Minor Notes

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MINOR NOTES

Cassidy Haynes

YN HA ES

cassidyhaynesscripts@gmail.com 912-657-4209

COLD OPEN

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INT. MITCHELL'S MUSIC EMPORIUM - DAY Expensive, untouched instruments line faded gray carpet. the center of the store, the clerk counter.

At

A grand piano sits near the back, roped off. * *

He turns around to shake hands with the sole employee, THEO (26, Will Smith’s looks with Carlton’s style, deadpan.)

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MR. BANKS (40’s, bald and sharply dressed) is leaving the store.

* * *

THEO Just glad I could help, sir.

Music’s one of life’s greatest joys.

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MR. BANKS

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MR. BANKS Pleasure doing business with you, as always.

Agreed.

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He turns to go again, but stops hismelf.

*

MR. BANKS (CONT'D) You know, Theo, you are an excellent businessman. Your boss must be proud.

* * * *

THEO Thank you, sir.

* *

MR. BANKS Seriously, we could use a man like you downtown.

* * *

Theo perks up.

*

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MR. BANKS (CONT'D) With your knowlege and experience, you’d be a great fit. And it’s only the beginning, you know.

* * * *

THEO Really? I-that would be incredible, sir.

* * *

2.

Mr. Banks hands him his card. Theo gapes.

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* * *

THEO Yes! Yes, sir, will do!

* *

MR. BANKS You’re a good kid, Theo. Working at the center, you could really go places.

* * * *

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MR. BANKS I should be back later, but if I’m not, give me a call.

*

Mr. Banks barks out a laugh and nudges Theo. He grimaces.

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Theo cradles the card in his palm like a treasure.

THEO MR. BANKS (CONT'D) Thank you so much, sir, you Not like other thugs your have no idea-age, right?

Right...

THEO (CONT'D)

* *

Mr. Banks finally leaves the store.

*

MR. BANKS (O.S.) Alright, talk soon. Take care!

* *

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Theo’s blank look returns.

You too.

*

THEO

* * *

Theo walks back behind the counter. He taps the business card on it a few times. He glances at it. With a sigh, he flicks it into the waste bin.

* * *

INT. MITCHELL’S STOREFRONT - WESTVALE MALL - CONTINUOUS

*

Mr. Banks whistles echoe in the empty mall. His loafers click over dingy tiles as he passes the store.

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He passes a Curler Kiosk across the thoroughfare, where JESS (25, almost Ariana Grande) scrolls on her phone.

A pyramid of bright pink curlers sit next to her, untouched.

A PRETZEL PALACE stand sits beside the music shop.

RIVER (30, Hozier from the Everglades) wears a gold jester’s cap and apron.

3.

He leans across the counter, looks out where the Skater passed.

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INT. FOUNTAIN PLAZA - CONTINUOUS An empty fountain. Moss creeps along the rim. Mr. Banks’ whistles echo faintly in the distance.

* *

INT. CLIFF’S CAMPING GOODS STOREFRONT - CONTINUOUS *

Above it, a flock of BLACK BIRDS stir in the rafters. They nest in Spanish moss and vegetation.

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A FINCH sings melodiously, mimicking Mr. Banks’ whistle.

*

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A massive camping gear store.

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With a BANG, he falls from the rafters. The other birds scatter.

EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS

A near empty parking lot in the background.

*

The WESTVALE MALL’s sign letters have fallen, leaving behind ‘WET L’ and dark shadows.

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INT. MITCHELL'S STOREFRONT - WESTVALE MALL

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River leans across his counter.

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RIVER Alrightttt, first customer of the day! Way to go, Theo!

* * *

Theo stands at the storefront, hands in his pockets.

* * *

RIVER Jess, tell him what he wins!

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THEO Mhm, what do I win?

Jess sighs heavily. She pulls out a whiteboard.

JESS A round trip ticket to Aruba.

On it, a column for all three of their stores. She marks a tally under Mitchell’s.

* * * * *

4.

THEO Hm. I like the beach.

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Theo turns and walks back into the store. Jess takes out her phone again.

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5.

ACT I

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INT. MITCHELL'S MUSIC EMPORIUM - DAY CLOSE on Theo’s perfectly knotted tie.

CLOSE on his phone screen. 100% Battery.

CLOSE on his eyebrow. He brushes it down carefully.

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Theo stands in front of the shining brass section to check himself. He exhales, satisfied.

River sits by the front counter on a stool, a guitar in hand.

Jess runs a Curler Kiosk flat iron through her hair.

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RIVER You excited for your new workbuddy?

THEO She’s a trainee the owner’s dumping on me in the middle of the slow season and ‘just happens’ to be related to him. Not a work buddy.

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JESS You told him you run a store and not a daycare, right?

RIVER Nah, I miss having co-workers. My manager’s never even here. Just me and the bread... it’s like a Pretzel Prison.

Theo paces in front of the counter lined with smaller PACKAGED MERCHANDISE and recorders.

Jess leans over to River, whispers.

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JESS How much you wanna bet he spirals?

THEO It’s all VERY suspect. I’ve never spoken with Mr. Mitchell via email before yesterday, and he’s given me hardly 24-hours notice...

6.

MAX MITCHELL (21, Rudy meets Vanessa Huxtable) rushes into the store. She wears a bright red backpack and thrifted, torn jeans.

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MAX Oh my gosh!

CLOSE on Max’s untied converse.

CLOSE on her single rolled up pant-leg.

CLOSE on her drawn on freckles.

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THEO (quietly) A Zoomer...

The others stare.

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MAX I thought I’d never find you!

THEO Well, I’m glad you did. Welcome to Mitchell’s, how can I--?

Max breezes past him into the store.

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MAX You guys know it’s like a war zone out there?

JESS As per uje. [yoo-shz] Theo follows Max.

THEO Unfortunately. But here at Mitchell’s, we take utmost pride in our customer’s experience, and that includes housing our product in a pristine environment.

MAX I can tell. This place hasn’t changed a bit.

THEO Oh, please don’t touch--!

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Max lingers by the piano, smiles.

Max side steps the roping, brushes dust off the top.

7.

MAX Gosh, I missed this!

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THEO I’m sorry...Miss Mitchell?

Max turns back to him, startled.

The piano top SLAMS shut behind her.

Everyone winces.

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Max dusts her hands off on her pants. Shakes Theo’s hand.

MAX Right! Sorry! Maxine Mitchell. You can call me Max.

Theo shakes her hand stiffly, eyes narrowed.

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THEO Theo Washington. I’m the manager.

He turns, points to the others.

THEO (O.S.) (CONT'D) This is River, he works next door, and Jess, who runs the Curler Kiosk.

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River waves. Jess stares.

MAX It’s great to meet you both! So, when do I start?

THEO Mhm. Well, Maxine-Max.

MAX

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THEO I have a few questions about your background...

He lifts a clipboard from behind the desk, his back to her.

It’s blank.

Oh my gosh.

JESS

RIVER C’mon dude...

8.

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MAX (unfazed) Cool, okay. Um, I graduated from Berkley for music production in May, minored in composition. My favorite time signature is 6/8, I’ve been reallllly into Chillhop lately, and um. This is a little controversial, but Mozart definitely plagiarized. (whispers) But it doesn’t matter.

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Theo frowns. Pretends to write something.

THEO He definitely didn’t, moving on.

Any retail experience?

MAX

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Um, no.

THEO Customer service experience? Work experience in general?

MAX Not really...?

Theo clucks his tongue. Max winces.

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RIVER But hey, she gets points for enthusiasm, right?

JESS She’s definitely the happiest person to come in here in months.

Max grins at them.

RIVER I vote hire her!

JESS

THEO This is a MITCHELL’S executive decision!

RIVER (getting teary) My manager used to yell just like that.

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Second it.