INT. DEPARTMENT STORE-DAY
In a unmaintained department store checkout line, FRED (a 20 something male employee) behind the counter is bored just looking at his phone. With half empty shelves and items scattered about in the wrong aisles, like a shoe in the hardware department and a chainsaw in the toy department.
Fred looks up for a second noticing all the “Going Out of Business” signs that cover the walls throughout the empty store.
FRED
Man, this place sure is a ghost town. Hopefully, my shift will end soon and I can go home, leaving this place behind me for good.
Fred looks at his phone again as childish laughter is heard in the background. Fred shrugs off the sound of the laughter. As Fred explores the barren department store, the children’s laughter gets louder.
SUSIE (O.S.)
Like, this is the greatest place ever!
Fred turns around and sees SUSIE (a 20 something young woman with a ghostly face dressed in stereotypical 1980’s attire) trying on shoes. Fred chuckles at the sight of Susie. Susie hears the chuckle and walks over towards Fred. Fred dusts himself off and straightens his name tag.
FRED
Welcome to Berts Department Store. This is our final day of operation. If you intend to buy anything here today, just remember all sales are final. So, how can I help you today?
Susie stares at Fred and Fred itches his ear awkwardly. Susie pulls out a walkman and puts the headphones on. She reaches into her purse and pulls out a tape cassette. Susie puts the tape cassette in the walkman. Susie starts to dance. Fred shrugs and before he walks away Susie grabs his arm.
FRED
Can you let me go please!
SUSIE
You’re pretty cute. Wanna dance?
FRED
Who the hell are you?
SUSIE
I’m Susie. And I know you’re Fred due to your name tag.
FRED
Okay, do you need my help or not?
SUSIE
No, I don’t need your help. But I’m here to help you.
Susie lets go of Fred’s arm. Fred’s phone dings with a notification alert. Fred looks at his phone and does a fist pump. Susie starts chewing on a piece of bubble gum.
SUSIE
Why are you so happy all of sudden?
FRED
It’s nothing. I was just alerted that my new Seg/Vix 240 video game console is being delivered today.
SUSIE
Delivered? How?
FRED
I ordered it online and it’s going to be at my house when my shift ends.
Fred puts his phone back in his pocket, as a smile comes across his face. Susie looks around in her purse and pulls out a credit card. She taps Fred on the shoulder.
SUSIE
I would like to buy these shoes.
FRED
Okay, please take them off your feet, put them back in the box you found them in and bring them to the checkout counter.
CUT TO.
INT. DEPARTMENT STORE-DAY
Fred is ringing up the shoes that Susie wishes to buy while Susie is humming a song. Susie hands Fred her credit card. Before Fred swipes her card, he notices that it does not have a chip or magnetic strip.
FRED
Miss, do you have another way of payment?
SUSIE
I have a Berts Members Card if that helps?
FRED
This credit card you gave me appears to be from 1983.
SUSIE
So?
FRED
Do you have another way to pay for the shoes?
SUSIE
No.
FRED
Unfortunately, I will be unable to sell these shoes to you because the credit card is invalid.
SUSIE
Cool beans, I didn’t really want them anyway. They weren’t really my style.
Susie starts exploring the department store, Fred exits the checkout counter and rushes over towards Susie.
FRED
Lady, I tried being nice, but if you’re not going to buy anything here, I’m afraid I have to ask you to leave. The store is closing.
Susie turns around and looks at Fred. Susie giggles and continues to ignore him. Fred does a facepalm. Fred pulls out his phone and looks at the time.
FRED
My shift is over and I need to close up the store for the last time.
SUSIE
Why did you let this happen, Fred?
FRED
Let what happen? I don’t even know you. What do you want with me?
Susie pulls out another piece of bubble gum and starts chewing it. Fred pulls out his phone and is about to call his manager but before he can make the call, BOB (An overweight nerdy middle aged man) enters the store and looks around.
BOB
Excuse me, I am here for the going out of business sale.
FRED
Sorry sir, the store is closed. Exit the store, or head to another store inside the mall.
Bob sighs and starts to walk away. Susie grabs Bob before he goes.
SUSIE
Hi, my name is Susie. Welcome to Berts Department Store. How may I help you today?
BOB
I thought this store was closed?
SUSIE
Well sir, we are open for one final sale.
Bob smiles and Susie laughs. Bob starts to head towards the men’s clothing aisle with Susie following behind him. Fred is talking on the phone with his manager in the background as Susie helps Bob look for pants.
Fred hangs up his phone and walks over towards Susie who is watching Bob try on pants. Fred taps Susie on the shoulder.
FRED
What the hell are you doing?
SUSIE
Your job, apparently.
FRED
I’m sorry sir for this misunderstanding. This woman isn’t an employee. If these pants interest you, just bring them over to the checkout counter and I’ll ring them up.
Bob models the pants in front of the mirror when he bends over the pants rip open. Susie laughs and Fred lets out a huge scream.
FRED
You’re paying for those. You break them, you buy them.
CUT TO.
INT. EMPLOYEE BREAK ROOM-DAY
Fred eats a sandwich and looks at his phone. Susie enters and Fred sighs. Susie looks around and uses the vending machine to get a soda.
FRED
Look, this room is for employees only. I called the store manager to find out how to deal with you. He wasn’t much help, but he wanted us both to leave the store right now.
SUSIE
Did you see Bob’s face earlier?
FRED
Who’s Bob?
SUSIE
The customer who ripped his pants. He was pretty happy shopping at Berts Department Store. Sad you ruined his shopping experience.
FRED
Look, if I weren’t waiting for my ride to pick me up, I would be out of here.
SUSIE
I think you are crazy, Fred.
Susie opens her soda and takes a sip. Fred slams his hand on the table.
FRED
I’m crazy. Look at you. You look sick and your dressed like you came off the set of The Breakfast Club.
SUSIE
That was a good movie. I actually watched it in the movie theater right here inside the mall.
FRED
How? You’re the same age as me. The movie theater inside this mall burnt down in the late 80’s, so...
Susie takes another sip of her soda as Fred slowly gets up looking visibly shaken. Fred is about to exit the break room when Susie suddenly blocks the exit.
SUSIE
Where do you think you’re going, Fred?
FRED
Now that you’re blocking the only exit, nowhere, I guess.
SUSIE
We met for a reason today. Answer me this, why did you call your manager and why isn’t he here on the last day of operations? Why are you the only employee working here today Fred?
FRED
Alright, I’ll admit it. I’m bummed I lost my job here. Everyone else knows it’s an end of a era. But even though I wasn’t the best employee, I at least showed up everyday for work.
SUSIE
And why did you show up everyday for work here?
FRED
Because it’s the right thing to do. Just be helpful. Sadly, today I did not feel that accommodating.
SUSIE
At least now you remember. You may have lost a job today. But one cool thing about the mall is when one store closes down, another one opens up.
Susie smiles and moves aside to let Fred exit. Fred gets a ding on his phone that’s a notification alert that his ride is here. Fred ignores it and grabs Susie’s hand.
FRED
Since my new Seg/Vix 240 console has been delivered to my house already, I am going to need new games for it. I know GameCity is still open.
SUSIE
Can’t you just order the games online instead? After all, you said it’s easier that way?
FRED
I could order them online. Hell, even download them straight to the console itself. But since I’m here, might as well shop. Do you want to tag along?
SUSIE
Wish I could, but my work here is done.
Fred waves goodbye to Susie. Susie waves goodbye back but before she goes the lights begin to flicker as an aura surrounds Susie. Fred looks on as angel wings slowly appear on Susie’s back as a heavenly chorus sings. Susie disappears as light shines throughout the room.
INT. VIDEO GAME STORE-DAY
Fred is buying a video game controller and some games where Bob is an employee of the GameCity store. Bob is ringing Fred’s items up.
FRED
Sorry about the pants thing earlier. I had no idea you worked here. It’s really a small world.
BOB
And I had no idea a young man like yourself would still want to shop at GameCity. Do you need anything else? Would you like to preorder a new game?
FRED
No, but before I leave I have two questions?
BOB
Ask away.
FRED
Why did you shop at Berts Department Store today?
BOB
I just like to support the mall and fellow workers. I have a lot of fond memories at Berts Department Store. I’m bummed it’s closing down and I wanted say one final goodbye.
FRED
Last question. I noticed the help wanted sign in the window. May I have an application?
BOB
Sure I would be happy to give you an application. Just curious if you been keeping up with the headlines lately.
FRED
I know GameCity isn’t going to be around much longer either. But if today has taught be anything. I feel it’s just good to live in the present. Really, nothing lasts forever. Couldn’t hurt to enjoy it while you can.
BOB
That’s all we can do. Just live in the present.
Bob hands Fred the bag with the items he just purchased and a job application. Fred feels around inside the bag and pulls out a mixtape.
BOB
How did that get in there? We don’t sell tape cassettes.
FRED
Don’t worry. This is just a gift from a friend.
BOB
Do you even have a way to play it?
Fred looks at the label on the mixtape and it reads “Susie’s Mix”. Fred smiles and puts the mixtape in his pocket.
FRED
No, but it’s the thought that counts.
END
