Scotty’s Cleaners

Pilot

Written by

Britni Nicole

1

TEASER

INT. FACTORY TIME CLOCK - DAY

People wait in a big group by the time clock. MARK, 46 beer

belly average height, and KATIE, 28 pretty aside from her acne

scars are in the middle of a conversation.

KATIE

This has been going on for far too

long. It’s like people think they

can go in that fridge and take

whatever they want.

MARK

Did you write your name on it?

KATIE

Yes, but that shouldn’t matter.

Even without my name on it, it’s

still stealing.

MARK

Talk to Jake about it, this is

more of his area.

KATIE

I already did. He didn’t do

anything.

MARK

I’ll take care of it tomorrow.

KATIE

Doubt it.

Katie punches out. Mark looks around and spots CHERYL, 44 tall

skinny with brown hair. He makes his way to her, glad to be rid

of Katie.

MARK

Hey Cheryl, good news, I looked at

the budget and we can hire someone

by you in sorting.

CHERYL

About damn time!

2

MARK

Do you think your daughter would

be interested?

Cheryl’s eyes brighten.

CHERYL

You know, I actually think she

might this time.

They’re interrupted by screeching tires and a lot of beeping

coming from outside.

MARK

Oh hell, not again.

Mark rushes outside, Cheryl follows.

EXT. FACTORY PARKING LOT - DAY

The parking lot is a chaotic mess. Mark stands just outside the

door and surveys the chaos. It looks like everyone pulled out

at the same time without looking. Luckily, no one hit anyone.

The cars are trying to get out of the mess with no luck.

MARK

Where did you people learn to

drive?

Mark hikes up his sagging pants and hustles to the front of the

confusion to try to sort people out.

Cheryl lights a cigarette and takes a seat near the door, this

was going to take a while.

ACT I

INT. APARTMENT - DAY

We enter the living room; it’s very cluttered and full of

heavily used furniture. NAOMI, 22 blonde hair average build,

sits on the couch with her laptop.

Naomi checks her email while she eats a bowl of cereal. She

clicks through various job rejections when Cheryl enters.

3

CHERYL

Morning Naomi

NAOMI

Hey Mom, is it four already?

CHERYL

Yes, and guess what?

NAOMI

What?

CHERYL

Scotty’s is hiring, they’re

looking for someone in my

department. I know we talked

about it before and you said no

but…

Naomi cuts Cheryl off.

NAOMI

I’ll take it. I graduated six

months ago. I don’t care what kind

of job it is.

CHERYL

Great, I can’t wait to tell Mark!

NAOMI

They understand that this won’t be

a permanent thing, just until I

find a job in accounting?

CHERYL

Yes, they know all that. I’m so

excited to have my baby at work

with me.

NAOMI

Okay Mom, settle down.

Naomi stands up to put her bowl of cereal away. She’s not

wearing any pants.

CHERYL

4

You might have to start wearing

pants now.

Naomi rolls her eyes and continues past Cheryl into the kitchen.

CHERYL

And maybe you should shower.

NAOMI

I’m not an animal mom. I know how

to clean myself up.

CHERYL

Coulda fooled me.

Cheryl lights a cigarette and plops down on the couch.

`

INT. MARK’S OFFICE - MORNING

Naomi and Cheryl stand in the doorway of Mark’s office. Mark’s

eyes are glued to his computer screen. Cheryl enters as if she

owns the place, Naomi follows her timidly.

CHERYL

Good morning Mark.

Mark looks up.

MARK

Morning Cheryl. This must be

Naomi.

Mark stands up and sticks his hand out towards Naomi.

NAOMI

Yes, nice to meet you. Thank you

for this opportunity.

Naomi shakes Marks hand. Mark waves his hand for her to take a

seat.

MARK

We’ll start with some boring

stuff. Paperwork and what not.

When you’re done with that I’ll

call Jake over and he’ll give you

a little tour.

5

NAOMI

Sounds good.

CHERYL

Well, I’ll leave you to it. See

you in a little bit honey.

Naomi grimaces at her mom’s use of the word honey. Mark

rummages through papers looking for Naomi’s paperwork.

INT. FACTORY SORTING AREA - MORNING

Cheryl reaches the back of the sorting area where there is a

table to keep their purses. Katie, JEAN, early forties short

curly hair, and SELENA, Latina average height and build, are

already gathered around talking.

CHERYL

Morning ladies.

JEAN

Hi, Cheryl. How’s it going?

CHERYL

Good, today’s Naomi’s first day!

KATIE

Oh yeah, that’s right.

SELENA

Great, now there’s two of you.

CHERYL

And what’s wrong with that?

SELENA

Well if she’s anything like you a

whole lot.

CHERYL

You know Selena, I’m sick of your

attitude. If you have such a big

problem with me you should take it

up with the bosses.

SELENA

I have.

6

Selena stalks away. Cheryl scowls after her. Jean and Katie

ignore the tone of their conversation, this banter happens all

the time.

JEAN

Well, is she excited?

Cheryl’s mood quickly changes as the conversation is brought

back towards Naomi.

CHERYL

I think she’s a bit nervous.

KATIE

She’ll be fine…just hope she

doesn’t get on Selena’s bad side.

CHERYL

Hopefully not…she does have an

attitude sometimes.

JEAN

Sometimes, try all the time

CHERYL

I was talking about my daughter.

INT. FACTORY MARKS OFFICE - LATER

Naomi has completed her paperwork and sits with her arms

crossed. Mark shoves a handful of peanuts into his mouth as he

sighs, looking at the clock.

MARK

I don’t know what’s taking Jake so

long. I hope that he didn’t let

the Mexicans lock him in a washer

again.

Naomi raises her eyebrows at Mark not sure if he’s kidding.

JAKE, 26 but looks younger short, blonde, red faced, rushes in

out of breath.

JAKE

Sorry, I took so long there was an

incident in the break room.

7

MARK

I was starting to get worried.

Did the ice machine break down?

JAKE

No. But I need to talk to you

about the incident later.

MARK

Fine, later. Naomi, this is Jake,

he’s the production supervisor.

He’s supposed to make sure that

everything runs smoothly out there

so that I can do my job in here.

JAKE

Hi Naomi, nice to meet you. Your

mom has told me a lot about you.

Jake and Naomi shake hands.

MARK

Have fun on the tour and try not

to get lost.

INT FACTORY – DAY

Jake and Naomi stand at the end of a hallway overlooking the

majority of the factory.

JAKE

I guess we can start with the break

room first that way you can put

your lunch away.

Jake leads Naomi to the break room, on either side of the break

room door are doors to the bathrooms.

JAKE

Now, you can take a bathroom break

just about whenever you want. But

don’t take advantage of this

privilege.

NAOMI

8

Okay, I guess I shouldn’t bring my

frozen Mexican TV Dinners in for

lunch.

Jake doesn’t pick up that she’s kidding.

JAKE

You can bring anything you want to

eat, just not alcohol.

NAOMI

How would I bring alcohol to eat?

JAKE

Trust me, people have done it

before. Jell-O shot fruit salads,

salads with vodka vinaigrette, we

almost considered banning salads.

JAKE

Anyway, here’s the break room.

Jake pushes in the door to the dingy break room and they enter.

INT BREAK ROOM DAY

Jake and Naomi survey the break room. A few people are lounging

about. There are signs reminding people not to steal and to

label their food with their names.

JAKE

It’s your typical break room. You

have microwaves, coffee, ice

machine, and a couple

refrigerators.

SHAWN, mid thirties average height heavier build, slams the

fridge door and turns angrily around to address the room.

SHAWN

SOMEONE STOLE MY TWINKIE!

JAKE

We recommend writing your name on

your food.

NAOMI

9

I can see that.

BRIAN

Relax, man just a Twinkie.

SHAWN

It’s the third time this week!

Shawn reopens the fridge door and begins going through people’s

lunches.

BRIAN

You shouldn’t be going through

other people’s things.

Other people in the break room begin to voice their objections

to Shawn’s actions. Jake decides he can’t stand in the shadows

anymore.

JAKE

Alright Shawn, Brian is right you

can’t go through other people’s

things.

SHAWN

Someone went through my lunch, why

can’t I go through theirs?

JAKE

Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Plus doing it with your boss

watching? I can write you up.

Shawn gives Jake an angry glare, saying you wouldn’t dare with

his eyes. Shawn straightens up and slams the fridge door shut

again.

SHAWN

Well, what are you going to do

about this then?

JAKE

Well as you can see

Jake points to the various signs.

JAKE (cont’d)

10

Both Mark and I are looking into

this. And I can assure you that

once we find whoever is responsible

for this they will be punished.

SHAWN

But what are you going to do about

this right now? I’m starving and

my morning snack is gone.

JAKE

Right now?

SHAWN

Mmmhmm

JAKE

Well I guess…right now I can

ummm..

Jake looks around the room hoping for an answer. He eyes the

vending machines.

JAKE

I guess right now I can buy you a

snack from the vending machine.

How does that sound?

SHAWN

Sounds like a start.

Jake breathes a sigh of relief. He hands Shawn a dollar and

walks to Naomi.

JAKE

Sorry about that. Now let’s move

on to the important part.

INT. FACTORY SORTING AREA - DAY

Jake and Naomi enter the sorting area. Naomi is greeted right

away by Cheryl.

CHERYL

Aw, here’s my baby!

Cheryl walks over to join Jake and Naomi.

11

JAKE

Hey Cheryl I was just going to show

Naomi around sorting.

CHERYL

Don’t worry, Jake. I can handle

that, wouldn’t want to confuse her.

Naomi looks around. There are a lot of polls and rails weaving

throughout the area. She’s a little overwhelmed.

JAKE

Well, I know you can handle this so

I’ll see you later.

Jake leaves the sorting area. Cheryl turns to Naomi.

CHERYL

Welcome to my kingdom.

NAOMI

Thanks.

Cheryl notices that Naomi is still carrying her purse. They

walk back to the table.

CHERYL

You can put your stuff back here.

There’s a cooler for you to keep

your lunch in. We’ve been having

problems with people stealing

food.

NAOMI

Well I already put my lunch in the

fridge.

CHERYL

I guess that should be okay, I

mean what are the chances

something gets stolen on your

first day?

Naomi looks up at a bulletin board on the wall. Various

pictures of kids are tacked up, including several of Naomi from

some of her more awkward stages. And pictures of cats.

12

NAOMI

What the hell is this?

Naomi reaches up to the board to take her pictures down.

CHERYL

Naomi! Leave them alone! It’s our

wall of pride.

NAOMI

Mom, don’t you get how it’d be

embarrassing to have pictures of

yourself during various stages of

puberty hanging up at your place of

work?

CHERYL

But you’re so adorable! Look at

those cheeks.

NAOMI

Fine I’ll leave them up.

CHERYL

Good. I like looking at them…

NAOMI

IF I get to bring in some of my

favorite pictures of you. I could

bring in some of the ones I took of

you after you had three teeth

pulled.

CHERYL

OKAY! You can take them down.

Cheryl helps Naomi take the pictures down.

CHERYL

Now you ready to get started?

NAOMI

I suppose.

INT FACTORY SORTING AREA DAY

13

Naomi, Cheryl and Jean stand at first sort. There’s a poll

where the conveyor ends and clothes are sliding down it towards

them.

CHERYL

Jean, this is my daughter Naomi.

Can you show her the ropes of first

sort?

JEAN

Sure thing.

Cheryl walks away leaves Naomi with Jean.

JEAN

So how’s your first day going so

far?

NAOMI

Okay, there’s a lot more to dry

cleaning than I thought.

JEAN

You bet there is. You ready to

learn more?

JEAN grabs a shirt off of the rail to show Naomi the bar code on

the collar.

JEAN

All of the numbers and letters on

the bar code mean something. In

first sort we pay attention to the

first letter, that’s the route.

NAOMI

Okay…

JEAN

This shirt has a letter A, so you

look at the board.

Jean points to a white board hanging on the wall. It has

letters with various numbers written next to them.

JEAN

Route A goes on rail two.

14

There are ten rails sticking out towards Jean and Naomi. Jean

walks over to the second one and hangs the shirt there and it

slides down to the end.

JEAN

That’s pretty much all there is to

it, let me know if you have any

questions.

Jean leans past Naomi to grab some clothes to sort and has a

sneeze attack.

NAOMI

Bless you!

JEAN

Thank you, are you wearing perfume?

NAOMI

No, I wouldn’t waste that here.

JEAN

Scented lotion?

NAOMI

No.

JEAN

Deodorant?

NAMOI

For your sake, yes.

JEAN

It has a very perfumey smell. Could

you try wearing a less smelly

deodorant?

Naomi is put off guard this request.

NAOMI

I guess I can try.

Naomi shoves her nose into her armpit and shrugs, doesn’t smell

anything. Jean begins to ramble on about her cats.

15

JEAN

I have three cats and boy oh boy

do they keep me up at night. Last

night Harry, I’ve had him for

about twelve years, kept trying to

sleep on my face. I felt like I

was going to suffocate…

Naomi zones out.

INT FACTORY SORT DAY

Naomi is snapped out of her reverie by Jean sneezing again.

JEAN

Damn. I really must be allergic to

your deodorant.

NAOMI

Sorry.

JEAN

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah,

Christopher. I’ve had him for

eight years, he needs to take

glaucoma medicine

Naomi sighs, shakes her head, and continues to work.

INT CHERYL’S CORNER DAY

Cheryl sorts through new accounts in her corner. Jake timidly

strolls toward her.

JAKE

You wanted to see me?

CHERYL

What kind of supervisor are you if

you’re never around to supervise?

JAKE

The tunnel broke down, I was over

there…

CHERYL

16

You have to do something about

Selena. She’s been taking a ten

minute bathroom break every hour.

She’s really just going outside to

smoke and check her phone.

JAKE

I’ll talk to her later.

CHERYL

By later you mean never because

you’ll forget about it.

JAKE

Fine. I’ll talk to her now.

CHERYL

Good. Thank you.

Jake looks toward Selena and dreads the next conversation. He

slowly heads over.

INT FACTORY FINAL SORT

Jake approaches Selena with a determined look on his face.

JAKE

Selena, can I talk to you a

second?

SELENA

Sure, boss what do you need?

Jake tries to keep his voice sounding pleasant.

JAKE

I just wanted to remind you about

your break times.

Selena scowls and looks up at Cheryl who is hard at work.

SELENA

I know my break times.

JAKE

17

Some people have noticed that

you’re taking more frequent

breaks.

SELENA

You know I have that irritable

bowel syndrome. Every time I eat

I have to run to the crapper ten

minutes later.

JAKE

Right…well if you could just try to

keep the breaks to a minimum that

would be great.

Jake starts to back away, desperate for this conversation to be

over.

SELENA

Sure, but I expect this company to

compensate me for my ruined

underwear!

Jake nods and turns away. Selena looks to Cheryl, if looks

could kill Cheryl would be done.

SELENA

I wish if some people had a

problem they would talk to me

instead of running to the boss.

Cheryl twitches but manages not to look up.

ACT II

INT FACTORY FIRST SORT LATER

Naomi and Jean are hard at work. Cheryl stops by.

CHERYL

How’s it going over here?

JEAN

Good, she’s a fast learner.

CHERYL

18

Don’t I know it.

NAOMI

Do you need something mom?

CHERYL

It’s time for your first break.

You get two fifteen minutes and

one half hour break for lunch.

NAOMI

Okay, see you in fifteen then.

CHERYL

Do you need me to go with you to

the break room?

NAOMI

God, mom, no Jake already showed

me the break room.

CHERYL

Sorry, how was I supposed to know?

INT FACTORY BREAK ROOM

Naomi enters the break room. There are about ten other people

in the break room, sorted in their own little cliques. Asians,

Mexicans, and various other people.

Naomi goes to the fridge and gets her lunchbox out. She sifts

through it, huffs, the granola bar she was going to eat is gone.

She shuts her lunch box and takes it with her to the vending

machine where she buys a snack.

Naomi sits at a small table by herself.

INT FACTORY BATHROOM DAY

Naomi enters the bathroom but all the stalls are taken. She

stands by the door and listens to the stall chatter.

WORKER 1

I’m not sure after my first break

my stomach just wouldn’t stop

churning

19

WORKER 2

I wonder if it was the juice I

drank earlier? You know there’s

all that stuff in the news about

those things growing mold

WORKER 3

Yeah all those preservatives

WORKER 4

I almost shit my pants.

Worker 1 finishes and exits the stall. She’s a short round

woman. She smiles gently at Naomi.

WORKER 1

I warmed it up for you.

NAOMI

Ummm, thanks.

Naomi makes it into the stall and there’s poop streaks all over

the toilet. There’s used toilet paper on the ground next to the

toilet.

NAOMI

Where am I, Mexico?

Naomi hovers over the toilet seat. Half way through peeing

someone bangs on her stall door. Startled, Naomi plops down on

the dirty toilet seat.

Worker 5

Hurry it up!

Disgusted, Naomi does indeed hurry it up. She gives WORKER 5 a

dirty look as she exits the stall.

WORKER 5

Finally. (a beat) Woah what’d

you do in here?

INT FACTORY FIRST SORT DAY

Naomi heads back to where she was working before her break.

Cheryl walks over to her.

20

CHERYL

Actually sweetie, can you go over

to second and train with Katie?

NAOMI

Sure sweetie.

Naomi walks over to second sort to meet Katie.

INT FACTORY SECOND SORT DAY

Naomi arrives at second sort and introduces herself to Katie

NAOMI

Hey, Katie? I’m Naomi. My mom

sent me over here to get trained on

second sort.

KATIE

Hi Naomi. Let’s get straight to

it. In second sort you separate

the companies into smaller groups.

Like this company has about fifty

people so we’ll sort it by tens.

Zeroes will go on one, tens on

two, etc. Got it?

NAOMI

Yup.

KATIE

So how’s your first day going?

NAOMI

Okay, I guess. Someone stole a

granola bar from my lunch, which

sucks.

KATIE

We’ve been having a lot of

problems with people stealing

other people’s food. The bosses

don’t take it very seriously so

nothing gets done about it.

NAOMI

21

We’re all adults here. Why would

someone go around stealing other

people’s food?

KATIE

Well they work here, so they can’t

be too bright.

Naomi looks at Katie and smiles, maybe she could be friends with

this one.

NAOMI

That’s true, although it doesn’t

say much about us.

KATIE

Ha, I never said I was smart.

Naomi and Katie work in silence.

INT FACTORY DAY

Selena yells to Cheryl, this snaps Naomi out of her daydream.

NAOMI

What’s going on?

KATIE

Selena’s freaking out again.

SELENA

I don’t care if she’s new! This is

a mess! She needs to watch her

numbers!

CHERYL

Calm down, I’ll help you fix it.

SELENA

If she wasn’t your daughter you’d

be yelling too.

Naomi looks hurt and upset.

KATIE

22

Don’t worry about it, she freaks

out on everyone. You’re doing

great.

NAOMI

Thanks.

CHERYL

Fine, I’ll talk to her.

SELENA

All you have to do is read a

number put it on a hook, how hard

can it be? I thought she was a

college graduate? It doesn’t look

like she got past first grade.

Cheryl walks over to Naomi, who looks pretty upset.

CHERYL

Sweetie, it’s your first day.

Just be a little more careful.

Try going a slower if that helps.

NAOMI

Sure, whatever. Can you please not

call me sweetie at work?

CHERYL

Sure, swe—sure. Listen it’s about

time for your lunch anyway why

don’t you go on your break?

NAOMI

Sounds good to me.

EXT FACTORY DAY

Naomi sits underneath a tree trying to enjoy the last few bites

of her lunch. Cheryl approaches and sits next to Naomi.

CHERYL

How’s your first day going?

NAOMI

Honestly? Mom, I don’t know how

23

you’ve worked here for twenty

years. I can’t see how I’m going

to finish the week.

CHERYL

Well it’s a job and it’s not so bad

once you get used to it.

NAOMI

I don’t want to get used to this.

People yelling and shitting

everywhere. Plus getting paid

minimum wage is not what I went to

college for.

Cheryl puts an arm around Naomi.

CHERYL

I know. But at least it’s

something for now. And who knows,

maybe it will lead to something

down the road.

NAOMI

Maybe, either way I do not plan on

staying here any longer than I

have to.

Cheryl chuckles.

NAOMI

What?

CHERYL

Nothing, it’s just that I said the

same thing to myself about twenty

years ago.

Cheryl stands up leaving Naomi looking scared.

INT FACTORY SORT DAY

Naomi heads back to work after her break. She heads to the

cooler to put her lunch away. Katie and Selena gossip near the

cooler. Selena sees Naomi, rolls her eyes and walks away.

KATIE

24

Don’t worry about her. Tomorrow

it'll be me that she’s pissed at.

Naomi shrugs.

NAOMI

Do you know where my mom wants me

to be now?

KAITE

Most likely by Selena but you

should ask. She’s talking to Paul

by the loading dock.

Naomi heads to the loading docks.

INT MARK’S OFFICE DAY

Mark leans back in his chair, eyes closed, most likely asleep.

There’s a twinkie wrapper near his mouse pad. His stomach

rumbles. His eyes shoot open. He quickly stands up, grabs a

magazine and runs out of his office.

INT MEN’S BATHROOM DAY

Mark enters the bathroom to find a line. He barges the way to

the front.

MARK

Sorry fella’s this is an emergency.

Mark begins banging on the stall doors.

WORKER 6

Sorry boss, this (grunt) is going

to be a while.

Mark surveys the bathroom. The urinals look tempting. His

stomach makes another dangerous rumble and he rushes out of the

room.

INT FACTORY OUTSIDE WOMEN’S BATHROOM

Mark tries to enter the women’s bathroom only to be immediately

thrown out. Jean angrily follows him.

JEAN

25

You try coming in here again and

I’ll file a report with HR.

MARK

I’m sorry but…

Mark’s eyes nearly explode out of his head as his stomach

heaves.

INT FACTORY SORT DAY

Naomi approaches Cheryl and PAUL. Paul’s back is turned towards

Cheryl.

NAOMI

Hey mom, where do you want…

Paul turns around to face Naomi. He’s younger and more put

together than Naomi would have expected of someone that works in

a place like this.

CHERYL

I was just talking about you!

NAOMI

Oh God…

PAUL

It was nothing bad I promise.

CHERYL

Naomi, this is Paul. Paul this is

my oldest, Naomi.

PAUL

Nice to meet you.

NAOMI

You too.

CHERYL

He’s one of the drivers for the

local routes.

Cheryl eyeballs Naomi, it’s obvious that she’s trying to play

matchmaker. Naomi ignores her.

26

CHERYL

He’s from Seattle.

NAOMI

Seattle, wow, why on Earth would

you ever move here?

PAUL

Well, my mother lived here and she

passed away recently…so

NAOMI

I’m sorry to hear that.

PAUL

Thanks.

Naomi’s flustered now and seeks an escape.

NAOMI

Well mom, do you want me to go

back to second sort?

CHERYL

You’re not going to like this but

it’s Selena’s turn.

NAOMI

That’s what I figured.

CHERYL

If she gives you any problems let

me know.

NAOMI

It’s okay mom I can handle myself.

It was nice to meet you Paul.

PAUL

Nice to meet you too.

Lingering looks are exchanged.

INT FACTORY SORT DAY

Naomi arrives back to sort with no Selena in sight. She asks

Katie what she should do.

27

NAOMI

Do you know where Selena is?

KATIE

I have no idea, she has been gone

a while even for Selena.

Katie smirks as if it’s an inside joke.

KATIE

I guess I’ll get you going over

there until she gets back.

INT FACTORY DAY

Selena hustles to the girls bathroom but Jake stops her.

JAKE

What are you up to Selena?

SELENA

I need to use the restroom.

JAKE

I just saw you go in there not

ten minutes ago.

SELENA

Please, it’s an emergency.

JAKE

You think just because I’m nice

that you can play me like that?

Well, no more mister nice guy.

Selena looks increasingly uncomfortable. Jake chose the wrong

moment to grow some cajones.

JAKE

C’mon let’s go to my office. I’m

writing you up.

SELENA

Please, I really have to go…

28

A dangerous fart slips out of Selena. Jake cringes. Selena

looks slightly more comfortable. Then, they both cringe at the

smell.

JAKE

Do you need to go take care of

that?

SELENA

I told you!

Selena runs to the restroom.

ACT III

EXT FACTORY DAY CONTINUOUS

Mark races to his car in the parking lot. He reaches his car

and drops his keys. He quickly bends down to pick them up and

immediately wishes he hadn’t. He stands up quickly clenching

the most he’s ever clenched in his life.

Mark scans the parking lot. He runs, as best as he can, to the

back corner by the dumpsters. Panting, he squats to relieve

himself.

INT FACTORY DAY

Selena reenters the sorting area to see Naomi working. She

looks wrung out.

SELENA

You better not have made a mess

over here.

NAOMI

I think I’ve been doing pretty

well.

SELENA

We’ll see.

Selena starts going through the uniforms that Naomi already

sorted.

SELENA

29

Tsk tsk this shirt is missing a

button,this shirt is very wrinkly,

and these pants how do you think

this guy is going to wear these

with a zipper like this?

NAOMI

I didn’t know I was supposed to be

looking for stuff like that.

SELENA

They’re our customers, we can’t be

sending them stuff like this. You

must be blind as well as stupid…

can’t watch your numbers or watch

for mending.

The “stupid” comment really irks Naomi.

NAOMI

Listen, Selena. It’s my first

day. I was trying to be fast

since I was back here by myself

because you were slacking off

somewhere.

SELENA

Hoho someone’s claws have come out

to play.

Naomi turns to ignore her, regretting having said anything.

NAOMI

I’m not the one with the claws.

SELENA

What was that?

NAOMI

Nothing.

Cheryl arrives.

CHERYL

How’s it going over here?

SELENA

30

Not too good. Your daughter has

quite the mouth on her. Too bad

she doesn’t have a brain to

control it.

NAOMI

I. Have. A. Brain. I’m not the

high school dropout with six young

kids. Or is it seven now?

SELENA

Oooh so you graduated. If you’re

so much smarter than the rest of

us what are you doing here?

CHERYL

Enough Selena. She’s smarter than

the rest of us put together. This

is just a pits stop for her on the

way to something better.

SELENA

Poor mommy’s wittle baby…

Selena suddenly grabs her stomach.

SELENA

Oooh…not again.

Selena runs off.

CHERYL

Wow, she must actually have to go.

She’s never been one to run away

from an argument.

NAOMI

God, I feel like a failure enough

without people like her adding

insult to injury.

CHERYL

Why are you a failure?

NAOMI

Do I really have to answer that?

31

CHERYL

Have you given up on your dream?

NAOMI

No.

CHERYL

Then you’re not a failure. You’re

only a failure once you give up.

NAOMI

Is that another quote from your

inspirational calendar?

CHERYL

Maybe. But it’s true!

Naomi laughs and gets back to work.

CHERYL

I’ll help you over here until

Selena comes back, if she comes

back.

INT FACTORY TIME CLOCK DAY

It’s the end of the work day and people crowd around the time

clock. Mark talks to Katie. Naomi stands off by herself.

MARK

Did you see those signs I put up

in the break room?

KATIE

Yes, nice try. What good is a

sign going to do?

MARK

What else can I do? It’s just

food for cripes sake.

KATIE

Whatever, I’m taking care of it.

MARK

Oh yeah, how?

32

KATIE

Wouldn’t you like to know.

Katie smirks, Mark grimaces and holds his stomach. Paul

approaches Naomi.

PAUL

Hey, Naomi.

NAOMI

Oh, hi Paul.

PAUL

I heard you had your first

encounter with Selena and

survived.

NAOMI

“Encounter?” Ha. Yes. She’s such

a nice person to work with.

PAUL

Don’t let her get you down. She

has a gift for finding people’s

weakness and using it against

them.

NAOMI

Yeah, what’s your weakness?

PAUL

Oh, I can’t go giving away that

kind of information.

The line moves forward. Naomi and Paul punch out then walk

towards the door.

NAOMI

Well there’s one thing that Selena

and I have in common. I too can

sniff out people’s weakness. And

yours is…

Naomi sniffs the air.

NAOMI

33

Wow, that’s surprising. I wouldn’t

peg you for a Snickers guy.

PAUL

That’s impressive. How’d you do

that?

Naomi and Paul exit.

EXT PARKING LOT DAY

Naomi reaches her mom’s car, who is already sitting behind the

wheel.

NAOMI

There’s a wrapper sticking out of

your pocket.

They both laugh.

PAUL

Ah you caught me. Well, have a

good night.

NAOMI

Thanks, you too.

INT CHERYL’S CAR

Cheryl smokes a cigarette as Naomi enters the car.

CHERYL

Look at that, you’re already

making friends.

NAOMI

Don’t get too excited mom. He

just felt sorry for me because of

the whole Selena thing.

CHERYL

Oh, I know. Everybody does.

NAOMI

So, is that who you told?

Everybody?

34

Naomi is frustrated with her Cheryl’s big mouth.

NAOMI

Now that I work here can you

please not tell people every

little thing about me?

CHERYL

(Angry)

Fine, I just won’t talk anymore.

NAOMI

Oh my God you’re such a teenager

sometimes.

Cheryl huffs and throws her cigarette out the window.

NAOMI

Well, what are you waiting for,

are we going to go or what?

CHERYL

I wait a couple of minutes for the

traffic to clear up.

NAOMI

What traffic? There are like

twenty cars.

CHERYL

Fine. Quit your whining.

Cheryl starts to pull out but almost immediately has to slam on

her breaks.

CHERYL

Great, now we’re stuck in this

mess.

NAOMI

What kind of place is this that

people can’t even exit a parking

lot?

EXT PARKING LOT CONT’D

35

We hover above the parking lot as cars slowly straighten out and

leave in an almost orderly fashion. As the last car is leaving

we see a MAN with a hose washing down something behind the

dumpster.

TAG

INT KATIE’S KITCHEN NIGHT

Katie prepares dinner in her sparse kitchen. Her daughter,

AUBURN 10 years old, enters and opens the fridge.

AUBURN

Mommy, can I have this pudding?

KATIE

Oh no sweetie, you don’t want

that, you’ll get a stomach ache.

Katie puts the pudding back in the fridge and grabs a gogurt.

KATIE

Here, have this instead. Dinner

is almost ready.

When Katie shuts the fridge door a bottle falls to the floor.

When she reaches to pick it up we see that it’s Exlax.

END OF SHOW