Overview
See production notesIn New York City, two days before Thanksgiving, advertising executive Neal Page is eager to return to his family in Chicago. After a prolonged business meeting with an indecisive client and with a snowstorm threatening, Neal struggles to secure a taxi during rush hour. Although he bribes a man to give up a cab he has hailed, another man swoops in and takes it instead. Neal arrives at LaGuardia Airport to discover that his flight is delayed. While waiting, he encounters Del Griffith, a chatty and affable traveling shower-curtain-ring salesman who unknowingly took his cab. Del's overly friendly demeanor immediately clashes with Neal's uptight and repressed personality. Adding to his frustration, Neal's first-class seat is reassigned to a cramped coach seat—right next to Del—on the flight to O'Hare International Airport. A blizzard in Chicago forces the plane to divert to Wichita, Kansas, leaving Neal and Del stranded overnight. At hotel check-in, they inadvertently swap credit cards. With only one room available, the two are forced to share a double bed. Frustrated by Del's irritating behavior, Neal loses his temper and harshly criticizes him. Hurt, Del admits his shortcomings but asserts that he likes himself as he is, as does his wife. His response humbles Neal. While they sleep, a thief breaks into their room and steals their cash. The next day, with air travel severely delayed, Neal purchases train tickets to Chicago for himself and Del, opting for separate compartments. He bids Del farewell, but their journey is interrupted when the locomotive breaks down near Jefferson City, Missouri, leaving passengers stranded in a field. Spotting Del struggling with his trunk, Neal decides to help, and the two reunite before traveling by bus to St. Louis. During a meal, Neal upsets Del by suggesting they continue their journey separately, leading to another parting of ways. At Lambert Airport in St. Louis, Neal attempts to rent a car but finds it missing when he reaches the lot. Infuriated, he delivers an expletive-filled tirade to a car rental employee and then attempts to book a taxi to Chicago. He insults the dispatcher, who responds by punching him in the face. By chance, Del arrives in a rental car and offers Neal a ride. That night, Del nearly kills them when he inadvertently drives the wrong way on a freeway. After narrowly avoiding disaster and pulling over, Del's carelessly discarded cigarette ignites the car, setting it ablaze. Neal initially laughs, believing that Del is liable for the damage. However, Del confesses that he found Neal's credit card in his wallet, used it to rent the car, and then returned it to Neal's wallet, which is in the vehicle. With his credit cards destroyed, Neal barters his expensive watch for a motel room but refuses to help Del. Unable to afford a room, Del attempts to sleep outside in the frigid temperatures and snow. Reflecting aloud, Del laments meeting someone whose company he genuinely enjoys, only to drive them away with his overbearing behavior. Neal feels pity for Del and invites him to share the room. The two bond over drinks, reminiscing about their chaotic journey. On Thanksgiving Day, the pair continues their journey in the burnt car until a state trooper impounds it for being unroadworthy. Del persuades a truck driver to give them a ride to Chicago—albeit in the truck's refrigerated trailer. At a Chicago "L" station, Neal thanks Del for helping him get home, and the two part amicably. However, as Neal rides the train, he reflects on Del's peculiar comments and silences during their journey. Troubled, Neal returns to the station and finds Del sitting alone. Del confesses that he has no permanent home and has been living on the road since his wife's death eight years earlier. Neal brings Del home with him and introduces his family to his new friend.
- Countries
- United States
- Original language
- English
Cast
See all credits
Gallery
Quotes
See all quotesNeal: Hey, look, I don't want to be rude, but I'm not much of a conversationalist, and I really want to finish this article, a friend of mine wrote it, so... Del: Don't let me stand in your way, please don't let me stand in your way. The last thing I want to be remembered as is an annoying blabbermouth. You know, nothing grinds my gears worse than some chowderhead that doesn't know when to keep his big trap shut. If you catch me running off with my mouth, just give me a poke on the chops.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, CC BY-SA 4.0
Neal: You're no saint. You got a free cab, you got a free room and someone who will listen to your boring stories. I mean, didn't you notice on the plane when you started talking, eventually I started reading the vomit bag? Didn't that give you some sort of clue, like hey, maybe this guy is not enjoying it? You know, everything is not an anecdote. You have to discriminate. You choose things that, that are funny or mildly amusing or interesting. You're a miracle. Your stories have none of that! They're not even amusing accidentally! "Honey, I'd like you to meet Del Griffith. He's got some amusing anecdotes for ya. Oh, and here's a gun so you can blow your brains out. You'll thank me for it." I-I could tolerate any, any insurance seminar, for days. I could sit there and listen to them go on and on with a big smile on my face. They'd say, "How can ya stand it?" And I'd say, "'Cause I've been with Del Griffith. I can take anything." You know what they'd say? They'd say, "I know what you me
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, CC BY-SA 4.0
Neal: Del, why did you kiss my ear? Del: Why are you holding my hand? Neal: Where's your other hand? Del: Between two pillows. Neal: Those aren't pillows! Neal: See that Bears game last week? Del: Yeah. Hell of a game. Hell of a game. Neal: Bears got a great team this year. They're gonna go all the way.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, CC BY-SA 4.0
Del: What? Neal: You know goddamn well what. Del: I'm sorry, I don't. Neal: I had over $700 in here. Del: I didn't touch your dough, Neal. I'm a lot of things but I'm not a thief. Neal: Well, you went into my stuff last night, right? Del: I didn't take your money! And I don't care for the accusation. Neal: Well, I had over $700 in here and you went into my wallet for pizza. Just maybe when you went into my stuff you had to... Del: [places his wallet on the table] Count it. Neal: Oh, like you'd keep it in there if you stole it. Del: There's $263 in there. If there's a dollar more, then you can call me a thief. Just count it. Neal: [checks Del's wallet, hands it back] Empty. Del: What?! [checks his wallet] Neal: Dry. Del: We were robbed! Neal: [sarcastically] Do ya think so?
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, CC BY-SA 4.0
Car Rental Agent: Welcome to Marathon. May I help you? Neal: [indignantly] Yes. Agent: How may I help you? Neal: You can start by wiping that fucking dumbass smile off your rosy fucking cheeks. Then you can give me a fucking automobile. A fucking Datsun, a fucking Toyota, a fucking Mustang, a fucking Buick — Four fucking wheels and a seat! Agent: I really don't care for the way you're speaking to me. Neal: And I really don't care for the way your company left me in the middle of fucking nowhere with fucking keys to a fucking car that isn't fucking there. And I really didn't care to fucking walk down a fucking highway and across a fucking runway to get back here to have you smile at my fucking face. I want a fucking car right fucking now. Agent: May I see your rental agreement? Neal: I threw it away. Agent: Oh, boy. Neal: "Oh, boy" what? Agent: You're fucked.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, CC BY-SA 4.0
State Trooper: What the hell are you driving here? Del: We had a small fire last night, but we caught it in the nick of time. Trooper: Do you have any idea how fast you were going? Del: Funny enough, I was just talking to my friend about that. Our speedometer has melted and as a result it's very hard to see with any degree of accuracy exactly how fast we were going. Trooper: Seventy-eight miles an hour. Del: Yeah, I can buy that. You would know better than us, especially with a melted speedometer. Trooper: Do you feel this vehicle is safe for highway travel? Del: Yes, I do. I really do. I know it's not pretty to look at, but it'll get you where you wanna go. Trooper: You have no outside mirror. Del: No, we lost that. Trooper: You have no functioning gauges. Del: No, not a one. However, the radio still works!
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ratings
More like this
Where to watch
Where to watch is coming soon
Discuss
Discussion is coming soon