Final Checkout
A young teenager works her last shift before embarking on a summer travel adventure.
But the night is going to be one big adventure, one she might not make it through.
At a local supermarket sits Imogen, a young employee with a big summer break ahead of her.
But before the adventure begins she must survive her last day at work. Bart’s supermarket is normally a mundane environment. But as with all good screenplays, our protagonist must overcome a series of unforeseen hurdles, and this final day threatens to be the almost-literal Shift From Hell.
INT. STOCKROOM - LATER
The doors swing open as Imogen drags a trolley cage of tinned goods into the store.
A large 'special offer' sign means Imogen has to build a pyramid of soup tins below it. Balancing one on top of another till she finally makes it to the peak...
And a SHOPLIFTER rushes past skimming the tower of tins--
MIKE
Stop.
Mike, the crusader of justice, bolts after him with less agility and control. He hurtles into the tins and they clatter down giving Mike a good excuse to stop his pursuit.
Mike's bent over catching his breath as Imogen starts over again at ground level.
IMOGEN (V.O.)
Maybe I died already. This could be purgatory.
Shoplifters, psychotic infants, infuriating managers, underage jocks in search of beer, and…well, practically everything imaginable is thrown at poor Imogen.
But where there are challenges there are also rewards, and as the script reaches its climax our unfortunate protagonist finds an unforeseen light at the end of an exceptionally dark tunnel.
Written with charm and wit, Final Checkout is an endlessly frantic and funny short which confronts the reader with the expected challenges of a frustrated supermarket employee... then ramps it up to eleven with comedic effect.
If you’re looking for a comedy drama that wraps the frustration of teenage youth and society into a satiric bow, then look no further!