The Presentation: A Play in Two Acts

ACT I

Curtain rises, lights come up. A ubiquitous corporate conference room. Sally and Mark, mid-level managers and colleagues, prepare for a presentation to their executive management team. They sit together, reviewing their material and obsessing about what's soon to come.

Sally

(Seeking assurance.) We're ready, right? This recommendation is perfect. It's right in our wheel house, exactly our sweet spot. We're good, no?

Mark

Yes, we're ready. That said, you never know what kind of curve ball they're bound to throw at us. You know they will. They love that game, that intimidation game.

Sally

That's what I'm afraid of. No way can we strike out on this. There's simply too much riding on it.

Mark

Agreed. After all, this is the major leagues. Solid hits are expected.

Sally

I know, I know. This isn't the minors. (Flipping to a new page in the presentation.) Our line-up is very strong and our bench is deep. We've certainly got the resources we need to deliver.

Mark

Yes, with Ed we have a proven lead-off hitter. Theresa can always be counted on to deliver in the clutch and Jose is a terrific slugger. No way we get shut out.

Sally

So why do I feel like we're about to approach the plate without a bat?

Mark

(Laughing.) That's what's great about you, Sally: You're one of the most feared hitters in the game and, despite your track record of perfect games, you act like a rookie who's just been called up from Des Moines. (After a pause.) You're the ideal person to make this pitch and to lead this team. We'll win this, Sally. After all, it's our World Series.

Sally

(Visibly relieved.) Thanks, Mark. I don't think I've ever had a more supportive teammate. Let's knock their socks off.

Mark

My thought exactly.

Unnamed Assistant

(Opening conference room door.) They're ready for you. (Quietly, to Mark.) I hope you're ready for them.

Mark

(With concern, while gathering materials and standing.) What do you mean by that?

Unnamed Assistant

Just to warn you: They're in a foul mood. The presentation before you did not go well. That team got no-hit. Worse than that, really. They never even got to first base.

Mark

(Leaving conference room, to Sally:) Sounds like me in high school! (Sally snickers.) But, seriously, it's all the better for us. We've got our A-game. We'll blow them away.

Sally

(Again looking tense.) I hope you're right, Mark. Let's hit this one out of the park.

Mark

(As they enter the adjoining conference room, with sounds of voices in the background.) If you insist, Sally. If you insist.

Male Voice From Inside Executive Conference Room

So, you're up next?

Lights dim, curtain falls.

ACT II

Curtain rises, lights come up. Executive conference room after a lengthy meeting. Water bottles, coffee cups, and papers litter the large, elegant table. Twelve high-backed leather chairs are at all angles, its occupants having left them askew. A screen covers a far wall. Sally and Mark sit at one end of the table, each holding a partially-filled water bottle. Both appear spent.

Mark

(Slowing shaking his head.) Well, that happened.

Sally

(Dejectedly.) Yes, that certainly did.

Mark

What was up with Sam? We're not 3 minutes into this and he throws a high fastball right at your head.

Sally

I don't have a clue. I have no idea why he'd do that. I'm not even sure if it was a message pitch. That bean ball completely surprised me. But, I must say, Mark, you saved the day. What an amazing diving catch you made! It was gorgeous!

Mark

Don't know about that, but no way was I going to let his backdoor slider effect our approach at the plate. No way was I going to let him mess with our timing or balance. We were ready for his squeeze play.

Sally

Well, you were an all-star, Mark. I always knew you were a great fielder, but I had no idea you were that fast. Dude, you played that one like a hall of famer! (Conspiratorially, in a whisper.) You been doing 'roids? Again?

Mark

(Laughing, striking a body-builder pose.) Why, does it look it? Is my head bigger?

Sally

After this meeting, it just might be. Sam throws that pitch and is clearly expecting you to swing right through it, get no wood on the ball, maybe, if you're lucky, foul it off into the stands. But what do you do? You, our Babe Ruth, our Ichiro, you smack it right back up the middle, right through the box. You're standing on second before he even knows what's happened --

Mark

-- and then you drove me in with that home run of a comment about winning the division, making the playoffs, and kicking ass in the postseason. They absolutely loved it!

Sally

(Allowing herself to smile.) They did, didn't they. You scored standing up (quickly holds up a hand to Mark) -- and no cracks about high school! -- and that was the ballgame. That was all she wrote.

Mark

You're right. No way they could come back from that. It was a no-doubt-about-it grand slam. It won the game for us, Sally. It probably also put Sam back in the bullpen. Hard to imagine him being a trusted starter in that rotation anytime soon.

Sally

Fine by me. I've always liked Sam, but he's got some nasty stuff and has his own ways of forcing errors. I've seen him reduce veteran ballplayers to Single-A journeymen with just one inside fastball. The man knows how to play the game.

Mark

You're right. I've seen that happen. One heater, some high cheese, and your knees are buckling and then you're throwing balls into the stands.

Sally

But, not us. Not today. We came into their ballpark, quieted the crowd, and swept 'em.

Mark

Swept 'em at home. That's got a nice ring to it. Let's see how long the good feeling lasts.

Sally

Let's enjoy it now. But, remember, we have another game tomorrow.

Mark

Fair enough. Not to worry. I'll be ready, coach.

Sally

Hey, speaking of having a game tomorrow, I have tickets to the ball game tomorrow night. Good seats. Any interest?

Mark

Baseball? Sweet of you to offer, Sally. But I hate baseball. I don't know a thing about it.

Sally gives Mark a shocked look as the lights fade and curtain falls.