Hyper Sonic (2002) - full transcript
In order to win $25 million, Daredevil pilots enter the worlds fastest jet race.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
GRANT (VOICEOVER): When I was a
kid,
I had this dream, a dream I
shared with my brother.
A dream where I was flying.
A dream my brother turned into
reality.
But sometimes, the price of a
dream is too high.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ANNOUNCER (OVER PA): And ladies
and gentlemen,
here come the racers!
[CHEERING]
Midway now through the Transcon
Air Race,
with Grant Irvine leading.
Josh Rubin's in second, David
Long in third.
The rest of the pack battling it
out for fourth and fifth place.
Kevin, I need a weather report
for the refuel.
Kevin?
Go, yes.
Kev, I need a weather report
for the refuel.
Front still moving south.
You should be able to clear it.
Then bring the fuel bird over,
OK?
Telemetry shows 1,600 pounds in
your wing reserves.
You can make this leg without a
refuel.
Well, Kev, the computer doesn't
want to go as fast as I do.
Grant, if you pit now, you're
going to drop
at least three positions. - Come
on, Kev.
Who you gonna trust?
The computer or your own
brother?
All right.
Descend 18,000 feet.
Intercept our course and prepare
for refuel.
Copy that.
John, did the lexicon pilot
just call for his fuel tanker?
JOHN: We'll it on satellite cam.
What the hell is Irvine
thinking?
He'll lose the lead.
Lexicon pilot, why is your
tanker on course
for flight coordinates?
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): We're
descending down to 2,200 feet.
We're way out of the flight
path.
Airspace is on the flight path.
Get your tanker out of there
now.
All right, guys.
Release the boom.
Let's get ready for refuel.
Let's do this. All right.
Grant, it's all good.
MAN (OVER RADIO): Looks like
Irvine is refueling.
Kick in the burners.
Let's meet while they're down.
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Kev, where's
the tank?
Pack's 20 seconds back.
How you holding up?
I can't complain.
I wish this was going faster,
though.
Whoa!
Hey!
Hey! - What happened?
Wind shear! Wind shear!
Wind shear!
We got wind shear!
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Kev, what
the hell's going on?
Disengage! Disengage!
Disengage!
I repeat, disengage!
I can't keep on top the
aircraft!
It's pulling me down!
We are under heavy wind shear.
Advise to redirect pilot.
Grant!
We're shutting off the fuel!
We're shutting off the fuel!
Disconnect the boom!
GRANT: I'm clear.
I'm clear.
Kev, get out of there right now!
We're trying!
[SCREAMING]
End transmission?
No, stay live.
Stay live.
Bail out!
Bail out!
Get out of here!
Get out!
Get out!
No time to think.
Just get those 'chutes on and
let's go!
We can do this! Here we go!
You're up!
GRANT (OVER RADIO): I've got a
hit.
Probably the right wing.
I'm going to have to eject!
Then go!
Ready?
Three, two, one, eject!
All right, the crew's all out!
Bail out!
Bail out!
[GROANING]
[THUNDEROUS BOOM]
Roll all emergency ground crews
under the flight path.
Do it now!
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Please,
don't!
No, no, no, no!
God.
God damn.
No.
REPORTER (ON TV): And this was
the tragic scene yesterday
of the Transcon Air Race.
A mid-air refueling disaster
left three pilots dead,
along with 11 spectators.
A board of inquiry will be held
to investigate both
Kevin and Grant Irvine, captains
of the ill-fated Lexicon team--
along with Chris Bannon and
other representatives
of the Transcon Air Race--
to determine responsibility for
this deadly catastrophe.
Mr. Irvine, according to our
records,
you called for the fuel tanker
and met your team
at approved coordinates.
Yes, sir.
OFFICIAL: But then both a jet
and a tanker
dropped down to the flight path?
We were hit by wind shear.
OFFICIAL: Mr. Bannon?
Sir?
OFFICIAL: You radioed the
lexicon tanker
and requested they clear the
flight plan.
That's correct.
OFFICIAL: And did the crew
chief, Kevin Irvine,
comply with the request?
Certainly not in a reasonable
amount of time, sir.
That is bullshit.
Kevin told you exactly what our
situation was!
OFFICIAL: Sit down, Mr. Irvine.
Please, sir.
Thing is, I wasn't sure why the
Lexicon team
was performing a mid-air refuel
at that
time in the first place.
OFFICIAL: And why is that?
Well, they were leading with
plenty
of fuel for the next leg.
The weather front was crossing
their flight path.
Not the time to be performing a
mid-air refuel.
The tower authorized it!
OFFICIAL: Mr. Irvine, I said sit
down.
Sit down!
Captain Diedrich, can you
continue with your recollection
of what happened?
At 13:37, I heard Captain
Sessler on the radio,
telling me he was breaking off
toward Irvine's jet.
That's the last thing I heard
him say.
And the pilot is Hans Sessler?
He was.
My teammate.
Thank you, Captain.
Mr. Bannon, are you feeling
vindicated now that all but one
of the seven violations have
been dropped against you?
Pleased with the board's
ruling.
Have no further comment at this
time.
Bannon, you hung us out.
Not my ruling, Grant.
You sold me and my brother out.
You made us look like a couple
of fucking assholes!
Didn't need my help for that.
Listen, man, you were a pilot
once.
You know how it feels to be up
there.
We're supposed to stick
together.
Difference is I was a good
pilot.
KEVIN: Hey! - Son of a bitch!
Look, we're sorry about that.
He's just a little upset right
now.
Sorry about what?
What?
He ruined our fucking life!
Do you realize that?
I can't fucking believe you!
MALE REPORTER: Results from the
Air Race hearings closed
in a lose-lose situation.
Transcon's Chris Bannon is
stripped of his powers
to supervise another air race,
while Grant Irvine's pilot
license has been suspended.
Brother Kevin Irvine is due back
at Ashfield US Air Force Base
to continue his service.
Meanwhile, air racing in
supersonic categories
has been suspended indefinitely.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CHILDREN LAUGHING EXCITEDLY]
You Grant Irvine?
Grant?
Nah.
We work for Mr. Bannon, Mr.
Irvine.
Bannon who?
He'd like to meet with you.
Listen, I don't know Grant
Irvine.
And even if I did, I wouldn't
want to talk to Mr. Bannon
anyway.
We can do this the easy way or
we can do it the hard way.
Where'd you learn that, at thug
school?
Here, catch!
OK.
All right.
All right. It's cool.
It's cool, guys.
So you going to come along or
what?
[COUGHING]
Grant Irvine.
How the hell have you been?
How does it look like I've
been?
Thank you, gentlemen.
Please wait outside.
Can I have my wrench back?
Thank you.
Drink?
Why am I here?
I have an offer for you.
An offer?
What could you possibly have
that I want?
A golden opportunity.
An opportunity?
For what?
Last I heard, the FAA wasn't
letting
you promote another A race.
Yes, well, that's all changed.
Mm.
Caught a hell of a break.
Had one hell of a lawyer.
You buried Kevin and me.
You were the ones flying that
day.
You're supposed to protect your
pilots.
Not sell them out so you could
save your ass.
The hearing board didn't see it
that way.
Well, fuck the hearing!
It was your show.
I want you to race again.
Not as a pilot, not in the jet.
As a crew chief for a top
sponsored jet and pilot.
You want me to work for
somebody else as crew chief?
It'll give you a chance to stop
feeling sorry for yourself.
Crew chief?
I guess, what, am I too old to
fly?
Not everyone keeps their wings
forever.
Look at me.
Yeah, you gave them up so you
can be in front of TV cameras,
right?
Can we stop kicking each other
in the teeth, please?
Will you do it?
Crew chief, huh?
Crew chief.
Pass.
Really?
I don't need the headache.
I think you mean you don't need
the responsibility for someone
other than yourself.
Oh, look who's talking.
It's been real.
You sure?
Yeah, damn.
Open this door!
OK.
Open this fucking door!
It's too bad, though.
Zenith's got an airframe with
some serious gear on it.
Got a hot shit pilot to fly it,
too.
That's great.
Guy's the real deal.
Flies with his hair on fire.
What do you need me for?
They say he's even better than
you were.
Yeah?
Who?
[SNAPPING FINGERS]
Your little brother, Kevin
Irvine.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[APPLAUSE]
Give me one moment, please.
Hey, congratulations, man.
Thank you.
How about a hug, huh?
A handshake?
Another bar fight?
Yeah, bad day at the office.
Oh.
Well, you look sober for the
moment.
If I remember correctly, I got
two of these in a real war
called Desert Storm.
Remember that?
Oh, and Macedonia wasn't a real
war?
Albanians with stingers?
Try shaking a couple of Sams
with Infralock, huh?
Oh, yeah.
Major.
Congratulations.
Thank you, sir.
You're a real piece of work, you
know that?
What are you doing here? You
here to reenlist?
I was actually forced to meet
with our former friend, Bannon.
He says you're flying the
Transcon.
I can't believe you let him talk
you into it.
Oh, Grant, do we have to talk
about this right now?
Are you out of your mind?
You can't fly for him!
You know that!
Can we talk about this later?
Hello, ladies.
Hi. - Would you mind?
Sure.
[CAMERA CLICKS]
Call us.
All right.
Thanks, ladies.
Bye, ladies.
So you want to know why I said
I'd race for him?
Yeah. Why?
Because race pilots get three
times more
action than fighter pilots.
That's great.
Grant are you going to be my
crew chief or not?
What if I'm not?
Well, I'm going to fly this
plane.
So if you're not, then I'm going
to find somebody else.
You're going to find somebody
else?
Tell me something here.
Whose idea was to hire me,
anyway?
Yours or Bannon?
You still haven't figured this
out yet, have you?
What?
Bannon doesn't need you.
I do.
You're my brother.
You're the only one that I trust
out there.
EXECUTIVE: It's a simple system,
Mr. Bannon.
Arbitron ratings equals dollars.
You need viewers.
I guarantee you'll have them.
Our bank's informed us you have
an escrow for the prize money.
It'll be there within 48 hours.
Good.
And a racing note.
The FAA and NTSC has restricted
mid-air refuels
and diverted them away from the
spectator areas.
Yes, you'll get your coverage
from the blimp
and satellite camp.
They're also requesting a
100-meter
cushion between the race jets on
all legs except the final one.
The concern was that a
bottleneck of supersonic jets
was a disaster waiting to
happen.
Well, safety is a concern,
especially for spectators.
But the race and the Arbitron
ratings are your concern.
Oh, you'll get your ratings.
I hope so.
OK, let's look over the safety
precautions.
Accidents will happen.
It's impossible to prevent them.
Of course.
OK.
Pilots know the risks and the
amount of safety restrictions
imposed.
I'm not sure I follow.
The Transcon crash was the
single most watched,
highest rated piece of news
footage
in the history of our network.
It's kept us in business for the
last four years.
Nothing's even compared to it.
Are you following me now?
Are we-- [CLEARING THROAT] Are
we talking
about the pilot's safety?
I don't know, Mr. Bannon. Are
we?
If it's an exciting race you're
looking
for, the Transcon will make
Formula
One look like a go-kart race.
Good.
Because this network has a big
stake
involved, nearly $1 billion.
The $20 million we're asking
from you
is just to show my board of
directors
that you have something at stake
with us.
- Don't worry. - Don't worry?
It's my job to worry, Chris.
Remember, you said $20 million,
in escrow,
within the next 48 hours.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
So.
Which one is it?
Nah.
It's inside.
Well?
I like it.
You like it?
Yeah.
I said I like it.
Good.
Cause you're not flying it.
How does she look on me?
Like it doesn't fit.
Tempus 12 aero package, twin
Barton XR 600 turbo ram jets,
resin composites resistant to
2,000 degrees Fahrenheit,
Jupiter linkages, Wharton flight
controls.
What's the range?
2,000 under mach two.
[SNORTING]
What?
You don't deserve it.
Fine.
I don't.
What do you want to do about it?
You want to cry or do you want
to get to work?
Excuse me.
Is this the Zenith team?
Hi.
Hi.
Kevin Irvine, team pilot.
Trina Raymond.
Oh, um, you a reporter?
Because, you know, the media is
not really allowed back here.
But I think I can arrange a
personal interview.
Personal interview?
Yeah, sure.
I'm not a reporter.
No?
Oh.
Well, then, what can we do for
you, Miss Raymond?
Captain Raymond.
I'm your fuel tanker pilot.
Zenith rep said they called you
guys.
You fly a 135 tanker?
Yeah, among other things.
Grant Irvine, crew chief.
Yeah, I know.
Transcon, four years ago.
Yeah, well, let's go check out
that fuel bird.
You must increase your speed,
especially at the slalom.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Hey, Kev, how's she handling?
A little slippery on the
afterburner, Grant.
Well, cut those burners in the
middle of the turn,
not before it.
Yeah, I got to keep air speed.
Remember, man, it's at least 10
miles
to make turns at mach speed.
You cut those turns close, or
you'll be
history in the slalom section.
Remember that.
Yeah, yeah.
Went under 12.
He's fastest so far.
He's good.
Yeah, he's good, but I'm great.
I see modesty is not a big
virtue in the Irvine family.
Nah.
Chris. How are you?
Good, Vladimir. Good.
Vince.
Vince?
How many CEOs in the Fortune
have the first name of Vladimir?
Oh, I see.
And how many of them close their
deals
in old, abandoned warehouses?
Yes.
Which brings me to the next
subject.
I don't want questions from your
network.
Don't worry.
They won't ask.
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
This much money, there's always
someone who will ask.
Vlad-- Vince.
Don't worry.
Chris, you understand that
you're not dealing
with the Bank of America?
The penalty for the late payment
is something you can't afford.
I understand.
Upon the completion of the
race,
we will expect our $35 million
payment.
Wait.
I-- I thought we agreed--
the loan is $25 million.
I thought the loan fee was $5
million, a total of 30.
If you have a better offer,
please take it.
No.
No, I just didn't expect the vig
to be almost 50%.
You mean loan fee?
Right.
Loan fee.
Chris, I'm not putting a gun to
your head here.
At least not yet.
No, not yet.
Not yet.
[APPLAUSE]
Kevin.
Kevin, here.
Thank you very much.
We'll be answering all the
questions after the show.
Thank you, OK?
We'll be answering all the
questions, I promise.
Thank you. Thank you very much!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Come on!
Let's hear it! Yeah!
Yeah, OK.
Yeah.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Don't pay attention to him, OK?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Welcome.
Ladies and gentlemen, the
starting line
for this year's Transcon race
will
be Los Angeles, California.
From there, the flight path will
oscillate across the world,
making turns in major cities
above and below the equator.
Slower tankers will maintain a
flight path
directly above the equator.
There, the race jets will
intercept for mid-air pit
stops, for fuel, repairs, and
the one-time pilot
exchange, which is allowed under
the rules.
Ladies and gentlemen, the
Transcon is the longest,
fastest race on earth.
Let's meet the pilots.
David Diedrich and Team Mabach
from Germany.
Russian pilot, Andrei Smovoky.
The only female jet pilot in
this year's Transcon,
representing Team Velonix in
Canada, Catherine Rose.
Chinese Air Force pilot, Hirosho
Xiang.
American Kevin Irvine and the
Zenith team.
GRANT: Yeah!
That's my brother!
Let's get it on!
Hey, Grant.
Some more of that Irvine
modesty?
You better believe it.
And finally, for Her Majesty's
Royal Air Force,
Colonel Philip Turlington!
Ladies and gentlemen, this
year's Transcon race pilots.
KEVIN: No, it's a proven fact
pilots
don't like to think about that.
We don't go to funerals.
We don't pick up the newspapers,
watch TV,
or listen to anything else that
talks about death and racing.
And you have a girlfriend?
Who told you that?
No, I don't have a girlfriend.
You know, if you've got someone
that's worrying about you,
then I can't hit those
afterburners and go mach 2.
Hey, Grant.
Team working out OK?
Yep.
Saw the time on Kevin's
qualifying round.
Good numbers.
Thanks.
I hear the kid gives a good
interview, unlike you.
So Irvine.
Your little brother Kevin's
flying out.
Yep.
That's bad.
We all hoped the sky would be a
little bit safer this year.
Are you telling me something
here?
I believe I already did.
Listen, I promised my little
brother
that I wasn't going to get
myself any type of trouble,
so I won't.
And I'm also willing to put what
happened four years
ago in the past, all right?
I lost my wing man, my best
friend.
Well, I lost four of my men on
my fuel bird.
Remember that?
It was your fault!
It was my fucking fault?
You don't know half of the shit
that I--
Easy, guys. Come on.
Sponsors are watching.
It's a dinner party.
You, you got a race tomorrow.
Go on.
Shit.
You threw up last night, right?
Twice.
Did you at least sleep?
Nope.
Well, I did.
Hey, listen.
Everything's going to be all
right, huh?
Let's get a cup of coffee.
All right?
Come on.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I'm-- I--
OK.
Just keep your eye on this
number right there.
Stop. Stop.
Stop with that.
OK, boys, look sharp. Look
sharp.
Hi. Hi.
Hi, you ready?
Ready.
Everything's ready?
Come on, guys.
You know how I work.
I want all systems on.
I want radar.
I want to know his positioning.
I want to know his RPM.
I want all systems on right now!
PRODUCER: And we're live in 3,
2, 1.
And we're just moments away
from the start
of this year's Transcon Air
Race,
brought to you by NTC, its
affiliates,
and Wright Campbell's Technology
Solutions.
[ENGINES POWERING UP]
Everything seems to be good.
Copy that.
Today's race begins with a
flying start.
After the jets take off in
pairs, they make a long turn
and hit the holographic starting
line at supersonic speeds.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
There is the turn and burn.
Get ready.
And this year's Transcon race is
officially underway!
GRANT: All right, Kev.
I got you.
How you doing?
I'm all good up here.
I'm running fourth behind the
Chinese team
and I got the German on my ass.
Oh, Diedrich.
Don't sweat him.
Just worry about the race.
You're running fourth right now.
That's pretty good.
Listen, we're taking off in
about five minutes.
I'll get back to you when we're
airborne.
OK, guys, strap in.
Let's go. Let's go.
Strap in! - Copy that.
BANNON (OVER PA): The pilots are
now
making their way across the
first check,
downtown Los Angeles.
Up next, Buenos Aires.
Philip Turlington and the
British team
are in the early lead.
As the pilots settle in the
first leg of the race,
let's take a look at the
Transcon global flight path.
From here in Los Angeles, the
pilots will head south
to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The pilots will then turn north
and head across the Atlantic
Ocean to Paris, France, head
north to Moscow,
where they'll turn south again
to Nairobi, Kenya.
Turning north again towards Sri
Lanka,
heading towards eastern Russia,
turning east at Vladivostok.
Then across the Pacific Ocean
for the last leg
and back here to Los Angeles at
the Colosseum for the finish.
At stake, $25 million cash prize
and the honor
of being the fastest pilot in
the world's fastest race.
And
PRODUCER: And cut.
We're clear.
OK. Who is it?
Yes, this is Chris.
Go ahead.
No, no, no!
TOWER MAN (OVER RADIO): You have
clearance.
Roger, Tower.
Tanker 135 ready for takeoff.
All right, Kev.
Fuel bird is up in the air.
Weather seems to be fine, man.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
You dropped a fifth.
Everything OK?
Yeah, it's all good up here.
Now stay under three seconds off
the lead jet.
If he breaks off, you break off
with him.
OK?
Copy that.
Listen, it's a 24-hour race.
Just pace yourself.
Let the race come to you.
ANNOUNCER (OVER PA): And
remember, folks.
Be sure and stop by the
concession
stand to receive your free
complimentary drink
and hot dog, provided by NTC
International.
Hey, Grant, I think the British
team
is making their move.
It's skimming over the Baja
Sound.
No, he's setting up the pack.
When everyone else drops, he'll
shoot right back up
and kick in his afterburners.
You'll go vertical at the same
time and fly into each other.
No. No.
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): There they
go.
The rest of the pack is
dropping.
So what's our move?
Well, keep your altitude.
And by the time the chase pack
catches up,
you'll move up a position or
two.
Copy that.
RACE DIRECTOR 1 (OVER RADIO):
Looks like everyone's
following except Zenith team.
Let's wait him out.
Proceed.
I don't know what kind of game
he's playing,
but stay with the leader.
Don't compromise your position.
What?
Network for you.
Hello?
You told them the race started
less than an hour ago,
didn't you? - Now, talk to me.
What's going on with the rest of
the pack?
Still chasing the Brit.
Now hold onto your line.
Stay sharp.
He'll make his move soon.
He's pushed ahead by two
seconds now.
He'll definitely overheat his
engines.
Mr. Bannon?
They're ready for you.
PRODUCER: And we are going live
in 3, 2, and--
As the pilots settle into the
first leg of the race,
let's take a look at how NTC
brings this exciting action
into your living rooms.
In addition to the cockpit cams,
each race jet
is equipped with small cameras
in the nose,
the wings, and the fuselage.
A series of airships-- or
blimps, if you will--
will float high above the flight
path,
getting wide open views over the
oceans.
Our most powerful cameras are
mounted on several satellites
in orbit around the world.
The other cameras come from our
news helicopters, broadcast
trucks and another NTC
affiliates
positioned at major turning
points and cities
around the flight path.
Over 4,000 cameras are used to
bring this exciting Transcon
race into your living rooms.
PRODUCER: And cut!
Thanks.
[PHONE RINGING]
Fuck!
Still dropping.
Network again.
Bannon.
Steve, I've seen them.
It's early.
It's early!
No, really, trust me.
RACE DIRECTOR 2 (OVER RADIO):
Well, it
looks as though Irvine's not
going to bite.
Ascend back up to 5,000 feet.
Hey, Grant, I think the Brit's
starting to make his move.
RACE DIRECTOR 3 (OVER RADIO):
Stay with the pack!
Stay with the pack!
You're going to have to hold
that position.
Intercept his course.
Stay ahead of the chase pack or
they'll
overshoot and T-bone you on the
way up.
I got him, Grant.
Shit!
OK, here we go.
Jet wash!
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Kev, you OK?
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): No problem.
Jet wash.
I'm in a jet wash, man, but it's
not a problem.
It's not a problem.
Hey, keep your eye on your
intakes, all right?
I'm on it.
[CROWD ERUPTING IN CHEERS]
Hello?
I see.
I understand, yes.
Yes.
Goodbye.
That was the network calling.
The ratings have just spiked for
the first time during the race!
Yeah!
Woohoo!
Hold off flight path for
mid-air refuel.
Pilots will take on fuel and
make
minor repairs to the aircraft.
Somewhere over Bolivia now.
The first leg of the race almost
complete with Turlington
in first, Xiang in second, and
Diedrich in third.
Brought you guys a little
snack.
Thanks.
Here you go.
So how are you guys doing?
Fine.
Air is smooth.
Listen, I just want to
apologize for being an asshole
the other day, you know?
Aw, don't worry about it.
I remember how your hot temper
got you into trouble
after last Transcon.
Did you follow the Lexicon
team?
I followed the race, not you.
Don't flatter yourself.
That's not what I meant.
TOWER MAN (OVER RADIO): Kevin's
back up to fourth!
Copy that.
Kevin's fourth.
Yeah.
So it's shifting?
And the FAA says divert?
OK, thanks.
National Weather Service is
calling it Hurricane Natasha.
It started moving towards the
flight path
about 20 minutes ago.
So they made the turn at Buenos
Aires
and now they're over the
Atlantic on the way to Paris,
hm?
Now we have, what, Natasha
crossing the flight path?
We're going to have to divert
around the storm.
Let's not be too hasty here.
This hurricane's changed courses
three
times in the last six hours.
Let's not slow down the race
before we're sure.
Mr. Bannon, the FAA is going to
insist that we divert.
Out.
Out.
Ladies.
Close the door.
Fuck the FAA.
They don't have a billion
dollars riding on this race,
do they? - No, they don't.
Diverting means refueling
before they
even reach the hurricane.
It'll slow the whole race down,
you understand?
Refueling in a hurricane is
extremely dangerous business.
Yes.
Danger equals ratings, Ty.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Attention, all Transcon pilots.
This is Bannon.
I'm ordering all teams perform a
mandatory--
repeat, mandatory-- refuel
before you divert the storm.
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): Mandatory
refuel before diverting?
Grant, are you hearing this
bullshit?
We're already in the middle of
this storm!
Yeah, I hear it, but I don't
like it.
Just stand by while I check with
the tower.
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): Copy that.
Tower, tower, Zenith team
requesting clarification
on the mid-air refuel.
The order's clear enough.
Perform the refuel before you
divert.
Why can't we divert and refuel
later?
Because I can't send a pack of
jets low on fuel into a storm.
Bannon, we're in the shit up
here!
This is the wrong place to be
doing a mid-air refuel!
I can't control the weather,
Irvine.
Follow the order or we'll flag
your team
and your race is over.
Do you copy?
Yeah, I copy!
I copy that you've got us making
a dangerous mid-air refuel
so you don't have to slow down
your race
and wait out this storm!
You're in the middle of the
Atlantic, Irvine.
Where do you suggest I put down
five
jets and tankers low on fuel?
Shit!
Hey, Kev, we've got some nasty
weather coming in our way.
Copy that.
All right.
Get me Diedrich on line.
Diedrich!
Hello?
Are you OK with this mid-air
refuel?
Yeah.
You were there four years ago.
You know what happened.
Yeah?
Don't let Bannon do it to us
again.
But it wasn't his fault, it was
yours!
Diedrich!
We could all be killed this
time!
Quit trying to protect your
brother.
Let him race.
Yeah, thanks for the tip.
Hey, Trina, you got the new
coordinates
for the mid-air refuel?
TRINA (OVER RADIO): Saving
Campbell coordinates.
Lining up for the refuel.
RACE DIRECTOR 2 (OVER RADIO): I
don't like it much, either.
But you're here already, so
let's get this over with,
shall we?
Connection!
Cheers, mate!
First again, with others not
even close to docking yet.
GRANT (OVER RADIO): It's so
tight.
We're about five minutes away!
This is the worst place to be
refueling.
No kidding.
We're flying a gas tank with a
lightning rod.
[THUNDEROUS BOOM]
Shit!
We've got a tanker gone!
God!
Kevin, break away from the
refuel now!
Break away!
Shit! Shit!
I've been hit! Something hit me!
Mayday, mayday! KEVIN (OVER
RADIO): Mayday!
Mayday! Mayday, mayday, mayday!
Going to autopilot!
Kevin, do you read me?
Kevin!
Put your oxygen mask on right
now!
The canopy's damaged.
Oxygen-- oxygen fail.
Oxygen, no oxygen. Oxygen
failure!
He's got no oxygen. He's
blacking out right now!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
He's sitting in an ice box.
Trina!
- This is Trina! - You're set.
Kevin coordinates, get us there
as fast as you can.
You got that? - Copy that!
Team, prepare for emergency
evac!
Let's go get Kevin right now!
Let's go!
We got Kevin's coordinates.
He's right here.
So it's definitely changing
direction.
OK.
Yeah.
And the NWS will stand by that?
Well, that's good news.
See, that's a nice spike.
National Weather Service says
the hurricane's changing
direction.
It's moving away from the flight
path.
BANNON (OVER RADIO): All pilots
and tanker crews, the hurricane
has changed course.
Maintain group race coordinates.
How long till the containment
crews reach the crash site?
Freighter can be there in about
an hour.
The hurricane keeps moving away.
EPA and every goddamn tree
hugger
will be clogging the phone lines
any second now.
And the media.
Not to mention the friends and
family of that British team.
Oh, right, yeah.
Any word on the survivors on the
British team?
You saw that tanker blow.
Right.
Oh, look at that.
Looks like we have another
pilot
to add to that list right. GRANT
(OVER RADIO): Race tower!
Race tower! Race tower!
Zenith-- Zenith team has a pilot
who needs
immediate medical attention.
Alert emergency ground crews at
the nearest available airport.
Do you copy?
They're at 15 East, 36 South.
Get back to me! - Got it,
Zenith.
Stand by.
- What have you got? - Plotting
now.
Current speed should put that
Zenith team roughly 2,800 miles
off the coast of Sri Lanka.
They'll never make it.
Zenith team, this is the tower.
Go tower.
No immediate pick up and
transfer on your pilot.
What?
Advise you administer all
medical attention on board.
Copy that, you son of a bitch!
What the hell does that mean?
It means that Kevin is in our
hands now.
Come on.
It's been three minutes without
oxygen.
How close are we, Trina!
TRINA (OVER RADIO): Grant, I got
visuals right in front of us!
Listen, Grant, even if his heart
stopped,
it's probably 50 below zero in
the cockpit
and you have a chance of
recovery.
[WARNING ALARM BEEPING]
Is it charged? Come on!
Hit him! - Clear!
One, two, three, four, five,
six!
Recharged?
Come on, charge him!
Clear!
Come on!
Come on! Come on, motherfucker!
Come on!
Come on!
Hit him again!
- Clear! - Goddammit, son!
What are you doing?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[COUGHING]
Come on, guys.
Let's take him in there.
What? Come on.
Grab him.
On three.
Come on, let's go!
Go.
Let's get this show back on the
road.
ANNOUNCER (OVER PA): And Zenith
pilot Kevin Irvine is OK!
Where am I?
You're 20,000 feet above the
Atlantic, man.
Did I-- (VOICE BREAKING) did I
crash?
You know, it blew.
You blacked out.
Shit.
What happened to the jet? - Hey,
man.
I just-- I parked it for you
downstairs, you know.
MAN 1 (ON TV): I mean, just look
at me.
I'm sweating, for God's sake.
MAN 2 (ON TV): Yeah.
MAN 1 (ON TV): You know, look.
Most of the air races, they tend
to be
drawn out and a little boring,
if you know what I'm saying.
MAN 2 (ON TV): I do exactly.
The new 100-meter cushion has
proved--
MAN 1 (ON TV): You know, for
those of you
at home who don't understand how
we the cushion works yet,
it's like this.
The 100 meters now forces the
pack of jets
to remain within that distance
to the leader jet
and his or her flight deck.
So when you see the leader jet
drop a certain distance
at a checkpoint at a certain
time,
most of the rest of the pack
almost appear to be
simply following the leader.
They do cushion restriction,
which, by the way,
in my opinion, are absolutely
brilliant.
You know, let's take a moment to
endorse our sponsors.
Or should I say sponsor?
Guys, could you bring up his
photo?
The man with the master plan,
the genius
behind his amazing event, Mr.
Chris Bannon.
She's all yours.
How's he doing?
So you-- you went to med
school, huh?
No.
I just watched a lot of "ER."
[PHONE RINGING]
Hello?
Yes.
Hello?
Yes, I have them right here in
front of me.
Yes.
Thank you.
FEMALE ANNOUNCER (OVER PA): It
was Kevin Irvine's life
saved just a few minutes ago.
Most of the world awaits any
final word
on whether or not the Zenith
team will finish the race.
Why don't you tell them?
Tell them what?
That we're finished.
Trina?
Hand over the plane to your
co-pilot
and just come here for a minute,
please?
You guys gather around.
I've got something to say.
Now, I'm going to give it to you
guys straight.
We fixed the jet, but we don't
have a pilot.
So we're done racing.
But I want to tell you
something.
You guys did the best job
possible.
And I want to thank you for
that, especially
what you did for Kevin.
I mean it.
So I'll just radio in to Tower
and let them know we're heading
back and maybe next year, huh?
Wait!
Kevin can't fly, but that
doesn't mean
somebody else can't.
She's right.
In accordance to endurance
racing,
Transcon rules allows for one
pilot switch.
Only rule is switch pilot must
be
licensed and flown in any
Transcon race
in the last five years.
I don't know about this.
Come on. What have you got to
lose?
Ratings just spiked at 49
share, right
after the British tanker blew.
Everyone loves a barbecue.
Zenith team wants back in.
What, Kevin Irvine-- he wants
to fly?
Grant Irvine wants to replace
Kevin's-- his
brother Kevin as pilot.
That's an interesting twist.
He hasn't been licensed in four
years.
So what?
He doesn't exactly have the
most
sterling reputation as a pilot.
Who gives a shit about his
fucking reputation
at this point?
He's a major liability.
He's a loose cannon!
That's the end of this
conversation.
Boys?
PRODUCER: And we are live in 5,
4, 3, 2.
Take that.
We have an interesting update.
The Zenith team is back in, with
Grant Irvine replacing
his brother Kevin in a dangerous
mid-air exchange
after the Zenith plane was
damaged.
This stuff checked?
Nervous?
Aren't you supposed to be
upstairs flying?
Co-pilot, remember?
Now get going and win this
thing.
You got it.
Thanks.
Ready to be dropped on three,
two, one.
ANNOUNCER (OVER PA): [WHOOPING]
Grant
Irvine is back in the race!
I repeat, Grant Irvine is back
in for the Zenith team!
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Systems
check?
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): Everything
seems to be OK.
Looking good on all screens.
Kev, what the hell are you
doing?
The hell are you doing flying
my plane?
Touche.
All right, guys.
Look, I got to make up seven
minutes here.
Yeah, well, that'll take time
and fuel.
Well, right now I got more fuel
than time.
Grant, you're not going to
catch the pack from here.
You'll be lucky to finish the
damn race.
I'm not interested in
finishing.
I want to win.
Well, now's a good time to
check your oxygen, bro.
It sounds like you need some.
Kev, can you plan a high
altitude
trajectory that will keep us at
mach 2 with minimal fuel burn?
Stand by.
Got it.
Sending your coordinates.
Man, your face is going to be in
an oxygen mask for a long time.
She's also going to be very
skittish above 80,000.
You're going to be flying right
at the edge of flame out
and stall speed.
(SIGHING) I don't have a
choice, do I?
GRANT (OVER RADIO): All right.
50,000 feet, just as planned.
Approaching speeds of mach 2.
That gives me an ETA to catch
the pack in four
hours and fifteen minutes.
Looks like another long night
ahead of me, guys.
TY: So, what do you think?
BANNON: I don't think Irvine's
got a chance
in hell to close that gap.
[BOOM]
TRINA (OVER RADIO): Hey, Grant,
you OK?
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Yeah.
Yeah, the stick got away from
me.
It's all good. It's all good
now.
What happened?
Be careful at this altitude.
The air's still thin, your air
speed is less than 160 knots.
Just relax.
Let the autopilot take over for
a second.
So how's Kevin?
He's fine.
Asleep.
I got you on my flight screen?
So how am I doing?
How are you doing?
You know, compared to my
brother?
Are you two ever going to grow
up
and cease this absurd brotherly
competition?
I doubt that.
That's what I thought.
So you date pilots or what?
We're in the middle of a race
and you're hitting on me.
A guy's got to do what a guy's
got to do, you know?
Right.
Except I don't date pilots.
3/4 of the way through the race
as the jets
approach Vladivostok.
From there, the final leg across
the Pacific and
back here to Los Angeles.
So right now, we have Xiang in
front with Diedrich
in second and Rose in third.
Way behind the pack but catching
up
fast, Grant Irvine and the
Zenith team.
So who will it be?
Who will fly over these
Colosseum walls
the winner of $25 million and
champion
of this year's Transcon?
Will be current race leader
Hirosho Xiang?
David Diedrich and Team Mabach
from Germany?
Will Catherine Rose become the
first female
to win at Transcon?
Or will Irvine and the Zenith
team
come from way behind and close
the gap
in the hunt for victory?
Everyone is going to slow down
before we turn north.
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): That's where
you're going to make your move.
GRANT (OVER RADIO): If I come
out of there first or second,
I'll be set for the final leg.
Yeah, not if they catch you
again.
I'll open up the lead.
Grant, they're going to attack
you again and again,
all the way back to LA.
Better chance of holding first
place on the final leg
than taking it from someone
else, right?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
RACE DIRECTOR 1 (OVER RADIO):
Irvine's going
to pass on your right! Right!
Right! Right!
He's dropping!
He's dropping!
Act two, Grant.
BANNON: And Grant Irvine passes
the Russian team to move all
by himself into fourth place.
All the way from nine minutes
back.
What a race.
Kev, do you see this?
See what they're doing?
Yeah, I know what they're
doing.
They're going to keep you boxed
in
back there all day long until
they make their break
for the finish line.
So, you got a plan?
Yeah, I got something.
What?
I'll dig a hole between them.
BANNON: Oh, what a terrific
battle as Irvine
splits between Rose and Diedrich
to move into second place!
All right.
One more move, Grant.
[PHONE RINGING]
Network?
Hello?
This guy is ripping through the
pack.
Network wants you to shift
coverage.
Get as many cameras as you can
on Irvine's jet.
OK, listen up!
I want all available coverage
shifted to Grant
Irvine and Team Zenith, pronto!
That's Xiang in front of you.
Yeah, I got him.
But he's got turbo--
I said I got him.
All right, then.
If you've got him, smoke him.
I'm going to full burn.
RACE DIRECTOR 4 (OVER RADIO):
They're making connect!
Get your head out of the way!
BANNON: And there it is!
Grant Irvine and the Zenith team
moving up to take
their first lead in the race.
Just seconds away now from
Vladivostok and the final turn
east for the final leg of the
race.
Grant, you've got to get off
the afterburners
or you're never going to make
refuel.
Copy that.
Bringing them down, little
brother.
RACE DIRECTOR 1 (OVER RADIO):
Irvine's slowing down.
Now's the time to regain the
lead.
Yeah.
I'm going to take a little
detour
with our friend, Diedrich.
What? What?
Cut, cut, cut.
They're off the flight path.
Yes, I know!
Look, that's not just
restricted airspace,
it's civilian airspace. - I
know!
TY: If we don't get them out of
there,
we're gonna have the FAA, the
NTSB so far up our ass--
Ooh, the big, scary FAA.
Fuck 'em.
TRINA (OVER RADIO): Grant, are
you having fun yet?
RACE DIRECTOR 1 (OVER RADIO):
Diedrich, what are you doing?
Diedrich!
Zenith and Mabach pilots,
that's enough
barnstorming for one day.
Return to the flight path.
That's an order.
Do you copy?
They're not answering.
What do you want me to do?
I'd start by not shifting
coverage.
If they lose control and crash,
it'll torch everything
in a five block radius.
Yeah, it's Vladivostok.
Who cares?
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): All right,
Grant.
We got our race in this year.
Send back at 50,000 feet.
All right, we've got the slalom
coming up.
Hey, Grant.
Go!
Hope your little stunt didn't
just get us disqualified.
- Don't worry! - Hey, the
operative word is us.
We're all in this race together.
Sorry.
Yeah, well, somebody could have
been killed.
I said I was sorry. All right?
Don't do it again.
All right.
I'm only telling you because I
think you've got
a chance of winning this race.
Why, you afraid I'm going to
blow it?
That's right!
So quit trying to prove
something and just fly the jet.
All right.
TRINA (OVER RADIO): OK, this is
it.
This is the narrowest, steepest,
and probably the most
difficult slalom to ever exist.
Be careful, Grant.
See, they gave us great racing
action and we never cut away.
We never even flinched.
PRODUCER: All right.
Listen up, people.
It's that time again.
Cue playback.
Get those cameras up, because we
are live in 10,
9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 .
One last slalom section before
the final stretch back home.
It's Irvine still in the lead
with Diedrich a close second,
Xiang in third, and Rose in
fourth place.
Over the Pacific Ocean now, as
the race jets
are just moments away from the
toughest part of the entire air
race, the final slalom course.
Race designers tell us the turns
and dives in the slalom
are rated between five and seven
G-Forces.
At those levels, pilots can
experience
impaired flight skills, tunnel
vision, then complete blackout.
That can mean a 16-ton race jet
with the pilot
passed out at the controls.
An extremely dangerous
possibility, but Transcon
always saves the best for last.
The slalom course consists of 10
pylons set 10 miles apart.
The pilots enter the slalom
course, circle each pylon,
and exit back onto the flight
path.
If, however, the pilot misses
one of the pylons,
that adds 30 seconds each to his
overall time.
Well, guess who's back?
Our friend Diedrich.
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): Plus more.
Take a look.
With the rest of the pack not
much further behind.
You got a plan?
Yeah, I got 'em.
So when I hit the starting gate
to the slalom,
it's going to be a sustained
burn all the way
until I cross the finish line.
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): Sustained
burn for that long?
Man, that's crazy.
We're way too far away.
You'll overheat your engines for
sure.
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Kev, engines
will make it.
Barely, but they'll make it!
That's your big plan?
Come on, Kev.
Who are you to going to trust,
the engines
or your own brother?
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): If you
overheat,
the whole pack is just going to
coast right by you.
GRANT (OVER RADIO): If we don't
try,
we lose without ever knowing.
ANNOUNCER (OVER PA): Ladies and
gentlemen, this is it,
the final moment you've been
waiting for.
OK, here we go.
Now it's Xiang challenging for
first place.
Three wide as they hit the final
balloon.
Trouble coming out of the slalom
for Hirosho Xiang.
Looks like he's going into a
stall.
And Hirosho Xiang and the
Chinese team
are out of the race!
Russians and Canadians each miss
a turn.
And Catherine Rose has bailed
out as the Russian team
made contact with her jet.
And now the Russians are in the
water!
It's down to two pilots!
That'll leave Diedrich and
Irvine left
to battle it out for first.
It's down to two pilots, one
finish line.
Will it be David Diedrich and
Team Mabach
or will it be Grant Irvine and
the Zenith team?
And Diedrich takes the lead by a
length.
And here comes Irvine fighting
to take back
the lead seconds from the line!
Come on, Grant!
You got three minutes from that
Colosseum.
You've got just enough fuel at
full burners.
[WARNING ALARM BEEPING]
Race tower, Diedrich has a
cockpit fire!
Eject seat failed!
He can not eject!
He's air trapped!
Roger that.
We're scrambling ground crews
now.
Tower, he's going to burn up in
there!
You're 30 seconds away from
victory.
Race tower!
Race tower, do you copy?
Race tower!
Irvine, rescue are en route.
Make your turn for the
Colosseum.
The race is yours.
Tower, Diedrich is going to
drown.
He's wrapped up in the 'chute!
We'll get him, Irvine.
Right now, there's 100,000
people waiting here to see
you cross my finish line.
Your finish line, Bannon?
Hey, Kevin?
Go.
Tell the team they did a hell
of a job.
Grant, what are you doing?
I'm doing the right thing.
You're seconds away.
And here we are, seconds away
from the finish line!
And the winner of this year's
Transcon race is--
Nobody.
Oh.
No, he didn't.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Turn us around right now.
Hold on.
[SPLASHING]
Are you injured?
I think so.
My leg. - Does it feel broken?
I can't tell.
GRANT: Just don't worry, OK?
Rescue's coming.
Oh, I got you.
DIEDRICH: Over here.
Who won the race?
GRANT: Nobody.
[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]
[PHONE RINGING]
[SIRENS WAILING]
His right leg is broken, so
watch out the right leg.
OK.
One, two, three.
Thanks for coming back to help
me.
No problem, buddy. No problem.
But I tell you what.
If my jet didn't catch fire, I
would have won the race.
Hey, get out of here before I
break your other leg, huh?
You'll be fine, brother.
You'll be fine.
DIEDRICH: Wait, wait, wait,
wait.
Stop. Stop.
Thanks, man.
Thanks.
Any time.
Come on, get him out!
Yeah?
So you quit the race and turned
down $25 million
to save another pilot.
TRINA (OVER RADIO): Hey, Grant,
maybe next time
you might ask us first.
I guess we found something more
important than winning, huh?
And the money.
GRANT (OVER RADIO): No, I
wouldn't go that far.
I'll see you guys back at the
hangar, all right?
KEVIN: $25 Million?
BANNON: That's right.
Just a one way ticket.
One way ticket. First class,
Munich.
Mm-hmm, that's right.
A window seat.
Vince.
Was just-- just calling you.
Taking a trip?
No, no.
I was, uh-- just, uh--
I see.
Getting my stuff together.
I understand that you have some
problems with the $35
million that you owe.
No, it's not a problem, just a
little delay.
No problem.
Chris, this is sounding a lot
more
like a problem than a delay.
No, it's just that [CLEARING
THROAT] since there
was no official winner of the
race,
the network just wants to sort
things out contractually
with the attorneys.
Attorneys?
Right, the attorneys.
Nothing good ever comes from
attorneys.
You got that right!
It's like the old joke at the
bottom of the ocean.
I'll have the $25 million for
you by the end of next week.
It's $35 million.
BANNON: Oh, Vin--
[GUN COCKS]
GRANT (VOICEOVER): When I was a
kid, I had this dream, right?
A dream where I was flying, a
dream I thought I lost.
But my brother helped me find it
again.
In that split second when I knew
he wasn't going to make it,
I wasn't thinking about the
money.
I wasn't thinking about the
race.
All I could think about was,
here is someone who at one time
had that same dream and lost it.
You see, in the end, our dreams
are not about money.
They're not about winning and
they're not about fame.
In the end, our dreams are about
living and the choices we make.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
GRANT (VOICEOVER): When I was a
kid,
I had this dream, a dream I
shared with my brother.
A dream where I was flying.
A dream my brother turned into
reality.
But sometimes, the price of a
dream is too high.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
ANNOUNCER (OVER PA): And ladies
and gentlemen,
here come the racers!
[CHEERING]
Midway now through the Transcon
Air Race,
with Grant Irvine leading.
Josh Rubin's in second, David
Long in third.
The rest of the pack battling it
out for fourth and fifth place.
Kevin, I need a weather report
for the refuel.
Kevin?
Go, yes.
Kev, I need a weather report
for the refuel.
Front still moving south.
You should be able to clear it.
Then bring the fuel bird over,
OK?
Telemetry shows 1,600 pounds in
your wing reserves.
You can make this leg without a
refuel.
Well, Kev, the computer doesn't
want to go as fast as I do.
Grant, if you pit now, you're
going to drop
at least three positions. - Come
on, Kev.
Who you gonna trust?
The computer or your own
brother?
All right.
Descend 18,000 feet.
Intercept our course and prepare
for refuel.
Copy that.
John, did the lexicon pilot
just call for his fuel tanker?
JOHN: We'll it on satellite cam.
What the hell is Irvine
thinking?
He'll lose the lead.
Lexicon pilot, why is your
tanker on course
for flight coordinates?
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): We're
descending down to 2,200 feet.
We're way out of the flight
path.
Airspace is on the flight path.
Get your tanker out of there
now.
All right, guys.
Release the boom.
Let's get ready for refuel.
Let's do this. All right.
Grant, it's all good.
MAN (OVER RADIO): Looks like
Irvine is refueling.
Kick in the burners.
Let's meet while they're down.
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Kev, where's
the tank?
Pack's 20 seconds back.
How you holding up?
I can't complain.
I wish this was going faster,
though.
Whoa!
Hey!
Hey! - What happened?
Wind shear! Wind shear!
Wind shear!
We got wind shear!
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Kev, what
the hell's going on?
Disengage! Disengage!
Disengage!
I repeat, disengage!
I can't keep on top the
aircraft!
It's pulling me down!
We are under heavy wind shear.
Advise to redirect pilot.
Grant!
We're shutting off the fuel!
We're shutting off the fuel!
Disconnect the boom!
GRANT: I'm clear.
I'm clear.
Kev, get out of there right now!
We're trying!
[SCREAMING]
End transmission?
No, stay live.
Stay live.
Bail out!
Bail out!
Get out of here!
Get out!
Get out!
No time to think.
Just get those 'chutes on and
let's go!
We can do this! Here we go!
You're up!
GRANT (OVER RADIO): I've got a
hit.
Probably the right wing.
I'm going to have to eject!
Then go!
Ready?
Three, two, one, eject!
All right, the crew's all out!
Bail out!
Bail out!
[GROANING]
[THUNDEROUS BOOM]
Roll all emergency ground crews
under the flight path.
Do it now!
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Please,
don't!
No, no, no, no!
God.
God damn.
No.
REPORTER (ON TV): And this was
the tragic scene yesterday
of the Transcon Air Race.
A mid-air refueling disaster
left three pilots dead,
along with 11 spectators.
A board of inquiry will be held
to investigate both
Kevin and Grant Irvine, captains
of the ill-fated Lexicon team--
along with Chris Bannon and
other representatives
of the Transcon Air Race--
to determine responsibility for
this deadly catastrophe.
Mr. Irvine, according to our
records,
you called for the fuel tanker
and met your team
at approved coordinates.
Yes, sir.
OFFICIAL: But then both a jet
and a tanker
dropped down to the flight path?
We were hit by wind shear.
OFFICIAL: Mr. Bannon?
Sir?
OFFICIAL: You radioed the
lexicon tanker
and requested they clear the
flight plan.
That's correct.
OFFICIAL: And did the crew
chief, Kevin Irvine,
comply with the request?
Certainly not in a reasonable
amount of time, sir.
That is bullshit.
Kevin told you exactly what our
situation was!
OFFICIAL: Sit down, Mr. Irvine.
Please, sir.
Thing is, I wasn't sure why the
Lexicon team
was performing a mid-air refuel
at that
time in the first place.
OFFICIAL: And why is that?
Well, they were leading with
plenty
of fuel for the next leg.
The weather front was crossing
their flight path.
Not the time to be performing a
mid-air refuel.
The tower authorized it!
OFFICIAL: Mr. Irvine, I said sit
down.
Sit down!
Captain Diedrich, can you
continue with your recollection
of what happened?
At 13:37, I heard Captain
Sessler on the radio,
telling me he was breaking off
toward Irvine's jet.
That's the last thing I heard
him say.
And the pilot is Hans Sessler?
He was.
My teammate.
Thank you, Captain.
Mr. Bannon, are you feeling
vindicated now that all but one
of the seven violations have
been dropped against you?
Pleased with the board's
ruling.
Have no further comment at this
time.
Bannon, you hung us out.
Not my ruling, Grant.
You sold me and my brother out.
You made us look like a couple
of fucking assholes!
Didn't need my help for that.
Listen, man, you were a pilot
once.
You know how it feels to be up
there.
We're supposed to stick
together.
Difference is I was a good
pilot.
KEVIN: Hey! - Son of a bitch!
Look, we're sorry about that.
He's just a little upset right
now.
Sorry about what?
What?
He ruined our fucking life!
Do you realize that?
I can't fucking believe you!
MALE REPORTER: Results from the
Air Race hearings closed
in a lose-lose situation.
Transcon's Chris Bannon is
stripped of his powers
to supervise another air race,
while Grant Irvine's pilot
license has been suspended.
Brother Kevin Irvine is due back
at Ashfield US Air Force Base
to continue his service.
Meanwhile, air racing in
supersonic categories
has been suspended indefinitely.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CHILDREN LAUGHING EXCITEDLY]
You Grant Irvine?
Grant?
Nah.
We work for Mr. Bannon, Mr.
Irvine.
Bannon who?
He'd like to meet with you.
Listen, I don't know Grant
Irvine.
And even if I did, I wouldn't
want to talk to Mr. Bannon
anyway.
We can do this the easy way or
we can do it the hard way.
Where'd you learn that, at thug
school?
Here, catch!
OK.
All right.
All right. It's cool.
It's cool, guys.
So you going to come along or
what?
[COUGHING]
Grant Irvine.
How the hell have you been?
How does it look like I've
been?
Thank you, gentlemen.
Please wait outside.
Can I have my wrench back?
Thank you.
Drink?
Why am I here?
I have an offer for you.
An offer?
What could you possibly have
that I want?
A golden opportunity.
An opportunity?
For what?
Last I heard, the FAA wasn't
letting
you promote another A race.
Yes, well, that's all changed.
Mm.
Caught a hell of a break.
Had one hell of a lawyer.
You buried Kevin and me.
You were the ones flying that
day.
You're supposed to protect your
pilots.
Not sell them out so you could
save your ass.
The hearing board didn't see it
that way.
Well, fuck the hearing!
It was your show.
I want you to race again.
Not as a pilot, not in the jet.
As a crew chief for a top
sponsored jet and pilot.
You want me to work for
somebody else as crew chief?
It'll give you a chance to stop
feeling sorry for yourself.
Crew chief?
I guess, what, am I too old to
fly?
Not everyone keeps their wings
forever.
Look at me.
Yeah, you gave them up so you
can be in front of TV cameras,
right?
Can we stop kicking each other
in the teeth, please?
Will you do it?
Crew chief, huh?
Crew chief.
Pass.
Really?
I don't need the headache.
I think you mean you don't need
the responsibility for someone
other than yourself.
Oh, look who's talking.
It's been real.
You sure?
Yeah, damn.
Open this door!
OK.
Open this fucking door!
It's too bad, though.
Zenith's got an airframe with
some serious gear on it.
Got a hot shit pilot to fly it,
too.
That's great.
Guy's the real deal.
Flies with his hair on fire.
What do you need me for?
They say he's even better than
you were.
Yeah?
Who?
[SNAPPING FINGERS]
Your little brother, Kevin
Irvine.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[APPLAUSE]
Give me one moment, please.
Hey, congratulations, man.
Thank you.
How about a hug, huh?
A handshake?
Another bar fight?
Yeah, bad day at the office.
Oh.
Well, you look sober for the
moment.
If I remember correctly, I got
two of these in a real war
called Desert Storm.
Remember that?
Oh, and Macedonia wasn't a real
war?
Albanians with stingers?
Try shaking a couple of Sams
with Infralock, huh?
Oh, yeah.
Major.
Congratulations.
Thank you, sir.
You're a real piece of work, you
know that?
What are you doing here? You
here to reenlist?
I was actually forced to meet
with our former friend, Bannon.
He says you're flying the
Transcon.
I can't believe you let him talk
you into it.
Oh, Grant, do we have to talk
about this right now?
Are you out of your mind?
You can't fly for him!
You know that!
Can we talk about this later?
Hello, ladies.
Hi. - Would you mind?
Sure.
[CAMERA CLICKS]
Call us.
All right.
Thanks, ladies.
Bye, ladies.
So you want to know why I said
I'd race for him?
Yeah. Why?
Because race pilots get three
times more
action than fighter pilots.
That's great.
Grant are you going to be my
crew chief or not?
What if I'm not?
Well, I'm going to fly this
plane.
So if you're not, then I'm going
to find somebody else.
You're going to find somebody
else?
Tell me something here.
Whose idea was to hire me,
anyway?
Yours or Bannon?
You still haven't figured this
out yet, have you?
What?
Bannon doesn't need you.
I do.
You're my brother.
You're the only one that I trust
out there.
EXECUTIVE: It's a simple system,
Mr. Bannon.
Arbitron ratings equals dollars.
You need viewers.
I guarantee you'll have them.
Our bank's informed us you have
an escrow for the prize money.
It'll be there within 48 hours.
Good.
And a racing note.
The FAA and NTSC has restricted
mid-air refuels
and diverted them away from the
spectator areas.
Yes, you'll get your coverage
from the blimp
and satellite camp.
They're also requesting a
100-meter
cushion between the race jets on
all legs except the final one.
The concern was that a
bottleneck of supersonic jets
was a disaster waiting to
happen.
Well, safety is a concern,
especially for spectators.
But the race and the Arbitron
ratings are your concern.
Oh, you'll get your ratings.
I hope so.
OK, let's look over the safety
precautions.
Accidents will happen.
It's impossible to prevent them.
Of course.
OK.
Pilots know the risks and the
amount of safety restrictions
imposed.
I'm not sure I follow.
The Transcon crash was the
single most watched,
highest rated piece of news
footage
in the history of our network.
It's kept us in business for the
last four years.
Nothing's even compared to it.
Are you following me now?
Are we-- [CLEARING THROAT] Are
we talking
about the pilot's safety?
I don't know, Mr. Bannon. Are
we?
If it's an exciting race you're
looking
for, the Transcon will make
Formula
One look like a go-kart race.
Good.
Because this network has a big
stake
involved, nearly $1 billion.
The $20 million we're asking
from you
is just to show my board of
directors
that you have something at stake
with us.
- Don't worry. - Don't worry?
It's my job to worry, Chris.
Remember, you said $20 million,
in escrow,
within the next 48 hours.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
So.
Which one is it?
Nah.
It's inside.
Well?
I like it.
You like it?
Yeah.
I said I like it.
Good.
Cause you're not flying it.
How does she look on me?
Like it doesn't fit.
Tempus 12 aero package, twin
Barton XR 600 turbo ram jets,
resin composites resistant to
2,000 degrees Fahrenheit,
Jupiter linkages, Wharton flight
controls.
What's the range?
2,000 under mach two.
[SNORTING]
What?
You don't deserve it.
Fine.
I don't.
What do you want to do about it?
You want to cry or do you want
to get to work?
Excuse me.
Is this the Zenith team?
Hi.
Hi.
Kevin Irvine, team pilot.
Trina Raymond.
Oh, um, you a reporter?
Because, you know, the media is
not really allowed back here.
But I think I can arrange a
personal interview.
Personal interview?
Yeah, sure.
I'm not a reporter.
No?
Oh.
Well, then, what can we do for
you, Miss Raymond?
Captain Raymond.
I'm your fuel tanker pilot.
Zenith rep said they called you
guys.
You fly a 135 tanker?
Yeah, among other things.
Grant Irvine, crew chief.
Yeah, I know.
Transcon, four years ago.
Yeah, well, let's go check out
that fuel bird.
You must increase your speed,
especially at the slalom.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Hey, Kev, how's she handling?
A little slippery on the
afterburner, Grant.
Well, cut those burners in the
middle of the turn,
not before it.
Yeah, I got to keep air speed.
Remember, man, it's at least 10
miles
to make turns at mach speed.
You cut those turns close, or
you'll be
history in the slalom section.
Remember that.
Yeah, yeah.
Went under 12.
He's fastest so far.
He's good.
Yeah, he's good, but I'm great.
I see modesty is not a big
virtue in the Irvine family.
Nah.
Chris. How are you?
Good, Vladimir. Good.
Vince.
Vince?
How many CEOs in the Fortune
have the first name of Vladimir?
Oh, I see.
And how many of them close their
deals
in old, abandoned warehouses?
Yes.
Which brings me to the next
subject.
I don't want questions from your
network.
Don't worry.
They won't ask.
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
This much money, there's always
someone who will ask.
Vlad-- Vince.
Don't worry.
Chris, you understand that
you're not dealing
with the Bank of America?
The penalty for the late payment
is something you can't afford.
I understand.
Upon the completion of the
race,
we will expect our $35 million
payment.
Wait.
I-- I thought we agreed--
the loan is $25 million.
I thought the loan fee was $5
million, a total of 30.
If you have a better offer,
please take it.
No.
No, I just didn't expect the vig
to be almost 50%.
You mean loan fee?
Right.
Loan fee.
Chris, I'm not putting a gun to
your head here.
At least not yet.
No, not yet.
Not yet.
[APPLAUSE]
Kevin.
Kevin, here.
Thank you very much.
We'll be answering all the
questions after the show.
Thank you, OK?
We'll be answering all the
questions, I promise.
Thank you. Thank you very much!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Come on!
Let's hear it! Yeah!
Yeah, OK.
Yeah.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Don't pay attention to him, OK?
Thank you.
Thank you.
Welcome.
Ladies and gentlemen, the
starting line
for this year's Transcon race
will
be Los Angeles, California.
From there, the flight path will
oscillate across the world,
making turns in major cities
above and below the equator.
Slower tankers will maintain a
flight path
directly above the equator.
There, the race jets will
intercept for mid-air pit
stops, for fuel, repairs, and
the one-time pilot
exchange, which is allowed under
the rules.
Ladies and gentlemen, the
Transcon is the longest,
fastest race on earth.
Let's meet the pilots.
David Diedrich and Team Mabach
from Germany.
Russian pilot, Andrei Smovoky.
The only female jet pilot in
this year's Transcon,
representing Team Velonix in
Canada, Catherine Rose.
Chinese Air Force pilot, Hirosho
Xiang.
American Kevin Irvine and the
Zenith team.
GRANT: Yeah!
That's my brother!
Let's get it on!
Hey, Grant.
Some more of that Irvine
modesty?
You better believe it.
And finally, for Her Majesty's
Royal Air Force,
Colonel Philip Turlington!
Ladies and gentlemen, this
year's Transcon race pilots.
KEVIN: No, it's a proven fact
pilots
don't like to think about that.
We don't go to funerals.
We don't pick up the newspapers,
watch TV,
or listen to anything else that
talks about death and racing.
And you have a girlfriend?
Who told you that?
No, I don't have a girlfriend.
You know, if you've got someone
that's worrying about you,
then I can't hit those
afterburners and go mach 2.
Hey, Grant.
Team working out OK?
Yep.
Saw the time on Kevin's
qualifying round.
Good numbers.
Thanks.
I hear the kid gives a good
interview, unlike you.
So Irvine.
Your little brother Kevin's
flying out.
Yep.
That's bad.
We all hoped the sky would be a
little bit safer this year.
Are you telling me something
here?
I believe I already did.
Listen, I promised my little
brother
that I wasn't going to get
myself any type of trouble,
so I won't.
And I'm also willing to put what
happened four years
ago in the past, all right?
I lost my wing man, my best
friend.
Well, I lost four of my men on
my fuel bird.
Remember that?
It was your fault!
It was my fucking fault?
You don't know half of the shit
that I--
Easy, guys. Come on.
Sponsors are watching.
It's a dinner party.
You, you got a race tomorrow.
Go on.
Shit.
You threw up last night, right?
Twice.
Did you at least sleep?
Nope.
Well, I did.
Hey, listen.
Everything's going to be all
right, huh?
Let's get a cup of coffee.
All right?
Come on.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I'm-- I--
OK.
Just keep your eye on this
number right there.
Stop. Stop.
Stop with that.
OK, boys, look sharp. Look
sharp.
Hi. Hi.
Hi, you ready?
Ready.
Everything's ready?
Come on, guys.
You know how I work.
I want all systems on.
I want radar.
I want to know his positioning.
I want to know his RPM.
I want all systems on right now!
PRODUCER: And we're live in 3,
2, 1.
And we're just moments away
from the start
of this year's Transcon Air
Race,
brought to you by NTC, its
affiliates,
and Wright Campbell's Technology
Solutions.
[ENGINES POWERING UP]
Everything seems to be good.
Copy that.
Today's race begins with a
flying start.
After the jets take off in
pairs, they make a long turn
and hit the holographic starting
line at supersonic speeds.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
There is the turn and burn.
Get ready.
And this year's Transcon race is
officially underway!
GRANT: All right, Kev.
I got you.
How you doing?
I'm all good up here.
I'm running fourth behind the
Chinese team
and I got the German on my ass.
Oh, Diedrich.
Don't sweat him.
Just worry about the race.
You're running fourth right now.
That's pretty good.
Listen, we're taking off in
about five minutes.
I'll get back to you when we're
airborne.
OK, guys, strap in.
Let's go. Let's go.
Strap in! - Copy that.
BANNON (OVER PA): The pilots are
now
making their way across the
first check,
downtown Los Angeles.
Up next, Buenos Aires.
Philip Turlington and the
British team
are in the early lead.
As the pilots settle in the
first leg of the race,
let's take a look at the
Transcon global flight path.
From here in Los Angeles, the
pilots will head south
to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The pilots will then turn north
and head across the Atlantic
Ocean to Paris, France, head
north to Moscow,
where they'll turn south again
to Nairobi, Kenya.
Turning north again towards Sri
Lanka,
heading towards eastern Russia,
turning east at Vladivostok.
Then across the Pacific Ocean
for the last leg
and back here to Los Angeles at
the Colosseum for the finish.
At stake, $25 million cash prize
and the honor
of being the fastest pilot in
the world's fastest race.
And
PRODUCER: And cut.
We're clear.
OK. Who is it?
Yes, this is Chris.
Go ahead.
No, no, no!
TOWER MAN (OVER RADIO): You have
clearance.
Roger, Tower.
Tanker 135 ready for takeoff.
All right, Kev.
Fuel bird is up in the air.
Weather seems to be fine, man.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
You dropped a fifth.
Everything OK?
Yeah, it's all good up here.
Now stay under three seconds off
the lead jet.
If he breaks off, you break off
with him.
OK?
Copy that.
Listen, it's a 24-hour race.
Just pace yourself.
Let the race come to you.
ANNOUNCER (OVER PA): And
remember, folks.
Be sure and stop by the
concession
stand to receive your free
complimentary drink
and hot dog, provided by NTC
International.
Hey, Grant, I think the British
team
is making their move.
It's skimming over the Baja
Sound.
No, he's setting up the pack.
When everyone else drops, he'll
shoot right back up
and kick in his afterburners.
You'll go vertical at the same
time and fly into each other.
No. No.
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): There they
go.
The rest of the pack is
dropping.
So what's our move?
Well, keep your altitude.
And by the time the chase pack
catches up,
you'll move up a position or
two.
Copy that.
RACE DIRECTOR 1 (OVER RADIO):
Looks like everyone's
following except Zenith team.
Let's wait him out.
Proceed.
I don't know what kind of game
he's playing,
but stay with the leader.
Don't compromise your position.
What?
Network for you.
Hello?
You told them the race started
less than an hour ago,
didn't you? - Now, talk to me.
What's going on with the rest of
the pack?
Still chasing the Brit.
Now hold onto your line.
Stay sharp.
He'll make his move soon.
He's pushed ahead by two
seconds now.
He'll definitely overheat his
engines.
Mr. Bannon?
They're ready for you.
PRODUCER: And we are going live
in 3, 2, and--
As the pilots settle into the
first leg of the race,
let's take a look at how NTC
brings this exciting action
into your living rooms.
In addition to the cockpit cams,
each race jet
is equipped with small cameras
in the nose,
the wings, and the fuselage.
A series of airships-- or
blimps, if you will--
will float high above the flight
path,
getting wide open views over the
oceans.
Our most powerful cameras are
mounted on several satellites
in orbit around the world.
The other cameras come from our
news helicopters, broadcast
trucks and another NTC
affiliates
positioned at major turning
points and cities
around the flight path.
Over 4,000 cameras are used to
bring this exciting Transcon
race into your living rooms.
PRODUCER: And cut!
Thanks.
[PHONE RINGING]
Fuck!
Still dropping.
Network again.
Bannon.
Steve, I've seen them.
It's early.
It's early!
No, really, trust me.
RACE DIRECTOR 2 (OVER RADIO):
Well, it
looks as though Irvine's not
going to bite.
Ascend back up to 5,000 feet.
Hey, Grant, I think the Brit's
starting to make his move.
RACE DIRECTOR 3 (OVER RADIO):
Stay with the pack!
Stay with the pack!
You're going to have to hold
that position.
Intercept his course.
Stay ahead of the chase pack or
they'll
overshoot and T-bone you on the
way up.
I got him, Grant.
Shit!
OK, here we go.
Jet wash!
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Kev, you OK?
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): No problem.
Jet wash.
I'm in a jet wash, man, but it's
not a problem.
It's not a problem.
Hey, keep your eye on your
intakes, all right?
I'm on it.
[CROWD ERUPTING IN CHEERS]
Hello?
I see.
I understand, yes.
Yes.
Goodbye.
That was the network calling.
The ratings have just spiked for
the first time during the race!
Yeah!
Woohoo!
Hold off flight path for
mid-air refuel.
Pilots will take on fuel and
make
minor repairs to the aircraft.
Somewhere over Bolivia now.
The first leg of the race almost
complete with Turlington
in first, Xiang in second, and
Diedrich in third.
Brought you guys a little
snack.
Thanks.
Here you go.
So how are you guys doing?
Fine.
Air is smooth.
Listen, I just want to
apologize for being an asshole
the other day, you know?
Aw, don't worry about it.
I remember how your hot temper
got you into trouble
after last Transcon.
Did you follow the Lexicon
team?
I followed the race, not you.
Don't flatter yourself.
That's not what I meant.
TOWER MAN (OVER RADIO): Kevin's
back up to fourth!
Copy that.
Kevin's fourth.
Yeah.
So it's shifting?
And the FAA says divert?
OK, thanks.
National Weather Service is
calling it Hurricane Natasha.
It started moving towards the
flight path
about 20 minutes ago.
So they made the turn at Buenos
Aires
and now they're over the
Atlantic on the way to Paris,
hm?
Now we have, what, Natasha
crossing the flight path?
We're going to have to divert
around the storm.
Let's not be too hasty here.
This hurricane's changed courses
three
times in the last six hours.
Let's not slow down the race
before we're sure.
Mr. Bannon, the FAA is going to
insist that we divert.
Out.
Out.
Ladies.
Close the door.
Fuck the FAA.
They don't have a billion
dollars riding on this race,
do they? - No, they don't.
Diverting means refueling
before they
even reach the hurricane.
It'll slow the whole race down,
you understand?
Refueling in a hurricane is
extremely dangerous business.
Yes.
Danger equals ratings, Ty.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Attention, all Transcon pilots.
This is Bannon.
I'm ordering all teams perform a
mandatory--
repeat, mandatory-- refuel
before you divert the storm.
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): Mandatory
refuel before diverting?
Grant, are you hearing this
bullshit?
We're already in the middle of
this storm!
Yeah, I hear it, but I don't
like it.
Just stand by while I check with
the tower.
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): Copy that.
Tower, tower, Zenith team
requesting clarification
on the mid-air refuel.
The order's clear enough.
Perform the refuel before you
divert.
Why can't we divert and refuel
later?
Because I can't send a pack of
jets low on fuel into a storm.
Bannon, we're in the shit up
here!
This is the wrong place to be
doing a mid-air refuel!
I can't control the weather,
Irvine.
Follow the order or we'll flag
your team
and your race is over.
Do you copy?
Yeah, I copy!
I copy that you've got us making
a dangerous mid-air refuel
so you don't have to slow down
your race
and wait out this storm!
You're in the middle of the
Atlantic, Irvine.
Where do you suggest I put down
five
jets and tankers low on fuel?
Shit!
Hey, Kev, we've got some nasty
weather coming in our way.
Copy that.
All right.
Get me Diedrich on line.
Diedrich!
Hello?
Are you OK with this mid-air
refuel?
Yeah.
You were there four years ago.
You know what happened.
Yeah?
Don't let Bannon do it to us
again.
But it wasn't his fault, it was
yours!
Diedrich!
We could all be killed this
time!
Quit trying to protect your
brother.
Let him race.
Yeah, thanks for the tip.
Hey, Trina, you got the new
coordinates
for the mid-air refuel?
TRINA (OVER RADIO): Saving
Campbell coordinates.
Lining up for the refuel.
RACE DIRECTOR 2 (OVER RADIO): I
don't like it much, either.
But you're here already, so
let's get this over with,
shall we?
Connection!
Cheers, mate!
First again, with others not
even close to docking yet.
GRANT (OVER RADIO): It's so
tight.
We're about five minutes away!
This is the worst place to be
refueling.
No kidding.
We're flying a gas tank with a
lightning rod.
[THUNDEROUS BOOM]
Shit!
We've got a tanker gone!
God!
Kevin, break away from the
refuel now!
Break away!
Shit! Shit!
I've been hit! Something hit me!
Mayday, mayday! KEVIN (OVER
RADIO): Mayday!
Mayday! Mayday, mayday, mayday!
Going to autopilot!
Kevin, do you read me?
Kevin!
Put your oxygen mask on right
now!
The canopy's damaged.
Oxygen-- oxygen fail.
Oxygen, no oxygen. Oxygen
failure!
He's got no oxygen. He's
blacking out right now!
[MUSIC PLAYING]
He's sitting in an ice box.
Trina!
- This is Trina! - You're set.
Kevin coordinates, get us there
as fast as you can.
You got that? - Copy that!
Team, prepare for emergency
evac!
Let's go get Kevin right now!
Let's go!
We got Kevin's coordinates.
He's right here.
So it's definitely changing
direction.
OK.
Yeah.
And the NWS will stand by that?
Well, that's good news.
See, that's a nice spike.
National Weather Service says
the hurricane's changing
direction.
It's moving away from the flight
path.
BANNON (OVER RADIO): All pilots
and tanker crews, the hurricane
has changed course.
Maintain group race coordinates.
How long till the containment
crews reach the crash site?
Freighter can be there in about
an hour.
The hurricane keeps moving away.
EPA and every goddamn tree
hugger
will be clogging the phone lines
any second now.
And the media.
Not to mention the friends and
family of that British team.
Oh, right, yeah.
Any word on the survivors on the
British team?
You saw that tanker blow.
Right.
Oh, look at that.
Looks like we have another
pilot
to add to that list right. GRANT
(OVER RADIO): Race tower!
Race tower! Race tower!
Zenith-- Zenith team has a pilot
who needs
immediate medical attention.
Alert emergency ground crews at
the nearest available airport.
Do you copy?
They're at 15 East, 36 South.
Get back to me! - Got it,
Zenith.
Stand by.
- What have you got? - Plotting
now.
Current speed should put that
Zenith team roughly 2,800 miles
off the coast of Sri Lanka.
They'll never make it.
Zenith team, this is the tower.
Go tower.
No immediate pick up and
transfer on your pilot.
What?
Advise you administer all
medical attention on board.
Copy that, you son of a bitch!
What the hell does that mean?
It means that Kevin is in our
hands now.
Come on.
It's been three minutes without
oxygen.
How close are we, Trina!
TRINA (OVER RADIO): Grant, I got
visuals right in front of us!
Listen, Grant, even if his heart
stopped,
it's probably 50 below zero in
the cockpit
and you have a chance of
recovery.
[WARNING ALARM BEEPING]
Is it charged? Come on!
Hit him! - Clear!
One, two, three, four, five,
six!
Recharged?
Come on, charge him!
Clear!
Come on!
Come on! Come on, motherfucker!
Come on!
Come on!
Hit him again!
- Clear! - Goddammit, son!
What are you doing?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[COUGHING]
Come on, guys.
Let's take him in there.
What? Come on.
Grab him.
On three.
Come on, let's go!
Go.
Let's get this show back on the
road.
ANNOUNCER (OVER PA): And Zenith
pilot Kevin Irvine is OK!
Where am I?
You're 20,000 feet above the
Atlantic, man.
Did I-- (VOICE BREAKING) did I
crash?
You know, it blew.
You blacked out.
Shit.
What happened to the jet? - Hey,
man.
I just-- I parked it for you
downstairs, you know.
MAN 1 (ON TV): I mean, just look
at me.
I'm sweating, for God's sake.
MAN 2 (ON TV): Yeah.
MAN 1 (ON TV): You know, look.
Most of the air races, they tend
to be
drawn out and a little boring,
if you know what I'm saying.
MAN 2 (ON TV): I do exactly.
The new 100-meter cushion has
proved--
MAN 1 (ON TV): You know, for
those of you
at home who don't understand how
we the cushion works yet,
it's like this.
The 100 meters now forces the
pack of jets
to remain within that distance
to the leader jet
and his or her flight deck.
So when you see the leader jet
drop a certain distance
at a checkpoint at a certain
time,
most of the rest of the pack
almost appear to be
simply following the leader.
They do cushion restriction,
which, by the way,
in my opinion, are absolutely
brilliant.
You know, let's take a moment to
endorse our sponsors.
Or should I say sponsor?
Guys, could you bring up his
photo?
The man with the master plan,
the genius
behind his amazing event, Mr.
Chris Bannon.
She's all yours.
How's he doing?
So you-- you went to med
school, huh?
No.
I just watched a lot of "ER."
[PHONE RINGING]
Hello?
Yes.
Hello?
Yes, I have them right here in
front of me.
Yes.
Thank you.
FEMALE ANNOUNCER (OVER PA): It
was Kevin Irvine's life
saved just a few minutes ago.
Most of the world awaits any
final word
on whether or not the Zenith
team will finish the race.
Why don't you tell them?
Tell them what?
That we're finished.
Trina?
Hand over the plane to your
co-pilot
and just come here for a minute,
please?
You guys gather around.
I've got something to say.
Now, I'm going to give it to you
guys straight.
We fixed the jet, but we don't
have a pilot.
So we're done racing.
But I want to tell you
something.
You guys did the best job
possible.
And I want to thank you for
that, especially
what you did for Kevin.
I mean it.
So I'll just radio in to Tower
and let them know we're heading
back and maybe next year, huh?
Wait!
Kevin can't fly, but that
doesn't mean
somebody else can't.
She's right.
In accordance to endurance
racing,
Transcon rules allows for one
pilot switch.
Only rule is switch pilot must
be
licensed and flown in any
Transcon race
in the last five years.
I don't know about this.
Come on. What have you got to
lose?
Ratings just spiked at 49
share, right
after the British tanker blew.
Everyone loves a barbecue.
Zenith team wants back in.
What, Kevin Irvine-- he wants
to fly?
Grant Irvine wants to replace
Kevin's-- his
brother Kevin as pilot.
That's an interesting twist.
He hasn't been licensed in four
years.
So what?
He doesn't exactly have the
most
sterling reputation as a pilot.
Who gives a shit about his
fucking reputation
at this point?
He's a major liability.
He's a loose cannon!
That's the end of this
conversation.
Boys?
PRODUCER: And we are live in 5,
4, 3, 2.
Take that.
We have an interesting update.
The Zenith team is back in, with
Grant Irvine replacing
his brother Kevin in a dangerous
mid-air exchange
after the Zenith plane was
damaged.
This stuff checked?
Nervous?
Aren't you supposed to be
upstairs flying?
Co-pilot, remember?
Now get going and win this
thing.
You got it.
Thanks.
Ready to be dropped on three,
two, one.
ANNOUNCER (OVER PA): [WHOOPING]
Grant
Irvine is back in the race!
I repeat, Grant Irvine is back
in for the Zenith team!
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Systems
check?
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): Everything
seems to be OK.
Looking good on all screens.
Kev, what the hell are you
doing?
The hell are you doing flying
my plane?
Touche.
All right, guys.
Look, I got to make up seven
minutes here.
Yeah, well, that'll take time
and fuel.
Well, right now I got more fuel
than time.
Grant, you're not going to
catch the pack from here.
You'll be lucky to finish the
damn race.
I'm not interested in
finishing.
I want to win.
Well, now's a good time to
check your oxygen, bro.
It sounds like you need some.
Kev, can you plan a high
altitude
trajectory that will keep us at
mach 2 with minimal fuel burn?
Stand by.
Got it.
Sending your coordinates.
Man, your face is going to be in
an oxygen mask for a long time.
She's also going to be very
skittish above 80,000.
You're going to be flying right
at the edge of flame out
and stall speed.
(SIGHING) I don't have a
choice, do I?
GRANT (OVER RADIO): All right.
50,000 feet, just as planned.
Approaching speeds of mach 2.
That gives me an ETA to catch
the pack in four
hours and fifteen minutes.
Looks like another long night
ahead of me, guys.
TY: So, what do you think?
BANNON: I don't think Irvine's
got a chance
in hell to close that gap.
[BOOM]
TRINA (OVER RADIO): Hey, Grant,
you OK?
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Yeah.
Yeah, the stick got away from
me.
It's all good. It's all good
now.
What happened?
Be careful at this altitude.
The air's still thin, your air
speed is less than 160 knots.
Just relax.
Let the autopilot take over for
a second.
So how's Kevin?
He's fine.
Asleep.
I got you on my flight screen?
So how am I doing?
How are you doing?
You know, compared to my
brother?
Are you two ever going to grow
up
and cease this absurd brotherly
competition?
I doubt that.
That's what I thought.
So you date pilots or what?
We're in the middle of a race
and you're hitting on me.
A guy's got to do what a guy's
got to do, you know?
Right.
Except I don't date pilots.
3/4 of the way through the race
as the jets
approach Vladivostok.
From there, the final leg across
the Pacific and
back here to Los Angeles.
So right now, we have Xiang in
front with Diedrich
in second and Rose in third.
Way behind the pack but catching
up
fast, Grant Irvine and the
Zenith team.
So who will it be?
Who will fly over these
Colosseum walls
the winner of $25 million and
champion
of this year's Transcon?
Will be current race leader
Hirosho Xiang?
David Diedrich and Team Mabach
from Germany?
Will Catherine Rose become the
first female
to win at Transcon?
Or will Irvine and the Zenith
team
come from way behind and close
the gap
in the hunt for victory?
Everyone is going to slow down
before we turn north.
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): That's where
you're going to make your move.
GRANT (OVER RADIO): If I come
out of there first or second,
I'll be set for the final leg.
Yeah, not if they catch you
again.
I'll open up the lead.
Grant, they're going to attack
you again and again,
all the way back to LA.
Better chance of holding first
place on the final leg
than taking it from someone
else, right?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
RACE DIRECTOR 1 (OVER RADIO):
Irvine's going
to pass on your right! Right!
Right! Right!
He's dropping!
He's dropping!
Act two, Grant.
BANNON: And Grant Irvine passes
the Russian team to move all
by himself into fourth place.
All the way from nine minutes
back.
What a race.
Kev, do you see this?
See what they're doing?
Yeah, I know what they're
doing.
They're going to keep you boxed
in
back there all day long until
they make their break
for the finish line.
So, you got a plan?
Yeah, I got something.
What?
I'll dig a hole between them.
BANNON: Oh, what a terrific
battle as Irvine
splits between Rose and Diedrich
to move into second place!
All right.
One more move, Grant.
[PHONE RINGING]
Network?
Hello?
This guy is ripping through the
pack.
Network wants you to shift
coverage.
Get as many cameras as you can
on Irvine's jet.
OK, listen up!
I want all available coverage
shifted to Grant
Irvine and Team Zenith, pronto!
That's Xiang in front of you.
Yeah, I got him.
But he's got turbo--
I said I got him.
All right, then.
If you've got him, smoke him.
I'm going to full burn.
RACE DIRECTOR 4 (OVER RADIO):
They're making connect!
Get your head out of the way!
BANNON: And there it is!
Grant Irvine and the Zenith team
moving up to take
their first lead in the race.
Just seconds away now from
Vladivostok and the final turn
east for the final leg of the
race.
Grant, you've got to get off
the afterburners
or you're never going to make
refuel.
Copy that.
Bringing them down, little
brother.
RACE DIRECTOR 1 (OVER RADIO):
Irvine's slowing down.
Now's the time to regain the
lead.
Yeah.
I'm going to take a little
detour
with our friend, Diedrich.
What? What?
Cut, cut, cut.
They're off the flight path.
Yes, I know!
Look, that's not just
restricted airspace,
it's civilian airspace. - I
know!
TY: If we don't get them out of
there,
we're gonna have the FAA, the
NTSB so far up our ass--
Ooh, the big, scary FAA.
Fuck 'em.
TRINA (OVER RADIO): Grant, are
you having fun yet?
RACE DIRECTOR 1 (OVER RADIO):
Diedrich, what are you doing?
Diedrich!
Zenith and Mabach pilots,
that's enough
barnstorming for one day.
Return to the flight path.
That's an order.
Do you copy?
They're not answering.
What do you want me to do?
I'd start by not shifting
coverage.
If they lose control and crash,
it'll torch everything
in a five block radius.
Yeah, it's Vladivostok.
Who cares?
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): All right,
Grant.
We got our race in this year.
Send back at 50,000 feet.
All right, we've got the slalom
coming up.
Hey, Grant.
Go!
Hope your little stunt didn't
just get us disqualified.
- Don't worry! - Hey, the
operative word is us.
We're all in this race together.
Sorry.
Yeah, well, somebody could have
been killed.
I said I was sorry. All right?
Don't do it again.
All right.
I'm only telling you because I
think you've got
a chance of winning this race.
Why, you afraid I'm going to
blow it?
That's right!
So quit trying to prove
something and just fly the jet.
All right.
TRINA (OVER RADIO): OK, this is
it.
This is the narrowest, steepest,
and probably the most
difficult slalom to ever exist.
Be careful, Grant.
See, they gave us great racing
action and we never cut away.
We never even flinched.
PRODUCER: All right.
Listen up, people.
It's that time again.
Cue playback.
Get those cameras up, because we
are live in 10,
9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 .
One last slalom section before
the final stretch back home.
It's Irvine still in the lead
with Diedrich a close second,
Xiang in third, and Rose in
fourth place.
Over the Pacific Ocean now, as
the race jets
are just moments away from the
toughest part of the entire air
race, the final slalom course.
Race designers tell us the turns
and dives in the slalom
are rated between five and seven
G-Forces.
At those levels, pilots can
experience
impaired flight skills, tunnel
vision, then complete blackout.
That can mean a 16-ton race jet
with the pilot
passed out at the controls.
An extremely dangerous
possibility, but Transcon
always saves the best for last.
The slalom course consists of 10
pylons set 10 miles apart.
The pilots enter the slalom
course, circle each pylon,
and exit back onto the flight
path.
If, however, the pilot misses
one of the pylons,
that adds 30 seconds each to his
overall time.
Well, guess who's back?
Our friend Diedrich.
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): Plus more.
Take a look.
With the rest of the pack not
much further behind.
You got a plan?
Yeah, I got 'em.
So when I hit the starting gate
to the slalom,
it's going to be a sustained
burn all the way
until I cross the finish line.
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): Sustained
burn for that long?
Man, that's crazy.
We're way too far away.
You'll overheat your engines for
sure.
GRANT (OVER RADIO): Kev, engines
will make it.
Barely, but they'll make it!
That's your big plan?
Come on, Kev.
Who are you to going to trust,
the engines
or your own brother?
KEVIN (OVER RADIO): If you
overheat,
the whole pack is just going to
coast right by you.
GRANT (OVER RADIO): If we don't
try,
we lose without ever knowing.
ANNOUNCER (OVER PA): Ladies and
gentlemen, this is it,
the final moment you've been
waiting for.
OK, here we go.
Now it's Xiang challenging for
first place.
Three wide as they hit the final
balloon.
Trouble coming out of the slalom
for Hirosho Xiang.
Looks like he's going into a
stall.
And Hirosho Xiang and the
Chinese team
are out of the race!
Russians and Canadians each miss
a turn.
And Catherine Rose has bailed
out as the Russian team
made contact with her jet.
And now the Russians are in the
water!
It's down to two pilots!
That'll leave Diedrich and
Irvine left
to battle it out for first.
It's down to two pilots, one
finish line.
Will it be David Diedrich and
Team Mabach
or will it be Grant Irvine and
the Zenith team?
And Diedrich takes the lead by a
length.
And here comes Irvine fighting
to take back
the lead seconds from the line!
Come on, Grant!
You got three minutes from that
Colosseum.
You've got just enough fuel at
full burners.
[WARNING ALARM BEEPING]
Race tower, Diedrich has a
cockpit fire!
Eject seat failed!
He can not eject!
He's air trapped!
Roger that.
We're scrambling ground crews
now.
Tower, he's going to burn up in
there!
You're 30 seconds away from
victory.
Race tower!
Race tower, do you copy?
Race tower!
Irvine, rescue are en route.
Make your turn for the
Colosseum.
The race is yours.
Tower, Diedrich is going to
drown.
He's wrapped up in the 'chute!
We'll get him, Irvine.
Right now, there's 100,000
people waiting here to see
you cross my finish line.
Your finish line, Bannon?
Hey, Kevin?
Go.
Tell the team they did a hell
of a job.
Grant, what are you doing?
I'm doing the right thing.
You're seconds away.
And here we are, seconds away
from the finish line!
And the winner of this year's
Transcon race is--
Nobody.
Oh.
No, he didn't.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Turn us around right now.
Hold on.
[SPLASHING]
Are you injured?
I think so.
My leg. - Does it feel broken?
I can't tell.
GRANT: Just don't worry, OK?
Rescue's coming.
Oh, I got you.
DIEDRICH: Over here.
Who won the race?
GRANT: Nobody.
[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]
[PHONE RINGING]
[SIRENS WAILING]
His right leg is broken, so
watch out the right leg.
OK.
One, two, three.
Thanks for coming back to help
me.
No problem, buddy. No problem.
But I tell you what.
If my jet didn't catch fire, I
would have won the race.
Hey, get out of here before I
break your other leg, huh?
You'll be fine, brother.
You'll be fine.
DIEDRICH: Wait, wait, wait,
wait.
Stop. Stop.
Thanks, man.
Thanks.
Any time.
Come on, get him out!
Yeah?
So you quit the race and turned
down $25 million
to save another pilot.
TRINA (OVER RADIO): Hey, Grant,
maybe next time
you might ask us first.
I guess we found something more
important than winning, huh?
And the money.
GRANT (OVER RADIO): No, I
wouldn't go that far.
I'll see you guys back at the
hangar, all right?
KEVIN: $25 Million?
BANNON: That's right.
Just a one way ticket.
One way ticket. First class,
Munich.
Mm-hmm, that's right.
A window seat.
Vince.
Was just-- just calling you.
Taking a trip?
No, no.
I was, uh-- just, uh--
I see.
Getting my stuff together.
I understand that you have some
problems with the $35
million that you owe.
No, it's not a problem, just a
little delay.
No problem.
Chris, this is sounding a lot
more
like a problem than a delay.
No, it's just that [CLEARING
THROAT] since there
was no official winner of the
race,
the network just wants to sort
things out contractually
with the attorneys.
Attorneys?
Right, the attorneys.
Nothing good ever comes from
attorneys.
You got that right!
It's like the old joke at the
bottom of the ocean.
I'll have the $25 million for
you by the end of next week.
It's $35 million.
BANNON: Oh, Vin--
[GUN COCKS]
GRANT (VOICEOVER): When I was a
kid, I had this dream, right?
A dream where I was flying, a
dream I thought I lost.
But my brother helped me find it
again.
In that split second when I knew
he wasn't going to make it,
I wasn't thinking about the
money.
I wasn't thinking about the
race.
All I could think about was,
here is someone who at one time
had that same dream and lost it.
You see, in the end, our dreams
are not about money.
They're not about winning and
they're not about fame.
In the end, our dreams are about
living and the choices we make.
[MUSIC PLAYING]