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INT – POWER RECORDS – DAY

TITLE: Tuesday, August 29, 2000, 11:57am

JEFF pushes open the swinging doors of Power Record’s back room like a cowboy entering an old west saloon.  

JEFF is bouncing as he walks

‘International Bright Young Thing’ by Jesus Jones plays over the sound system.

JASON motions to JEFF.

JASON

Dude, did you hear?

JEFF

No, what?

JASON

Dick Williams is gone!

JEFF

He got fired?

JASON

Yep.

JEFF

No way!  That rocks!  What happened?

JASON

Well I guess for quite a while they’ve been trying to get him for a lot of stuff, but last night, right before midnight, just as Lori was closing the store she noticed a light on in his office.  The asshole fell asleep at his desk!

JEFF

Midnight?  Wait, Dick only works until five.

JASON

Exactly.  At midnight when Lori was bringing the security tags back to Joe, she found Dick passed out on his desk!

JEFF

Man, that guy really shouldn’t drink so much.

JASON

Especially the shit he’d been drinking!  There was an empty bottle of rum and a can of tomato juice under his desk!

JEFF

A Bloody Piña Colada!

JASON crinkles his forehead.

JASON

Right—?  …and guess who is next in line for Store Manager?

JEFF smiles brightly.

JEFF

Surely not me, I hardly drink at all!

JASON

Andrew Carmichael is already here and wants to see you in Dick’s old office as soon as you clock in.  

JEFF

Wow!

BACK ROOM

JEFF clocks in and proudly heads back to the Manager’s Office.

JEFF (V.O.)

Ah, my new office! 

Regional Manager ANDREW CARMICHAEL sits at DICK WILLIAMS’ old desk. He stands to greet JEFF with a slightly over-enthused smile.  

ANDREW CARMICHAEL

Hey Jeff!  Sit down buddy… 

JEFF, smiling happily, bounces into the chair across from ANDREW CARMICHAEL.  

JEFF (V.O.)(CONT’D)

This chair is so much more comfortable now that Dick isn’t sitting behind that desk.  That desk that will soon be mine!

ANDREW CARMICHAEL

As you probably already know, we had to let Dick Williams go yesterday.

JEFF

Yeah, I heard.

ANDREW CARMICHAEL

Well Jeff, I know you know this store inside out.  You’ve been ordering product for eight years now and a Supervisor for three.

JEFF smiles proudly.

JEFF

Yes, yes I have.  Yeah well, I actually started with ordering the vinyl twelve years ago.

ANDREW CARMICHAEL

Well in either case, you’ve been with us for an awfully long time…

JEFF

Yep.

ANDREW CARMICHAEL

We’re hoping you might be interested in some new job duties.

JEFF

Oh of course!

ANDREW CARMICHAEL

We need your expertise and management skills…

JEFF

Oh, I’m definitely your man— 

ANDREW CARMICHAEL

  …to help train your new manager, Dave Whitmore.

‘International Bright Young Thing’ abruptly ends.

JEFF

What!?

ANDREW CARMICHAEL

Yeah, he’s the assistant manager in San Diego and until he can get up here we were hoping you could keep the place running smoothly.  When he gets here, show him the ropes here in Portland.  Ya know, just sorta run the place until he gets a feel for things and can take the reigns.

JEFF

So you want me to manage the store for a week and then let Dave Whitmore come in and run it?

ANDREW CARMICHAEL

Is that a problem?

JEFF

Well if I can run it for a week, why can’t I just be the Manager?

ANDREW CARMICHAEL

That’s just how they want it.

INT – POWER RECORDS SALES FLOOR – DAY

‘Why Does it Always Rain on Me?’ by Travis plays as 

JEFF dejectedly wanders onto the sales floor

JASON excitedly runs toward JEFF, extending his hand for a handshake.

JASON

So—?

Dejectedly, JEFF’S right hand remains by his side.

JEFF

They’re bringing in Dave Whitmore from San Diego.

JASON

Dave Whitmore?  Isn’t he the owner’s cousin?

JEFF

Well let’s just hope he doesn’t fall asleep at his desk.