Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.30

March 28, 2001

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Brian E. Johnson
1750 Henly, Unit 18
Glenview, Illinois 60025

Dear Brian:

We have been extremely pleased with our discussions to date and are delighted
you are seriously considering a leadership career with Pliant Corporation. The
purpose of this letter is to confirm our various discussions to date and to
present to you a formal offer.

By accepting a position with Pliant Corporation, you are expected to conduct
yourself in an honest and ethical manner at all times consistent with
management's desire to operate its business on the highest level of business
standards.

You will join the company in the position of Executive Vice President - Chief
Financial Officer, and report to me as President & Chief Operating Officer. The
organizational groups of finance and information technology will report to you.

As you learn our organization and operations, we will look to your leadership
and guidance to help us achieve our current projected goals and beyond.

Your initial base salary for the first year will be at the monthly rate of
$21,666.67. Your base salary will be reviewed annually thereafter.

You will be eligible for our Management Incentive Plan, which has a target bonus
of 50% of your base salary, paid quarterly. The maximum bonus is not capped.

On your first day of employment, you will be granted 5,000 stock options.

You will have the option of participating in our standard automobile policy.

The company will reimburse you for monthly dues in your present country club
membership, and any direct business related expenses.

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You will be granted three (3) weeks of vacation per year until your earned
vacation based on your years of service coincides with the company policy.
Thereafter, your vacation shall be in accordance with our standard vacation
policy. You are expected to schedule your vacation so as not to interfere with
your responsibilities and to be consistent with good business judgment.

You will participate in the company's normal benefit plans for similarly
situated employees.

In the event of involuntary termination of your employment for reasons other
than cause or a change of control, you will be eligible for one year's
severance. In the event such involuntary termination occurs within the first
year of employment, you will receive one year's severance plus salary
continuation from the effective date of termination through the first
anniversary of your employment.

You will be required to take and pass our standard pre-employment physical and
drug test.

All of these terms are covered in detail in the attached employment agreement
and stock option plan.

Given that the terms and conditions of these documents are satisfactory, we
would ask you to indicate your acceptance by signing and returning this Offer
Letter by April 6, 2001 (FAX is acceptable - 847-969-3338), and to resign your
current position on or about April 2, 2001. Furthermore, within the bounds of
professional business conduct, we ask that you make every effort to begin your
employment with Pliant Corporation as soon as possible, but no later that April
23, 2001.

Brian, we hope this has accurately captured the intent of our various
conversations to date. If you have any questions please call Larry Shepler, Vice
President Human Resources, at 847-969-3357. We look forward to your acceptance
of this offer and to a long and mutually beneficial relationship.

Sincerely,

PLIANT CORPORATION

/s/ Jack E. Knott

Jack E. Knott
President and Chief Operating Officer

Accepted by: /s/ Brian E. Johnson                    3/30/01
             ------------------------------------------------
             Brian E. Johnson                            Date

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                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                      dated as of March [ ], 2001, between
                     PLIANT CORPORATION, a Utah corporation
                              (the "Company"), and
                        BRIAN JOHNSON (the "Executive").

                   Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is engaged in the
business (the "Business") of producing and distributing polymer-based,
value-added films and flexible packaging products for food, personal care,
medical, agricultural, industrial and other applications.

                   The Company desires to employ the Executive, and the
Executive desires to accept such employment, on the terms and subject to the
conditions hereinafter set forth.

                   NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as set
forth below.

SECTION 1.         EMPLOYMENT.

                   The Company hereby employs the Executive, and the Executive
accepts employment with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement for the period beginning on April 16, 2001 (the "Commencement
Date") and ending on the Termination Date determined pursuant to Section 4(a)
(the "Employment Period").

SECTION 2.         BASE SALARY AND BENEFITS.

                   (a) During the Employment Period, the Executive's base salary
shall be $260,000 per annum (the "Base Salary"), which salary shall be payable
in such installments as is customary for senior executives of the Company. In
addition, during the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to
participate in all employee benefit programs for which other senior executives
of the Company are generally eligible, and the Executive shall be eligible to
participate in all insurance plans available generally to other senior
executives of the Company. The Executive shall be entitled to take three weeks
of paid vacation annually, or any greater amount of paid vacation to which he is
entitled under the Company's vacation policy as in effect during the Employment
Period. The Board shall conduct a review of the Executive's Base Salary on an
annual or more frequent basis.

                   (b) The Executive shall be entitled to participate in the
Company's stock option program. The Executive understands that the stock option
program is a discretionary program that may or may not result in additional
compensation to the Executive in any particular year, and that the Company may
modify or revoke the stock option program at any time (although the Executive
would be entitled to participate in any program adopted to replace the stock
option program).
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                   (c) On the Commencement Date, the Company will grant the
Executive 5,000 options to acquire Common Stock pursuant to the terms of an
option agreement in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (the "Option
Agreement").

                   (d) The Executive shall be entitled to participate in the
Company's Management Incentive Plan, as amended, revised or replaced from time
to time. The Executive understands that the Management Incentive Plan is a
discretionary program that may or may not result in additional compensation to
the Executive in any particular year, and that the Company may modify or revoke
the Management Incentive Plan at any time (although the Executive would be
entitled to participate in any program adopted to replace the Management
Incentive Plan). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties agree that the
Executive's bonus target for any calendar year will be 50% of Base Salary.

                   (e) The Executive will be covered under the terms of the
Company's leased car program, which covers the cost of his annual lease, car
insurance, gasoline and maintenance. The Executive will be eligible for
reimbursement by the Company for membership at one country club. The Executive
will continue to be eligible for benefits under the Company's relocation
program, should he experience an eligible relocation. The Executive will be
entitled to participate in all other perquisite programs offered by the Company
to senior executives of the Company.

                   (f) The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all
reasonable expenses incurred by him in the course of performing his duties under
this Agreement which are consistent with the Company's policies in effect from
time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses,
subject to the Company's requirements with respect to reporting and
documentation of such expenses.

                   (g) The Company shall deduct from any payments to be made by
it to the Executive under this Agreement any amounts required to be withheld in
respect of any federal, state or local income or other taxes.

SECTION 3.         POSITION AND DUTIES.

                   (a) The Company employs the Executive as Senior Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer. His responsibilities and duties will be
commensurate with the title of his position, and will include those duties and
responsibilities normally performed by the Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of a private corporation in the Business. The Executive will
report directly to the President. The Executive will perform his duties from the
Chicago, Illinois location.

                   (b) The Executive acknowledges and agrees to discharge his
duties and otherwise act in a manner consistent with the best interests of the
Company and its Subsidiaries. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall
devote his best efforts, on a full-time basis, to the performance of his duties
and responsibilities under this Agreement (except for vacations to which he is
entitled pursuant to Section 2(a), illness or incapacity or other personal
investment activities that do not interfere with his full and timely performance
of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement). During the Employment
Period, the Executive shall not

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engage in any business activity which, in the reasonable judgment of the Board,
materially conflicts with his duties under this Agreement, whether or not such
activity is pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage.

SECTION 4.         TERMINATION.

                   (a) Termination Date. The Executive's employment under this
Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest to occur (the date of such
occurrence being the "Termination Date") of (i) the fifth anniversary of the
Commencement Date (an "Expiration"), (ii) the effective date of the Executive's
resignation (a "Resignation"), (iii) the effective date of the Executive's
Resignation for Good Reason, (iv) the Executive's death, (v) the Executive's
Disability (as later defined), (vi) the Executive's Retirement (as later
defined), (vii) the effective date of a termination of the Executive's
employment for Cause by the Board (a "Termination for Cause"), and (viii) the
effective date of a termination of the Executive's employment by the Board for
reasons that do not constitute Cause (a "Termination Without Cause"). The
effective date of the Executive's Resignation or the Executive's Retirement
shall be as determined under Section 4(b); the effective date of a Resignation
for Good Reason shall be as determined under Section 4(c); the effective date of
the Executive's Disability shall be the date specified in a notice delivered to
the Executive by the Company; and the effective date of a Termination for Cause
or a Termination Without Cause shall be the date specified in a notice delivered
to the Executive by the Company of such termination.

                   (b) Resignation or Retirement. The Executive shall give the
Company and the Board at least ninety (90) days' prior written notice of a
Resignation or Retirement, with the effective date of such Resignation or
Retirement specified therein. The Board may, in its discretion, accelerate the
effective date of the Resignation, but not of a Retirement.

                   (c) Resignation for Good Reason. The Executive will give the
Company and the Board at least thirty (30) days' prior written notice of a
Resignation for Good Reason.

SECTION 5.         EFFECT OF TERMINATION; SEVERANCE.

                   (a) In the event of a Termination Without Cause or a
Resignation for Good Reason, the Executive or his beneficiaries or estate shall
receive the following:

                           (i) the unpaid portion of the Base Salary, computed
                  on a pro rata basis to the Termination Date;

                           (ii) (A) in the event that the Termination Date
                  occurs prior to the second anniversary of the Commencement
                  Date, the greater of (x) the unpaid portion of the Base Salary
                  for the period beginning on the Termination Date and ending on
                  the second anniversary of the Commencement Date and (y) the
                  unpaid portion of the Base Salary for the period beginning on
                  the Termination Date and ending on the first anniversary of
                  the Termination Date, or (B) in the event that the Termination
                  Date occurs after the second anniversary of the Commencement
                  Date, the unpaid portion of the Base Salary for the period
                  beginning on the Termination Date and ending on the first
                  anniversary of the Termination Date, in the case of clauses
                  (A) and (B), payable in the same amounts and at the same
                  intervals as the Base Salary was paid immediately prior to

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                  the Termination Date; provided, however, that in the event of
                  a breach by the Executive of Sections 7, 8, 9, or 10 on or
                  after the Termination Date, the provisions of Section 12 shall
                  apply;

                           (iii) the quarterly bonus payment(s) that would have
                  been payable to the Executive under the quarterly portion of
                  the Company's Management Incentive Plan, as amended, revised
                  or replaced from time to time for all senior executives of the
                  Company, plus an amount equal to the annual portion of the
                  bonus that was paid or is payable to the Executive for the
                  year preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date
                  occurs, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is
                  the number of days of the then-current calendar year that
                  elapse before the Termination Date, and the denominator of
                  which is 365;

                           (iv) reimbursement for any expenses for which the
                  Executive shall not have been previously reimbursed, as
                  provided in Section 2(f); and

                           (v) continued participation in the Company's
                  comprehensive medical and dental plan for the period beginning
                  on the Termination Date and ending on the first anniversary of
                  the Termination Date, with the COBRA continuation coverage
                  qualifying event, connected with the Executive's termination
                  occurring when he loses coverage at the end of that one-year
                  period. If it is unable to obtain the consent of its medical
                  and/or dental plan insurer to provide coverage under this
                  clause (v), the Company may instead pay the full premium cost
                  of other medical and dental insurance that provides comparable
                  coverage for the required one-year period, and require the
                  Executive to pay an amount equal to the then-current COBRA
                  continuation premium for the period after the one-year period
                  during which the Executive would be entitled to COBRA
                  continuation coverage (with the Executive and his dependents
                  being treated for all notice, election, coverage entitlement
                  and other administrative purposes the same as other COBRA
                  qualified beneficiaries under the Company's medical and dental
                  plan). The parties agree that the Executive's entitlement to
                  medical and dental coverage during the first year after the
                  Termination Date will end on the date he becomes eligible for
                  comprehensive medical and dental coverage under a plan of his
                  successor employer, if he becomes so eligible before the first
                  anniversary of the Termination Date.

                   (b) In the event of the Executive's death, Disability,
Retirement, or Resignation, or an Expiration, the Executive or his beneficiaries
or estate shall have the right to receive the following:

                           (i) the unpaid portion of the Base Salary, computed
                  on a pro rata basis to the Termination Date;

                           (ii) the quarterly bonus payment(s) that would have
                  been payable to the Executive under the quarterly portion of
                  the Company's Management Incentive Plan, as amended, revised
                  or replaced from time to time for all senior executives of the
                  Company, plus an amount equal to the annual portion of the
                  bonus that was paid or is payable to the Executive for the
                  year preceding the calendar year in which the Termination Date
                  occurred, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is
                  the

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                  number of days of the then-current calendar year that elapse
                  before the Termination Date, and the denominator of which is
                  365;

                           (iii) reimbursement for any expenses for which the
                  Executive shall not have been previously reimbursed, as
                  provided in Section 2(f); and

                           (iv) in the event of a termination due to Disability,
                  such Executive's Base Salary will continue until such time as
                  the Executive first receives benefits under the Company's
                  then-effective long-term disability plan.

                   (c) In the event of a Termination for Cause, the Executive or
his beneficiaries or estate shall have the right to receive the following:

                           (i) the unpaid portion of the Base Salary, computed
                  on a pro rata basis to the Termination Date; and

                           (ii) reimbursement for any expenses for which the
                  Executive shall not have been previously reimbursed, as
                  provided in Section 2(f); and

                   (d) Notwithstanding any other term of this Agreement to the
contrary, upon termination of the Executive's employment for any reason, the
Executive will in all events receive, when they would otherwise be then due and
owing, any amounts he will have accrued and vested in under the Company's
qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, all statutory rights to receive or
purchase welfare benefits, reimbursement for un-reimbursed expenses in
accordance with the policies of the Company in effect as of the Termination
Date, accrued vacation pay, and any other employee benefits owing to him, all as
determined in accordance with the applicable terms of the plans themselves and
the laws applicable to them. No provision of this Agreement will be deemed to
curtail or reduce the Executive's rights under any Company employee benefit
plan, program or arrangement.

SECTION 6.         REPURCHASE OF SHARES.

                   (a) In the event that the Executive's employment with the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is terminated for whatever reason, the
Company or its designee shall have the right (but not the obligation) to
repurchase from (i) the Executive, (ii) each member of his Family Group, (iii)
his Permitted Transferees (as defined in the Stockholders' Agreement) and (iv)
any investment vehicle owning shares attributable to the Executive or through
which the Executive otherwise owns, or has a beneficial interest in, Shares (all
of the persons referred to in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) (iii) and (iv)
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Executive Group") all or any part
of the Shares owned by the Executive Group.

                   (b) The repurchase right of the Company or its designee under
this Section 6 may be exercised by written notice on one occasion (the
"Repurchase Notice"), specifying the number of Shares to be repurchased, and
given to the Executive within 120 days of the Termination Date (or, if the
Company shall not have assigned its rights under this Section 6 and shall be
legally prevented (whether by contract or statutorily) from making such
repurchase during the foregoing 120-day period, then the Repurchase Notice may
be delivered by the Company within forty-five (45) days after the date on which
it shall be legally permitted to make such repurchase), but in no

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event shall the Company be permitted to make such election after the third
anniversary of the Termination Date. Upon the delivery of a Repurchase Notice to
the Executive, each member of the Executive Group shall be obligated to sell or
cause to be sold to the Company or its designee the Shares specified in such
Repurchase Notice.

                   (c) In the event of the Executive's (w) Resignation for Good
Reason, (x) death, (y) Disability or (z) Retirement, the Executive, or his
estate, as applicable shall have the right (but not the obligation) to cause the
Company to repurchase all (but not less than all) of the Shares owned by the
Executive Group; provided, however, that the Executive, or his estate, as
applicable, provides the Company with prior written notice (the "Put Notice") of
an intent to exercise the rights hereunder and such notice is delivered to the
Company not later than 120 days after the Termination Date, or, in the event of
the Executive's death or the Executive's Disability resulting in legal
incapacity, not later than 120 days after an executor or other legally empowered
representative has been appointed to administer the Executive's estate or
affairs. The Company's obligation to repurchase Shares under this Section 6(c)
shall be subject to any financing or other restrictive covenants to which the
Company is subject at the time of the proposed repurchase.

                   (d) The price per Share to be paid under this Section 6 shall
be the Fair Market Value of as of the last day of the calendar month ending on
or immediately before the Termination Date. The purchase price to be paid for
any repurchase of Shares pursuant to this Section 6 shall be paid in cash.

                   (e) The purchasers of any Shares pursuant to this Section 6
will be entitled to require all of the sellers of Shares to provide
representations and warranties from each such seller regarding (i) such seller's
power, authority and legal capacity to enter into such sale and to transfer
valid right, title and interest in such Shares, (ii) such seller's ownership of
such Shares and the absence of any liens, pledges, and other encumbrances on
such Shares and (iii) the absence of any violation, default, or acceleration of
any agreement or instrument pursuant to which such seller or the assets of such
seller are bound as the result of such sale.

                   (f) Should the Company or any of its designees elect to
exercise the repurchase rights pursuant to this Section 6 and any seller fails
to deliver such Shares in accordance with the terms hereof, the purchaser of
such Shares hereunder may, at its option, in addition to all other remedies it
may have, deposit the repurchase price in an escrow account administered by an
independent third party (to be held for the benefit of and payment over to such
seller in accordance herewith), whereupon the Company shall by written notice to
such seller (i) cancel on its books the certificates(s) representing such Shares
registered in the name of such seller and (ii) issue to the purchaser, in lieu
thereof, new certificate(s) representing such Shares registered in the
purchaser's name, and all of the seller's right, title, and interest in and to
such Shares shall terminate in all respects.

SECTION 7.         NONDISCLOSURE AND NONUSE OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

                   The Executive will not disclose or use at any time, either
during the Employment Period or thereafter, any Confidential Information (as
later defined) of which the Executive is or becomes aware, whether or not such
information is developed by him, except to the extent that

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such disclosure or use is directly related to and required by the Executive's
performance of duties assigned to the Executive by the Company.

SECTION 8.         INVENTIONS AND PATENTS.

                   The Executive agrees that all Work Product (as later defined)
belongs to the Company. The Executive will perform all actions reasonably
requested by the Board (whether during or after the Employment Period) to
establish and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, the
execution and delivery of assignments, consents, powers of attorney and other
instruments) and to provide reasonable assistance to the Company in connection
with the prosecution of any applications for patents, trademarks, trade names,
service marks or reissues thereof or in the prosecution or defense of
interferences relating to any Work Product.

SECTION 9.         NON-COMPETE, NON-SOLICITATION, NON-DISPARAGEMENT.

                   The Executive acknowledges and agrees that during the course
of the Executive's association with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the
Executive will have the opportunity to develop relationships with employees,
customers and other business associates of the Company and its Subsidiaries
which relationships constitute goodwill of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and
the Company and its Subsidiaries would be irreparably damaged if the Executive
were to take actions that would damage or misappropriate such goodwill.
Accordingly, from and after the Commencement Date, the Executive covenants and
agrees to comply with the terms and provisions set forth in this Section 9.

                   (a) The Executive acknowledges that the Company and its
Subsidiaries currently conduct the Business throughout the world (the
"Territory"). Accordingly, during the period (the "Non-Compete Period")
commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on (x) in the case of a
termination for any reason except Expiration, the first anniversary of the
Termination Date, or (y) in the case of an Expiration, the Termination Date, the
Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, enter into, engage in, assist, give
or lend funds to or otherwise finance, be employed by or consult with, or have a
financial or other interest in, any business which competes with the Business,
whether for or by himself or as an independent contractor, agent, stockholder,
partner or joint venturer for any other Person. To the extent that the covenant
provided for in this Section 9(a) may later be deemed by a court to be too broad
to be enforced with respect to its duration or with respect to any particular
activity or geographic area, the court making such determination shall have the
power to reduce the duration or scope of this Section 9(a), and to add or delete
specific words or phrases. This Section 9(a) as modified shall then be enforced.

                   (b) The Executive covenants and agrees that during the
Non-Compete Period, the Executive will not, directly or indirectly, either for
himself or for any other Person (i) solicit any employee of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries to terminate his or her employment with the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, (ii) solicit any customer of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to purchase products or services of or on behalf of the Executive
or such other Person that are competitive with the products or services provided
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) take any action intended to
cause injury to the relationships between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or any of their employees and any lessor, lessee, vendor, supplier, customer,
distributor, employee, consultant or other business associate of the Company

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or any of its Subsidiaries as such relationship relates to the Company's or any
of its Subsidiaries' conduct of their business.

                   (c) The Executive understands that the foregoing restrictions
may limit his ability to earn a livelihood in a business similar to the business
of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, but he nevertheless believes that he
has received and will receive sufficient consideration and other benefits under
this Agreement and the Option Agreement, to clearly justify such restrictions
which, in any event, he does not believe would prevent him from otherwise
earning a living.

SECTION 10.        DELIVERY OF MATERIALS UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

                   The Executive shall deliver to the Company at the termination
of the Employment Period or at any time the Company may request all memoranda,
notes, plans, records, reports, computer tapes and software and other documents
and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information or Work
Product which he may then possess or have under his control regardless of the
location or form of such material and, if requested by the Company, will provide
the Company with written confirmation that all such materials have been
delivered to the Company.

SECTION 11.        INSURANCE.

                   The Company may, for its own benefit, maintain "keyman" life
and disability insurance policies covering the Executive. The Executive will
cooperate with the Company and provide such information or other assistance as
the Company may reasonably request in connection with the Company's obtaining
and maintaining such policies.

SECTION 12.        ENFORCEMENT.

                   Because the Executive's services are unique and because the
Executive has access to Confidential Information and Work Product, the parties
hereto agree that money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any breach of
this Agreement. Therefore, in the event of a breach or threatened breach of this
Agreement, the Company or its successors or assigns may, in addition to other
rights and remedies existing in their favor, apply to any court of competent
jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order
to enforce, or prevent any violations of, the provisions hereof (without posting
a bond or other security). In addition to the foregoing, and not in any way in
limitation thereof, or in limitation of any right or remedy otherwise available
to the Company, if the Executive violates any provision of the foregoing
Sections 7, 8, 9 or 10, any payments then or thereafter due from the Company to
the Executive pursuant to Section 5(a)(ii) shall be terminated forthwith and the
Company's obligation to pay and the Executive's right to receive such payments
shall terminate and be of no further force or effect, in each case without
limiting or affecting the Executive's obligations under such Sections 7, 8, 9
and 10 or the Company's other rights and remedies available at law or equity.

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SECTION 13.        REPRESENTATIONS.

                   Each party hereby represents and warrants to the other party
that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such party
does not and will not conflict with, breach, violate or cause a default under
any agreement, contract or instrument to which such party is a party or any
judgment, order or decree to which such party is subject. In addition, the
Executive represents and warrants to the Company that the Executive is not a
party to or bound by any employment agreement, consulting agreement, non-compete
agreement, confidentiality agreement or similar agreement with any Person other
than the Company or one of its affiliates.

SECTION 14.        DEFINITIONS.

                   "Board" shall mean the board of directors of the Company,
excluding the Executive if he should be a member of the Board.

                   "Business Day" shall mean any day that is not (a) a Saturday,
Sunday or legal holiday or (b) a day in which banks are not required to be open
in New York, New York.

                   "Cause" shall mean:

                   (a) the conviction of the Executive of a crime involving his
fraud, theft or dishonesty;

                   (b) the material and willful breach by the Executive of his
responsibilities under this Agreement or willful failure to comply with
reasonable directives or policies of the Board, but only if the Company has
given Executive written notice specifying the breach or failure to comply,
demanding that the Executive remedy the breach or failure to comply and giving
the Executive an opportunity to be heard in connection with the breach or
failure to comply, and the Executive either (i) failed to remedy the alleged
breach or failed to comply within thirty days after receipt of the written
notice or (ii) failed to take all reasonable steps to that end during the thirty
days after he received the notice;

                   (c) the continued use of alcohol or drugs by the Executive to
an extent that, in the good faith determination of the Board, such use
interferes with the performance of the Executive's duties and responsibilities;
or

                   (d) the conviction of the Executive for violating any law
constituting a felony (including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977).

                   "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company.

                   "Confidential Information" means information that is not
known to the public, that is used, developed or obtained by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries in connection with the Business, and that the Executive
learns in the course of performing services for the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, (a) information, observations,
procedures and data obtained by the Executive while employed by the Company
(including those obtained prior to the date of this Agreement) concerning the
business or affairs of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) products or
services of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) costs and

                                      -9-
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pricing structures of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (d) analyses of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (e) drawings, photographs and reports of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (f) computer software, including
operating systems, applications and program listings of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, (g) flow charts, manuals and documentation of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, (h) data bases of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (i) accounting and business methods of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (j) inventions, devices, new developments, methods and processes,
whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (k) customers and customer lists of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (l) other copyrightable works of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, (m) all production methods, processes, technology
and trade secrets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (n) all similar
and related information of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in whatever
form. Confidential Information will not include any information that is now or
later becomes part of the public domain, without breach of this Agreement by the
Executive. Confidential Information will not be deemed to be in the public
domain merely because individual portions of the information have been
separately published, but only if all material features comprising such
information have been published in combination.

                   "Disability" shall means a condition or disease of the
Executive that would cause him to be considered "disabled" within the meaning of
the Company's long-term disability plan as in effect at the relevant time, as
determined by the Company's long-term disability insurance carrier.

                   "Fair Market Value" shall mean, with respect to any Share, as
of any date of determination, the fair value of each Share (or, with respect to
a warrant or option, the fair value of each Share obtainable upon exercise
thereof net of the exercise price), determined in accordance with the terms
hereof. At any time that the Fair Market Value shall be required to be
determined hereunder, the Board shall make a good faith determination (the
"Board's Determination") of the fair market value of each Share within thirty
(30) days of the delivery (i) by the Company of the Repurchase Notice or (ii) by
the Executive of the Put Notice (in each case, without taking into account that
the Shares may be "restricted securities" and without any discount for the
minority position represented by the Shares) and shall provide within such
30-day period to each member of the Executive Group with respect to whose Shares
such determination is being made, a written notice thereof which notice shall
set forth supporting data in respect of such calculation (the "Determination
Notice"). Each member of the Executive Group shall have thirty (30) days
following receipt of the Determination Notice within which to deliver to the
Company a written notice (the "Objection Notice") of an objection, if any, to
the Board's Determination, which Objection Notice shall set forth such member of
the Executive Group's good faith determination (the "Shareholder's
Determination") of the fair value of each Share. The failure by such member of
the Executive Group to deliver the Objection Notice within such 30-day period
shall constitute such Person's acceptance of the Board's Determination as
conclusive. In the event of the timely delivery of an Objection Notice, the
Company and applicable members of the Executive Group shall attempt in good
faith to arrive at an agreement with respect to the Fair Market Value, which
agreement shall be set forth in writing within fifteen (15) days following
delivery of the Objection Notice. If the Company and the applicable members of
the Executive Group are unable to reach an agreement within such 15-day period,
the matter shall be promptly referred for determination to a regionally or
nationally recognized

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
investment banking or valuation firm (the "Valuer") reasonably acceptable to the
Company and the applicable members of the Executive Group. The Company and the
applicable members of the Executive Group will cooperate with each other in good
faith to select such Valuer. The Valuer may select the Board's Determination or
the Shareholder's Determination as the Fair Market Value or may select any other
number or value (determined without taking into account that the Shares may be
"restricted securities" and without any discount for the minority position
represented by such Shares). The Valuer's selection will be furnished to the
Company and the applicable members of the Executive Group in writing and will be
conclusive and binding upon the Company and the applicable members of the
Executive Group. The fees and expenses of the Valuer shall be borne equally by
the Company, on the one hand, and the applicable members of the Executive Group
(on a pro rata basis based on the number of Shares being purchased), on the
other.

                   "Family Group" means (a) the Executive's spouse and
descendants (whether natural or adopted) and (b) any trust solely for the
benefit of such individual and/or the individual's spouse or descendants.

                   "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership
or other entity, and shall include and successor (by merger or otherwise) of
such entity.

                   "Resignation for Good Reason" occurs if the Executive
terminates his employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries because, without
Executive's express written consent, any of the events described below occurs
during the Employment Period.

                   (a) The Company significantly diminishes the Executive's
assigned duties and responsibilities from the level or extent at which they
existed on the Commencement Date, including, without limitation, if the Company
removes Executive's title or materially diminishes the powers associated with
the Executive's title. The Executive must deliver written notice to the Company
specifying the diminution in assigned duties and responsibilities that he
believes constitutes Good Reason, and the Company must fail to reverse the same
or to take all reasonable steps to that end within thirty days after receiving
the notice.

                   (b) The Company reduces the Executive's Base Salary below
that in effect on the Commencement Date.

                   (c) The Company requires the Executive to, or assigns duties
to the Executive which would reasonably require him to, relocate his principal
business office more than fifty (50) miles from where it is located on the
Commencement Date.

                   (d) The Company fails to continue in effect any cash or
stock-based incentive or bonus plan, retirement plan, welfare benefit plan, or
other benefit plan, program or arrangement that applied to the Executive on the
Commencement Date, unless the aggregate value (as computed by an independent
employee benefits consultant selected by the Company) of all such compensation,
retirement and benefit plans, programs and arrangements provided to the
Executive is not materially less than their aggregate value as of the
Commencement Date.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
                   "Retirement" means a separation from the service of the
Company that would be treated as a normal retirement or early retirement under
the Pliant Corporation Defined Benefit Pension Plan.

                   "Shares" means (a) shares of any Common Stock purchased or
otherwise acquired by the Executive (including, without limitation, any shares
of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of an option to acquire Common Stock or
acquired upon the consummation of a merger), (b) shares of any equity securities
issued or issuable directly or indirectly with respect to the Common Stock
referred to in clause (a) above by way of stock dividend or stock split or in
connection with a combination of shares, exchange of capital stock,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization and (c) any
other shares of capital stock of the Company purchased or otherwise acquired by
the Executive.

                   "Stockholders' Agreement" means the Stockholders' Agreement
dated as May 31, 2000, among the Company and the stockholders of the Company
from time to time, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

                   "Subsidiary" of a Person means any corporation or other
Person fifty percent or more of whose outstanding equity interests are directly
or indirectly owned by the first Person.

                   "Work Product" shall mean all inventions, innovations,
improvements, technical information, systems, software developments, methods,
designs, analyses, drawings, reports, service marks, trademarks, tradenames,
logos and all similar or related information (whether patentable or
unpatentable) which relates to the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries'
business, research and development or existing or future products or services
and which are conceived, developed or made by the Executive (whether or not
during usual business hours and whether or not alone or in conjunction with any
other Person) while employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
(including those conceived, developed or made prior to the date of this
Agreement) together with all patent applications, letters patent, trademark,
tradename and service mark applications or registrations, copyrights and
reissues thereof that may be granted for or upon any of the foregoing.

SECTION 15.        GENERAL PROVISIONS.

                   (a) Severability. It is the desire and intent of the parties
hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent
permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in
which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this
Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such
jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining
provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of this
Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any
other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be
more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such
jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without
invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the
validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
                   (b) Notices. All notices, requests, demands, claims and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if (i) delivered
personally, (ii) delivered by certified United States Post Office mail, return
receipt requested, (iii) telecopied or (iv) sent to the recipient by a
nationally-recognized overnight courier service (charges prepaid) and addressed
to the intended recipient as set forth below:

                           (i)      if to the Executive, to him at:

                                    Brian Johnson
                                    1750 Henly, Unit 18
                                    Glenview, Illinois 60025
                                    Telephone:  847-910-0896

                            (ii)    if to the Company, to:

                                    Pliant Corporation
                                    1515 Woodfield Road
                                    Suite 600
                                    Schaumburg, IL 60173
                                    Telecopier:  (847) 969-3338
                                    Telephone:  (847) 969-3357
                                    Attention to:  Larry Shepler

                           with copies to:

                                    Southwest Industrial Films, LLC
                                    c/o J.P. Morgan Partners, LLC
                                    1221 Avenue of the Americas, 40th Floor
                                    New York, New York 10020
                                    Telephone:  (212) 899-3400
                                    Telecopier:  (212) 899-3401
                                    Attention:  Timothy J. Walsh;

                              and

                                    O'Sullivan Graev & Karabell, LLP
                                    30 Rockefeller Plaza, 41st Floor
                                    New York, New York 10112
                                    Telephone:  (212) 408-2400
                                    Telecopier:  (212) 408-2420
                                    Attention:  Ilan S. Nissan, Esq.;

or such other address as the recipient party to whom notice is to be given may
have furnished to the other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any such
communication shall deemed to have been delivered and received (i) in the case
of personal delivery, on the date of such delivery, (ii) in the case of delivery
by mail, on the date received, (iii) if telecopied, on the date

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
telecopied as evidenced by confirmed receipt, and (iv) in the case of delivery
by nationally-recognized, overnight courier, on the Business Day following
dispatch.

                   (c) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents
expressly referred to herein embody the complete agreement and understanding
among the parties and, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement,
supersede and preempt any prior understandings, agreements or representations by
or among the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject
matter hereof in any way.

                   (d) Counterparts and Facsimile Execution. This Agreement may
be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one
and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts
have been signed by each of the parties and delivered (by facsimile or
otherwise) to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not
sign the same counterpart. Any counterpart or other signature to this Agreement
that is delivered by facsimile shall be deemed for all purposes as constituting
good and valid execution and delivery by such party of this Agreement.

                   (e) Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided
herein, this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the Executive and the Company and their respective successors, assigns,
heirs, representatives and estate, as the case may be; provided, however, that
the obligations of the Executive under this Agreement shall not be assigned
without the prior written consent of the Company.

                   (f) Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement
may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and
the Executive, and no course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the
provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or
enforceability of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

                   (g) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of Illinois without
giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule that would
cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of
Illinois.

                   (h) Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR
COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.

                   (i) Mutual Contribution. The parties to this Agreement and
their counsel have mutually contributed to its drafting. Consequently, no
provision of this Agreement shall be construed against any party on the ground
that one party drafted the provision or caused it to be drafted.

                   (j) Descriptive Headings; Nouns and Pronouns. Descriptive
headings are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or
construction of any provision of this Agreement. Whenever the context may
require, any pronouns used herein shall include the corresponding masculine,
feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns and pronouns shall
include the plural and vice-versa.

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
                   (k) Effectiveness. This Agreement shall not be deemed
effective until the Commencement Date.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
                   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Employment Agreement as of the date first written above.

                                                     PLIANT CORPORATION

                                                     By: /s/ Jack Knott
                                                        -----------------------
                                                        Name:  Jack Knott
                                                        Title: President

                                                     EXECUTIVE:

                                                        /s/ Brian E. Johnson
                                                        -----------------------
                                                        Brian Johnson
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A

                           [Form of Option Agreement]

<PAGE>
                                                    OPTION AGREEMENT dated as of
                                      April 16, 2001 (this "Agreement"), between
                                      PLIANT CORPORATION, a Utah corporation
                                     (the "Corporation"), and BRIAN JOHNSON (the
                                     "Optionee").

     The Corporation, acting through its Board of Directors (the "Board") or a
committee thereof, has granted to the Optionee, effective as of the date of this
Agreement, an option under the Pliant Corporation 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, as
amended, restated, modified or supplemented (the "Plan"), to purchase Common
Stock, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree as set forth
below.

     SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

     As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the
meanings set forth below.

     "Acceleration Event" has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(g).

     "Acquisition" has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(c).

     "Adjusted EBITDA" has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(c).

     "Adjusted Net Debt" has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(c).

     "Agreement" has the meaning given to such term in the caption.

     "Board" has the meaning given to such term in the recital.

     "Common Stock Equivalent" has the meaning given to such term in Section
     5(c).

     "Corporation" has the meaning given to such term in the caption.

     "Divestiture" has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(c).

     "EBITDA" has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(c).

     "Exercise Notice" has the meaning given to such term in Section 6.

     "MVPSE" has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(c).

<PAGE>

     "Net Debt" has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(c).

     "Option" has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.

     "Optionee" has the meaning given to such term in the caption.

     "Option Price" has the meaning given to such term in Section 3.

     "Option Shares" has the meaning given to it in Section 3.

     "Option Term" has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.

     "Plan" has the meaning given to such term in the recital.

     "Preferred Value" has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(c).

     "Retirement" means a separation from the service of the Corporation that
would be treated as a normal retirement or early retirement under the Pliant
Corporation Defined Benefit Pension Plan.

     "Target Date" has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(b)(i).

     "Target MVPSE" has the meaning given to such term in Section 5(b)(i).

     "Vested Shares" means the Option Shares with respect to which the Option is
exercisable at any particular time, in accordance with Section 5.

     "Vesting Date" means the date on which an Option vests.

     SECTION 2. THE PLAN.

     The terms and provisions of the Plan are hereby incorporated into this
Agreement as if set forth herein in their entirety. Unless otherwise explicitly
stated herein, in the event of a conflict between any provision of this
Agreement and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern. Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings
assigned in the Plan. A copy of the Plan may be obtained from the Corporation by
the Optionee at any time upon request.

     SECTION 3. OPTION; OPTION PRICE; TYPE OF OPTIONS.

     On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Optionee
shall have the option (the "Option") to purchase up to 5,000 shares of Common
Stock (the "Option Shares") at the price of $483.13 per share of Common Stock
(the "Option Price"). The Option is not intended to qualify for federal income
tax purposes as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code.

                                        2
<PAGE>

     SECTION 4. TERM.

     The term of the Option (the "Option Term") shall commence on the date
hereof and expire on the tenth anniversary of the date hereof, unless the Option
shall theretofore have been terminated in accordance with the terms of the Plan
or this Agreement.

     SECTION 5. TIME OF EXERCISE.

          (a)  If the Optionee is employed by the Corporation at the time
of the Optionee's death, Disability or Retirement, all of the Options shall
automatically vest on the effective date of the termination of employment
related thereto.

          (b)  The Options shall automatically vest in installments as follows:

               (i)  if the "Market Value Per Share of Equity" or MVPSE
          (as defined in Section 5(c)) is at least $550.50 (such amount, and
          each such amount specified in subsections (ii) through (vi) below, the
          "Target MVPSE") on December 31, 2001 (such date, and each such date
          specified in subsections (ii) through (vi) below, a "Target Date"),
          one-fifth of the Options shall vest;

               (ii) if the MVPSE is at least $687.50 on December 31, 2002,
          one-fifth of the Options shall vest;

               (iii) if the MVPSE is at least $859.40 on December 31, 2003,
          one-fifth of the Options shall vest;

                    (iv) if the MVPSE is at least $1,074.20 on December 31,
          2004, one-fifth of the Options shall vest; and

                    (v)  if the MVPSE is at least $1,342.77 on December 31,
          2005, one-fifth of the Options shall vest.

          (c)  Market Value Per Share of Equity.

     The "Market Value Per Share of Equity" ("MVPSE") on any given date shall
equal (I) other than in connection with an Acceleration Event, the quotient
obtained by dividing (x) the difference between (A) the product of (1) Adjusted
EBITDA and (2) 8.0 and (B) Adjusted Net Debt by (y) the number of outstanding
Common Stock Equivalents or (II) in connection with an Acceleration Event, the
price (whether payable in cash or property) per Common Stock Equivalent paid to
stockholders or other securityholders of the Corporation in connection with such
Acceleration Event, where, in each case of (I) and (II):

     "Common Stock Equivalent" means, at any time, one share of Common Stock or
the right to acquire, whether or not such right is immediately exercisable, one
share of Common Stock, whether evidenced by an option, warrant or convertible
security;

                                       3
<PAGE>

     "EBITDA" equals earnings from operations before interest expense, taxes,
depreciation and amortization on the applicable date, determined in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied ("GAAP"),
calculated on a trailing twelve (12) month basis;

     "Adjusted EBITDA" equals the Corporation's EBITDA, as adjusted below, on
the applicable date;

     "Net Debt" equals the Corporation's total indebtedness on the applicable
date plus the Preferred Value minus balance sheet "Cash and Cash Equivalents" as
of such date, determined in accordance with GAAP;

     "Preferred Value" equals, at the time of determination, the sum of (x) with
respect to the Corporation's Series A Preferred Stock, the Series A Liquidation
Amount and (y) with respect to any other series of the Corporation's preferred
stock, the amount to be paid by the Corporation to the holders of such series of
preferred stock upon a liquidation of the Corporation or similar event in
accordance with the terms of the Restated Charter, if any.

     "Restated Charter" means the amended and restated certificate or articles
of incorporation of the Corporation, as in effect at the time of determination,
including any certificates of designation or articles of amendment.

     "Series A Liquidation Amount" has the meaning set forth in the Restated
Charter.

     "Adjusted Net Debt" equals Net Debt, as adjusted below, on the applicable
date.

     Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Debt shall be determined by making the
following adjustments to the Corporation's EBITDA and to Net Debt:

               (i)  if the Corporation completes a material acquisition (an
          "Acquisition") during any of the first three quarters of a calendar
          year, the EBITDA of the acquired entity or business for the portion of
          the calendar year prior to the Acquisition shall be included in
          Adjusted EBITDA;

               (ii) if the Corporation completes a material divestiture (a
          "Divestiture") during any of the first three quarters of a calendar
          year, the EBITDA of the divested assets or business for the portion of
          the calendar year prior to the Divestiture shall be excluded from
          Adjusted EBITDA;

               (iii) if the Corporation engages in an Acquisition during the
          fourth quarter of a calendar year, an amount equal to the total of (x)
          all debt incurred with respect to the Acquisition and (y) all
          transaction costs associated with the Acquisition shall be excluded
          from Adjusted Net Debt; and

                                       4
<PAGE>

               (iv) if the Corporation engages in a Divestiture during the
          fourth quarter of a calendar year, (x) the total amount of the
          proceeds received by the Corporation with respect to the Divestiture
          shall be included in Adjusted Net Debt, and (y) the total amount of
          the budgeted EBITDA for the divested assets or business for all
          periods of the calendar year subsequent to the Divestiture shall be
          included in Adjusted EBITDA.

     For purposes of this Agreement only, the MVPSE shall be determined within
ninety (90) days after the end of each calendar year or at such other date as
may be necessary to calculate MVPSE for purposes of this Agreement.

     (d)  Vesting Percentage. If the MVPSE is, as of a Target Date,
less than the applicable Target MVPSE, but is greater than ninety percent (90%)
of the applicable Target MVPSE as of such Target Date, a percentage of the
Options available for vesting as of such Target Date shall vest according to the
following proportionate release schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                      Actual MVPSE as a                                        Percentage of Performance
                 Percentage of Target MVPSE                                          Vested Shares
<S>                         <C>                                                            <C>
                            90.0%                                                          0%
                            92.5%                                                         25%
                            95.0%                                                         50%
                            97.5%                                                         75%
                            100%                                                         100%.
</TABLE>

The percentage of Options vesting shall be prorated for one-half percentage
increases between the MVPSE percentages shown (e.g., if the MVPSE is at least
90.5%, but less than 91.0%, of Target MVPSE, 5% of the Options available for
vesting as of the Target Date would vest).

          (e)  "Clawback" Rights. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Section 5, if the MVPSE is less than the applicable Target MVPSE on any
Target Date (a "Prior Unsatisfied Target"), but thereafter the MVPSE equals or
exceeds the applicable Target MVPSE on any subsequent Target Date on or prior to
December 31, 2005, all Options which have not vested in any prior year with
respect to all Prior Unsatisfied Targets occurring on or prior to such
subsequent Target Date shall thereupon vest. As an example, if 0% and 0% of the
Vested Shares have vested as of December 31, 2001 and 2002, respectively, and
the MVPSE was equal to $860.00 on December 31, 2003, then (A) 100% of the Vested
Shares scheduled to vest as of December 31, 2003, would vest; and (B) 100% of
the Vested Shares scheduled to vest as of December 31, 2001 and 2002, would
vest. As a further example, if 0% and 0% of the Vested Shares have vested as of
December 31, 2001 and 2002, respectively, and the MVPSE was equal to $795.00 on
December 31, 2003, then (A) 25% of the Vested Shares scheduled to vest as of
December 31, 2003, would vest and (B) no additional Vested Shares scheduled to
vest as of December 31, 2001 or 2002, would vest.

                                       5
<PAGE>

          (f)  Automatic Vesting. Any Options that have not vested according to
the foregoing provisions of this Section 5 shall automatically vest on December
31, 2009, so long as Optionee is an employee of the Corporation on such date.

          (g)  Acceleration Event.

               (i)  An "Acceleration Event" shall occur in the event of Change
     of Control of the Corporation, as such term is defined in the Indenture
     dated as of the date hereof between the Corporation and The Bank of New
     York, as trustee, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

               (iii) If an Acceleration Event occurs on or before December 31,
     2005, some or all of the Options which have not vested (because the Target
     Dates and/or Target MVPSE have not yet been reached) shall vest immediately
     prior to the Acceleration Event in an amount equal to the average
     percentage of Options that have vested up to the date of the Acceleration
     Event multiplied by the total number of unvested Options, taking into
     account the effect of Section 5(e). Further, for purposes of calculating
     the MVPSE in connection with an Acceleration Event, Target MVPSE shall be
     prorated to the end of the calendar month immediately prior to the
     Acceleration Event. For example, if the Optionee had vested of 0% and 80%
     of the Options as of December 31, 2001 and 2002, respectively, and an
     Acceleration Event occurred in July, 2003, and the actual MVPSE was equal
     to $734.77, then (A) the Target MVPSE would be prorated to June 30, 2003,
     pursuant to this Section 5(g) ($687.50 + [.50 x ($859.40 - $687.50)] =
     $773.45); (B) the June 30, 2003, actual MVPSE as a percentage of the
     prorated Target MVPSE as of December 31, 2003, would be 95%; (C) therefore,
     50% of the Options scheduled to vest as of December 31, 2003, would vest,
     pursuant to Section 5(d), immediately prior to the Acceleration Event; and
     (D) immediately prior to the Acceleration Event, 43.33% [(0 + 80 + 50) / 3
     = 43.33] of the Options scheduled to vest based on the MVPSE as of December
     31, 2004 and 2005, would vest, all for the immediate benefit of the
     Optionee. As a further example, if 0% and 0% of the Options have vested as
     of December 31, 2001 and 2002, respectively, and an Acceleration Event
     occurs on or before June 30, 2003, and the actual MVPSE was equal to
     $796.65, then (A) the Target MVPSE would be prorated to June 30, 2003,
     pursuant to this Section 5(g) ($773.45); (B) the June 30, 2003, actual
     MVPSE as a percentage of the prorated Target MVPSE as of December 31, 2003,
     would be 103%; (C) 100% of the Options scheduled to vest as of December 31,
     2003, would vest pursuant to Section 5(d), immediately prior to the
     Acceleration Event; and (D) taking into account the effect of Section 5(e),
     and immediately prior to the Acceleration Event, 100% of the Options
     scheduled to vest based on the MVPSE as of December 31, 2001, 2002, 2004
     and 2005, would vest, all for the immediate benefit of the Optionee. If an
     Acceleration Event occurs after December 31, 2005, no additional Options
     shall vest pursuant to this Section 5(g).

                                       6
<PAGE>

     (h)  Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
Agreement, no fractional shares shall vest until a number of such fractional
shares accumulate to equal one share.

     (i)  The Options shall remain exercisable in accordance with the terms and
conditions of this Agreement and the Plan. Notwithstanding anything contained in
Section 5 to the contrary, Option Shares that do not constitute Vested Shares on
the date the Optionee's employment with the Corporation terminates for any
reason shall not become Vested Shares at any time after such date.

     SECTION 6. PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE.

     (a)  The Option may be exercised with respect to Vested Shares, from time
to time, in whole or in part (but for the purchase of whole shares only), by
delivery of a written notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the
"Exercise Notice") from the Optionee to the Secretary of the Corporation, which
Exercise Notice shall state, or be accompanied by, as the case may be:

          (i)   that the Optionee elects to exercise the Option;

          (ii)  the number of Vested Shares with respect to which the Optionee
     is exercising the Option;

          (iii) any representations of the Optionee required under Section 8;

          (iv)  the date upon which the Optionee desires to consummate the
     purchase of such Vested Shares (which date must be prior to the termination
     of the Option);

          (v)   the method of payment for such Vested Shares;

          (vi)  payment for such Vested Shares; and

          (vii) comply with such further provisions consistent with the Plan as
     the Committee may reasonably require.

     (b)  The Corporation shall be entitled to require as a condition of
delivery of the Vested Shares that the Optionee remit or, in appropriate cases,
agree to remit when due an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy all current or
estimated future federal, state and local income tax withholding and the
Optionee's portion of any employment or payroll taxes, if any, relating thereto.

     SECTION 7. NO RIGHTS AS A HOLDER OF COMMON STOCK.

     The Optionee shall not have any rights or privileges of a shareholder of
Common Stock with respect to any Option until the date of receipt of payment by
the Corporation for such shares pursuant to the exercise of such Option.

                                       7

<PAGE>

     SECTION 8. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO EXERCISE.

     In the event of the exercise of the Option at a time when there is not in
effect a Registration Statement relating to the Option, the Optionee hereby
represents and warrants, and by virtue of such exercise shall be deemed to
represent and warrant, to the Corporation that the Option and any Vested Shares
purchased hereunder are being acquired for investment only and not with a view
to the distribution thereof. The Optionee shall provide the Corporation with
such further representations and warranties as the Board may require in order to
ensure compliance with applicable federal and state securities, "blue sky" and
other laws. No Vested Shares shall be purchased upon the exercise of the Option
unless and until the Corporation and/or the Optionee shall have complied with
all applicable federal or state or provincial registration, listing and/or
qualification requirements and all other requirements of law or of any
regulatory agencies having jurisdiction. Each of the Corporation and the
Optionee shall use reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable federal or
state registration, listing and/or qualification requirements and all other
requirements of law or of any regulatory agencies having jurisdiction in
connection with the exercise of the Option.

     SECTION 9. OPTIONEE'S EMPLOYMENT.

     Nothing in the Option shall confer upon the Optionee any right to be
employed by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or interfere in any way
with the right of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries or equity holders, as the
case may be, to terminate the Optionee's employment or to increase or decrease
the Optionee's compensation at any time, as applicable.

     SECTION 10. NOTICES.

     All notices, claims, certificates, requests, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given and delivered if personally delivered or if sent by
nationally-recognized overnight courier, by telecopy, or by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, addressed as
follows:

     (a)  if to the Corporation, to it at:

               Pliant Corporation
               1515 Woodfield Road
               Suite 600
               Schaumburg, IL 60173
               Attention: Larry Shepler
               Facsimile: (847) 969-3338
               Telephone: (847) 969-3357

               with a copy to:

               O'Sullivan Graev & Karabell, LLP
               30 Rockefeller Plaza, 41st Floor

                                       8

<PAGE>

               New York, New York  10112
               Attention: Ilan S. Nissan, Esq.
               Facsimile: 212-408-2420
               Telephone: 212-408-2400; and

     (b)  if to the Optionee, at the address (or facsimile number, if any) set
forth on the signature page hereto;

or to such other address as the party to whom notice is to be given may have
furnished to the other party in writing in accordance herewith. Any such notice
or communication shall be deemed to have been received (a) in the case of
personal delivery, on the date of such delivery (or if such date is not a
business day, on the next business day after the date sent), (b) in the case of
nationally-recognized overnight courier, on the next business day after the date
sent, (c) in the case of facsimile transmission, when received (or if not sent
on a business day, on the next business day after the date sent), and (d) in the
case of mailing, on the third business day after the date on which the piece of
mail containing such communication is posted.

     SECTION 11. WAIVER OF BREACH.

     The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement
must be in writing and shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any
other or subsequent breach.

     SECTION 12. OPTIONEE'S UNDERTAKING.

     The Optionee hereby agrees to take whatever additional actions and execute
whatever additional documents (including, but not limited to, a joinder to the
Stockholders' Agreement agreeing to be bound thereto as a Management Stockholder
(as defined in the Stockholders' Agreement)) the Corporation may in its
reasonable judgment deem necessary or advisable in order to carry out or effect
one or more of the obligations or restrictions imposed on the Optionee pursuant
to the express provisions of this Agreement and the Plan.

     SECTION 13. MODIFICATION OF RIGHTS.

     The rights of the Optionee are subject to modification and termination as
provided in this Agreement and the Plan.

     SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW.

     THIS AGREEMENT IS EXECUTED AND DELIVERED IN, AND SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF, THE STATE OF UTAH WITHOUT GIVING
EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OR CONFLICTS OF LAW PROVISIONS (WHETHER IN THE STATE OF
UTAH OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION) THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF
ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF UTAH.

                                       9

<PAGE>

     SECTION 15. MUTUAL WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

     THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT
OR ANY DOCUMENTS RELATED HERETO.

     SECTION 16. COUNTERPARTS AND FACSIMILE EXECUTION.

     This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which
shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when
one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered
(by facsimile or otherwise) to the other party, it being understood that all
parties need not sign the same counterpart. Any counterpart or other signature
hereupon delivered by facsimile shall be deemed for all purposes as constituting
good and valid execution and delivery of this Agreement by such party.

     SECTION 17. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; THE PLAN.

     This Agreement and the Plan constitute the entire agreement between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior
written or oral negotiations, commitments, representations and agreements with
respect thereto.

     SECTION 18. SEVERABILITY.

     In the event any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement should be
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect in any jurisdiction, such
provision or provisions shall be automatically deemed amended, but only to the
extent necessary to render such provision or provisions valid, legal and
enforceable in such jurisdiction, and the validity, legality and enforceability
of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected
or impaired thereby.

     SECTION 19. ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

     The Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan.

                                     * * * *

                                       10

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Option Agreement
as of the date first written above.

                                        PLIANT CORPORATION

                                        By: /s/ Jack Knott
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Name:  Jack Knott
                                            Title: President

                                        OPTIONEE

                                        /s/ Brian E. Johnson
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Brian Johnson

                                        Address:   1750 Henly, Unit 18
                                                   Glenview, IL  60025
                                        Telephone: 847-910-0896

<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit A

                            [Form of Exercise Notice]

                                     [Date]

VIA CERTIFIED MAIL
------------------

Pliant Corporation
2755 East Cottonwood Parkway
Suite 400
Salt Lake City, Utah 84121
Attention: Secretary

Dear Sir or Madam:

     Reference is hereby made to the Option Agreement dated [ ] (the "Option
Agreement"), between Pliant Corporation, a Utah corporation (the "Corporation"),
and Brian Johnson (the "Optionee"). Capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Option
Agreement.

     Pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement, the undersigned Optionee
hereby elects to exercise the Optionee's right to purchase [ ] shares of Common
Stock at an Option Price per share equal to $483.13. The date of the exercise of
the Options hereunder shall be [ ]. In connection with the foregoing, please
find enclosed [cash or personal or certified check] in an amount equal to $[ ].

                                        Sincerely,

                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Brian Johnson<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.48

                               PLIANT CORPORATION
                            MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN
                                     ("MIP")
                                     (2001)
=====================================      =====================================

Purpose         To provide an attractive and competitive at-risk incentive that
                recognizes the achievements of individuals and team work groups
                in the attainment of corporate financial and operating goals.

                ================================================================

Eligibility     Officers of Pliant Corporation (the "Company"), Directors, and
                Plant Managers ("Participants"). At the option of the Chief
                Executive Officer ("CEO"), other employees not normally eligible
                for this program, may be included. Bonus Target Payment Levels
                for the plan are as follows:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                  <C>
                           CEO                       75% of Base Salary
                           President & COO           50% of Base Salary
                           Executive Vice President  40% of Base Salary
                           Senior Vice President     35% of Base Salary
                           Vice President            25% of Base Salary
                           Director/Plant Manager    15% of Base Salary

</TABLE>

                ================================================================

Summary         The 2001 Management Incentive Plan ("MIP") is designed to
                provide incentive compensation based on the alignment and
                combination of three factors: achievement of individual goals,
                the Team Work Group Goal, and Company EBITDA goals.

                The 2001 Company Operational Plan is the result of the
                collective input of the MIP Participants' individual goals and
                Team Work Group Goals. Each Participant's individual goals and
                Team Work Group Goal have been extracted from the Operational
                Plan and are shown on Exhibit A (see "Individual Goals and Team
                Work Group Goal for 2001"). Also shown on Exhibit B are the
                Company's EBITDA goals (see "2001 EBITDA Goals").

                In order to receive an award under the MIP a Participant must
                first be able to demonstrate achievement of his/her individual
                goals. The Participant and his/her supervisor should meet
                monthly, and after the end of the calendar quarter, to discuss
                achievements of the goals outlined under the "Individual Goals
                and Team Work Group Goal for 2001" portion of Exhibit A. A form
                will be provided, on which the Participant's monthly
                achievements and a short narrative of the results, can be
                written. If these goals have not been met, the Participant will
                not be eligible to receive an award under the MIP.

<PAGE>

Management Incentive Plan (MIP) 2001
Page 2-

                Once the Participant has established achievement of the
                individual goals, the MIP award will be determined by the
                Company's level of achievement relative to the EBITDA goals for
                the quarter. Awards will be paid at the Participant's Bonus
                Target Payment Level when the EBITDA Target Level has been
                reached. IF THE COMPANY'S EBITDA TARGET LEVEL IS NOT MET, NO
                BONUS AWARDS WILL BE PAID. Additional percentages will be added
                to the Bonus Award for levels above the Target. Exhibit B
                outlines these increases in the Participant's Bonus Award
                percentages when achievements greater than the EBITDA Target
                Level are reached. Awards under the Plan will be distributed on
                a quarterly basis.

                An additional component to the Bonus Award is the achievement of
                the Team Work Group Goal. Individual goals and the Team Work
                Group Goal are combined to comprise the percentage of the
                Participant's Bonus Award according to the Bonus Target Payment
                Level shown below:

                        DIRECTOR/PLANT MANAGER LEVEL

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    % EMPHASIS            X TARGET BONUS LEVEL      PERCENT OF BONUS AWARD
                                                              PERCENTAGE =
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>                        <C>                        <C>
INDIVIDUAL GOALS +                      50                         15                         7.5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEAM WORK GROUP GOAL =                  50                         15                         7.5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   TOTAL                                100                        15                          15
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                        VICE PRESIDENT LEVEL

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    % EMPHASIS            X TARGET BONUS LEVEL      PERCENT OF BONUS AWARD
                                                              PERCENTAGE =
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>                        <C>                        <C>
INDIVIDUAL GOALS +                      25                         25                        6.25
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEAM WORK GROUP GOAL =                  75                         25                        18.75
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   TOTAL                                100                        25                         25
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                        SR. VICE PRESIDENT AND ABOVE LEVEL*

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    % EMPHASIS            X TARGET BONUS LEVEL      PERCENT OF BONUS AWARD
                                                              PERCENTAGE =
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>                        <C>                        <C>
INDIVIDUAL GOALS +                       0                         35                          0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEAM WORK GROUP GOAL =                  100                        35                         35
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   TOTAL                                100                        35                         35
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

* At the EVP level this is 40%; The COO and CEO levels are based on achievement
of EBITDA targets.

<PAGE>

Management Incentive Plan (MIP), 2001
Page 3-

                Once the EBITDA Target Level is reached a Participant may
                receive a Bonus Award based on achievement of Individual Goals,
                if they are met, but may not receive a Bonus Award on the Team
                Work Group Goal, if that goal is not met.

                Lack of achievement under the "Individual Goals and Team Work
                Group Goal for 2001" portion of the plan during one quarter of
                the year will not preclude a Bonus Award being paid during
                subsequent calendar quarters of the year if the individual goals
                and Team Work Group Goal are met during those quarters. However,
                there are no "clawback rights" for quarters where achievement is
                not reached.

                ================================================================

Plan Term       The MIP for 2001 shall be in effect from January 1, 2001 to
                December 31, 2001 (the "Plan Term").

                ================================================================

Distribution    Quarterly Bonus Award distributions will be paid within 45 days
                of the close of the calendar quarter.

                ================================================================

Separations     Except as set forth below, in order to be eligible to receive
                Bonus Awards under the MIP, a Participant must be employed by
                the Company on the last day of the calendar quarter for which an
                award is payable to receive a Quarterly Bonus Award. If a
                Participant retires during the Plan Term (and qualifies for an
                immediate pension under the Pliant Corporation Defined Benefit
                Pension Plan), dies, or becomes disabled (as defined under the
                Company's Long Term Disability Plan), he/she will receive a pro
                rata portion of the MIP Bonus Award on the actual days worked
                during the Plan Term. Distributions will be made at the same
                time as for all other Participants in the MIP. If a
                Participant's employment is terminated at any time prior to the
                end of the quarter or the Plan Term, by the employee or by the
                Company, with or without cause, for any reason other than
                retirement, death, or disability, the Participant shall not be
                eligible to participate in the MIP, shall not receive any MIP
                Award for such calendar quarter or thereafter, and shall forfeit
                any rights he/she may have had in the MIP.

                ================================================================

<PAGE>

Management Incentive Plan (MIP), 2001
Page 4-

General Provisions

                1.      Job Change. Eligible officers and executives who become
                        eligible to participate in the MIP by reason of a job
                        change will be eligible for a prorated bonus Award based
                        on the actual days worked during the Plan Term. In the
                        case of job changes involving a change in the Bonus
                        Target Payment level, the Participant will receive the
                        new level based on the actual days worked during the
                        Plan Term at the new level.

                2.      Disciplinary Action. In order to participate in the MIP,
                        the Participant must not have been subject to any
                        disciplinary action during the Plan Term.

                3.      No Employment Right. Participation in the MIP shall not
                        confer on a Participant any right to continue in the
                        employment of the Company, nor shall it interfere with
                        the Company's right to terminate the employment of a
                        Participant at any time, for any reason.

                4.      Non-transferability. A Participant shall not have any
                        right to assign, transfer, pledge, or hypothecate any
                        benefits or payments under the MIP, other than by will
                        or by the laws of descent and distribution.

                5.      Creditors. Award payments held by the Company before
                        distribution shall not be subject to execution,
                        attachment or similar process at law or in equity.

                6.      Withholding. The Company will deduct and withhold all
                        federal, state, and local taxes, and any employee
                        benefit related withholdings, required to be withheld
                        with respect to the payment of any award.

<PAGE>

Management Incentive Plan (MIP), 2001
Page 5-

                7.      Definitions.

                                EBITDA          Earnings calculated in
                                                accordance with GAAP, before
                                                interest expense, income taxes,
                                                depreciation and amortization
                                                (and after accruals for Awards
                                                paid under the MIP).

                                Team Work       A goal assigned to members of a
                                Group Goal      particular work group. This goal
                                                is a part of the Company's
                                                overall Operational Plan.

                ================================================================

Modification    The Company may modify, supplement, suspend, or terminate the
of the MIP      MIP at any time without the authorization of Participants, to
                the extent allowed by the law. No modification, suspension, or
                termination shall adversely alter or affect any right or
                obligation under the MIP that existed prior to such
                modification, supplement, suspension or termination. The
                Company's Board of Directors will determine the effect on
                incentives of any such event and make adjustments and/or
                payments as it, in its sole discretion, determines appropriate.

                ================================================================

Other           Subject to the control of the Executive Committee of the Board
                of Directors, the Company's CEO will exercise exclusive control
                over the MIP. The CEO will have sole discretion to calculate and
                adjust EBITDA amounts used in calculating MIP Bonus Awards.

                The MIP shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the
                State of Utah.

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