(BLACK SCREEN with following CAPTION)
CAPTION: Quandary.
(KIM and RON sit at the counter. RON is reading and eating a burrito)
KIM: Did you pay for that?
RON: Yeah, but I gave myself an employee discount.
KIM: How much was your "employee discount?"
RON: One hundred percent.
KIM: I see.
(RUFUS climbs out of RON's pocket, goes over to the cheese machine with a basket of nachos under it. He pushes the button, then begins chowing down on his snack)
RUFUS: Mmm. Employee discount.
KIM: You know, Ron. If you continue to give yourself these "employee discounts" we're going to run out of food.
(RUFUS pulls another basket of nachos under the cheese machine and repeats his previous actions. KIM groans, and takes out her CD PLAYER and an album to play)
RON: What're you listening to?
KIM: The new Britina CD.
RON: Ah, the basic short-lived pop star.
KIM: What'dya mean?
RON: I mean that she won't last a long time. No pop star ever does. However, an underground rock band like, say, Led Zeppelin, will last forever.
KIM: I suppose you're going to explain this.
RON: Yes, I am. You see, a pop star like Britina has been over-exposed. She is thrown into the midst of popularity with one hit song and everyone likes her because she's pretty and people say that they should like her. Now, a band like Zeppelin hides in the shadows, sort of, and pass themselves around by word of mouth. Not only does this get people who are truly interested in them, but it gives them a lot of creative room.
KIM: Which Britina doesn't have?
RON: Correct. That's another thing, pop stars don't write their own music, it's written by other people. Therefore, after a while, it'll all start to sound the same. Whereas, with an independent group, who have no ties to the music industry, they write their own music and produce unique songs.
KIM: Fascinating.
RON: So, after all the exposure, the pop star will soon die out, while the unconnected band will have a long, prosperous life.
KIM: Very intriguing. (Looks to the kitchen) Hey, can you get me some nachos?
RON: Sure. (Goes OS to kitchen) Hey? Where are all the nachos?
KIM: Rufus ate them all!
(RON returns)
KIM: (cont'd) Now I have to go out and get more. You stay here and watch the restaurant.
RON: No way, I'm coming with you.
KIM: But you have to stay here, who will watch the store?
RON: I don't want to be left out. Besides, it's my fault we're out of nachos, so I'm obligated to come.
(Cut to KIM and RON walking to the store)
KIM: I'm glad you came, I'll probably need your help. I just hope the restaurant's all right.
RON: It's 2:00, it's not like it's particularly busy at 2:00.
(Cut to Bueno Nacho, where people are pounding down the door to get inside)
(Cut to KIM and RON going into the store)
(A BLACK SCREEN with a the following CAPTION)
CAPTION: 5 minutes later.
(KIM and RON run out of the store carrying two large boxes of nachos)
(Cut to a now deserted Bueno Nacho, where KIM and RON run through the employee entrance)
KIM: (Angry) Why did you do that?
RON: How was I supposed to know that the pile wasn't sturdy! Besides, his wife wasn't hurt that bad.
KIM: At least 100 metal cans came crashing down on her. It's not good!
RON: Tell you what, I'll stock the nachos while you run the counter. You should have an easy enough time.
(RON goes to the back and KIM goes to the counter. JUNIOR and BIG MIKE enter)
JUNIOR: Woah, what's a cheerleader doing working at a fast food place?
KIM: Earning an honest living.
JUNIOR: Cool. A Pepsi. Big Mike and me just finished working.
KIM: You mean selling stolen test answers?
JUNIOR: Yeah, I guess so. It's a living.
(KIM turns around, gets a soda, and gives it to JUNIOR)
JUNIOR: (cont'd) Dude, you seem, like, tense. You okay?
KIM: I guess so. It's just that my boss was supposed to take over for Ron and myself at noon and he bailed on us. I mean, what if there was a world crisis?
JUNIOR: I don't know, just do whatever your boss tells you.
KIM: But what if he's wrong.
JUNIOR: Dude, do I look like I have the answers?
KIM: You were selling tests.
JUNIOR: Whatever. (To BIG MIKE) Let's go, Big Mike.
(Pause. BIG MIKE stays where he is)
BIG MIKE: People will always tell you what you should do, but it' up to you to figure our what's really important.
JUNIOR: (OS) Come on, Big Mike!
BIG MIKE: I'm coming. I'm coming.
(BIG MIKE leaves)
KIM: Just like in 'Clerks.'
CAPTION: Quandary.
(KIM and RON sit at the counter. RON is reading and eating a burrito)
KIM: Did you pay for that?
RON: Yeah, but I gave myself an employee discount.
KIM: How much was your "employee discount?"
RON: One hundred percent.
KIM: I see.
(RUFUS climbs out of RON's pocket, goes over to the cheese machine with a basket of nachos under it. He pushes the button, then begins chowing down on his snack)
RUFUS: Mmm. Employee discount.
KIM: You know, Ron. If you continue to give yourself these "employee discounts" we're going to run out of food.
(RUFUS pulls another basket of nachos under the cheese machine and repeats his previous actions. KIM groans, and takes out her CD PLAYER and an album to play)
RON: What're you listening to?
KIM: The new Britina CD.
RON: Ah, the basic short-lived pop star.
KIM: What'dya mean?
RON: I mean that she won't last a long time. No pop star ever does. However, an underground rock band like, say, Led Zeppelin, will last forever.
KIM: I suppose you're going to explain this.
RON: Yes, I am. You see, a pop star like Britina has been over-exposed. She is thrown into the midst of popularity with one hit song and everyone likes her because she's pretty and people say that they should like her. Now, a band like Zeppelin hides in the shadows, sort of, and pass themselves around by word of mouth. Not only does this get people who are truly interested in them, but it gives them a lot of creative room.
KIM: Which Britina doesn't have?
RON: Correct. That's another thing, pop stars don't write their own music, it's written by other people. Therefore, after a while, it'll all start to sound the same. Whereas, with an independent group, who have no ties to the music industry, they write their own music and produce unique songs.
KIM: Fascinating.
RON: So, after all the exposure, the pop star will soon die out, while the unconnected band will have a long, prosperous life.
KIM: Very intriguing. (Looks to the kitchen) Hey, can you get me some nachos?
RON: Sure. (Goes OS to kitchen) Hey? Where are all the nachos?
KIM: Rufus ate them all!
(RON returns)
KIM: (cont'd) Now I have to go out and get more. You stay here and watch the restaurant.
RON: No way, I'm coming with you.
KIM: But you have to stay here, who will watch the store?
RON: I don't want to be left out. Besides, it's my fault we're out of nachos, so I'm obligated to come.
(Cut to KIM and RON walking to the store)
KIM: I'm glad you came, I'll probably need your help. I just hope the restaurant's all right.
RON: It's 2:00, it's not like it's particularly busy at 2:00.
(Cut to Bueno Nacho, where people are pounding down the door to get inside)
(Cut to KIM and RON going into the store)
(A BLACK SCREEN with a the following CAPTION)
CAPTION: 5 minutes later.
(KIM and RON run out of the store carrying two large boxes of nachos)
(Cut to a now deserted Bueno Nacho, where KIM and RON run through the employee entrance)
KIM: (Angry) Why did you do that?
RON: How was I supposed to know that the pile wasn't sturdy! Besides, his wife wasn't hurt that bad.
KIM: At least 100 metal cans came crashing down on her. It's not good!
RON: Tell you what, I'll stock the nachos while you run the counter. You should have an easy enough time.
(RON goes to the back and KIM goes to the counter. JUNIOR and BIG MIKE enter)
JUNIOR: Woah, what's a cheerleader doing working at a fast food place?
KIM: Earning an honest living.
JUNIOR: Cool. A Pepsi. Big Mike and me just finished working.
KIM: You mean selling stolen test answers?
JUNIOR: Yeah, I guess so. It's a living.
(KIM turns around, gets a soda, and gives it to JUNIOR)
JUNIOR: (cont'd) Dude, you seem, like, tense. You okay?
KIM: I guess so. It's just that my boss was supposed to take over for Ron and myself at noon and he bailed on us. I mean, what if there was a world crisis?
JUNIOR: I don't know, just do whatever your boss tells you.
KIM: But what if he's wrong.
JUNIOR: Dude, do I look like I have the answers?
KIM: You were selling tests.
JUNIOR: Whatever. (To BIG MIKE) Let's go, Big Mike.
(Pause. BIG MIKE stays where he is)
BIG MIKE: People will always tell you what you should do, but it' up to you to figure our what's really important.
JUNIOR: (OS) Come on, Big Mike!
BIG MIKE: I'm coming. I'm coming.
(BIG MIKE leaves)
KIM: Just like in 'Clerks.'