Anomalisa

Hey, Ma, look. A airplane.

What?

Airplane.

Yeah.

Who was TV's Kojak?

Darren McGavin.

Kojak, not Kolchak.

- How many letters? - Seven.

Do you have any letters already?

Yeah. The third letter is a V, I think. I'm not sure.

Blank-blank-blank-V— blank-blank-blank. Right?

Yes, I think.

It's a bald guy, right?

Ladies and gentlemen, as we start our descent,

please make sure your seat backs and tray tables

are in full upright position,

make sure your seat belt is fastened securely

and all carry-on luggage is stowed

beneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins.

Please turn off all electronic devices until we are safely parked at the gate.

Thank you.

November 12th, 1995.

Dear Michael.

Fuck you. Just fuck you.

You just walk away?

After all you said to me? After all we did?

After all those fucking promises?

After all that fucking fucking?

Ladies and gentlemen,

allow me to be the first to welcome you to Cincinnati,

where the local time is 7:43 p.m.,

and the temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

We will be taxiing for a while, so please stay seated

until the pilot turns off the "fasten seat belt" light.

Sorry I grabbed your hand.

It's okay.

It's a reflex.

I'm usually sitting next to my wife.

I don't like to fly.

I said it's okay.

You can let go now, though.

Robert Hernandez, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

Please, Robert Hernandez to the white courtesy phone, please.

Welcome to Cincinnati/North Kentucky international Airport.

While on the moving sidewalk, please stand to the...

- Hello. - Hi.

I need to go to The Fregoli.

Downtown.

Yup.

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please.

No parking or waiting allowed.

Unattended vehicles in this area will be towed.

- Thanks. - Yup.

Can I smoke in here?

You see that sign?

You're from England, right?

Yeah, I'm from England.

I can tell by your accent.

And the whistling, that's British Airways.

It's Lakmé, actually.

Nah, that's British Airways.

Anyway, I have an ear for accents.

How's the weather there now? Good?

Well, I'm from there originally. I live here now.

In Sin-Sin City, you know, as I call it?

Not here. The States.

"The States." I like that.

"Across the pond. The States.

"The trolley. Cheerio. Put another shrimp on the barbie."

I like all that English stuff.

Whereabout in "The States"?

Los Angeles.

LA, LA. Yes, sir. Yeah. Tinseltown.

Well, Cincinnati's a great city, too. Don't knock it.

I wasn't. I'm sure it is.

Damn straight.

First time?

Once before.

It's changed since then.

You ought to check it out, you know, while you're here.

Yeah, I will. Thanks.

Yeah. You're welcome.

Fuck you, asshole!

Yeah, you oughta check it out.

Check it out.

The 200 is great.

World-class, they say.

Many, many important, you know, whatchamacallit, endangered species,

breeding programs, you know. It's famous for it.

Pandas. Other things.

Owls.

That sounds fascinating.

Damn straight.

Yeah, you should check it out.

And you gotta try the Cincinnati chili.

It's chili like you never had. Trust me.

LA chili? England chili? Forget about it.

They make it here with cinnamon and chocolate

and they serve it over pasta.

Imagine that if you can.

I'll try to, yeah. Thanks.

Is there a toy store near the hotel?

A toy store?

- You mean, a "toy" store? - Yeah, toy store.

Yeah, there's a "toy" store about two blocks up.

It's open all night.

Real class place.

I have a pickup call at 16th and Lincoln. Anybody in the area?

Anyway, there's a lot to see in the city.

- Revitalised downtown... - I'm only here for a day.

- What? - I'm just here for a day.

You know, I'm sorry. I'm not getting that.

The accent.

I'm just here for a day.

Well, the 200 then.

You don't need more than a day for the zoo.

It's just zoo-sized.

And the Chili.

You only need, like, an hour for the chili.

Hey, that's Michael Stone.

Michael Stone.

Harris, can you get these bags, please?

That's Michael Stone.

Hello. Welcome to The Fregoli.

Hi, I'm checking in. Stone.

Welcome, Mr Stone.

There we go. Michael Stone.

Smoking, king-sized bed.

And you'll be with us for just one night, sir?

One night. Yes.

I'll just need to make an imprint of your credit card, for incidentals,

and we'll be all set.

I'd like a quiet room, if you have one.

Yes, sir. Of course.

I have a charming deluxe smoking junior suite on the tenth floor

with a king-sized bed.

Far above the street noise.

- That sounds good. - Great.

So it's all set then.

Dennis here will show you to your room.

- Thank you. - Right this way, sir.

- My name is Dennis. - Hi.

After you, sir.

So how was your trip in?

It was fine, thanks.

Good.

- Bumpy? At all? - No.

- I'm sorry? - No.

Well, you're safe now.

I think the room will be to your liking, sir.

Just up here to the left, sir.

There you go, after you.

- Nice weather we're having. - Yeah.

- What? - Yes.

Yes, the weather is very good.

Very, very, very, very good.

Sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit.

And here we are.

After you, sir.

It's the bathroom.

Air conditioning and heat controls here.

TV, remote control. Mini-bar.

All self-explanatory, I think.

Ice machine down the hall.

And would you like me to get you some ice before I leave?

No, I'm okay, thanks. Here you go.

Thank you very much, sir.

If you need anything at all, please just give us a ring.

- My name's Dennis. - Thanks.

- Good night. - Good night.

Touch the door to the room. If it feels hot, do not open it.

Fill the tub with water, soak a towel,

and place it in the space at the bottom of the door.

If the door is not hot, you may leave the room,

but bring your room key with you

in case exits are blocked and you need to get back in.

Room service.

How may I help you, Mr Stone?

I'd like to order some room service.

Yes.

I'll have the Bibb lettuce salad and the salmon.

Yes, sir.

Would you like anything to drink tonight?

No. I'll find something in the mini-bar.

Very good.

Dessert? We have a...

No, no, no, thanks.

Very good, sir.

So that's a Bibb lettuce, Gorgonzola,

- prosciutto, and walnut salad. - Yes.

With honey raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

Yes.

And the wild-caught Copper River Alaska salmon amandine.

- Yes. - With baby asparagus...

- Yes. - ...and the black truffle broth.

- Yes. - Very good.

And that's for room 1007?

Yes.

Very good.

It's 9: 13 now.