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On the northeast tip of North America, on an island called Newfoundland,
there's a airport.
It used to be one of the biggest airports in the world.
And next to it is a town called Gander.
-There's a two-person police department. -An elementary school.
-An SPCA. -A local TV station.
And a hockey rink.
It's a small place on a giant rock in the ocean.
Everybody knows everybody else.
And everybody in this room has a story about how they started that day.
Welcome to the rock
-If you come from away -Hep!
You'll probably understand About a half of what we say
-Hep! -They say no man's an island
But an island makes a man
'Specially when one comes From one like Newfoundland
Welcome to the rock
That morning, I'm in the classroom.
It's our first day back, and the school buses are on strike,
so I'm covering for Annette, who's running late.
Sorry, Beulah. How's the kids?
Not exactly thrilled to be inside on such a gorgeous day.
So I told 'em we'd only have a half-day this morning.
They were quite pleased till I told 'em we'd have the other half in the afternoon.
Welcome to the wildest weather That you've ever heard of
Where everyone is nicer But it's never nice above
Welcome to the farthest place You'll get from Disneyland
-Fish and chips and shipwrecks -This is Newfoundland
-Welcome to the rock -I'm an islander
I am an islander
I'm an islander I am an islander
That morning, I'm in my car.
The kids cross Airport Boulevard to get to school.
And that time of day, people are in a bit of a rush to get to work and stuff,
so normally I sit there and run my radar.
And if they're speeding, I'll stop 'em and write out a warning ticket.
I'll write "STFD"-- "Slow The **** Down."
Welcome to the land Where the winters tried to kill us
-And we said -We will not be killed
Welcome to the land Where the waters tried to drown us
-And we said -We will not be drowned
Welcome to the land Where we lost our loved ones
-And we said -We will still go on
Welcome to the land Where the winds tried to blow
And we said no
That morning, I drop my kids off at school and head to the SPCA,
where I'm greeted by my other kids,
all barking and meowing for breakfast and a belly rub.
Not that I'm complaining. I loves 'em.
But by the time feeding is done, I gotta get back to pick up my human kids.
So I take just one second for myself. And I'm sitting in my car.
-I'm in the staff room. -I'm in the library.
And I turn on the radio.
You are here At the start of a moment
On the edge of the world
Where the river meets the sea
Here
On the edge of the Atlantic
On an island in between
There and here
-I'm an islander, I am an islander -I'm running my radar. Bonnie comes by.
-I'm an islander, I am an islander… -She pulls up, wavin' at me like mad.
-So I roll down my window, and she says… -Oz, turn on the radio.
-Slow it down, Bonnie. -Jesus H., Oz, turn on your radio.
-Where our stories start -It's my first day at the station.
-Where we'll end the night -I'm getting coffee for the picket line.
-Where we know by heart -Five minutes till my smoke break.
-Every single flight -I'm off to work at the airport.
Welcome to the fog Welcome to the trees
To the ocean and the sky And whatever's in between
To the ones who've left You're never truly gone
A candle's in the window And the kettle's always on
When the sun is coming up And the world has come ashore
If you're hoping for a harbor Then you'll find an open door
In the winter, from the water Through whatever's in the way
To the ones who have come from away Welcome to the rock
I starts my day at Tim Hortons.
Don't drink coffee, don't drink tea, and I've no use for donuts.
But I'll grab a Pepsi and get a lay of the land.
As the mayor, it's how I keep in touch with the people and such.
Everything starts and ends at Tim Hortons.
-Morning, Garth. -Morning, Claude.
-Morning, Crystal. -Morning, Mr. Mayor.
-Dwight. -Morning, Claude, Garth, Crystal.
Claude, Crystal, Dwight, Garth. Morning.
-Morning, boys. Pepsi? -That's right, Crystal.
-Yeah. -What's the news?
-School bus strike still on? -Yeah. We're working it out.
Well, we're coming to the table.
Well, we're coming to the table too.
-They tearing down the airport? -Not today.
I heard Don Burton and his wife won the Super 7.
-You don't say. -Lucky shit.
4.6 million.
Excuse me, I'm looking for the mayor.
Mr. Mayor, I'm Janice Mosher with Rogers TV.
I'm new to town and new to reporting.
-It's my first day. -Where you 'longs to, Janice?
Port aux Basques.
So if you see me running red lights or anything,
just forgive me because we don't have stoplights over there.
-Well, welcome to Gander, Janice. -Janice.
-Janice.
Janice.
If you're looking for news, you should talk to that man running in here.
That's our constable, Oz Fudge. He's full of stories.
Mr. Mayor, I saw your car in the lot.
Crystal, turn up the radio so's we all can hear.
Doug, you probably wanna get down to air traffic control right away.
There's only supposed to be two air traffic controllers on,
but instead there's 14.
Everyone's heard, and they all shows up without even being asked.
We're told there'll be over 200 planes getting diverted across the country.
Lufthansa 414, this is Gander Center, squawk code 7235.
Due to a recent development, you are ordered to land at Gander YQX immediately.
Copy that. This is an order.
No, sir, you do not have a choice.
No, sir. This is not a drill.
Yes, sir. I understand you have VIPs onboard.
I'll see your VIPs and raise you an international emergency.
Land your plane now.
-Copy that, Gander Tower. -This is Air France.
-Aer Lingus. -Lufthansa.
-British Airways. -Emirates.
This is American four niner. What am I supposed to tell my passengers?
Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain.
There's been an incident in the United States.
We're having trouble with the… cabin lighting system.
We're just going to touch down while we fix the system.
Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seat belts.
Looks like we'll be making an unexpected landing in Gander, "New-found-land."
Anybody in the business knows when you set down in Gander, it's for an emergency.
Now, we don't know what's going on,
but the captain tells us to keep everyone from panicking.
Tray tables up, please.
We will be dimming the lights in the cabin.
Pushing the light bulb button will turn your reading light on.
However, pushing the flight attendant button
will not turn your flight attendant on.
I look out the window to see if there's something mechanical,
like if we've lost an engine or something's on fire.
But I don't see anything.
I told head office I need to travel less.
I told them it was doctor's orders.
But they say, "You're going to the conference," so you go.
My dad's always saying, "Bob, you got to calm down."
But the flight attendant is shaking like a leaf,
so I figure I've got permission.
My son sends me on this vacation.
He says, "Mom, you've never gone anywhere."
And when I get back, I'm telling him, "This is exactly why."
Suddenly, there's a drop.
A sudden change in direction.
I fly a lot, so I know that's not normal.
Outside the window, all I can see below are trees and rocks and… nothing.
On final approach, we're coming into runway 22,
and I think, "Where am I gonna park this thing?"
There are planes lined up like sardines.
And as far as I can see, there's cars lined up too.
It looks like everybody in Newfoundland is here.
One plane, then another
And then another
-Is this on? Sorry. I'm new. -And then 13 planes, then another
-And then another, and then another -This is Rogers TV Channel 9.
-My name is Janice Mosher. -And then 19 planes…
I'm reporting live from Gander airport,
where the 19th plane has just touched down.
I'm here with…
-Bonnie Harris. -…and then 26 planes…
On a normal day, we get a half dozen flights,
and now we already got three times that many landing in two hours.
-It's a lot of noise. -…and then 29 planes…
And you can smell the fuel. You can smell the exhaust.
-Jesus, that's a jumbo! -…and then another
-There's gotta be 250 or 300 on her. -And then 32 planes…
That's a fairly large one. There's gotta be 200 on her.
-Now I'm adding this up. -And then another, and then
-We got 38 planes. -Thirty-eight, thirty-eight…
We got two, three hundred people on the average!
Thirty-eight, thirty-eight planes
Holy shit!
Air Traffic Control says five of the planes on the ground aren't responding.
Reg says they're probably just on the wrong frequency.
Thank you, Dwight.
FAA won't give us a timeline for reopening the airspace.
The airplane crews need to be rested, or we'll never get them out of here.
American Trans Air flight number 25 is requesting, when they deplane…
If they deplane.
-…that they be a priority. -Why?
They were headed to Disney World with 90 Make-A-Wish kids.
-Oh, Jesus. -Oh, my gosh.
Even with all the hotels in town, we've got no room.
We gotta start looking at other towns.
Appleton and Gambo have already offered, but we can't get them there.
Garth's bus drivers are still on the picket line.
Without them, no one's going anywhere.
For Jesus's sake, I'll tell them where to go!
Don't quote me on that.
I've got the SPCA lady on the line again asking about animals.
Tell Bonnie we've got people to deal with.
Apparently those five planes that aren't responding,
they're treating 'em as bomb threats!
All right!
The RCMP is gonna handle it.
But we've got almost 7,000 people that might be spending the night.
Jesus, that's near as many as we got living here in town.
We need to house them somewhere, and we need to get them there.
Don't look at me.
Not to mention food and supplies and anything else that snarls up.
Why are they sending them here? Why not Toronto or Ottawa?
Because if anything goes wrong, we have a lot less people to lose.
All right, Janice Mosher, here's your news.
"Gander Town Council declares a state of emergency."
-11:53 a.m. -Tuesday.
September 11, 2001.
Any available community buildings will be converted into shelters.
With thousands of passengers arriving at any minute,
the town is asking for help with--
well, anything you can do.
Crystal, I saw on the news That they're looking
For blankets and bedding And maybe some food
Do you know what they need And how much?
-I need something to do -'Cause I can't watch the news anymore
Can I help? Is there something? I need to do something
To keep me from thinking Of all of those scenes on the tube
I need something to do 'Cause I can't watch the news
No, I can't watch the news anymore
In the winter, from the water Through the wind
If a stranger ends up at your door
You get on the horn
Hello, this is Beulah Davis down at the academy.
I heard we might be getting some… guests.
And I thought I'd see if I could help whosever in charge of getting the school--
How many passengers can we take?
We fit about 400 students--
Yes, we could probably do 600.
Or, sure, 700 if we really pack 'em in.
When are they coming? Could be anytime now?
I'm glad I phoned.
I get a call from Beulah,
looking for "anything 700 people from around the world might need."
So I go down to Shoppers,
and the manager says to just take what I want off the shelves.
Toothbrushes, floss, mouthwash, deodorant.
And I'm back at the school when Beulah says…
You know, those planes probably got some babies on 'em.
So I'm back to Shoppers for diapers.
And we're unpacking them when Annette says…
You know, those babies are probably gonna be hungry.
So I'm back to Shoppers for formula and baby food.
And when I get back, Beulah says…
Hey, you know, those planes are probably filled with women of childbearing age.
So…
So I'm back to Shoppers to pick up as many pads and tampons as they have.
The Baptist church needs a hand moving their pews.
Dr. O'Brien down at the pharmacy is ready to fill any prescriptions.
And the Lions Club is looking for some toilet paper, if you have any extra.
-Medicine -Toothpaste
-Underwear -Aspirin
Jackets Our kids grew out of last summer
Down at the station We're taking donations
-Out by the door -Holy Jesus, there's more
It's better than being at home alone
-Wondering what's really happening -Everyone's phoning
We're setting up rooms in the schools
Been crying all afternoon Wondering what can be done
What do we need?
-I made a tray of sandwiches. -We need 50 more.
-Sandwiches? -Trays!
What do we need?
200 gym mats. Is that enough?
You tell me and we'll both know.
What do we need?
For the love of God, stop bringing toilet paper to the Lions Club!
How do you know what you need
When you don't know How many you're needing to feed?
When you don't know How many are staying
How long they are staying
We better start praying The weather stays nice
In the winter, from the water Through the wind
In the winter, from the water
Through the wind
In the winter, from the water
If a stranger ends up sent by fate
Are we gonna be ready?
Well, we have to be, don't we?
When you include the original flight,
we were on the plane for probably 12, 13 hours.
We were on there 15 hours.
Twenty hours.
Twenty-eight hours.
We were on the plane for over an entire day.
Twenty-eight hours
Over an entire day
There was one aisle in the middle
Everyone knew every inch of that plane
-We were allowed out of our seats… -Twenty-eight hours…
…but not off the plane.
You never think about it, but airplane doors are 20 feet in the air.
And even if you survived the jump, they probably would've shot you.
Everyone knew every inch of that plane.
You could go up to first class. You could stretch in the aisles.
Our flight was full. There were children sleeping on the floor.
It had three seats on each side.
There was only one aisle in the middle.
We had no way to get information.
This was before most people had mobile phones,
-and only a couple people got through. -…every inch of that plane
-Hello? -Mom?
-Bonjour. -Operator?
Tom?
Thank God I finally got through
I borrowed a passenger's phone How are you?
Are the kids okay?
No, I'm fine, Tom
I'm fine
Safe and sound on the ground Here in Newfoundland
We don't know much Except for the BBC--
Listen, I can't talk long
Can you do something for me?
-I'm okay. -I'm fine.
-Oui. Bien. -Pick up.
Tell the kids I'm all right
Take them into the kitchen
And show them the map That we used to put pins in
For each destination That we flew together
Tell them I'm fine
Put a pin here in Gander
-On our plane, someone has a mobile phone. -But then the battery dies.
-There are phones in back of the seats. -But they don't work.
Half the passengers on our plane don't speak English.
Even if we knew what was happening, we don't speak their language.
On our plane, we ask the flight attendants.
But the captain says not to say too much, and that's when rumors start flying.
-There was an accident. -An accident?
-The US airspace is closed. -For the first time in history.
Why won't she tell us what's happening?
-A helicopter crashed in Pennsylvania. -Into a building.
-Into the White House! -The White House was bombed!
-We need to do something! -Everyone, calm down!
Oh, my God! It's World War III!
Meanwhile on our plane We didn't have a clue
-We were all going insane because -There wasn't squat to do
Then the captain starts apologizing
Says, "On behalf of the airline I'm giving each and everyone some"…
Complimentary booze
Open the airplane doors Wave at all the cars
Hello to whoever you are
Wherever we are
The ground crews supplied whatever we needed.
-Nicotine patches. -Medication.
-Pampers. -Something to drink!
So the flight attendants brought out All the mini bottles of liquor
And delivered them to everyone
Soon everyone got friendlier
I took a couple of pictures Of the view there with my camera
-We didn't know where we were -But we knew that we were hammered
Open the airplane doors Wave at all the locals
Surely there's something Better to do than park
Wherever we are
We'd been sitting there for 14 hours when we pull out the Grey Goose.
Kevin and I were kind of hiding it, because--
'Cause we didn't wanna share it.
Anyway, this woman, this hot mess behind us, kept completely freaking out.
Yeah, I don't understand why they can't let us off.
I mean, just to stretch our legs. I mean, really?
I need to get some air.
Oh, my God. I need to get off this plane!
And my boyfriend, Kevin…
We're both named Kevin. It was cute for a while.
Anyway, Kevin was not dealing with it well.
I'm going to kill her.
Excuse me! I would like to get off the plane.
I am claustrophobic!
Excuse me. Would you like some Xanax?
Because you're freaking out, and it is freaking me out,
and we are all freaking the freak out!
Open the airplane doors Let a little air in here
-'Cause I could use a shower or a bar -Or a bar
Open the airplane doors Look at all the planes out there
There must be a convention It's bizarre
-Wherever we are -Twenty-eight hours
-Out of the windows
-Twenty-eight hours -Twenty-eight hours
Nothing but darkness
-Twenty-eight hours -Twenty-eight hours
Darkness and headlights
-Twenty-eight hours -Twenty-eight hours
Nothing to see
Hello? It's Bonnie Harris down at the Gander SPCA.
I went down with the rest of the town to look at all those planes.
Yeah. We are.
Well, I got to wondering if there weren't any animals on them.
No?
There's no animals on those planes?
Not a one?
Yeah. Okay, then. Thank you for your time.
Doug.
Doug, are there animals on those planes?
Probably?
"Probably"? Are they "probably" feeding them then?
-I'm heading over. -Bonnie, there's armed guards.
The army. Police everywhere.
Well, then they'll have to shoot me.
Bonnie? Bonnie!
-Garth. Look. -Claude. Look.
-Look at it from my perspective. -Will you look at it from my perspective?
-We've been coming to the table! -We've been coming to the table too.
We got the college, the churches, and we got the hotels for the crews.
But we need your school buses!
We got no effing way to get them there.
Well, why don't you take 'em in your car?
Yeah, I can fit four in my Corolla.
-That's a great start. -That's a great start.
-Great. Think about it. -Great. No, you.
-You think about it. -You think about it!
Jesus!
2:10 p.m. School bus drivers thinking about leaving the picket lines.
What's the point of an emergency if no one treats it like an effing emergency?
And you can quote me on that.
The flight attendants keep telling us nothing's wrong.
But I got kids, and I got grandkids. I know when someone's hiding something.
And when parents need their kids to stop asking questions,
they start playing movies.
We ran through every movie we had.
Legally Blonde, Dr. Dolittle 2…
and Titanic.
Near, far, wherever you--
Nothing to do Nothing to see
Thank God we stopped At the duty-free
Wherever we are
Do you mind if I sit here?
I need to get some work done, and there's some drunk people at the back of the plane
singing at the top of their lungs.
No, of course.
-I'm Diane. -Nick.
How are you doing?
I'm worried about someone.
He was flying today.
I just wish there was some way to tell him where I am.
Newfoundland.
No, you know that. You just can't tell him. Right.
I'm hoping you're one of those people
who laughs when English people say awkward things.
-I just wish we knew what was happening. -What's happening?
What's happening?
Somewhere in between
-Your life -And your work
When the world may be falling apart
And you think
-I'm alone -I'm alone
And I'm so damn helpless
There's nothing left to do but drink
We open the airplane doors Flash all the cars
I've never done that before
Twenty-eight hours gone
Over an entire day
Running out of things to say
And wondering If there's someone going to clue us in
Tell us all what's happening
Because the sun is setting And we're sitting in the dark
Wherever we are
Later that night, I'm up in the cockpit with some of the other passengers
when the pilot puts the radio on over the intercom,
and the whole plane goes silent when the president gives his speech.
I ask the American people to join me in saying a thanks
for all the folks who have been fighting hard to rescue our fellow citizens,
and to join me in saying a prayer for the victims and their families.
The resolve of our great nation is being tested.
But make no mistake:
We will show the world that we will pass this test.
God bless.
You got through to the airline
Tom, I'm okay
Tell me what's happening out there
How bad is it? Tell me everything
Tom, who was in the air?
No, no, I wouldn't have known them
No, no one on that airline
Charles? Are you sure?
No, I'm fine, Tom I'm fine
We can see 'em from the plane,
this long line of headlights coming through the darkness.
Claude, can I have a word?
I don't have time to go in circles with you anymore.
I got the army delivering a thousand less cots--
Look, the union just voted. You got your buses.
Our complaint's with our employer.
-Not with the people on those planes. -Thank you.
But we're back on the line the minute this is over.
Right.
Off of the airplane
Ladies and gentlemen, take only your carry-on items.
Checked luggage will remain in the hold.
Into the airport
The captain and flight attendants tell everyone
to take their blankets and pillows off the plane.
Out of the windows
We grab bottles of water too.
No one has any idea where they're taking us.
Darkness and trees
As we enter the airport, all those car lights are still aimed at us.
We're scared. They're probably scared too.
The people here don't know what to expect off of these planes.
The airport looks like something left over from the Cold War.
-And Kevin's like… -Oh, my God. We've gone back in time.
The whole procedure, the soldiers and all the formality,
just makes me really nervous.
-Citizenship? -American.
British.
Purpose of your trip?
-Vacation. -A conference.
Destination?
-Dallas. -Texas.
Thank you.
Citizenship?
-American. -Egyptian.
Purpose of your trip?
Family.
Business, just business.
Destination?
-LA. -Dallas, then Washington, DC.
-Thank you. -Could you come with me, sir?
There's a giant map on the wall of the airport,
and someone has written in red marker, "You are here."
-Excuse me. I need to find a phone. -I need to call my son.
Well, the phones are over there. But it's gonna be a while.
They're all lined up at the airport pay phones,
so eventually we put an "out of order" sign on 'em
just so we can get people on the buses.
11:48 p.m.
Buses and drivers are now taking passengers to shelters.
Not just in Gander, but also to Gambo, Appleton and farther communities
of Lewisporte, Norris Arm, and Glenwood.
-Our bus sits there forever. -While all the others leave.
Finally, this other… passenger gets on.
This guy from the Middle East.
Someone says he got questioned.
Someone says he got searched.
And now he's on our bus.
I try to interview the Red Cross, the Salvation Army,
but they've got more important things to do than talk to me.
That's when I see them, the plane people, through the bus windows.
The terror on their faces…
They have no idea where they're going.
They take me and my crew in a separate van.
I'm looking out the window, trying to see where we are,
but it is pitch-dark.
Now, I have flown over this area hundreds and hundreds of times,
and it is just darkness, hardly any lights anywhere.
And now here I am.
Oh, my God. This is just so remote!
-Into the darkness -Stars and the moonlight
-But all around us -Nothing but darkness
-Out of the windows -Into the darkness
Darkness and trees
Every school bus we got is goin' back and forth all night.
Out to the Salvation Army camp,
we've delivered passengers from Germany, England and France.
On around 3:00 in the morning, my bus is designated
to take all these African people out there.
Into the darkness
My family and I try to see out the bus windows.
No one tells us where we are going.
Onto a gravel road
Silence comes on the bus.
We get outside of Gander, and you could hear a pin drop.
-And all around us -My wife and daughter are scared.
They ask me what is happening, and I do not know.
-Behind me, this big man comes up to me… -Darkness and trees
…and he says in this low voice…
What?
Ladies and gentlemen, we need some help translating.
If anyone speaks Mandarin, can you come to the library?
And if anyone speaks Hindi, could you please come to the cafeteria?
And if anyone speaks Newfoundlander,
well, Lard tunderin' Jaysus, God bless ya, b'y.
We've got passengers from all over the world coming off these buses,
all speaking different languages. We can't even say hello.
-And if anyone knows-- We think it's-- -Moldovan.
Moldovan, that would also be helpful.
Other passengers help us translate.
Mrs. Noonan, our French teacher, turns out to know a little Russian.
And Mr. Michaels, our gym teacher--
Apparently he speaks Spanish.
I'm sorry, what was I saying?
I said you got five minutes, Bonnie.
There are hundreds of suitcases.
I can hear barking, but I can't find 'em.
They fast them before flying, so they are starving,
and they need water.
Sir? Sir! Doug.
You gotta get out of there. We're keeping all personnel out of the holds until--
Sorry, Dwight. It's the wife.
You know, Bonnie, from the SPCA?
She's feeding some animals inside. Nothing's coming off.
I found a cat. His name is Lyle.
There's a pill taped to his carrier.
Well, I'm glad I got in here to give it to him.
It's okay, Lyle.
Bonnie, I need you to get out of there.
Bonnie, you gotta move your arse!
Doug, I have found one cat. Do you think it's Lyle who's barking?
No.
Here's some crunchy, Lyle. I'll be back to give you your pill.
Listen to me. FAA sent over new orders.
We're treating all US planes as bomb threats.
-Oh, God. Bonnie! -Doug! Doug!
-What? Bonnie? Bonnie, talk to me. -Doug! There are monkeys on this plane.
-Climb aboard. -Hop right in.
-You look some tired. -Nothing to worry about now.
We'll get you where you're going.
I'm guessing you never heard of Gander before.
Well, that's it in the rearview mirror.
You'll need to reset your watches.
We've got our own time zone here.
Everything happens half an hour later in Newfoundland.
You've all seen the airport. Used to be the biggest airport in North America.
Planes used to stop here to gas up from everywhere.
-Frank Sinatra. Albert Einstein. -Muhammad Ali.
The Queen.
This is where the Beatles first set foot in North America.
My father once went sledding with Fidel Castro.
Then they invented jet planes that can get across the ocean on one tank.
So there's no need to refuel anymore.
Leaving us with this giant airport.
There's talk lately about tearing it down.
Lucky for you, we haven't got around to it yet.
Now, there's the reason I drive slow.
That there in the middle of the road…
Yeah, that's a moose.
She'll move when she's good and ready.
Mind if I sit here?
The drunk people from our plane are snoring back there.
Hello, Nick. Please do.
I thought we'd lost you.
No. I just needed to get an emergency prescription filled.
My medication's in my suitcase.
Nothing serious.
Not like, "Oh, my God, he's off his medication!"
-I'll stop talking now. -It's fine.
It's heart medication. I've got a slight arrhythmia. Nothing serious.
There you go, everything you need to know about me.
Okay.
Well, I'm allergic to bananas. And I've never had the chicken pox.
Any news yet about your husband who was flying today?
My-- No.
Do you mind if we just don't talk about that?
I haven't been able to get to a phone.
I'm sorry.
I'll help you find a phone as soon as we get… wherever we're going.
Finally, out of the darkness, my bus arrives at the Salvation Army camp.
We pass through a large gate, and the bus pulls to a stop.
And through the windows, out there in the darkness,
we see all these people coming out of the buildings.
Now, we rarely use 'em,
but everyone's dusted off their Salvation Army uniforms
to welcome these people.
There are soldiers everywhere.
The man at the front opens the door.
I say, "Here you are. Out you go."
But he's not moving. None of 'em are.
But then I notice his wife, well, she's clutching a Bible.
Now, obviously, I can't read it.
But their Bible, it'll have the same number system ours does.
So I ask… to see it.
And I'm searching for something here.
And then, in Philippians 4:6.
I give them their Bible, and I'm pointing, saying, "Look, Philippians 4:6."
"Be anxious for nothing."
And that's how we started speaking the same language.
Out of the darkness
Suddenly brightness
Everything changes
Darkness and trees
Out of the darkness
Suddenly light
Welcome to Gander Academy, nicest hotel on the east coast.
Except for those with actual beds.
My name's Beulah. Washrooms are just down the hall,
and there's food over there if you're hungry
and clothes if you'd like to change.
I'll show you now where you're gonna sleep.
Let us know if there's anything else you need.
So, what really happened?
What's the last thing you heard?
There was an accident in New York.
Okay. I'm gonna show you now to your rooms.
And then, if you want, you can come back.
We got two TVs set up in the cafeteria with the news on,
so you can see what's actually happened for yourselves.
I didn't even think.
They haven't seen any of it yet.
Lead us out of the darkness
We were all staring at those images.
And we just stand, helpless, watching 'em.
Lead us somewhere to safety
We barely know where we are, but we know it's not there.
Lead us far from disaster
Charles Burlingame was the captain of Flight 77
that crashed into the Pentagon.
I just saw him at a pub in London.
You can't imagine.
A pilot will fight to the ends of the earth to save his airplane.
He just will.
Lead us out of the night
We watch those images for hours.
Until someone finally turns it off.
1:15 a.m.
-Wednesday. -September 12th.
Crisis counselors are called to Gander Academy.
The plane people, they're exhausted, but they don't wanna sleep.
And we're standing there, ready with all that food.
But that's not what they wanted.
They wanted phones.
1:45 a.m.
Six phones are put on tables
for the plane people to use free of charge,
lined up alongside the road by the NewTel building.
An hour later, they set up 20 more phones.
An hour after that, there's 75 phones and computers with Internet,
all being used round the clock.
Hello? Yes, it's me.
Dad, I'm okay It's okay
I'm calling from Canada
Safe and sound on the ground Here in Iceland
-No, Newfoundland. -Yeah.
We just saw the news
-Have you heard yet from Kev? -Or Celena?
-Call Micah -And Lauren
-My parents -My aunt
It's Di
No, I'm fine Where's David?
Thank God.
Hello. It's Nick Marson.
My plane's been diverted.
Can you pass on to someone at head office that I'm fine?
No, no. I just thought someone should know.
3:45 a.m.
Overnight, the community's population has gone from approximately 9,000 to 16,000.
I'm sure barely any of us have slept tonight.
We're hopeful that our visitors will be back in the air come morning.
I woke up from a dream, which I can't quite remember,
but there was this music in it that I had heard somewhere before.
I woke up from a dream that we were stuck in some backwater Canadian town
and that my air mattress deflated.
I woke up to the smell of freshly baked bread.
4:00 a.m. in Newfoundland is breakfast time in Germany,
and we got a lot of passengers here from Frankfurt,
so breakfast starts at 4:00 a.m., and we start scrambling eggs.
-Poached eggs, scrambled eggs, omelets. -Fried bologna.
Something called "toutons."
I saw a casserole dish I don't think I could lift.
They made enough food to feed 7,000 people.
It's like they never slept.
There's this one man from the Middle East--
Well, we don't really know. Hasn't said a word to a soul.
And some of the other passengers are a little bit wary of him.
So it's a little odd to find him poking around the kitchen--
-Hello. -Hello. Can I help you with something?
Yes. I would like to be of assistance with the food.
-That's not necessary. -But I--
You go out there and sit down.
We've been going all night, but we can't stop.
I splash some cold water on my face and just keep going.
We've got 7,000 scared and angry people who don't wanna be here.
And they're about to wake up.
In a crowded room Filled with strangers sleeping
An airplane blanket And pillow on the floor
The sun comes streaming Through the window
And I can't sleep anymore
Staring at these strangers Waking up around me
Sitting in a crowd of people Waiting for the phone
And in a town That's suddenly doubled population
I feel so alone
It's like any of us Could have died on Tuesday
And like we're dared To see things differently today
-I'm feeling different -Distant
-Strange -Who are these people here?
-Where am I? -No one knows me here
Who am I if I don't feel Like the me from yesterday?
I wake up in a crowded room full of people sleeping on the floor,
and I see Diane and ask, "Are we leaving?"
Anytime now, yeah.
Is your hair different?
I mean, you look nice. I like it.
Well, thank you. It's no shampoo for three days.
They start handing out clothes to anyone who needs 'em.
I haven't changed my clothes in 39 hours.
I wanted to burn my socks.
Kevin puts on this plaid thing.
He says he's incognito and that he's going to blend in with the locals,
but he just looks like a gay lumberjack.
Changing into Another woman's donated set of clothes
Looking different Feeling kinda different too
-I can't quite explain -But when I woke
When David wasn't on that plane
It's like I changed into somebody else But who?
And it's somehow like We're at a costume party
And for a second you are not yourself
You are not yourself
And you look around And blink your eyes
And barely even recognize
The person in the mirror Who's turned into someone else
Hey, little sister.
Yeah, still here where they eat rainbows for breakfast.
Are you taking care of Mom?
I'm just freaking out. I wish I was home.
No, not LA. Brooklyn.
Shut up. You're such a brat.
I just needed to hear your voice.
-Excuse me. Are you Hannah? -Yeah, that's me.
My name's Beulah. Someone told me your son's a firefighter.
Yeah, mine is too, here in town.
And I know Gander's not New York, but is there anything I can do?
No. I just need to hear from my son.
I understand.
Praying for a phone call
Praying for a way home
Asking questions
Asking, "Can I get back On that godforsaken plane?"
And all around me, people chat
And people act like nothing's happened
And I need to hear we're going back Before I go insane
Good morning. I'm Captain Beverley Bass.
I know this is gonna be hard to hear.
The American airspace remains closed.
I can't tell y'all how long we'll be on the ground,
but we are gonna be here for some time.
-Here for some time -Here for some time
-Here for too long -Here for how long?
-When will we know? -When will we know?
How much longer?
Beulah, wait. Can you help me find a Catholic church?
I can't sit here. I need to get some air.
Let's go see where we are. It'll do you good.
No, what'll do me good is to lie down, pretend this isn't happening.
Suit yourself.
And it's somehow like we're stuck here At a messed-up costume party
And there's nothing here familiar
Far away from those you care for
On an isolated island in between
-There and here -There and here
By the middle of the day on Wednesday, I'm coordinating menus for 7,000 people.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Rotary Club is looking for some fish dishes.
And we have a bunch of German passengers down at the Moose Club
who would like to try elk.
No, sorry. That's the Elks Club that's looking for moose.
Sorry. I'm new.
Well, if you won't try cod tongue, we got cheeseburgers.
Or we got hot dogs too.
There's tuna casserole over there.
Or I could make you up a bologna sandwich.
Are there vegetables in Canada?
-We're vegetarians. -I converted him.
Anyway, I notice this other passenger who hasn't eaten anything at all.
Kevin is suddenly in everyone else's business.
So I notify our hosts.
No. No, thank you. Please. I'm fine.
Turns out he's an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, and he only eats kosher food.
Now, we have all kinds of people living in Newfoundland:
Protestants, Baptists, Catholics, Salvation Army-ists.
Not a lot of Jewish people.
The next thing I know, I'm set up in the faculty lounge,
making a kosher kitchen for any other Jewish passengers,
but also for two Hindu women, some Muslims.
And a couple of vegetarians.
One of the pilots from Virgin Atlantic, Captain Bristol,
he's a very strong leader.
He's good to his passengers, and he's handsome too.
Anyway, he takes me aside and he says…
I've been watching you.
You're doing beautiful work.
I'd like you to be my personal liaison and work closely with me,
helping to handle anything I might need.
Annette!
What are you on about? He did not say that.
Well, he said something like that.
Miss Beulah. Hello.
Hello, Ali.
May I ask, this food, what is it?
-That's called cod au gratin. -"Cod oh grat"--
Fish with cheese.
It's fish… with cheese.
Are you sure I cannot help you with the food?
People start taking passengers back to their houses to get cleaned up
and then inviting 'em to dinner, then putting 'em up in their guest room.
Look, missus, I'm just 20 weeks along.
My Terry has already set up the nursery.
You and your little one'd be much more comfortable there.
Thank you for shopping at Walmart.
Would you like to come back to my house for a shower?
People are saying, "We want you to come to our house."
And I think, what's up with this?
I mean, are they charging for these "free" showers?
Or are they gonna go all Norman Bates?
Anyway, I wasn't falling for it.
But, finally, I'm invited back to the mayor of Appleton's house.
That sounds fancy. But it's not.
There is a mayor for every town of a thousand people in Newfoundland.
There's the mayor of Gander. There's the mayor of Lewisporte.
There's the mayor of Gambo.
Anyway, I'm staying with the mayor of Appleton.
Come on in, son. The Irish whiskey's in the bar downstairs.
His wife shows me where my bedroom is and where the shower is,
and through it all, I keep thinking, "Where am I gonna leave my wallet?
Somebody's gonna steal my wallet."
Someone says there's a way out of here. They say there might be a boat.
Kevin, we're on the other side of the continent.
We're not taking a boat.
So I stop an officer and ask him.
-How do I get back home? -Yeah, how do we get out of here?
Well… you take a taxi to the Goose.
There's a bus there to Port aux Basques, leaves once a day. That's about six hours.
Once you're there, you take the ferry across the gulf, right?
That's eight hours or so.
Then you catch another bus.
Not sure how often they leave, but it's another eight hours to Yarmouth,
where you can get another ferry to the US border.
That's another four hours or so.
And from Bar Harbor you should be able to grab a Greyhound
to wherever you need to go.
It's about two or three days' travel, but it's sure a nice view.
I don't leave the hotel. I wait by the phone,
wait for someone to tell me we can fly again.
Planes aren't made to just sit on the tarmac.
Planes are made to be in constant motion.
They arrive, you switch crew, you switch passengers,
you empty the Honey Buckets, and the plane keeps going.
When they sit still for too long, well, it's not good for 'em.
They start to break down.
Our pilot says we're not leaving anytime soon. And Nick says…
I might take a picture or two before we go.
I finally convince Kevin to go for a walk.
There's four of us to begin with,
this Texan woman and this English guy
with a disposable camera and a huge stick up his ass.
They're nice enough. Kevin and I are wary of telling people we're together.
I mean, you just don't know how redneck people can be.
This nice gay couple come along with us.
And we kind of make small talk. They ask me what I do.
He works for this oil company in England, and she was there visiting with her son.
Wait. You've got a son?
Yes. David, the one who was flying on Tuesday.
She's going on and on about England
and how she didn't get to travel much when she was married.
-Wait. You're divorced? -Yes.
For a long time now.
-What about you? -No, not divorced.
I mean, not that I'm married. I'm neither.
I travel a lot for work.
Kevin and I work for an environmental energy company.
Well, it's my company. Kevin's my secretary.
I'm his sexy-tary.
Anyway, we do a lot of green work,
so we generally hate people who work in oil.
I just got the feeling that they hated me.
Then they wanna go into some old building that looked like a shed.
Now, they'd heard it was a bar,
but I wasn't going into a bar in the middle of the afternoon
with three men I just met.
And I think I'll stay with Diane.
You know, instead of the gay men who hate me.
Doug is helping me feed the animals.
And after Security checks each plane, slow as cold molasses,
we finally find eight dogs, nine cats, one of whom is epileptic,
not to mention two rare bonobo chimpanzees.
And the female bonobo is pregnant.
We have got to get them off these planes.
Yeah, hello? Is the mayor there?
It's Bonnie Harris again. Yes, I'll hold.
Airport Authority was pretty clear
about "no rare bonobo chimpanzees on Canadian soil."
-Doug, take that. -What is that?
It's rare chimpanzee shit.
-What do you think it is? -Jeez.
-Yes, the mayor-- Yes, I'll hold. -I gotta get back to air traffic control!
Doug, look up.
Do you see anything flying?
-I can't see across the friggin' Atlantic! -Just get more litter from the truck.
-Get your own litter. -Fine, then goodbye.
No! No, no, no, not you. Hello? Hello!
Health Canada says all this food needs refrigeration,
but we got nowhere to store it. None of the shelters are equipped for this.
We're getting three more truckloads of food tonight.
-Stop 'em. We got nowhere to put it. -Then what do we feed people?
We also need that girl at Rogers to announce
that Rotary, hockey, Boys and Girls Club--
Canceled until further notice.
Hold on! Did you just say that hockey's canceled?
3:47 p.m. The town is asking all bulk food deliveries be taken
to the Gander Community Center hockey rink.
Since hockey's canceled, the mayor is now calling it…
The world's largest walk-in refrigerator.
It's hot outside.
So we stay in the bar and make small talk with Matty, the owner,
and his wife, Brenda.
But we're not sure how much to say.
You just don't know where the red states are
in a foreign country, right?
But we had been drinking all afternoon, and I accidentally say something like…
Kevin and I have been together for almost five years.
In business. We've been together in business.
I'm his sexy-tary. Secretary.
-It feels like the entire bar goes silent. -I'm like, "Oh, God."
-And then Matty says… -You're… gay.
-I'm about to pass out. -But then Matty says…
Well, praise be to God. My daughter's gay.
And then Brenda says…
Sure, my sister's gay.
And the woman across the road just ran off with her best friend.
And then Brenda's brother says…
Our uncle is 68 years old,
and he just told us he's a bisexual.
We somehow ended up in the gayest town in Newfoundland.
Kevin and I look at each other.
I think I say, "There must be something in the water."
-And then Brenda's brother says… -That's why I only drink the beer.
Watching the news all day, some of us are starting to lose it.
So these people here, they decide to have a big cookout for the whole community,
just trying to get our minds off of everything.
And Derm, the mayor of Appleton, says to me…
Right, my son, do me a favor and start to round up some grills.
-Round up some grills? -Yeah.
Just go to people's yards and take their grill.
Take their grill? Someone's gonna shoot me.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
Just go to people's yards and grab their grill.
So I'm going from yard to yard…
and the whole time I keep thinking, "Someone's gonna shoot me in the back."
Hello there.
Are you taking my barbecue?
-This is your barbecue? -Yeah, buddy.
Listen, I'm so sorry--
The wife's got the kettle on, if you want a cuppa.
I get offered a cup of tea in every single backyard.
And most of 'em offer to help me steal their own barbecues.
We bring 'em all over to the community center, no names on 'em.
I don't know how they ever get 'em back.
But that's how we have a big cookout, completely free.
After that, I stop worrying so much about my wallet.
8:45 a.m.
-Thursday. -September 13th.
We've got a… situation down at Gander Academy.
Ladies and gentlemen, we have an indelicate request.
We need volunteers to help clean the bathrooms.
As you can imagine, with 700 adults in a primary school--
Health Canada needs us to clean them every… hour and a half.
We just don't have the people. So we're asking for your help.
But no one volunteers.
No one comes. And we're run off our feet with everything else.
-And then… -Sweet Jesus in the garden!
This line of men comes walking down the hall.
The top six cardiologists from all over the world,
on their way to a conference.
Highly qualified cardiologists.
And they know about the importance of cleanliness.
If we don't get these bathrooms clean, we're going to have…
bigger problems.
Anyway, I get lunch set up,
labeling anything that'll go bad with the date and time.
I let the pants out for one of the pilots who's been enjoying our cooking,
make a balloon animal for a crying toddler,
and then I check on Hannah, talking to anyone she can reach.
I am here
I am here on an island
Hello? Hello. It's me again.
Yeah, my son. He's with Rescue 2.
Any news?
I am his mother I'm far away, stuck here
I'm trying to find out if--
Fine, I'll hold again.
I should be down there And checking the hospitals
Putting up signs, doing something
Instead, I am here
I am here in Canada
I am telling you, listen My son, he takes risks
He's not missing He's helping or hurt
He'll get out of this
Yes, I'll keep trying And, yes, here's the number
And, yes At the grade school in Gander
I'll be here
I should be there When it's over and done
When he comes through the door And says, "I'm home, Mom"
I should be there for my son
But instead I am here
I am here
She leaves message after message for her son
until there's no more room on his answering machine.
All I know
Is you are there
You are there
And I am here
She finally got some news.
They said it was Kev's day off.
But someone else said there were more men down there than were scheduled.
I should be looking for him.
He's always there for me, trying to make me laugh.
Tells me stupid jokes. He loves jokes.
Tells 'em to the kids at the firehouse as he fixes their bikes.
I should be there.
I know there's nothing I can do to help.
But I do know a few jokes.
There was this sailor who was stationed in the South Pacific,
far away from his wife, who he'd just married.
And when he was away, he wrote her a letter.
He said, "We're gonna be apart for a long time,
and this island is full of young, attractive local girls.
I need something to take me mind off 'em."
So his wife sends him an accordion
and says, "Why don't you learn to play this then?"
So finally he comes home from his tour of duty
and he says to his wife, "I can't wait to get you into bed."
And she says, "First, let's see how well you play that accordion."
That was a really stupid joke.
Tell me another one.
Everywhere you look there are people from around the globe,
going back and forth for phones and showers,
grabbing something from Shoppers.
I'm getting a coffee at a gas station on the main drag,
when suddenly the entire place goes quiet.
And nobody moves.
Even the people outside are still.
And I look up at the TVs…
and I realize.
It's a national moment of silence in America.
And all these Newfoundlanders,
these people from another country, they maintain that moment of silence.
I don't know if that would happen back home
at a busy gas station on the main drag.
But it happened here.
Beulah walks me to church.
And when we get there, I light a candle for my son.
And I do too.
I suddenly realize what that music was from my dream.
It was an old hymn from when I was a kid.
Well, I haven't been to church in years,
but for some reason, that song was in my head.
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred Let me bring your love
Where there is injury Your pardon, Lord
And where there's doubt True faith in you
-Make me a channel of your peace -Make me a channel of your peace
Where there's despair in life Let me bring hope
-Where there is darkness, only light -Where there is darkness, only light
-And where there's sadness -Ever joy
There's a man here in town.
He's lived here nearly his entire life.
He heard that there was a rabbi diverted here,
and he came to find me and tell me his story.
I was born in Poland, I think.
And my parents, they were Jews.
They sent me here before the war started.
I still remember some of the prayers they taught me.
As a boy, I was told I should never tell anyone I was Jewish. Even my wife.
But after what happened on Tuesday, so many stories gone, just like that,
I needed to tell someone.
During al-fajr, when most people are asleep,
it is easier to pray.
But at zuhr, I can feel them watching me.
Sometimes I catch them when they think I'm not looking,
and I can see the fear in their eyes.
Excuse me. Beulah wanted me to check on you.
The library's open for anyone looking for some peace and a quiet place to pray.
O Master, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved As to love with all my soul
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there's despair in life Let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there's sadness, ever joy
Health Canada finally lets the animals off and quarantines them to hangar 1.
It's a big room of cats and dogs and chimpanzees.
There's barking and meowing,
and then the chimps start imitating the dogs,
and they're barking too.
The phones are ringing off the hook with people who wanna see their pet.
But they're not allowed anywhere near the planes.
And I am worried about Unga, the pregnant bonobo.
All animals are affected badly by stress, not just humans.
Some people spend their days crammed inside, shoulder to shoulder,
with nothing to do but watch the news and wait for something to happen.
On the edge
We got the TVs going 24-7 in the cafeteria,
and the more they watch, the more scared and angry they get.
On the edge of the
Some of the plane people haven't slept in three days.
None of us have either, and we're jumping at our own shadows.
On the edge of the world
Around suppertime on Thursday, people are waiting to use the phones,
and there's a fight in the hallway.
Hey. Hey, what the hell are you saying?
-I beg your pardon? -You celebrating this?
You praying for your friends?
-Why doesn't he speak English? -Excuse me?
Telling your Muslim friends where to bomb next?
-This was not all Muslims. I wasn't-- -Go back where you came from!
I'm Muslim, and I was born in Connecticut.
-She's an American citizen! -Don't look American!
On the edge of the world Or wherever we are
We are, we are We are on the edge
Is there something? I need to do something
To keep me from thinking Of all of those scenes on the tube
I need something to do 'Cause I can't watch the news
No, I can't watch the news anymore On the edge
The FAA keeps delaying opening the airspace.
And here on the ground we're dealing with a whole mess of other problems.
On the edge of the
Some of the planes are parked on a runway where the surface is all torn up.
That debris gets into an engine, and they'll never leave.
On the edge of the world
One of the big planes, a Triple Seven, is sinking into the asphalt.
If we don't do something, she'll be stuck here forever.
On the edge of the world Or wherever we are
We are, we are, we are on We are, we are, we are
We are on the edge!
I interview a woman from Queens. A mother.
Her son is a firefighter, and they still can't account for him.
She starts crying, and I start crying too.
And I can't stop shaking.
I don't know if I can do this anymore.
I check in with Air Traffic Control again, and it's more bad news.
Not only is the airspace still closed,
but there's a storm headed for Newfoundland.
Hurricane Erin is making landfall tomorrow or the day after.
If we don't get these planes in the air soon, no one's going anywhere.
-Claude, people are starting to crack. -Let's get everyone down to the Legion.
Everyone's going to the Legion for a drink.
Hi, have you seen my boyfriend? His name's Kevin.
He's about that tall, and he's lost his mind.
-I just wanna go out. -Well, I don't.
-Well, I'm not going without you. -Well, I'm not…
staying for a long time.
-One drink. -One drink.
Hannah, everyone's going out tonight.
You go on without me, Beulah.
I need to wait by the phone.
I'll wait with you.
I keep waiting to hear from the airline, so I'll just be here by the phone, Tom,
if the kids wanna speak with me.
Bonnie? I know you're not leaving the animals,
so I brought you some chili.
But I really think you should come home and get some sleep--
Doug! Get in here.
We are about to have the first rare bonobo chimpanzee born in Newfoundland!
Beulah! They need some food down at the Legion, if you can spare any.
Miss Beulah, please let me help with the food.
No, my love. You're a guest.
Please. I am a master chef for an international hotel chain.
I oversee restaurants around the world.
I would like to help with the food!
Get in there!
Everyone's going out to the bar. And Nick is going.
I'm going if Diane is going.
And I think, "Nobody here knows me. I can be whoever I wanna be."
I'm not worried about my wallet. I'm not worried about getting shot.
I am a little worried about how much Irish whiskey I'm drinking.
By eight o'clock, the bar is completely packed with people from around the world.
Everybody's talking about where they're staying and what they've seen,
and the bar staff keep making runs for more beer and liquor.
After an hour, people are swimming in the river out back.
And no, no one brought their swim trunks.
Couple of the local boys get up with their accordions and fiddles.
And someone brings out an ugly stick.
Yeah!
Farewell to all you pretty ladies Waving from the dock
Heave away, me jollies Heave away
And if we do return to you We'll make your cradles rock
Heave away, me jolly boys We're all bound away
Farewell, you Newfoundlander boys You're leaving us alone
Heave away, me jollies Heave away
And if you find another We've got lovers of our own
Heave away, me jolly boys We're all bound away
Then we get the karaoke going.
Near, far
Wherever we are
Then we decide to have a bit of a ceremony.
Let's make these people honorary Newfoundlanders!
Now, there's a solemn old tradition For admission or audition
To transition From a come from away
To be a Newfoundlander
The only other way, at any rate
Is pass away and pray to fate
And wait to reincarnate
As a Newfoundlander
Hey, hey, come on inside Nothing ventured, nothing tried
Only a couple of people cried
You'll be a Newfoundlander
Hey, hey, sit down right there You'll feel better in a year
Try to ignore your doubts and fears
And you'll be a Newfoundlander
Now we needs a couple of volunteers.
Who wants to become a Newfoundlander?
Right here!
Good man! Who else?
I have no idea why I put up my hand. And Kevin's like…
Oh, my God. Are you serious? Oh, my God. You are serious.
Yes, I'm serious.
-Don't do it if you don't want to. -I won't.
-Where you from, buddy? -Los Angeles.
LA! Who else?
Us! We wanna be Newfoundlanders.
All right. Where you folks from?
-Texas-- -Texas!
-What part of Texas you from, buddy? -No, no. I'm--
-I'm from Texas. He's from England. -Well, wait.
-Now, how does that work? -What?
-How does what work? -How does your marriage work?
With you being in England, her in Texas.
We're not married.
I'm sorry. I assumed you were married.
-No, no. -No.
Well, would you like to be?
Well, why not?
Diane had had two beers by then, so it was probably the alcohol talking.
I've never had more than one beer at a time before,
so it's probably the alcohol talking.
I went and got us two more beers.
Now, the first part is the easiest We'll soon get to the queasiest
I'll need you to repeat this mess
When you become a Newfoundlander
'Cause we speaks A different language, son
We adds some esses and some rum
You'll have to try a good cod tongue
When you become a Newfoundlander
Hey, hey, just do your best Nothing scary, nothing yet
You'll have to change The way you're dressed
And you'll be a Newfoundlander
Hey, hey, just sing along Nothing ventured, just prolonged
-There's 30 verses in this song -And you'll be a Newfoundlander
Ladies and gentlemen, this is Screech.
Back in World War II, an officer was stationed here
and was offered some of this stuff.
All the locals were tossing it back with nar' a quiver,
so he does too and lets out an ear-piercing…
Everybody comes to see what's happened and says…
"What was that ungodly screech?"
And now it's your turn. Are you ready?
No, I'm not ready.
No thank you.
-All together now! One! -One!
-Two! -Two!
-Three! -Three!
Down the hatch!
Screech is basically bad Jamaican rum.
Screech is horrific.
Screech is delicious!
And then they brought the cod.
The cod!
-The cod? -The cod!
Now, with every transformation Comes a tiny bit of risk
You gotta walk the plank
And there'll be blood Or there'll be bliss
And it's the same to be a Newfoundlander Every person's wish
So don't be dumb Just take the plunge
Go on, kiss the fish
I'm an islander, I am an islander…
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a genuine freshly caught Newfoundland cod.
And if you want to become an honorary Newfoundlander,
you'll have to give her a smooch!
…I'm an islander, I am an islander…
If you kiss that, I will never kiss you again.
-I'll risk it! -Two!
I am not kissing a fish!
Come on! I will if you will.
Oh, my God. Fine.
…I am an islander…
Three!
I can't do it.
-Come on! -What? I just did!
Now, you gotta kiss the cod. It's a vital part of the ceremony.
I can't do it.
All right, look, I'll make you a deal.
Either you kiss this fish
or else you kiss this Englishman that you're not married to.
-Wait, what? -Okay.
Hey, hey, come on tonight Take a risk and take a ride
Jump right in with both feet tied
And you'll be a Newfoundlander
Hey, hey, come on once more Nothing ventured, nothing sore
After it's over, out the door
And you'll be a Newfoundlander
After it's over
You'll remember
That you're a Newfoundlander
Hey! Good job, LA.
Good night, now!
Kevin?
Where did you go?
Kevin?
My parents must have thought They had a crazy kid
'Cause I was one of those kids Who always knew what I wanted
They took me down to the airport To see all the planes departing
Watching them fly Something inside of me was starting
I was eight when I told 'em That I'd be a pilot
But I was too young and too short And there were no female captains
And my dad said, "Be patient" He said, "Just see what happens"
But I took my first lesson Came down from the sky
And told my father I'd fly For the rest of my life
And I got my first job Flying for a mortician
In a tiny Bonanza Just a corpse and me
Five dollars an hour For flying dead bodies
I had to climb over their faces Just to get to my seat
And suddenly the wheels lift off
The ground is falling backwards
I am suddenly alive
Suddenly I'm in the cockpit
Suddenly everything's changed
Suddenly I'm not Too young or too short
And the passengers In the back don't complain
Suddenly I'm flying company charters
Suddenly everything's high
Suddenly there's nothing in between
Me and the sky
American Airlines Had the prettiest planes
So I applied as a flight engineer
But the World War II pilots They all complained
They said "Girls shouldn't be in the cockpit"
"Hey, lady. Hey, baby. Hey! Why don't you grab us a drink?"
And the flight attendants Weren't my friends back then
And they said "Are you better than us, do you think?"
But I kept getting hired
And the World War II crew They retired
And the girls all thought Much higher of me
1986, the first female American captain in history!
Suddenly I'm in the cockpit
Suddenly I've got my wings
Suddenly all of those pilots Protesting me
Well, they can get their own drinks
Suddenly there's no one saying "Stay grounded"
Looking down, passing them by
Suddenly there's nothing in between Me and the sky
Suddenly I've got an all-female crew
The news caught And made headlines across the world
Suddenly it stopped
-No one's saying -"You can't"
-Or -"You won't"
Or "You know you're not anything 'Cause you're a girl"
Suddenly I'm getting married
And we're putting pins on a map Where we've flown
Suddenly I am a mother
And suddenly shocked At how much they've grown
Suddenly I'm wondering How my parents would feel
Seeing me teaching men to be pilots
'Cause suddenly I am A senior instructor
And somehow I'm 51
Suddenly I'm flying Paris to Dallas
Across the Atlantic and feeling calm
When suddenly Someone on air-to-air traffic says
"At 8:46 There's been a terrorist action"
And the one thing I loved more than anything
Was used as the bomb
Suddenly I'm in a hotel
Suddenly something has died
Suddenly there's something in between
Me and the--
Hello? I'm on my way.
-1:34 a.m. -Friday.
September 14th. Shelters will be alerted as each plane is cleared to go.
Our pilot says to pack up.
It's sudden notice. Middle of the night, and we're leaving in an hour.
But these people, they make these bag lunches
and form a gauntlet handing 'em out.
And we all walk through it, get our lunches
and say goodbye to all of 'em.
We try to give 'em money, but they won't take it.
No, m'son. You would've done the same.
-I drank all your whiskey. -I would've done the same.
Good morning.
-You were snoring. -My head hurts.
You had a couple.
Did I kiss the fish?
What, don't you--
Yes, you did.
Good. Wait--
We're running out of time. Our plane could be the next one to go.
-Are you still upset that I kissed a fish? -No.
I'm upset because I left the bar and you didn't even notice.
-You left without telling me. -After everything that's happened,
you're out there acting like it's okay, and it's not okay.
I know!
But I'm not just gonna shut myself inside.
Let's just get back to LA.
While you're in Dallas, I'd love to have you over.
I tried to change my flight to New York. They wouldn't do it.
My conference was canceled, so I head back to London immediately.
-I don't understand. Why would-- -I just need to be back home.
-Back home. -Back home?
Back home?
Well, all good things, right?
As the plane people leave, they keep stopping us, thanking us,
trying to give us money. But we say--
No, buddy. You would've done the same.
But one guy keeps insisting until Beulah finally tells him…
Look, you can slip it in the suggestion box down at town hall.
But, honestly, we're happy with a thank-you on your way out.
Captain Bristol, that pilot from Virgin Atlantic,
he comes to find me to help him round up his passengers.
Annette, my darling.
Before I leave, I need to thank you for everything we've shared.
Though I travel home today, I leave my heart behind.
-Annette! -Don't.
Get--
-Goodbye! Take care! -Bye now!
-Take care now! -Tell us when the baby's born!
Don't be a stranger!
We get down to the airport, and it's chaos.
Passengers dropped off from multiple flights.
Every bag has to be emptied.
No scissors, no nail clippers.
If any bags are unidentified, they'll be blown up.
Then someone says there's issues with security.
One of my flight attendants comes to find me, and she says…
There's a Muslim man on our flight.
I saw him praying, and he's been acting suspicious.
He doesn't have a carry-on, and--
I'm not getting back on that plane with him.
I arrive at the airport and am pulled out of line.
I am responsible for the safety of my passengers and my crew.
And Security tells me that any perceived threats must be taken extremely seriously.
They bring me into a private room, and he's brought in for questioning.
At first, I do not understand what the police are asking.
And then I do.
In my culture, there is a word, awrah.
The area between your stomach and your knees.
It is forbidden in my religion for anyone to see this but my wife.
To have a woman in the room watching this, watching me…
You can't understand.
It is the most thorough body search I've ever witnessed.
When it's over, I find him and tell him…
I am so very sorry that happened.
Am I free to go now?
When are we leaving?
Good morning! We are one of the first flights to leave,
which makes us one of the lucky ones,
as some planes may still be here for quite some time.
Now, I have no control over this.
You have paid for a flight from Paris to Dallas,
and if I get clearance, I'll take you to Dallas.
But if I am not cleared for Dallas, I have to take you back to France.
But we will make arrangements as quickly as we can
to get y'all back to the United States
-and where you need to be. -No, no. I can't go back.
I just adopted my daughter, and if I don't--
Hey! Hey! We can vote on this!
We can make 'em go where we wanna go.
Well, who is for Dallas?
Screw that! Who's for Switzerland?
This is not a democracy!
I am the captain, and this is coming from American Airlines and the FAA.
You are not voting on our destination.
Now, if we have any situation that needs to be dealt with,
we will be pulled out of line,
and then we will be the last flight to leave.
Thank you for your cooperation.
After hours of waiting, they tell us we're not leaving yet after all.
4:18 p.m. There's a 747 with a flat tire blocking the runway.
All planes are stopped.
No one's taking off.
Welcome back!
We're told by our pilot to stay close to our shelter
so we're ready to go again.
But Diane wants to take one last look round.
And I can't let her go by herself.
And we find a gorgeous lookout.
The Dover Fault.
There's about a million stairs.
It's beautiful.
Nick! You gotta see this.
Wow!
I can't believe we're here.
I know.
I can't believe we're leaving.
I don't want to go.
What did you say?
I don't know. I--
I'm going to take a picture or two.
Okay.
Stop the world Take a picture
Try to capture To ensure this moment lasts
We're still in it But in a minute
That's the limit And this present will be past
So here we are Where the world has come together
So here she'll be In this picture forever
Look at this.
540 million years ago, the continents of the world crashed together right here.
And 200 million years ago, they separated again,
moving apart from each other--
But a little part of them was left behind.
I should move. You're missing all the scenery.
No, no, no. Stay where you are.
-Really? -Really. It's perfect.
Stop the world Seize the moment
But the minute he goes You're alone and it's through
Pinch yourself
Tell yourself You're just dreaming
That means he'll forget about you
But here we are
Where the continents Once crashed together
Before they went Their separate ways forever
-So stop the world -Stop the world
-Stop the world
-From spinning round
I'm on a lookout
Overlooking something
Worth taking the time To stop flying by
-And look down -Stop the world
-Stop being scared -And look round
-Stop the world
-Just tell him now -Just tell her now
And look now
Take a picture of the scenery
Of a lookout Of a moment which is over
Of the ocean, of the river
Of the trees
Stop the world please
9:35 a.m.
-Saturday. -September 15th.
Finally, they get the planes going again,
and I go down to tell the Make-A-Wish kids
that they're being sent home without getting to Disney World after all.
But they're not sad about it. They're going on hayrides, canoe rides,
and someone dresses up as the town mascot, Commander Gander.
And it turns out if they'd made it to Orlando,
they would've had four days of rain.
I am just doing one more litter scoop, then I'll get them on their planes!
Lyle.
You're a beautiful cat.
I taped your pill bottle to your carrier and made sure someone will see it.
You did good. You're gonna be fine.
Yeah, Ralph, you're a good cocker spaniel.
I know the night security crew ran you a bit ragged,
so I want you to get some sleep on the plane, okay?
Okay.
Unga.
I never met a rare bonobo chimpanzee before.
We don't get many of 'em here in Newfoundland.
And since your partner there likes to throw his own feces,
I'm gonna say you're the nicest rare bonobo chimpanzee I ever met.
And I want you to know I'm sorry.
I'm sorry you lost your baby.
I got three. Some days they are more trouble than they are worth.
Anyway, you're gonna be okay.
The winds start to pick up. 50-mile-an-hour winds.
We have been here too long.
We're still on the ground, there's a hurricane coming,
and I'm thinking, "We're running out of time."
We have to leave. We have to leave now.
One plane, then another
And then nine planes, then another
-And then 13 planes, then another -Nineteen planes, then another
-Twenty-two, twenty-four -Twenty-nine, thirty-two
-Thirty-eight, thirty-eight -Thirty-eight, thirty-eight
Thirty, thirty, thirty-eight planes
Ladies and gentlemen If you look out your windows
Underneath all that rain is Maine
We've just crossed the Canadian border
Welcome back to the US of A!
Looking out the window At the world underneath
And though he's here next to me In a second, he'll go
-Looking out the window -Kevin, talk to me, please
-And out the window we see -A place we all know below
Is this on? It's on.
Sorry, everyone-- Hi!
Like most everyone I am sorry saying goodbye
So I wanted to thank them For all that they did
So I'm doing just that And I'm passing a hat
For the people who gave up their time
And they gave up their town
So let's give 'em a scholarship Pass the hat down, 'cause
Somewhere In the middle of nowhere
-In the middle of who-knows-where -Who knows
There you'll find
Something In the middle of nowhere
In the middle of clear, blue air
You found your heart But left a part of you behind
Nick and I sit together, and I just-- I wanna say something,
but we're leaving, and it's over.
Then she starts crying. I don't know what to say.
So I just put my arm round her and go to kiss her on the forehead to comfort her.
Well, and there was some turbulence,
and, honestly, I just thought he missed. So I…
Ladies and gentlemen If you look out your windows
You won't wanna miss this We just entered Texas!
-Somewhere -Somewhere
-In the middle of nowhere -Nowhere
-In the middle of who-knows-where -Who knows
-There you'll find -Find something in the middle of
-Something -Something
-In the middle of nowhere -Nowhere
In the middle of clear, blue air
You found your heart But left a part of you behind
Everyone's drinking and comparing stories.
Where did you stay? What did you do?
But mostly Nick and I spend the plane ride home canoodling in the back.
At one point, a flight attendant comes round saying…
Hot towel?
Cold towel?
Somewhere in between
The pace of life and work And where you're going
Something makes you stop and notice And you're finally in the moment
Somewhere In the middle of nowhere
-In the middle of who-knows-where -Who knows
There you'll find
-Something -Something
-In the middle of nowhere -Nowhere
In the middle of clear, blue air
You found your heart But left a part of you behind
Ladies and gentlemen Put your seats back and tray tables up
Right below us is The city where I grew up
Coming round, past the field Then the wheels touch the ground
-Taxiing -Home, America
-We're all cheering, we're down -Home in America
-Thanking everyone -Home, America
-"Thank you for flying American" -Home in America
-Hugging them, hugging my crew -Home, America
-'Cause we're home again -Home in America
-Past the gate, up the stairs -Home, America
-And we're there -Home in America
-And he's waiting in line -Home
No, I'm fine, Tom
I'm fine
-So… -So…
So you'll call?
As soon as I get back.
-And then she left. -And then he left.
And then I was alone.
Back to the way that things were
Back to the simple and plain
For five days The weather had been so nice
But as they boarded It started to rain
At the end of the day After everyone left
We all tried to go back to normal Except
The town was more quiet And somehow far emptier
We all looked the same But we're different than we were
The gym was a sight As I stacked the last cot
Thank-yous written everywhere And things they forgot
The board of health says "Clean it up, every part"
So we start
7:42 a.m.
-Sunday. -September 16th.
After five days, they just ran the Zamboni over the ice and played hockey.
With the plane people gone,
I tell my staff, "Go home. Get some sleep."
We were all exhausted, just spent.
Most of us had been up for five days straight, working.
But somehow I can't sleep.
So I sit down, turn on the television, and I just start crying.
I hadn't let myself cry the whole time.
Something's gone
Out the airplane window, I can see Manhattan,
and there's still smoke.
And suddenly I'm afraid all over again.
And there are others afraid too.
Something's over
I know Newark Airport.
You could pull a truck over on the side of the turnpike
and shoot a grenade launcher at a plane coming in.
Something's done
But nothing happens.
I drive Kevin back to his place. We don't say much.
Something's missing
I go straight to his firehouse.
Part of me wondered if they just weren't telling me.
But they still don't know.
Something's changed
My flat is the same as I left it, but emptier.
Quieter.
I start to unpack, and I find the camera.
Something's rearranged
On the way to my restaurant, I drop my daughter at school.
But she won't go in. She says she's scared.
What do I tell her?
Something's strained
Back at my dad's house, I look out the window
at this view I've looked at my whole life.
And now a part of it… Something's missing.
Something's missing
Kevin breaks up with me.
And then he quits and moves back home to New York.
And I miss him.
I miss his jokes.
Something's lost
Nick and I call each other when we can, but it's awful.
The only reason we met was because this terrible thing happened.
Some things cost
I go down to ground zero, which--
It's like the end of the world. It's literally still burning!
Something's not
My dad asks, "Were you okay out where you were stranded?"
How do I tell him I wasn't just okay, I was so much better?
Something's missing
I phone American and say, "I'm ready to go wherever you want to send me."
But they say, "Take a few days off."
I phone every day, and I am back in the airport by Thursday…
and it's empty.
Silent. It's just a different place.
And I stop what few passengers there are, and I say,
"Thank you for still flying."
Hello. You've reached Gander Academy. This is Beulah Davis.
How can I help you?
He's gone.
It's over.
Oh, no.
I'm so sorry, Hannah.
I'm so sorry.
You are here
At the end of a moment
At the end of the world
You are here
On the edge of the ocean
Where the story ends
Where the river meets the sea
-Here -Something's gone
-Across the Atlantic -Something's over
-At the office -In an airport
In my house
-On an island -Something's rearranged
-In a classroom -At the station
In my car
-And wherever you are -Something's gone
You are here
When Gander Town Council declares the state of emergency over,
it means everything goes back to normal.
-Garth. -Claude!
-Look. -Look.
-Look at it from my perspective. -Will you look at it from my perspective?
-We've been coming to the table. -We've been coming to the table too!
Jesus!
-Morning, Crystal. -Morning, Mr. Mayor.
-Pepsi? Yeah. -That's right.
-Morning, Dwight. -Morning, Claude. Garth, Crystal.
Claude, Crystal, Dwight. Garth. Morning.
-Morning, boys. -Morning, Janice.
-Janice. -Janice.
-What's the news? -Strike still on?
-Well, we're coming to the table. -Well, we're coming to the table too.
-They tearing down the airport? -Not today.
Mr. Mayor, I saw your car in the lot.
You might want to get down to town hall.
We just opened the suggestion box.
When the bank finally converted all the currency from around the world,
people had donated over $60,000.
Every day for months, passengers sent back chocolates, flowers…
Donations of all kinds.
Postcards and letters came in from everywhere.
"Dear Miss Beulah,
When my daughter asks about what happened to me over those five days,
I tell her about your kindness.
Thank you again. Sincerely, Ali.
PS: Please send me the recipe for the fish and the cheese."
Ralph the cocker spaniel went on to become a champion show dog!
And Unga the rare bonobo chimpanzee arrived safely at the Columbus Zoo.
And soon after, she had a baby, which they named Gander.
Tom Brokaw phones me. Tom Brokaw.
He's doing a documentary, and since I was the only reporter in town,
I'm the only one with any footage.
Tom Brokaw.
It was a big break,
but I didn't really like shoving microphones into people's faces
when they were going through so much, so I stayed here in Gander.
And I'm still here today on the tenth anniversary.
I'm reporting live from Newfoundland for BBC.
-CBC. -CTV.
Al Jazeera.
For Rogers TV, I'm Janice Mosher on September 11th.
2011.
The town is again filled with come from aways.
On the tenth anniversary, from all around the world,
we welcome back the plane people.
-One, two… -One, two, three, four!
Welcome to the friends Who have come from away
-Hep! -Welcome to the locals
-Who have always said they'd stay -Hep!
If you're coming from Toledo Or you're coming from Taipei
-Because we come from everywhere -We all come from away
-Welcome to the rock -I'm an islander
I am an islander
I'm an islander I am an islander
Welcome to our island With its inlets and its bays
You could keep on heading east But there's an ocean in the way
Where everything is meant to be But nothing goes as planned
And the drunkest fellas in the room Are playing in the band
Welcome to the rock
With all the new security,
kids aren't even allowed up to the cockpit anymore.
Of course, on my retirement flight,
I brought my whole family up to the cockpit on our way back to Gander.
I came back with the scholarship money we raised,
now worth over a million dollars.
I bring out the Irish whiskey, and we have ourselves a toast.
Nick and I just couldn't make the long-distance relationship work.
So I moved to Texas, and then I proposed.
And we honeymooned in Newfoundland.
-My new secretary's name is Robin. -What's up?
Every year on September 11th, I close my office
and give each employee $100 to go and do random good deeds for strangers.
It's my way of remembering what happened.
Beulah and I still keep in touch.
She even came to visit me in New York.
And I'll still phone her if I hear a really stupid joke.
Beulah, why are Newfoundlanders terrible at knock-knock jokes?
I don't know, Hannah.
Well, try it. I'll be a Newfoundlander.
Knock, knock.
Come on in. The door's open.
The donation we are most honored by just arrived today.
It's about four meters long and 1,200 kilograms.
Newfoundland is one of the only places outside of the United States
where we share the steel from the World Trade Center.
On the northeast tip of North America, on an island called Newfoundland,
there's a airport.
And next to it is a town called Gander.
Tonight we honor what was lost.
But we also commemorate what we found.
You are here
At the start of a moment
On the edge of the world
Where the river meets the sea
Here
On the edge of the Atlantic
On an island in between
-There and here -I'm an islander, I am an islander
-There and here
I'm an islander I am an islander
-I'm an islander, I am an islander -There and here
I'm an islander I am an islander
Welcome to the fog
Welcome to the trees
A kiss and a cod And whatever's in between
To the ones who've left You're never truly gone
A candle's in the window And the kettle's always on
To the coves and the caves And the people from the planes
-Five days. -Nineteen animals.
And 7,000 strays.
When the sun is setting And it's darker than before
If you're hoping for a harbor Then you'll find an open door
In the winter, from the water Through whatever's in the way
To the ones who have come from away
We say welcome to the
Welcome to the, welcome to the Welcome to the, welcome to the
Welcome to the, welcome to the rock!
Welcome to the townies And the come from aways
Welcome to the locals Who have always said they'd stay
My father's father's father Crashed his ship into this rock
Heaven and hell don't matter much 'Cause it's here I'm stuck
Welcome to the rock Welcome to Newfoundland
It's farther to Manhattan Than it is to Ireland
They say no man's an island But an island makes a man
Especially when one comes From one like Newfoundland
I'm an islander I am an islander
Welcome to the wildest weather That you've ever heard of
Where everyone is nicer But it's never nice above
'Cause it's mauzy or it's misky Or it's muddy or it's scad
And when it's finally sunny It's a sign it's getting bad
Welcome to the rock Welcome to Newfoundland
The drunkest fellas in the room Are playing in the band
Welcome to the farthest place You'll get from Disneyland
Fish and chips and shipwrecks This is Newfoundland
Welcome to the land Where the winters tried to kill us
-And we said -We will not be killed
Welcome to the land Where the waters tried to drown us
-And we said -We will not be drowned
Welcome to the land Where we lost our loved ones
-And we said -We will still go on
Welcome to the land Where the winds tried to blow
And we said no
In the winter, from the water Through the wind
If a stranger ends up at our door
We welcome them in
I am an islander
Welcome to the cod And to the trees and to the fog
And to the ferries and the berries And the failing fisheries
And to kitchen parties To the ones departed
In our hearts We know you'll never
Leave this little bit of heaven Where we started
To the down And the out of town on quads
And thanks to God we are the poorest But the richest where it counts
And to the St. John's girls With their sails unfurled
To our friends at the end of the world We say
Welcome to the rock!