Work Text:
INT. Cafe - Day
LANA
Hello there! So what would you like your coffee to be!
CUSTOMER A
I’ll have a cherry flavored Caramel Ripple Crunch with heart tops!(winks)
LANA
(laughs) ordering like it’s ice cream!
CUSTOMER A
You have a nice laugh.
LANA
Thanks.
CUSTOMER A
Soooo…
The Customer looks to read her name tag.
CUSTOMER A
Lana…may I have your number?
LANA
Excuse me?
CUSTOMER A
You’re kinda pretty! So how about it?
LANA
Well, I’m not looking to date or anything right now. Anyway, cash or-
The Customer would just stare at her, blinking. Lana just nods as she bites her lip for a second then looking down at the tablet to process Customer A’s order.
LANA
(clears throat) Um cash or credit?
CUSTOMER A
Cash! (slams it onto the counter) From the goodness of my heart, Milady! (winks)
LANA
Thanks! (high pitch)
Lana just takes it, without looking at Customer A, again.
LANA
(exhales) W-well-well your order should be coming soon.
CUSTOMER A
I’ll be sure to talk to you again, sometime~
LANA (V.O.)
And I hope I’m not here when he tries too…because creepy-
Customer A does an air kiss as he walks away. Lana slightly shakes her head as she sees that then exhaling and smiling again as she looks at the next customer.
LANA
Hello, what would you like?
CUSTOMER B
(yawns) Hello (yawns) how are you?
LANA
I’m good and I hope you are as well! Because what’s not a good day without some good old coffee to freshen you up!
Lana would put a fist up, joyfully as she said that.
CUSTOMER B
Ehhhh I’m tired but I could be worse. Also, I don't like coffee…
LANA
Oh, well I’m sorry-
CUSTOMER B
It’s fine (yawns) I’ll have a…umm
Customer B stares at the board of drinks up behind Lana.
LANA
Take…take your time, f-find something to get you through today! You got this!
CUSTOMER B
I appreciate it.
LANA
Mhm! (nodding)
CUSTOMER B
So, can I have hot chocolate? I love chocolate!
LANA
Good to know so do I!
Customer B would then give Lana their cash as she then would process the order on her tablet.
CUSTOMER B
(yawns) yeah…I h-honestly think a refreshing drinks helps whenever I’m tired-
Lana just nods.
CUSTOMER B
(yawns) because it relaxes my brain to function.
LANA
Wouldn’t- I mean that’s nice!
CUSTOMER B
Huh? I just like warm drinks whenever I want to stay awake- not all of us like having ice cream or whatever in the morning. Warm drinks help with the brain too!
LANA
No- I meant, that I can relate! Your order should be coming up, I hope it’ll treat you well for the rest of your day!
CUSTOMER B
Uh-huh, ok then…
Customer B would then walk away.
LANA (V.O.)
I’m sorry…
COWORKER
Hey Lana, it’s almost my lunch break. So would you be able to handle making the drinks while I’m at it?
Lana turns to look at her co-worker.
LANA (V.O.)
Smile Lana, smile. It’s gonna be fine…it’s gonna be fine. I think?
LANA
Sounds good! (puts thumbs up)
Lana’s coworker smiles, nodding.
COWORKER
Great! Good luck, ok! You got this Lana!
Her coworker takes off their apron, then leaves over to the breakroom. Lana then turns back to face Customer C.
LANA
Hello!
CUSTOMER C
(sighs) Well that took long enough.
LANA
Yeah! So what would you like to order?
CUSTOMER C
Black coffee, plain.
LANA
Plain?
CUSTOMER C
You heard me, right. I just want to take it to go, nothing fancy-shmancy got it?
LANA
Well…that would be uhh our Featured Dark Roast? It’s the most-
CUSTOMER C
PLAIN! I said plain!
LANA
Ok, ok. You got it!
CUSTOMER C
(sighs) Well, thank the lord!
Lana takes that money and processes the order as Featured Dark Roast, she then would start to make the drink, as she turns over to make extra sure.
LANA
You sure, you don’t w-
CUSTOMER C
Plain, for the last time! (crosses arms)
LANA
(mumbling)
Then I hope you like this extra twist…
Lana would make the black coffee extra hot. Then after she would hand the customer the drink while pleasantly smiling.
LANA
Here you go. The best Black Coffee you could ever have, ma’am!
Customer C would just stare but then taking it and giving it a sip, then chugging it. But stops while coughing.
LANA
Would you like some ice with that? Seems to me it’s too hot?
Customer C turns her head and just walks away.
LANA
Ok! Have a nice day!
Customer D would then come up.
LANA
Hello! How can I-
CUSTOMER D
Wouldn’t you get fired for that?
LANA
(clears throat) S-So what would you like to order?
CUSTOMER D
I’m sorry? Wouldn’t you get fired for whatever the hell you just did?
LANA
She ordered a hot drink.
CUSTOMER D
Pfft, hot drinks should be banned. If you ask me, for making people cough like that. Disgustinggggg~
LANA
Oh no, that’s natural when you drink hot beverages too fast.
CUSTOMER D
I think you made her sick from how horrible you made it, then.
LANA
Ok? (clears throat) So what would you like to order?
CUSTOMER D
(sarcastically)
Water. Why don’t you make it extra cold for me? (scoffs)
Lana is left speechless to Customer D’s tone. She also notices how the other people behind Customer D look rather stern. Which makes her gulp.
CUSTOMER D
(sarcastically)
Tch, awwwwwww. Cat got your tongue, miss barista? (laughs)
LANA (V.O.)
Jesus Christ.
The rest of the line would laugh along with Customer D.
LANA (V.O.)
I guess I’ll just get the customer water.
Lana gets Customer D, water.
LANA
Here! It’s free. Since it’s just water.
CUSTOMER D
You know what, I think?
LANA
Aren’t you satisfied?
CUSTOMER D
Satisfied my ass. (Slurps drink) Ewwwww now I see why she was coughing, your water tastes like dirt. JUST LIKE YOU!
Customer D would open the cover of the drink, splashing it onto Lana.
CUSTOMER D
Mic drop! (drops cup)
LANA
I-I’m sorry? WHAT THE HELL?!
CUSTOMER D
You kinda asked for it. So, yeahhhhhh~ hope you have a good day, sitting in hell!
LANA
Well I hope your ego sorts itself out. Since you just made my day WORSE!
CUSTOMER
(sarcastically)
Oops, my bad~ (shrugs)
LANA
WELL I HOPE YOU’RE HAPPY!
Lana would then leave the stand. Running over to the bathroom.
CUT TO:
INT. Bathroom - Day
Lana rushes over to a stall, locking herself in it. Leaning her back against the wall, starting to break down crying as she sits herself onto the floor.
LANA
(crying)
GOD DAMN IT! I’m probably gonna get…f-fired now…I shouldn’t have run like that t-too… (sighs)
She keeps on crying for some time. Until she hears knocking on the stall.
COWORKER
Lana? Lana?
She stops crying, whipping her tears as she says nothing back.
COWORKER
(sighs) How long have you been in here?
Still nothing.
COWORKER
Ok, ok. Nothing’s ever easy on your first job, well-actually in general when doing customer service. Assholes will be assholes and you will have to be calm. (breathes)
LANA
But…I did something…(exhales) wrong…(sniffles)
COWORKER
Yeah-well…I have done something like that when working here too, we all have. (laughs)
LANA
Really?
COWORKER
Uh-huh! But-that’s not to-say that it is the right thing to do when handling customers like that. At least for the one you gave the hot beverage too…the last customer though was a flatout Karen. (laughs)
Lana laughs with her coworker.
COWORKER
A-anyway, you don’t need to worry about being fired.
LANA
(gasp) I’m not?
COWORKER
Yeah, it’s only your first week and…I’m sorry. I should have actually considered helping you a bit more than just leaving as soon as I asked-
Lana stands up then opens the stall door.
LANA
(shakes head) It’s my fault…not yours-
COWORKER
No, I mean it! You only did what you could because you were nervous, I’ve been there. I feel bad and I want you- well- we all want you to be treated well here. So I’m gonna try helping you more.
LANA
But I don’t-
The coworker would put their index finger in front of Lana.
COWORKER
Shhhhhh~ it’s ok to ask for help, every now and then. (smiles)
LANA
(crosses arms) right, I’m not that great at a-asking for help…(sighs) I just think I might get in other people's way-
Her coworker nods.
LANA
And I didn’t want to look stupid. I wanted to prove that I can be good at this job too.
COWORKER
Don’t worry about that, instead you should be enjoying it.
Lana looks directly at her coworker.
LANA
Enjoying it?
COWORKER
Well why did you choose this job?
LANA
Because…because…I like making cold drinks, lattes, Italian sodas, smoothies, lemonade, and so and so… (fidgets)
COWORKER
Anything else?
LANA
I- uhh- I like…the joy people get when they see their drinks, I guess. I don’t know.
COWORKER
Well as I say, a customer's smile is worth my day!
Lana just nods.
LANA
Speaking of which? Who’s running the stand right now?
COWORKER
Oh-yeah…umm Beth and Andy are right now- Beth got called in. While Andy felt bad for you and decided to take your place, while I’m comforting you.
Lana sighs, looking up as she rolls her eyes. She forwards again to walk over to the sink as her coworker follows. Lana starts washing her hands
LANA
I’ve decided…
COWORKER
And that is?
Lana finishes washing her hands, turning off the sink as she air-dry splashes them. She then would take her hair tie off her wrist. Wrapping her hair into a ponytail.
LANA
I’m staying to finish my shift! Knowing today can be a good day!
Her coworker would applaud. Which makes Lana smile as she does a small bow, then laughing.
COWORKER
And this means my break’s over!
LANA
Huh?
COWORKER
Since I’m gonna help you, now!
Her coworker would then turn on the sink to wet their face real quick and turn it off to wipe their face. As they would shake their hands.
LANA
Ready?
COWORKER
You first! (gestures)
LANA
(nods) why thank you.
They then would both leave the bathroom to complete their shift.
THE END