INT. LAX Airport - DAY
The airport is busy - it is New Years Day and the crowds of people are waiting impatiently for bags to be checked, x-rayed, tickets produced and all the other wonderful things that come with travel through a modern airport. Most are tired and hung over from the night before, and the mayhem that is LAX seems to be at a fever pitch.
Chris steps inside and eyes the extremly long line-up at Air Canada and notices that the first class line is completely empty and the woman at the counter idle. After a moment's hesitation he steps towards the line.
Standing at the front he notices the woman behind the counter look up at him and then back down to whatever it is she is doing. Several minutes past and she gestures him to move forward.
Airline Clerk
Yes?
Chris
(smiling)
Hi! My flight was cancelled over at Burbank and they sent me down here!
He hands her the tickets that the clerk at Burbank gave him. There are green handwritten notes on the front explaining the situation. The clerk takes them and glances at them for a moment.
AIRLINE CLERK
You were flying business class?
CHRIS
No - but i have this card and..
Chris holds up his elite status card and the clerk glances disdainfully at it for a moment before interrupting.
AIRLINE CLERK
Well i dont see how we can help you.
CHRIS
The folks at burbank have sent me down here to get on an Air Canada flight from here so that i can..
Airline CLERK
(interrupting)
I realise that but i dont see how this is our problem.
Chris
Well, she called and..
AIRLINE CLERK
(interrupting again)
Do you hear phones ringing? We dont answer the phones here so i highly doubt that she called us.
Chris
(pausing a moment)
Well, she called and spoke with someone.. and got me on a flight home.
AIRLINE CLERK
Where are you going?
CHRIS
Winnipeg, Cana..
AIRLINE CLERK
(interrupting again)
You realise of course that we do not fly there directly?
CHRIS
Yes, but i have flo..
AIRLINE CLERK
(again, with the interruption)
And even if we DID you wouldnt have a seat.
ChRIS
(still calm)
Which is why she called - she wanted to make sure that there was room and that i was reserved on the flight.
AirlINE CLERK
Well i dont see how i can help you.
With that the clerk turns and walks away. She walks all the way to the end of the counter about 150 feet away and speaks with someone. Chris stands patiently, unsure if he was dismissed or whether she has decided to ask someone for assistance. A few minutes pass and she turns and comes back to the counter.
AIRLINE CLERK
Which flight are you on?
Chris
I dont know - the woman at the counter was very nice and she..
AiRLINE CLERK
(interrupting)
We dont fly direct to YWG..
ChRIS
I realise that - but she was looking for flights so that i could make it home tonight - she found one with you, put me on it and sent me here.
AIRLINE CLERK
(sighing)
Well how am i supposed to find what plane you are on? If you dont know where your connection is - we cant put you on a plane.
CHRIS
Well, i was originally flying through denver and then..
AIRLINE CLERK
(interrupting)
Yes, yes - that WAS your flight but what is it now?
Chris
I dont know that. I did not book the flight - the..
AIRLINE CLERK
You really should have found out. How am i supposed to find your flight?
The airline clerk stabs her finger sharply on the tickets handed over from the other airport
AIRLINE CLERK (CONT'D)
I dont have a booking number - without that there is NO way to find your flight
.
ChrIS
(dry. very dry)
Since i was reserved on a flight - perhaps my name?
The airline clerk flickers her eyes up at chris's for a moment. stops. Turns away and walks about 30 feet away - turns around and comes back. Picks up my passport from the counter - enters my name into the computer.
AiRLINE CLERK
You are flying through Calgary.
CHRIS
Excellent!
AIRLINE CLERK
You know your bags wont make it - if you think that your bags are going to get there in time dont be suprised if they dont. You better not compla..
Chris
(interrupting)
None. i dont have any bags.
The airline clerks eyes dart up one last time for a split second and back down to the computer.
AIRLINE CLERK
You know i cant get you your seat now - you will have to do that at the gate.
CHRIS
Thats fine!
AIRLINE CLERK
Gate 21. It begins boarding in 55 minutes.
CHRIS
(still polite and happy)
Thank you very much!
Chris takes the tickets and walks towards the gate. Nothing would stop him from getting home to his friends and the snow and the cold sharp manitoba wind. Humming to himself he wishes everyone a happy new years.
Everyone except the clerk.
The airport is busy - it is New Years Day and the crowds of people are waiting impatiently for bags to be checked, x-rayed, tickets produced and all the other wonderful things that come with travel through a modern airport. Most are tired and hung over from the night before, and the mayhem that is LAX seems to be at a fever pitch.
Chris steps inside and eyes the extremly long line-up at Air Canada and notices that the first class line is completely empty and the woman at the counter idle. After a moment's hesitation he steps towards the line.
Standing at the front he notices the woman behind the counter look up at him and then back down to whatever it is she is doing. Several minutes past and she gestures him to move forward.
Airline Clerk
Yes?
Chris
(smiling)
Hi! My flight was cancelled over at Burbank and they sent me down here!
He hands her the tickets that the clerk at Burbank gave him. There are green handwritten notes on the front explaining the situation. The clerk takes them and glances at them for a moment.
AIRLINE CLERK
You were flying business class?
CHRIS
No - but i have this card and..
Chris holds up his elite status card and the clerk glances disdainfully at it for a moment before interrupting.
AIRLINE CLERK
Well i dont see how we can help you.
CHRIS
The folks at burbank have sent me down here to get on an Air Canada flight from here so that i can..
Airline CLERK
(interrupting)
I realise that but i dont see how this is our problem.
Chris
Well, she called and..
AIRLINE CLERK
(interrupting again)
Do you hear phones ringing? We dont answer the phones here so i highly doubt that she called us.
Chris
(pausing a moment)
Well, she called and spoke with someone.. and got me on a flight home.
AIRLINE CLERK
Where are you going?
CHRIS
Winnipeg, Cana..
AIRLINE CLERK
(interrupting again)
You realise of course that we do not fly there directly?
CHRIS
Yes, but i have flo..
AIRLINE CLERK
(again, with the interruption)
And even if we DID you wouldnt have a seat.
ChRIS
(still calm)
Which is why she called - she wanted to make sure that there was room and that i was reserved on the flight.
AirlINE CLERK
Well i dont see how i can help you.
With that the clerk turns and walks away. She walks all the way to the end of the counter about 150 feet away and speaks with someone. Chris stands patiently, unsure if he was dismissed or whether she has decided to ask someone for assistance. A few minutes pass and she turns and comes back to the counter.
AIRLINE CLERK
Which flight are you on?
Chris
I dont know - the woman at the counter was very nice and she..
AiRLINE CLERK
(interrupting)
We dont fly direct to YWG..
ChRIS
I realise that - but she was looking for flights so that i could make it home tonight - she found one with you, put me on it and sent me here.
AIRLINE CLERK
(sighing)
Well how am i supposed to find what plane you are on? If you dont know where your connection is - we cant put you on a plane.
CHRIS
Well, i was originally flying through denver and then..
AIRLINE CLERK
(interrupting)
Yes, yes - that WAS your flight but what is it now?
Chris
I dont know that. I did not book the flight - the..
AIRLINE CLERK
You really should have found out. How am i supposed to find your flight?
The airline clerk stabs her finger sharply on the tickets handed over from the other airport
AIRLINE CLERK (CONT'D)
I dont have a booking number - without that there is NO way to find your flight
.
ChrIS
(dry. very dry)
Since i was reserved on a flight - perhaps my name?
The airline clerk flickers her eyes up at chris's for a moment. stops. Turns away and walks about 30 feet away - turns around and comes back. Picks up my passport from the counter - enters my name into the computer.
AiRLINE CLERK
You are flying through Calgary.
CHRIS
Excellent!
AIRLINE CLERK
You know your bags wont make it - if you think that your bags are going to get there in time dont be suprised if they dont. You better not compla..
Chris
(interrupting)
None. i dont have any bags.
The airline clerks eyes dart up one last time for a split second and back down to the computer.
AIRLINE CLERK
You know i cant get you your seat now - you will have to do that at the gate.
CHRIS
Thats fine!
AIRLINE CLERK
Gate 21. It begins boarding in 55 minutes.
CHRIS
(still polite and happy)
Thank you very much!
Chris takes the tickets and walks towards the gate. Nothing would stop him from getting home to his friends and the snow and the cold sharp manitoba wind. Humming to himself he wishes everyone a happy new years.
Everyone except the clerk.
1st RULE: You do not talk about SG.
2nd RULE: You DO NOT talk about SG.
I think there were six more rules