Paradise Diner
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Scene X
(Reese and Todd are in front of curtain sitting on a bench—they’re waiting for Chris Camello to show up. There’s another bench near them with a few “shrubs” sticking up behind it. Reese is sipping on a huge drink. He’s at the bottom of the drink and keeps sucking and sucking on the straw, making very loud noises.)
Todd: WOULD YOU STOP THAT!?
(Reese is silent for a minute. Opens drink, shakes ice into his mouth and starts crunching on it loudly.)
Todd: REESE I SWEAR, I’M GONNA SMACK YOU!!
(Reese is quiet again. Stares at his brother quietly for a long time, his mouth puckered out like a fish. Todd is trying to type something into his Blackberry but can’t because he is aware his brother is staring at him.)
Todd: I MEAN IT!!
Reese: What? I’m not doing anything…(quiet again for a few seconds) Todd, maybe you need to go on a vacation. We have lots of money. You kind of remind me of how Dad was right before his heart attack. Although maybe that’s not so bad because it really calmed him down…
Todd: Oh, so you want me to have a heart attack…
Reese: No, I’m just saying that maybe you need to stop getting so upset all the time. You know, this isn’t really fun anymore. It was fun when we first started making money—remember, Todd? We made our first big sale and took that vacation and rented those jet skis? And we made that sailboat tip over? That was a really fun time…
Todd: (lost in thought) That was a fun time…
Reese: I think we need to start having fun again.
Todd: (Shakes off the thought) FUN! Don’t talk to me about fun! We don’t have time for fun! Now get out of here while I meet with Chris—I don’t need a goofball around here messing things up even more.
Reese: (Gets up to go) Well, okay Todd, I won’t talk to you about fun anymore…
(As Reese leaves Chris enters from the other side.)
Todd: (Fake friendly and overbearing) Chris! Thanks for coming buddy! How’s it looking with the other supervisors? Are we still holding on to Walter?
Chris: I don’t know Todd, he’s starting to get cold feet….there’s a lot of pressure out there. I’m not feeling so good--
Todd: (puts his arm around Chris and hands him an envelope). Look my friend—we both know this is going to happen. Here’s a little something for your trouble—no worries my man! Just stay the course and Paradise Diner will soon be out of the way—gone forever like the dodo bird, right?!
Chris: I guess….
(Suddenly, the two “bushes” jump up from behind the other bench. It’s Jaspar and Smitty, both wearing hats covered with shrubbery. They’re holding a video camera.)
Jaspar: AH HAH!! GOTTCHA!!
Todd: What the—
Smitty: Chris, shame on you! We knew your Daddy and this is not the kind of man he would have wanted you to become. Turning on your friends like that!
Todd: (lunges for the camera) GIVE ME THAT YOU OLD COOT!!
(Jaspar and Todd engage in a comical chase and wrestle. Jaspar throws the camera to Smitty who runs off stage with it. Todd follows him and then Jaspar follows Todd. Chris is left standing alone on stage. He tosses the money envelope into a trash can and walks off in the other direction.)