"R.P.S."
A sketch by Daniel Rench
9/15/2004 (Version #3)
CAST
A - male, 30's wearing a cardboard sign with a large "A"
B - male, 30's wearing a cardboard sign with a large "B"
C - female, 30's wearing a cardboard sign with a large "C"

(Office print/copy/fax room; C is staring at the printer as B enters)

B

Big print job, C?

C

10 pages.

(B & C continue staring at the printer)

B

Do you have anything lined up for May 15?

(C opens her planner)

B

It's a Saturday.

C

Dentist at 2:30.

B

I was thinking we could get married then.

C

I dunno, B. Saturday appointments are hard to get. I don't want to have to reschedule. Who knows when I'd get back in!

B

I hear ya. Well maybe we could do it later that afternoon.

C

I'll pencil it in.

B

Ooooh, the light's blinking.


C

Shouldn't it be doing something?

B

Maybe it's warming up.

C

I think it is warmed up. It just printed something. You think it's jammed?

B

How would I know?

C

You know all that PC stuff.

B

I just know how to look things up. RTFM, you know?

C

No, I don't.

B

You know, Read The...

C

Huh?

B

Read The, um Fine... ?

(A enters and interrupts)

A

FUCKIN' MANUAL! Haw haw! Did my job print yet?

B

'Sup A. I sent my job like ten minutes ago and nothing's happening.

C

My job's stuck too.

A

(Looking at the printer)

Which of you's 8 1/2 by 14?

(B and C stare blankly at A)

A

8 1/2 by 14 inch paper — legal size?

C

That's regular paper, right?

A

No, you're thinking letter size. Somebody sent a legal size job and the legal size tray is empty.

(B and C stare blankly at A)

A

Maybe one of you should go get more 8 1/2 by 14.

C

Well I don't use that weird paper. Who do I look like, D?

B

Fine, I'll get some.

(B leaves to fetch legal size paper)

(A and C stare at the printer)

A

So what've you got going on the weekend after next?

C

Dunno. What's up?

A

I was thinking if you're free maybe you'd be amenable to marrying me.

C

Hmm. That's, what April 10th, 11th? I'll have to check to see if my folks are available.

A

Yeah, OK. Whatever's good with you.

C

I'll give 'em a call and let you know. Might be fun.


(B returns with legal sized paper)

B

Where's this go?

A

Tray two.

(B struggles with the paper trays; A takes the paper away from him)

A

Gimme that.

(A starts loading the legal-sized paper into the printer)

C

Oh B, just a heads-up. A just proposed so I'm thinking of taking things in a different direction.

B

I really think the synergies between us could result in a highly successful partnership. It has exciting potential upsides.

C

How about bigamy or adultery?

B

The former's probaby off the table, though let me double-check with Legal, and I can't say the latter would be agreeable.

A

I'm up for the latter.

C

Let's take it offline, A.

B

Oooh it's blinking!