DONT ASK ME TO SPEAK AT AN OFFICE BIRTHDAY PARTY - DAY

               By Kevin Hines



               INT. OFFICE MEETING ROOM

               A meeting room is filled with all the employees at a small
               law firm. There is a cake that has been passed around and
               everyone is holding a piece. The boss, MR. DARKWORTH has been
               speaking to the room.

                                   DARKWORTH
                         ...and Lily continues to be an
                         important member of the law firm.
                         Happy Birthday!

               Everyone politely claps.

                                   DARKWORTH (CONT'D)
                         Does anyone else wish to say
                         anything? How about Amanda.

               AMANDA stands in the back of the room. She isn't talking to
               anyone and was staring out a window, but when she hears her
               name she looks up in fear.

                                   DARKWORTH (CONT'D)
                         Amanda, you work right next to
                         Lily. I'm sure you have something
                         to say.

                                   AMANDA
                         That's ok.

                                   DARKWORTH
                         I insist.

               Everyone again politely claps. Amanda shifts awkwardly for a
               moment. Still holding her cake (that she hasn't taken a bite
               out of it)

                                   AMANDA
                         I don't really know Lily.

               Everyone looks uncomfortable. There is some mumbling.

                                   AMANDA (CONT'D)
                         I know I work next to her. But
                         other then when I have to interact
                         with her, I just mind my own
                         business. I do my work. I do it
                         well. I get it done on time.
                         I am polite to people when I need
                         to talk to them. But I don't really
                         feel the desire to get to know
                         anyone hear better.

               One person starts politely clapping and then realizes that
               it's not that kind of speech. He stops.

                                   AMANDA (CONT'D)
                         I know you think that makes me a
                         bad person, though I don't agree. I
                         wouldn't be speaking now if I
                         hadn't felt obligated to. I
                         wouldn't have come to this birthday
                         party. It wasn't mandatory. But if
                         I didn't come, I'd be asked over
                         and over and over again why I
                         didn't come. So it's easier and
                         quicker just to come. I don't eat
                         cake.

               Amanda holds up her uneaten cake.

                                   AMANDA (CONT'D)
                          I don't eat gluten. But if I don't
                         hold a piece of cake then everyone
                         will ask me if I want a piece of
                         cake or demand why I am not eating
                         cake. So I take a piece. And then
                         when this ends, I'll wrap it in a
                         napkin and throw it out. Hopefully
                         when no one is looking.

               Amanda places the cake on the table.

                                   AMANDA (CONT'D)
                         I sign all your birthday cards. I
                         join your lottery pools when the
                         jackpot gets sufficiently high. I
                         smile or laugh at jokes that are
                         made. 

               One person laughs awkwardly. Realizes there was no joke and
               stops abruptly.

                                   AMANDA (CONT'D)
                         I shouldn't have to do any of those
                         things. But you force me to.
                         Through inadvertent passive
                         aggressive behavior. So I learned
                         to just do the minimum to be left
                         alone. And now I am making a
                         speech. 

               Amanda stands in silence. Everyone stares at her. No one
               seems mad or effected.

                                   AMANDA (CONT'D)
                         Uh... happy birthday Lily. I love
                         you?

               Everyone claps. Lily hugs Amanda.

                                   DARKWORTH
                         We all love you Lily. Ok, back to
                         work everyone!

               As Amanda starts to leave Mr. Darkworth hands her another
               piece of cake.

                                   DARKWORTH (CONT'D)
                         Why don't you take the last piece
                         of cake?

                                   AMANDA
                         Thanks.

               STAY IN YOUR CUBICLE TIL THE BLACK OUT!

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 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.