[Somber piano music]
[soft crashing of waves]
It’s been three days.
he hasn’t come home for dinner
his boots are empty
his reading chair too
mom is upset
I have to go find him.
he could be out skiing, like he always is
maybe he’s out hunting
or cutting firewood
or, working under the car
he could have gotten lost underground
or gotten abducted by aliens
maybe… he isn’t coming home
[knocking on door]
[door opens]
Ma’am... we went to open the lighthouse, eleven miles off Sheboygan
The door was broken down
He left this.
We searched, but… his plane and his body were not recovered.
I’m sorry.
[Crashing waves and somber piano music play]
I was headed back to Alpena, the champ started to pitch up uncontrollably
The nose was pointed straight up, I kicked the rudder over, trying to save the plane
by doing a hammerhead.
It was no use.
The elevator control linkages must have snapped.
The plane hit the lake and went underwater within a minute, but I managed to shimmy my
way out of the cockpit.
I had seen the lighthouse from the sky, and I swam to it and broke inside.
I was freezing, and I used reserve blankets to warm up.
I tried to use the transmitter but the batteries were old.
I used the main light to flash signals but no one came.
It’s been two days; I have no choice but to find a way home
From the chart, I will have eleven miles to travel.
There is enough furniture to build a small raft, however, the waves are rough this time
of year and it may not last long.
If the raft fails, I’ll swim.
Please forgive me for making a mess of the building.
Amelia, Grace, I love you both.
I’ll see you soon.
[Crashing waves]
[Somber piano music plays]