In a Baloon

Lifted Up

EXT: open field, a hot-air balloon is loading up

Anna Wallace (a young woman with sunglasses on) is just getting onto the balloon. Bruce the attendant tucks her money into his pocket. Don the Pilot is already aboard, doing a last-minute flight check.

Jerry Brewer is pacing frantically on the grass in front of the attendant.

EDITING NOTE: Get the pilot to give some tour-guide speech about the scenery, and use it in the montage scene, and edit it in wherever you see fit.

BRUCE

Are you coming or not?

JERRY

Hang on, hang on! I'm trying to work up the nerve.

BRUCE

It's just a balloon.

JERRY

An uncontrolled flight at five thousand feet, yeah. I know.

Bruce starts to close the hatch.

BRUCE

I guess this pretty lady will be all alone up there.

Jerry stops and stares at him.

JERRY

All right, you talked me into it.

Jerry takes out some money and gives it to him. He climbs in the basket. The pilot looks at him and then takes off. Anna seems to enjoy the whole experience. She is leaning out a little and with both arms spread wide. He half smiles at the sight of her. Jerry holds on tight as the balloon climbs higher and higher. The girl turns around with a smile on her face.

ANNA

Hey!

She then gets a serious look on her face and drops her arms.

ANNA

Are you scaaaaaared?

Jerry looks down at the ground before looking back at her.

JERRY

Who me? No. Just a little bit.

ANNA

Don't you just love the fresh air? It seems so real up here.

JERRY

(trying to cover up his fear)

Oh yeah. Air. Can't live without it.

She just looks at him.

ANNA

You're afraid of heights, aren't you?

Jerry looks at her, makes a small hum of yes - he nods his head with a little smile. She starts laughing. His smile turns into a straight face.

JERRY

What's so funny? Don't tell me you have never been afraid of something?

ANNA

Nothing. You just remind me of my brother. He used to be afraid of heights....

He notices something in her voice. He senses that something has happened between her and her brother.

JERRY

I'm sorry.

ANNA

Forget about it. I'm Anna, by the way.

He sticks his hand out first and reaches for hers. To each her, he takes a deliberate moment to let go of the ropes and test his footing. Then they shake hands and all is well.

JERRY

Jerry Brewer.

Jerry looks at her and realizes that she is a pretty woman. He didn't notice before as he was letting his fear overwhelm him. He takes off his own sunglasses that and puts them in his pocket.

ANNA

If you're so afraid of heights, why get on this thing?

He takes a big breath.

JERRY

I'm trying to overcome it. You know -- meet it head on, slay the dragon, and all that.

ANNA

You're doing a good job so far. Just don't focus on it. Close your eyes and imagine yourself gliding along.

He closes his eyes. She puts her arms out to the sky again. She begins a very soothing monologue:

ANNA

Everything is peaceful. You're with the birds up here. Flying beyond the reach of man. Your soul is free from the Earth. Feel the wind flow through you. You're on the strings of God now. You have to trust the Almighty. Can you feel the oxygen getting thinner as we go up and up?

Jerry is listening to her and following her instructions. But at the end he jolts back to his senses.

JERRY

That was beautiful, up to the part about the oxygen.

ANNA

I'm just teasing. There's plenty of air up here, for birds.

JERRY

Ha ha. You know, you really have a way with words. Are you a writer or something?

ANNA

As a matter of fact I am. Thank you.

He opens his eyes when he hears this.

JERRY

Ahhh...what kind of books do you write?

ANNA

Self-Help.

JERRY

I should have guessed.

There