Delayed Bachelor

Image of Long Story Short Award - Fall 2020
Image of Creative Nonfiction
INT. Montreal Airport - DAY

OLIVIA MOORE, 24, is anxiously sitting at Gate C. Her knee is bouncing and she is biting her nails. She looks at the giant clock behind her. It reads 11:05.

INTERCOM LADY
Attention all passengers for flight AC301, Montreal to Vancouver. This flight has been delayed until 19:00 due to poor weather conditions. We apologize for the inconvenience.Thank you, and happy holidays everyone!

OLIVIA
Are you fucking shitting me right now?

Olivia snags her phone and dials a number. She waits.

OLIVIA
Mom? Hi, the flight got delayed to seven o’clock.

We can hear her mother through the phone.

MOM
Wow! What is that? Eight hours? Good thing it’s only Christmas Eve, eve.

Olivia’s mother gets distracted.

MOM
Oh hunny, Michael is at the door!

Olivia clocks her neck.

OLIVIA
Who the hell is Michael?

No reply. The phone BEEPS. Olivia is now on speaker phone.

OLIVIA
Hello!?

MOM
Oh sorry dear, Megan’s new boyfriend is here. I’ll go let him in.

OLIVIA
Megs is only eighteen, how in the hell does she get a boyfriend befo-

MEGAN
Before you? Unlike you Liv, love comes easy to those who know how to love.

Olivia hides her anger from the strangers around her.

OLIVIA
Well, it’s funny you say that Megs, since I am bringing someone home too...

Pause. Silence on both ends on the line, we can hear her mother rush to the phone.

MOM
Well that is just lovely hunny, we can’t wait to meet him.

Olivia giggles nervously.

MOM
Well dear, we were just about to go shopping for tomorrow night. Text me when you’re boarding.

OLIVIA
(Panicking)
Okay... bye!

Olivia hangs up. Her eagle like eyes make their way to the Starbucks.

OLIVIA
(under breath)
Fuck.

She grabs her bags and marches towards the Starbucks. She stands in line, behind a man who looks very good from the behind.

MAN ODERING
I’ll have a grande dark roast please.

OLIVIA
Oh you like your coffee strong eh? Well I like that, I also like men who are strong-

The man turns around to her. Olivias eyes widen. This man isn’t as attractive as his behind.

MAN ODERING
I’m sorry?

OLIVIA
Oh, I’m sorry I thought you were someone else...

She scurries away.

OLIVIA
Shit, shit, shit.

She stops behind a pole and takes a deep breath. She looks up towards the gift shop. She heads towards it.

MONTAGE - OLIVIA TALKING TO MANY MEN AROUND AIRPORT

A) GIFT SHOP - Olivia chats up a man who is buying a snow globe. A young child appears behind him. Olivia walks away.

B) WALKWAY - Olivia getting turned down by a man.

C) DUTY FREE - Olivia is browsing. A good looking man talks to her. Olivia chats him up. Olivia’s face turns sour. She walks away.

D) GATE C - Olivia sits beside a man and talks to him. He shakes his head and leaves.

END OF MONTAGE

Olivia is sitting at Gate C, head in hands.
A MAN, 50’s, holding two coffees approaches her.

MAN
Hello young lady.

Olivias eyes peak up.

MAN
I’ve been watching you run around since you left the Starbucks, I thought you might need this.

He hands her a coffee. Olivia is hesitant, she hasn’t seen an older man this attractive before.

OLIVIA
Thank you.

The man sits across from her.

MAN
I could help you out you know.

Pause.

OLIVIA
Help me out?

She takes a beat.

OLIVIA (CONT’D)
Well I didn’t realize this entire airport could hear me. Jesus, that’s quite embarrassing isn’t it?

He laughs. Olivia smirks. She looks at his hand as he takes a sip of coffee.

OLIVIA (CONT’D)
Is that a- are you married?

The man chuckles, and looks directly at her.

MAN
And if I were? If it isn’t a problem for me, will it a problem for you?

Olivia pauses, her breathing has slowed down.She gazes at the man.
A woman coughs near by. Olivia’s eyes run to her. The woman raises her eyebrows at Olivia.

OLIVIA
(hesitant)
Um...

She looks back at him.

OLIVIA
I’m not an escort or anything. I don’t offer sex. I... I just need to bring someone home for my Christmas dinner, that’s all.

The man grins.

MAN
Well that can be arranged. Would you like me to bump up your ticket to first class?

Olivia licks her lips. He knee is vibrating.
The women coughs again. Olivia nods as she looks back at the her.

MAN (CONT’D)
Give me your boarding pass please.

Olivia hands it to him, ashamed. The man strolls to the front desk.

Olivias eyes wander around the airport. Her legs continue to flutter.

The woman walks past Olivia.


WOMAN
(scoffs)
You should be ashamed of yourself.

Olivia fights the urge to look at her this time.

A few moments pass.

The man comes back with her pass.

MAN
I’m sorry, there is no room to bump you up.

Teary eyed, Olivia clutches onto the pass.

OLIVIA
I’m sorry I can’t- I can’t bring home a married man.

Beat

MAN
God, you’re just another teasing girl who wants something from us men, huh?

He walks away.

Olivia leans back. She can’t hold back her tears. She hides her face into her sweater.

OLIVIA
God what the fuck is wrong with me.

A YOUNG MAN, 23, walks past Olivia, he backtracks to her.

YOUNG MAN
Excuse me, are you okay?

Olivia looks up to the tall brown haired boy looking down at her.

OLIVIA
I didn’t realize pretty boys stop for crying girls at the airport.

His shoulders shrug.

YOUNG MAN
Meh, shit happens.

A smile is exchanged between the both of them.

YOUNG MAN
I’m Sam, or Samuel, as my mother would chant.

OLIVIA
Olivia, or dramatic, as my mother would chant.

A smirk creeps out from Samuel’s mouth.

SAMUEL
Your mother seems nice.

OLIVIA
(quivering)
Oh she is, I’m just... not her perfect daughter, you know? Do you have any siblings?

Samuel jumps to the chair next to her.

SAMUEL
No, I don’t, but let’s not talk about that heh? Tell me about yourself, you’re dreams and aspirations. Those must exist for you don’t they?

Olivia looks up at him.

OLIVIA
Well... I study music, and the dream is to be a movie composer.

MONTAGE - OLIVIA AND SAMUEL ENJOYING EACH OTHERS COMPANY. CLOCK.

A) Olivia and Samuel laugh together.

B) Clock shows 15:30.

C) Olivia and Samuel are in deep conversation

D) Clock shows 17:45.

END OF MONTAGE

INTERCOM LADY
Attention all passengers for flight AC301, Montreal to Vancouver. This flight will now begin boarding. Thank you, and happy holidays everyone!

Olivia’s eyes shift from the clock to Samuel. It reads 18:45.

OLIVIA
Wow, times goes by fast when you talk to strangers.

Pause.

OLIVIA
Sam did you want to...

The words cannot leave her mouth.

SAMUEL
Want to?

She avoids the question of inviting him over.

OLIVIA
Give me your number?


SAMUEL
No, thank you. I’ll see you around though.

Sam leaves.

Confused, she grabs her things and begins to board.
Olivia waits at her seat on the plane, texting someone, presumably, her mom. Someone catches her eye.

SAMUEL
I told you I’d see you around... and I could see your boarding pass.

They smile.
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