Hyper Sonic (2002) Movie Script

[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!

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!

Get out of here!

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!

[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.

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.

Don't pay attention to him, OK?

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!

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.

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!

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!

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]

Hyper Sonic (2002) - full transcript