The Last Days of Barnes & Noble
July 16th, 2020
Starring: Veronica (female, 30’s) and Otto (male, 30’s)
Barnes & Noble. The near future. It is empty, yet fully stocked. In the front atrium, where the “new and notable” book stands would be, is a bunker’s supply of boxes and packing tape. Otto has a moving dolly with him. Veronica enters.
VERONICA
Hey.
OTTO
Morning.
VERONICA
Home sweet.
Did you bring all this?
OTTO (pointing to the dolly)
No, just this. Thought it could be helpful.
VERONICA
Where’d you get it?
OTTO
…Amazon.
...
Soo what instructions did they give you?
VERONICA
“Move out ASAP.”
OTTO
That’s all I got too.
Why ask two of us? If we had Glen and Hunter and Nisha we’d triple the output.
VERONICA
Trust?
OTTO
What’s there to hide? It’s done.
Like they’re not asking us to burn anything...
Right?
VERONICA
But we’re not holding a liquidation sale.
OTTO
So they are gonna burn it?
VERONICA
I’m not asking any questions. It’s screwed up.
…
OTTO
We should probably come up with a gameplan.
VERONICA
I was thinking we start on opposite corners of each wall, work our way in.
OTTO
What if we both worked on the same section at the same time?
VERONICA
You think?
OTTO
I don’t know, I’m asking.
VERONICA
I think we’d get less done. We’d talk more. Laugh about stuff we’d find.
OTTO
It’s better for morale.
VERONICA
Morale?
...
OTTO
Okay. We’ll split up.
Where do you want to start?
VERONICA
Can you do the kids’ section?
I mean I could probably do it.
I’d just rather not get all caught up in the...
I can start with reference.
OTTO
Sure, yeah, whatever’s good.
Let’s do it.
Both grab a handful of boxes and tape.
VERONICA
FYI, if I see something I want, I’m taking it.
You should too.
OTTO
You think?
VERONICA
Like you said, it’s done. This is just the dirty work.
OTTO
Yeah.
I’ll hollar if I find anything.
VERONICA
Cool.
…
123 Break.
Otto and Veronica go their separate ways into the depths of the store.