Original subtitles

If Mike doesn't show up, can I have his ravioli? No.

Where is Mike, anyway? He's usually home from work by dinner time.

He could have had an emergency if the car was.

An emergency? What, a bug storm on the expressway?

Carol, there's nothing wrong with having a part -time job that involves a little

physical labor.

The money helps Mike pay his way around here.

So I could get a part -time job, too?

To pay your way around here? Heck no.

I mean, of course to help pay my way around here.

I don't know. What do you think, Maggie?

Fine. As long as you don't become a topless dancer.

Oh, great. I'll start pounding the pavement tomorrow.

Look out, pavement.

Hey, sorry I'm late, guys. Emergency overtime.

Bugstorm on the expressway.

You know, I hate my job. If I could find anything else, I'd jump at it.

Well, the only good thing about this stupid car wash job is payday.

Boy, it's Saturday, and I am ready to party.

Payday! Well, then you're also ready to pay this month's rent.

Yeah, no problem.

And last month's rent.

Uh, no problem.

So you can also pay me back the $20 you borrowed?

No, I can not. No problem.

All right, now what the heck am I supposed to do with $2?

Go come play some video games with me.

Benny, a college man has much more important things to do on a Saturday

than destroying galaxies with his dweeby little brother. Oh, bye.

Let's roll.

I've been looking for a new job for the past three weeks. You know, a job is not

easy to find.

Sure it is.

Um, excuse me, do you need any help here? Yes, I can help.

Uh, no, no. Who do we see to get this girl for a job?

Job? Yeah, who do we see for a job? For a job.

Ah, sorry, don't get it for a job, but we got for sausage and for crime. No,

no, Benny, Benny, never mind.

No, do you need other people to work here? Work here, yes, I work here.

No, no, Benny, forget it. Work here, him.

Mini jar?

The manager.

That'd be great.

Good, yeah, that'd be good. When the mini jar gets here, let me do all the

talking. I'll do my own talking, all right? Oh, well, now, which one of you

is looking for work? He is. Let me tell you about the lad.

I'm Nick Simpson, and you're... Mike Seaver. Mike Seaver. Oh, and this is

agent, right? Right.

What's an agent?

Somebody who gets you a job and then gets a piece of the action.

I'm his agent, Ben Seaver. Good to meet you.

Oh, hello, Ben.

Well, you look like a nice kid, Mike. Well, I am.

He am.

Have you ever worked before?

Yeah, I've had two other jobs. Are you a full -time student?

Yeah, I go to Al Flannan Junior College. Do you have a way to get here? Yeah, my

car's right outside. Oh, well, listen, the late shift starts in 15 minutes. Are

you interested?

We'll take it. We'll take it, yeah.

You want me to start right now? Oh, yes, I need a man right away.

Poor Raj here has been working a double shift.

He's working so hard his dot is about to fall off.

Go -getter needed to assist think tank executive.

Sounds interesting. Yeah, but those people don't actually do anything,

You know, they just kind of sit around and talk about their dreams and their

fantasies and their ideas. Well, isn't that pretty much what psychiatrists do?

I'm sorry. Something in my throat.

Hey, hi, Ben.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't try and cheer me up. About what?

He makes me walk...

Me? No, who got a new job?

Mike, he started 15 minutes ago. Let's see how long he lasts without me.

You got Mike a job?

Yeah, haven't you been listening?

I confess, Ben, I haven't been listening either. Come on, start over.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, don't try and cheer me up.

Never mind the jokes. Come on, give me a little exposition here.

Okay, Mike's working the graveyard shift at the stop and run. The what shift?

The graveyard shift.

I don't think I like that.

You don't like it? You didn't have to walk...

Robberies happen at those doors, and most of them happen late at night.

Relax. He's got a gun under the counter. What could happen?

And remember, all cash, an overnight machine, or they kill you for sure.

All right, I'll remember that. Okay, these are ho -ho's, you -who's, ding

-dongs. Whoa, whoa. No longer carry wo -wo's. Nobody buy.

Thanks.

No.

She is calling to say I am being undermined.

Oh, that's kind of cute.

Tomorrow night, not having to call. This last night on graveyard thanks be to

you. Tomorrow night it will be... You -ho -ho -ding -dong?

I show you how to handle customer.

Watch closely.

Okay. May I help you, please? So much.

Any questions?

and I've been putting it off and putting it off and putting it off. Mom, Mom,

what are you worried about?

Nothing, nothing. Certainly not you. You've got a gun under the counter and

everything.

Oh. Oh, you heard about my new job? I did.

Well, look, Mom, there's nothing to worry about. I mean, all I saw tonight

bunch of insomniacs buying bad frozen burritos.

You want one?

Right. I'll turn in.

Mike, your father and I agreed that we can't order you around like a kid

anymore. This is a job you want.

So be it.

It's a very mature attitude, Mom.

It was a very close vote.

And I appreciate it. Good night.

I suppose it would be too much to ask you to simply inquire about a scheduled

change just to keep your poor mother from worrying herself into an early

So don't.

Good night.

the new guy in town. You know, I can't just go in there and start demanding

these primo hours. Like I said, if it's too much to ask you to merely make the

request, I understand.

Oh, sleep well, honey.

I'll be fine.

Really.

Mom, look, all right, I'll ask my boss, but I know what his answer's gonna be.

His answer to what, dear?

To me getting off the stupid graveyard shift.

Oh, if that's what you think you should do.

Right.

I should be ashamed of myself. The kid didn't stay in a chair.

Yo, Raj.

Yo, poor chap. How are you doing? Very good to see you here, but not so pleased

to be seeing you still at work.

I am double shifting.

Raj, you've been working here too long. I'm actually beginning to understand

you.

Aren't you a shade early, like about 12 hours?

Yeah, listen, Nick, that's kind of what I want to ask you about. Hang on one

second. Jerry, I'm glad you're here. Grab an apron, please.

Raj is about to drop.

You got it. Oh, and Jerry, this is Mike Stevie. He'll be taking over Graveyard.

Oh, really? Yeah.

And don't scare him about working Graveyard with your silly little robbery

story. I wouldn't do that. Not his first week.

Hey, what's the little robbery story?

Oh, forget it. So what's on your mind?

Oh, right. Well, listen, Nick, I know that I'm new here, so I don't even

you to consider this. But I told my mom that I would at least ask and make the

request. No, no, no. I cannot make you the manager. Not in the first week.

Only kidding. Right, right. Well, see, I want to be able to honestly tell my

mother that I asked to be put on a safer shift.

So there. I asked, you listened. Thanks. So the day shift will be better for you

mom -wise. Is that what you're trying to say? Well, yeah, but... Hang on.

I'll see what I can do. Jerry!

Listen, you didn't mind working the late shift, did you? No, I'm not used to it.

Well, you can get used to it again, right?

Yeah,

I guess so. Good, good.

So you and Raj will be splitting graveyard.

No problem there with you, is there, Raj?

Well, I... Sure.

I'll be here, Nick.

Look, Nick, I feel kind of funny here. I mean, I just started, and I don't think

it's fair that... Yes, yes, you're absolutely right.

I'm going to put you back on graveyard. It wouldn't be fair.

I'm only kidding!

Right, well, it's just that I know how much it means to Raj, and, well, they've

been here longer, and I don't think they should get stuck with graveyard. Mike,

please.

If we can't take care of our own, who will?

Oh, uh, no, I'm not. I gotta go to work in ten minutes.

Oh, you got the shift change?

Yep, sure did.

Oh, now, aren't you glad you asked?

Words cannot express my joy.

Mike?

Hey, Dad, let me ask you something.

Have you ever gotten something really good that you didn't deserve?

Oh, sure I did.

You got me.

No, no, no. I mean, something that you really wanted.

or treated you really nice just because of who you are and not what you did or

how well you did it? Oh, Mike, Mike, Mike, does this involve a girl?

I'm sorry, I'm just trying to make sense out of something the boy's trying to

share with us.

Look, I gotta go.

Mike, you're not making any sense.

Are you upset?

Hey, how can I be upset?

I just got a new job where I'm kept warm, I work safe hours, and I wear a

blue jacket.

A girl. Oh, so you weren't thinking that?

Yo, Raj, how are you doing here?

I'm kind of busy right now.

Yeah, well, listen, Raj, I really want to apologize for... Busy, busy.

Hey, Jerry, man, how's it going?

I'm here.

Listen, Jerry, um...

I really wanted to say that I'm sorry that you and Raj have to go back to this

graveyard ship just because I'm here. Hey, I've been around.

I understand this is how it works.

How what works?

Yeah, right.

I mean, I won't have any part of this.

Hey, Nick. Oh, I'll be right with you, Mike. One second, all right?

Here we go, Winnie.

Now, here, is this the one?

Oh, I can't remember if this is the one or the one next to it. Oh, well,

why don't you take both of them and let your arthritis decide?

Oh, I can't afford both of them. It's all right. They're on the house.

It's all right.

I heard the store manager's a real nice guy.

Thank you.

So, what's up?

Well, wow.

You're a nice guy.

You heard, too, huh?

Yeah.

Look, you gave me that shift change because I'm white.

Didn't you?

Mike, have you been dipping into the wo -wo's? You don't sell wo -wo's anymore.

Yeah, so you're a sudden outburst is exactly why.

You better have a little powwow in my office.

Come on.

Look, maybe this was just a big misunderstanding.

Why don't we just forget the whole thing? Oh, no, please, please, let's

straighten this out. I don't want you going around telling people that I'm

prejudiced.

Okay, um, what did you mean when you said... Wait a minute, you're not

are you?

I'm only kidding!

Well,

look, what did you mean when you said...

About us taking care of our own.

Oh, no, I didn't mean it as an insult. I didn't want to upset you.

There's so many different kinds of people in this world, and you and I

be the same kind.

White. Well, yeah.

I mean, don't you think if there were a black man sitting in this manager's

chair that he'd be looking out for Jerry?

Well, I don't... Or if the manager were Iranian or Indian or whatever Raj is,

don't you think that he'd be looking to give him a break or two?

Well, I didn't really think about it like that.

Yeah. Well, that's the way it works.

Yeah, but that doesn't seem right.

Welcome to the real world.

So you mean to tell me that you were making fun of Raj when you were talking

about not falling off? Well, were you making fun of him when you were

his accent?

No, I was just fooling around.

So was I.

Well, then I felt a little confused.

You see, if I were the kind of man who bragged, I would point out my six,

actually seven Minority Employer of the Year awards.

You see those?

I had no idea.

So I give the new white kid a break. Does that make me a bigot? The bottom

is, have I treated them any differently than I treat you?

I guess not.

Have you talked to Jerry and Raj about this?

Yeah. And?

And Jerry says that that's just the way it works.

Smart boy.

You see, they have no problem. I have no problem. So how could you have a

problem?

I don't. I don't. I guess I was just a little confused.

You know what?

You would be good manager material.

Oh, great. What's for dinner? I'm starved.

Burritos. Like, you know, I really should wash my saturated fats.

Hey, Mike, shouldn't we finish that conversation we started before you left

work? About what?

Well, we're fairly sure it wasn't about girls, right, Jason? More sure than I've

been about anything in my life.

Well, look, it turned out to be nothing. I mean, have you ever just opened up

your mouth and made a complete fool out of yourself?

Jason?

So, Mike, what did you say? Who did you say it to?

Well, see, I just thought that I was getting special treatment at work

I'm white.

Excuse me?

Yeah, see, so I asked Nick about it. He's the manager, and he explained that

was just taking care of his own kind, and I shouldn't get excited about it,

because that's the way the world works.

See ya.

Well, wait a minute, wait a minute. How's the way the world works?

Well, you know, I mean, just because he's white and I'm white and he gave me

break doesn't mean that he's prejudiced. It doesn't? Mike, what do you think

prejudice means?

Oh, Mom, I mean, like not letting certain people into your schools or

them down with fire hoses. You know, stuff you see on the news.

Mike, Mike, prejudice means giving somebody special treatment, any special

treatment.

Well, then I'm confused.

How could you be confused? Where did we ever give you the idea that it was all

right to be a little bit prejudiced? Oh, no, no, no, no, Mom, Mom, it's not like

that at all.

I mean, Nick has got a ward, and all his other employees are minorities.

Yeah, but you said you got this shift change because you were white.

Well, yeah.

Well, then what's the confusion, Mike?

Well, I'm really confused.

Well, let me just straighten it out for you then, Mike. You go to this guy,

Nick, and you say, I don't accept any special treatment. I want my old shift

back. Right, Maggie?

Jason, you and I should...

Talk about this later.

We can talk about it in front of Mike. This is about Mike. Come on, it's

important.

Maggie?

I don't want my son shot at three in the morning over a pack of gum. Oh, Maggie.

You asked.

Well, so what? He should take advantage of this guy's prejudice? No.

Well, then what are you saying? You're saying that Ron should get shot at three

in the morning.

I am not.

And I'm against anybody being shot at any hour of the day or night.

as Raj.

Maggie, this is about unfair treatment.

You want him working at three in the morning with a gun under the counter?

of course I don't. That's not what I'm talking about. Jason, Jason, I hate

prejudice. But what's it really change to send our son back to the graveyard?

Shift.

But this is wrong.

You're right.

Yes, I am. Yes.

You know something else?

So are you.

Well, that sure clears everything right up for me.

I wish this had been about girls.

Hey, Jerry. The shift is over. It's my turn.

All right. If Nick asks, tell him I've got something.

Right.

Here you are. I changed the buck 15.

There you go. I thought they only moved that fast when they were carrying a TV

or a football.

Funny.

What the hell is this?

Jerry! Jerry!

Oh, Nick, Jerry just left.

He left?

Yeah. I asked him to stock the sodas and look at the mess he makes.

That lazy son of a... His salary's going to be docked for this.

Oh, that.

Oh, Nick, Jerry didn't do that. I did.

Yeah, I was going to clean it up, but I just got busy and forgot.

You did this?

Yeah.

Oh.

Well, uh...

Try to be more careful, will you, son?

Somebody unscrewed this.

This was no accident.

Wait a minute.

You didn't get too busy and forget, did you?

Look, do you know that you're prejudiced, or are you just kidding

You rude, smart -ass know -it -all. What are you trying to prove here, huh? I'm

not trying. I just proved it. You white -bred suburban punks really get to me.

Someday you'll figure out what the score is.

Yeah, well, I just did.

You know, you've got a lot to learn about the real world.

Yeah? Well, I won't be learning it from you. I quit.

Hey, you know something?

You're one confused little kid.

Not anymore.

How was your day?

Oh, not so hot.

Yeah, mine neither.

Look, I want to... Go ahead.

How are we supposed to communicate with Mike when we can't communicate with each

other? Wait a minute. You don't think that we communicate?

Shut up and kiss me.

Hi, guys. Mike, before you say another word, I just want you to know that your

father was right.

You should go back on Graveyard. I don't like it, but it's right.

Well, see, I... Wait a minute. I was not right, Maggie. I don't want Mike

endangering himself.

Dad, don't worry.

I have to worry. You're my son.

I quit.

Mike, no matter how old you get, you cannot quit being our son.

I don't mean I quit our family. I mean, I quit my job.

And, uh, I really want to thank you two for... for showing me what was right.

Hey, Carol, where the stinking wand at?

Jason, he thinks that we showed him what was right.

I won't tell him if you don't.