Up in the Air Page #13

NATALIE:

I’m sorry about what I said about

Alex. I was out of line.

RYAN:

It’s alright. I understand.

NATALIE:

I mean, who am I to be dolling out

relationship advice?

RYAN:

It’s fine.

NATALIE:

You going to be okay?

RYAN:

What do you mean?

NATALIE:

In Omaha?

RYAN:

Oh, I don’t know.

NATALIE:

It’s better than you’d think.

They get off the moving walkway and stop at a GATE that reads

“Omaha”. Something off screen grabs Ryan’s attention.

Ryan begins to walk off. Pulls out his BLACKBERRY and dials.

NATALIE:

Ryan, where are you going?

RYAN:

Grabbing another flight... Something

I need to take care of. I’ll see you

in, uh... at home.

Ryan disappears in the crowd.

80.

EXT. PARKING LOT, LAS VEGAS - DAY

We’re looking at the LUXOR PYRAMID.

RYAN (O.C.)

Okay, start walking it in from the left.

ALEX enters frame, carrying the engagement CUT OUT.

ALEX:

I have to admit, when you asked me to

meet you in Vegas... I thought we’d

gamble, make out in a heart shaped

jacuzzi, maybe see one of those weird

French Canadian circus shows.

RYAN:

There’ll be plenty of time for all that.

(directing the photo)

One more foot to the left.

Alex obliges. She checks out the engagement photo.

ALEX:

How do you feel about the wedding?

RYAN:

I’m fine, I guess.

(directing the photo)

Okay great... walk away.

Ryan takes the photo.

Alex picks up the engagement photo.

ALEX:

They’re a cute couple.

RYAN:

Think so?

ALEX:

Yeah, they’ll make cute kids. If they’re

lucky, maybe look a little like you.

Alex and Ryan look at the photo together for a second.

RYAN:

How do you like Wisconsin in February?

ALEX:

Who doesn’t?

(sweetly)

(MORE)

81.

ALEX (cont'd)

I like it if you’re there. Besides, I

know a killer burger in Milwaukee.

RYAN:

Northern Wisconsin.

(clarifying)

What are you doing this weekend?

This quickly registers... He’s inviting me to the wedding.

ALEX (CONT’D)

No...

RYAN:

What? I haven’t even...

ALEX:

I can’t.

RYAN:

Why not?

ALEX:

I couldn’t.

RYAN:

I’m being serious.

ALEX:

You want me to be your date?

RYAN:

Well... Yeah.

ALEX:

To a wedding... Jesus, Ryan. Your

sister’s wedding?

RYAN:

It’s not like I know her that well.

ALEX:

I’m just not sure if it’s

appropriate for me to...

RYAN:

Look. You know. I’m not the wedding

type. But for the first time in my

life... I don’t want to be that

guy, alone with his drink. I want a

dancing partner. I want a plus one.

And if you can stomach it, I’d like

it to be you.

82.

A long thoughtful beat. Alex sighs.

ALEX:

Okay.

RYAN:

Really?

ALEX:

Yeah, I can’t believe I... Yeah,

I’m in. When is it?

RYAN:

I feel like we should kiss or

something.

ALEX:

Then kiss me.

They do.

INT. BAGGAGE CAROUSEL, MILWAUKEE AIRPORT - DAY

Two ROLL-AWAYS side-by-side, moving through the terminal.

Ryan and Alex walk in unison. They share a smile. Almost like

they can’t believe they’re getting away with something.

They pass a LARGE AIRLINE ADVERTISEMENT featuring MAYNARD

FINCH in uniform. “We Value Your Loyalty.”

EXT. DRIVEWAY, CHALET SUITES - DAY

Ryan’s rental car pulls into the CHALET SUITES driveway. It’s

halfway between a Swiss Lodge and a Best Western. Just a

little sadder. A yellow sign reads “Welcome Miller-Bingham

Wedding Guests!”

INT. LOBBY, CHALET SUITES HOTEL - DAY

Ryan and Alex approach the check-in lines. Of course, there’s

an elite membership line, but they can’t use it.

Ryan is forced to stand in a queue of three people while a

CHECK-IN LADY just stands at her computer at the elite line.

RYAN:

(to the CHECK-IN LADY)

Are you available?

83.

CHECK-IN LADY

Sorry, this line is for members of

our Matterhorn program.

Ryan steams.

INT. CORRIDOR, CHALET SUITES - DAY

Ryan and Alex walk down the long hallway. They’ve been given

a room at the end. Just as they’re entering their room, the

door across the hall opens revealing a woman in her early

forties with a basket of laundry. It’s Ryan’s sister KARA.

KARA:

Ryan?

Ryan turns and stops. It’s been a while...

RYAN:

Kara...

They hug. It’s a strange hug. Awkward but heartfelt.

RYAN (CONT’D)

Alex, this is my sister Kara.

KARA:

Well, hello.

ALEX:

Hi.

KARA:

(quite frankly...)

Ryan has told me nothing about you.

RYAN:

Kara, what are you doing at a hotel?

KARA:

F***, I was hoping I wouldn’t have

to... Yeah, uh, Frank and I are

trying out a trial separation.

RYAN:

You’re not staying at the house?

KARA:

There was an extra room on hold

here, so I just took it for the

weekend.

84.

RYAN:

Oh, okay.

KARA:

Yup. So, you guys are dating?

Ryan and Alex fumble over each other.

RYAN:

Um...

ALEX:

It’s not exactly...

KARA:

Hey, don’t worry about it. We’re

all getting a little old to be

calling someone girlfriend... I

remember when mom used to call Jack

her boyfriend. It drove me up the

wall. Boyfriends are for kids...

(mock announcing)

And I’m just a divorcee!

An awkward beat in the corridor of the Chalet Suites.

RYAN:

So, the rehearsal dinner?

KARA:

Yeah, I’ll see you two there.

Kara humps the laundry basket down the hall.

INT. HOTEL ROOM, CHALET SUITES - DAY

Ryan and Alex settle in. There’s a cheap basket with a pink

ribbon tied sloppily around some cellophane. In the basket is

a packet, outlining the wedding weekend.

RYAN:

There’s a packet.

ALEX:

What in life is worth doing that

doesn’t have a packet.

RYAN:

Um, I love you?

Ryan is kidding, but not really. They play it off as a joke,

but can’t help feel the weight of this “moment”.

85.

INT. CLUB ROOM FIRESIDE LOUNGE, CHALET SUITES - EVENING

A group of tables have been slid together for the rehearsal

dinner. Ryan and Alex find the dinner in full swing.

Ryan’s sister JULIE, the bride, waves wildly.

JULIE:

Oh my God, Ryan!

She hops up and gives him a hug.

JULIE (CONT’D)

You must be Alex. You are so

beautiful. Kara was right. Did you

get the basket?

ALEX:

The basket was very lovely.

JULIE:

Tammy wrapped all of them.

Tammy waves.

JULIE (CONT’D)

Ryan, you look so grown up.

RYAN:

Me? You’re the one getting married.

JULIE:

I know, right? You haven’t even

seen my ring.

Julie shows off her ring. It’s not quite balanced and seems

to favor quantity over quality.

JULIE (CONT’D)

(proudly)

Jim designed it.

JIM raises a hand. This is Julie’s husband-to-be and we can

tell immediately that Ryan isn’t thrilled.

Ryan thinks of something. He pulls out the 5X7 PHOTOS they

took of the JIM & JULIE CUT OUT.

RYAN:

I brought those photos you were

asking for...

86.

JULIE:

(lights up)

Oh great! They go over there.

Julie points to a table and Ryan walks over. When he gets there,

we see almost a hundred photos pinned to a map of America. It’s

overwhelming. All of a sudden, his effort seems miniscule.

Ryan begins to pin his photos on the map over the cities

where they were taken. He backs away to see it as a whole and

his addition has already become invisible.

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