Up in the Air Page #9

BEGIN MONTAGE:

A PLANE PULLING BACK ITS GATE AND TAKING OFF

WHITE COLLAR PEOPLE ARE HANDED PACKETS

RYAN AND ALEX ENTERING A NEW HOTEL ROOM. THEY’RE BECOMING

MORE COMFORTABLE WITH EACH OTHER

INT. BOEING 757 - DAY

Looking out the window at the passing landscape.

Over the pastures and roads, we see GRAPHIC WHITE LINES AND

NUMBERS denoting each mile as they click by.

Ryan tears a page out of AMERICAN WAY MAGAZINE outlining

their mileage program and hands it to Natalie.

GARDENER DRIVES A RIDER MOWER ACROSS A TINY STRETCH OF GRASS

INT. HILTON HOTEL LOBBY - EARLY MORNING

Ryan turns a corner to find Natalie talking to her computer

screen with headphones on.

54.

She’s having an iChat with someone, but we only hear her side

of the conversation. Ryan decides to listen in for a second.

NATALIE:

I’ll be back soon. Not really sure

how long this whole exercise is

supposed to last. He’s fine... It’s

hard for these guys to accept

change, you know.

(listens, rolls eyes)

I... I’m not even going to answer

that... No, I can’t even think of

him that way... He’s old.

Ryan frowns. Checks a mirror.

A NEW OFFICE - MORE EMPLOYEES REACT TO BEING LAID OFF

WE SEE SHOTS OF VARIOUS SLICES OF THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE FROM

THOUSANDS OF FEET IN THE AIR

EXT. MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY

A 757 touches down on the runway.

MUSIC BEGINS TO FADE AS THE MONTAGE COMES TO A CLOSE ON...

RYAN’S HEADSHOT - sitting on an EASLE.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM, WICHITA HOTEL - AFTERNOON

Ryan stands before a similar crowd as the opening of the film.

RYAN:

Okay. This is where it gets a

little difficult, but stay with me.

You have a new backpack... but this

time, I want you to fill it with

people. Start with casual

acquaintances, people around the

office, friends of friends and work

your way to the people you trust

with your most intimate secrets.

Now move into family members -

cousins, aunts, and uncles. Get

your sisters and your brothers and

you parents. Get them all in that

backpack. And finally your husband

or wife or boyfriend or girlfriend.

Get them in their too.

55.

A titter through the crowd. For the first time, we see

Natalie near the side, watching.

RYAN (CONT’D)

Don’t worry. I’m not going to ask

you to light it on fire.

Light laughter.

RYAN (CONT’D)

Feel the weight of that bag. Make

no mistake, your relationships are

the heaviest components of your

life. Feel the straps cutting into

your shoulders. All those

negotiations and arguments and

secrets and compromises.

Ryan lets the weight sink in.

RYAN (CONT’D)

Now set that bag down.

You can feel the relief in the room.

RYAN (CONT’D)

You don’t need to carry all that

weight.

Noticeable agreement.

RYAN (CONT’D)

Some animals were meant to carry

each other. To live symbiotically

over a lifetime. Star-crossed

lovers. Monogamous swans. We are

not one of those animals.

Ryan focuses towards his conclusion.

RYAN (CONT’D)

The slower we move, the faster we

die. We are not swans. We’re

sharks.

INT. ANNEX, WICHITA HOTEL - AFTERNOON

Ryan has finished his session and is talking to eager

stragglers. Ryan accepts a business card and elaborates on

one of his theories.

56.

Meanwhile, down the hall, Natalie is finishing a phone call.

She looks shell shocked. She closes her phone and pockets it

in silence.

EXT. TARMAC, MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - DAY

AN AMERICAN AIRLINES PLANE touches down.

EXT. MIAMI BOULEVARD - DAY

We’re following a HILTON SHUTTLE down a street of PALM TREES.

INT. HILTON AIRPORT SHUTTLE - AFTERNOON

Natalie and Ryan ride back to the airport. We catch them mid-

conversation as Natalie drills Ryan on his theory.

NATALIE:

Never...?

Ryan smiles to the few other riders as if apologizing.

NATALIE (CONT’D)

You never want to get married?

Never want kids?

RYAN:

Is that so bizarre?

NATALIE:

Yes. Yes it is.

RYAN:

I don’t see the value.

Natalie sighs.

RYAN (CONT’D)

Sell it to me.

NATALIE:

What?

RYAN:

Sell me marriage.

NATALIE:

I... Uh... How how about love?

RYAN:

Pff...

57.

NATALIE:

Okay. Stability?

RYAN:

How many stabile marriages do you

know?

NATALIE:

Someone to talk to, spend your life

with?

RYAN:

I’m surrounded by people to talk

to. I doubt that will change.

The shuttle stops and everyone goes to grab their bags.

INT. LOBBY, MIAMI HILTON - DAY

Ryan and Natalie enter, still having the same conversation.

NATALIE:

How about just not dying alone?

Ryan stops to address this.

RYAN:

Starting when I was twelve, we

moved each one of my grandparents

into a nursing facility. My parents

went the same way.

(a beat)

Make no mistake. We all die alone.

Ryan turns, thinks of something, then turns back.

RYAN (CONT’D)

(adding)

Those cult members down in San

Diego with the white sneakers and

little Dixie cups of Kool-Aid. They

didn’t die alone.

Natalie looks steamed.

RYAN (CONT’D)

Just saying - There’s options.

Out of nowhere, Natalie starts crying.

RYAN:

(almost silent)

Oh f***.

58.

Natalie is now balling in the middle of the lobby.

NATALIE:

Brian left me.

RYAN:

Oh, hey... I...

Ryan goes to hug Natalie and she simply folds into his arms -

A mop of tears. Ryan looks around for a place to set her

down. Instead, he finds...

ALEX - Who gives a questioning look to the young sobbing girl.

RYAN:

Hi. Alex this is Natalie. Natalie,

this is my... friend, Alex.

ALEX:

I should give you both a moment.

Natalie attempts a recovery. It’s not graceful.

NATALIE:

No, it’s fine. I’m fine. Just

stupid emotions.

Natalie gives Alex a firm handshake.

ALEX:

Maybe a drink?

Ryan goes to challenge the idea, when...

NATALIE:

Now we’re talking.

Natalie leads the way. Alex and Ryan exchange quick hellos.

CUT TO:

THE SCREEN OF NATALIE’S CELL PHONE

TEXT READS:
“I Think it’s time we c other people”

INT. BAR LOUNGE - MIAMI HILTON - MOMENTS LATER

The three share a booth. Natalie is sipping a drink. She seems

to have settled a little.

59.

ALEX:

He broke up with you over text

message?

RYAN:

(soft dig)

That’s kind of like firing people

over the internet.

Both Natalie and Alex shoot Ryan a look.

ALEX:

(re:
the ex-boyfriend)

What a weasely prick.

NATALIE:

Yeah, but what does that make me?

Someone who falls for a prick?

ALEX:

We all fall for them. Pricks are

spontaneous, unpredictable, and

fun. And then we’re surprised when

they turn out to be pricks.

NATALIE:

I followed him to Omaha.

RYAN:

You did?

NATALIE:

I had a job waiting for me in San

Fran, when he got an offer from

ConAgra. He told me we could start

a life together. So I followed him.

RYAN:

To Nebraska.

NATALIE:

I look in the mirror and I just see

compromise... I’m supposed to do

something.

ALEX:

You’ll do plenty.

NATALIE:

I just can’t... I thought I’d be

engaged by now.

(catches herself)

No offense.

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