Put Me In Season 2 Episode 5: Different Dynamic


PREVIOUSLY ON PUT ME IN

JAMIE
You’re willing to share the spotlight with Carter?

DAVID
No, but any competent manager would make me the ace.

JAMIE
I will look at our payroll and where we can cut costs if necessary. I think for the most part Lewis and Carter and really everyone else on the team is working well for us. For the most part, there’s a good dynamic and team chemistry going on.

DAVID
Are you calling me out?

JAMIE
I’m not saying you have the best of chemistry with them.

DAVID
Whatever your decision is, if you don’t fire Lewis soon, I walk away. I can do a lot better somewhere else.

JAMIE
I will take this meeting into consideration.

DAVID
Good.

DAVID walks away. He smiles, expecting he is one step closer to replacing CARTER as the team’s ace.
_______________

OPEN: CARTER is in the dugout, taking deep breaths to get mentally prepared for the game. LEWIS is right next to him.

LEWIS
I have news for you, Carter.

CARTER
Uh oh. What is it?

LEWIS
It’s about David. You know, the guy who wants to take your position.

CARTER
I know who David is. He doesn’t have the fans that I do.

LEWIS
But there are no fans here.

CARTER
More people watch the games when I’m pitching though, right?

LEWIS
Eh, depends. It’s not as big of an increase anymore.

CARTER
But you still think I’m the better pitcher, at least.

LEWIS
You’ve had your hits and misses.

CARTER
David has to.

LEWIS
Look, this isn’t really up to me as much as it is up to the general manager. Those office people run the Capitols, I just stand in the dugout as a hype man.

CARTER
You haven’t hyped up too many of us.

LEWIS
Do you want the ace spot or not?

CARTER
Of course!

LEWIS
Alright, get up on the mound now, we’ll continue this conversation later.

CARTER walks up to the mound, having DAVID in mind. He is tentative when he throws the first pitch, which is a fastball of slow velocity. The batter swings early and misses. CARTER tries that pitch a few more times, striking out two batters. RAY walks up to the mound.

RAY
Different pitch, nice going!

CARTER
Yeah. The first one was luck but it seems like I’m getting them again.

RAY
Keep it up. Remember, switch up your pitches. You don’t want to get too predictable or else you’ll end up looking like...

CARTER
Can we not revisit that?

RAY
Yeah, that’s best.

RAY walks back to the catcher’s box. CARTER throws a mix of his fastball, curveball, changeup, and what he thinks of as a slowball. He gets through the first four innings without giving up a run.

CARTER
So Lewis, when am I gonna hear the rest of what you were starting to tell me?

LEWIS
I don’t know all that much. You’ll have to go to Jamie.

CARTER
Alright, is she around after the game?

LEWIS
You’d be best to just go now.

CARTER
But I’m in the middle of my pitching! I have two more innings!

LEWIS
Don’t worry about it. Ben will pitch.

BEN
I will? I’m just a second baseman!

LEWIS
We have a 15 to nothing lead. I’m sure you can manage.

CARTER exits and walks up to the front office, where he meets JAMIE in her office.

CARTER
I’m hearing something about me not being the ace anymore.

JAMIE
That was confidential information. Where did you hear that from?

CARTER
Lewis told—I mean, Dav—

JAMIE
Lewis told you, I see. He is not supposed to know that. David and I had a secret going about this.

CARTER
Am I in trouble?

JAMIE
No, and Lewis isn’t either. David is, though.

CARTER
In fairness to David, even though he doesn’t like me, I do have to admit he’s a good pitcher.

JAMIE
Yeah, but he doesn’t have fans like you do. If I had to pick between you and David, I would absolutely pick you.

CARTER
Just to be clear we’re talking about—

JAMIE
Being on the team.

CARTER
Is there a scenario where we are both on the team?

JAMIE
Yeah, but there’s a much greater chance neither of you are on the team. We have to choose between paying you a huge salary or starting over with a group of new rising talent. I change my mind all the time about who stays and who goes.

CARTER
So you’re saying I can’t get the pay raise I never asked for?

JAMIE
Maybe. Maybe not, I really don’t know. All I’m saying is, be prepared for any decision, okay?

CARTER
Got it.

CARTER walks out of the office and back to the dugout. LEWIS approaches him.

LEWIS
What’d she say?

CARTER
I’m not supposed to tell you this, but I might get traded. David might too.

LEWIS
Don’t worry, you need to remember that talks of you being traded or released have gone around before. This kind of stuff just happens.

CARTER
I’m a little worried that they’re not going to keep me on the team much longer. I like it here!

LEWIS
I’m sure wherever you end up, your talents won’t be wasted. Now get out of here, get some rest.

CARTER leaves, having mixed feelings about the team’s dynamics.

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