Creating Tension in a Scene

Karen hated having to share a flight with her soon-to-be ex-husband, but at least she was able to change her seat and pretend she was on her way to a vacation, or to anywhere else besides California for the deposition. She was so miserable that she completely missed the first announcement about the in-flight emergency and only caught on when the other passengers started reacting to it. It was during the pilot's second announcement when he said they "might be ditching" that she realized what was going on. Almost reflexively Karen got up and returned to her assigned seat next to David; he took her hand for the first time either of them could remember in many months. Flying never bothered her but her greatest fear in life was drowning, going back to when she was a child.

He had tears in his eyes when he spoke: "Look, I'm sorry. If I could go back and change the past, I would but I never meant this to go this way & #8230; she meant nothing to me & #8230; my life was with you and if I could change things & #8230; "She cut him off. "If you could change things, you'd do what?" He looked at her for a few second before answering. "I'd never have even started talking to her that day; I'd never have lied to you; I'd never even have taken that stupid job in the first place & #8230;" Karen interrupted him again: "Why did you take it then?" "Because it gave us the lifestyle you always wanted, and I wanted you to be proud of me."

When the plane finally landed safely, they were still holding hands. As the rest of the passenger cabin erupted in applause, David turned to her: "Look, we don't have to go through with this." She responded, "What do you want?" I want to fix things & #8230; to fix us & #8230;forget the past and work on a future like we planned. Karen never answered but her hug said it all.