North Atlantic

present a story inspired by true events
[STATIC OVER RADIO]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER RADIO]
MAIN TITLE
Corvo, Azores Islands
[IN PORTUGUESE]
Hey!
-How's it going? -Thanks for coming early, man.
I'll be home just in time for the cake.
Sorry, I didn't have time to wrap it.
Thanks, man. This is fantastic.
So, weather conditions: there's an intense low up in the north.
So they're all grounded.
Looks like you're going to have a slow night.
Cool. Okay, off you go now.
Ah, one more thing...
Checkmate!
Checkmate, huh?
What's up Baltazar?
[STRUMMING GUITAR]
[PINGING]
What are you doing here?
[IN ENGLISH] Golf-tango-tango, this is Corvo Approach, do you copy?
Golf-tango-tango, this is Corvo Approach, do you copy?
PILOT [OVER RADIO]: Golf-tango-tango here.
Did you say Corvo Approach?
Golf-tango-tango, Corvo Approach here, readability three.
You are not expected in this area. Please respond.
PILOT: Golf-tango-tango, we're a Beech 18...
...one onboard, took off from Newfoundland...
...but lost navigation in storm.
Now low on fuel and with radio problems.
Been flying blind for the last two hours.
Over.
Golf-tango-tango, you are approximately 900 miles southeast of Sable Islands...
...heading straight to us.
Please report fuel levels, over.
Two hours, maybe a bit more. Depending on the winds. Over.
Golf-tango-tango, are you sure about those fuel levels?
Affirmative.
I won't make it to you, Corvo.
Over.
Golf-tango-tango, you're four hours away, but I'm still your nearest airport.
Starting sea rescue procedure.
-Hello? -Hi, Corvo Tower here. I have a situation.
Go ahead.
Golf Hotel Foxtrot Tango Tango got in touch with me.
He's severely off course with radio, fuel and navigational problems.
Okay, Corvo, we already have him in our system.
We'll activate search and rescue immediately.
In the meantime, keep talking to him, try to keep him calm.
Okay.
[IN ENGLISH] Golf-tango-tango, do you read?
Golf-tango-tango, are you there?
Golf-tango-tango, are you there?
Corvo, do we really have to stick to this communications protocol?
[CHUCKLES]
No.
Good.
I'm James.
I'm Hugo. Nice to meet you, James.
Same to you.
How old are you?
32.
You?
62.
Married? Kids?
Nope.
You?
[SIGHS]
Did marry. No kids.
James...
...would you like me to contact your wife?
No need.
She died when she was your age.
Louise was her name.
I'm sorry.
Don't be.
I might be having breakfast with her tomorrow.
[PHONE RINGING]
-Hello? -Listen, the situation is not improving.
No one is answering in that area.
The chance of finding him in time is almost zero now.
There's not much you can do. I'm sorry.
Okay.
[IN ENGLISH] James, are you there?
And I'm a long way from everywhere tonight, eh?
I've just sent rescue teams your way...
...and we're trying to find any ships near your ditch location.
Ditch.
Professional word for "crash."
Ditched once just off the coast of Broome, Australia.
With your old Beech 18?
-Princess, show some respect. -Ha-ha-ha.
It's the first time I see a princess over the Atlantic.
We're going home.
You know, I grew up in a fishing village in Scotland.
I've always been surrounded by sea.
What about you?
From the middle of the sea as well.
From another island not far from here.
You know what I'm talking about then.
Oh, yeah.
You should see it from up here.
I'm flying in a completely cloudless sky.
[WAVES CRASHING]
[RADAR PINGING]
JAMES [OVER RADIO]: Hugo?
Yeah?
Nothing. Just checking.
James.
Yup.
I'm leaving you on open now.
[STRUMMING]
JAMES: What's that?
That's my guitar. Wasn't really thinking.
Keep playing. You'll find a tune.
Are you sure?
Didn't sound too bad.
[PLAYING MELLOW SONG]
[RHYTHMIC TAPPING OVER RADIO]
JAMES: Didn't realize you had someone with you.
I thought that was you.
No.
I got both my hands busy.
PETER [OVER RADIO]: Uh, sorry to step in unannounced.
Peter Simmons, lighthouse keeper in Nova Scotia.
Been listening to you boys for a while now.
-Shall I stop too? -No.
No, you keep going.
[CONTINUES PLAYING SONG]
[TAPPING OVER RADIO CONTINUES]
[WHISTLING]
The following morning James Compston was found dead inside his floating
Beech 18. He had left a note for the two men of the North Atlantic
"One day we'll play together again. Take your time"