Homeless

EXT. SALT LAKE CITY STREET - 11:03PM

A young black man, TERENCE (mid -20s), is walking down the street toting a duffle bag. He looks far away as he walks, his gaze somewhere, but definitely not here.

VOICE OVER I never thought I'd actually be homeless. But when I saw it coming,I felt the fear, I felt it all slipping through my fingers, my small savings drying up, the car payments and rent payments and the cheap ramen and toilet paper costs, until somehow here I was on this very night with all my belongings, leaving my apartment, trying to at least get a shower somewhere.

He turns the corner and walks into an obnoxiously brightly lit fitness center.

INT. 24 HOUR FITNESS STUDIO

Terence walks up to the counter. He tries to make eye contact with the guy at the front desk wearing a backwards hat, but the guy is too busy looking at his phone. Before Terence has a chance to speak up, the guy suddenly lets out a loud, obnoxious laugh and slaps his leg.

FRONT DESK GUY NO WAY, NO WAYYYY BRO! Not the fat chick!!!

Terence squints his eyes in confusion.

TERENCE Uh... excuse me, can I get a gym membership?

The guy keeps looking down at his phone for a second after Terence says this, then says:

FRONT DESK GUY Sup? TERENCE ...I want to get a membership FRONT DESK GUY Ohh ok, lit. You want the mega buff or just the buff package? TERENCE I'll... just get the "buff" package...how much is that? FRONT DESK GUY $29.99 per month.

Pause. The front desk guy looks back down at his phone, takes out a vape pen and inhales deeply, then coughs loudly while also laughing at the video he's watching.

Terence's brows furrow as he takes out his wallet, looks into it and thumbs through bills. $30.00 even. He exhales and puts the wallet back in his pocket.

Read the full script here.