"Script of Two People on a Plane" by Connor Baldwin
INT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT
Two strangers file into their seats, ALYSSA, 25 confident and calm, looks at the seat ahead with earbuds in. CONNOR, 20, nervous and weary, stares around and assesses every detail of the airplane.
They are both on a flight to Paris. On the plane, there are a thousand people from a million different places. The plane is full of foreign looks and sounds.
CONNOR looks at ALYSSA, who is quietly minding her business. She is texting someone on her phone. She closes out of her phone and continues to stare at the seat ahead.
CONNOR
(Leaning in)
First time?
ALYSSA
(Taking earbuds out)
Excuse me?
CONNOR
This your first time flying to Paris?
ALYSSA
No. I’ve flown this way more times than I can count.
CONNOR
Oh, I see.
ALYSSA
What about you?
CONNOR
Me? Well, this isn’t my first time flying, no. But I’ve never gone over seas before.
CONNOR stares around the airplane and looks at a man meditating in his seat. The man opens his eyes and looks at Connor who quickly turns back to his space.
ALYSSA
So, what brings you to Paris?
CONNOR
I’m going from Paris to Rabat. I’m studying abroad for a semester in Morocco.
ALYSSA
Oh wow, Morocco is a beautiful place.
CONNOR
Have you ever been?
ALYSSA
Not me, but I have friends who have taken trips down to Morocco and loved it.
CONNOR
Oh wow.
ALYSSA
Yeah, make sure to spend some time traveling outside of Rabat though. Casablanca and Marrakesh and Fes are amazing as well.
CONNOR
Thankfully through the program I am in they have planned excursions where we will be able to hit all those towns. But I also want to go to where they filmed famous movies like The Mummy.
ALYSSA
The Mummy? With Rick O’Connell? The movie is so corny...
CONNOR
Yeah, but I think it adds to the charm of the movie; luxurious corniness.
ALYSSA
Whatever floats your boat. But if you are looking for an actual good movie about Morocco, you should watch Hideous Kinky.
CONNOR
I’ve actually seen that one. With Kate Winslet, it’s very good.
An air stewardess wheels a cart full of refreshments.
STEWARDESS
Anything to drink?
CONNOR
I’ll take a coke.
ALYSSA
A glass of wine please.
STEWARDESS
White or red?
ALYSSA
Red.
The stewardess pours the drink.
ALYSSA (CONT'D)
So, what do you study?
CONNOR
I study digital media, so like all forms of media production: film, radio, print; anyway you want it, that’s the way I make it.
ALYSSA
So what do you want to do with that?
CONNOR
Well, I’d like to become a writer. But I’m not sure what kind. I’ve written for my newspaper and taken classes on short stories and poems, but I am not sure which one I like best. I can do editing and cinematography too, but I like writing the best.
ALYSSA
Cool. So you’re a jack of all trades kind of guy.
CONNOR
Yeah, I am hoping that I will get plenty of things to write about while I am there.
ALYSSA
I’m sure you will.
The drinks are given to them.
BOTH
Thank you.
ALYSSA takes a sip from her drink.
CONNOR
I can’t wait. What brings you to Paris?
ALYSSA
I’m currently on my gap year from college to graduate school. So I’m spending a semester in Spain teaching people English in Madrid.
CONNOR
Oh wow, that’s amazing. Are you nervous?
ALYSSA
Yes and no. I’ve taught over the summer before, and it was good but this is my first time for a whole semester. But everyone that enrolls in the classes are super nice. Sometimes I even go out for drinks with them after class.
CONNOR
That’s nice. So you know the neighborhood?
ALYSSA
Well enough at least.
(sip.)
Are you nervous?
CONNOR
Oh, of course. I don’t know any of the people who are a part of the program or the language honestly, but I am super excited as well. Everything I will see and smell and taste, I can’t wait. For me, there is so much to be excited about that I will have no time to be worried.
ALYSSA
That’s a good way to look at it. I’m sure everyone in the program will be super helpful with this. Morocco is a beautiful place with a lot to see and very friendly people. So there will be plenty of time to enjoy things to enjoy and so much to experience.
ALYSSA’s phone starts buzzing.
ALYSSA (CONT'D)
So why did you decide Morocco?
CONNOR
I was an honorary member of my school’s Muslim student association. So I wrote an article for them my freshman year and they liked it so much they asked me to keep coming back to the events.
(sip)
So they are a large reason why I wanted to come to Morocco. The culture and the friendliness of them really drew me to check it out. And not to mention the food.
ALYSSA
You’ll love the food. In my hometown there is a Moroccan restaurant and the tagine, to die for.
CONNOR
Thankfully I will be staying with a host so I will get home cooked meals to introduce me to everything available.
ALYSSA
Sounds nice. All I have is an apartment and making meals of meat and rice.
CONNOR
Well I don’t mean to rub it in or anything.
ALYSSA
Oh no problem, enjoy your trip to Morocco.
CONNOR
Thank you. And enjoy your work in Spanish, who knows maybe I’ll take a trip to Spain and see you there.
ALYSSA
Well then, I’ll catch you there.
END
Connor Baldwin is a student at Marquette University and is studying abroad on the Amideast Area and Arabic Studies Program in Rabat, Morocco this spring 2023.
