Marcus returned to his seat. Clare looked back at Richard. Your assigned seat, please.
Richard remained where he was. I said, "I want the cabin lead." and I said, "I'll get her. Then I'll wait here." Clare's voice became firmer. You cannot remain standing beside Mrs. Brooks while boarding is finishing.
I'm not doing anything. You are blocking the aisle and continuing a dispute I've told you is resolved. Richard looked at Evelyn. She had stopped arguing with him.
That seemed to frustrate him even more. Mrs. Brooks, tell her I never threatened you. Evelyn stared at him. I didn't say you threatened me.
Then tell her I just did. Richard turned to Clare as though this helped his case. Clare remained unmoved. The issue isn't whether Mrs. Brooks used the word threat.
The issue is that you are refusing an instruction to return to your assigned seat. Richard's face tightened. I am asking to speak to your supervisor and you can. Clare pointed down the aisle from your seat.
For several seconds, neither moved. The confrontation had finally crossed an important line. Until now, Richard could claim he was fighting over a reassignment, questioning Evelyn's behavior, or asking the crew to investigate. Now, the seat question had been answered.
The luggage claim had been checked. The supposed confusion had been contradicted by the boarding pass. Evelyn's actions, and a witness, and Richard had been offered a simple way to end the confrontation without consequence returned to his assigned seat. Instead, he stayed beside Evelyn.
Clare reached for the interphone. Richard watched her. Who are you calling? The cabin lead.
I told you that's what I wanted. Clare met his eyes. Yes. She lifted the handset.
But when she gets here, the first thing I'm going to tell her is that the original seat dispute has been resolved and that you are now refusing to return to the seat printed on your boarding pass. For the first time, Richard's expression changed from anger to uncertainty. He had wanted someone with more authority to enter the dispute. Now he seemed to realize that the next person arriving might not reopen the question he wanted reopened.
She might instead ask why after receiving his answer he was still standing there. Clare kept the interphone against her ear.
Richard remained beside Evelyn's row, his arms folded tightly across his chest. A few seconds later, Clare replaced the handset. The cabin lead is coming. Richard gave a short nod.
Good. Clare pointed toward the empty space beside his assigned row. You still need to return to your seat while you wait. I'll stand here.
No, sir. Richard looked at her. I'm not blocking anyone. You are standing in the aisle beside a passenger you've been arguing with.
Boarding is almost complete. I asked for your supervisor and she's coming. Then we'll finish this when she gets here. Clare's voice became firmer.
Mr. Hail, returning to your assigned seat is not optional. Richard stared at her. Before he could answer, footsteps approached from the front. A woman in a Navy cabin service uniform, walked down the aisle.
Dana Morales, the cabin lead, stopped beside Clare. What's going on? Richard immediately spoke. Finally, maybe you can actually listen.
Dana looked at him. I will, but one person at a time. She turned to Clare. Give me the short version.
Clare kept it factual. Mrs. Brooks is seated in the seat printed on her current boarding pass. Mr. Hail's current boarding pass assigns him several rows back. He says this seat was originally assigned to him before the airline changed it.
Dana looked at Richard. Correct. Yes, Clare continued. He asked Mrs. Brooks to exchange seats.
She declined. He then offered $50 then 100. She declined both. Richard interrupted.