Up in the Air Page #3

RYAN (V.O.)

Sad? Not really. We’re a busy bunch.

I’m peaceful. I’m in my element here.

I suppose I’m a sort of mutation, a

new species. I live between the

margins of my itineraries.

Ryan and the Businessman reach a point that separates -

CONNECTING FLIGHTS go left / LONG TERM PARKING goes right.

They share an awkward smile with a nod, then head in their

separate directions.

INT. BROOKS BROTHERS, DALLAS FORT WORTH AIRPORT - DAY

Ryan is checking out TIES when his cell phone rings. He

checks the I.D.- UNAVAILABLE. He weighs it for a second.

RYAN:

(picks up)

Hello?

KARA (O.C.)

Hi Ryan.

Ryan mouths a silent “f***”.

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. KARA’S KITCHEN - NIGHT

Kara is Ryan’s sister. Her home overflows with books, photos,

family collectables, and kid’s artwork.

14.

RYAN (V.O.)

Every family has one person who is

the glue. The one who keeps the

genealogy in check. That’s my

sister Kara - The glue.

It just so happens that Kara is GLUING her daughter’s school

project mobile together.

RYAN:

Hey Kara.

KARA:

How are you holding up?

RYAN:

Just fine. You? The kids?

KARA:

(lying)

Missy’s outstanding. Matthew made

varsity. How’s the road?

Ryan exits the store and we realize we are in...

INT. CONCOURSE, DALLAS FORT WORTH AIRPORT - DAY

Ryan hops onto a PEOPLE MOVER.

RYAN:

Couldn’t be better.

KARA:

That’s good. So, Ryan?

RYAN:

(cautious)

Yeah?

KARA:

I didn’t even want to have to ask you

for this, because I know how you are

about... doing things for others...

Ryan rolls his eyes.

KARA (CONT’D)

But we’re coming in on three weeks

to go for Julie’s wedding and

there’s something we could really

use your help on.

15.

RYAN:

Yeah.

KARA:

We’ve been sending people these kits

so they can print out photos of Julie

and Jim on cardboard, and take photos

of them in interesting places kind of

like that gnome in the French movie.

RYAN:

Why?

KARA:

(sighs)

Because it’s Julie’s wedding... and she

thinks it’s fun. Does it matter why?

RYAN:

How is Julie?

KARA:

Would you call her? She thinks

you’ve turned to butter -

Disappeared. You’re awfully

isolated, the way you live.

RYAN:

Isolated? I’m surrounded.

KARA:

Your assistant told me you’re going

to be in Vegas.

RYAN:

Did he?

KARA:

Can you get a photo of the cut-out

in front of the Luxor Pyramid?

RYAN:

That place is a sh*t hole. No one

stays there.

KARA:

Jesus, Ryan, I’m not asking you to check

in. Can you just take a stupid photo?

RYAN:

I’m going to try my best.

KARA:

Well, thank you for trying your best.

16.

INT. BAR LOUNGE - HOUSTON HILTON - EVENING

Ryan sits at one of the couch & table set-ups. He’s going

over some paperwork. He notices an attractive professionally

dressed woman, ALEX, sifting through her purse. She sets a

pair of car keys with a MAESTRO TAG on the table.

RYAN:

You’re satisfied with Maestro?

ALEX:

Yeah, I am.

RYAN:

They’re stingy with their miles. I

like Hertz.

ALEX:

Hertz keeps its vehicles too long.

If a car’s over twenty-thousand

miles, I won’t drive it.

Ryan is intrigued.

RYAN:

Maestro doesn’t instant check out.

I like to park and go.

ALEX:

Hertz doesn’t guarantee Navigation.

RYAN:

Funny, you don’t seem like a girl

who needs directions.

ALEX:

I hate asking for directions.

That’s why I get a Nav.

RYAN:

The new outfit, Colonial, isn’t bad.

ALEX:

Is that a joke?

After a beat.

RYAN:

Yes.

ALEX:

Their kiosk placement is a joke.

17.

RYAN:

Never have available upgrades.

ALEX:

(passionate)

It’s basically a fleet of sh*t

boxes - Don’t know how they’re

still in business.

RYAN:

(I love you)

I’m Ryan.

ALEX:

Alex.

RYAN:

So are you going to join me?

She breaks into a smile.

JUMP CUT TO:

INT. BAR LOUNGE - HOUSTON HILTON - LATER THAT EVENING

Empty glasses litter the table. Ryan and Alex have taken over

a couch and have the contents of their wallets spread out -

All MEMBERSHIP CARDS.

RYAN:

(grabs one of Alex’s cards)

Maplewood Card? How dare you bring

that into this palace.

ALEX:

Hilton offers equal value and

better food - But the Maplewood

gives out warm cookies at check in.

RYAN:

They got you with the cookies?

ALEX:

I’m a sucker for simulated

hospitality.

RYAN:

There’s actually an industry term

for that. It’s a mixture of faux

and homey. It’s faumey.

Alex grabs Ryan’s AMERICAN CONCIERGE KEY CARD.

18.

ALEX:

Oh my God. I’ve heard about these,

but never seen one in person. Is

this a...?

RYAN:

Concierge Key. Yeah.

ALEX:

I love the weight.

RYAN:

Graphite. I was pretty excited the

day that puppy came in.

ALEX:

I’ll say. I put up pretty

pedestrian numbers. Sixty thou a

year, domestic.

RYAN:

(trying)

That’s not bad.

ALEX:

Don’t patronize me. What’s your total?

RYAN:

That’s a personal question.

ALEX:

Oh please...

RYAN:

(playful)

I hardly know you.

ALEX:

Show some hubris. Impress me.

(suggestive)

I bet it’s huge.

RYAN:

You have no idea.

ALEX:

Come on...

(holds her hands eight

inches apart)

Is it this big?

(extends a few inches)

... this big?

19.

RYAN:

Let’s just say I’ve got a number in

mind and I haven’t hit it yet.

Alex smiles, fair enough. Admires the CONCIERGE KEY CARD.

ALEX:

This is pretty f***ing sexy.

RYAN:

I hope it doesn’t cheapen our

relationship.

ALEX:

We’re two people who get turned on

by elite status. We may have to

settle for cheap.

RYAN:

There’s nothing cheap about

loyalty.

Alex looks into Ryan’s eyes and gives him unspoken permission

to take her right there and then.

INT. HOTEL HALLWAY - NIGHT

Ryan and Alex walk down a curved corridor, suppressing

laughter. There’s no adult way to go back to somebody’s

hotel room. Once at the door, Ryan tries his KEY CARD, but

it doesn’t work.

He reaches into his pocket and comes up with five other key

cards from recent trips.

RYAN:

I really have to start throwing

these out.

He tries a couple.

ALEX:

We can always use that room with

the ice machine.

Ryan chuckles. He finds the right key and opens the door.

INT. RYAN’S SUITE, HOUSTON HILTON - LATER THAT NIGHT

Everything is scattered from a marathon F***. Ryan and Alex

are laying on the bed, sprawled out on their backs like

murder victims.

20.

RYAN:

Good call on the towel rack.

ALEX:

Thanks. I liked how you burritoed

me in the sofa cushions.

RYAN:

I was improvising.

ALEX:

Too bad we didn’t make it to the

closet.

RYAN:

We got to do this again.

JUMP CUT TO:

TWO LAPTOPS SIDE BY SIDE

RYAN:

I’m in Newark on the 12th, Madesto

on the 13th, Oklahoma City on the

15th.

ALEX:

Any Southwest? I’m swinging through

Albuquerque the week of the 16th?

RYAN:

No, but I’ll be in Florida by the 20th.

ALEX:

Miami?

RYAN:

Ft. Lauderdale.

ALEX:

That’s nothing.

RYAN:

Forty minutes.

They simultaneously type each other into their calendars.

ALEX:

I should probably go back to my

room so I can wake up in my bed.

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