Editing Cast Away (section)

== Plot ==

In December 1995, Chuck Noland is a [[FedEx]] [[systems analyst]] who travels the world resolving productivity problems. He lives with his girlfriend, Kelly Frears in [[Memphis, Tennessee]]. The two talk of getting married but keep experiencing setbacks due to Chuck being constantly called away to work, which also starts to put a strain on their relationship. During a [[Christmas]] dinner, Chuck experiences pain due to an infected tooth, just before he is summoned to resolve a FedEx problem in [[Malaysia]]. Before leaving, Kelly gives Chuck her grandfather's [[pocket watch]] with a photo of her in it. He gives her a small box, saying she can wait to open it on New Year's Eve when he returns, implying it is an [[engagement ring]].

The FedEx cargo plane Chuck boards crashes into the [[Pacific Ocean]] during a violent storm, leaving him as the only survivor. Washing ashore on a deserted island, Chuck explores the area, discovering several FedEx packages washing up on the coast, as well as the body of one of the pilots, Albert Miller, which he buries. In the following days, Chuck struggles to locate food and water. After seeing a ship on the horizon, he unsuccessfully tries to escape the island on a life raft, but is prevented by the tide and injures his leg. Realizing it is unlikely he will be rescued, Chuck opens most of the packages, finding items he uses to improve his living conditions. However, he does not open a package with golden angel wings painted on it, thinking the wings have symbolic meaning. While attempting to [[Fire plough|start a fire]], Chuck cuts his hand and furiously throws several objects including a [[Wilson Sporting Goods|Wilson]] [[Volleyball (ball)|volleyball]], leaving a bloodstained handprint. He draws a face into the blood, names the ball Wilson and begins talking to it. Chuck realizes the chances of his rescue are low because of the wide search area. Due to severe pain from his infected tooth, he performs his own tooth extraction using a rock and an ice skate. The extraction is successful, but he passes out from the pain.

Four years later, Chuck, now bearded and disheveled, has adapted to life alone on the island. After a section from a [[portable toilet]] enclosure washes up, he begins constructing a [[raft]], which he successfully launches past the surf with Wilson, the unopened FedEx package and his belongings in tow. Chuck survives a storm, but afterward, Wilson falls off the raft and floats away. He unsuccessfully attempts to rescue Wilson and is left to grieve his loss. Soon after, he is rescued by a passing cargo ship.

Four weeks later, Chuck is returned to the mainland, where he learns he was [[Presumption of death|presumed dead]] by his family and friends. As he is given a hero's welcome at the FedEx headquarters in Memphis, he meets his dentist Jerry Lovett, who he discovers has married and had a daughter with Kelly. A homecoming party is held at Chuck's hotel room but Kelly is emotionally unable to greet him. Later that night, Chuck visits Kelly, where they bond for the last time; the two share a passionate kiss and confess their love for each other, but they both realize she cannot leave her family, and they part ways.  Chuck returns the pocket watch Kelly gave him, and she gives him back his [[Jeep Cherokee]] that she had kept after his disappearance.

Chuck drives to [[Texas]] to return the angel-winged package to the address of the sender. Finding no one home, he leaves it at the door with a note saying the package saved his life. He departs in his vehicle and stops at a [[Intersection (road)|crossroads]]. A woman in a pickup truck, headed in the direction of the house, stops and gives information about where each road leads. As she drives away, Chuck notices the same angel wings painted on the tailgate of her truck. He looks down each road, trying to decide which way to go, smiling as he finally faces the direction the truck went.