OPEN WIDE
by Scott McGee
(four people sit at a table)
TERRY: Okay, folks, weve been here for well over three hours now, and were nowhere near making a decision.
JENNY: Im just throwing ideas out there, Terry.
TERRY: Jenny, I know.
JENNY: Cant do more than that.
TERRY: I know.
JENNY: Just throwing em out there.
TERRY: Jenny, please. Were all trying to figure this thing out.
JENNY: Some of us more than others.
BOBBY: What does that mean?
JENNY: Well.
BOBBY: What? (to Terry) What? Am I doing something wrong?
TERRY: Youre not doing anything wrong, Bobby.
BOBBY: So whats with the look?
JENNY: Oh, hes not doing anything wrong, hes just not doing anything.
BOBBY: The hell.
JENNY: Fine. Live in your dreamworld, Bobby, but some of us actually work for a living.
BOBBY: Dont know what youre talking about.
JENNY: Sure.
TERRY: Come on, you two, weve got to iron this out. Arguing right now is not gonna help us reach our deadline.
BOBBY: Fine with me.
JENNY: Okay, but Im telling you guys, Ive only got a limited number of ideas over here. I really dont know where else we can go.
TERRY: Well, lets take a look at the marketing aspect of this. How wide are we gonna want to go?
JENNY: Terry, that was my baby from the start and I think were still looking at 16 to 17 hundred. Minimum.
BOBBY: Too big.
JENNY: What?
BOBBY: Too big.
JENNY: What are you talking? Thats the way this thing gotta open. No question. Its gotta be at least that many.
BOBBY: We should start 3 or 4 hundred. Start small.
JENNY: Small?
BOBBY: 3 or 4 hundred.
TERRY: I dont know, Bobby. I think Im leaning towards Jenny on this.
BOBBY: Terry
TERRY: Yeah. Im thinking we should go big. I dont think small is what we want.
JENNY: Definitely big.
BOBBY: No way.
TERRY: Well, lets ask the boss then. Max? What do you think it should be? Should we go big with this one?
MAX: Sometimes!
TERRY: (pause) Yeah, I know. Sometimes we go too wide.
BOBBY: Its hurt us in the past.
TERRY: Thats true.
JENNY: I know, but... Max, dont you think that taking risks is a part of what we need more of around here?
MAX: Sometimes.
JENNY: And dont you think this is one of those times?
MAX: Sometimes. Sometimes!
JENNY: See! I agree with Max, weve got to make this go big or were gonna miss the big numbers down the line.
MAX: Sometimes!
TERRY: We have missed them a few times lately.
MAX: Sometimes.
BOBBY: Max, are you really sure about this?
MAX: Sometimes!
BOBBY: Thats good enough for me.
TERRY: Me too.
JENNY: Max is always right.
MAX: Sometimes!
JENNY: Oh, Max.
BOBBY: So humble this guy.
TERRY: Well, that decides it. Were going big. Wow.
BOBBY: Yeah.
JENNY: You know, thats gonna make the rest of our decisions pretty darn easy.
TERRY: Thats right. I didnt think about that.
BOBBY: Holy crap. Youre right.
JENNY: Max did it again.
BOBBY: Youre the man, Max.
MAX: Sometimes.
TERRY: All the time, Max!
MAX: SOMETIMES!!!! (stands) Sometimes. Sometimes, I have to pee but I forget and it runs down my leg. Sometimes.
(pause)
TERRY: Indecision.
BOBBY: Indecision will cost you every time.
JENNY: No doubt about that. Thats what Ive been saying all along.
TERRY: Good point, Max. And on that note, I think we should all take a break. Snacks, smokes, and dont forget the bathroom. Right, Max? (slaps Max on the back as hes leaving.)
(everyone talking as they leave. Max does not get up.)(Max sits by himself for a second.)
MAX: Sometimes. The pee runs down my leg. Sometimes. (pause) I feel so all alone. (soft) ... sometimes...
Lights slowly fade Out
"Open Wide" IS COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL AND MAY NOT BE DOWNLOADED, TRANSMITTED, PRINTED OR PERFORMED WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR
"Open Wide" debuted February 7, 2003 with the following cast:
TERRY: Robert Knight
JENNY: Tory Seiter
BOBBY: Eric Johnson
MAX: Brian Anderson