Up in the Air Page #17

RYAN:

Oh no...

The Gershwin theme song for the airline rains down from the

overhead speakers. Passengers clap. Flight attendants gather

at Ryan’s seat with big smiles and champagne.

Ryan doesn’t even react. He’s just stunned.

The flight attendants separate just enough for a man in a

bomber jacket to squeeze through. It’s Maynard Finch, the

Chief Pilot from the commercial.

MAYNARD FINCH:

(to Ryan)

That seat taken?

107.

Maynard gives a little salute to his flight attendants, then

slides by Ryan to the window seat.

MAYNARD FINCH:

You’re the youngest yet to hit

twenty mil. Don’t know where you

found the time...

(remembers)

Oh right, here you go.

Maynard pulls out a MEMBERSHIP CARD. It’s actually been

stamped from platinum.

MAYNARD FINCH (CONT’D)

Seventh card we’ve made. Small club.

We really appreciate your loyalty.

It has a pair of wings around “Member Number 7”. Ryan holds

it between his fingertips... Catches his own reflection.

RYAN:

You know how many times I’ve

thought about this moment? Played

out the conversation I’d have with

you right here.

MAYNARD FINCH:

Really? What did you want to say?

A long beat.

RYAN:

You know, I... I can’t remember.

MAYNARD FINCH:

That’s alright. Happens to all of us.

(attempts chit chat)

So, where you from?

Ryan looks at him straight in the face.

RYAN:

I’m from here.

INT. RYAN’S OFFICE, CTC - NEXT DAY

Ryan picks up the phone at his desk. He removes his new TEN

MILLION MILE CARD and dials a number off the back.

AIRLINE OPERATOR

Hello, Mr. Bingham.

108.

RYAN:

Oh, how did you know it was me?

AIRLINE OPERATOR

This is your dedicated line. We

reserve them for our most loyal and

dedicated fliers.

RYAN:

Oh. I’d like to transfer some of my

miles. Can you open up an account

under Jim and Julie Miller?

AIRLINE OPERATOR

Certainly. How many miles would you

like to transfer?

RYAN:

How many miles would it take to

circle the globe?

AIRPORT OPERATOR

We have our “around-the-world” tickets.

They’re five hundred thousand miles each.

RYAN:

Sounds perfect.

Craig enters Ryan’s doorway.

CRAIG GREGORY:

Got a second?

RYAN:

(to the airline operator)

I’m going to have to call you right back.

Craig takes a seat across from Ryan.

CRAIG GREGORY:

What happened to you yesterday? I

was trying to reach you all day.

RYAN:

I got tied up in... personal stuff.

What’s going on?

An uncomfortable beat.

CRAIG GREGORY:

Do you remember Karen Barnes?

Ryan doesn’t.

109.

CRAIG GREGORY (CONT’D)

She was part of a thirty person

reduction a few weeks back in

Wichita. Natalie fired her.

RYAN:

No, I fire dozens of people a day.

CRAIG GREGORY:

She killed herself. Jumped off a bridge.

RYAN:

F***.

CRAIG GREGORY:

(agrees)

Yeah.

(formality)

Do you remember anyone giving you any

signals of anything? Depression?

RYAN:

They’re all depressed. We’re firing them.

CRAIG GREGORY:

Hey, look, you know I have to ask.

RYAN:

No, I don’t remember anything. Of

course they’re upset. You never

think that...

CRAIG GREGORY:

Wasn’t any woman who gave you any

indication...? Anything?

Ryan remembers her.

RYAN:

No, nothing that stands out.

(a thought)

Is Natalie alright? Is she coming in?

CRAIG GREGORY:

Natalie quit.

Ryan isn’t surprised.

RYAN:

Just like that?

CRAIG GREGORY:

Text message.

110.

Ryan stifles a laugh.

CRAIG GREGORY (CONT’D)

Yeah, real f***ing nice, right? No

one has manners anymore.

RYAN:

She say where she was going?

CRAIG GREGORY:

Nah. She was pretty upset.

RYAN:

I should give her a call.

CRAIG GREGORY:

(business)

I need you back in the air.

Ryan doesn’t react.

CRAIG GREGORY (CONT’D)

Did you hear me? I thought you’d be

thrilled.

RYAN:

I’m fine. What about video conferencing?

CRAIG GREGORY:

CTC is pausing on the whole new media

front for a moment. Giving it a little

more thought. Getting our work horses

back out doing what they do best.

RYAN:

How long are you sending me out?

CRAIG GREGORY:

We’re going to let you sail and

sail. Send us a postcard if you

ever get there.

Ryan absorbs this. Nods.

INT. OFFICE, SAN FRANCISCO - DAY

A MANAGEMENT LEVEL GUY sits at his desk. Bay Area sports

paraphernalia on the wall.

MANAGER:

So, what happened?

We turn to reveal Natalie.

111.

NATALIE:

How exactly do you mean?

MANAGER:

You graduated top of your class.

You seemed to have your pick of

employment... Including right here.

Instead, you went to Omaha... to

fire people for a living.

NATALIE:

(obvious cover)

It’s challenging work.

MANAGER:

I can’t imagine doing that day-inday-

out. Not in this climate.

NATALIE:

(after a beat)

... I followed a boy.

The manager smiles to himself.

MANAGER:

Everybody does at one point or

another.

The manager raises a letter - It’s Ryan’s letter.

MANAGER:

This guy says I’d be lucky to have

you.

INT. RYAN’S OFFICE, CTC - DAY

Ryan writing the letter. We hear what he’s writing...

RYAN (V.O.)

To whom it may concern, I can’t even

count the number of people I’ve fired

in my lifetime. So many, that I’ve

forgotten what it’s like to actually

hire somebody. We’ve never met, but I

know you’d be lucky to have Natalie

Keener. My advice? Take her and don’t

look back. She’ll be the best

decision you’ve made in a long time.

INT. OFFICE, SAN FRANCISCO - DAY

112.

The manager puts down the letter and reaches out a hand.

MANAGER:

Hope he’s right.

Natalie breaks into a smile, then jumps back to professional.

INT. CORRIDOR, RYAN’S LOFT - DAY

Ryan steps out his front door, ROLL-AWAY in tow.

INT. OMAHA AIRPORT - DAY

Ryan walks through the automated door. He looks like he did

in the opening of the film. Maybe even wearing the same

clothes. Something is different though.

RYAN (V.O.)

Tonight, most people will be

welcomed home by jumping dogs and

squealing kids. Their spouses will

ask about their day and tonight

they’ll sleep.

Ryan stops and looks up at a GIANT BOARD OF DESTINATIONS. An

endless list of cities around the world. A menu of new lives

departing every five minutes.

RYAN (V.O.)

The stars will wheel forth from their

daytime hiding places.

We look back at Ryan. His eyes lock on one of the cities. We

don’t see which one. He makes a mental decision and turns in

the direction of the gate. He lets go of his ROLL-AWAY.

RYAN (V.O.)

And one of those lights, slightly

brighter than the rest, will be my

wingtip, passing over, blessing them.

Ryan takes a step, but before his foot can land we...

CUT TO CLOUDS:

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