Introduction--The Easy [part 1]

FADE IN:

INT. THE EASY - MORNING

This coffeehouse/diner is organized like any other--equipped with a bar of wooden craft, the table top (black), and seats each a worn maroon cushion holstered by a steel stool. The tables are like anything common to restaurants; movable, too, as are the wooden chairs. The booths' seating cushions match the maroon of the stools. Jukebox. Everything--the walls, tiled floor, and ceiling--is a variety of dark, warm colors. A hallway leads to single bathrooms, both for men and women. The kitchen looms behind the bar, peering out into the dining area through fogged windows and openings.

All is quiet.

MR. FRANK enters the front (glass) door labeled PUSH and a small bell sounds, notifying the workers of another mouth to feed--more accurately, the first of many mouths, because this diner has just woken up; the start of another business day.

Mr. Frank is middle-aged (late 40's, that is) with dark hair and eyes. He wears glasses and a shaven face, his hair short and nicely kept, combed to the side. He has a wide mouth that gives him a serpentine/frog-like appearance, if caricatured. His figure: tall and just below average build. His aura: curious, strange.

Frank walks towards the back and pauses near the corner booth, his booth, which is currently being wiped clean by RYAN, dark haired, bearded, tall waiter; looks sleepy and lax, age 22. Frank stops short and regards the empty booth.

FRANK

May I sit?

RYAN

(trying to sound chipper through deadpan speech)

It's all yours. Be right back with some coffee, Mr. Frank.

The clock reads 7:03 AM

The clock reads 10:21 AM; Racy, lively music plays from the jukebox.

QUICK CONCISE SHOTS of various angle--food being prepared, eggs cracking, sizzling on the grill; sandwiches being assembled; tables wiped clean; coffee pot snatched from the brewer.

Ryan paces down the room, booths on either side. He caries a plate in his right hand, coffee pot in the left; the camera dolly glides behind him. He serves and gestures to pour coffee.

DOLLY IN to TINA, who rushes to the kitchen side. Freshly cooked breakfast is brought out for her to run to the customer.

CHEF

Order up!

Camera freezes right as Tina grabs the next plate in line--music stops abruptly.

JACK (narration)

This is 'The Easy' in crunch time.

And the young lady you see in the left corner of the frame is Tina, but she's not the head waiter.

CUT TO freeze frame of Ryan pouring coffee for a patron.

JACK (narr.)

Ryan. (a beat)

Ryan is the head waiter. He's the one that hooked me up with my new job.

CUT TO freeze frame of Jack (short brown hair, age 20, apron and cap with 'the easy' logo) frying eggs with difficulty showing in his facial expression.

JACK (narr.)

You see, that's me. Working my old job. Yea...not a good time.

The freeze frame animates and Jack is trying very carefully to remove the fried eggs from the grill via spatula.

Ryan enters the frame, unattentive to Jack's lack of skill; he has a pad and pen in hand and reads out the next order:

RYAN

Alright...I need an Irish turkey, paint it red, and give it one from the alps. A sinker and some moo juice. All hot in a billiard, extra yum yum. And let it walk.

Jack finally wrestles the eggs into the plate. In lieu of his accomplishment, he flips his hat off onto the food station (countertop) and catches his breath. He looks up to Ryan, not understanding.

Jack

(simply) What?

RYAN

(calmly, deadpan) Look, Jack, I don't come back here to listen to any fuss, right? If you got a problem with moo juice try being a waiter--

FREEZE FRAME

JACK (narr.)

So I became a waiter. Plus--

Frame animates once more, skipping a bit, to show that the clip is played from a bit further in the conversation.

RYAN

We got enough cooks. You get tips waiting.

EXT. THE EASY - MORNING

The outside; a parking lot and a tall, neon light sign exclaiming, "the EASY" in magnificent artistry. Nearest to the diner are a few benches and ashtrays.

A lady walking across the parking lot makes an entry to the Easy.

INT. THE EASY - MORNING

Jack is leaning against the bar, employee side. The lady quickly sits on a stool and sets her purse on the bar. She is MARCY; blond, slim and pretty, probably an age of late 20's, but who can tell with women? She looks kind.

Servers and waiters meander through the diner, calls are made from chefs, and people are chattering. Remember, this is crunch time.

Marcy begins with JACK, smiling a bit.

MARCY

Hey.

JACK

Hey, Marcy; will it be the usual?

MARCY

Oh no, I'm just up here to wish you luck on your first day.

JACK

That's good. Because I'm not so sure I'd know just what your usual is.

(narr.) yea, it is my first day as waiter.

MARCY

Well it's an Adam and Eve on a raft, don't forget the hashbrowns. But no, today I'll just have a cup of coffee. (a beat) Initiation right? A straight 24 hours on the waitstaff.

JACK

(nodding) Bummer.

MARCY

Things are going fine so far? Haven't dropped any food yet, have you?

JACK

(nervously) Oh, ha ha. No no, Mrs. Marcy.

MARCY

Well. (she looks to the back of the diner) I'll be down there.

She removes herself from the bar to leave the frame, finding a place to sit towards the back of the diner.

Jack makes his way to the coffee pot, changing out filters, starting a new batch, simply tempering with the stuff. The chatter and noise begins to fade out. Jack brings the pot and a mug to Marcy

JACK (narr.)

Marcy was my first conversation as a waiter. I'd been keeping track of my 'firsts' of the day: first order, first tip. I'd been tallying since the day began the things I liked about the Easy, tallying since 7:03 AM. (beat) When Mr. Frank started us off, as usual.

INT. THE EASY, KITCHEN - CLOSING TIME

It is clear that the room is lit artificially, the night is dark. Employees are cleaning the kitchen countertops.

JACK (narr.)

For me, there was always an air of mystery surrounding Mr. Frank. I have to admit, if it wasn't for this conversation at closing one night I don't think I would have ever noticed him.

Ryan is chatting with another employee, one of the chefs, CHEF.

RYAN

(almost complaining) So he orders the same thing, again. I've waited on him for at least a year now. And he never speaks unless he's ordering. Weird--just a weird dude.

One of the VARIANT WAITSTAFF begins to walk into the conversation, starting a circle of gossip.

VARIANT WAITSTAFF

Nah, man. I heard he served in 'Nam, man. Shell-shocked.

RYAN

(mockingly) 'Nam? Vietnam? Are you f*cking kidding me? He ain't that old, anyone here can tell that.

Jack looks up from buffing the countertops.

Jack

Who was in 'Nam?

RYAN

No one was in 'Nam. Except maybe EARL.

JACK

Well, who are you talking about?

CHEF

Mr. Frank

VARIANT WAITSTAFF

The creepy dude who's always in the corner booth. You know, "man of few words?"

JACK (narr.)

I hadn't known. Well I had, but I hadn't. I hadn't thought about it. Mr. Frank escaped my attention just as he had wanted to.

Another voice speaks out in the background.

EMPLOYEE (O.S)

I think he's deaf.

SLOWLY FADE OUT

JACK (narr.)

After that, Mr. Frank never really seemed the same to me.

FADE TO BLACK