A ruthless tech executive stranded on a Christmas Eve flight is confronted by a sharp, unconventional Santa who forces him to relive key moments from his life—turning a routine trip into a high-altitude reckoning that may be his last chance at redemption.

SYNOPSIS:

The Flight Before Christmas is a contemporary reimagining of A Christmas Carol, set almost entirely aboard a commercial flight on Christmas Eve.

When Glade, a hyper-successful tech executive who values efficiency over empathy, boards what should be a routine flight home, a series of subtle disruptions begins to fracture his carefully controlled reality. Seated beside him is Santa—not the jolly icon of tradition, but a cool, incisive guide who challenges Glade’s worldview with wit, authority, and unnerving insight.

Rather than three ghosts, Santa alone walks Glade through pivotal moments from his past, present, and possible future, using the confined, inescapable environment of the aircraft to strip away Glade’s defenses. As turbulence builds both inside and outside the cabin, Glade is forced to confront the human cost of his ambition, the relationships he has sacrificed, and the person he is becoming.

By the time the plane lands, Glade must decide whether transformation is still possible—or whether some flights carry you too far from who you were meant to be.

Full script available upon request.