Cast Away

PLOT

In 1995, Chuck Noland, a systems analyst executive, travels the world resolving productivity problems at FedEx depots. He lives with his girlfriend, Kelly Frears, in Memphis, Tennessee, but his workaholism interferes with their relationship. During a family Christmas dinner, Chuck is summoned to resolve a work problem in Malaysia. The FedEx cargo plane he is on gets caught in a storm and crashes into the Pacific Ocean. Chuck is the only survivor and escapes with an inflatable life raft. The next day, he washes up on an uninhabited island

Over the next few days, several FedEx packages wash ashore, as well as the corpse of one of the FedEx pilots, whom Chuck buries. Chuck tries to signal a passing ship and escape in the damaged life raft, but the incoming surf tosses him onto a coral reef, injuring his leg. He is able to find sufficient food, water, and shelter. Chuck opens most of the FedEx packages, finding several useful items, but does not open a package with a pair of golden angel wings painted on it. While attempting to start a fire, Chuck cuts his hand. He furiously throws several objects from the packages, including a Wilson Sporting Goods volleyball, leaving a bloody imprint. After calming down, Chuck draws a face into the smeared blood, names the ball Wilson, and begins talking to it. He continues to talk to it regularly during the rest of his time on the island.

Four years later in 1999, Chuck has moved into a cave. After a large section from a portable toilet enclosure washes up on the island, he builds a raft, using the plastic as a sail. Chuck successfully launches the raft that he has stocked with water and the unopened FedEx package. Chuck and the raft survive a storm, but afterward, Wilson falls off the raft and floats away. Chuck awakens and futilely attempts to rescue Wilson but is left to grieve over his loss. Soon after, he is rescued by a passing container ship.

Upon returning to civilization, Chuck learns that he was declared dead by his family and friends. Later, he returned to a hero’s welcome home party at the FedEx Headquarters in Memphis. Kelly has since married and has a daughter. Chuck goes to Kelly's house and reunites with her. They are both still in love with each other, but both know that Kelly cannot abandon her family. She gives Chuck his old Jeep, and they part ways. Chuck drives to Texas to return the unopened FedEx package to its sender. Finding no one home, he leaves the package at the door with a note saying that the package saved his life. He departs in his truck (where he has bought another Wilson volleyball and put it in the passenger seat) and stops at a remote crossroads. A woman in a pickup truck stops and gives information about where each road leads. As she drives away, Chuck notices an angel wing painted on the tailgate of her truck, identical to the one on the parcel. He looks down each road, trying to decide which way to go. In the end, Chuck then stares down the road the woman took and smiles.

CAST

Tom Hanks as Chuck Noland

Helen Hunt as Kelly Frears

Nick Searcy as Stan, a friend of Chuck

Chris Noth as Jerry Lovett, Kelly's husband

Lari White as Bettina Peterson, the woman who sent the unopened FedEx package

Vince Martin as Pilot Albert 'Al' Miller, who is buried by Chuck on the island

Michael Forest as Pilot Jack

Jay Acovone as Pilot Peter

Garret Davis as Pilot Blaine

Viveka Davis as Pilot Gwen

Jenifer Lewis as Becca Twig

Geoffrey Blake as Maynard Graham

Nan Martin as Kelly's Mother

Dennis Letts as Dennis Larson

Valerie Wildman as Virginia Larson

Steve Monroe as Steve Larson

Elden Henson as Elden Madden

Timothy Stack as Morgan Stockton

Joe Conley as Joe Wally

Frederick W. Smith as himself