Luke
It wasn’t what it looked like.
Marie
Lol, it wasn’t what it looked like?
Driving away from the apartment she and Luke have shared for all of law school.
She’s trying not to hyperventilate.
Luke starts typing, then stops.
Marie
That’s what I thought.
And Marie stomps on the accelerator.
Only 10 minutes from the airport.
Olivia
Hey, I got your text.
Marie
I just walked in on my fiancé in his underwear…
Marie
Who was also in her underwear.
Marie
In case that wasn’t clear.
Olivia
I’m so sorry, Marie…
Marie
He’s been texting me that “it wasn’t what it looked like.”
Olivia
That’s next-level terrible.
Marie
You can say, “I told you so.”
Marie
You were right about Luke this whole time.
Olivia
I’m not gonna say I told you so.
Olivia
I just never trust guys studying divorce law.
Marie
And from now on, I won’t either.
Marie pulls into the airport parking garage.
Marie
Anyway, I love you, girl.
Olivia
You never say that.
Olivia
What are you about to do?
Marie
I’m going on a trip.
Marie pockets her phone as it starts vibrating.
Olivia’s probably calling to persuade her to calm down.
But Marie has a destination to choose.
She strolls through the airport…
And stops at the ticket counter.
Marie’s never seen the Redwood National Park.
As she pulls out her credit card…
Marie feels her phone vibrate.
Luke
You always run away from your problems, Marie.
Marie
I didn’t know you were studying to be a psychiatrist.
Marie
You’re studying to be a divorce lawyer.
Marie
Obviously I dodged a bullet there.
Luke
If we could just talk like adults…
Marie
I’m keeping the ring, by the way.
Marie
Maybe it’ll help cover the plane ticket I just bought.
Marie
You know, to run away from my ex-problem.
Marie pockets her phone before Luke replies—
And makes her way to her gate.
As Marie settles into her seat…
She can feel her breathing slow for the first time in an hour.
Across the aisle, some guy is talking loudly on a Bluetooth.
Guy
I’m telling you, man, women just hold you back.
Guy
Like, think about all the freedom you give up when you get married.
Guy
Why would you EVER do that to yourself?
Next to him is another passenger wearing a tailored suit.
He makes eye contact with Marie.
He mouths to her: “Help me.”
Marie gives him a tight-lipped smile…
Luke
I just want to say that I think we both share responsibility for today.
Better to laugh than cry.
The guy in the suit leans toward her.
James
So, I think they’re done boarding.
James
Do you mind if I take that empty seat?
Marie looks over James’s shoulder at the guy talking on the Bluetooth headset.
Guy
I just meet girls on apps and never text them back.
Guy
It’s all the best parts of having a girlfriend—
Guy
With none of the worst parts, you know?
Marie looks back at James.
She moves her bag from the seat beside her.
He moves across the aisle, dodging a flight attendant.
James grins, his eyes going squinty.
He has those lines on his face of someone who laughs too much.
James
Wearing a suit on a plane…
James
I guess I’m that guy.
Marie tilts her head toward the guy on the Bluetooth.
Marie
At least you’re not *that* guy.
And Marie can’t help but smile again.
James
I’ve got a big meeting 20 minutes after we land.
And Marie notices just how infectious his laugh is.
James
I’m actually a famous app developer who works in sweatpants—
James
But I wear suits when I fly so people will think I’m important.
Marie
I’m the wrong person to ask.
James
Suits don’t work for you?
Marie
Suits just seem like work uniforms to me.
James glances down at Marie’s hand and notices the engagement ring.
James
In law school AND engaged?
James
I bet your parents are proud.
Marie
They would’ve preferred med school.
James
I actually went to med school.
James
My parents still found things to be disappointed about every time I called.
James
Even if it was just that I didn’t call enough.
James
Oh, no. I dropped out.
James
Became an app developer.
James
I’m actually serious.
James
I made one of the dating apps that guy over there is bragging about abusing.
Marie glances at the man across the aisle.
The flight attendant is motioning for him to hang up his phone.
The man is trying to wave her away.
Marie
That’s important work, helping guys like that.
James
Well, that’s not the goal.
James
Most people aren’t as lucky as you—
James
Finding true love in school.
James
I try to help people find love in a world of guys like…
James
Well, guys like THAT.
They both look over once more at Bluetooth guy.
Guy
Fine, fine! I’m turning it off, alright? Geez.
Marie
I could’ve used your app 6 months ago.
She says it before she can stop herself.
James
Things not going well with your fiancé?
James holds up his hands.
James
It’s okay, no need to share.
Marie
No, it’s fine. He was just really selfish.
James
You know, it’s interesting…
James
I did a lot of research before making the app.
James
This might seem obvious, but the most important thing in successful relationships…
James
Is just that the people are kind to each other.
James
I think it’s usually less obvious when you’re in the relationship.
James
At least, it was for me.
Marie looks down at James’s hand.
He has a tan line on his left ring finger.
James
Just a long engagement.
Then asks the question she’s already asking herself.
Marie
Are you going to try again?
James
I really don’t know.
James
I guess I’d have to find the right person, you know?
Marie
Yeah. No more divorce lawyers for me.
James laughs, then stops.
James
Wait, are you serious?
Marie
But it’s less obvious when you’re in the relationship.
Marie waits for James to laugh, but he doesn’t.
James
The other big thing that predicts success in a relationship really surprised me.
James
How willing the couple is to be impulsive together.
Marie
I don’t know if I could find anyone as impulsive as me.
James
Really? I’m flying out to San Francisco…
James
To try to convince some random investors to pay me a bunch of money—
James
To keep developing an app I dropped out of med school for.
Marie
I’m just flying out because I walked in on my fiancé cheating on me.
James
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t laugh at that.
Marie
It’s fine. Laughing is better than crying.
The pilot comes onto the intercom.
The plane is about to take off.
James
Hey, I’ll tell you what.
James
We’re about to be on a 2-hour flight together.
James
If you still like chatting with me at the end of that flight—
James
Would you like to go on a date with me in San Francisco?
Marie
I’m about 2 hours out of a relationship.
James
Are you planning to get back into it?
Luke might be a terrible person—
She does always run from her problems.
Maybe it’s time to run toward something.
She looks into James’s eyes…
Which are sparkling against his sweet, earnest smile.
She has 2 hours to decide.
Though, if she’s being completely honest with herself—
Her mind’s already made up.
