JACK
Bad games happen Gloria. We’ve been here before.
GLORIA
Well I’ve never, in my life been so embarrassed.
JACK
That’s the nature of the game. Sometimes you win big and sometimes you take one on the chin. Tonight was just a bad one.
GLORIA
Well we’ve been taking way too many on the chin lately. Tonight’s little lolly gag makes it five losses in a row. Each one worse than the next and 13 losses in our last 20 games. In the span of a month we went from home ice advantage to three games out of a playoff spot.
JACK
OK, I admit that we haven’t been very good lately, but we’ve got a few guys banged up and we’ve been playing a lot of back to back nights on the road. This upcoming week we’ve got a lighter schedule at home and we’ll have some time to get guys back to 100%. It’s only a matter of time before we get this turned back around.
GLORIA
Well Jack, we’re running out of time and I’m not going to sit back and watch the attendance numbers tumble into oblivion anymore.
JACK
Now wait just a minute. Your husband, God rest his soul, used to trust my judgement and never interfered when it came to matters about hockey.
GLORIA
Ya, well look what that got him. High blood pressure and a heart attack.
JACK
With all due respect, I’m the coach of this team. Have been for a lot of years now.
GLORIA
Ya, well things change Jack. This is going to be your last year coaching the Brahmas. We won’t make the announcement until after the season. I want to let you finish what you started with this group.
Jack nods his head and looks toward the door leading to the dressing room.
GLORIA
I’ve been in contact with the big club and they are going to be sending us some young prospects to groom before the end of the season. In turn, our affiliation agreement is renewed for the next three years coupled with additional budget funding. It’s what’s right for the organization.
JACK
Ya.
GLORIA
There’s one more thing Jack.
JACK
Ya, what’s that?
GLORIA
We’ll be releasing Charlie Magill. He takes up too much room on the cap and we’ve got to make room for the kids coming up.
Jack shakes his head.
JACK
Jesus Gloria, you can’t do that. He’s the leader of this team.
GLORIA
It’s already done. I filed the waiver papers with the league an hour ago. I can be the one to tell him if you want.
JACK
No, I’ll do it. It’s got to come from me.
Gloria nods.
GLORIA
Listen Jack, I didn’t want to see it come to this, but I have to do what’s right for the team. It’s not personal. It’s just business, you see?
Jack sits emotionless. Gloria opens the door and heads back into the dressing room.
The lights go down on Jack’s office.
SCENE 3
The lights come up on the dressing room.
Gloria walks through the dressing room, immediately appearing cheerful.
GLORIA
Great effort tonight guys! We’ll get them next time!
Gloria exits STAGE LEFT.
The collective fake cheer, put on by the team quickly turns quiet again.
LANCE
Something doesn’t feel right.
TRENT
Ya, something’s definitely up.
MOOSE
Did you see how cheerful she was?
LANCE
Ya, she had the fake smile plastered all over her face.
As Lance, Trent, Moose and Drake chat amongst themselves, Charlie puts on a shirt and makes his way over to Jack Norton’s office door. He hesitates at the door and the opens up the door and walks in.
The lights go down on the main dressing room area.
The Hunter's Burden Page 4
