PREVIOUSLY ON PUT ME IN:
LEWIS
Jamie’s the one who set up a jersey signing for Carter today. Not my decision. Not that I think it’s a bad decision, in fact, I love Jamie.
RAY
You don’t have to go that far, she’s not here. (To BEN) Jamie wanted to fire Lewis.
BEN
Well the two of them do seem to be on different pages.
RAY
Maybe Carter quits?
BEN
I don’t think so. But something’s going on. Between David’s hatred of him and Jamie trying to get rid of Lewis, who knows what’s next.
__________________
OPEN: CARTER is sitting on the bench in the dugout next to DAVID.
CARTER
You really don’t have to sit next to me, you know.
DAVID
I want to.
CARTER
Also, you’re not even pitching today.
DAVID
Maybe I will once they take you out in the middle of the first inning.
CARTER
That won’t be happening. I’ve been working on making my curveball better.
DAVID
So it won’t hit anyone this time?
CARTER
I won’t guarantee that, but I feel good about it.
After a long pause:
CARTER
Why haven’t you quit yet?
DAVID
Excuse me?
CARTER
You seem to hate it here.
DAVID
I like it here, other than you. You can also quit.
CARTER
Why would I? They love me here.
DAVID
They used to love me here before you showed up.
CARTER
You’re still valuable.
DAVID
I know I’m valuable, I don’t need you to tell me that. Now go pitch.
CARTER walks onto the mound and pitches six scoreless inning.
CARTER
I threw 42 curveballs there. None of them hit anyone.
DAVID
I have eyes.
CARTER
Just saying.
LEWIS walks over to greet CARTER and DAVID.
LEWIS
David...what are you doing?
DAVID
Just hanging out, waiting for the moment when Carter inevitably falls apart.
LEWIS
I wouldn’t count on that, did you see the way he pitched that inning?
DAVID
He has five more innings to get through.
LEWIS
Carter, don’t let David get to your head.
CARTER
I won’t.
LEWIS
In fact, I heard Jamie wants to have a little chat with you, David.
DAVID
I’m pretty sure she would have told me.
LEWIS
That’s just what I heard.
DAVID
If you say so...
DAVID gets up and leaves.
LEWIS (to CARTER)
That takes care of that problem.
CARTER
There isn’t a meeting between him and Jamie, is there?
LEWIS
Nope.
CARTER
You think Jamie will appreciate it when she finds out the coach she tried to fire sent up his most troublesome player to meet with her?
LEWIS
Wow, I didn’t think of it that way...BEN!
BEN runs over to LEWIS
BEN
What is it, coach?
LEWIS
I need you to track down David before he makes it to Jamie’s office.
BEN
Will do!
BEN leaves the dugout and starts running the opposite way to the front office. He then turns around and starts running the right way, to LEWIS’ relief. NIC and RAY walk over to LEWIS.
NIC
Hey coach, you don’t have a second baseman anymore.
LEWIS
True...crap.
RAY
You going to put someone in?
LEWIS
Sure.
LEWIS looks around the dugout.
LEWIS
Carter, how ‘bout you?
CARTER
What do you mean?
LEWIS
You’re playing second base now. Good luck! You’ll need it!
When it is time, CARTER walks out of the dugout to play second base. He gets drilled in the chest by the ball twice before the end of the game.
LEWIS
Sorry about those times you got hit. In my defense, any good second baseman would’ve caught them.
CARTER
You realize I’m not a good second baseman, right? Or a second baseman at all?
LEWIS
Hey, it was worth a shot. You’ll stick to pitching from here on out though.
CARTER
Thanks?
CARTER walks away, happy with his overall performance.
LEWIS (to RAY)
I have an idea.
RAY
What is it?
LEWIS
I’ll tell you later. Good game today!