Opening Scene

 

Woman is rushing into a building, yelling at someone on her cell phone. She opens a set of glass double doors and steps into an immaculately decorated office space. Everything is luxurious and high-end. The beautiful girl at the desk stands up to greet her.

 

Receptionist: Good morning, Mrs. Scrooge. I trust you had a fantastic weekend. Can I get you anything this morning?

 

Mrs. Scrooge: Where is Marley? Where is my coffee? Where is that noise coming from?

 

Receptionist: Yes, ma’am. Bobby is at Starbucks picking up your coffee. Someone hit the naked cowboy in Times Square with their car, and all roads leading here have been jam-packed and blocked off. So, Bobby is running a few minutes behind.

 

Mrs. Scrooge: I got here on time; you got here on time. Does she live in a different New York than we do? No, she does not.

 

Scrooge picks up her phone and dials a number.

 

Mrs. Scrooge: Hello, Bobby, do you know what’s wrong with my morning so far? Don’t answer; that was a rhetorical question. I’ve just walked into the office, and I have a meeting in seven minutes. However, my assistant, who has all of my notes on the meeting, is not here, and neither is my coffee, which I specifically requested yesterday. So, where are you, and how far away is my coffee?

 

We hear a voice on the phone.

 

Bobby: Yes, ma’am, I am so sorry, ma’am. You see, what had happened was, I came and got your coffee early this morning and a cinnamon roll. But walking back to the office, some kid on a skateboard, fashioning to be hard, I dropped your breakfast and had to come back and get a new one. But don’t worry; I’m all right, and I’ll still be able to work for the rest of the day.

 

Mrs. Scrooge: So, you didn’t drive today, and you weren’t caught in traffic? Have you seen a naked cowboy holding a guitar in Times Square by any chance?

 

Bobby: I know who you’re talking about, but no, I have not seen them today, and no, I didn’t drive in today. I took the bus like I always do. It’s too expensive to park around here, no need to pay a $60 parking garage fee when taking the bus is only two bucks, am I right?

 

Mrs. Scrooge: I understand your logic, whether or not you’re right. Wow, that’s a topic for another time. Be here in five minutes, or don’t come in at all. And my coffee better be hot.

 

She cuts off the call, tossing her phone into her handbag. She turns slowly with the look of a cat who’s just captured a new mouse.

 

Mrs. Scrooge: Oh, happy day. Turns out that our beloved singing cowboy is going to be just fine, considering nothing ever happened to him in the first place.

 

Receptionist: I’m sorry, ma’am. I must’ve been mistaken. I could’ve sworn that was the story I heard.

 

Mrs. Scrooge: Let me stop you there before you tell another lie that’s going to get you deeper and deeper into the hole you’ve already dug. While I appreciate your loyalty to me, I cannot let it go that you lied to me, and then when you knew you were caught, you lied again by saying you were sure you heard that story somewhere.

 

She pauses.

 

Mrs. Scrooge: You know you’re fired, right?

 

Scene Two

 

Marley rushes into the office, holding a Starbucks cup and a brown bag with a cinnamon roll. She pauses briefly, noticing that the secretary is not behind her desk. Marley cocks her head to the side, giving a disappointed look, before knocking on a frosted glass door with the nameplate “Evelyn Scrooge, CEO.”

 

Scrooge: Get in here.

 

Bobby: Yes, ma’am, sorry about that. Here is your coffee and your cinnamon roll. Do I need to go ahead and have HR post a new job listing?

 

Scrooge: Get on that, and remember it’s your fault that little Miss What’s-Her-Face will be spending Christmas looking for a new job. Do not ask me a place to live for you again.

 

Bobby: I am so sorry. I never asked her to do that. I would never ask anyone to do that. I, um… I…

 

Scrooge: I don’t care. My meeting is now in two minutes, and I’m not gonna waste them sitting here listening to you trip all over your words. Get out there to the desk and cover her job and yours today. I have one minute left; get out.

 

Bobby: Yes, ma’am, I’m sorry. Yes, ma’am. One quick question. About tomorrow, it’s Christmas…

 

Scrooge (yelling): Get out!

 

Bobby makes a quick exit, closing the door quietly behind herself. Scrooge opens the bag, takes out a napkin, and places the cinnamon roll daintily onto the napkin. She deeply inhales its aroma, smiles, and takes her first sip of coffee. Suddenly, a phone rings, a shrill noise disrupting her morning ritual.

------------------------

 

 

script outline. Will update daily.