The Schedule

A one act play about female cattiness in the work place.

 

Erica and Mike are in the kitchen of a bust casual dining restaurant in front of the wall where the weekly schedule is posted. Erica is pacing in circles while Mike stands still in front of the schedule.

 

ERICA

They’re going to think I’m crazy.

 

MIKE

But you’re not.

 

ERICA

What would you think if I told you someone were trying to get me? You would think I were being paranoid, right?

 

MIKE

No, I saw you’re schedule. You had four shifts, none of which were for this morning.

 

ERICA

I don’t know, but I’m really heated. Like I’m really heated. These f*****g b*****s.

 

MIKE

Yo…

 

ERICA

No, Mike. Don’t try to calm me down.

 

MIKE

Alright, Erica. I’m just saying, it could have been a mistake.

 

ERICA SLOWLY WALKS TOWARD MIKE AND STANDS BESIDE HIM.

 

ERICA

Well, if it was a mistake it was very unprofessional for no one to tell me. Katie was here all last night. She could have come up to me and said, “Erica, I put you on to work tomorrow. Is that ok?” Not even to ask me just at least to let me know. I want to say something, but I don’t even know who to talk to.

 

MIKE

Talk to Angela

 

ERICA

What is she going to say when I tell her one of her managers is out to get me?

 

MIKE

Maybe try talking to Mary?

 

ERICA

It could have been her that changed the schedule. I don’t know why, but I don’t trust her. I don’t trust her at all.

 

ERICA LOOKS AT THE SCHEDULE AND BEGINS PACING AGAIN

 

MIKE

Alright, remember what we talked about the other day? About how things only become apparent as they can, or do " regardless of exposure or proximity. What if the schedule said that the whole time and we just didn’t see it? Maybe it was no one’s fault but our own.

 

ERICA WALKS BACK TO MIKE AND STARES AT THE SCHEDULE

 

ERICA

I don’t think so. I mean, that doesn’t make any sense. None of it makes any sense.

 

MIKE

I think one of them changed the schedule, but I don’t think it was Mary. She didn’t have access. And what’s her motivation? Plus, I helped her make the schedule.

 

ERICA

She said she changed it after you looked at it.

 

MIKE

She did change the schedule, but she wouldn’t put someone on an open close after she asked me to make sure she hadn’t done that already. If someone changed it I think it was Katie.

 

ERICA

I need to prove it.

 

MIKE

Maybe we should go through the trash in the office. If she took one down this morning it might still be there.

 

MIKE

You didn’t get in trouble and Katie and Mary said it was cool. I just don’t see any real motivation.

 

ERICA LIFTS HER HAND AS IF TO TALK TO IT

 

ERICA

Even when you study the essence?

 

MIKE

I mean, I realize you don’t like her either, but I don’t think she really thinks that.

 

ERICA

She’s a woman, and she’s crazy jealous. And it’s driving her.

 

ENTER MARY

MARY AND ERICA STAND IN A LINE WITH BACKS TO SCHEDULE WALL

EXIT MIKE

 

Mary, I have a problem. I think Katie changed the schedule to spite me.

 

 

MARY TAKES A STEP CLOSER TO MIKE

 

MARY

He’s right; it’s really no big deal.

 

ERICA

Conceptually, it is still for spite. Yeah, really. She’s a woman, Mike, and she hates me.

 

MARY

Hate? Don’t you think that’s a bit extreme?

 

ERICA

Yeah, but it can still be true. It was still for spite.

 

MARY TAKES THE SCHEDULE OFF THE WALL

 

MARY

You could be right but, why would Katie be after you?

 

ERICA

She thinks I slept with her boyfriend, or that I’m seeing him or something.

 

MARY

I’m sorry; I don’t know what to do with that.

 

ERICA

I used to work with him and he told her that he thought I was cute or something.

 

MARY

Why would he do that?

 

ERICA

I think Katie puts the words in his mouth. She thinks we used to flirt a lot and hang out.

 

MARY

Oh, umm…I don’t know what to say but if you really think that you should talk to Angela.

 

ERICA

Angela’s going to think I’m crazy. Katie’s going to say she didn’t do it and that will be it. It will be written off as no big deal until the next time she tries to f**k me over. I mean, come on. It was definitely Katie.

 

MARY PUTS THE SCHEDULE BACK ON THE WALL

 

MARY

Why does she think you’re sleeping with Gary?

 

ERICA

I told you already, Mary. He told Katie I was hot or something.

 

MIKE

Katie told multiple people that she suspects Erica was sleeping with Gary to have a thrill at her expense.

 

MARY

Why were they even talking about you?

 

ERICA

I don’t know, but like I said, I barely even know him.

 

ENTER KATIE

KATIE WALKS BY LOOKING BUSY 

 

KATIE

What’s up?

 

ERICA

Katie, did you tell people I’m having sex with your boyfriend?

 

KATIE

Huh?

 

MARY

Erica thinks you might have changed to schedule to spite her.

 

KATIE

It was cool. It was like whatever.

 

ERICA

Come one, Katie. At least three people have told me that and its pissing me off. And I think you tried to spite me today or that you did something that, at the least, was very unprofessional.

 

KATIE REACHES BETWEEN ERICA AND MIKE TO RETRIEVE THE SCHEDULE

 

KATIE

Damn, Erica. I know you don’t like me but "

 

ERICA

Cut the f*****g s**t, Katie. People always say how unprofessional you can be. Remember that time you chased the party into the parking lot and yelled all kinds of wild s**t to them.

 

MARY

What?

 

MIKE (To Mary)

Yeah.

 

MARY

What happened?

 

KATIE

A table walked out on their bill and were f*****g a******s to Erica.

 

KATIE TURNS HER FOUCUS FROM MARY TO ERICA

 

You stole my f*****g boyfriend, and now you’re going to take my f*****g job you little b***h?

 

MARY

Calm down. Let’s go into the office.

 

THE FOUR WALK OVER TO THE OFFICE BUT DON’T GET THROUGH THE DOOR

 

ERICA

I don’t know what your problem is. I only hung out with him outside of work like once in the 8 months we worked together.

 

KATIE

You call him all the time.

 

KATIE GOES INTO THE OFFICE, SITS IN THE CHAIR AND BURRIES HER FACE IN HER HANDS

 

ERICA

What? Yo Katie, what the hell are you talking about?

 

KATIE

I know you guys are friends from when you worked together. He said you guys hang out all the time. Why are you playing stupid? I know you guys are friends and I f*****g hate it. I hate everything about it. F**k!

 

ERICA

Are you stupid? I’m not friends with him. I haven’t even talked to him since I transferred here.

 

KATIE

But he tells me you hang out.

 

MARY

Are you its not someone else named Erica?

 

KATIE

No, because he knows you work here. Trust me, its you.

 

ERICA

It’s not me.

 

KATIE TAKES OUT HER CELL PHONE

 

KATIE

What’s your phone number?

 

ERICA

201-555-6784.

 

KATIE

That’s not the number that texts him. How could I be so stupid? That mother f****r.

 

MARY

Maybe, he put Erica’s name under someone else’s number. It’s an excellent lie.

 

KATIE

Not really. She works with you. Either he’s stupid or he wants to get caught. Why wouldn’t he just say he was with one of his friends. It’s like he wanted ME to worry.

 

MARY

So why lie so elaborately?

 

ERICA

Because he’s trying to use her jealousy and curiosity to make you trust him. You probably check his phone a lot, right?

 

KATIE

Yeah.

 

MARY

Why do you think he is cheating on you? Maybe he just texts someone like a pen pal or a friend.

 

KATIE

I found condoms; used condoms. A used condom, in the backseat of his car. I didn’t even say anything yet. Erica, I’m sorry. He is sleeping with someone though.

 

ERICA

Well, it’s not me.

 

MARY

Maybe its some one else named Erica?

 

KATIE

No. No. It’s his f*****g friend, Sandra.

 

MARY

What?

 

KATIE

That f*****g scum bag.

 

ENTER ANGELA

ANGELA WALKS BY QUICKLY

 

ANGELA

Hey guys, what’s up?

 

ANGELA STOPS CENTER STAGE LEFT A FEW STEPS FROM THE GROUP

 

Hey, Erica, I forgot to tell you I had to erase Karina from the computer this morning but it wouldn’t let me print a new schedule without putting someone in for her shifts so I put you on an open today but you weren’t responsible for it.

ERICA

Oh.

 

EXIT ANGELA

EXIT KATIE

 

 

ERICA

That sucks for Katie " And f*****g Angela? Can you believe that?

 

EXIT MARY

 

MARY

Wow, that’s messed up.

ERICA

Yeah.

END.