LEWIS reaches into his pocket and gives a check to CARTER. CARTER looks at it.
CARTER
Whoa. I think they made a mistake.
LEWIS
Let me look at that...nope, not a mistake.
CARTER
A million dollars?!
LEWIS
What did you expect? Ten million?
CARTER
No, like a hundred bucks.
LEWIS
You're famous, Carter.
CARTER looks up in shock, letting the words sink in.
RAY
Carter, whatever happens, don't let David see your check for a million dollars.
BEN (overhearing)
YOU MADE A MILLION DOLLARS?!
RAY
Ben! Too loud!
Word quickly makes its way around the dugout.
RAY
Secret's out, Carter. Good luck.
RAY walks away. After the game, CARTER leaves.
________________
OPEN: CARTER walks back to the dugout after pitching six scoreless innings.
LEWIS
Well done, Carter.
CARTER
It felt like you weren’t even watching my pitching today.
LEWIS
I wasn’t.
CARTER
Why not?
LEWIS
Just distracted. There’s constant rumors about people getting traded and fired and I don’t even know what to think anymore.
CARTER
What do you mean?
LEWIS
One minute they say I’m fired, the next minute they tell me to pack my bags, the minute after that they tell me to leave the dugout...
CARTER
You got fired?!?! For what?!?!
LEWIS
They didn’t tell me.
CARTER
Me and you are going to the front office right now.
LEWIS
I don’t know, sounds risky...
CARTER
What do you have to lose?
LEWIS
True. Let’s go.
CARTER and LEWIS leave the dugout and walk to the front office, where they meet JAMIE.
JAMIE
Carter. Lewis. May I help you?
CARTER
Why did Lewis get fired?
JAMIE
We prefer the term ‘resigned to pursue other opportunities.’
LEWIS
But I didn’t resign. I got fired. And there was no explanation given.
JAMIE
Sometimes we just have to do that kind of stuff.
LEWIS
Huh?
JAMIE
You know, just general restructuring. Shake things up every now and then. It’s nothing you did wrong per say, we’re just exploring our other options.
LEWIS
I don’t think this is fair at all.
JAMIE
What’s fair and not fair is up to me to decide, not you. Plus, there have been multiple complaints about you.
LEWIS
From who?
JAMIE
That’s confidential information.
CARTER
What if we guess?
JAMIE
Go ahead.
CARTER
David.
JAMIE gives CARTER a blank stare.
CARTER
So it’s David?
JAMIE
As I said, that information is confidential.
CARTER
Who else would have any reason to punish Lewis?
LEWIS
Carter, maybe I self-destructed. Jamie, just tell me how I messed up.
JAMIE
You didn’t place David as your ace when he clearly should be.
CARTER
So this is about David, isn’t it? Let me tell you, he needs to get used to—
LEWIS
Carter let me handle this. So this is about David, isn’t it? Let me tell you, he needs to get used to—
JAMIE
I understand your frustration. My mind has not and will not be changed by anything you say. Lewis, it’s time for you to leave.
CARTER
No.
JAMIE
What do you mean, no?
CARTER
He’s not leaving. You can’t make him.
JAMIE
It’s a done deal. Lewis is out.
CARTER
Not if he refuses to leave.
LEWIS
Carter, I’m not going to refuse to leave. It’s over.
JAMIE
Thank you for understanding. You can show yourself out now.
LEWIS leaves the room.
CARTER
This is not right.
JAMIE
That’s up to me, not you.
CARTER
So now David’s going to be the ace pitcher? And for what?
JAMIE
Just to keep him happy. You don’t mind.
CARTER
Yes I do!
JAMIE
Then go play for another team.
CARTER
Maybe I will.
JAMIE
Not if I have a say.
CARTER
Huh? You’re being so confusing.
JAMIE
Or maybe I will trade you.
CARTER
Am I staying here or not?
JAMIE
Let’s just say you should start looking at other teams while also focusing your attention on pitching here. Okay?
CARTER
Um...sure. So about Lewis...
JAMIE
I’ll reevaluate.
CARTER smiles and leaves the room.
LEWIS
Well done, Carter.
CARTER
It felt like you weren’t even watching my pitching today.
LEWIS
I wasn’t.
CARTER
Why not?
LEWIS
Just distracted. There’s constant rumors about people getting traded and fired and I don’t even know what to think anymore.
CARTER
What do you mean?
LEWIS
One minute they say I’m fired, the next minute they tell me to pack my bags, the minute after that they tell me to leave the dugout...
CARTER
You got fired?!?! For what?!?!
LEWIS
They didn’t tell me.
CARTER
Me and you are going to the front office right now.
LEWIS
I don’t know, sounds risky...
CARTER
What do you have to lose?
LEWIS
True. Let’s go.
CARTER and LEWIS leave the dugout and walk to the front office, where they meet JAMIE.
JAMIE
Carter. Lewis. May I help you?
CARTER
Why did Lewis get fired?
JAMIE
We prefer the term ‘resigned to pursue other opportunities.’
LEWIS
But I didn’t resign. I got fired. And there was no explanation given.
JAMIE
Sometimes we just have to do that kind of stuff.
LEWIS
Huh?
JAMIE
You know, just general restructuring. Shake things up every now and then. It’s nothing you did wrong per say, we’re just exploring our other options.
LEWIS
I don’t think this is fair at all.
JAMIE
What’s fair and not fair is up to me to decide, not you. Plus, there have been multiple complaints about you.
LEWIS
From who?
JAMIE
That’s confidential information.
CARTER
What if we guess?
JAMIE
Go ahead.
CARTER
David.
JAMIE gives CARTER a blank stare.
CARTER
So it’s David?
JAMIE
As I said, that information is confidential.
CARTER
Who else would have any reason to punish Lewis?
LEWIS
Carter, maybe I self-destructed. Jamie, just tell me how I messed up.
JAMIE
You didn’t place David as your ace when he clearly should be.
CARTER
So this is about David, isn’t it? Let me tell you, he needs to get used to—
LEWIS
Carter let me handle this. So this is about David, isn’t it? Let me tell you, he needs to get used to—
JAMIE
I understand your frustration. My mind has not and will not be changed by anything you say. Lewis, it’s time for you to leave.
CARTER
No.
JAMIE
What do you mean, no?
CARTER
He’s not leaving. You can’t make him.
JAMIE
It’s a done deal. Lewis is out.
CARTER
Not if he refuses to leave.
LEWIS
Carter, I’m not going to refuse to leave. It’s over.
JAMIE
Thank you for understanding. You can show yourself out now.
LEWIS leaves the room.
CARTER
This is not right.
JAMIE
That’s up to me, not you.
CARTER
So now David’s going to be the ace pitcher? And for what?
JAMIE
Just to keep him happy. You don’t mind.
CARTER
Yes I do!
JAMIE
Then go play for another team.
CARTER
Maybe I will.
JAMIE
Not if I have a say.
CARTER
Huh? You’re being so confusing.
JAMIE
Or maybe I will trade you.
CARTER
Am I staying here or not?
JAMIE
Let’s just say you should start looking at other teams while also focusing your attention on pitching here. Okay?
CARTER
Um...sure. So about Lewis...
JAMIE
I’ll reevaluate.
CARTER smiles and leaves the room.