Up in the Air Page #6

RYAN:

Yes. Alone.

CRAIG GREGORY:

Ryan, we’re ringing the bell.

Rounding everybody up. If you want

to stay out there a little longer,

you can. But you’re not going to be

on your own.

(begins to leave)

Let me know.

Ryan churns.

INT. RYAN’S APARTMENT - DAY

Ryan is packing his ROLL-AWAY BAG. It is practiced and

systematic. He’s just about finished, when he notices the CUTOUT

of his sister’s engagement photo.

He tries placing it in the open bag, but it is immediately

clear that the photo is two inches to long. He tries putting

it on an angle, but that doesn’t help.

RYAN:

Huh.

Ryan centers the cut-out again and tries to ZIP around it,

but he can’t get the zipper around the HEADS of the photo.

For a moment, it almost seems like he’s assaulting their tiny

head with the zipper handle. Doesn’t help.

A moment of silent frustration.

CUT TO:

35.

THE ROLL-AWAY

Being pulled through an airport. The little heads of Ryan’s

sister and her fiance are poking out the top of the bag. The

two zippers have been closed on either side of them as though

they were tiny passengers peeking out the sunroof.

INT. EPPLEY AIRFIELD, OMAHA - MORNING

Ryan cuts right through the crowd, wheeling his carry-on

towards the automatic check-in machines.

Ryan stops when he notices NATALIE saying goodbye to her

BOYFRIEND - a kind of Hollister looking guy in his mid-

twenties. He’s not thrilled by the public affection. After a

beat, they break and he exits.

Natalie sees Ryan and starts dragging her LARGE SUITCASE

towards him. The SCRAPING against the terrazzo sends a shiver

up Ryan’s spine.

She arrives and sets the heavy bag down with a CLUNK. Ryan

stares at her travel case for a beat then up to her.

NATALIE:

What?

CUT TO:

A ROW OF ROLL AWAY BAGS

INT. LUGGAGE STORE, EPPLEY AIRFIELD - MORNING

Ryan pulls one out and tests the action.

NATALIE:

I really like my luggage.

RYAN:

That’s exactly what it is. Luggage.

(off of Natalie’s look)

You know how much time you lose by

checking in?

NATALIE:

I don’t know, maybe five minutes

waiting for...

36.

RYAN:

Thirty five minutes per flight. I

travel two hundred seventy days a

year. That makes one hundred fifty

seven hours... That’s Seven Days.

(points to her luggage)

You ready to throw away a whole

week on that?

INT. TERMINAL FLOOR, EPPLEY AIRFIELD - MORNING

Natalie is attempting to repack her new bag in the middle of

the airport. Ryan helps by throwing a couple things out.

INT. SECURITY, EPPLEY AIRFIELD- MORNING

Ryan spots various “bad lines”, then sees a group of Asians.

RYAN:

Bingo. Asians.

Ryan starts walking.

NATALIE:

You can’t be serious.

As they pass the first line - A FAMILY OF SIX.

RYAN:

Never get behind people travelling

with infants. I’ve never seen a

stroller collapse in less than

twenty minutes.

Second Line - AN ELDERLY COUPLE

RYAN (CONT’D)

Old people are worse. Their bodies

are littered with hidden metal and

they never seem to appreciate how

little time they have left on Earth.

Third Line - A COUPLE MIDDLE EASTERN GUYS.

RYAN (CONT’D)

Five words. Randomly selected for

additional screening.

They enter the fourth line behind the Asians.

37.

RYAN (CONT’D)

Asians. They’re light packers,

treasure efficiency, and have a thing

for slip-on shoes. God love’em.

NATALIE:

That’s racist.

RYAN:

I’m like my mother. I stereotype.

It’s faster.

INT. SECURITY, EPPLEY AIRFIELD MOMENTS LATER

Ryan is just fastening his belt, having just gone through

security, when we hear a beeping go off. Natalie is trying to

find the metal on her body that has set off the machine. She also

has forgotten to take her laptop out of her bag. It’s a mess.

INT. BOEING 757 - MID FLIGHT

Ryan is sketching a theoretical book cover for “The

Backback”. Natalie is working on an Excel Document on her

laptop - She’s a loud tapper... Hitting the keys with violent

strokes. It draws Ryan’s attention and a raised eyebrow.

RYAN:

Are you upset at your laptop?

NATALIE:

No. Why?

RYAN:

Fats Domino had a lighter touch.

NATALIE:

I type with purpose.

RYAN:

What are you working on so

furiously?

NATALIE:

I’m building a work flow of firing

techniques. Questions & responses.

Actions & reactions. A script that

works kind of like a tributary,

taking you through the steps of

firing someone.

RYAN:

Who is it for?

38.

NATALIE:

Theoretically, you could put it in

the hands of anybody and they could

be downsizing immediately. All they

have to do is follow the steps.

RYAN:

Natalie, what is it, you think we

do here?

NATALIE:

We prepare the newly unemployed for

the emotional and physical hurdles

of job hunting while... Minimizing

potential legal blowback?

RYAN:

That’s what we’re selling. But it’s

not what we’re doing.

NATALIE:

Okay, what are we doing?

RYAN:

Our job is to make limbo tolerable -

To ferry wounded souls across the

river of dread and humiliation to

the point at which hope’s bright

shore is dimly visible...

(frankly)

And then to stop the boat, shove’em

in the water, and make them swim

while we row back to the palace of

their banishment to present the

employers with our bills.

NATALIE:

That was really impressive. You

rehearse that?

Natalie smiles and goes back to her work. Ryan goes to say

something, but holds back for now.

INT. MAIN TERMINAL, ST. LOUIS INT’L AIRPORT - DAY

Ryan zips through the wandering types as Natalie tries to

keep up. Ryan’s phone rings. He sees the caller ID. Smiles.

RYAN:

(to Natalie)

I got to grab this. I’ll meet you

at the rental lot.

39.

Natalie nods and keeps moving. Ryan picks up.

RYAN:

Hey, I was hoping I’d hear from you.

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. HOTEL CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

Alex is on her cell phone as a junior behind her folds a

portable projector screen.

ALEX:

I’m in Hotlanta. I need a rib joint

recommend bad.

RYAN:

(smiles)

Fat Matt’s. Bring a bib.

Ryan turns into an elevator well to talk.

ALEX:

You haven’t called.

RYAN:

You know, I didn’t know what was

appropriate...

Alex stops. She moves to a quieter place.

ALEX:

Ryan, I’m not some waitress you

banged in a snow storm. The word

“Appropriate” has no place in our

collective vocabulary. I’m the woman

you don’t have to worry about.

RYAN:

This sounds like a trick.

ALEX:

Next time you’re worried about

manners - Don’t. If you want to

call - Call. Just think of me as

yourself... only with a vagina.

Ryan lights up... This woman f***ing rocks. Then recovers.

RYAN:

When am I going to see you?

40.

ALEX:

I’m out of Hartsfield, into IAD,

then a connection at ORD into SDF.

RYAN:

(compassionate)

Oh... sorry.

ALEX:

Tell me about it.

RYAN:

How long is your layover in O’Hare?

They’ve got multiples into SDF...

Think you could push?

ALEX:

(smiles)

I can push.

Joy.

INT. ELEVATOR, BOTTLING COMPANY - DAY

Ryan and Natalie ride, briefcases in hand. Natalie is swaying

back and forth. Ryan notices. Is she nervous? Excited?

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