INT. CALLAGHAN'S SPORTS PUB —— LATER THAT AFTERNOON
Callaghan's interior is filled with booze, golf games, and waitresses in tight referee shirts. Zack is sitting at the bar, which is fairly full with a much older crowd, minus a HOT YOUNG RED-HEADED FEMALE, who is sitting across the room. Zack's talking to the bartender, JACKIE, a dark-haired female in her early fories. She's cleaning glassware while listening to Zack.
JACKIE
So you slapped him.
ZACK
Yes! I was a man possessed by rage, frustration, and anxiety. Topped off with a splash of hunger.
JACKIE
You're never had an asshole customer? One who, despite your best efforts, never seems to appreciate you?
ZACK
I have. But this time was different, somehow. My manager said that maybe it was time for me to move along. Perhaps he's right. Maybe I'm just ready for something different, you know?
JACKIE
Zack, I can tell you from experience——20 goddamn years of experience might I add——you do what you gotta do. Maybe being forced to find something new is a blessing in disguise. Here's my thinking; I like to imagine that all of us are here for a certain purpose. If restaurants turn out not to be your calling, then there's something else waiting for you. Look at me. Look at my surroundings right now. Someone has to take care of these poor, lost, ancient souls. See, I figured out a long time ago I'm their goddamn Pied Piper. Guiding these old motherfuckers with my wise and soulful flute. Until they all drop like flies.
ZACK
You're the embodiment of the American Dream.
JACKIE
We can't all be Rockefeller's.
ZACK
Who?
Jackie walks over to the service bar area to make a cocktail for a server. She's mumbling, but anyone can hear her.
JACKIE
Goddamn kids. Wouldn't know the difference between a smart phone and a thumb up their ass.
The ATTRACTIVE RED-HEADED FEMALE slides into a stool next to Zach, much to his surprise.
ATTRACTIVE RED-HEAD
Hey there. I'm Anna.
ZACK
Zack.
Anna looks at Zack's beverage of choice, a lager.
ANNA
What are you drinking?
ZACK
A lager. I drink it from time to time.
Zack nods his head in the direction of Anna's drink.
ZACK (CONT'D)
Vodka?
ANNA
Fuck vodka. That's not my style. Gin and tonic. It's vintage; a classic.
Anna orders another drink through Jackie. Jackie points to Anna's drink.
ANNA
No, something different this time. How about a lager?
Zack's face lights up.
ANNA (CONT'D)
I'm a girl who likes trying new things.
INT. CALLAGHAN'S SPORTS PUB —— LATER
Zack and Anna are buzzing from their drinks.
ZACK
I'm sorry to hear that.
Zack looks uncomfortable, but hides it well from Anna. He thinks she's hot enough to deal with any amount of crazy she might be carrying.
ANNA
(visibly upset)
I'm not too surprised. My dad has always been this whole "everything has to be done in a certain way in a certain order" kind of guy. He's very big on structure. My mom is kind of the opposite. She feels that all his rules, and his Ward Cleaver persona, are strangling her, figuratively speaking. And me too!
(MORE)
ANNA (CONT'D)
Did you know that on my very first date, my dad showed off his gun collection?!
ZACK
Maybe somebody just needs to tell him——
ANNA
I love him to death, but it's easier said than done. Especially since he just earned a promotion, which is great, don't get me wrong, but it also means he'll be stuck in his job more than he already is. And I don't know how much longer my mom can take it. I feel terrible for saying it, but I kind of wouldn't blame her if she left him.
Zack takes all of this in. Maybe there is a little too much baggage, but . . .
ZACK
I was fired today for slapping a man.
Jackie, talking to nearby patrons, overhears Zack and bursts out laughing.
ZACK (CONT'D)
Tips are fantastic, Jackie. Also, they're not mandatory.
Jackie turns her head away. Zack resumes his convo with Anna.
ZACK (CONT'D)
I work across the street. Or did, anyway. I bartend, and today we were balls to the wall busy. This guy came in, was just a real asshole, and normally I can handle people like that. Not this time. I snapped; it was like I stepped out of my own body. What do they call that? Out-of-body experience, or something to that effect.
ANNA
That's why I've never worked in places like that. I would've like, totally broken dealing with that crap.
ZACK
There's nothing to it. I've been working in restaurants for five years.
ANNA
Wow. I mean, is that your career goal? That's kind of cool.
ZACK
Oh, god no. No, no, no.
(quietly)
No.
(beat)
ZACK (CONT'D)
What I really want to do is write.
ANNA
That's seriously awesome. I, myself, took a few creative writing courses back in school.
ZACK
Oh yeah? Where at?
ANNA
Chapman University out in Southern California.
ZACK
No way, I used to live real close to the O.C. Right in the Balboa Bay area. My parents took me to the beach all the time when I was younger.
Zach's phone rings. On the other end is his brother, RANDY.
ZACK (CONT'D)
It's my brother. I'll be back.
