The Early Bird Catches The Plane

Sitting at a table outside a coffee shop in an airport departure lounge, waiting for their flight to be called, are married couple, Duncan and Sam. Sam is tired and fed up due to Jerry's unfounded fear of their journey to the airport being delayed due to traffic – at 3 am. Jerry is busy scouring his travel guide for things to do. Still, all Sam wants to do is either sleep, get on the flight, or preferably swap the week away at a 'recently refurbished 3-star hotel on the Costa del Sol for a weekend at a luxury Spa hotel in England – a sentiment she admits to Jerry. It is her 40th birthday week, after all. Duncan insists the all-inclusive foreign break is far better than a weekend in a posh spa hotel. Sam gives up arguing the point. Sam's mood changes for the better when she spots Joel, an old flame from her university days, sitting alone in the seating area opposite the coffee shop. As Duncan's mind and eyes are on his guidebook, Sam unsuccessfully tries to attract the attention of Joel, but to no avail. She checks social media on her phone and is delighted to find Joel's profile and phone number. She sends Duncan off to get her another coffee and a hot snack, which she assumes will take him long enough for her to make a call. Jerry heads inside to fetch Sam what she wants, and Sam makes the call. She watches Joel from her table. He picks up the phone, and after a few moments of small talk, Joel explains that he's also going to Spain on holiday and, as luck would have it, he's staying at the same hotel as Sam. Sam compliments Joel on his dress sense, describing his clothes. A surprised Joel looks around and finally spots Sam outside the coffee shop. They wave to each other. Sam explains that her husband is taking her on a vacation she'd rather not be on, and she's going on it with someone she'd probably rather not be with. Joel promises that it won't be as bad as she thinks, as they could meet up and have some fun. Sam assumes that Joel means a romantic liaison to reignite their former relationship, but this is not what Joel means at all. It is all bought home to Sam as Joel is met by a woman and four children of various ages. The woman kisses Joel and, still on the phone, je confirms she is his wife and the children are theirs. With Sam's coffee and snack, Duncan returns to the table, and Sam ends the call. A potentially unpleasant Spanish vacation would become even more unbearable for a totally fed-up Sam.