I like the idea of a tiny little homey town having to deal with a sudden, massive influx of city folk... I don't think I'd make it September 11 since there's so much emotional baggage going on there. There's plenty of reasons to have plane need to make an emergency landing. I keep thinking of "Groundhog Day" for the feel, this little town with nothing to do but an army of Phils there now who have lives and things they SHOULD be doing (and the one "hotel" isn't even open, tented for bugs or something) so everyone in town has to take folks into their little houses. Maybe instead of a little town and an airplane, maybe it's a cruise ship and a little island village, tsunami's coming, the ship's stuck there and they all have to team up to save the village from being destroyed (that way you have a ticking clock and an act three).

I like your idea better, Chris. Strip away 9/11. Cruise ship gets stuck on a remote island. Strips away some of the 'heaviosity' of that fateful day in 2001 and allows for more levity.

Dumb Story Idea #23 Alien Nation meets Ace Ventura, Pet Detective--When a group of space aliens land on Earth everything seems to be okay until one of their pets gets loose. Feel free to check out all the @DumbStoryIdeas on Twitter.