Tartar
July 6th, 2020
Starring: Dr. Jenks (male, 40’s/50’s), Angela (female, mid 30’s)
The dentist's office within a children’s dentist office. Dr. Jenks, quite tan and with a large shiny ring on his finger, sits at his desk, looking at a medical chart on his laptop. Angela, in hygienist scrubs, knocks and sticks her head in through the door.
ANGELA
Dr. Jenks?
DR. JENKS
Hey, Angela. Come in, so nice to see you!
ANGELA
Welcome back.
DR. JENKS
Thanks.
Need me to take a peek?
ANGELA
Yes.
But uh...I did want to give you the heads up.
Libby’s in today.
DR. JENKS
Oh dear god
I totally forgot.
When?
ANGELA
Now.
DR. JENKS
Shit.
ANGELA
And she has three cavities.
DR. JENKS
Three?
ANGELA
Upper left molar, lower left molar, lower right incisor.
DR. JENKS
Shit
Okay.
...
Do you think this makes me a bad step-dad?
ANGELA
...no.
DR. JENKS
What about an ineffective medical professional?
ANGELA
No.
I just thought the thinking was never have your own kids as patients.
DR. JENKS
Yeah.
I actually think the appointment was scheduled before she was technically my kid. Six months ago she was just my patient. And then...you know, I was kind of focused on
ANGELA
The wedding—
DR. JENKS
Right. And it all happened so fast and her mom and I weren’t really sweating the little things we sort of just went for it and...yeah. Here we are.
That was dumb.
This, not the wedding.
You came to the wedding, right?
ANGELA
I actually had my friend’s bachelorette party.
It looked beautiful though. I saw all the pictures.
DR. JENKS
Thank you.
ANGELA
And the honeymoon was—
DR. JENKS
Yeah, Maui was stunning.
Just...back to work, you know?
...
Is my wife here?
ANGELA
No. I think your nanny brought her.
DR. JENKS
Right, right.
I knew all this.
It’s not your fault.
I’m just all over the place.
…
ANGELA
Do you want me to tell her?
DR. JENKS
No.
No I got it.
Angela, thank you.
ANGELA
For what?
DR. JENKS
Not judging too much.
ANGELA
Oh. I promise nobody’s—
DR. JENKS
No, it’s ok. I expect it.
Shall we?
Angela nods heads into the hallway. Dr. Jenks follows her and and heads into the main dentist cleaning area, offstage.
DR. JENKS (voice)
Hey pumpkin! Long time no see!
You want to lean back and give me a big ol’ smile?
Perrrfect!
Great!
These look great.
Mom’s gonna be so proud.