Zeid Abughazaleh – Digital Marketer – Screenwriter

INT. CLOCKWORK COFFEE – DAY

TANNER IS SAT IN THE COFFEE SHOP AT ONE OF THE TABLES. HE IS IN A LOOSE FITTING SUIT AND HAS A RESUME IN FRONT OF HIM.

IN THE SEAT ADJACENT TO HIM IS BERT.

TANNER

So, Mr. Bertinson.

BERT

Oh please, call me Bert, man.

TANNER

Your name is Albert “Bert” Bertinson?

BERT

Yeah man. My friends call me Bert.

TANNER

What do your parents call you?

BERT

They dont

TANNER
I see. So what are your…qualifications?

BERT

I’m great at talking to people.

TANNER

Are you?

BERT
I’m talking to you right now, man.

TANNER
Yeah but… forget it. You’re hired.

BERT

Sweet!

TANNER
Now I do have to let you know, the hours here are…different. The shift is from eleven PM to seven AM, does that work for you?

BERT

That’s all good my man.

TANNER
Wow, this is easier than I thought.

Thank you for your time. I’ll see you tomorrow at ten PM. Can you let the next person know they can come in?

BERT

Sure man.

BERT LEAVES. TANNER IS SATISFIED THAT THE START HAS BEEN EASY. BERT RE-ENTERS.

TANNER
Did you forget something?

BERT
There’s no one outside, man.

TANNER

Really? No one?

BERT
There’s just a guy who kind of looks like me. I tried talking to him but he just kept talking at the same time as me.

TANNER

Thats a window, Bert.

BERT
Oh yeah. That makes sense. Should I bring him in anyway?

TANNER

No, Bert. You can just go.

BERT

Alright man. See you tomorrow, Mr. New Boss. I’ll try not to let you down.

BERT EXITS. TANNER LEANS BACK IN HIS CHAIR AND STARES AT THE CEILING. HE NOTICES A PICTURE OF UNCLE JACK THAT MAKES HIM JUMP. THE PICTURE SHOWS UNCLE JACK ANGRILY POINTING TOWARDS THE FLOOR AND IN THIS CASE, DIRECTLY AT TANNER.

TANNER
What do you want me to do Uncle Jack? I can’t just snap my fingers and get a willing employee.

TANNER SNAPS HIS FINGERS.

ANDREA (O.C.)

Hi

TANNER BRINGS HIS HEAD BACK DOWN AND SEES ANDREA. SHE IS AN ANIMI. SHE IS FLOATING SIX INCHES OFF THE GROUND.

TANNER
Hi. Are you here for a position?

ANDREA

That I am.

ANDREA DE-FLOATS AND SITS IN THE CHAIR. SHE HANDS HIM HER RESUME. HE STARES AT IT FOR FIVE SECONDS AND PUTS IT DOWN. HE GETS READY TO SPEAK AND SHE INTERRUPTS HIM.

ANDREA (CONT’D)
Before you say anything, yes, I’m an Animi. But that should not come into consideration when hiring me. As you

can see I am highly skilled as a barista and I am a quick learner.

TANNER

You’re hired.

ANDREA

Really? That’s it?

TANNER

Yeah.

ANDREA
Do you have any questions for me?

TANNER
Can you work eleven to seven?

ANDREA

Am or Pm?

TANNER

PM to AM.

ANDREA
I’m always up for a challenge.

TANNER
If you say so. You start tomorrow. Come in at ten.

ANDREA

Am or Pm?

TANNER

Pm.

ANDREA
Weird hours.

TANNER

I didn’t make them. (pointing up) He did.

ANDREA LOOKS UP THEN BACK DOWN. SHE GIVES TANNER A CONFUSED LOOK THEN SHRUGS AND HEADS OUT. TANNER SNAPS HIS FINGERS AGAIN AND WAITS, HOPING THE STRATEGY WOULD WORK AGAIN. IT DOES NOT. HE KEEPS SNAPPING AS HE LOOKS AROUND THE STORE.

ERICA (O.C.)

Please stop snapping.

TANNER STOPS AND HIS HEAD CENTERS BACK AS HE SEES ERICA. SHE LETS OUT HER HAND FOR A HANDSHAKE.

ERICA (CONT’D)

Erica Knope. Former CEO of Knope Appliances.
TANNER

Tanner Ridgewell. Current owner of Clockmaker Coffee.

ERICA
Don’t you mean Clockwork?

TANNER

Sure.

TANNER SHAKES HER HAND. ERICA HOLDS A STRONG GRIP BEFORE LETTING GO.

ERICA (pointing to the seat)

May I?

SHE SITS BEFORE TANNER CAN ANSWER. SHE PULLS OUT A RESUME FROM HER BAG. IT IS LAMINATED AND HANDWRITTEN.

ERICA (CONT’D)
As I mentioned I am a former CEO but do not assume that the former means my abilities are in any way lacking. I have kept an eye on this store and believe, no, I know that you need a manager. Someone who is strong willed and able to take on the challenge. Yes, I am a mother but my children are adults and I will not be hiring them here. I am not a fan of handouts so I expect to be given this position based solely on my decades of experience. The hours are not an issue and as long as you stay out of my way, our working relationship will be solid. When do I start?

TANNER

Tomorrow at ten PM.

ERICA
Excellent. Good day, Mr. Ridgewell.

ERICA EXITS. TANNER LOOKS BACK UP AT UNCLE JACK.

TANNER (to himself)

How did she do that?

JENNY (O.C.)

Are you alright, guy?

TANNER LOOKS UP AND SEES JENNY.

TANNER

Where do you people keep coming from?

JENNY

The front door, you weirdo.

TANNER

Hey, you can’t call your new boss a weirdo.

JENNY

So I got the job?

TANNER

What? No. Not yet.

JENNY

So I’m getting the job?

TANNER

Maybe. I’ve got a few questions I have to ask. What position do you want? And can you work the graveyard hours?

JENNY
Barista. And yes. When do I start?

TANNER

Tomorrow at ten pm.

JENNY

I’ll see you then.

JENNY STARTS TO LEAVE.

TANNER

Wait I didn’t even get your name.

JENNY
(as she’s heading out the

door)
It’s Jenny, weirdo boss.

TANNER
Stop calling me a weirdo.

JENNY (O.C.)

Stop being a weirdo first.

JENNY EXITS.

TANNER
Alright. That’s it. I’ve got all I need.

A KNOCK IS HEARD ON THE DOOR. TANNER TURNS HIS HEAD AND SEES “GUY”. GUY WAVES AT TANNER. TANNER WAVES BACK. GUY ENTERS THE STORE AND WALKS UP TO TANNER.

GUY

Hi. My names-

TANNER (interrupting him)

I’m sorry, Guy. I’m out of positions. Try another store.

GUY

Oh. Well I –

TANNER (interrupting him)

Thanks for trying.

GUY

Ok.

GUY LEAVES. TANNER SITS WITH HIS STACK OF RESUMES. HE LOOKS UP TO THE UNCLE JACK PICTURE AND SHOWS OFF THE STACK.

TANNER
This better be worth it, Uncle Jack.

JEFF (O.C.)

It has to be.

TANNER

Uncle Jack?

JEFF (O.C.)

No, you idiot.

TANNER BRINGS HIS HEAD BACK TO CENTER AND SEES JEFF.

TANNER

Oh. It’s just you.

JEFF SITS IN THE SEAT AND PULLS THE RESUMES FROM TANNER. HE STARTS LOOKING THROUGH THEM.

JEFF

This is only three.

TANNER

One didn’t give me a resume.

JEFF

How could you not take a resume?

TANNER

She didn’t give one.

JEFF
You’re always supposed to ask for one.

TANNER
What happened to “legally can’t help me”?

JEFF
I can’t wait to see this blow up in your face.

TANNER
Well when life gives you lemons.

JEFF

Die in a hole.