNCEMENT is made: FLIGHT ATTENDANT (V.O.) Das Sicherheitsgurtzeichen wird belichtet. Befestigen Sie bitte IhreSicherheitsgurte. (then, accented) The captain has turned on the fasten seat belt sign, please make sure your seat belts are securely fastened. -- and PASSENGERS do. Even the FLIGHT ATTENDANTS buckle up; and when they look nervous, it’s never good. Up in FIRST CLASS, an older couple HOLD HANDS. A few rows back, into coach, an overweight WOMAN looks to the nervous MAN sitting beside her and says: WOMAN Ichbevorzuge die Serie. MAN I don’t—speak German, I’m from Denver.

-- Weil—- dieses mein Erstflug ist.

-- I’m—- I’m from Denver.

-- and SHUDDER – the jet DIPS too much –-armrests gripped –BRILLIANT strobing LIGHTNING as the plan LIFTS, BANKING one way, then the other. Further back in the cabin, an angry 16 year-old headphone-wearing BOY plays PSP, oblivious to the rough ride. Six rows behind him,a 45 year-old MAN is sweating. Pale. Distraught. The TURBULENCE is clearly a problem –- but something says “there’s more happening here than just airsickness and anxiety. We’ll give him this name for now: TROUBLED. Troubled closes his eyes, head back, trying to find relief. The 60 year-old INDIAN MAN beside him says, comfortingly: INDIAN MAN My friend. It is just an electrical storm. This willpass.

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TROUBLED I understand. INDIAN MAN (offering a pack) Juicy Fruit? TROUBLED No. I can’t, I’m fine.

Thank you.

Indian Man nods as Troubled pulls a briefcase from under his seat. Opens it. Goes through his papers -– the plane DROPPING AGAIN as LIGHTNING strikes closer than before –- an AUDIBLE REACTION from many passengers –Troubled pulls out a DOSING PEN –- a pen-shaped syringe forthe injection of medicine. Indian Man watches curiously as Troubled finds a small MEDICINE CARTRIDGE and inserts it. Indian Man doesn’t really understand what he’s watching –and neither will most of the audience, and that’s okay. Troubled unbuttons the lower half of his shirt – pushes the pen against his stomach and TIRGGERS IT: POP! He’s just taken an injection. Troubled loosens his collar whenHOLY FUCK, THE PLANE DROPS –actual SCREAMS from some –- the LIGHTS IN THE CABIN DIM –the LIGHTNING BRIGHTENS as if they’re now flying through the center of the Goddamn storm. A GERMAN PA ANNOUNCEMENT from the cockpit doesn’t help anyone who speaks only English -- and Troubled seems to suddenly be in far worse shape -– a sort of atypical PAIN. Indian Man, watching this, concerned, says: INDIAN MAN --my friend--? But Troubled is so fucking uncomfortable that he UNDOES HIS SEAT BELT and heads for the bathroom. He moves down the ROUGH and ROCKING cabin. A dozen rows behind him, a FLIGHT ATTENDANT strapped to her bulkhead emergency seat sees Troubled and calls, in a German accent: FLIGHT ATTENDANT Sir, excuse me! You must stay in your seat! But he keeps going -– and so she reluctantly unbucklesand stands -– grasping row after row as she moves for him –- he’s

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well ahead of her, having even more difficulty walking as the plane struggles through the erratically blinding storm –FLIGHT ATTENDANT (CONT’D) You have to sit down!

-- Sir!

But Troubled keeps going –- STUMBLING –- we’re ONLY ON HIS BACK NOW as he heads away from us -– from her -– FLIGHT ATTENDANT (CONT’D) EntschuldigenSie mich., geehrten Herrn, bitte! Gehen Sie zu Ihrem Sitz zuruck! Troubled keeps going, steadying himself on the seat backs as he moves –- the Flight Attendant gaining. Practically the only light we get now is from the WILD LIGHTNING and SEAT BELT lights -– and finally she catches up to him -– reaches out, grabs his shoulder -– and she turns him toward her -– toward us -– AND HIS FACE IS A THING...