She stares out the window as she sits on the tarmac. She says nothing. She fastens her seat belt, and takes deep breath, praying that take-off will be delayed. She stares at the airport and prays that he stops the plane. The door closes and she watches as the tunnel recedes.
He stares silently out his window, as a jet from JFK glides across the sky. He goes back to the office and returns to his desk. He takes a deep breath and starts going through the stack of papers. Before he can stop himself he's dialing her number. It goes straight to voicemail. He waits and then leaves a message.
"Hey, it's me. I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. I'm gonna miss you," he hangs up. He fights back the tears.
Everyone else on the flight is drinking, or sleeping. The flight attendant offers her a drink, but she declines, not wanting to go down that road. The last thing that she needed was to drown her sorrows. She had enough problems, this one didn't need to be added to the list.
He wanders into her office as the moving men are packing up her things. He grabs a glass, and pours himself a drink of her liquor. He sits at her desk, and watches silently as they empty the office. When they're done there is little evidence she was ever there. The office is void of any of her personal effects. It contains only a desk, a computer, a couple of chairs, and a chaise. He pours himself another drink, as they turn the lights off.
Betty walks into Wilhelmina's office.
"Don't," he warns as she reaches for the light switch.
"Daniel everyone is talking. What should I say?"
"That she took another job," he answers.
"They want to know why."
"She decided it was time to move on."
"Are you ready to move on?"
"Don't worry about me."
"This isn't healthy."
"Please go," he begs solemnly.
She leaves.
Days, weeks, months pass, but nothing goes back to normal. Wilhelmina's office sits empty, and Daniel triples his work load. He often finds himself staying all night. One day Betty decides that it's enough and makes a phone call. The voice on the other end drones, "You have reach a number that has been disconnected." She hangs up, and makes a few more phone calls.
Finally she gets a hold of the secretary at British Vogue.
"May I speak to Wilhelmina Slater?" Betty questions after the secretary greets her.
"Who should I say is calling?"
Betty hesitates for a moment, trying to come up with a good cover, finally she answers, "Nora Ephron."
"Ok."
The receptionist puts Betty on hold, and dials Wilhelmina's line. "Wilhlemina Slater," she answers.
"Miss Slater you have a phone call."
"Who's calling?"
"Nora Ephron."
"Nora Ephron? Are you sure?"
"That's who she said she was."
"Put her through," Wilhelmina agrees.
The receptionist puts the call through, "Wilhelmina Slater," she answers again.
"Wilhelmina..."
"Betty how did you get this number?"
"It's a long story."
"Please don't tell me."
"Wasn't planning on it."
"Why are you calling me?"
"I need you to come back to Mode," she answers.
"You need me to come back to Mode?"
"Yes," Betty admits.
"Why?"
"Please just come back," Betty begs.
"What's going on?" she questions.
"Everything is a disaster. We need you."
"I'm glad that you think so, but you don't make those decisions," Wilhelmina points out.
"I am now. I get to do the hiring, and firing."
"Daniel let's you do that?"
"If I didn't do it, it wouldn't get done."
"Why are you doing the hiring and firing?"
"Daniel has too many other things to worry about."
"What is his creative director doing?"
"He didn't hire anyone to replace you," Betty admits.
"For budget reasons?"
"No. He didn't even look for anyone to fill your position."
"Betty I can't help you. I have a contractual obligation, and I don't plan on coming back..."
Betty cuts her off, "He's not man enough to ask you to come back, because then he'd have to admit that he needs you."
"I know."
"You don't. He's lost without you. He works, and drinks, he doesn't even leave most of the time. He basically lives in his office. I don't know what happened between the two of you, but we need you here. Daniel doesn't care about Mode like you do."
"Betty I can't leave. You've got to understand that."
"Can't or won't?"
"I should get going."
"Wait, there's one more thing."
"What?"
"He tried to stop you," Betty reveals.
"What are you talking about?"
"He went to the airport, to talk you out of going. By the time he got there your plane was taxiing down the runway. He took it as sign."
Wilhelmina says nothing.
"Don't try to convince me that he was the only one who was interested in more than sex."
"Betty..." Wilhelmina tries to stop her.
"After all, that is why you left isn't it? You started having feelings for him?"
"I left because I was offered a better job."
"That's never been enough before."
"I've got to go," she hangs up.