The Last Shift (2020) - full transcript

Hey, there you go.

- How was the game?
- 0-8, baby.

Tackleberry here even
got booted in the fourth.

Oh, crap. I was rooting for you.

Hey, uh, we can't
all be big winners

like Stan the Man here.

Oh, yeah, yeah.
You better watch it,

or I'll tell your mom you pulled
in here smelling like hooch.

Oh, oh, yeah.

Yeah. I didn't get
this smart by being stupid.

Oh, then how did you?



Good Lord's work, I guess.

- Sure wasn't from no books.
- Yeah.

Hey, keep to
the back roads. Hey.

- Head on a swivel, huh? Huh?
- All right.

Thanks for
the wise words. Yeah.

Yeah, you should be
a guidance counselor.

Stanley, I know you're there.
I can hear you breathing.

What you got, Stanley?

Okay, I got 592 dol... No.

Oh, jeez, $529 and 34 cents.

- Oh, shit.
- Huh?

Well, you want me
to do a recount?

No, no, no, honey.

I got a shift to turn over
and a poker game to go to.



Ain't no way I'm recounting
the drawer over a damn 34 cents?

Are you sure?
Because I'll start from scratch.

There's no problem.

- You know Monday's my last shift?
- Mm-hm.

Yeah. Thirty-eight years
to the day. Heh.

Yeah, 38, that's right.

That's what
the word on the street is.

It's Tuesday morning
technically,

- you know, according to payroll.
- Mm-hm, mm-hm.

And then it's
hasta la vista, baby. Heh.

Hasta la vista...?

That's The Terminator.
It's from...

That's T2 actually.

I don't know what we gonna do
without you, Stanley.

Guess we'll have to shut
the whole joint down, huh?

I doubt that.

Uh, did you find a replacement,
uh, for the graveyard shift yet?

Yeah. That's what
I'm working on right now.

Well, whoever you get,

- I just hope they're up to snuff.
- Mm-hm.

You know, it's like
my mom always used to say:

"Some people turn up
their sleeves,

and some just don't
turn up at all."

Screw Shazz.
She's just jealous

because you're finally
getting out of this shithole.

Well, Albion,
it's not a shithole.

If you ask
10 average Americans

to describe Albion, Michigan,
in two words,

"shit" and "hole" will be
at the top of their list.

I mean, why would anybody
ever come to Albion?

Well, a lot of people go
to the cider mill.

Hey, could you, uh, take me

to pick up some of
those moving boxes later?

I really don't wanna rummage
through my sister's garage.

- You live there.
- Still feels intrusive.

I really can't afford
to be buying

a bunch of empty boxes
just for moving.

I'm short of cash as it is.

Eh, buying empty boxes
does feel kind of stupid.

I should be studying
for my DMV exam.

You still worried
about that test?

I told you, only retards
and ex-cons fail that thing.

What do you know
about this replacement of yours?

Nothing,
except his name's Jevon.

Jevon?

- The fuck kind of name is that?
- Heck if I know.

I just hope
he's not some fricking deadbeat.

I'm mostly a homebody anyway.

Jevon Williams.

Is that how you typically sit
for an entrance interview?

My bad. Didn't realize
this was an interview.

I'm asking questions.

You're answering them,
aren't you?

Now, it says here
you just got out of county.

Have you made a plan
for gainful employment?

I applied for
a few jobs around town,

but I've quit or been fired
from most of them.

So kind of puts me
in a tough spot.

But I did get a call back

from Oscar's Chicken N' Fish.

It's a regional chain.

I wouldn't exactly
call it gainful.

I'm assigning you Officer Kelly,

who just transferred
from Corrections.

Hi there. It's nice to meet you.
You can just call me Evelyn.

She'll meet you here
tomorrow at 2

to go over the conditions of
your probation in more detail.

Okay. So I-I get it now.

So is it like...?
It's like "good cop, bad cop"?

- Oak and the willow?
- Mr. Williams,

full-time employment
and enrollment in school

or vocational training.

These are
your basic requirements.

Fail to meet these and your
probation will be in violation.

What does that mean?

That means you'll go
back to jail

for the remainder
of your sentence.

So 10 months.

Defacing a city monument's
a serious offense.

Not to mention, you called
the officer a "house Negro."

Resisting arrest

and the little stunt
you pulled on the escalator.

It was
the most direct route, bro.

That's enough.

You can go.

Damn, boy.
You all right, baby lungs?

Hey, chronic isn't exactly
easy to get in county, bro.

Yeah, all right.

- What's that saying?
- What?

You can never go home again.

Well, you ain't gotta go home,

but you sure as hell
can't crash on my couch, homo.

You should embroider that
on a throw pillow.

- No welcome home party?
- There's my sugar plum!

Oh, baby. Heh-heh.

Where the hell you been?

I told you,
I had some stuff to do.

Ah, my baby,
always scheming up something.

Didn't they feed you in there?
You're thin as a string bean.

What's up, Uncle Charles?

What happened
to "three hots and a cot"?

How was the Old Jackson County
Country Club?

Nuh-uh, I don't wanna hear
nothing about that in here.

- No way.
- Wanna say hi to Papa?

- Say hi to Papa. Come on.
- Hey, big guy.

Where you going?
I just got here. Heh.

- What's up?
- Have you been smoking?

No, I told you,
I'm done with that.

- Then why are your eyes so red?
- I don't know.

- Seasonal allergies?
- Did you read the article I sent

on marijuana and memory loss?

No. Must have forgot.

I hate to jog your memory, but
Carter's rash is coming back.

What'd the doctor say?

Sydney slept through
the appointment. Tell him.

I took a nap between shifts
because I was working a double.

Selling that eye cream
to them old white ladies?

It's not just eye cream.

It's a daily, organic
skin care program.

And it's temporary.

Can you run Carter
by the clinic later?

I thought you needed the car.
Don't you start work tonight?

I'll call and tell them
I'm running late.

Sounds like Foot Locker
all over again.

What did I tell you
about smoking around Carter?

He's way over there.

Besides, they're lights.

Come on, you can
drop me off on the way.

- I need to do my hair first.
- To go to the doctor?

I'm not leaving the house
looking like this.

Hello!

Yo, open the door!

The dining room's closed!
Drive-through only after 10!

No, I'm training.
Open the door!

We're closed!
Drive-through only!

I'm Jevon. I'm training.

Yo!

Oscar's Chicken N' Fish.
This is Stanley.

- How may I help you?
- Yo, it's Jevon, man.

I'm supposed to be
starting tonight.

Oh, hey, how's it going?

I'm getting eaten alive
out here. Open the damn door!

Oh, crap. Oh, okay, hang on.
Be right there.

Come on, man. What'd you think,
I was gonna rob the joint?

Don't answer that.

I'm Jevon.

I'm Stanley.

Well, come on.

We'll get started
on your paperwork.

You run this show by yourself?

Ah, pretty much.

Fernando does prep
till around midnight or so,

and then it's
a one-man show till 6.

Who's Fernando?

Well, he does prep.

Had to leave early
for laser tag.

So...

You got any
fast-food experience?

- Just eating it.
- Ah.

How about on register?

Nah, man, but I mean,
I could count.

So are you, like,
a people person?

I thought
I already had the job.

Shazz asked me
if I could start right away.

So I mean, what,

are you like the unofficial
mayor of this place?

I'm the night manager.

What's Shazz, then?

She's the head manager.

What's the difference?

Just the time of day we work.
We're pretty much like equals.

She's not your boss?

Well, we got kind of...

- Sort of a co-type of thing.
- Mm-hm.

It sounds like
a simple hierarchy to me.

Okay.

This is the employee handbook.

It's got all the rules in it.
It's got...

It's got cooking temperatures.
It's got closing procedures.

I like to refer to this
as our bible.

As your bible.

Did you come up
with that by yourself?

Oh, yeah. Sort of.

That's clever.

Okay, now this form here.

This states
that you read the handbook.

You got a pen?

You're supposed to read
the handbook first.

You're supposed to read
the handbook first.

So you get
three unexcused absences

before you're
suspended without pay.

What if the bus is
running late?

I've been taking the bus
for 38 years,

and I've only been late once.

And that's because
the driver had a stroke

and crashed into a Jiffy Lube.

And I had to work
the entire shift with a...

A sprained wrist.

Just a regular Willis Reed, huh?

There's more goes into this job
than what's in the handbook.

There's an art
to the third shift.

You gotta do
a little bit of everything.

You gotta cook and clean
and prep and serve

and, uh, improvise.

Uh, once I had
to make my own pickles.

And once we hosted
a birthday party

and we ran out of ketchup.

- What'd you do?
- I did what I had to.

It wasn't pretty.

This is where the magic happens.

Every sandwich is made
right here.

Chicken on the right,
fish on the left.

And you don't never mix the two.

- Separate but equal.
- Yeah, sort of.

Uh, so the chart up here

tells you everything
goes on each sandwich.

I try to be conservative
with the pickles.

I do three per sandwich. Yeah,
so that's what it's got here.

I... You know, that's about it.
Just follow the rules.

Oh, don't use the stall
in the men's room.

There's a bit of a logjam.

Goddamn!

Bro.

You know, I think
honey mustard's our best sauce.

People like
ranch and barbecue.

But I think
honey mustard's our best.

Nine times out of 10, I can
tell you what kind of sauce

people are gonna get
before they order.

Sauce whisperer, huh?

High school and college kids,

I almost always give ranch.

I call them
the ranch generation.

And, uh, girls, and
especially moms and stuff,

they got fancier tastes,

so they almost always
get honey mustard.

And, uh, old people,
I don't know,

they, uh, always get barbecue.

Uh, I guess that's because
that's all they know.

Yeah. How about you?

I'm mostly
a barbecue kind of guy.

Yeah, I guess it's in my DNA.

Oh, yeah.

- So you went to Albion High, huh?
- Yeah, on occasion.

I was supposed to walk in '71.

That's the year
we went to state. Ha!

Yeah, I remember seeing
the black-and-white photos

looking like a bunch
of Jimmy Chitwoods and shit.

That team would beat the crap
out of the team they got now.

- Are you kidding me, man? Shh!
- Oh.

Those goofy,
corny motherfuckers.

Man, you're out
of your damn mind.

Ain't no wonder
you never graduated. Heh.

I could have if I wanted to.

Oh, yeah? Then why didn't you?

Because I didn't want to.

So how come you sporting
that class ring, then?

I don't know.

I got it my junior year.
I figured I paid for it, ha.

Ow! Ooh, motherfucker.

Oh, yeah, you gotta
watch them poppers.

Your arms will end up
looking like ground chuck.

Hey, check this out.

They're like battle wounds, huh?

Oh, no.

Oscar's Chicken N' Fish, this is
Stanley. How may I help you?

It's Jake from Ten Palms
Nursing down in Sarasota.

- Sorry to call so early.
- Hey, how's it going?

- Your mom had a scare today.
- Is she all right?

Everything turned out
to be fine.

Uh, she seems to have slipped
back into atrial fibrillation.

- She slipped in what?
- Uh, atrial fibrillation.

It's a temporary
and minor heart arrhythmia.

Well, it sounds serious.

The doctor had a look
and can resolve it for now.

But we're monitoring
the situation just in case.

- She's gonna be fine.
- Oh.

Well, jeez, heh.

You scared the heck
out of me there, heh.

Yo, Stanley! Do you guys use
the five-second rule?

No! Hang on, I'll...
I'll be right there!

Are you still wanting
to move her out next week?

Uh, yeah, yeah.

- Hundred percent, yeah.
- Are you sure?

Yeah, no, she needs
to be with family.

Why do you think I'm driving
all the way down there?

- To get an apartment together.
- We're sorry to see her go.

Look, I'll start processing
her transfer papers Monday.

You know, wait, hang on.
I'll grab her.

I'm gonna
have to call you back.

All right. Are you sure?

Hey! Sorry about that.

You know, bureaucracy kind of
goes at its own pace, so...

Yeah. Don't we all?

Oh, you...

You actually went to school
with my daughter, didn't you?

Cynthia. Cynthia Kelly?

- Oh, yeah, I remember her.
- Mm-hm.

She was into all that shit
with the flags, right?

Yeah, color guard.

Yeah, yeah, that's it.

You, uh...
You wrote the column, right,

for the school paper?

- What was it called?
- "Get a Load of This."

Oh, man, yeah. I loved that.
That cracked me up.

It cracked me up. It did.

And you did that, um...

The hit piece on the local
teachers' union, right?

What did you call them?

"A zit on the face
of organized labor."

Yeah. Do you still write?

Yeah. Yeah, I try to.

Whenever I have free time.
But I haven't had much lately.

I just had a son, so...

Oh, wow. Well, that'll...
Yeah.

How's...?
How's fatherhood wearing on you?

It's good.
Yeah, it's going... good.

That's good.

So, what's the protocol here?

They are recommending
100 hours of community service,

uh, monthly reporting,

mandatory employment
or schooling,

and, uh, biweekly
drug testing, so...

Like pissing in a cup?

Uh, toxicology screening, yeah.

Hey! Look what I found.
You remember this?

Old Stan the Man?

I wasn't too bad
in middle school.

You weren't too bad
till they made you wear skates.

You coming tomorrow?
Throw some darts?

Why, so you can
stick me with the bill again?

- We split that even stephen.
- You guys had like 10 beers.

I had one
fricking Mountain Dew.

You had more than one
Mountain Dew.

It was free refills!

I still don't see
what your big rush is.

Running off with
your panties in a bunch.

I told you, the nursing home
I got my mom in is a dump.

Besides, if I don't leave now,
I'll never go.

Nothing here for me anyways.

Suit yourself.
Just don't pitch a bitch

about missing the gang
once you're in Florida.

There's a reason snowbirds
fly back every year.

I thought I asked you not
to smoke that in here, Rich.

I thought you left.

No, not till Tuesday.

I thought today was Tuesday.

It's Friday.

My bad!

Jevon? Jevon?

- Yo.
- Chicken tenders.

- Chicken tenders are up.
- What?

Chicken tenders are up.

I thought you were
on the fryer.

They're right behind you.

Dude, I'm literally
getting crushed here.

Oh, for crying out loud.
Are you serious?

Does Fernando ask you
to bread onion rings?

- No, that's not his job.
- Right.

I thought my job was
to follow your instructions.

You told me
to wrap sandwiches.

And now I'm telling you
to grab the fryer.

I can't do both, man.

You want me to disobey
your original instructions?

That's a slippery slope
we're heading down.

You like to talk, don't you?
Fernando?

Fernando, can you get
the fryer, please?

- Here.
- Don't rip the bag. Jesus.

Excuse me.

There you go. Thank you.

Good night!

You know, a big part
of working here is teamwork.

It says so
right in the handbook.

Teamwork?
What, are we Crockett and Tubbs?

You told me to wrap sandwiches,
so that's what I did.

Sometimes you gotta do more
than just the bare minimum.

Oh, I definitely plan
on just doing the bare minimum.

Well, what is that
supposed to mean?

Do you expect me to bust my ass
for 9.25 an hour, for what?

So some corporate prick can add
a game room onto his McMansion?

- Gary...
- Please.

Gary's not like that.

This place has been here
since the '50s.

When people come here,
they expect

good food and good service.

This place is
practically a landmark.

Man, the food here sucks.

Why do you think
everybody goes to McDonald's?

Well, it's put a roof
over my head for 38 years.

I don't have the luxury

to take a fricking stand
against the man, heh.

Yo, I'm not gonna
be here no 38 years.

And if I'm still here
at your age, man,

put me out of my misery, please.

- Hey, I'm going on a break.
- So you asking me or telling me?

Pick one. You're the boss.

Well, don't be lollygagging.

What the hell is this?

- A hamburger?
- It's supposed to be.

That's what it said on the menu.
That's what I paid for.

Too bad
it's a goddamn meatsicle!

You ever bitten
into a frozen burger?

- Not that I remember.
- Have you ever driven

a half an hour home
to three screaming kids

and then bitten
into a frozen hamburger?

- No. Heh.
- Uh-uh!

This shit's about
to get fixed right here.

Okay. Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah.

Just, you know, drive
around the window and, uh...

we'll take care of it. Yeah.

How the hell did that happen?

Uh, I don't think he left it
on the grill long enough.

I know that. I meant,
weren't you supervising?

- No, I was on break.
- You was with Dale?

No, not with Dale. Heh.

I just don't think
he's a good fit here.

That isn't up to you.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

Let me explain
something to you, okay?

Training Jevon is
your responsibility.

And if you don't, I'll hold
on to your check till you do.

That's just bull,
Shazz, and you know it.

You think I give a damn?

- Yeah, but...
- Save the buts, Stanley.

Jevon is your responsibility,
and it's your job to train him.

Well...

She was acting
like an entitled brat.

You know, the universe
settled the score.

- No, you settled the score.
- Me, as a part of the universe.

What part
of the universe is that?

A universe
where assholes like her

don't get to shit on
whoever they want.

They're not assholes.

They're customers. Gee!

Ow! God! Ah! Doggone it.

You good? Here.

You know, this wasn't
my dream job when I started.

But it's turned out
to be pretty darn good for me.

Okay, you can laugh.

But I like what I do.

It's something I'm good at,

and that means something to me.

Do you know Fernando was
a high school geography teacher

in El Salvador
before he had to leave

because of all the shootings
and drugs and stuff?

And now he makes twice as much
as he made back there. Huh?

Sometimes you just gotta
make your own breaks.

Look at Brett Favre.

Hello! Is anybody there?

Can I get a small fry
with extra ketchup?

Oh, come on, Sam.

The drive-through is
for vehicles only, for safety.

I fought in Afghanistan.
Don't tell me about no safety.

No, you didn't. Uh...

And how many times I gotta tell
you I can't serve you on foot?

Fuck this.
I wanna talk to a manager.

Why you always gotta do this?

He said to kick rocks,
you booze bag!

So that's how you treat
a loyal customer?

A veteran?

You're lucky
there's glass between us, kid.

Otherwise
I'd jack you up bigtime.

Wow.

Oh, I wish I could do that. Ha!

Just tell somebody off
like that.

Yeah, it's definitely
an acquired skill.

There's just so many people I'd
just like to say the heck with.

Yeah, it could be
useful sometimes.

It's also probably the reason
I'm stuck where I am now,

shooing off drunken lowlifes
and seasoning curly fries, man.

- No offense.
- No.

Well, ain't this a bitch?

Oh, jeez.

Shazz's gonna go through
the roof if she sees this.

Just...

Which way are you headed?

I thought I might catch the 48.

You?

Same.

So how many miles
you got on her?

Hundred eighty-something.

Used to be my girlfriend's,

but she'd just as soon
take the bus.

Is she reliable?

My girlfriend?

No, the...

I'm not an expert, but, yeah.

I don't see why not.

Where'd you say you was going?

Uh, Sarasota.

It's in Florida.

My mom lives down there.

So I can't afford no lemon.

Hey, what you see is
what you get.

Think I can take it
for a spin around the block?

You got a driver's license
I can hang on to?

Oh, jeez.

I left it at work.

Gah!

All right.

But it ain't got no insurance,

so if you break it,
you buy it.

Okay. It's a deal.

Okay.

Let's stretch
this pony's legs a little bit.

What do you say?

Ooh! Ooh!

Ooh!

Okay, slow down. Slow down.

Okay, okay.

Learn how to drive, asshole!

Stop.

Road hog!

Oh!

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

I was just defensive driving.

Read the darn manual.

God.

God.

What the hell?!

Copy.

He says he's willing
to let it slide for 500.

In terms of the bus, the city
will be in touch with you,

but it doesn't look that bad.

Five hundred bucks? Five...?

That's like half the price
of the whole car.

It's either that
or buy it at full price.

Well, what good's a car
with only three doors?

It'll make getting in and out
a whole lot easier.

Could have been worse.
Another half second,

it could have been you
instead of that door.

In terms of driving
without a license,

since you got a clean record

and you seem like
a stand-up guy,

I'm not gonna charge you.

Next time I won't be
so forgiving. Understand?

Yes, sir.

Enjoy.

I'm not complaining
about the job.

I'm just stating facts.

Fried food is
the number one cause

for high cholesterol rates
among African Americans.

- I'm too tired for it, Jevon.
- Too tired for what?

This.
Sometimes I feel like

I'm the only one
carrying my weight around here.

Carrying your weight?

Syd, I'm wearing
a name tag and a visor.

Yeah, until next week,
when you show up high as a kite

or get fired
for lecturing your boss

on the alienation of labor.

I'm thinking about moving back
with my parents.

What?

That's like an hour away.

Well, what choice do I have?

Sleeping on your mom's air
mattress and returning bottles

- to make ends meet.
- It's temporary.

That's what you said
about the last place.

- And it was.
- Yeah, well...

Everything is temporary
with you, Jevon.

I'm done moving
from place to place.

I'm done being broke. I'm done.

Yeah, you mentioned that.

- So, what about Carter, then?
- What about Carter?

You realize you've hardly been
home since you got out, right?

Ah, okay.

So that's what this is about.

- I told you I was at Brandon's.
- Yeah. Writing?

- Clearing your head, right?
- Yes!

- Maybe.
- Don't bullshit me, Jevon.

You haven't picked up
a pen in months.

It's not as easy
as picking up a pen!

- Then what is it?
- I don't know!

But I can't figure it out

with all this shit
hanging over my head!

Is that what we are to you?

I didn't mean that.

Now, are you sure?

You've barely looked in Carter's
direction since you got out.

Jevon, I gave up everything
to try and do this together.

I gave up track.
I sacrificed my scholarship.

I'm here, aren't I?

So, what are you talking about?

Just being here is not enough.

I don't know how I'm even
gonna get down there.

I barely had enough
to make it before the accident.

- What about flying?
- Flying?

What, are you out of your tree?

Well, Rusty and my sister
flew down to North Carolina

for that Civil War thing.

- They said it wasn't too bad.
- No way.

- I'm not that cuckoo.
- Well, I'm just saying.

You could stick around here
a couple more months

and save up a little more dough.

No, I already told
the nursing home

my mom would be
out of there by next week.

They probably
already gave her bed away.

What about your brother? Prick's
got more money than the pope.

No way. That's the last thing
I wanna do.

- What's up?
- Hey, Jevon.

Dale, this is Jevon.

Dale's been giving me
some driving tips.

All I'm saying,
they're not gonna

throw your mom out
in the street.

It don't work that way,
you know.

Plus, taking care
of old people ain't easy.

You ever changed a diaper?

But with a full-size deuce
in it, not a kiddie shit.

No, not yet.

I shit myself once.

Band class.
Sixth grade. French horn.

Went for the high note, boom.

Sauce.

Cleaning that up was pretty bad.
And that was my own. Follow me?

Oh, shit.

What up, Jevon?

What's up, bro-bro?

You moonlighting or something?

Nah, man.
I'm just covering for a homey.

- What up, Big Stan?
- You know Jevon?

Well, starting next week,

he's gonna be
head honcho around here.

Honcho?

Yeah, Monday's my last shift.

Yeah, I'm heading down
to Margaritaville.

Hey.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's 8.60.

Don't look like
no side hustle to me.

Boy look like
he slaying hush puppies.

- What kind of sauce do you want?
- Barbecue.

I don't know
if it's these onions

or this shit going down in Flint
that's making me cry.

Why don't you try
wearing, uh, gloves?

It won't burn as bad.

It's transferred
mostly through the hands.

Mm. You know, the whole thing
reeks of a failing autocracy.

Yeah, I know.

So try putting on the gloves.

Let me ask you something.
How much you make an hour?

Thirteen fifty.

Thirteen fifty?

After 38 fucking years?

That ain't bad change.

Yeah, for a crossing guard.

I started at 3.10.

Three ten?

Damn, man. Have you ever
heard of inflation?

My cousin manages at a Hardee's
and makes 15.75 an hour.

And she's, like, the least
responsible person I know.

Do you realize
how much this place

has profited off
of your crotchety ass

for the past 30-whatever years?

They've literally made

hundreds of thousands
of dollars off your back.

Did they ever
share any of it with you?

- Well, no, but...
- Yeah.

See? See, man,
that's what I'm saying, man.

Well, that's your opinion.

- Hey.
- Hmm?

It's my own special recipe.

I call it the Stan-wich.

Hey, this looks legit, man.

Just don't tell Shazz
you're eating on the clock.

Ow.

Prep's wrapped. I'm taking off.

Uh, listen, Fernando,

can you empty the grease traps
on your way out?

They're starting to reek. Ooh.

So how much longer
until we gotta prep breakfast?

Oh...

We got a while.

I always say the first half of
graveyard's fighting off drunks.

The second half's
fighting off boredom.

You're gonna start
talking again, aren't you?

No.

- You're not following through.
- Well, wait...

You gotta bend your knees
and follow through.

Bend your knees.
Squeeze your core.

- Gah!
- That's game. That's game, baby.

Okay, rematch. We got a rematch.

All right. If you wanna hold
another L, that's on you.

I do. Yeah, I do.

Yo, did you see that story
about that dude in Tampa

who got high on bath salts,
ate his neighbor's face?

Oh, no.

Or the coroner in Coral Gables,

they found like 50 frozen dicks
in his freezer, man.

Florida is bonkers, man.

Now you're giving me
the willies.

I go first.

- Fifty dicks.
- Frozen.

Hey, what's this?

My probation officer, in all
of her white liberal guilt,

suggested I sign up
for community college.

- What for?
- My thoughts exactly, man.

I don't know why anybody would
pay some stiff 50 grand a year

for some shit that they can
learn on the Internet.

I don't think college can
teach a real writer shit.

- Oh.
- I think experience

comes at a cost, but it sure
ain't a college tuition.

I don't know.
I think college sounds like fun.

You ever see Animal House?

Bend your knees.

Would you...?

Jevon, I... This...

That's it. I'm done. I'm done.
You won't stop talking.

- What do you wanna drink?
- Uh, Sierra Mist, please.

So, what do you write?
Like, raps and stuff?

Do I look like a rapper?

Nah, man.

Journals.

Blogs. Political commentary.

I used to have a column
in the school newspaper.

- You did?
- Yeah.

I used to wanna be a writer,

but inspiration is hard to come
by on an empty stomach, so...

Who said that?

You were class of '71?

Should've been.

Were you there when they...?

When they killed
that Ricky Powell dude?

That Black kid they beat down
behind the school?

Boy, I haven't heard
that name in a long time.

Wow.

No, I wasn't right there.

But I remember
all the hoopla about it.

You know the guys that did it?

Yeah, I knew them.

Walt was in my shop class.

I remember my grandpa
telling me stories about it.

Plus, all the...

The plaques
and everything around school...

Yeah.

Those dudes got away
with murder and shit.

Well, yeah, you know,
who knows what happened?

Those guys' lives were ruined
because of that trial. So...

Wait, you think...?

You think that
their lives were ruined?

The only reason
that dude is not coming back

is because of
the color of his skin.

Oh, God, here we go.
Why do you...?

Why do you guys always have

- to play the race card?
- "You guys"?

Somebody says something
you don't agree with,

it's like, "Oh, yeah,
it's Black and white."

Okay. So now Black people
are to blame

for institutionalized racism?

Well, heck if I know.

But nobody ever
give me nothing.

You know, you guys just
keep talking about all this,

you know, white privilege.
Jesus.

Just stop. Just stop.

You know, all the hidden
benefits of being white...

I worked my butt off
for everything I got.

Yeah, with the benefit
of being white.

That's just freaking baloney.

That's just baloney,
and you know it.

Yeah, baloney. Pfft.

Yo, we got any more markers?

- What's the matter with that one?
- It doesn't write.

- Did you try shaking it?
- What do you think?

- Did you try wetting the end?
- Dude, it's out of ink.

Let me get a number four meal.

With a Pepsi. Diet.

Y'all don't have
frozen custard anymore?

Not since high school.

I still get a family discount?

What do you want, Jack?

I just got off the phone
with Mom.

I thought
she was just talking nonsense,

but then I ran into Dale
at the Dollar General.

You know, I still can't believe
that you stuck her in that dump.

- We both agreed to it.
- You said it was top-notch.

It's more
than she ever did for us.

She worked
her hump off for us. Gah.

The woman worked
in a plastics plant

and was drunk half her life.

No wonder she hardly knows
where she is.

I don't know

what my going down there's
got anything to do with you.

We both know who's gonna
have to clean things up

after your little plan
goes kaput.

You're taking up
more than you can handle.

Like you would know
how much I could handle.

Yeah, I'd know
a lot better than anybody.

It's on me.

No. Diana doesn't want me
eating that shit no more.

I know you're trying
to do the right thing here.

Maybe it's time to let go.

That's your brother?

Yeah.

Man.

He's been on top of me
since day one.

Sounds a lot like my mom.

If she were any more smothering,

I might die from asphyxiation.

It's a wonder I made it this far
with my sanity intact, man.

Really?

I'd do dang near anything
for my mom.

It's because of her
I am where I am now.

Yeah, me too.

I was in the parking lot...

when they beat up Ricky
that day in school.

Shit.

Were you there when he died?

As soon as it started,
me and Dale took off.

I wasn't any further away
than that fence.

Why didn't you
say anything in court?

No one asked.

Shazz is here, Stanley.
She's asking for you.

- Stanley?
- Yes? Yep.

- Have you seen my spare key?
- Uh, which one?

The set that I keep here.
Thus the name "spare."

Uh, not lately, no.

When do you remember
seeing it last?

Come on. I'm locked out
of my house. This is important.

Not off the top of my head,
I don't remember.

Okay. Um...

Did you at least train Jevon
how to do the night deposits?

- Last night, yeah.
- Okay, good.

- Could I get my check?
- After you finish training Jevon.

Are you serious?

- What's up?
- What's up is my patience.

I can't find my keys.

Um, how you doing on
your training? You feel good?

Yeah. Uh, transformation's
almost complete.

Only thing missing is
my paper hat.

- This is such bull, Shazz.
- Company policy. Don't start.

- What do you want me to say?
- Show me where it says that

- in the handbook.
- Wanna know where it is?

It's under this new section
called "Because I Said So."

- I read that chapter.
- It's a good one, right?

Are you messing with me?

I talked to Gary.
It's a joint determination.

Joint determina...? Okay.

- Now you wanna use fancy words.
- Oh, my God.

You're lucky I just don't shit
on the floor and hit the door.

The fuck? Come on, now.
Calm down.

No. No.
Because I'm sick of this crap.

I've done everything
you guys asked me to.

I never complain about nothing.

And all I'm asking is you...
Is for you to treat me fair.

- Treat you fair?
- Yeah.

What do you know about
being treated unfairly, Stanley?

Hmm?

Well...

Okay.

Treat you unfairly.

Have a good evening, y'all.

The heck with this place.

Thirty-eight years for what?

Take it easy, man.

Don't go full Kaczynski on us.

I knew you'd take her side.
It just... God, it figures.

I'm not taking her side.
I'm just saying,

like it or not, Shazz is
at the top of the heap.

You said so yourself.

All right. I'm gonna go
take care of the bathroom.

No. No, it's fine. I'll do it.

Nah, it's all good.

Just consider it
a final initiation ritual.

- Hey, where's the plunger at?
- Well, where do you think it is?

It's in the bathroom.

Gah.

- You got an extra smoke?
- I'm taking my 15.

Are these the ones
you want, man?

Heh, that explains
that stinking-ass breath.

Yeah. Nasty as hell, man.

What's wrong with you,
eating those?

- You gonna buy something or what?
- The fuck you just say to me?

I said,
are you gonna buy something?

Some of us have to get
back to work.

You got a lot of nerve,
old-school.

You best watch yourself
in these streets.

Yeah, all right.
Whatever that means.

Would you like to try our new
Big Black Cherry Super Freeze?

- No, just the usual.
- I'll kick your old ass.

Kick his old ass. Grandpa.

Why are you serving this clown?
Look at him.

- What the fuck you got on, guy?
- Hey, bozo. Right.

Uh, work clothes.

- Been working a long time.
- You should retire too.

That dude's old as hell.

Ow.

Oh. Dude, I'm getting
killed over here, man.

Where you been?

What the hell happened to you?

You know, my life was a whole
lot easier before I met you.

- What are you talking about?
- I'm a lot of things,

but I ain't wrong
about that one.

How did they know?

- How...? How did who know what?
- Don't play dumb.

You making it
a little hard, man.

How did them guys know
that I had all that money?

Money?

Wait, what is that
supposed to mean?

Who told them?

Can I place an order?

Sorry, ma'am,
I'll be right with you.

What, are you concussed
or something, man?

How the hell is this my fault?

I worked my butt off
my whole life,

and you just float through life,

doing as little as possible.

Who do you think's
gotta pick up the slack?

Is this what you call floating?

You honestly think

that this whole freeloading
universe is out to get you?

It's all one vast conspiracy
to bring Stan the Man down.

Conspiracy, huh?
There you go again. Ha!

Man, you act like
some fucking hero.

You spent your entire life
doing a job

that some trained monkey
could do.

You're stuck in here,
same as me.

So don't act like
I'm the one to blame.

You know, they start managers
out at Hardee's at $15 an hour.

- Screw Oscar's.
- That's the attitude.

- Screw them.
- Yeah.

Did you file a police report
on the mugging?

Nah. What's the point?

Damn thugs.
Got nothing better to do

than make life hell
for the rest of us.

- You talked to your mom?
- Uh, yeah.

You know, she didn't
even remember I was coming.

Ow.

Ow.

So you're actually gonna leave
me in this shithole solo, huh?

- It's not a shithole.
- Yeah, it is.

But it's our shithole.

Well, I guess this is...

...hasta la vista, baby.

Yeah, just don't forget
about us regular joes

when you're down on the beach
sipping piña coladas.

Jevon, you got a sec?

Fuck.

Okay, so, um, ahem...

I don't like
to beat around the bush, so...

The drawer showed up
short last night.

Mm-hm.

And the only two people
who know the combination

are you and Stanley.

What does Stanley say?

I got off the phone with him
this afternoon.

- Does he think I did it?
- I did not say that.

Look, I may not be
employee of the month,

but I ain't never stole
nothing from nobody.

I did everything by the book,
like you said.

Like the woman who almost
lost her tooth on the burger?

Shazz, it was an accident.

They're pre-made patties.

It takes actual effort
to undercook them.

It was a mistake.

Look, I don't know who did what.

And you're not giving me much
either. So I talked to Gary...

And you know the rest.
I'm sure you understand.

Yeah, that I need this job.

I'm not gonna
get the cops involved, okay?

Yeah, but what
about Stanley, though?

How you know it wasn't him?

I'm sorry.

Yeah, me too.

I'm sorry I ever gave
two shits about this place.

You're home early.

Everything all right?

Jevon.

Guys.

- Gary left this this morning.
- Oh.

He said it was a token
of his appreciation.

- Wow.
- Mm-hm.

Where's Jevon?

Hmm, where do you think he is?

I mean, if you didn't
lift the money, someone did.

Doesn't take Columbo
to figure that out, right?

Well, what'd he say
when you asked him about it?

Uh, he denied it.

And then he begged me
to let him keep his job.

- Ah.
- The usual combo.

Ah.

You know, it's a shame,
though. I really...

I'm really sorry that it didn't
work out between you two.

Yeah. Yeah, me too.

Yeah, because I really
wanted it to work out.

- Mm.
- He doesn't seem like a bad kid.

So anyways, Fernando's
going to fill in

until we find someone
more suitable, unless...

you know, you've...

You've changed your mind.

- No.
- No?

No, I... I think
my time here's pretty much up.

Yeah.

Yeah.

There you go.

Have fun in Sarasota, okay?

- Thanks. I will.
- All right.

- Thanks, Shazz.
- Mm-hm.

Bye, buddy.

Adiós, Stanley.

All right,
so I got some shitty news.

I got let go
from Oscar's last night.

Seriously?

Apparently, there was
some money missing

from the safe or something,
and they pinned it on me.

Jevon...

Look, I...
I know how it looks.

You know I have
to report this, right?

You know, this isn't fun for me.

I mean, this is...
This is exhausting.

Oh, I am so sorry.

You're exhausted?

Well, get a load of this.

I just had to borrow a buck
fifty from my mom for bus fare,

the air mattress
I'm sleeping on at home

is about as comfortable
as a pool raft, and my...

My ex-girlfriend and my son
just moved to Grand Rapids.

So you think you're drained?

Listen. Jevon,
I wanna help you, okay?

I really do. But I...

I can't help you

if you're not gonna
help yourself.

I don't know. I...

Maybe serving
out your sentence is

just the best thing
for you right now.

I don't know. I don't know.

God dang...

I told you
that jalopy was a piece of shit.

Should have bought American.

I really didn't have
too many options, now, did I?

I made a promise to my mom.

Now I broke it.

Well, she probably
won't remember, though.

You know?

I swear, I can't
catch a break for nothing.

Well, like I was saying,

I wish you could
stay with my sister,

but her old man's
a genuine prick.

Guy's always trying
to be king of the castle.

Do you ever
think about Ricky Powell?

What made you think of him?

I don't know. Popped in my head
a couple of days ago.

Well, I mean, yeah,
sometimes. I mean...

You know, when they have
the anniversary or whatever.

But, no, not really.

You think
we should have said something?

No.

I don't see how that
could've done a lick of good.

I mean, them boys were hell-bent
on putting their hands on Ricky.

And everybody
at the school knew it.

As far as I'm concerned, if he
didn't flap his gums so much,

he'd still be alive.

All right.

Stan the Man,
back in the Mitten.

You gonna make it okay?

Well, I ain't got
much choice, have I?

See you on Friday for darts?

Hey, Mountain Dew's on me.

You gonna get that?

Hey.

I couldn't find his diaper bag.

It might be
in your car somewhere.

I heard about Oscar's.

Yeah. Lousy gig anyway.

How's the job search going?

Oh, you know.

Slow and steady
wins the race, right?

How's the world of self-care?

Could be better.

Could be worse.

I finally made it
to Bronze team leader,

so I won't be
working nights anymore.

Oh, congrats.

You planning
on taking another trip

with your mom to celebrate?

Actually, I'm going
back to school.

I start at Michigan State
in the spring.

Wow.

That's... That's great.

- So, what are you gonna study?
- Pre-law.

Just gonna start
chipping away, you know.

Well, if you ever
need a case study,

- you know where to find me.
- On your mom's couch.

Ooh.

Hey.

Finally got a bed now.
Things are looking up.

So, what about Carter, then?

Well, that's what I wanted
to talk to you about.

I'm gonna need you
to have my back on this, okay?

- Oh, yeah?
- I need you to take him

some nights, some weekends too.

Look, Syd, I've been giving it
a lot of thought,

and I think we should try again.

I'll do whatever it takes.
Pride aside.

Jevon...

I think we're just on
two different paths right now.

And I don't know if college

or a 9-to-5
will ever be your thing.

You're just built
to do something different.

There's indoor cats
and outdoor cats,

and you're an outdoor cat.

Syd...

You'll be all right.

You know that, right?

I need more clean bins, Stanley.
And serving spoons too.

- Pronto.
- Copy that. I'm on it.

Oh.

Thanks for coming in, sir.

"'I see a butterfly, ' said Ben.

'Here's an insect too.'

'Pretty, ' said Astro.
'Butterfly.'"

Look at the butterfly.

Look.

"'Will we see a spider?'
asked Astro.

'I'm afraid of spiders.'

'Don't worry, Astro, ' said Ava.
'We will watch for them.'"

"'Pretty, ' said Astro."