Always

Pete Sandich aerial firefighter, daredevil pilot. Fighting forest fires in A-26 bomber. Reckless but skilled. Girlfriend Dorinda air controller. Best friend Al. Living dangerously but alive. Adrenaline and danger as lifestyle.

Al: "You got to take chances for the right things. For life." Theme of letting go, love transcending death, and passing wisdom forward. Living fully, accepting loss, and moving on.

Pete and Dorinda in love but she wants him to quit dangerous firefighting. He promises but does not mean it. Cannot give up flying. Reckless by nature. She fears losing him. Tension between love and addiction to danger.

Pete flies into inferno to save Al. Plane explodes. Pete killed. Dorinda devastated. Al guilty. Everything changes instantly. Life to death. Love story to ghost story. Pete dead but conscious. Confused. What happened?

Pete meets Hap, angelic figure. Explains Pete must move on, help living pilots as inspiration. Pete resistant - wants Dorinda. Watches her grieving. Cannot interact. Should he accept death or try to stay? Struggling with being gone.

Pete becomes guardian angel to new pilot Ted. Whispers guidance. Ted naturally talented. Pete guides him unconsciously. Entering world of watching life continue without him. Bittersweet. Helpful but painful. Cannot touch or be seen.

Pete watches Dorinda mourning. She cannot move on. Visits crash site. Talks to Pete absence. His jealousy when Ted interested in her. Love story now about letting go. He must release her so she can live. But possessive ghost.

Ted and Dorinda growing closer. She resisting but healing. Pete trying to sabotage. Whispering doubts to Ted. Jealous, selfish. Promise: ghost story of love, loss, and struggle to let beloved move forward. Emotional complexity.

Dorinda feels Pete presence. Talks to him. Ted asks her out. She accepts tentatively. False victory for moving on. Pete heartbroken. Realizes he is losing her. Stakes: must choose between holding her back or letting her live.

Major fire. Ted flying dangerously, Pete guiding. Dorinda also flying spotter plane against orders. Everyone in danger. Pete panicking - could lose her permanently. His control slipping. Helpless to protect. All converging toward crisis.

Dorinda plane damaged. Going down. Pete screaming, cannot help. Ted rescuing her. Pete watching helplessly as another man saves his love. Realizes his role is over. She has new protector. He is truly gone from her life. Devastating.

Pete watching Dorinda and Ted together. She healing, laughing again. He made her sad by dying but now making her sadder by not letting go. His presence holding her back from living. Moment of clarity: love means release.

Pete appears to Dorinda one final time. "I have to go now." She sees him briefly. Says goodbye. Tells her to live, love again. "That is not fair!" "I know." Synthesis: letting go is love. His gift is her freedom. Final goodbye.

Pete moves on to whatever is next. Hap welcomes him. Dorinda free to love Ted. Pete peace in knowing she will live fully. Passing wisdom to new pilots. His love continuing through inspiration he gives others. Purpose found in death.

Dorinda and Ted flying together. Pete watching from beyond, smiling. Released her. She is happy. "Always" means forever in heart but not forever holding back. Love transcends by letting go. Bittersweet but hopeful. Beautiful ending.