Up in the Air Page #14

Ryan returns to the conversation with his sister and Alex.

RYAN:

There were quite a few already up

there. Almost couldn’t find room.

JULIE:

I know, isn’t it great how everyone

chipped in?

RYAN:

What gave you the idea to do

something so...

ALEX:

(helps)

... Substantial?

JULIE:

Well, Jim has a lot of our nest egg

invested in this real estate

venture right now. So when we went

over our finances, a honeymoon just

didn’t seem affordable this

second... So I thought... Hey, just

because we can’t travel doesn’t

mean we can’t have pictures.

The idea of this lands on Ryan pretty hard.

ALEX:

It was a great idea.

JULIE:

Thanks.

CUT TO:

87.

AN HOUR LATER:

Ryan is stuck with Jim, talking real estate. Alex is having a

chat with the brides maids about local relationship drama.

JIM:

It’s sixty acres up against the

foothills. I subdivided the old

Lazy W Ranch and took a nice slice

for myself.

RYAN:

Sounds nice.

Jim makes an exhale noise that means “you bet your ass”.

JIM:

Homes will go in the high fours.

RYAN:

Must be a nice development.

JIM:

(correcting)

It’s a community, not a development.

The concept is turn-key everything.

You buy a maintenance contract with

the home. We’ll whack your weeds,

we’ll even change the light bulb.

Furniture? You buy your own or choose

a package. Seamless traditionalism,

yet all the perks.

RYAN:

Nice.

Ryan and Alex make eye contact. There’s a joy in their

connection amongst the ramblings of their company.

JIM:

We all need a place to call our

own. This is America. This is what

we were promised.

RYAN:

That’s a nice touch.

JIM:

What?

RYAN:

That bit at the end about

promise... I like it.

88.

JIM:

(a little embarrassed)

Thanks.

(leading)

So, you still renting that one-

bedroom?

RYAN:

I gave it up.

JIM:

(surprised)

You own now?

RYAN:

No.

JIM:

But you’re looking?

RYAN:

Not really. No.

The conversation stalls out.

EXT. DRIVEWAY, CHALET SUITES - NIGHT

Everyone is leaving. Tammy grabs Julie’s hands.

TAMMY:

Can you believe it’s tomorrow?! How

are you going to sleep?

JULIE:

I don’t know!

TAMMY:

You want some Xanax?

RYAN:

I don’t think that’s for sleeping.

JULIE:

No, I’m good. I’ll have some warm

milk. That should do the trick.

Jim comes walking by with a box of flower arrangements from

the tables inside that are going to be reused at the wedding.

JIM:

One more box...

89.

ALEX:

I’ll get it.

RYAN:

You sure?

ALEX:

Yeah, yeah...

Alex steps back in and for the first time in who knows how

many years, Ryan, Kara, and Julie are alone together.

RYAN:

Jim seems like a good guy.

JULIE:

Yeah, I know... Isn’t he great?

KARA:

He’s going to make a great husband.

There’s a moment where they just look at each other and

giggle a little. Just the three of them.

RYAN:

Hey, Julie, I was thinking... with

dad not being... Well, I didn’t

know if you had someone to walk you

down the aisle...

JULIE:

Oh, yeah, Jim’s uncle is going to

do it.

KARA:

(uncomfortable)

He’s been really supportive.

RYAN:

Oh... Oh, great. Just wanted to

make sure you were covered. So I

should get there at...

JULIE:

Guests are arriving around 5ish.

Things get going at 530. So you

know, around then. It’s easy. Just

come down the elevator.

Alex comes out with the second box. Ryan notices and grabs the

flowers from her and sets them in Jim’s luxury pick-up truck.

90.

INT. CORRIDOR, CHALET SUITES - NIGHT

Ryan, Alex, and Kara arrive at their adjacent rooms. Key

cards slide in simultaneously. Alex heads in. Ryan stops.

RYAN:

Hey Kara?

KARA:

Yeah.

RYAN:

Can you believe she’s getting

married already? She’s just a kid.

KARA:

No Ryan. Actually, she’s 37 years

old. She’s barely squeaking by.

RYAN:

Oh.

KARA:

Yup. Sleep tight.

FADE TO:

EXT. RYAN’S OLD HIGH SCHOOL - NEXT MORNING

The rental car pulls up into the empty lot. Snow on the

ground. It’s cold.

Ryan and Alex walk up the steps and try the door of the main

building - it’s locked. Ryan shrugs.

ALEX:

That’s all you got?

Alex starts walking down the side of the building, looking

for an open window. The third one opens a crack. She slides

her HOTEL HONORS CARD in and opens the latch.

RYAN:

Are we really doing this?

ALEX:

Give me a boost.

91.

INT. CLASSROOM, WAUPACA HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Alex slowly wedges herself headfirst through the window. Ryan

climbs in after her. He immediately recognizes his

surroundings.

RYAN:

I took geography in here.

(pointing)

That was my seat.

ALEX:

You ever fool around with one of

your teachers?

RYAN:

No. You?

ALEX:

Not until college. Come on, show me

around.

They head for the door.

A TEAM PHOTO OF A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM

A finger reaches and points to a teenage face.

RYAN (O.C.)

That’s me.

INT. HALLWAY, WAUPACA HIGH SCHOOL - NEXT MORNING

Ryan and Alex are huddled at the trophy case.

ALEX:

You played basketball?

RYAN:

Point guard. Don’t act so surprised.

ALEX:

I didn’t know you were such a jock.

EXT. LOADING DOCK, WAUPACA HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Ryan and Alex walk passed a concrete ledge.

RYAN:

My first fight.

92.

ALEX:

How’d it go?

RYAN:

Got my ass kicked.

INT. STAIRWELL, WAUPACA HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Ryan shows an area behind the stairwell.

RYAN:

This is where we used to go to make out.

ALEX:

Very romantic.

CUT TO:

RYAN AND ALEX KISSING UNDER THE STAIRWELL

EXT. SOCCER FIELD, WAUPACA HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Alex and Ryan sit tight like teenagers on the team bench.

ALEX:

I’m really happy I came here.

The school soccer team takes the field for practice.

RYAN:

(to the team)

Go Cougars!

Players look back at him strangely.

Ryan’s phone rings.

RYAN:

(checks caller ID)

It’s Kara.

The first thing we hear is crying in the background.

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. CHURCH - DAY

Kara is on her cell phone. Behind her in the deep background,

we see bridesmaids consoling Julie.

93.

KARA:

Ryan, where are you? We’re having a

meltdown here.

RYAN:

What’s wrong? What happened?

KARA:

It’s Jim. Can you get back here? We

need your help.

RYAN:

Yeah, of course...

EXT. CHURCH - DAY

Ryan’s rental car pulls up in front. He hops out and Alex

takes the driver’s seat.

ALEX:

I’ll grab your suit.

(adding)

Good luck.

INT. ENTRY, CHURCH - DAY

Ryan immediately spots Julie sobbing and being consoled by

her bride’s maids. The groomsmen are huddled in another

corner, embarrassed and confused. Kara splits from the brides

maids and takes Ryan aside.

RYAN:

What happened?

KARA:

Jim’s got cold feet.

RYAN:

Today?

KARA:

That’s how cold feet work.

RYAN:

What do you want me to do?

KARA:

Talk to him.

RYAN:

You want me to talk to him?

94.

KARA:

Hey, it’s either you or me. You know my

record. I’ve already struck out once.

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