It’s the ninth inning, and the Indianapolis Primitives are winning 10 to 1. With a wide lead, the starting pitcher has been taken out of the game and DAVE has been called to go in. Everyone from the bullpen is in the indoor bullpen area.
DAVE
Alright guys, I’ll be back in a few minutes!
ACE
Not if you give up a few runs. Then the inning will be extra long.
DEVIN
Actually, wouldn’t that mean Dave would be back even sooner?
BRYAN
Yeah Dave you don’t want to come back too soon.
DAVE leaves the indoor bullpen as he starts his journey to the mound.
FELIX
Good job guys, putting positive thoughts in his head.
LORENZO
Do you guys hear that?
VICTOR
Is it your stomach again? I know you haven’t had any food this game but Harry was clearly in no state to be here. It’s best we sent him home.
CARTER
I can’t believe he said we didn’t know our asses from a hole in the ground. Does he really think that?!
LORENZO
He was just drunk. But I still hear that noise. I think it’s coming from outside.
ROBERT
Should we check it out?
LORENZO
You can go right ahead but I’m staying here in the air conditioning.
MANNY
I’ll turn the TV back on.
MANNY turns on the TV, which is showing the Primitives game.
MANNY
I don’t hear anything.
LORENZO
Fine, let’s check it out.
They walk out to the outdoor bullpen area to the crowd chanting ‘ass from the ground!’ as Dave attempts to pitch.
DEVIN
You think Harry’s interview made the rounds?
BRYAN
I’d say so.
ACE
Poor guy probably thinks the crowd hates him.
CARTER
The crowd DOES hate him! They hate all of us.
FELIX
Luckily we have an amazing bullpen coach who’s going to turn everything around and save everyone’s jobs, right Lorenzo?
LORENZO stares at the crowd, then looks up and sees a hot dog vendor.
LORENZO
OVER HERE! I’LL TAKE A HOT DOG!
LORENZO jumps up and down while flailing his arms in the air to get the vendor’s attention. This gets the big screen behind the stands in the outfield hones in on LORENZO. Once he gets the vendor’s attention, the vendor throws a hot dog at him. The crowd laughs, then cheers as LORENZO takes his first bite.
DEVIN
Wow, Lorenzo I think you diverted their attention away from Dave!
LORENZO
Huh?
ACE
Your hot dog saved us!
BRYAN
Let’s get out of here before they start hating us again.
Everyone returns to the indoor bullpen, finding the local coverage of the game is showing replays of LORENZO’s interaction with the hot dog vendor. They watch for a minute before shutting off the TV.
VICTOR
You sure know how to work a crowd, Lorenzo. Genius plan.
LORENZO
I was just trying to get a hot dog. But if it means I saved the bullpen, I’ll take it.
CARTER
I wouldn’t say you saved the bullpen, but at least the crowd’s no longer chanting something Harry said when he was drunk.
DAVE returns to the indoor bullpen, having just finished the game.
DAVE
I’m surprised you guys are still here, given the game’s over.
MANNY
The game’s over? See, this is why the TV stays on, guys! Let’s get out of here.
ROBERT
Wait — I know this sounds crazy, but what if we stayed and watched the post-game show? You know, just to make sure they’re not still talking about what Harry said.
FELIX
Robert has a point, Lorenzo got the fans back on our side for now, but we should probably see what the talking heads are saying.
DAVE
Lorenzo? I’m the one who got the fans back on our side with my great pitching!
MANNY
Sure you did.
DEVIN
Here we go guys, the post game show’s on.