All bullpen members are in the outdoor area of the Indianapolis Primitives’ bullpen. It is late afternoon, and the stadium is practically empty.
LORENZO
Wonder why the fans or players aren’t here yet, the game should have started half an hour ago.
ACE
Yeah it’s 5:34 right now and the game was supposed to start a little after 5.
CARTER
No it’s not, it starts at 7.
DEVIN
Then why are we all here?
CARTER
To get ahead of the curve, practice our pitching early. Which we haven’t exactly done yet, but we’re getting to it.
LORENZO
You tricked us into getting here early?
CARTER
Yep. Honestly not sure how it worked on you given you’re the coach.
LORENZO
Yeah in hindsight that was pretty naive of me.
BRYAN
Well I don’t feel like just sitting here until the game starts. I’m going to the indoor bullpen to watch some TV. Who’s with me?
DAVE
I’m going there to warm up. You never know when they might need me.
VICTOR
Same here.
DAVE
They won’t need you.
VICTOR
You never know, game could be a blowout.
Everyone walks down to the indoor bullpen area. DAVE walks up to a warm-up mound and has CARTER catch for him. MANNY turns on the TV as everyone else watches it.
MANNY
Guess they’re doing the pre-game coverage.
ROBERT
Oh, Primitives Pre-Game? I haven’t been able to watch that in forever!
HARRY squints.
HARRY
Who’s that guy walking around behind the talking heads?
ROBERT
Some vendor. Probably selling beer or whatever.
HARRY
What are we doing hanging around here when there’s beer out there?
FELIX
Harry I don’t think that’s a good idea.
HARRY
I’ll be back with beer. Wouldn’t you like for me to have some on hand for the game?
HARRY leaves.
FELIX
This is nothing but trouble.
DEVIN
Keeps him busy anyway.
They continue to watch the pre-game coverage as they find HARRY purchase beer from the vendor. Half an hour goes by and he still has not returned. CARTER is now warming up with DAVE catching, while everyone else is still watching Primitives Pre-Game.
MANNY
You guys think Harry got lost?
LORENZO
He’s probably just touring the stadium.
MANNY
Yeah. Because he’s lost.
BRYAN
Quiet everyone, Harry’s on TV!
Everyone quiets down and looks at the TV. CARTER and DAVE walk over.
TALKING HEAD
We are now joined by a fan of the Primitives who’s going to provide his commentary on tonight’s game, what’s your name Sir?
HARRY
Harold, longtime fan and season-ticket holder baby! WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Everyone in the bullpen looks confused as HARRY slurs his words.
TALKING HEAD
Harold I have one question for you: what do you think of the Primitives’ bullpen?
HARRY continues to slur his words, clearly drunk.
HARRY
You know…the bullpen, they can’t tell their asses from a hole in the ground. But I don’t know what’s worse: the pitching or the coaching. Just…
HARRY giggles.
TALKING HEAD
Okay thank you for your insight Harold, please nobody serve this man any more beer.
TALKING HEAD 2
Hey, he wasn’t wrong.
TALKING HEAD
He wasn’t wrong indeed.
MANNY shuts off the TV.
MANNY
That couldn’t have gone any worse.
LORENZO
Relax, who even watches Primitives Pre-Game anyway?
ACE
I sure hope you’re right Lorenzo.
LORENZO
Trust me, it’ll be fine. Just focus on tonight’s game.
HARRY returns to the bullpen.
BRYAN
Harry, I see you forgot the beer.
HARRY
OOPS! Forgot. Drank it all…whoops.
DAVE
Well the game’s about to begin. Hopefully this all washes over by the time I pitch.