Waiting to Exhale

Savannah is preparing to move out of Denver, but the friend who was supposed to drive to Phoenix with her backed out at the last second. Lionel calls and asks to see Savannah, so she meets him at a local diner. When she tells Lionel she has to make the drive alone because her friend backed out, he suggests that he make the trip with her. Savannah hesitates for a moment, but agrees, as she is not looking forward to driving on her own. The following morning when Savannah picks up Lionel, she is surprised to find him living in a small, cheaply furnished home that belies the successful business Sheila implied he owned. As they begin the drive, Savannah asks Lionel about his business and learns that he’s gone through several businesses over the past few years and is looking to begin a new one soon. That is part of the reason he wants to go to Phoenix: He believes a man he wants to go into business with will be there over the next few days.

When they stop for lunch, Savannah is surprised when Lionel steps away to smoke a joint. When Savannah wants to stop in Santa Fe, Lionel refuses because he thinks it’s a tourist trap.