The girl who killed herself...

Ryan didn't remember her. To him she was just another faceless person that he just fired that he'll never see again.

Ryan never cared or wondered about the people he fired. All he cared about was going to the next city for another round of firings. And going pass the 10 million mile mark on his frequent flyer miles card.

Ryan loved his job. He loved being on the road for most of the year. He loved the fact he never had to pay for his flights, hotels, meals, or his rental cars. So if he had to fire a bunch of people to keep his life going. So much the better.

I thought they were asking about other women in general when they asked that question. I thought it was pretty obvious that Ryan remembered her since Natalie and he actually had a conversation about it after her bridge comment.

Very good. But brick not hit back!

I was about to disagree with everyone then read your post Cinemator. You got it right.

Of coarse he remembered her. He just denied it so that the young girl wouldn't have gotten in legal trouble. He was covering for her.

This is exactly right. I don't think he remembered the lady at first, but when the boss mentioned she jumped off a bridge, he probably remembered then. But he had to stay "confused."

She could have gotten in trouble... it was her first time firing someone, and Karen Barnes gave off so many signs of a suicidal person... Natalie definitely recognized signals and communicated it to Ryan ("She was really calm.") They should have done something, but they didn't.

Ryan was just covering her butt.

Yes. Ryan had heard lots of instances where people blurt out that they are going to jump out the window, off a bridge, etc, but don't do it. But he definitely remembered this specific instance because of the conversation he had with Natalie after she heard those words for the first time. When his boss asked him if he remembered, he immediately knew he had to deny it because of the legal implications. However, it's likely that Natalie, right before she resigned, admitted that she remembered the woman said she would jump off a bridge. So the question to Ryan was asking for a confirmation. Without his confirmation, the boss might think that Natalie was having an emotional reaction to the news and didn't remember correctly -- hence no legal action.

Also I agree that this was a turning point for Ryan.

It was obvious to me that Ryan -after a second- recalled the WOMAN who said after the final termination she would jump off a particular bridge.

May I add that a 40 yr old woman (iirc the character looked age 40 or older) is well beyond the ages properly described as a 'girl'. I'm not being pedantic here. Maybe it's because that heartbreaking 'interview' scene has stayed in my mind long after seeing Up In The Air.

Often employees of a company which is downsizing anticipate the firings and contemplate their own future options. We can't know exactly why the character in the scene (this wonderful! actress whose name I'm going to search for)despaired so deeply, but I imagine she had worked hard to get a good job. Many people lose their homes when they lose jobs.


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