Scene 1 Revisions in Progress

A Time to Move Scene 1 revised

Scene 1

(hallway outside the GM’s office)

Housekeeper (running toward Beth): Beth? Beth? Oh man, I’ve got a problem. I don’t know what to do. We just checked a guy into 317 and he just came down the hall screaming at me… Crap. Here he comes.

Guest: I demand to see the manager!

Beth: Sir, I’m sure I can help you. What seems to be the problem?

Guest: I walked into that room and it’s a mess! I can’t believe you people are so inept that you’d check a guest into a room that hasn’t even been cleaned!

Beth: I’m very sorry for the inconvenience, Sir, and I apologize for that. I’ll have Carrie here run down to the front desk and get a key to another room for you. We’ve got a great corner suite just down the hall. And I’m sure my boss would want to buy you dinner in our restaurant tonight. I’ll make sure you get a voucher for a free meal as well. He’s in a meeting right now, but as soon as he’s done I can have him call your suite, if you’d like.

Guest: Well, thank you very much, Ma’am. You know, mistakes happen. I apologize for being so rude. I’ve been traveling a lot lately and I guess it’s wearing on me.

Beth: Not a problem at all, Sir. Enjoy your stay. My name is Beth. If there’s anything you need, don’t hesitate to call on me. (whispers to housekeeper, handing her the old room key) No bad problems. Only bad solutions.
(Guest thanks Beth and follows housekeeper off stage)

Dishwasher: Beth! I’m glad you’re still here. The cooks are all gone and that freezer in the kitchen is up to 30 degrees. What do I do?

Beth: Calm down. It’s not the end of the world. If you could help me out, I can tell you how to handle it.

Dishwasher: I knew you’d know what to do Beth.

Beth: Everything in there should still be pretty frozen. Take everything out of it and put it in the walk-in freezer downstairs. Unplug it and we’ll just let it defrost over night. Hopefully that will take care of it. Otherwise I’ll call the refrigeration guy in the morning.

Dishwasher: Cool. Thanks, Beth.

Front Desk Clerk: Wow. Good. You guys are both still here. Where’s Mr. Chastain? We’ve got problems. Like, big problems.

Beth: I guess he’s in a meeting, but he said he wanted to talk to me after. What’s up?

Front Desk Clerk: That banquet for tonight? You’re never going to guess. 20 more people than the originally told us. We’ve only got two hours! Why can’t people call earlier? They expect all of this awesome service and they don’t give you the time to even prepare. It’s crap.

Beth: Not a big deal, Nell. If you can find Carrie, see if she can bring down three more round tables and the chairs. I’ll get more food prepped and let the server tonight know that we’ve got a few more than expected. Not a big deal.

Front Desk Clerk: You’re awesome, Beth! I’m glad Jen wasn’t here. She’d freak out on my like it was my fault.

(lights down in hallway side of set)

(lights up in Mr. Chastain’s office – he’s on the phone)

Mr. C.: Jerry, I don’t know. Beth is a great employee, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t think she’s management material, if you get my drift. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but you know what I’ve done with the occupancy numbers in this location, and you know how much I’ve increased sales in the F&B department and the meetings and banquets I’ve attracted up here. Just think what I could do in a market like Green Bay!

(Chastain pauses)

Mr. C.: I don’t know, Jerry. It seems like a pretty big gamble. Running an entire convention center is a lot bigger deal than just fixing a couple small meeting glitches. I’m happy that you are impressed with what I’ve groomed Beth into, but I’m just not confident that she’s right for that big of a market. I’ve got the experience and the knowledge, and you know that. And I sure could use a change of scenery from all the trees and the lakes up here. Yeah, it’s definitely scenic, but I’m more of a bigger city kind of guy. You know that.

(another pause)

Mr C.: Okay, Jer. I’ll go get her. You can talk to her. But, you know, she’s got a kid in high school and all. I don’t know if she’d really even be interested.

(lights up in hallway. Mr. C. goes out into hallway to talk to Beth, who is straightening and dusting the sitting area)

Mr. Chastain: Beth, come in here a minute, would you?

Beth: Of course, Mr. Chastain.

Mr C: I’m on the phone with Jerry Lynch, the owner of the Green Bay Best Western. I guess he’s heard about your work. I think he might want to offer you a job.

Beth: Okay

Mr. C: Before we even talk to him, Beth, I have to tell you – I mean, I know it’s going to sound all wine and roses. And you do good work for me. I’m just not sure you’re up to the challenge. Of course, we’ll listen to what he has to say. Being from a small town and all, I just didn’t know if you’d even be comfortable with a move like that.

Beth: I’d love to listen to what Mr. Lynch has to say, Sir.

(lights down in hallway as the two enter the office. Mr. Chastain punches the intercom button on the phone)

Mr. C: Very well. (into phone) Go ahead, Jerry. Beth’s here.

Jerry: Beth, nice to talk to you again.

Beth: You, too, Mr. Lynch.

Jerry: Call me Jerry. Did Mike tell you anything about the job offer?

Beth: Mr. Chastain didn’t tell me very much. He said you wanted to talk to me.

Jerry: I was up there last month, Beth. I’m sure you remember. For that convention?

Beth: Yes sir.

Jerry: You did a hell of a job, Beth. I like a person who can think on their feet. And that’s you. It didn’t matter what could have gone wrong. You made it all work. The A/V equipment troubleshooting, the understaffed kitchen for the banquet. You took up all the slack. Heck, I even heard you were helping out at the front desk with some early check-ins during that whole deal. Thing is, Beth, things go wrong in this business. It doesn’t matter how well you plan. Things can go wrong, and you have to just be able to deal with it and not let anyone see anything other than a seamless, work-your-plan environment. And that’s what you did.

Beth: Thank you, Sir. I didn’t really think about it like that. I was just doing my job, Sir.

Jerry: Mike, I know you’ll be sad to lose this lady, but I’m going to come up and talk to her next Tuesday. I need a general manager in that place that knows his stuff. I think Beth’s great for the job. Will you be around next Tuesday, Beth?

Beth: I – of course, sir. Of course I’ll be here.

Jerry: Good. It’s a great opportunity, Beth. And I guess I don’t have to tell you it’s a hug pay raise.

Mr. C.: Okay, thanks, Jerry. We’ll see you Tuesday then. (punches button on phone)

(lights down in office; lights up in sitting area is hallway. Lexi and Marie are waiting for Beth)

Marie: What has that girl done now? She’ll be lucky if she doesn’t lose her job. Getting called into the boss’ office right before quitting time is never, and I mean never, a good sign. She better not lose this job. I don’t know how we’ll live if she does. And she’s still got a daughter to raise. That girl is right on the edge of either walking the straight and narrow, or really going down the wrong road in life. It’s a hard age for young people these days. It was easier in my time. Where is Beth? What’s taking her so long? I have to get to the church before 6 o’clock tonight. That spaghetti dinner for the soldier’s wives is not going to plan itself! Lord knows I can’t leave it to Janice and Karen again. What a fiasco last year. I need to be at this planning committee party. Where is Beth? I can’t imagine what is taking her so long. I thought she was doing really well at this job. I’ve heard the ladies at the bridge club talking. I thought she was doing well. I guess I was wrong about that.

Lexi: Gawd, where’s mom? Gram said she got called into the boss’ office. That would suck. But, you know what? It’s not all about her. I have a job, too, you know. I have things I need to do. Why does mom’s stupid boss have to mess up my night. She’s been in there for like fifteen minutes. I have to be to work at five myself. It’s not like I don’t have anything to do. Gram said I should have brought my homework in with me. Ha! Can you imagine? Yeah, I’m going to sit in the hallway of my mom’s work and do my homework. Whatever. That’s just lame. Oh, call. Carrie finally text me back. Oh cool. We’re going to that late show after work tonight. I hoped her mom would let her go. Mom won’t even care. She’s “too tired” from work to even know if I’m out late half the time. No big deal. I’d rather not have her smothering me all the time anyway. Oh, that reminds me. I should ask her about the dance Saturday, though. I’m sure she’ll be fine with it. She has to be. Everyone knows I’m going to be there. It’s not like she can say no. It’s like, expected of me, to be at all the best dances and parties.

Marie: So, Lexi, are you going anywhere after work tonight?

Lexi:. Yeah. Movie.

Marie: With that nice boy Brad? He seems so nice, Sweetie.

Lexi: Yeah, whatever. He’s a jerk. If he is more interested in studying with Chelsea than being with me, he can just have her, I say! I’m not going to deal with any of his crap. He thinks he’s a big stud, he can just go do it on someone else’s time. I’m sick of it.

Marie: Oh, I’m so sorry, Honey. I didn’t know. He seemed so nice. I feel so bad.

Lexi: Don’t Gram. I’m not going to deal with a cheater. I know Mom did, but I’m not going to.

Marie: Honey, your mom and dad did have some problems, but…

Lexi: Yeah, and he left for some bimbo. You think I’m going to deal with that kind of crap? No way in hell! First sign someone’s not going to be faithful, I’m droppin’ ‘em like a hot rock.

Marie: Don’t swear, Sweetie.

Lexi: What would you have done if Grampa ever cheated on you, Gram? Seriously.

Marie: Don’t even talk such nonsense, Child. Your Grandfather never would have done that to me. Between the marble rolling pin and the butcher knife, he knew better.

Lexi: Oh Gram! (laughing)

Marie: Come on, Sweetie. Let’s go wait outside. Your mom could be a while. It’s never good to get called into the boss’ office right before quitting time.

Lexi (as the two walk off stage): You don’t think she’s in trouble, do you?

(Beth walks into the sitting area in the hallway)

Beth: This would be such a great opportunity. Lexi and I have been struggling so much lately. It helps having mom living with us, sure. But I think we’d all be better off if we could just get out of here and have a fresh start. I could afford to send Lexi to any school she wanted to go to. I could give Mom the life she was used to when Dad was still alive. I think it’s time for all of us to get out of here anyway. I don’t even know what Mr. Lynch is going to offer me, but I do know it’s going to be better than $8 an hour. I don’t even know how to tell Lexi and Mom. Maybe I’ll wait. Maybe I won’t tell them until I talk to Mr. Lynch. No, they deserve to know. They need to know what I’m thinking and why. I’m worried about Lexi, though. I don’t want her to have to change schools in the middle of high school. But, if we don’t make the move now, what could our future really be like? Lexi will never go to college. Even if she just wants to be a beautician, she still needs schooling. I know she wants to be a fashion designer. That’ll take even more schooling. And her grades aren’t what they need to be for a scholarship. She’d be so much better off if I were better off. I hope she sees that. Mom’s been here all her life, and I know it would be hard for her to leave, but she’s a reasonable woman, if nothing else. She’ll understand. Won’t she?