ampersand

Happened in real life.


MONDAY AT NOON:


Dennis: Hey Tina, what's this I hear about moving to the consultants room on Wednesday.


Tina: Oh, please sit down.


Dennis closes office door and takes a seat.


Tina: Yes, I had you transferred to work for Marcus.


Dennis: I don't want to work for anyone else.


Tina: Dennis, why don't you want to work for Marcus?


Dennis: Wait, you're having someone else come sit where I am?


Tina: Yes.


Dennis: Why?


Tina (nonchalantly): Oh, I fired you this morning.


Dennis: You fired me? Why?


Tina: Dennis, I need someone else with a new set of skills.


Dennis: What new set of skills?


Tina: Someone more proactive.


Dennis: Tina, all this time later and I am not proactive? Can't you give me a second chance?


Tina: It's too late, Dennis. All I hear is that you couldn't complete the task for the salespeople as told, you weren't sending those links to the pertinent users, you didn't show up to that meeting I ask you to come up for, you were late this morning.


Dennis: You asked me twelve days ago to stay on when I was supposed to leave.


(Coworker Carolyn shows up, since Tina is already late for a meeting. Tina hurriedly signals her to go away).


Dennis: Why would you ask me that if you're not happy with me? I was looking forward to leaving but you called me from overseas to ask me to stay.


Tina: I was unsure whether to keep you or not.


Dennis: What? I'm burned out from this crap! It's tedious, it's repetitive...


Tina: I know.

Dennis: ...it's unchallenging, and frankly, beneath me.


Tina: I know, I know.


Dennis: I was waiting to be let go graciously after 54 weeks in here. Not even a warning!


Tina: I gave you a warning, I had told you to be more proactive.


Dennis: That's no warning. You know, this just feels weird.


Tina: I know it probably does.


Dennis: When were you going to tell me anyways?


Tina: I have been very busy this morning.


Dennis: I had to put two and two together from other sources. Not a word from you. That's not very proactive either.


Tina: Dennis, that is no way to talk to your manager! I suggest you don't talk like that to Marcus. It's...


Dennis (putting hand up): Spare me. Can I get a recommendation?


Tina (stammering): Ye...yes.


Dennis: Thank you.


Dennis stares hard at Tina as he gets up. Tina looks nervous and then tries a smile but backs off. Dennis storms out of office. Tina turns to dial the phone.




TUESDAY AT NOON:


Dennis walks into Tina's office, leaves door open on purpose and sits down.


Tina (impatient tone in voice): Yes, Dennis.


Dennis (time sheet on hand): Since today is my last day working for you, I just want you to sign this so I can leave.


Tina: Well, I can't do that.


Dennis: Sure you can, just sign your name. This thing was supposed to be six months, it's been twelve now.


Tina: But we asked you, right? We asked you if you could stay?


Dennis (raising voice): You asked me, really? I don't remember being asked about this new assignment. When did you ask me that?


Tina: Dennis, there is no need to yell. We can't keep people here against their will.


Dennis: No, you can't, so sign me off.


Tina: We can't correct. You have to go through HR and have them release you. There's a woman named, errrr, Angela, what's her name over at HR?


Angela: Esther, I believe her extension is 115 but I can check.


Tina: Yes, speak to her about taking care of this.


Dennis: No, I'm not going to do that. I'll just tell my agency it's over.


Tina: You cannot speak for the company, Dennis. I have a...


Dennis: It's a different assignment!


Tina: Go through HR. Right now I have a meeting, so you have to excuse me.


Dennis: I DON'T CARE IF YOU HAVE A MEETING!!


Tina quickly turns her face away towards the computer monitor. Her two guests, a man and a woman, have just stepped in.


Dennis: YOU'RE MAKING UP ARBITRARY RULES. BUT I CAN SEE WHY YOU'RE SO RELUCTANT TO LET ME GO. MY ATTENTION MAKES YOU FEEL SPECIAL...THE OCASSIONAL COMPLIMENT FLATTERED YOU.


Tina's guests, realizing what is happening, step out and look on.


Dennis: WHAT'S THE MATTER, DON'T GET FLATTERED ELSEWHERE THAT YOU'RE CLUTCHING AT ANOTHER MAN?
(gesticulating) I AM NOT INTERESTED IN THIS JOB OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU MAY WANT TO GIVE ME.


(lingering pause)


Dennis: GOT THAT?


Tina keeps looking at her computer screen. After a moment, Tina signs her name, turns her face looking at the desk and slides the time sheet to Dennis's side.


Dennis (voice back to normal): Yeah, that's what I thought.


(brief pause)


Dennis: You wanted to play games...


Dennis gets up and steps out, still sulking.


Tina (turns to face guests, embarrassment in her eyes but not her cheeks, in a subdued tone): Please come in. Come in.


Her guests look at Dennis briefly and avert their eyes when they meet his.

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