Pilot
PILOT
FADE IN:
INT. DORM ROOM- LATE AFTERNOON
Camera behind CLARA. She’s standing in front of a mirror and wearing her work uniform, looking completely unenthused. Sighs dramatically.
LIZZIE (O.S.)
How long is your shift?
CLARA
(shrugs)
Supposed to be 8 hours, but who knows how long they’ll keep me for. I should be home between midnight and 1am.
Papers shuffle as Lizzie presumably looks through her planner.
LIZZIE
Alright. I’ll text you if I go to bed before you get home. I’ll probably be awake, though. This Intro IR paper will be the death of me.
Camera pans out to show the whole room. Lizzie is sitting on her bed, laptop out, and Clara walks to the door.
CLARA
Good luck. I’ll send good vibes your way.
LIZZIE
(snorts)
Keep ’em. You need them more than I do.
Clara grunts in agreement, walks out the door.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. GROCERY STORE- ENTRANCE- LATE AFTERNOON
Clara enters. Appears entirely exhausted. A CUSTOMER, a man, perhaps in his early-mid 50s, sees her walk through the door and quickly walks up to her.
CUSTOMER
Miss, I want to find milk, it’s not where it normally-
CLARA
(deadpan, walks away from customer)
I need to clock in.
CUSTOMER
But I don’t know where the milk is!
CLARA
With the refrigerated goods.
CUSTOMER
It’s not there!
CLARA
We’re probably out.
Clara enters the staff room. Customer doesn’t come in with her, but he continues to talk to her from outside.
Staff room is fairly barren and boring. Another employee, DEREK, is sitting at the table with a bag of chips, reading a newspaper. Derek has long hair and appears permanently stoned. He probably is.
CUSTOMER
Can you check in the back?
CLARA
No.
Customer opens his mouth to say something else, but, surprisingly, doesn’t. He sighs loudly, and walks away.
CLARA
(to no one in particular)
Fucking hell.
Clara punches in her employee ID.
DEREK
He sounds like a fuckin’ delight.
CLARA
He saw me walk through the door. He knew I was just getting into the store and decided to nag me anyway. This store has at least 30 people at any given time, and I’m the one he pesters about his fucking milk.
DEREK
(coolly)
Customers are animals.
CLARA
They’re savages, man.
Clara ties her apron.
CLARA (CONT’D)
Enjoy the rest of your break.
DEREK
(mouth full of chips)
Yup.
Clara walks to her check stand and flicks on the light. She leans back, boredly fidgeting with things on the stand.
Two stands down is MARGIE, a short older woman. Excessively kind to co-workers but cold and curt to customers.
MARGIE
It’s a slow day today, honey.
CLARA
(Smiles. Tone is nicer, warmer than usual)
That’s not all bad. Maybe I can get some homework done. Which managers are in?
MARGIE
Harry and Sue.
CLARA
Thank God.
A customer enters Margie’s line. Their chatter can be faintly heard; no distinct words can be made out.
Clara pulls her phone and a notebook out of her apron. Camera shows her opening a document of Biology questions; she balances the phone where she can see it and starts writing in the notebook.
An employee a bit younger than Clara, WILL, enters the frame. He’s shy, quiet, easily intimidated. Overly friendly.
WILL
Hey, Clara! Want me to bag for you?
CLARA
(Drily)
Please. I’m struggling to handle this huge influx of customers.
Clara gestures to her empty line.
WILL
Yeah, I know there’s no one here. But if I don’t look like I’m doing anything, Harry’s going to make me clean the restrooms.
CLARA
(laughs)
Yeah, I get it.
Clara checks her watch.
CLARA (CONT’D)
The post-work rush is going to start in another half hour, anyway. I want to reserve you and your bagging services for the Hoard.
WILL
(lighthearted)
Not even the apocalypse could pull me from this stand. A manager probably could, though.
Clara laughs.
