PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Whats your favourite line out of an aviation film?
Old 17th Nov 2009, 14:32
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Not from a film but from a book - The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

The scene is that Zaphod enters a field with derelict spacecraft. But one of those still seems intact. He enters and hears a voice:

"Transtellar Cruise Lines would like to apologize to passengers for the continuing delay to this flight. We are currently awaiting the loading of our complement of small lemon-soaked paper napkins for your comfort, refreshment and hygiene during the journey. Meanwhile we thank you for your patience. The cabin crew will shortly be serving coffee and biscuits again."

[...]

...he suddenly caught sight of a giant departure board still hanging, but by only one support, from the ceiling above him. It was covered with grime, but some of the figures were still discernible. [...] 'Nine hundred years...' he breathed to himself. That's how late this ship was.

[...]

In every seat sat a passenger, strapped into his or her seat. The passengers' hair was long and unkempt, their fingernails were long, the men wore beards. All of them were quite clearly alive - but sleeping.

[...]

'You're the autopilot?' said Zaphod
'Yes,' said the voice from the flight console.
'You're in charge of this ship?'
'Yes,' said the voice again, 'there has been a delay. Passengers are to be kept temporarily in suspended animation, for their comfort and convenience. Coffee and biscuits are served every year, after which passengers are returned to suspended animation for their continued comfort and convenience. Departure will take place when the flight stores are complete. We apologize for the delay.'

[...]

'Delay?' he cried. 'Have you seen the world outside this ship? It's a wasteland, a desert. Civilization's been and gone, man. There are no lemon-soaked paper napkins on the way from anywhere!'
'The statistical likelihood, ' continued the autopilot primly, 'is that other civilizations will arise. There will one day be lemon-soaked paper napkins. Till then there will be a short delay. Please return to your seat.'
Always makes me smile when a delay to a flight is announced.
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