1000th Scenario
John: Paige! I think I finally have it!
Paige: (Thinking to self) Oh no here we go again. (Out loud, faking a big smile) Let me see it John!
John: (Thinking to self) I hope she knows I can read her mind.
Paige: (Thinking to John) Oh no you can’t! (Out loud) Well show me what you got!
John: Then please direct your attention to the computer screen.
Computer: Bam! Wham! Welcome to Isabella: A Race Against Time!
Paige: I suppose this is going to be are next big hit?
John: Well duh Paige!
Paige: Well it’s going to need some work.
John: I just got started Paige.
Paige: Oh then it’s a perfect start!
John: (Smiling from ear to ear) Thanks Paige!
Paige: (Thinking to self) It’s so easy to make him happy. (Out loud) Well this will be our one thousandth game! But it would be so much more special if they were …
John: If they were what Paige? Here? Getting rid of them was one of the best decisions I ever made. No damages, no cat fights, no nothing! It’s been peaceful.
Paige: I know but, still.
John: Still nothing. You remember what they did? (He says while picking up a jar of ashes.)
Paige: No I remember what one of them did, not that we ever figured who did it. I suppose its Flash Back time.
Flash Back
John: Morning Paige.
Paige: (Smiling) Good morning John!
John: Today is a great day Paige. Today is so great that I will profess my love for my double doors twice.
Paige: (Groaning) Not again John! Okay let’s go over this again: Doors are not human. Doors do not have feelings. Doors are wood.
John: These doors mean the world to me. They are a sign of what I have created. I honestly don’t know what I would do if something ever happened to them.
Paige: (Sighing) Really John?
(Lady Katerina, James, Isabella, and Luther enter)
James and Isabella: Morning Boss!
John and Paige: Morning!
Lady Katerina: Morning Paige! Morning Boss! Today is a wonderful day!
(Silence ensues and everyone gasps.)
James, John, and Paige, Isabella: What did you just say?
Lady Katerina: I said good morning!
John: Why are you in such a good mood?
Lady Katerina: Well …. my Jamesy here bought me this 10 carat diamond engagement ring!
Isabella: He did what? (Falls to her desk chair heavily.)
James: (Extremely confused) I did?
Lady Katerina: Yeah you did last night, remember?
James: We’ll talk about this later Kat.
Isabella: Later? James you proposed to Kat! And you didn’t even tell me? I hate you! (Storms off to break room.)
Luther: Idiots … all of them.
(Later on in the day.)
John: Interesting James and Kat are getting married.
Paige: They’re not getting married; this is another one of Kat’s plans to get Isabella mad.
John: Do you think they would like a custom set of double doors as a wedding present? (Walks off muttering about wood and custom made supplies.)
Paige: What am I going to do with him? (Sighs to herself)
(The Work Floor)
Lady Katerina: Do you need to talk to me Sweetheart?
James: What’s with this fake engagement ring?
Lady Katerina: What are you talking about? Are you trying to say you do not want to marry you?
James: I would love to marry you but, just not right now. Especially not with you faking a proposal from me.
Lady Katerina: Fine. (She removes her ring and hands it to James.) Ask me now then?
James: I don’t know maybe it’s too early.
Lady Katerina: You love me right?
James: Yes with all my heart!
Lady Katerina: Then just ask me!
James: K-K-Katerina F-F-Fernandez w-will you marry-y me?
Isabella: (Appearing almost out of no where.) No!
Lady Katerina: Yes!!!
Isabella: Okay the prank is over with. You can stop now James.
James: Isabella this isn’t a joke.
Lady Katerina: Somebody’s jealous.
Isabella: This isn’t funny. Just stop the prank now!
James: Isabella this, me and Kat……. This isn’t a joke.
Isabella: (Whisper) No, no, no… (Voice gets louder) no, no, no, this isn’t happening. This is not going to happen and I’m going to stop it. You are not going to imprison your life away to Kat, James. I just won’t let it happen!
Lady Katerina: And what are you going to do about it!
Isabella: I don’t know yet but, you better be prepared for when I do figure it out.
Lady Katerina: Is that a threat?
Isabella: You better believe it! (Walks out of the office to get some air.)
James: Isabella wait!
Lady Katerina: James just leave her.
Back to Reality
Paige: And how do you know all this?
John: Well I might have used to spy on our video camera system a little.
Paige: A little?
John: Okay maybe it was a lot but, anyway ….
Flash Back
Paige: If you are questioning something, then it is not meant to be. If you were really in love with Kat, it wouldn’t matter if Isabella is your best friend, she wouldn’t matter and if Kat was really the person for you then she would get along with Isabella even if it was just for your sake.
James: I couldn’t imagine Kat and Isabella getting along to save my life.
Paige: No one could imagine them getting along period.
BAM!
James: What was that?Paige: Two guesses: Isabella and Kat.
(James and Paige run out to the work floor.)
(Work Floor)
Lady Katerina: Where is it?
Isabella: Where is what?
Lady Katerina: My engagement ring!
Isabella: I have no idea what you're talking about.
Lady Katerina: (Scoffs) No idea, no idea! Fine if you won't give me my engagement ring I at least want something in return.
Isabella: Something from me? You want something from me and I haven't even taken anything. You know what? Whatever! What do you want Katerina?
Lady Katerina: Hmmm ... I know. I want that necklace.
Isabella: Necklace ... wait no, no, no James gave me this necklace.
Lady Katerina: Well then, considering that he spent money on you, which should have been spent on me since I'm his fiancée then, I think that makes the necklace rightfully mine.
Isabella: You’re right. This necklace does belong to you; I don't want a single reminder of James. I don't want anything to do with you ... or James ever again!
Aeron: (Thinking to himself) Eventually that brunette bimbo is going to figure out that the floozy didn't take the ring. I have to figure out a way that nobody will ever know it was me. (He looks over at the scented candles Katerina has lying on her desk and an idea suddenly hits him. With a swish of his fingers and one match lit, Jonathan and Company will cease to exist.)
Isabella: Fire!
Lady Katerina: What are you talking about! (Turns around) MY STUFF!!
(John enters work floor.)
John: What’s going on in here? Fire! Fire!
James: Kat and Isabella get of here!
John: My Company! My Dream! All down the drain!
Paige: Actually up in smoke if you ask me and you might want to call 911!
Lady Katerina: My bag! My make-up, I have to go get it!
James: No Kat! The fire is spreading, it's too dangerous!
Isabella: James just grab her, we have to get out of here.
(Hours later)
Fireman: I am sorry but the building is destroyed.
John: Nooooooo!
Paige: John its ok we have insurance. We can rebuild. How did the fire start?
Fireman: From what we can tell it looks like the fire was started from a candle located on a desk to the far right of the main work floor.
Isabella: That’s Kat’s desk. She just cost us our jobs!
Lady Katerina: It’s not my fault. I haven’t even lit my candles today.
John: (Whispering) Fired! All of you!
James, Isabella and Lady Katerina: What did you just say?
John: (Yelling) James, Isabella, Lady Katerina and Luther you are all FIRED! (Stalks off down the street.)
Paige: John wait! (Runs after him)
Reality
John: Of course not Paige. I couldn’t run this company without you.
Paige: I know you couldn’t.
John: Paige!
Paige: Sorry!
(Door to Jonathan and Company opens and a man comes through the door.)
John: Oswald …
Dr. Humphrey: Hello Jonathan, it’s been a long time since we last saw each other.
John: I thought I left you at Georgia Highlands.
Dr. Humphrey: Well from the looks of this place, I think I left you.
Paige: Who are you?
Dr. Humphrey: Who is this beautiful woman? I am Dr. Oswald Leonides Steven Humphrey III.
Paige: It’s a pleasure. Have you come to visit your old friend Jonathan?
John: Friend! More like rival. He stole my money and he copied off my tests, one time he even stole my shoes!
Paige: Wait a minute? Oswald … This is Ozzy the Bully?
Dr. Humphrey: Ozzy the Bully, very creative Jonathan. Anyway I decided to stop by and see what type of competition I have but, from the looks of this dump I really have no worries.
John: Dr. Humphrey I think you should leave. Paige please show him out.
Dr. Humphrey: Actually I’ll show myself out but, if you ever want to come work at a more successful business, come by my office (Hands Paige a business card.)
Paige: ……….
(Dr. Humphrey exits Jonathan and Company.)
John: Paige let me see that card.
Paige: Excuse me?
John: Please! (Paige hands him the card.)
Card:
Dr. Oswald Leonides Steven Humphrey III
Humphrey and Company
000-000-0000
Business Hours: 8 AM- 5 PM Monday- Thursday
9 AM- 4 PM Friday
9 AM- 1 PM Saturday
Closed on Sunday
Paige: John! He didn’t steal …. (Screams in frustration) Fine I’ll just go with you. (Runs out of Jonathan and Company trying to catch up to John.)
(Entering Humphrey and Company)
John: (Stalks up to front counter) Where is he? I’m going to kick his butt!
James: I’m sorry sir …. John?
Paige: (Runs in Humphrey and Company out of breath.) James?
John: James what are you doing here?
James: Well I work here. Kat and Isabella do too but, Dr. Humphrey keeps us all in separate rooms.
Paige: (Mumbling under her breath) Smart man.
John: Whatever I don’t care! Right now I want to see Humphrey!
James: I’m not sure if I should let you through. He’s rather busy.
John: James ……….!
Paige: (Getting right up in James face) James take us to Dr. Humphrey now or I’m never going to hear the end of it from him (She said pointing at John).
James: Yes ma’am.
Paige: Good and you (Rounding on John) do not do anything stupid!
John: Paige you worry too much, everything will be fine. I’m going to do this old school.
Paige: Old school? Really John?
(Dr. Humphrey’s office)
Dr. Humphrey: (Looks up as John and Paige enter the room) Actually looks like I’m going to be busy for a while. Isabella hold my calls and cancel all my morning appointments.
(On the other line)
Isabella: Yes sir. Anything else?
Dr. Humphrey: No thank you Isabella. (Hangs up the phone) Well to what do I owe this pleasure?
John: First of all, you called my company a dump; Your office doesn’t even have double doors! Second you stole my company name!
Dr. Humphrey: What are you going on about Man? Oh! Hello Miss. Paige, have you decided to take up my offer?
Paige: Not today … Ozzy (Smiles at him sweetly).
John: Look here Humphrey … Wait a minute? Paige, did you say not today? Don’t you mean not ever … oh whatever! Anyway you (Pointing at Dr. Humphrey) stole my company name.
Dr. Humphrey: I did, did I? Do you have any proof that I stole it?
John: Well … no.
Dr. Humphrey: Do you have any legal documents stating that “And Company” belongs to you?
John: Well no but …
Dr. Humphrey: Okay then. You can’t legally prove that I stole your name but, let’s say I humor you with a bet …
Paige: What kind of bet?
Dr. Humphrey: A good old fashioned game … The Game of Life. The winner will receive the title and … let’s make this bet a little spicier, the winner receives the title and the other company’s employees.
John: Bet accepted!
Paige: John!
Dr. Humphrey: (Picks up the phone) Isabella please come show my guest to the game room.
Isabella: Yes sir! (Hangs up phone)
(Isabella enters Dr. Humphrey’s office)
Isabella: Please come right this way ……. John? Paige? Ugh … come this way.
(All enter Game Room)
John: (Scoffs) My game room looks two times better than this place.
Paige: John we don’t have a game room and Isabella, where’s Kat?
Isabella: (Crinkles her nose in disgust) She’s Dr. Humphrey’s right hand woman. She worships the ground he walks on.
Paige: Are she and James still dating?
Isabella: On and off, James wants to take it as slow as possible; Kat wants them to walk down the isle … tonight if she could have her way.
(Door Opens and Dr. Humphrey and Lady Katerina enter.)
Dr. Humphrey: Let the games begin!
John: I want to ensure that no one cheats! Clear Humphrey?
Dr. Humphrey: Of course good man.
Lady Katerina: Can we hurry I have an appointment at the salon at 5:30!
John: Fine let’s play.
Announcer: The game has been on for a while now. Jonathan is the doctor and Dr. Humphrey is the lawyer. Both players have already married and purchased houses and Jonathan has just spun an eight and he’s going to land on …… twins!
Paige: BABIES!
Announcer: Paige has a thing for Game of Life babies. The game is slowly progressing as Dr. Humphrey and Jonathan keep landing on “Spin to Win” ….
(Hours later)
Announcer: The game is over and Isabella is counting both player’s money and the winner is ….
Isabella: Jonathan wins by 80,000!
Paige: (Jumps up and down hugging John) See I told you landing on all those babies would pay off!
John: (Smiling from ear to ear) A deal is a deal. Hand them over!
Dr. Humphrey: Fine a deal is a deal, the title is yours, I will change mine and the employees belong to you.
John: Ready to come back to work guys?
James and Isabella: Yeah!
Lady Katerina: Fine!
Isabella: Do you always have to be so negative?
Lady Katerina: Well at least I’m not a floozy!
Isabella: Really Kat? Really? (Picks up table and throws it at Kat but, she misses and the table hits the support beams holding up the building.)
Katerina: Look what you did … (Ground starts to shake)
(Everyone evacuated the building, watching as the rubble floats to the ground.)
Dr. Humphrey: You destroyed by my business. How can you people even get up in the morning?
John: Well looks like I won’t have any competition.
Dr. Humphrey: For now. I will be back.
(A Taxi pulls up and Humphrey exits)
John: Well gang go home and get rested we have a lot to do tomorrow.
(Five months later)
John: (Thinking to self) Things seem to be back to normal. I have to say I did miss them. Things were to quiet without them here. (WHAM) And that was the fifth copy machine in five months, why oh why did I have to win the Game of Life?
Paige: Hey John I was just thinking whatever happened to Luther?
John: I have no idea.
(In Jonathan and Company’s basement)
Luther: (On the phone) You idiot fool you couldn’t win a stupid game!
Dr. Humphrey: Sorry boss I tried my hardest but I couldn’t beat him.
Luther: If you fail me again, next time it will be your life. Clear?
Dr. Humphrey: Clear … I mean yes sir!
Luther: (Hangs up the phone) I am going to bring down Jonathan and Company, one day ….
The End