Three Strikes, But Not Quite Out (2)
CINDY: The agency cut back on workers to save money and I lost the roulette deciding who gets laid off. LYNN: Oh so it was just bad luck? I hope you were not fired for being a woman or bisexual. If that is the case, your boss needs to answer to Beth and me and one other thing, where did you get that dress? CINDY: I went clothes shopping with Beth in Midtown last month. She found this dress at H&M and said I looked cute in it. I decided to wear it whenever I had to do my job here since it looks a lot like a housemaid dress. No, I was not laid off for my gender or orientation, but thanks for your concern! (She looks at the dining room clock while Lynn looks at Beth with an odd smirk) I have to go now. It is time to get Inna from the daycare. When will you need me to be here again? BETHANY: Can you come on Monday at around 10:30 am? Lynn and I are not going anywhere this weekend. CINDY: Sure, just give me a confirmation call or text at least two hours beforehand. LYNN: Okay, bye (Cindy goes to the small sofa closest to the front door, takes the clothes and purse that are on it, and goes toward the door, but Lynn stops her). Hey, are you going out dressed like that? CINDY: Oh right (she walks to the coffee table). Can I just change here? I want to get out as fast as I can. BETHANY: Go ahead (Cindy puts her things on the table before taking off her dress, revealing a green nylon bra and panties. Beth talks quietly to Lynn). Why do you have an issue with Cindy working for us? LYNN: (Talking softly as Beth takes her and his bags from the sofa) I have many reasons for that. BETHANY: (She puts both bags inside the stage’s left-most door) Fine then, what is your biggest one? LYNN: Well, for one, she looks absolutely ridiculous in that dress. (Still undressed, Cindy hears Lynn’s dialogue, angrily jumps over the sofa, and lunges at him, knocking him to the floor behind it not viewable to the audience with her atop of him) CINDY: You calling me ugly you doofus?!?! (She punches Lynn a few times before Beth pulls her away) BETHANY: Hey, hey, hey, stop this nonsense! (Lynn gets up) Lynn, apologize to Cindy for your comment! LYNN: (Looking messy and patting down his clothes) But I did not even… BETHANY: I said apologize now!!! LYNN: Okay, sorry for what I said, Cindy. BETHANY: Thank you and Cindy, apologize to Lynn for attacking him. CINDY: Sorry, pumpkin pie. BETHANY: Good, now Cindy, please get dressed and leave and Lynn, give me your jacket so I can put it away. (Beth lets go of Cindy, who goes back to where she was before and puts on a black t-shirt, pink sweatshirt and matching sweatpants that were on the sofa. Lynn takes off his coat to give it to Beth, who takes off her jacket, goes to the door closest to the apartment’s front one, opens it, puts both coats inside and closes it. Cindy takes off her heels and puts them and the dress into her purse. She carries that, puts on a pair of sneakers by the front door, and says “bye” to Beth and Lynn, who both say “bye” back, before leaving via that door) Lynn, why did you tell Cindy we could not afford paying her? She is poor and not asking for a lot. LYNN: Listen Beth, I understand that she lost her job, needs to care for a 7-month-old by herself, and her payment request to work for us is less than half of how much she earned with Greyhound, but we are dealing with our own money problems. I am unemployed and you have not had a salary-raise in about a year. $400 per week may not seem like much, but that accumulates overtime. We have lived in this apartment for almost three years and while I made great repairs to the walls and sink after the night I met Duncan, it is just a matter of time before they must be made again. With our busy schedules, we will likely have to hire and pay workers to do them for us, which can be a lot. BETHANY: Well with all those hours you and your crew have to devote to your film projects, there is no way you can have a job and you are right that because I have to work longer hours to not get a pay cut, it is impossible for us to keep this place clean and sturdy on our own. This is where Cindy comes. LYNN: (Following Beth as she enters the kitchen) Huh, what do you mean by that? BETHANY: I mean that in addition to cleaning the apartment, Cindy will help keep it structurally safe. LYNN: (He stands by the counter opposite from where Beth is) She knows about home repair? BETHANY: Yes, her father is a very skilled construction worker and she learned a lot from watching him fix their home in 2006. When the master bedroom’s walls in my parents’ house began to crack back in March, Cindy not only sealed them up, but also added brand-new wallpaper for extra support. (She opens and closes the refrigerator after taking out a plate holding various vegetables. She puts it atop the counter and begins slicing some of the vegetables with a kitchen knife) LYNN: (He puts his left hand on the left side of his face and smiles) Hmm, very interesting. BETHANY: I know Cindy does not look like a handywoman, but she is. Just let her work for us for now babe. She will not survive long without making some type of revenue, no matter how large or little it is. LYNN: Okay. Man if the movies I have on YouTube got more views, I would be making huge bucks now. BETHANY: Hey it takes time for filmmakers to be popular, but do not worry, you will reach the top someday. Just have patience. Cindy and I are confident your name will be in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. LYNN: Thanks. Should we install some surveillance cameras in this apartment just in case, you know? BETHANY: (Looking shocked) Sweetie, how could you ask that?! We have known Cindy for nearly ten years and she would never steal from us. We have no items of value here and are together now because of her. She said that you two first met when you were 12 and she was 16 at a July 4th party on her family’s houseboat by the Hudson. Finding you cute, she cuddled you in bed that night while in a sexy bikini to get you to fall asleep. You liked it so much and when we began dating, she told me specifically how to get into the perfect position in bed. That is why it feels good when we cuddle. LYNN: Well that story is true. I always have in my wallet a photo I took in 2001 of Cindy standing at the boat’s bow in that pink bikini carrying a US flag with the World Trade Center in the background. I actually thought about adding the cameras for always wanting to watch a hot blonde like her do handyman work in skimpy clothes after reading Maxim Magazine, but now that you mentioned it, with our economy like this, people would do anything to get money, even betraying their friends. BETHANY: If you are so paranoid with having someone alone in our apartment or would like to see Cindy in her underwear fixing things with tools, which I doubt she will do anyway, go install the cameras. LYNN: No, no, it is all right. We can’t afford nor have the time to install them. Besides, if Cindy saw the cameras or realized what my intentions were, she will probably think we do not trust her or that I am a stalker and stop working for us (Beth smirks). You had that smirk when Cindy attacked me. BETHANY: It was funny the way she jumped you without her clothes on since she has a lovely body and face. LYNN: Yes, that was embarrassing and arousing for me. If you were a guy, I am sure you would feel the same if a hot girl who could pass for a Victoria's Secret model was on top of you beating you up. (Beth and Lynn giggle before the sound of a doorbell ringing is heard) I will get that. (Lynn walks to the front door, opens it, and sees Terry behind it) Oh hi Mr. Mendoza. TERRY: Hi, how are you? Is Beth ready to pay back her loan? LYNN: (Confused) What are you talking about? TRAVIS: In January, I loaned Beth $2000 for a vacation you and her took. She promised to pay me back in full as soon as possible, but has repeatedly pushed the return date. She never told you any of this? LYNN: Uh, (he looks at Beth, who is still slicing food in the kitchen, then turns back to Terry) no. TERRY: Well, can I talk to her about this? It has been nearly four months already. LYNN: I seriously do not think this is a good time because the two of us are totally struggling financially. I can’t work due to the movies I have to make for school and Beth’s salary has not risen in a year. TERRY: Wait are you a filmmaker? (Lynn nods, meaning “Yes”) Do you know how to take and edit videos? LYNN: Yeah, that is why I am dressed like this. Beth and I just got back from the Tribeca Film Festival. TERRY: Oh, you had a movie to show there? How was it? LYNN: It was great and yes, I made a movie for class that was shown there and it was well received. It is called Double Trouble at Grand Central-42nd Street. I have it on YouTube if you want to watch it. TERRY: Cool. Listen, I do not want to keep bothering you about money given your problems, so will you help my daughter's girl band make a music video for an MTV contest next month? We have had trouble finding a good filmmaker and if you accept this, Beth will not have to owe me anything. LYNN: Um, sure, but are you absolutely positive you want to do this? I think I can help pay you back. TERRY: No, it is all right. I know you get your money from your parents and do not want to be a burden. LYNN: Fine then, when and where does your daughter want the video to be shot at? TERRY: The first filming will be at our courtyard on June 23 and probably last around four days. I will let you know the dates and locations of the other shootings when my daughter tells them to me. Just so you know, you will not be paid for this and the filming and editing may take time to complete. LYNN: I understand. Mr. Mendoza, I saw on the news yesterday that all landlords in the city are required to raise the rents in their apartments by 5 to 8% over the next three years. Will you do that to us? TERRY: Unfortunately yeah, but do not worry. The increases will not happen for at least another year and I will do my best to ensure all residents here can afford it. I do not want to lose any of my tenants. LYNN: Okay, bye (Lynn and Terry wave each other goodbye before the former closes the door and then angrily walks up to Beth). Beth, did you borrow $2,000 from our landlord and never paid back?! BETHANY: Oh, is that why he came up here? When does he want the money by? LYNN: (While talking, Lynn goes to one of the cabinets, opens it, takes out a china plate and cup and a hot chocolate powder bag, closes the cabinet, and pours the entire bag into the cup. He then opens the fridge, takes out a milk carton, pours some of the milk into the cup and puts the carton back in the fridge before closing it. He then takes the kettle from the stove and pours hot water into the cup prior to using a stirrer from the counter to stir his drink) Actually, since did not want to bother us with money, he let you off the hook as long as I help his daughter’s rock band create a music video for an MTV contest this summer (Beth sighs in relief). You really should not take advantage of people’s kindness. If we had any other landlord and you kept borrowing cash from him without paying back, we would have been evicted a long time ago and Mr. Mendoza would be ripping you to pieces right now had I not known how to make videos. BETHANY: (Beth moves closer to LYNN, places her arms around him, talks seductively, and kisses him) But if I did not borrow his money hun, we would have been unable to go on that Carribean cruise. You really liked the nice weather, great view, fun activities, and making out with me in our room. LYNN: I know, but we get intimate in our comfy room almost all the time and I enjoy kissing and feeling your body with you holding me tight. We did not have to go on that cruise if it was too expensive. BETHANY: But I really wanted us to go. It was your dream to see the waters of the Caribbean in person and neither of us had gone on a real vacation in over five years. I took two weeks off just to do that. LYNN: Well, the reason I have not left the state since August 2005 is because I hate flying due to all the irritating security measures that airports have implemented over the last nine years. I mean, from full body scanners to baggage checks, people must arrive two or three hours early if they want to catch their flights and many are staying home on holidays like Thanksgiving now to save money. BETHANY: (Beth lets go of LYNN and puts her knife in a drawer and the vegetables in the refrigerator) I understand, but do not always want to stay here. I need to get away from the city occasionally. LYNN: (Sipping his drink) But why didn't you tell me you borrowed money from Mr. Mendoza? BETHANY: I was afraid you would cancel the vacation if you found out where I got the money. LYNN: (Sipping his drink again) And what made you think I would do that darling? BETHANY: You constantly worry about money and precisely calculate how much we spend each month. LYNN: That is because I really enjoy living with only you in such a beautiful apartment building that has friendly tenants and landlord. I do not want to find out we must move back with our families and cannot relish the freedom we get here from lack of money. You know I often get into fights with my parents even though they are financially supporting me and their home is in crappy condition. BETHANY: Well you do not have to think about that. I know how to manage our finances and we will be fine. If you want, I can show you how I take care of these things so you would know this in the future. LYNN: All right, but next time please let me know when you plan to do something that involves money. I live in this apartment as well and should be permitted to express my opinions in any discussion. BETHANY: Fine (she kisses LYNN). You want to go somewhere for the Memorial Day weekend, maybe Philly? LYNN: No thank you, a free performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream will be held at Riverside Park and I really want to go see it. I portrayed one of the merchants for a school play back in 8th grade. BETHANY: Ooh, can I come? I read that play for English class back in high school and found it very funny. LYNN: Sure, and now that you mentioned "funny," have you heard from Katrina since that open house? (He walks to where the small couch closest to the kitchen is with his drink) BETHANY: Uh no. I did give her our house telephone number just before we left. She said she would contact us within five days of the event to see how we were doing because she really loved our company. LYNN: Well, today would be five days. She could have left a voicemail while we were at the festival. BETHANY: Hmm let's check (she plays the answering machine on the kitchen counter's phone by the fridge). KATRINA: (Voice only) Hi Beth and Lynn, this is Katrina Allen. I wanted to thank you so much for coming to the open house on Sunday and giving me such a great time. I made a special joke just for you: "When you see a fat person whom claims to be homeless on the street and asks for money to buy food, you give what you have, but tell them that the cash is not for food. It should be for the gym because they already ate too much rotten food and need to slim down if they want more." See ya! LYNN: (He takes a sip from his cup and gives out a large smile) I never get tired of her antics. BETHANY: (Beth giggles a little before turning around and looking at the machine) Hold on cutie, we have another message. (She presses the machine's play button again) KATRINA: (Voice only) Hello, this is Katrina again. I forgot to tell you, I am accepting your offer, Room 7D of my apartment is yours. Congratulations. Just contact me when you are ready to move in. Bye. (Lynn's smile turns into a frozen face of utter disbelief while Beth starts to look nervous) LYNN: (Talking unusually loud as he walks up to Beth) You made an offer on her apartment?!?
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