Saturday, January 31, 2009

Week Two, Day Thirteen - "Chet At Lunch"

“Chet At Lunch”
(Part Three of “Dancing with the Devil”)
Written by Joe Janes
1/31/09
13 of 365

CAST:
Sumi, 20s
Mannie, 50s
Chet, late 20s
Angel
Devil
Tyler


(Lights up on Mannie from “Better Than Money” at the counter of a fast food restaurant. Chet stands behind him. Sumi, in uniform and headset, hands him a “to go” bag of food.)

SUMI
Burger, fries and a cola. That’s four dollars and thirty-six cents.

(Mannie counts the money out on the counter and Sumi puts it in the register except for one bill.)

SUMI (continuing)
Sixty-four cents is your change and… (She hands him the one “bill” and opens her arms. Mannie hugs her over the counter. He takes his food and leaves.) Have a nice day, Mannie.

MANNIE
You, too, Sumi!

SUMI
Hi, Cutie, what’ll it be today?

CHET
Well, I will have a cheeseburger, fries, and a small coke.

SUMI
We have a special today. For just fifty cents, you can get a hot fried apple pie dessert treat.

CHET
Gee, I don’t know-

(Sumi freezes, lights shift, Devil and Angel, and Tyler, a nice guy hand puppet, appear on Chet’s shoulders.)

DEVIL
Go for the pie, Chet. They fry it. Hot fried pie, it doesn’t get any better than that.

ANGEL
You summoned me here over pie?

DEVIL
Yes. Chet is watching his weight –

CHET
No, I’m not.

DEVIL
Chet should be watching his weight and, excuse me, who are you?

TYLER
Hi, I’m Tyler.

ANGEL
We were on a date.

DEVIL
I didn’t realize it was “Bring A Date” to work day.

ANGEL
We were on a swan boat ride. I couldn’t just leave him. I don’t want to mess things up with you, Tyler.

DEVIL
I see. Now, you care about messing things up.

CHET
Guys, I’m in a hurry. I really don’t need this, right now.

DEVIL
Shut up, Chet.

ANGEL
Don’t tell Chet to shut up.

DEVIL
Okay, look. Maybe I just wanted to see you one more time before your transfer went through. You look good.

ANGEL
Thanks. So do you. Really.

TYLER
Maybe I should wait back at the swan boat.

ANGEL
Don’t go anywhere, Tyler.

DEVIL
Looks like someone’s a little halo whipped, right, Chet?

ANGEL
Uh! You always have to try to piss me off, don’t you? Look, I’m sorry things didn’t work out. You need to move on.

DEVIL
Yeah. I know. You’re right. Sorry you got dragged in to this, Tyler. You better take care of her.

TYLER
Sure.

ANGEL
Let’s go. Good-bye.

(They leave. The Devil sighs.)

CHET
You going to be all right?

DEVIL
I don’t know.

CHET
You want some of my apple pie?

DEVIL
Sure.

(Lights change back.)

SUMI
Would you like the hot fried apple pie dessert treat?

CHET
Do you recommend it?

SUMI
It’s fried pie. What’s not to like?

CHET
Then, yes, I would (looks at tag), Sumi. Cute name.

SUMI
Thanks. (Writes on a napkin) I’ll bring your order out to you as soon as its ready and, hey, here’s my phone number so you can call me and we can go hang out or something.

CHET
Yeah. Sure. I will. Thanks, Sumi.

(He starts to leave)

SUMI
I like your parrot!

(Lights fade)