The Indianapolis Primitives’ bullpen are all inside their newly-built indoor bullpen space.
LORENZO
Big game today, guys!
DAVE
Every game’s a big game.
LORENZO
Not this big. Everyone’s pitching today!
HARRY
Not me.
MANNY
Not you either, Lorenzo.
LORENZO
Come on guys, this is exciting!
ACE
Is it? Our jobs are on the line and the crowd hates us.
LORENZO
I got them back on our side. Just go out there and have fun. And don’t give up any hits.
DEVIN
So who’s pitching first?
LORENZO
I uh…haven’t really decided that yet.
FELIX
Fine, I’ll go first. We can at least get off to a solid start that way.
FELIX starts to leave the indoor bullpen. He notices that nobody is following him.
FELIX
Aren’t you guys gonna come outside and watch? It’s game time!
BRYAN
We were gonna watch on the one working TV in here!
FELIX
Come on, I know that’s not true. Plus it’s nice out.
Everyone follows FELIX out of the indoor bullpen and to the outdoor bullpen area.
ROBERT
Guys…where are all the fans?
CARTER
Lorenzo for the love of God please tell me it’s a home game.
LORENZO
Pretty sure.
MANNY
Both teams are in the dugouts. Guess the fans are just running late is all.
HARRY
Or they found out it’s a bullpen game and decided not to come.
DAVE
And whose fault would that be?
HARRY
What can I say, I spoke my mind.
MANNY
I’m going inside. The Colds are playing and I don’t want to miss it.
DEVIN
The who?
MANNY
The Colds? The Indianapolis Colds? Don’t tell me you haven’t heard of the Indianapolis Colds.
DEVIN
Not a word.
MANNY
They’re only the greatest women’s basketball team in the country.
FELIX
Manny, I’ll bet you anything the Indianapolis Colds are not playing.
MANNY
Oh yeah? How much do you want to bet?
FELIX
If they’re not playing, I’ll cover for your inning.
CARTER
Felix I don’t think that’s a good idea.
FELIX
Why not? Then we get two good innings! Combine that with you and Dave and we might actually win this game! All we need is for it to be called off for rain after the fifth inning and we could potentially be good!
MANNY returns to the indoor bullpen. FELIX heads to the mound to pitch the first inning, where he strikes out all three batters. FELIX then returns to the outdoor bullpen.
LORENZO
Felix, that was amazing!
FELIX
I used to do it literally all the time, remember?
LORENZO
Not really. I didn’t pay close attention.
FELIX
Anyways is Manny back yet?
LORENZO
Back from where?
FELIX
Never mind.
FELIX looks around the outdoor bullpen for MANNY, but doesn’t see him. He immediately runs to the indoor bullpen, where he finds MANNY frantically surfing TV stations.
FELIX
Inning’s over. Find the game yet?
MANNY
Well…no.
FELIX
Told ya! I’m going back in for the second inning!
MANNY
They really should be showing it though. I read online it’s got record attendance.
FELIX
Oh really?
MANNY
Yup. Haven’t lost a game yet. They got all the stars on their starting lineup.
FELIX
Wow…kinda sounds like us actually. Well, back when we never lost a game.
MANNY
Yeah. Good times.
FELIX
Back when I was a star pitcher, and you were a star coach. I miss those days.
MANNY
All because of one bad pitch.
FELIX
No, it was because of a coaching mistake. If you didn’t—
MANNY
Hey. Let’s just blame the catcher and move on. Deal?
FELIX
Sure. Now I should probably get out there before Lorenzo tries to put himself into the game to “save the day.”
MANNY
Yeah that’d be a good idea.
FELIX and MANNY return to the outdoor bullpen to find DEVIN is in the game.
MANNY
Looks like you’re too late.
LORENZO
There you guys are! Want a home run ball? I signed it!
FELIX laughs.
FELIX
Lorenzo…what’s the score.
LORENZO
Eight to nothing. We’re on our third pitcher this inning but as long as Dave can do six innings…maybe we won’t have to forfeit.
MANNY
So you’re saying we’re gonna have to forfeit the game?
LORENZO
Yeah, probably.
MANNY
As a former coach…do it now before it gets worse.
LORENZO turns to everyone else.
LORENZO
Alright guys, who wants to forfeit?
Everyone raises their hand. LORENZO walks onto the mound and pulls DEVIN from the game. They walk back to the bullpen together.
DEVIN
You know you technically don’t have the power to pull pitchers, right?
LORENZO
Nobody’s arguing with it.
DEVIN
Fair enough.
LORENZO and DEVIN arrive to what is now an empty bullpen.
DEVIN
You know, you’re probably on the chopping block after this game.
LORENZO
Nonsense. Get some rest, we’ll get ‘em next time!