Episode 72 - "The Hardware Store"



OPENING SEQUENCE

Ext. Evening - Commercial Street

(High wide shot down a commercial street as a few cars drive away from the camera.)

They say you never forget your first job. I know I remember mine.

(The camera pans to the buildings on the right side of the street.)

Harris' hardware store. Down the hill from where I lived. The year I started tenth grade.

(The camera lowers slightly in front of the hardware store.)

It was the kind of place you don't see much of anymore.

(The camera moves in slowly.)

Filled to the rafters with brackets, and bolts, and old screens.

Fade to

Int. Evening - Hardware Store

(Shot up an aisle of Kevin carrying a wooden box, approaching the camera.)

Ya know, stuff on the cutting-edge of obsolescence. It started as a summer job...

(Kevin turns down another aisle as the camera rolls sideways. Kevin approaches the camera.)

But once school began, Mr. Harris cut back my hours so I could keep working.

(The camera rolls back slightly as Kevin gets close.)

With the allowance Dad was paying me, I had no choice.

(Kevin sets the box on a counter and sighs. He starts to remove his tie.)

MR. HARRIS (V/O): What do you mean...

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Harris on the telephone.)

MR. HARRIS: You can't ship on orders of less than a gross? Since when?

Old Man Harris.

(Shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Harris off-screen.)

"Mr. Hardware" himself.

MR. HARRIS (V/O): Let me tell you something...

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Harris on the telephone.)

MR. HARRIS: I've been ordering what I need from you people since before you were born.

(Shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Harris off-screen.)

MR. HARRIS (V/O): You heard my offer - I stand by it.

(Sound of the telephone being slammed down.)

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris pacing with his hands behind his back. He walks around the counter and looks at Kevin.)

MR. HARRIS: Are we looking, or working?

KEVIN: Working.

(Kevin turns toward the box and picks up a small container.)

MR. HARRIS: Then what stopped you?

KEVIN: Nothing!

MR. HARRIS: Then get to work.

(Kevin looks forward and sighs slightly as he gathers more small boxes.)

KEVIN: Yessir.

(Kevin turns toward the camera.)

(Wider shot of Kevin starting to climb up a ladder.)

As far as I could tell, his system of organizing the merchandise was based on the maximum number of times I could climb from the bottom shelf to the top shelf and back again.

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris looking in the box.)

MR. HARRIS: Not so fast - what are these?

(Shot of Mr. Harris, and Kevin on the ladder.)

KEVIN: They're bolts...

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris looking at him as he holds up two bolts.)

MR. HARRIS: You're sure?

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin. Kevin frowns and looks at the label on the small box.)

KEVIN: Uh...yeah - toggle bolts.

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris looking at him.)

MR. HARRIS: Used for what?

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin frowning.)

KEVIN: Used for...

(Kevin looks off.)

KEVIN: Fastening things.

(Kevin looks at Mr. Harris.)

KEVIN: In plasterboard.

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris looking at him.)

MR. HARRIS: Good.

(Mr. Harris looks in the wooden box.)

It wasn't enough he knew everything about the business...

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin looking at the box.)

He seemed to think I should, too.

MR. HARRIS: So...

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris gesturing with the bolts.)

MR. HARRIS: Should they go with the sheet-metal bolts, or over there...(points)...closer to the plaster supplies?

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin hesitating, then looking over his shoulder.)

KEVIN: Well, I...

(He looks toward the shelf he is at, then sighs and nods.)

KEVIN: With the plaster supplies.

MR. HARRIS: Do it then.

(Mr. Harris gestures and exits past the camera.)

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Harris walking away.)

Not that I wasn't grateful for the education.

(Mr. Harris takes a pen from his shirt pocket and pauses at the counter.)

(Shot of Kevin on the ladder as he gathers the small boxes.)

I wasn't.

(Kevin glances toward Mr. Harris off-screen and frowns slightly.)

KEVIN (Sotto Voce): Gimme a break...

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Harris turning toward him.)

MR. HARRIS: What was that?

(Shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Harris off-screen and frowning slightly.)

MR. HARRIS: Nothing.

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Harris at the counter, writing.)

(Shot of Kevin looking toward the clock off-screen, then Mr. Harris off-screen.)

KEVIN: Mr. Harris, shouldn't we knock off? It's almost six o'clock.

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Harris turning toward him. Mrs. Haris enters from the office door in the background.)

MR. HARRIS: So?

(Mr. Harris starts to pull out his pocket-watch.)

KEVIN (V/O): So?

MR. HARRIS: Almost six o'clock is not six o'clock. (Frowns.)

(Shot of Kevin frowning and sighing slightly as he looks off.)

MR. HARRIS (V/O): Besides, there might be customers.

MRS. HARRIS (V/O): Sam?

(Kevin looks toward Mrs. Harris off-screen.)

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. and Mrs. Harris.)

MRS. HARRIS: Why don't you let him go a little early?

(Mr. Harris looks at Mrs. Harris as he puts his pen away. She smiles slightly as he looks toward Kevin off-screen.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward them off-screen.)

MR. HARRIS (V/O): Well...

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. and Mrs. Harris as he frowns and waves his arm.)

MR. HARRIS: Pfff - alright.

(He walks past the camera as she smiles at Kevin off-screen.)

MR. HARRIS (V/O): Alright!

(Close shot of Kevin looking after Mr. Harris, then toward Mrs. Harris off-screen.)

KEVIN: Thanks, Mrs. Harris. (Smiles.)

(Closer shot of Mrs. Harris smiling and nodding at Kevin off-screen, then turning toward the office door.)

And there ya had it.

(Wider shot of Kevin as he descends the ladder with the small boxes.)

Two days a week after school...

(Kevin sets the small boxes on the larger wooden box.)

Saturday's till six...

(Kevin exits past the camera.)

(Shot of Mr. Harris at the freezer near the front door as Kevin walks past the camera.)

I hauled, packed and loaded my life away...

(Kevin opens the front door, which clangs some hanging cowbells. Mr. Harris gestures toward him.)

For a grand total of eighteen bucks and change.

(Shot of Kevin as he steps out to the sidewalk, and starts to unbutton his collar.)

Not that money was my only reason for being there.

(He looks toward the store as he starts to tuck his shirt in, and walks past the camera.)

I had a bigger reason.

(The camera pans slightly to Mr. Harris inside the store, peering at a display.)

A more compelling reason.

Cut to

Int. Evening - Arnold Kitchen

(Close shot of Jack looking at Kevin off-screen.)

JACK: So...(smiles)...how was work today?

(Wider shot of all at the table, eating.)

My father had gotten me the job.

KEVIN: Work's work.

(Close shot of Jack looking at Kevin off-screen.)

JACK: Old man's runnin' your tail off, huh? (Smiles.)

(Close shot of Kevin nodding, then looking at Jack off-screen.)

KEVIN: Kinda.

(Close shot of Jack looking at his food, shaking his head slightly and laughing.)

For some reason...

(Jack looks toward Norma off-screen and smiles.)

Dad seemed to find a certain humor...

(Close shot of Kevin frowning slightly and looking toward Norma off-screen.)

In seeing his youngest child do time at hard labor.

(Close shot of Norma smiling at Jack off-screen.)

Come to think of it - so did my entire family.

(Norma smiles at Kevin off-screen.)

(Shot past Kevin of Wayne smiling at him.)

WAYNE: So how was your day, hon-ey?

(Shot past Wayne of Kevin as Kevin pushes him on the shoulder.)

KEVIN: Shut up, butthead! (Frowns.)

(Wayne hits Kevin on the shoulder, and Kevin hits him back.)

(Close shot of Norma smiling at Kevin off-screen.)

NORMA: I think it sounds like fun - working in a store...(shrugs)...meeting people...

(Close shot of Kevin glancing from Norma to Jack off-screen.)

NORMA (V/O): Talking to customers...

KEVIN: Well...

(Kevin looks toward Norma off-screen.)

KEVIN: See, Mom, that's kind of the problem. No one -

JACK (V/O): Old man Harris.

(Close shot of Kevin glancing toward Jack off-screen.)

(Close shot of Jack looking at Norma off-screen, and gesturing with his butter knife.)

JACK: He's one-of-a-kind. Nobody knows hardware like he does.

(Jack looks at Kevin off-screen.)

JACK: Do you know, he sold me my first full set of tools I ever owned. (Nods.)

(Close shot of Kevin glancing down.)

KEVIN: Yes. I do, Dad. (Nods.) But -

(Close shot of Jack looking at Wayne off-screen.)

JACK: That was before either of you was even born.

(Jack looks at Kevin off-screen.)

(Close shot of Kevin glancing down.)

KEVIN: Look!

(Kevin looks at Norma off-screen.)

KEVIN: It's boring...

(Kevin looks at Wayne off-screen.)

KEVIN: It's hard work...

(Kevin looks at Jack off-screen.)

KEVIN: And it's no fun, OK?

(Kevin looks at Norma off-screen.)

(Wider shot of all around the table.)

KEVIN: OK?!

(Kevin gestures and nods at everyone. Jack drops something onto his plate.)

Just to set the record straight, here.

(Close shot of Jack frowning at Kevin off-screen.)

JACK: No fun?

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Jack off-screen, slightly worried.)

Oh, no...

(Close shot of Jack frowning at Kevin off-screen.)

JACK: Who the hell ever said a job is supposed to be fun?

(Close shot of Wayne laughing.)

(Close shot of Jack frowning at Kevin off-screen.)

(Close shot of Kevin glancing toward Wayne, then Jack off-screen.)

KEVIN: Well, I didn't mean -

(Shot of Jack holding his butter knife up and frowning at Kevin off-sceeen.)

JACK: Let me just give you a piece of advice. Listen to the old guy - pay attention. He just might teach you something.

(Close shot of Kevin glancing forward as he takes a bite of food.)

And that was that. I was stymied...

(Kevin looks toward Jack off-screen.)

(Shot of Jack looking toward Kevin off-screen.)

By timeless values and and ironclad work ethic.

(Jack glances toward Norma off-screen.)

(Wide shot of all around the table as Kevin looks at Jack.)

Which left only one place to turn.

("Takin' Care Of Business " - Bachman Turner Overdrive starts.)

Cut to

Int. Day - The Mall

(Shot of a group of girls in miniskirts approaching the camera, which pans toward their legs as they pass.)

(The camera pans up to Paul, Kevin, and Lewis seated on a bench, looking after the girls off-screen.)

The mall. Hillcrest Plaza - "One-stop shopping".

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of the girls approaching the "Burger Cage", a fast-food restaurant.)

(Shot of the guys on the bench.)

A browser's bonanza. A teenager's "field of dreams".

PAUL: Who...is that?

(Lewis turns toward Paul.)

LEWIS: Gretchen Tyler. Eleventh grade.

(They look toward the girls off-screen.)

KEVIN (V/O): She goes to our school?

(Closer shot of the guys looking past the camera toward the girls.)

The place to ponder the burning issues of life.

(Wider shot of the guys on the bench looking toward the girls off-screen. Kevin looks toward Paul.)

KEVIN: Come on, guys - I think I need some fries. (Smiles.)

LEWIS: Yeah.

(They exit past the camera.)

(Close shot of Kevin glancing around smiling slightly as they approach the camera.)

Yeah - this was the ticket. Girls to the left of us. Girls to the right.

(Kevin pauses and looks past the camera.)

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of the girls at the counter.)

Girls nine deep around some kid in a stupid hat and a plastic nametag.

PAUL (V/O): I don't believe it!

(Shot of the guys looking toward the girls off-screen.)

PAUL: Look at that guy...

LEWIS: Robby Cashion. He's in my biology class.

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward the girls off-screen.)

Made ya wonder where his dad bought his first set of tools.

(Shot of the guys looking toward the girls off-screen.)

LEWIS: Sure beats working in a hardware store. Huh, Kev? (Smiles.)

Speaking of tools...

KEVIN: What's that supposed to mean? (Frowns.)

PAUL: Yeah. There's nothing wrong with his job. (Frowns.)

(Kevin looks at Paul.)

KEVIN: Thanks, Paul.

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward the girls off-screen.)

I mean, it's one thing for me to grouse about my job...

PAUL (V/O): Except for the long hours...

(Kevin looks toward Paul off-screen.)

(Close shot of Paul looking at Kevin off-screen.)

PAUL: And old man Harris. (Smiles.) And that stupid tie. (Laughs.)

LEWIS (V/O): Tell me about it.

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Paul, then Lewis off-screen.)

(Wider shot of them as Paul and Lewis laugh and exit past the camera as Kevin looks after them.)

Ah, what did they know, anyway?

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of the girls at the counter.)

Some guys got all the glamour - so what?

(Shot of Kevin looking toward the girls off-screen, then own.)

There were certain benefits to working where I worked.

Cut to

Int. Day - Hardware Store

(Close shot of Mr. Harris holding out a box.)

MR. HARRIS: Flange pipes...

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin as he takes the box and struggles with its weight.)

MR. HARRIS: Top shelf. (Points.)

(Kevin glances up.)

MR. HARRIS (V/O): Now, be sure you check the inventory thoroughly.

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Harris slowly walking away.)

OK...the benefits stunk.

(Mr. Harris pauses and leans back against a counter, and nods slightly at Kevin.)

That didn't mean there weren't opportunities here.

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Harris off-screen. Sound of the cowbells, and Kevin looks toward the door.)

WOMAN (V/O): Excuse me...

(Kevin looks toward Mr. Harris off-screen.)

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Harris as the woman approaches him.)

WOMAN: My husband says...we need a washer.

MR. HARRIS: Oh, your husband is a plumber?

WOMAN: Oh, no - he's an accountant.

MR. HARRIS: Oh...(Laughs.) So is my oldest. He does my taxes.

(Mr. Harris leans a little closer to the lady, who looks off a little impatiently.)

MR. HARRIS: I don't let him near my sink.

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Harris off-screen.)

Yep - the chance to watch a master salesman at work.

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Harris taking the washer from the woman.)

MR. HARRIS: Now let me see this. Oh...rubber - see, one crack and you lose the seal.

(Shot past Mr. Harris of the woman looking at him.)

MR. HARRIS: Now brass, copper are very good...they last.

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Harris off-screen, then sighing and glancing off.)

MR. HARRIS (V/O): Absolutely indestructible.

(Shot past the woman of Mr. Harris. She looks off impatiently as he gestures.)

MR. HARRIS: Unless you have hard water - then you get rust. (Frowns.) Do you have hard water, or soft?

(Shot past Mr. Harris of the woman looking at him, then frowning.)

WOMAN: I'm not sure. Um...

(Close shot of Kevin looking at them off-screen.)

WOMAN (V/O): Look - I have to meet the five-fifteen - my husband will be waiting...

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Harris and the woman.)

WOMAN: Why don't I just stop back another time?

(She takes the washer from Mr. Harris and walks toward the door.)

MR. HARRIS: Well...

WOMAN: Thanks anyway...

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of the woman opening the door and leaving.)

(Shot of Mr. Harris looking toward the door off-screen.)

Let's face it...the old man's idea of salemanship...

(Shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Harris off-screen.)

Was a little outmoded. So, seemed it was up to me...

(Kevin sets the box on the counter next to him.)

To bring him into...

(Shot past Mr. Harris as Kevin approaches him.)

The twentieth century.

KEVIN: Mr. Harris?

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris turning toward him.)

MR. HARRIS: What?! (Frowns.)

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin looking at him.)

On the otherhand...

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris looking at him.)

KEVIN: Well...

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: I was just thinking. (Frowns.) Do I really have to wear this tie?

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris looking at him, then glancing off and frowning.)

KEVIN: I mean, 'cause if it's OK with you, I'd just as soon -

(Mr. Harris looks at Kevin quickly.)

MR. HARRIS: Let me tell you something. When you're outside playing, you can wear what you want.

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Harris off-screen.)

MR. HARRIS (V/O): But when you're in here working...

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris as he points at Kevin tie.)

MR. HARRIS: You'll wear the tie. Am I understood?

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: Yessir.

(Wider shot of both as Mr. Harris walks past the camera.)

Needless to say, the whole thing hadn't gone quite as well as I'd hoped.

Cut to

School Hallway

(Sound of the schoolbell as the camera pans with Robby walking up the hallway. Kevin is coming up the stairs in the background.)

KEVIN: Hey, Robby! Wait up.

(The camera pans with Kevin as he follows Robby to his locker.)

So I decided to explore the alternatives.

KEVIN: I saw you the other day at the mall...

(They stop in front of Robby's locker.)

KEVIN: And I was just wondering...do you like your job?

(Robby opens his locker.)

ROBBY: Oh, well...

(Shot past Kevin of Robby looking at him.)

ROBBY: Yeah - it's OK. (Shrugs.) You know...it's a job.

(Robby puts a book in his locker.)

(Shot past Robby of Kevin.)

KEVIN: And...what do you have to do there?

Shot past Kevin of Robby looking at him.)

ROBBY: I don't know...you serve stuff - you hang out.

(Shot past Robby of Kevin.)

KEVIN: And that's it?

(Shot past Kevin of Robby looking at him.)

ROBBY: Well, all the fries you can eat.

(Shot past Robby of Kevin.)

Hmmm. Seemed like a job for a special kind of guy. Like say...me.

(Shot past Kevin of Robby looking at him.)

ROBBY: Why? Ya interested?

(Shot past Robby of Kevin.)

KEVIN: Nah...

(Kevin frowns heavily and looks off.)

KEVIN: How much do they pay?

(Shot past Kevin of Robby looking at him.)

ROBBY: Uh, a buck sixty an hour.

(Robby closes his locker as he exits.)

(Kevin looks after Robby off-screen and smiles.)

Buck sixty an hour?

Cut to

Int. Evening - Arnold Living Room

(Close shot of Jack sitting on the couch as he sips his drink and looks at the TV off-screen. Sound of a cash register.)

Even Dad...

(Wide shot of Jack and Kevin on the couch.)

Couldn't argue with economic reality.

(Kevin sips his soda and puts his feet on the coffee table, as Jack has his.)

KEVIN: Dad?

(Shot past Jack of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: I've been thinkin'.

(Kevin looks toward the TV off-screen and fingers his soda bottle.)

JACK: Unh?

(Kevin looks at Jack.)

KEVIN: You work hard...(gestures)...for your money, right?

(Jack looks at Kevin, then toward the TV off-screen.)

JACK: Hnh.

(Kevin looks toward the TV off-screen.)

KEVIN: So...say you workin' somewhere, and you thought you deserved more. You'd do somethin' about it, right?

(Kevin looks toward Jack.)

JACK: You betcha.

(Close shot of Kevin looking at his soda.)

KEVIN: Even if it meant...(gestures)...makin' your boss mad?

(Close shot of Jack looking at the TV off-screen.)

JACK: Buck's a buck.

(Jack takes a sip of his drink.)

There.

(Close shot of Kevin looking at the TV off-screen and taking a sip of soda.)

Sounded like a clear mandate to me.

(Close shot of Jack looking at the TV off-screen.)

JACK: Thinkin' about asking old man Harris for a raise?

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Jack off-screen and hesitating.)

KEVIN: Kinda...(Smiles.)

(Close shot of Jack glancing from Kevin to the TV off-screen and sighing.)

JACK: Hnnhnh.

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Jack off-screen and glancing off.)

And, with that ringing endorsement in hand, I made up my mind.

Cut to

Ext. Day - Hardware Store

(Shot of Mr. Harris sweeping the sidewalk in front of the store as cars pass through the shot. Kevin exits from the store and approaches behind Mr. Harris.)

KEVIN: Mr. Harris?

MR. HARRIS: Yes?

(Mr. Harris keeps sweeping. Kevin follows slowly.)

There was only one way to do this. Honestly...

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin.)

Directly.

KEVIN: I don't think I'm gonna be able to make it on Saturday.

(They stand next to each other as Mr. Harris continues to sweep.)

MR. HARRIS: Oh?

KEVIN: Yeah. Actually, I don't think I'll be able to come in at all anymore.

(Mr. Harris stands up.)

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris glancing at him.)

MR. HARRIS: I see.

(Mr. Harris looks down, then turns toward Kevin and rests on the broom.)

KEVIN: Yeah...

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: See there's this other job I might be taking.

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris resting on the broom, looking at him.)

MR. HARRIS: And where is this new place of employment?

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: In the mall.

MR. HARRIS: The mall?

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris frowning, then glancing off and back.)

MR. HARRIS: That's where you want to go to work?

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin looking at him.)

MR. HARRIS Selling crap that doesn't work to people that don't need it in the first place?

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris frowning at him.)

MR. HARRIS: What would you be doing?

KEVIN: Working.

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: In a restaurant. (Nods.)

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris frowning at him.)

KEVIN: "Food service management".

(Wider shot of both standing face to face as Mr. Harris rests on the broom.)

Ah, what the hell.

KEVIN: It's a burger-joint. (Shrugs.)

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris frowning at him.)

MR. HARRIS: And this is how you want to spend your time - flipping hamburgers and watching the girls walk by?

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin looking at him.)

Bingo. He finally understood.

KEVIN: No...(Shrugs.)

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris frowning at him.)

MR. HARRIS: Then why would you do a thing like this?

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin looking at him.)

KEVIN: Because they pay fifteen cents more an hour.

(Shot past Kevin of Mr. Harris looking at him.)

MR. HARRIS: Oh...(Smiles.)

(Mr. Harris leans the broom against the window.)

(Wider shot of both facing each other.)

MR. HARRIS: So that's it. (Gestures.)

(Mr. Harris walks past Kevin toward the door.)

MR. HARRIS: I see.

(Mr. Harris puts his hands in his pockets, sighs, then turns toward Kevin.)

MR. HARRIS: Fifteen cents an hour...(Nods.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Harris off-screen.)

Sure it was a bitter pill...

(Shot of Mr. Harris shaking his head and glancing off.)

But what else could the guy do?

(Mr. Harris looks at Kevin off-screen and points at him.)

MR. HARRIS: I'll pay you twenty.

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Harris off-screen.)

KEVIN: What?

(Shot of Mr. Harris frowning at Kevin off-screen.)

MR. HARRIS: Just prove to me that you're worth it - sweep! (Points.)

(Mr. Harris hurriedly exits toward the door. Some Snuffy guitar plays.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Harris off-screen, then slowly taking the broom, then looking over his shoulder. He frowns slightly as he starts to sweep.)

(Wider shot of Kevin on the sidewalk, looking over his shoulder toward the store.)

Rats!

(Kevin starts to sweep.)

Fade to

The Mall

(Close shot of Paul looking at Kevin off-screen.)

PAUL: If you quit, you quit!

(Wider shot of Lewis, Paul and Kevin at a table with their food.)

KEVIN: I told you, Paul - he gave me a raise. Twenty cents more an hour. What was I gonna do? (Shrugs.)

LEWIS: Pfff - I wouldn't work for that old geezer if you paid me a hundred bucks an hour.

I only had one defense.

(Shot past Lewis of Kevin looking at him.)

Insanity.

KEVIN: Hey, look - he's not an old geezer.

(Kevin looks toward Paul off-screen.)

KEVIN: And besides...

(Kevin glances between Paul and Lewis off-screen.)

KEVIN: He knows more about hardware than you guys will in your entire lives.(Nods.)

(Shot past Kevin of Lewis and Paul looking toward each other.)

GUYS: Whoa!

(Shot past Lewis of Kevin sighing and glancing off.)

LEWIS (V/O): Don't you get it, Kev?

(Shot past Kevin of Lewis and Paul looking at him.)

LEWIS: The guy bought you. He owns you. Lock, stock and lugnuts.

(Shot past Lewis of Kevin looking at them as they laugh.)

Pretty funny. But I could hold my own, here.

KEVIN: Lewis, you're full of crap.

(Shot past Kevin of Lewis and Paul.)

LEWIS: Oh, yeah? Prove it. Take Saturday off - hang out here with us.

(Shot past Lewis of Kevin looking at them.)

KEVIN: Hey! I could if I want to.

(Shot past Kevin of Lewis and Paul looking at him skeptically.)

Not that I cared what they thought.

(Close shot of Kevin glancing between them off-screen.)

Cut to

Int. Day - Hardware Store

(Close shot of Kevin approaching the camera.)

KEVIN: I was wondering if I could have the day off, Saturday?

(Wider shot of Kevin leaning against the counter, and Mr. Harris making some notes on a clipboard as he looks at stuff on the counter.)

MR. HARRIS: Why?

KEVIN: Why - I have this...appointment.

(Kevin picks up a small box.)

MR. HARRIS: Where?

KEVIN: Just...around.

(Kevin puts the box in a larger box and picks up another.)

MR. HARRIS: Well then, uh, certainly.

KEVIN: Great! (Smiles.)

(Kevin puts the small box in the larger box and picks up another.)

MR. HARRIS: Of course, anytime you have a social engagement, and work interferes...(gestures)...you just let me know. (Gestures.) We'll close the store. (Nods.)

(Close shot of Kevin frowning slightly at Mr. Harris off-screen.)

KEVIN: Hey, look - all I'm asking for here is a just -

MR. HARRIS (V/O): We have an agreement.

(Close shot of Mr. Harris looking toward Kevin off-screen.)

MR. HARRIS: You work here Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. And I pay you - what now?

(Mr. Harris glances upward.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Harris off-screen.)

MR. HARRIS (V/O): One dollar and sixty five cents...

(Close shot of Mr. Harris looking toward Kevin off-screen.)

MR. HARRIS: An hour. Maybe now you would like me to pay you double-time for the days you don't work.

(Close shot of Kevin sighing and frowning slightly at Mr. Harris off-screen.)

And that's when it hit me.

(Shot of Mr. Harris looking at his clipboard.)

The guys had been right.

(Mr. Harris puffs out his cheeks and exhales as he makes notes.)

I wasn't an employee, here. I was...

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Harris off-screen.)

In bondage.

(Wider shot of both as Mr. Harris makes notes. Kevin glances at Mr. Harris, then picks up the bigger box and exits.)

A slave.

Cut to

Int. Night - Kevin's Bedroom

(Shot from directly above Kevin as he tosses in bed. Eerie music plays and a clock ticks as the camera moves in slowly.)

That night I had a dream.

(Fade to fantasy as a dog howls.)

-(The camera rolls forward through a dark room. It passes a sign reading "Public notice. Unattended children will be sold as slaves." The camera continues down a foggy aisle lit by a red light in the distance. The camera makes another turn and rolls up to the legs of Mr. Harris and pans up to him. He has his hands on his hips, and a cigar in his mouth.)

-(Shot of Kevin carrying a large pile of boxes on his back as he starts to climb some stairs.)

-(Wider shot down the stairway as Kevin approaches slowly.)

-MR. HARRIS (V/O): Well?!

-(Shot of Mr. Harris looking at Kevin off-screen.)

-MR. HARRIS: Are you working?!

-(Wider shot of Mr. Harris.)

-MR. HARRIS: Or breathing?!

-(Shot down the stairway of Kevin.)

-KEVIN: Working, sir.

-MR. HARRIS: Then do it!

-(Close shot of Kevin frowning at Mr. Harris off-screen.)

-KEVIN: Oh, please, sir...I was just wondering...it's almost six o'clock...may I go home now?

(Close shot of Mr. Harris as he takes the cigar from his mouth.)

-MR. HARRIS: No!

-(Shot of Mr. Harris taking a large pocket-watch out and holding it up.)

-MR. HARRIS: There's plenty of time left.

-(Close shot of the watch, which reads 5:13. The camera pans slightly to Mr. Harris who is frowning at Kevin off-screen.)

-(Shot of Kevin in the stairway.)

-MR. HARRIS (V/O): I want you to stack the one-ton bolts...

(Shot of Mr. Harris holding the pocket-watch.)

-MR. HARRIS: On the right-hand shelf...

-(Close shot of Mr. Harris.)

-MR. HARRIS: The top...right-hand...shelf! (Laughs.)

-(Close shot of Kevin looking upward.)

-(Close shot of Mr. Harris as he laughs.)

-(Close shot of Kevin looking upward.)

Cut to

Int. Morning - Arnold Kitchen

(Close shot of Kevin as he approaches the camera and pauses.)

KEVIN: Dad, can I talk to you for a minute?

I had to act.

(Shot past Jack at the sink as Kevin approaches from the dining room doorway. The camera moves more in front of Jack.)

Put this in perspective. Job-stress was getting me down.

JACK: Huh?

(Jack looks back to the sink.)

JACK: Yeah, sure...Your mother and I were up half the night. This damn drip. What's up?

(Kevin sighs.)

KEVIN: It's about Mr. Harris.

(Shot past Kevin of Jack frowning at the faucet part he is holding.)

JACK: Yeah...I heard you got a raise. That's terrific.

(Closer shot past Jack of Kevin, who smiles quickly.)

KEVIN: Yeah...well...

(Shot past Kevin as Jack grimaces as he tries to tighten the part.)

(Close shot past Jack of Kevin.)

KEVIN: What's the matter?

(Shot past Kevin of Jack. Jack sighs and looks at the part.)

JACK: Well, it came apart OK...

(Close shot past Jack of Kevin looking at the part.)

JACK: Put in a new washer, and now I can't seem to get it...

(Shot past Kevin of Jack frowning at the part.)

JACK: To hold together. (Gestures.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking at the part off-screen.)

KEVIN: Where's your bib screw?

(Close shot of Jack frowning and looking at Kevin off-screen.)

JACK: Huh?

(Close shot of Kevin looking at the part off-screen.)

KEVIN: You know - your bib screw. Probably fell down the drain.

(Shot past Kevin of Jack looking at him off-screen.)

KEVIN (V/O): It happens all the time. They're easy to replace.

And the way he looked at me, for one second...

(Jack nods slightly.)

(Close shot past Jack of Kevin looking at him.)

I almost felt good about...hardware.

KEVIN: You know, we sell bib screws down at Harris'.

(Shot past Kevin of Jack looking at the part.)

JACK: Ah, that's OK. I'll probably shoot over to the mall.

KEVIN: The mall?

(Shot past Kevin of Jack looking at the part, glancing at Kevin, then frowning at the part again.)

JACK: Well, it's closer...easier to park...

(Jack looks at Kevin.)

JACK: Besides, you know the old man...

(Close shot past Jack of Kevin frowning slightly at him.)

(Shot past Kevin of Jack looking at him.)

JACK: If I stop in...(gestures)...he'll talk to me for hours, chew my ear off.

(Jack looks back at the part.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Jack off-screen.)

JACK (V/O): I don't have that kind of time. You know what I mean.

(Shot past Kevin of Jack looking at him, then back to the part.)

I couldn't believe it. This man...

(Shot past Jack of Kevin looking at him, then glancing off as Jack looks at the part.)

"Mr. Listen-and-Learn" was telling me...he didn't have time?

KEVIN: Sure, Dad. I know what you mean.

(They nod slightly at each other, and Kevin exits past Jack.)

(Shot of Kevin passing behind Jack who is still stuggling with the part. Kevin pauses near the door and they look at each other.)

But I didn't.

(Kevin exits.)

I just didn't.

(Jack continues to fiddle with the part as the door closes.)

Cut to

Ext. Day - Hardware Store

(Shot of Kevin walking along the sidewalk. The camera rolls back with him. Some Snuffy music plays.)

I meant to go right to work that afternoon.

(Kevin looks toward the store off-screen.)

But when I got to the store...for some reason...

(Kevin pauses.)

I didn't go in.

(Shot past Kevin of the store.)

I didn't want to be there, anymore.

(Shot of Kevin looking past the camera toward the store.)

Hell, I knew nobody else did either.

(Shot of the store.)

(Shot of Kevin as he puts his tie in his pocket as he turns and starts to trot away from the camera.)

Cut to

The Mall

(Shot of Paul, Kevin and Lewis at a table with their food. They talk animatedly. A girl walks by in the distance and they look at her.)

I went to the mall. Hung out with friends.

(The camera circles slightly.)

It was busy...and alive.

(The camera moves in slightly as Kevin looks at Paul and smiles.)

I hardly thought about old Mr. Harris at all.

(Kevin looks down as he sucks his drink from a straw.)

Well, not much, anyway.

(Kevin frowns slightly. Music ends.)

Fade to

Ext. Evening - Hardware Store

(Shot of Kevin walking on the sidewalk. The camera rolls with him as he passes the bookstore.)

By the time I got back, I guess I pretty much figured he was gonna fire me.

(Kevin pauses as he approaches Mr. Harris, who is sweeping the sidewalk.)

Maybe I was just hoping he would.

(Mr. Harris stands up.)

MR. HARRIS: You're late.

(Mr. Harris hands Kevin a broom and exits.)

KEVIN: I know...

(Sound of the cowbells, then Mr. Harris walks across the store.)

(Kevin sighs, then leans the broom against a wheelbarrow, and exits past the camera.)

Cut to

Int - Hardware Store

(Close shot of Kevin as he approaches, looking up, and pauses.)

KEVIN: Mr. Harris, can I talk to you?

(Shot of Mr. Harris on a ladder. He looks at Kevin off-screen, then looks away as he adjusts a box. He starts down the ladder.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking at him off-screen.)

MR. HARRIS (V/O): Very well.

(Wider shot of both as Mr. Harris steps off the ladder and faces Kevin across a counter.)

MR. HARRIS: You were late today. I understand...(gestures)...you needed to prove something. It's alright, it's forgotten. I'll see you on Tuesday.

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin.)

KEVIN: Well, I'm not going to be coming in anymore.

(Close shot of Mr. Harris looking at Kevin off-screen.)

KEVIN (V/O): You see...

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin as he pulls the tie from his pocket.)

KEVIN: I took the job at the mall - I start Monday.

(Kevin holds the tie out towward Mr. Harris.)

(Close shot of Mr. Harris looking at Kevin off-screen.)

MR. HARRIS: Don't be foolish. You work here.

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Harris off-screen.)

(Close shot of Mr. Harris looking at Kevin off-screen, then exiting past the camera.)

(Wider shot as Mr. Harris walks past Kevin, who follows.)

KEVIN: But I don't want to work here anymore. Don't you understand that?

(Mr. Harris turns and rests his hands on the counter, as does Kevin.)

MR. HARRIS: You're a bright boy. (Gestures.) You could make something better of yourself!

(Shot past Mr. Harris of Kevin frowning at him.)

KEVIN: I wouldn't call stocking hardware something better!

(Shot of Mr. Harris looking at Kevin off-screen, as Mrs. Harris enters through the office door.)

MR. HARRIS: Oh, I see.

(Mr. Harris straightens up.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Harris off-screen.)

KEVIN: Mr. Harris, all I do here is move cartons from one shelf to the other, and listen to you talk about hardware!

(Kevin glances toward the door and gestures, then looks at Mr. Harris again.)

KEVIN: No one even comes in here anymore - no one wants to. (Frowns.)

MR. HARRIS (V/O): Is that so!

(Shot of Mr. Harris, and Mrs. Harris behind him.)

MR. HARRIS: Let me tell you something...(Gestures.)

MRS. HARRIS: Sam!

MR. HARRIS: The hardware business -

(Mr. Harris pauses.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mrs. Harris off-screen.)

MRS. HARRIS (V/O): Sam...

(Shot of Mr. Harris looking over his shoulder slightly toward Mrs. Harris behind him.)

MRS. HARRIS: The boy wants to go. (Gestures.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Harris off-screen.)

(Shot of Mr. and Mrs. Harris. He looks down as Mrs. Harris exits into the office.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Harris off-screen.)

KEVIN: You don't even need me here most of the time.

(Close shot of Mr. Harris looking toward Kevin off-screen and nodding slightly.)

MR. HARRIS: I know that.

(He looks off.)

MR. HARRIS: I would like you to keep working here, but I won't try to make you stay.

(Mr. Harris looks toward Kevin off-screen.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Harris off-screen.)

(Close shot of Mr. Harris looking toward Kevin off-screen and nodding slightly.)

MR. HARRIS: I've made my offer. (Nods once.) I stand by it.

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Harris off-screen.)

(Sound of the door opening and the cowbells clanging.)

WOMAN (V/O): Excuse me...

(Shot of the previous woman approaching the camera and pausing.)

(Shot past the woman of Mr. Harris and Kevin as they look at her.)

WOMAN: About that washer...I asked my husband, and he said we have hard water.

(Close shot of Mr. Harris looking toward Kevin off-screen.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Harris off-screen.)

KEVIN: Yes...

(Kevin looks toward the woman off-screen.)

(Shot past the woman of Mr. Harris and Kevin as he approaches her.)

KEVIN: Then you'll need plastic...

(Kevin takes the washer from her.)

KEVIN: Because...metal rusts in hard water.

(Kevin steps to a box of washers on the counter looks in it.)

(Shot of the woman as she looks at her purse and opens it.)

(Shot past the woman of Kevin looking at her.)

KEVIN: No, it's OK.

(Kevin approaches the woman.)

KEVIN: It's only a nickel.

(Kevin hands the washer to her and smiles.)

(Close shot of the woman looking at Kevin off-screen.)

WOMAN: Thank you. (Smiles.)

(The woman turns and exits.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking at her off-screen.)

KEVIN: Come again! (Smiles.)

(Wider shot of the woman as she looks over her shoulder on the way to the door.)

(Close shot of Mr. Harris looking toward Kevin off-screen as the woman exits off-screen and the cowbells clang.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking at her off-screen.)

I felt him watching me.

(Kevin turns toward Mr. Harris off-screen. Some Snuffy guitar plays intermittently.)

And somehow, I knew what he was thinking.

(Close shot of Mr. Harris looking at Kevin off-screen, then turning away.)

(Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Harris off-screen.)

How much I'd learned, how much he taught me.

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Harris entering the office door. Mrs. Harris is at the desk.)

(Close shot of Kevin as he looks toward the door off-screen.)

But I was fifteen. I lived in a world that was new and alive, and exciting.

(Kevin looks around the store.)

(Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Harris standing behind Mrs. Harris at the desk. The camera moves in slowly.)

And everything here was old.

(Close shot of Kevin looking at them off-screen, then looking down.)

Maybe it was stupid.

(Wider shot of Kevin as he picks up the tie from the counter, then looks toward the door off-screen.)

That's also part of being fifteen.

(Kevin puts the tie on the counter, then walks past the camera. Snuffy's guitar gets going again.)

(Shot of the doorway as Kevin passes the camera, exits, and trots away. The screen door slowly bangs closed.)

(Shot of the front window of the store.)

I traded in my tie for a stupid hat and a plastic nametag at the mall. When I left a month later - no one cared.

(The camera pulls back slowly.)

But every time I pick up a flat-head screw, I think of old man Harris, and how those cowbells clanged as I walked out that door. And even though I can't say exactly what I gained...I know I can't measure...what I lost.

(The store's lights click off. "Pennies From Heaven" starts.)

(Close shot of a black-and-white photograph. The camera pulls back to reveal an old cigar store.)

"Every time it rains it rains"
"Pennies from heaven"

(Black-and-white photograph of a customer and a smiling clerk at the counter.)

"Don't you know each cloud contains"
"Pennies from heaven"

(Black-and-white photograph of a man behind the counter of a drugstore, holding a pestle. the camer zooms in on it.)

"You'll find your fortune falling"
"All over town"

(Black-and-white photograph of a gasoline nozzle in a gas tank. The camera pulls back to show the attendant and a customer.)

"Be sure that your umbrella"
"Is upside down"

(Black-and-white photograph of a grocer arranging fruit in the storefront. The camera pulls back revealing the sigh "Beachwood Market".)

(Black-and-white photograph of an old man looking over a counter at two boys.)

"Trade them for a package of"
"Sunshine and flowers"

(Black-and-white photograph of a painted window sigh reading "Vincent's Barber Shop".)

"If you want the things you love"
"You must have showers"

(Black-and-white photograph of a couple standing in front of a large window of a storefront.)

(The camera pulls back revealing the sign reading "Harris & Sons Hardware, Est. 1933". The camera continues to pull back.)

"So when you hear it thunder"
"Don't run under a tree"

(The camera stops moving back.)

"There'll be pennies from heaven"
"For you and me"

Fade to

CLOSING CREDITS

Supporting Cast
Mr. Harris - Al Ruscio
Lewis - Michael Bacall

Music
"Takin' Care Of Business" - Bachman Turner Overdrive
"Pennies From Heaven" - ?



Next Episode
Titles/Transcripts
Episode Info
Wonder Years Menu

03/12/05 11:45