Week 34, Day 235 - “I Need Lunch”

“I Need Lunch”

Written by Joe Janes

9/10/09

235 of 365

CAST

Wendi, 30s

Bill, 30s

Kimberly, 30s

Brian, 40s

(Lights up on Bill and Wendi sitting at desks working. Bill looks at a big clock on the wall.)

BILL

12:15 on the dot. I am going to lunch.

WENDI (still working)

Okay.

BILL (getting up)

I think I’ll go to that new sandwich place.

WENDI

Okay.

BILL

Care to join me?

WENDI

No, thanks.

BILL

Want me to bring you something back?

WENDI

No, that’s all right.

BILL

You sure?

(Kimberly enters.)

KIMBERLY

Hey, I’m going to go to that new sandwich place. The one that’s not as much of a chain as the other one next to it.

BILL

Me, too, Kimberly. I’ll join you.

KIMBERLY

You want to come, Wendi?

WENDI

No, thank you.

KIMBERLY

What’s wrong?

WENDI

I’m not hungry.

BILL

You might get hungry later.

WENDI

I doubt it.

KIMBERLY

But you might. And then what?

WENDI

I’ll grab a snack from the vending machine.

KIMBERLY

You need lunch.

WENDI

No. I don’t think I do.

BILL

You have to keep your energy up.

WENDI

I had a decent breakfast. I’ve had two cups of coffee. I’ve got my water. I’m good. Really.

KIMBERLY

Well, I’ll bring something back for you. Just in case.

WENDI

Please don’t do that.

KIMBERLY

Do you need to see someone in HR? I’m worried about you.

WENDI

I’m fine. I just don’t want to eat any lunch. I’m not hungry. I’m tired of eating out of habit. I only want to eat when I’m hungry. Right now, not hungry.

KIMBERLY

What did you do, Bill, to piss her off?

BILL

I didn’t do anything.

KIMBERLY

Really?

WENDI

Bill didn’t do anything this time. I really just don’t want to eat lunch. I eat when I’m not hungry all the time. It just gives me an upset stomach and makes me sleepy when I don’t want to be.

BILL

Maybe it’s an eating disorder. You’re a girl, what do you think?

KIMBERLY

Maybe. I’m going to shoot HR an e-mail, just to, you know, give them a heads up.

WENDI

I do not need to talk to anyone in HR. What I need is for you two to leave me alone. Go eat your food. I’m not hungry. I don’t need it. I’m skipping lunch, today. Okay?

(Kimberly and Bill mumble some “yeah, sure, etc.” Brian pops his head in the room.)

BRIAN

Hey, gang, it’s Cheryl’s birthday. There’s pizza and cake in the break room.

WENDI

Awesome.

(Wendi exits as Kimberly and Bill watch her walk off, stunned.)

BILL

I thought you weren’t hungry.

(Just before she exits, she turns.)

WENDI

It’s free. I never turn down free food.

(Blackout)