Clerks

" C l e r k s " by Kevin Smith INT: BEDROOM. EARLY-MORNING HOURS A DOG sleeps on a neatly made bed. A CLOCK reads twenty to six. A SHELF OF BOOKS holds such classics as Dante's Inferno, Beyond Good and Evil, The Catcher in the Rye, and The Dark Knight Returns. A FRAMED DIPLOMA, dusty and unkempt, hangs askew on the wall. A snapshot of a girl is stuck in the corner, and a bra weighs one end down. A PHONE sits quietly atop a bundle of laundry. It suddenly explodes with a resounding ring-once, twice, three times. A CLOSET DOOR swings open, and a half- clad figure falls out. THE PHONE rings yet again, and a hand falls upon the receiver, yanking it off the trash can, O.C. THE RUMPLED FIGURE lays with his back to the camera, phone in hand. FIGURE (groggily) Hello... What?... No, I don't work today... I'm playing hockey at two. THE DOG yawns and shakes its head. FIGURE (O.S.) Why don't you call Randal?... Because I'm fucking tired... I just closed last night... (deep sigh) Jesus... What time are you going to come in?... Twelve... Be there be twelve?... Swear... A PICTURE OF A GIRL leans against a trophy. The picture is decorated with a Play-Doh beard and mustache. FIGURE (O.S.) Swear you'll be in by twelve and I'll do it... Twelve... Twelve or I walk. THE PHONE RECEIVER slams into the cradle. THE RUMPLED FIGURE slowly sits up and remains motionless. He musses his hair and stands. THE DOG stands and wags its tail. A hand pats its head. The Rumpled Figure lays down on the bed.