24 Over Needles

Scripts-Aloud

In "Over Needles," a seemingly routine commuter flight from Orange County, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada, takes an unexpected and alarming turn. Aboard Canada Air flight 301, a cantankerous investor blogger named Orville and his wife, Wendy, are on a multi-stop journey to North Dakota. The flight is hijacked remotely and forced to land at a deserted airstrip in Needles, California. As armed men board the plane to seize Orville, he cries out that the incident is related to his work exposing corruption in the gold market. The flight crew and passengers are caught in the middle of a mysterious plot, leaving everyone to question who they can trust.

Major Themes

• Conspiracy and Paranoia: A central theme is the idea of a large-scale conspiracy. Orville's belief that a shadowy group is manipulating the gold market and their attempt to capture him validates his paranoid worldview.

• Trust and Deception: The script explores who can be trusted. The flight's diversion is a mystery, and characters' true allegiances are revealed, particularly the flight attendant, Helen, whose actions suggest she is involved in the conspiracy despite her claims of innocence. The Captain's initial trust in his crew is shattered when he suspects Helen's involvement.

• The Individual vs. Powerful Forces: Orville, an ordinary man, believes he is fighting against powerful and corrupt individuals, possibly government or financial entities. His attempt to "shine the light" and "tell the truth" puts him in direct conflict with these forces.

• The Mundane vs. The Extraordinary: The story begins with the mundane annoyances of air travel—complaints about cramped seats and unpleasant smells—which are abruptly disrupted by a shocking and extraordinary event, highlighting how a normal day can be upended by hidden forces.

• The Fragility of Modern Life and Technology: The plot hinges on the remote hijacking of the aircraft's autopilot system, a technology-driven act that subverts the captain's control. This demonstrates how reliance on technology can make people vulnerable. The pilot mentions this technology was developed in "I-raq," suggesting a military origin.