{davewrites}

FADE IN:

INT. OFFICE BREAK ROOM – DAY

Steam rises from a coffee mug labelled “T.G.I.M!” The mug belongs to Brenda (50), a slender, officious woman in a pencil skirt and cardigan. She drops an herbal tea bag into her boiled water.

DAVE (39) enters from the hallway, impeccably dressed in a dark suit but half asleep.

BRENDA: Good morning, sunshine!

Dave responds with half a smile and the slightest nod. He shuffles toward the back of the room.

BRENDA: Another breakfast of champions?

Dave grunts twice and stops walking when he reaches the vending machine.

BRENDA: How’s junior doing? Has he cut his first teeth?

DAVE: Any day now.

Dave rubs his eyes and surveys the contents of the vending machine. His gaze locks onto a label that reads “D2 $1.25.” Above the label sits a coiled wire stuffed with Snickers bars.

BRENDA: Is he sleeping through the night?

DAVE: (yawning) Not yet.

Dave reaches into his pocket and extracts its contents. He opens his fist to reveal a dollar coin, a quarter, a nickel and 2 pennies.

BRENDA: I have some Wasa Crispbread in my desk if you want healthier carbs.

Dave plunks his biggest coin into the machine and a tiny display registers “$1.00.”

DAVE: Too late.

Dave stares at the first Snickers bar. The wrapper blurs and distorts as the lettering morphs from “Snickers” to “Eat Me!”

Dave smiles.

DAVE: (under his breath) You betcha.

Dave drops his quarter into the coin slot. It clinks and clunks its way through the machine until it reappears in the coin return tray.

Dave looks at the tiny display. It still reads “$1.00.” Dave frowns and retrieves his quarter.

BRENDA: It’s a sign.

Dave looks at the first Snickers bar. The lettering twists and morphs again, from “Eat Me!” to “Shucks!”

Dave stuffs the quarter back into the machine. It tumbles through with a clatter and drops into the coin return a second time.

BRENDA: I told you. Walk away.

DAVE: Not bloody likely.

Dave squints and puts his game face on. He breathes on the quarter, wipes it against his shirt and drops it in a third time—this time adding some backspin.

Clink, tumble, clank, bonk, clunk – coin return.

Dave’s jaw tightens. He retrieves the rejected quarter and holds it up to the coin slot once more.

BRENDA: Isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?

DAVE: That’s a definition, not the definition. Tinfoil hats are also a great indicator.

Dave looks at the Snickers bar again. The lettering now reads “Loser!” Dave bares his teeth and inserts the quarter a fourth time.

The coin bank clinks a couple of times and the display updates to “$1.25.” Dave grins as he presses “D-2” on the keypad.

DAVE: So what if you do the same thing over and over and get different results?

The Snickers label reads “Victory!” The vending coil twirls and the candy bar drops out of sight.

Dave gathers his prize and flashes it to Brenda as he walks past her.

DAVE: The machine is insane, not me.

Dave exits the break room holding the Snickers bar over his head like a trophy.

Brenda shakes her head and sips her tea.

FADE OUT.  

 

© 2011 davewrites.ca