I have lost count of how many flights I've taken in my lifetime. I remember being about five and flying with my parents from Connecticut to somewhere to visit friends of my fathers, I remember the excitement of going to the airport, the stewardess dressed in bright red or bright blue bending down to hand me my ticket, I remember the excitement as I fastened the seat belt. I remember feeling incredibly important when I was given the mini pack of peanuts. I don't remember when commercial air travel turned into something to be injured. Something that just took me somewhere for my next meeting. I think Air Force One spoiled us slightly.
Not tonight, tonight feels like my first flight and that feeling started a few hours ago:
"Donna?"
"Josh! what's been going on? Are you alright?"
"You heard?"
"Sam"
"I kind of lost my temper, slightly, only a bit at Otto"
"Yeah?"
"It wasn't anything"
"It was anything"
"Nothing major"
"You're leaving?"
"I'm going away for a few days to clear my head, figure some things out"
"Sam said you were… your mom will be glad to see you"
"My mom?"
"Yeah"
"I'm not going to see my mom"
"You're not?"
"No"
"Josh, I'm so sorry I should never have told you about Mrs Santos' offer"
"You were planning to keep the fact that you're going to be the First Lady's Chief of Staff from me? Even if something's not happening between us personally has this got that bad?"
"Josh…"
"Never mind that, do you really think I'm not going to notice that you're running the East Wing?"
"Something's not happening between us?"
"What?"
"You said something's not happening between us"
"No I didn't"
"Yes, you did"
"No, I didn't"
"Yes, you did"
"No, I… Donna!"
"Yes?"
"Every conversation we have keeps getting away from me lately"
"I'm sorry"
"What are you sorry for?"
"I've messed this up"
"You've messed this up?"
"Yeah"
"So you mean to tell me when we're old and grey and sitting on our porch swing bickering I get credit for fixing this? You are going to give me credit for all of it?"
"What are you…?"
"Donna, years ago I knew this woman…"
"Josh, please don't tell me about one of you many conquests or anyone you fell sideways into"
"You know you used to let me finish a sentence"
"No, I didn't"
"Donna, hush"
"Did you just 'hush' me?"
"Donna…"
"You don't get to 'hush' me…"
"Donna, please shut up! We have to be out of this building in three hours and I need to… you know… ask you… before that can happen and I will never get the chance to ask you if you don't shut up for ten consecutive seconds…"
"Sam's right, you need a vacation… What do you mean that we…"
"Yes thank you I know Sam's right, Now will you shut it"
"Mmmm ah humm umm an neumm"
"What?"
"I said I'm not saying anything"
"Your sense of humour is quite the highwire act isn't it?"
"UMosh"
"'O.K., O.K., O.K, A few years ago I knew this woman and she spent quite some time hinting not all the subtlety that I take her away somewhere warm, with beaches and loungers and drinks with little umbrellas"
"Yes"
"So I've decided to take her… if she'll go with me that is… so you think she'll go with me?"
"How the hell would I know?"
"Great, so you'll be… no hang on, wait a minute… what?"
"Josh Lyman, you are the most insensitive, cruel, self-absorbed jerk I have ever had the misfortune to…"
"Whooh hold on I am so lost in this conversation I might need Sam's sky star reading skill thingy"
"How would I know if Amy god-dam Gardner wants to go to Tahiti with you!"
"You are really screwed up Donna"
"You're telling me that I'm screwed up because the man I've been in love with for as long as I can remember is standing in my office telling me he's taking his witch of a two-time ex girlfriend to Tahiti and I'm unhappy about it. Yes Josh that makes me really screwed up…. I suppose I should be grateful that this time you're not making me book the tickets or decorate your apartment… Why are you laughing? This isn't funny Josh? You've completely… Josh!"
"You think I'm talking about Amy?"
"Yes, of course, you always regretted not taking that trip, that the thing got in the way?"
"Did I?"
"Yes, but that's not important now – Josh just get out of my…please Josh just go.. I can't"
"I'm talking about you, you knucklehead"
"Me?"
"Donna, Sam's right, the president-elect is right and Lou's right I need to get away and I want you to come with me?"
"Me?"
"Yes, in that envelope there's two tickets to the Koluna Island Resort, Hawaii. One for you and one for me, If you'll come?"
"Me?"
"Donna, every time I tried to talk to you about what's happening here you… I don't know… you"
"Sam says I've been abducted by aliens"
"Sam would know"
"Josh!"
"I mean he dealt with all the ET type people… Can we get back to the point? Will you come with me?"
"Me?"
"Alright that's it… I'm taking Annabeth!... ANNABETH"
"No you are not and keep your voice down"
"So you'll come"
"Are you…"
"Donna, that was a closed question requiring a simple yes or no answer. Will you come with me – on vacation – to Hawaii – this evening – for six days?"
"Are you.."
"Ah"
"Josh, are"
"Donnatella, yes or no?"
"Yes"