"HELP WANTED"
FADE IN:
EXT. QUEENS - DANTE'S - AFTERNOON
Establishing shot of the diner.
FADE TO:
INT. DANTE'S
A few CUSTOMERS are eating, but the place isn't all that
busy. Standing by the register is MARY JANE. She looks around
the restaurant nervously. In her hands is a sheet of paper.
A WAITRESS approaches. She looks to be in her 40's.
WAITRESS
Can I help you?
Mary Jane hands her the paper.
MARY JANE
Oh, I picked up this application
yesterday.
The waitress gives it a once over.
WAITRESS
Looks good to me.
(then)
Hey, Dante! Got another one!
Mary Jane jumps as she shouts.
DANTE (O.S.)
This one got potential?!
The waitress rolls her eyes.
WAITRESS
It's a hostess job! You're not
gonna get a Nobel Prize winner!
After a beat DANTE ZANELLA emerges from the back. He's a
towering man, with a certain presence about him.
DANTE
Lemme see.
He takes the application and begins scanning it, looking up
every once in a while at Mary Jane, who looks uncertain.
DANTE
Midtown, yadda, yadda. Sixteen,
Watson. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
He tears the application in half. Mary Jane looks on
sheepishly. Dante folds his arms and looks over her.
DANTE
So, what's your story, honey?
MARY JANE
My... uh... it was on the
application.
DANTE
No, no, no. Your real story. I
don't care what your social
security number is, or if you agree
to submit to a drug test. You know
why? Because if you show up to work
for me high, your ass is fired.
Mary Jane blinks.
MARY JANE
I don't use...
DANTE
Of course you don't.
(beat)
You're a student?
MARY JANE
Yeah.
DANTE
High school, eh? You sure you can
handle a job on the side?
MARY JANE
I know I can.
DANTE
No you don't. Says here you've
never even had a job before.
Mary Jane searches for a response.
MARY JANE
I haven't. I just think...
DANTE
Nobody pays you to think, darling.
People who think don't take jobs at
local diners.
WAITRESS (O.S.)
She's just a kid, Dante!
DANTE
Keep it up and I'll be giving her
your job!
WAITRESS (O.S.)
Just you try it!
MARY JANE
I'm just looking to make some extra
cash, you know? Nothing full-time.
DANTE
Your folks alright with this?
Mary Jane looks away.
MARY JANE
I talked to my dad about it.
DANTE
Lemme guess, daddy doesn't know
you're here, does he?
No response from Mary Jane.
DANTE
I see where this is going...
MARY JANE
No, wait! He doesn't know, but I'll
tell him. If he knows I have a job,
he's not going to make me quit.
DANTE
You sure about that? How do I know
he won't show up on the busiest
night of the week and take my
hostess? I ain't in the habit of
hiring scabs.
MARY JANE
It won't be like that, I promise!
DANTE
I don't want promises, girly, I
want work. Hard, back-breaking
work. And I want someone who's
gonna show up on time. All the
time. No excuses.
MARY JANE
I'll be here.
Dante balls up the application, tossing it in the trash. He
begins walking away. Mary Jane frowns, hanging her head low.
DANTE
Here...
She looks up, and is hit in the face by an APRON.
DANTE
Welcome to paradise.
Mary Jane looks down at the apron, which has the Dante's logo
screenprinted on it. She smiles.
MARY JANE
I got the job?
DANTE
Looks that way, now get to work.
MARY JANE
What? Now?!
DANTE
Yes, now. That a problem?
She hesitates.
MARY JANE
I just... have this project thing,
and I figured...
DANTE
You said you could handle it. Look,
if there's a problem, hand that
apron back in and I'll...
MARY JANE
No! No, there's no problem!
Dante eyes her carefully.
DANTE
Good.
He walks back toward the back of the restaurant.
FADE TO:
INT. DANTE'S - LATER
We see through the windows that night has fallen. Mary Jane
carefully straightens a few menus and removes her apron. She
walks to a booth and takes a seat, lying her head down.
WAITRESS (O.S.)
Tired already?
MARY JANE
I wasn't expecting to work tonight.
WAITRESS
You'll get used to it, don't worry.
Dante storms out from the back, mop in hand. He walks over to
the table and presents Mary Jane with the mop.
DANTE
Floor is filthy.
Mary Jane sits up slowly, taking the mop. Dante walks away as
she stands and begins to mop.
MARY JANE
How long have you been working
here?
WAITRESS
Since the beginning.
MARY JANE
Wow. How did you put up with him
for so long?
She laughs.
WAITRESS
I married him.
She walks away with a smile, leaving a baffled Mary Jane.
FADE OUT.
THE END
[
top
]
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.