Control

Not my best work, but in the spirit of transparency, here it is, #5 of 31 Plays in 31 Days.                        

            Control
            By Jacob Juntunen

            AGENT
Just an update, ladies and gentlemen, your plane isn’t here yet. It’s still at the gate in Charlotte, so just hang tight near the gate, and I’ll provide information as I have it. Thank you for your patience.

CUSTOMER enters.

            CUSTOMER
Hi, I’m on this flight, and I need to know when it will make it to LaGuardia.

            AGENT
Once the plane’s in the air from Charlotte, it’s about an hour travel time, and once it’s here we’ll have to deplane it. But then we’ll get you on as quickly as possible.

            CUSTOMER
Okay, but when will the plane get here?

            AGENT
About an hour after it takes off.

            CUSTOMER
And when will it take off?

            AGENT
I don’t have that information.

            CUSTOMER
Why not?

            AGENT
It’s up to flight control in Charlotte.

            CUSTOMER
Well, what’s going on?

            AGENT
There’s a delay?

            CUSTOMER
I know that, but why?

            AGENT
I don’t have that information either, but it’s probably the weather.

            CUSTOMER
It’s perfectly sunny.

            AGENT
Here, yes, but there’s a storm system in Charlotte. It’s probably that.

            CUSTOMER
So when will the plane take off?

            AGENT
I don’t know ma’am.

            CUSTOMER
How can I find out?

            AGENT
You can’t.

            CUSTOMER
But I need to know when I’ll get to LaGuardia.

            AGENT
I’m sorry, ma’am.

            CUSTOMER
Can I speak to your supervisor?

            AGENT
He’s not going to know anything different than what I have here.

            CUSTOMER
Please call him.

            AGENT
Ma’am, I have the most up to date information, and we’re just waiting on the plane out of Charlotte. There’s nothing we can do to—

            CUSTOMER
How can there be nothing? I’ve got to get to LaGuardia.

            AGENT
I understand that, but—

            CUSTOMER
Tell me what’s going on!

            AGENT
Ma’am, please sit back down or I’ll have to call security.

            CUSTOMER
To what, arrest me? You’re the one that should be arrested! I paid for this flight, and I demand to know what time we’ll be taking off!

            AGENT
(on phone) Charlie, we’ve got a 147 at gate C18—

            CUSTOMER
I’m not a 147, I’m a person! I demand—

            AGENT
Thanks, Charlie.

            CUSTOMER
Don’t you dare ignore me!

            AGENT
I’m not ignoring you, ma’am. And if you don’t sit down the nice men right over there walking this way won’t be ignoring you, either.

            CUSTOMER
This is a crime! A crime!

            AGENT
As you say, ma’am.

            CUSTOMER
I’m sitting, but I’m calling customer service and demanding an explanation! And that you get fired! You tangled with the wrong lady, mister!

            AGENT
Okay, ma’am.

CUSTOMER exits.

            AGENT (cont)
Again, ladies and gentlemen, your plane is still at the gate in Charlotte. I’ll provide information as soon as there’s a change. Thank you for your patience.

Jacob is head of playwriting at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. 
Read his full lengths here.

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