11/03/08
FADE IN:
INT. APARTMENT BEDROOM- DAY
It is early in the morning. This room is very dirty and has not been cleaned in weeks. The curtains in the are broken and hanging off the windows and sits on the floor. There are cloths all over the floor and sit on top of the TV and computer in the corner.
The CAMERA PANS over to the side. As the CAMERA pans by a loud RUMBLING starts to shake the entire bedroom. A train is passing by.
The CAMERA stops on DENNIS (22) who sleeps in his bed. The rumbling and SHAKING of the room awakens him. He looks over at the alarm clock on the night stand.
The train pass. The second the rumbling stop the loud pitched RINGING of the alarm clock is heard. Dennis sighs and hit’s the snooze button. He climbs out of bed.
INT. APARTMENT BATHROOM- DAY
Dennis takes a shower. He rubs shampoo all over his head, he scrubs and just before he can rinse it off the water turns off. He waits for a beat to see if it comes back.
DENNIS
Great.
He reaches over to the side and grabs a bottle of water. He opens the water and pours it all over his head. The shampoo washes off slowly.
INT. APARTMENT BEDROOM- DAY
Dennis dresses himself. He wears most a restaurant uniform. As he pulls up his red tie he watches the news. And then SPARK! The power goes out. The TV turns off and the room goes dark as the lights are out.
INT. APARTMENT BEDROOM- LATER
The room is still dark. Now a candle lights the room. Dennis finishes his tie looking in a mirror lit by the candle.
INT. APARTMENT- DAY
Dennis is all dressed up for work. He now wears a brown denim jacket over his uniform. He walks across the living area and up to a door in the back which he opens.
The room is dark, we can barley see who is inside. Then Dennis grabs another candle and lights up the room with it.
Inside SAUL (24) and ZACK (22) both sleep in separate beds in the room. The dim light awakens them.
DENNIS
Yo, guys, wake up.
The two sit up in their beds.
SAUL
What, man?
ZACK
Yah, man, what? I’m tired here and want to go back to sleep.
DENNIS
Well I wont keep ya. Just wanted you guys to know that it never bothered me that all you guys ever do all day is play Xbox live and that you guys don’t have jobs, but um, do you guys think you can change that?
SAUL
Why?
DENNIS
Well they cut the power again. So while you guys don’t do anything today do you mind looking for a job? Cause, come on guys I can’t pay all these bills by themselves.
ZACK
Whatever.
SAUL
Yah, we’ll try, just close the damn door.
Dennis nods and then closes the door.
EXT. STREETS- DAY
Dennis walks down the streets. He walks up to an old diner on the side and enters.
INT. DINER- CONTINUOUS
Dennis enters and looks around. In the back of the diner sitting in a booth is ELLEN (20) Dennis’ girlfriend. He smiles at her and she smiles back when she spots him coming in.
He walks up to her and takes a seat.
ELLEN
Hey, how’s it going?
DENNIS
Not good. They cut off the power and the water, and Saul and Zack still don’t have jobs.
ELLEN
Wow, that’s terrible.
DENNIS
Yeah, and I haven’t been able to pay off all the bills, I’m afraid they might kick us out of the apartment. But I told Saul and Zack to go look for jobs and plus I’m gonna ask my boss to give me a raise.
ELLEN
But what if you don’t get the raise?
DENNIS
Well I’ve been working there for more than eighteen months they should give it to me.
ELLEN
You know if that doesn’t workout for you my house is always open to you, I mean, sure my dad would never agree but hey, you’re in need.
DENNIS
I would, believe me, I would love to move in with you but what about the guys, those dudes are like my brothers and I can’t just leave them hanging like that.
There is a small beat.
ELLEN
Well the why don’t you just let me ask my dad to give you some money?
DENNIS
No! definitely not that. I can’t look desperate in front of your dad by asking him for crap, if he sees that I can’t even support myself now he’d never think that I’d be able to support you one day.
Ellen sits back shaking her head, she scoffs.
ELLEN
You see that?
DENNIS
What?
ELLEN
That, what you’re doing.
DENNIS
What?!
ELLEN
You’re trying to “protect your manhood” and it’s exactly that type of thing that leads people to start kidnapping people and robbing banks for some extra cash.
Dennis then sits back. He starts to think about what she has just said. Then a WAITRESS walks up to them.
WAITRESS
Hey are you guys ready to order?
ELLEN
Yeah, I’ll just have an English Muffin.
Dennis pulls out his wallet and starts to look through it.
ELLEN (CONT’D)
Don’t worry about it, Dennis, I’ll get it for you.
DENNIS
Okay, well then I’ll just have a plate of eggs, scrabbled.
WAITRESS
Would you like--
DENNIS
Whatever’s with the eggs is fine.
WAITRESS
Okay-dooky.
After writing down the order she smiles and walks away.
ELLEN
Look Dennis, I care about you and I want to help you through this, just think about what I said, about my dad and the other things.
Dennis continues to think.
INT. APARTMENT- DAY
Saul walks out of his bedroom scratching his head. Zack sits on the couch playing PSP. Saul walks towards the bathroom but stops when Zack says:
ZACK
If I wear you I wouldn’t go in there, I took a turd the sizes of Texas and the toilet wouldn’t flush.
SAUL
Why not?
ZACK
Because they turned off the water.
SAUL
Oh, yeah, Dennis told us this this morning. So, the powers out too?
ZACK
Yep but this ain’t that bad I mean look, sure the Xbox doesn’t turn on and I can’t play Fable but I just gotta pull out the PSP and boom! I’m gaming.
Saul walks over and takes a seat next to Zack on the couch.
ZACK (CONT’D)
That’s the great thing about wifi technology.
SAUL
Yeah, hey where’s my MP3?
Zack does not answer, he’s starting to win and then the battery dies out. He sighs and tosses the PSP to the side.
ZACK
Great, now I can’t charge this.
SAUL
Dude, my Mp3?
ZACK
It’s out of charge too. Stupid wifi technology.
SAUL
You know we ain’t got anything to do, we could go actually look for a job.
Zack was not listening.
ZACK
You know what, I just realized that my laptop has charge, I’m gonna go look at porn.
He gets up and leaves. Saul is left alone on the couch. He checks his cell phone and then looks over in the direction that Zack had left.
SAUL
Got any nude celebrities on that thing?
ZACK (O.S.)
Yep, I got Natalie Portman and some chick that ones in that movie you liked.
SAUL
Olga Kurylenko?!
Saul jumps off the couch and runs into the other room with Zack.
EXT. PLUCK BUCKET- DAY
The Pluck Bucket is a very classic fired chicken restaurant. Out side only two cars a parked up front.
INT. PLUCK BUCKET- CONTINUOUS
Dennis stands before a line of EMPLOYEES. Each employee is younger than the other as the CAMERA pans along side them.
In the back only one overweight COSTUMER eats in the back. Dennis stares at him before turning back to his employees.
DENNIS
Okay, well, first off, good morning. Um, we have a new employee here today, John.
JOHN (14) waves at everyone. No one waves back, in fact no one seems to care at all about anything going on in the store.
DENNIS (CONT’D)
So, Dante, it looks like you’re not the youngest anymore.
DANTE (14) pumps his arm.
DENNIS (CONT’D)
But, hey, it’s only by a few months so, keep ‘em arm pumps to yourself.
(beat)
Well further on, um, Kristy you’re on kitchen management, Craig you’re on register, Allen you’re at the window.
Everyone sighs and seems not to be caring, still. John however smiles at Dennis and everyone else.
DENNIS (CONT’D)
And the rest of ya just do whatever needs to be done, and you John I’m gonna start you off on the register with Craig, so, everyone get to work.
They all walk off with the same bored looks on their faces like before, except for John who has a wide smile on his face.
Standing in the back, WALTER (42) stares at Dennis. He then walks up to him.
WALTER
They don’t respect you.
DENNIS
No! no, they don’t but I’m alright with it, I mean --
WALTER
You’ve got to make them respect you, Dennis, or else they will always just walk all over you.
DENNIS
Okay, sir.
WALTER
Please! Call me Walter, Dennis.
DENNIS
Okay, Walter.
Walter pulls out a cigarette and lights it.
WALTER
You wanted to talk to me about something?
DENNIS
yeah, but can we talk in your office?
INT. WALTER’S OFFICE- DAY
Walter lights up another cigarette, Dennis just stares,
DENNIS
Didn’t you just light one a minute ago?
WALTER
I smoke a lot.
(beat)
So what was it you wanted to talk about?
DENNIS
Well, sir--
WALTER
(offering cigarette)
Do you want one?
DENNIS
No, I- I don’t smoke. But as I was saying, I’m now the assistant regional manager and I only make two dollars more than my inferiors.
WALTER
So?
DENNIS
Well I’d like a raise, sir.
WALTER
You would, hey? Okay, how much do you want?
DENNIS
Wow, really?
WALTER
Yeah, sure.
DENNIS
Okay, well, I make eight dollars an hour and I’d like to make 10.
WALTER
I can’t do that, that’s how much I make.
DENNIS
What really?
WALTER
Yes, and now you see how much it sucks to work at a fast food joint.
DENNIS
Damn, I really needed this money, I mean, they just cut off my power and water and I haven’t paid my rent in months.
Dennis buries his face in his hands.
WALTER
You could always get another job.
DENNIS
I don’t need another job, but my roommates need jobs. Don’t you think you could give them one here?
WALTER
Nope! We’re swamped, we just hired that Joe kid--
DENNIS
John.
WALTER
-- and we just don’t have room for any other employees.
DENNIS
Well I’d better get back to work than.
Dennis stands up.
WALTER
Hey, Dennis, remember, make them respect you.
INT. APARTMENT- DAY
Zack and Saul continue to look at nudity on their laptop and SPARK! The battery dies out. Zack hit’s the top of the computer.
ZACK
Crap!
In the background Dennis enters the apartment. He throws his coat off to the side and takes a seat next to the other two.
SAUL
What’s up, Dennis?
DENNIS
Life sucks, man.
ZACK
Tell me about it. Nothing works around here, all the powers out and I can’t charge any of my crap.
DENNIS
You know, I asked for a raise today and they didn’t give it to me because I’d be making as much as the manager.
SAUL
Well that sucks.
DENNIS
What about you guys? How’d the job hunt go?
Zack and Saul exchange a look.
ZACK/SAUL
Good.
DENNIS
Did you get a job?
SAUL
No, they didn’t give us any.
DENNIS
Why not?
ZACK
Because they found Saul’s drug selling days as not enough experience.
DENNIS
You didn’t actually tell them about that did you?
ZACK
Okay! Fine! We didn’t really look for jobs, we spent all day staring at Olga Kurylenko naked.
Dennis nods, having already known. He pulls out his wallet and counts the money inside.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Dennis gets up and opens the door. Standing out in the hallway is MR. WONG (62). Mr. Wong looks a little angry but understanding. When he speaks he uses a very Asian accent.
DENNIS
Oh, hey there, Mr. Wong.
MR. WONG
We need to talk.
Mr. wong passes by Dennis and walks over in front of Zack and Saul, Dennis walks up next to them and crosses his arms.
MR. WONG (CONT’D)
Do you clowns got my rent?
DENNIS
I’m sorry, Mr. Wong, but I just haven’t been able to balance all my bills, so if I didn’t give you the rent money, then I’m sorry.
MR. WONG
No! sorry no acceptable! You no pay me in like three who-e month. I get sick of it, you stupid retard owe me 700 dollars, plus this month rent, you owe me 1,100 dollars.
ZACK
What are you serious?
SAUL
Yeah, that’s like bull man.
MR. WONG
No, you bull, you retarded too.
(to Dennis)
Look, you pay my bill or you out of apartment, okay? I give you one week to get my money, or your asses out of here! And why there no lights in here?
DENNIS
They cut off our power.
MR. WONG
Oh, that too bad, but not my problem, one week, my money or you out of here, okay?
DENNIS
No, wait, Mr. Wong, don’t you think you could give us a little more time? I mean, I don’t think one week is enough time for us to get 1,100 dollars.
SAUL
Well I could sell some weed for that much.
MR. WONG
No! no illegal money, I only take clean money, I don’t want no weed money, no stolen money, no hostage money, no choke money, no kidnapping money, I only want money you work for alright?!
DENNIS
Please, Mr. Wong, I’m the only one here with a job out of us three and it’ll take me at least five or six weeks to make as much money as you’re asking for.
MR. WONG
Please in that time you’d owe me 1,500 dollars. This no my problem, anyway! You only have one week.
Mr. Wong exit’s the room. Zack and Saul look shocked, they then look up at Dennis.
ZACK
What now?
DENNIS
(off wallet)
Well I’ve got a few bucks in here, we could blow it off at a pool hall.
INT. POOL HALL- NIGHT
Side by side there are hundreds of billiard tables lined up in the middle of the pool hall. At a table in the corner Zack, Dennis and Saul play a game themselves.
Zack and Dennis are playing the game while Saul drinks a beer. Dennis takes a shot a solid ball and makes it into a corner pocket. He then makes in another ball into a middle pocket.
ZACK
You’re creaming me, let me take a shot!
SAUL
You know I could still sell weed to pay for the apartment.
DENNIS
No, Saul, you could smell the weed off them bills and Mr. Wong would get pissed.
He takes a shot and misses.
ZACK
Finally.
Zack lines up for a shot and makes a striped ball into a corner pocket.
DENNIS
No, we need to think of another way to make 1,100 bucks, I could make the much in a month but then we wouldn’t be able to pay the other bills.
ZACK
Dude, dude, dude! Check out this shot I’m gonna do.
DENNIS
How the heck are we going to make 1,100 clean bucks?
SAUL
Dude, I don’t know, I just know that I can make that much selling weed.
Zack misses his next shot and taps Dennis on the shoulder to signal his turn. Dennis does not pay attention.
DENNIS
Well we could ask my girlfriends dad, she said that I should.
ZACK
Yo, Dennis! Just shut up! Here!
Zack gives Dennis his stick.
ZACK (CONT’D)
Look, we’re here to play pool so why are talking about this stupid money problem when I’m trying to concentrate on pool. So just take your shot Dennis.
Dennis sighs, he takes a few shots and empties out the table.
DENNIS
There, I won, are you happy?
ZACK
No! okay, you know what, you’re not interested, come on Saul, I’m gonna beat your ass.
Saul takes the pool stick. Zack sets up the pool table in a nine ball shape form. Zack breaks and makes in two balls.
DENNIS
Zack, I just don’t see how you could be so focused on pool right now when we have a money problem.
ZACK
I don’t see how you can’t think of pool while you’re playing pool, Dennis.
SAUL
So what are we going to do, guys?
Zack takes a shot at the one ball and misses.
ZACK
Jeez, I don’t know.
SAUL
Why don’t you just try to think of something, Dennis.
ZACK
Why don’t you just take the shot.
Saul takes the shot and misses.
ZACK (CONT’D)
You suck, Saul, you know that? You’re much better when you’re high.
SAUL
I know that. I haven’t had enough time to smoke a joint.