[ THEME SONG PLAYS ] * I BET WE'VE BEEN TOGETHERFOR A MILLION YEARS * * AND I'LL BET WE'LL BE TOGETHERFOR A MILLION MORE * * OH, IT'S LIKEI STARTED BREATHING * * ON THE NIGHT WE KISSED * AND I CAN'T REMEMBERWHAT I EVER DID BEFORE * * WHAT WOULD WE DO, BABY * WITHOUT US? * WHAT WOULD WE DO, BABY * WITHOUT US? * AND THEREAIN'T NO NOTHIN' * * WE CAN'T LOVEEACH OTHER THROUGH * * OOH-HOO * WHAT WOULD WE DO, BABY * WITHOUT US? * SHA-LA-LA-LA HI, MR. ADLER. OH, HELLO, ALEX.HOW ARE YOU? I'M FINE.I'M SORRY I'M LATE. YOU'RE NOT LATE. I AM.I'M EIGHT MINUTES LATE. EIGHT MINUTES IS NOT LATE.A WEEK IS LATE. IF YOU PUT IN A TIME CLOCKLIKE I SUGGESTED, YOU CAN KEEP TRACK OF THE COMINGS AND GOINGSOF YOUR EMPLOYEES. YOU'RE MY ONLY EMPLOYEE,ALEX. IT'S THE PRINCIPLE,MR. ADLER. YOU SHOULD BE ANGRY AT MEFOR BEING LATE. ALL RIGHT. WHERE WERE YOUFOR EIGHT MINUTES? I HAD A MEETING OF THEYOUNG ENTREPRENEURS' CLUB. IS THAT WHAT YOU DOWITH YOUR TIME AFTER SCHOOL? YOU SHOULD BEIN LITTLE LEAGUE. I'M 17 YEARS OLD,MR. ADLER. LITTLE LEAGUEONLY GOES UP TO 12. SO?YOU'D BE THE BEST ONE. EXCUSE ME.WHERE ARE THE OLIVES? WHAT DO YOU WANT OLIVESFOR? IS IT REQUIREDTHAT I TELL YOU? NAH, I'M JUST CURIOUS. I CAN'T EAT THEM MYSELF.HEARTBURN. WELL, THANK YOUFOR SHARING THAT WITH ME. SO, WHERE ARE THEY? OH, USUALLY I GET THE PAINSRIGHT HERE. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO,NO, NO, NO. THE OLIVES. OH, WELL, IF WE HAVE ANY, THEY'LL BE ON THE OTHER SIDEOF THE STORE SOMEWHERE. OLIVES ARE AT THE ENDOF AISLE 2, SECOND SHELFFROM THE BOTTOM. WE GOT A FEWOF THE REGULAR ONES LEFT, AND WE ALSO HAVETHE PIMIENTO-STUFFED ONES. $1.39 A SMALL JAR,$2.14 FOR THE LARGE. HE'S GOOD, ISN'T HE?[ CHUCKLES ] SO, HOW'S BUSINESS TODAY,MR. ADLER? BUSINESS? WHY DO YOU BRING UP BUSINESS,ALEX? I DON'T KNOW. SEEMED LIKETHE APPROPRIATE PLACE. TODAY BUSINESS STUNK. IT STUNK YESTERDAY, TOO. IN FACT, BUSINESSHAS STUNK SINCE 1957. IT WAS RIGHT AFTERTHAT SPUTNIK THING. SPUTNIK GOES UP,BUSINESS GOES DOWN. GO FIGURE. [ CASH REGISTER DINGS ] I KEEP TELLING YOU,MR. ADLER, YOU COULD HAVEA REAL MONEYMAKER HERE. YOU JUST GOT TO BEMORE AGGRESSIVE. YOU KNOW, THE BUILDINGNEXT DOOR'S FOR LEASE. YOU COULD RENT IT OUT,KNOCK OUT THE WALL IN BETWEEN, AND DOUBLE THE SIZEOF YOUR STORE. ALEX,IF I KNOCKED DOWN THAT WALL, WHERE WOULD I HANG UPMY COAT? YOU GOT TO THINK BIG,MR. ADLER. YOU GOT TO BEMORE COMPETITIVE. OH, THAT REMINDS ME. THERE'S GONNA BEA BEAUTIFUL SUNSET TODAY. I WANT YOU TO TAKE OFF EARLYTO WATCH IT. MR. ADLER, DO YOUEVER HEAR A WORD I SAY? NO. BUT I LIKETHE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE. ALL SET, MRS. CRENSHAW? WELL, YES.EXCEPT FOR ONE THING. I DON'T MEAN TO COMPLAIN, BUT IS THE MILKSUPPOSED TO BE FROZEN? [ THUDDING ] ALEX, THE COOLER BROKE. ALL THE MILK FROZE. YEAH, OKAY.I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT. WATCH WHAT I DO THIS TIME,MR. ADLER, SO YOU CAN FIX ITIF IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M NOT HERE. OKAY, FIRST,TURN THE THERMOSTAT TO LOW. THEN SHUT THIS VALVEON THE SIDE ALL THE WAY OFF. THEN OPEN IT UP AGAINREAL QUICK, AND THEN TURN IT ONCE. WAIT FOR FOUR SECONDS.[ WATCH BEEPS ] OPEN THE VALVE BACK UP AGAIN. TURN THE THERMOSTATBACK UP AGAIN. AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK... DO THAT. I'M SURPRISED I DIDN'T THINKTO DO THAT MYSELF. HE'S A GOOD BOY.OH, HE'S THE BEST. YOU KNOW, HE'S THE PRESIDENT OFTHE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS' CLUB. I'M NOT THE PRESIDENT. I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT. A HEARTBEAT AWAY. HELLO, ALEX. HOW YOU DOING,MR. ADLER? HELLO, SKIPPY. MR. ADLER, IS IT OKAY IF I OPEN UP THIS BOXOF ICE-CREAM SANDWICHES? I JUST WANT ONE. YOU CAN'T DO THAT,SKIPPY. NO ONEIS GONNA WANT TO BUY AN OPEN BOXOF ICE-CREAM SANDWICHES. ALEX, LET HIM HAVEHIS ICE CREAM. THANK YOU, MR. ADLER. YOU'RE SCREWING UPOUR INVENTORY, YOU KNOW. YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THATON YOUR CONSCIENCE. ALEX,I HAPPEN TO BE YOUR NEIGHBOR. I THINK YOU COULD BE JUSTA LITTLE BIT MORE POLITE TO ME. THE FACT THAT WE'RE NEIGHBORS,SKIPPY, IS NOTHING MORE THAN AN UNFORTUNATEGEOGRAPHICAL ACCIDENT. AND I DON'T THINKI SHOULD BE PUNISHED FURTHER BY HAVING TO TALK TO YOU. WELL, UH, HOW'S MALLORY? SHE'S FINE. YOU KNOW, UH,SHE'S REALLY PRETTY. THANK YOU, SKIPPY. DOE SHE TALK ABOUT ME MUCH? YEAH. SOMETIMES LATE AT NIGHT,SHE CRIES OUT YOUR NAME. YOU MEAN IT? LOOK, I'M WORKING HERE,SKIPPY. DO YOU MIND? OKAY, OKAY.I'M GOING. OH, ALEX, THEY'RE ADVERTISINGFOR A NEW STOCK BOY DOWN THE STREET AT THE BIGSHOP-A-LOT SUPERMARKET. WELL, WHY DON'T YOU GOAND APPLY FOR IT? WHY SHOULD I DO THAT? BECAUSE IT'S A BIG PLACE AND THEY PAY MOREAND THEY GIVE PROMOTIONS. AND IF YOU GET IT,THEN I COULD HAVE YOUR JOB HERE. FORGET IT, SKIPPY.I LIKE IT HERE. ALEX... I ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO BEA BIG SUCCESS IN LIFE. WERE THOSEJUST IDLE WORDS, OR DO YOU PRACTICEWHAT YOU PREACH? SKIPPY, REMEMBERWHEN WE WERE LITTLE KIDS AND I ACCIDENTALLYRAN OVER YOU WITH MY BICYCLE? YEAH. I DRIVE A CAR NOW. MOM,I'M ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THAT BRAD HUNTERWANTS TO ASK ME OUT. HOW ARE YOU SO SURE,MALLORY? WELL, HE CAME UP TO METODAY AFTER HOMEROOM, AND HE ASKED MEIF I HAD A NICE WEEKEND. THAT'S IT? THAT'S IT. I THINKWE MISSED SOMETHING. AND WHAT DID YOU SAYTO HIM? WELL I TOLD HIM I HADA TERRIBLE, BORING WEEKEND. WHAT ELSE? YOU HAD A WONDERFUL WEEKEND,MALLORY. I KNOW, MOM,BUT IF BRAD KNEW THAT, HE'D THINK I HAD AN ACTIVE,FULFILLING SOCIAL LIFE, AND HE WOULDN'T ASK ME OUT 'CAUSE HE'D THINKI ALREADY HAD PLANS. HOW DID WE OVERLOOKTHE OBVIOUS? HI, SWEETHEART.HI, KIDS. HI.HI.HOW WAS WORK? OH, CRAZY. WE WERE SWAMPEDWITH PHONE CALLS OVER THAT INSTALLMENTOF "MADAME BOVARY" WE SHOWED LAST NIGHT. A LOT OF PEOPLE TOOK OFFENSEAT THE BEDROOM SCENE. CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW PRUDISHSOME PEOPLE ARE? THEY OBJECTEDTO THE BEDROOM SCENE? YEP. THAT SCENE WAS SO MILD,DAD. WELL, I KNOW.THAT -- WAIT A MINUTE. WHAT WERE YOUDOING WATCHING THAT? UH... I WANTED TO SEEIF IT WAS AS GOOD AS THE BOOK. HELLO.HI. ALEX, YOU'REAN HOUR LATE. WELL, I'M SORRY, MOM.BUT IT WAS WORTH IT. AS OF TODAY,I HAVE TAKEN THE FIRST STEP ON THE PATH TO RICHES. MY FOOT IS POISEDON THE BOTTOM RUNG OF THE CORPORATE LADDER. I'VE SET THE BALL ROLLING. I'VE PUTTHE WHEELS IN MOTION TOWARDS MY FUTUREWEALTH AND PROSPERITY. MY SHOULDER IS FIRMLY AGAINSTTHE GRINDSTONE OF ECONOMIC SUCCESS. TRY IT WITH A FEW MORE METAPHORSTHIS TIME, ALEX. WELL, I STOPPED BYTHAT NEW SHOP-A-LOT ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK.YEAH. SEE, SKIPPY HANDELMAN TOLD METHAT THEY HAD AN OPENING FOR A NEW STOCK BOY. SO I GAVE THEM MY RéSUMé,I HAD A BRIEF INTERVIEW, AND I THINKTHEY'RE IMPRESSED BY ME. REMIND MENEVER TO SHOP THERE. WAIT A MINUTE.WHAT ABOUT YOUR JOB AT ADLER'S? WELL, I'D, UH --I'D HAVE TO GIVE THAT UP. I THOUGHT YOU LOVEDWORKING FOR MR. ADLER. WELL, I DO.MR. ADLER'S A GREAT GUY. BUT I'M STAGNATING THERE. LET'S FACE IT, DAD.MY WORK AT ADLER'S IS DONE. IT'S TIME FOR METO MOVE ON. WHAT ARE YOU --THE LONE RANGER? WAIT A MINUTE, ALEX. SHOULDN'T YOU GIVE THISA LITTLE MORE THOUGHT? I MEAN,TO JUST LEAVE LIKE THAT AFTER THE WAYMR. ADLER'S TREATED YOU? WELL, DON'T WORRY, MOM.I'VE THOUGHT IT THROUGH. MR. ADLERWILL UNDERSTAND. I'M NOT BEING IMPETUOUS. WHAT'S "IMPETUOUS"? IT'S WHEN YOU DO SOMETHINGWITHOUT THINKING IT THROUGH. LIKE WHEN YOU DECIDEDTO HAVE ALEX? THE OPENING IS FORA JUNIOR-STOCK-BOY TRAINEE. IT'S IN THE PET SUPPLIESDEPARTMENT. I WOULD BE IN CHARGEOF CAT TOYS. CAT TOYS. SEE, YOU'RE INOVER YOUR HEAD, ALEX. YOU MEAN YOUR ENTIRE JOBWOULD REVOLVE AROUND CAT TOYS? MOM, YOU MAKE IT SOUNDSO UNIMPORTANT. DO YOU REALIZEHOW MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF CAT TOYS THERE ARE? THERE ARETHE LITTLE PLASTIC BALLS WITH THE BELLS INSIDEAND THE LITTLE FURRY BIRDS AND THE CHEW TOYSTHAT REMOVE TARTAR AND PLAQUE FROM THE TEETH. I COULD GO ON FOREVER. PLEASE DON'T. ALEX, THERE'S JUSTA LOT OF FACTORS INVOLVED HERE, A LOT OF THINGSTO CONSIDER. [ TELEPHONE RINGS ] HELLO. YES, HE IS.WHO'S CALLING? ALEX,IT'S FOR YOU. IT'S A BOBBY CAHILLFROM THE SHOP-A-LOT. HELLO, MR. CAHILL. YEAH, OKAY.BOBBY. OH, WOW.THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S VERY FLATTERING. THANKS A LOT. WELL, I GOT THE JOB. WELL,UH, CONGRATULATIONS. AND BOBBY SAYS IT'S CONCEIVABLETHAT WITHIN A YEAR, I COULD BE ASSISTANT MANAGEROF PET SUPPLIES. DARE TO DREAM, ALEX. Alex:OKAY, MR. ADLER. TRY AND REMEMBERTHIS TIME, OKAY? THERMOSTAT, VALVE, WAIT -- [ WATCH BEEPS ] VALVE. KICK. GOT IT? MAYBE IT WOULD HELPIF YOU SET IT TO MUSIC. * THERMOSTAT, VALVE,WAIT, VALVE, KICK * [ HUMMING ]I GIVE UP. OH.YOU WANT A NECTARINE? UH, NO, THANKS. LISTEN, MR. ADLER, I HAVE SOMETHINGI HAVE TO TELL YOU. YOU'RE SUREYOU DON'T WANT A NECTARINE? THEY'RE IN SEASON NOW. NO. I'M SURE. LISTEN --WELL, TAKE A PLUM, THEN. NO, I DON'T WANT ANY PRODUCE,THANK YOU. ISN'T THE RAIN REMARKABLE,ALEX? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WELL, IT'S THE COMPLETIONOF A CYCLE. EVERYTHING IS IN MOTION, AND YET ALL THINGS RETURNTO THEIR ORIGINAL SOURCE. VERY POETIC. IT'S ALSO WET. THAT'S TRUE. MR. ADLER. WHAT IS IT? THERE WAS AN OPENINGFOR A STOCK BOY AT SHOP-A-LOT SUPERMARKET. I TOOK THE JOB.I START NEXT WEEK. DO YOU THINKYOU CAN HANDLE BOTH JOBS? NO, I DON'T. WHY DO YOU BURDEN YOURSELF,ALEX? DID THIS COME OUT OF THATENTREPRENEURS' CLUB STUFF? MR. ADLER,YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. SEE, I'M NOT GONNA BE WORKING HERE ANYMORE. OH. I SEE. YOU'RE GOING TO WORK THEREINSTEAD OF WORKING HERE? WELL, YEAH. BUT DON'T WORRY. I'M NOT GONNALEAVE YOU SHORTHANDED. I'VE BEEN BREAKING INSKIPPY HANDELMAN. HE'S GONNA TAKE OVERFOR ME. ALEX, IF YOU NEED MORE MONEY,I COULD PROBABLY -- NO, NO, IT'S NOT THE MONEY,MR. ADLER. I MEAN, SURE,THEY PAY A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT THAT'S NOTWHY I TOOK THE JOB. THEN WHY? BECAUSEIT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. I'M GONNA BE IN CHARGEOF THE ENTIRE CAT-TOY OPERATION. THEY MAKE TOYS FOR CATS? SURE. WHY DO CATS NEED TOYS? THEY'RE PETS.THEY'RE NOT UNDER ANY PRESSURE. MR. ADLER,YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. SEE, THIS SHOP-A-LOTIS A TERRIFIC PLACE. IT'S VIRTUALLYON THE CUTTING EDGE OF CREATIVE SUPERMARKETING. THEY GOT 21 AISLES. THEY'RE OPEN 24 HOURS. THEY'VE GOT CAMPING,SPORTING GOODS, SHOE TREES. THEY'VE EVEN GOTAN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM FOR THE VEGETABLES. IF I WAS A YOUNGER MANI'D TAKE THE JOB MYSELF. YOU'RE NOT UPSET WITH ME,ARE YOU? IT'S NOTHING PERSONAL. WELL, I'LL SEE YOU. GOOD NIGHT. AND, UH,THANKS FOR EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW, ALEX, IF CAT TOYSMEAN SO MUCH TO YOU, WE COULD SELL THEM HERE. I TOOK THE JOB,MR. ADLER. I SEE. GOOD NIGHT. OH, UH,JUST A MINUTE, ALEX. I DON'T WANT YOUTO CATCH A COLD. WELL, MOM, I WAS RIGHT.ABOUT WHAT? ABOUT BRAD HUNTER. HE ASKED ME OUT TODAYFOR FRIDAY NIGHT. OH.AH.THAT'S WONDERFUL. YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST, I THOUGHTYOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE STRAIGHTFORWARDWITH HIM, BUT I GUESS YOU KNEWWHAT YOU WERE DOING. SO, WHERE IS HE TAKING YOUFRIDAY NIGHT? NO.I TOLD HIM I WAS BUSY. YOU'RE NOT BUSYFRIDAY NIGHT. OF COURSE NOT, MOM. BUT I CAN'T LET BRAD THINK I WAS JUST WAITING FOR HIMTO ASK ME OUT. OH, MALLORY. WHY DON'T YOU JUSTDEAL HONESTLY WITH BRAD AND LET FATETAKE ITS COURSE? THERE'S NO TALKING TO YOUSOMETIMES, DAD. ALEX, PUT AWAY YOUR HOMEWORKAT THE DINNER TABLE. I GOT AN ORAL REPORTFOR HISTORY CLASS TOMORROW, DAD. I DON'T CAREIF YOU'RE TESTIFYING BEFORE A CONGRESSIONALCOMMITTEE. STUDY AFTER DINNER. I CAN'T. I'VE GOT TO GOTO THE SHOP-A-LOT TONIGHT. I'M GETTING PICKED UPIN A FEW MINUTES. NOW, JUST A MINUTE. YOU'VE WORKEDEVERY AFTERNOON AND EVENINGFOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS. WELL, I KNOW, MOM,BUT THIS ISN'T WORK. WELL, NOT TECHNICALLY. IT'S A SPECIALEVENING TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE NEW STOCK BOYS. TONIGHT WE HAVE A MEETING ON THE CREATIVE MONITORINGOF CANNED-GOODS INVENTORY. BOY, YOU DON'T WANT TOMISS THAT, ALEX. WELL, I CAN'T MISS IT. I GOT TO ATTENDALL THE EVENING MEETINGS TO BE ELIGIBLEFOR MY FIRST PROMOTION. [ KNOCK ON DOOR ]AH, IT'S PROBABLY SKIPPY. HE'S HAVING SOME PROBLEMSAT MR. ADLER'S. HE WANTS TO TALK TO ME. ALEX, THIS TIMEYOU REALLY GOT TO HELP ME OUT. OH, HI, MR. AND MRS. KEATON.HI, JENNIFER. HI, SKIPPY.OH!HELLO, MALLORY. THOSE ARE LOVELY SNEAKERSYOU'RE WEARING. THEY SURE DO FLATTERYOUR FEET. SKIPPY, TRY TO KEEPYOUR HORMONES UNDER CONTROL FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES,OKAY? I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN,ALEX. SHE'S REALLY PRETTY. YEAH.WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? I GOT TO GET GOINGIN A FEW MINUTES. OH, UH, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE ALL OUTOF DISPOSABLE DIAPERS. I LOOKED ALL OVER.I COULDN'T FIND THEM. LOOK AGAIN.THEY'RE IN THE STOREROOM BEHIND THE CLING PEACHESIN HEAVY SYRUP. DON'T TOY WITH ME, ALEX.THEY'RE NOT THERE! THEY'RE IN THE STOREROOM,SKIPPY. NO. NO, NO, NO, NO.NOT THE STOREROOM. DON'T MAKE ME GO IN THERE,ALEX. THE PLACE IS A JUNGLE.I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING IN THERE. ALEX,I CAN'T HANDLE THIS JOB. GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF,SKIPPY. LOOK, I'LL DRAW YOU A MAPOF THE STOREROOM, AND I'LL SHOW YOUWHERE EVERYTHING IS, ALL RIGHT? OKAY. MAPS ARE GOOD.JUST DRAW NEAT. ANYWAY, MOM, I'M SUREBRAD WILL ASK ME OUT AGAIN. NEXT TIME HE DOES,I'LL JUST SAY YES. BUT NOW YOU DON'T HAVE A DATEFOR FRIDAY NIGHT. SO I DON'T HAVE A DATEFOR THIS FRIDAY. IT'S NOT THE ENDOF THE WORLD. I'LL FIND SOMETHING TO DO,NO MATTER HOW STUPID. I'M FREE ON FRIDAY NIGHT. NOT THAT STUPID. [ KNOCK ON DOOR ] I'LL GET IT.I'LL GET IT. HI, BOBBY. COME ON IN.HOW YOU DOING, 28? FINE. UH, BOBBY,THESE ARE MY SISTERS. THESE ARE MY PARENTS. UH, THIS ISSKIPPY HANDELMAN. HOW DOES SKIPPY FIT IN? HE DOESN'T. EVERYBODY,THIS IS BOBBY CAHILL. HE'S THE SENIOR STOCK BOYIN CHARGE OF MY TRAINING. BOBBY,NICE TO MEET YOU. SO, UH, WELL, HOW'S HE WORKING OUTDOWN THERE? ARE YOU KIDDING? NUMBER 28 HEREIS REALLY COMING ALONG. WE HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR HIMDOWN AT THE MARKET. 28? WELL, I'M JUNIOR STOCK BOYNUMBER 28 DOWN AT THE STORE. YOU MUST BEVERY PROUD OF HIM. YES, I AM. AND I KNOW THAT MY WIFE HERE,MRS. 28, FEELS THE SAME WAY. WELL, YOU SHOULD. HE'S GOT A REAL KNACKFOR CAT TOYS. REALLY -- REALLY TAKENTHE PLACE BY STORM. WELL, THE CAT TOYSARE CALLING. SEE YOU LATER. NICE MEETING YOU. PLEASURE, BOBBY.BYE-BYE. SO, UH, MALLORY,CAN I WASH YOUR DISHES FOR YOU? YOU CAN WASH MINE. WOULDN'T YOU BE MORE COMFORTABLEIN YOUR OWN BED? OH, HI, MOM. I WAS JUST STUDYING. INTERESTING METHOD. YEAH, WELL,I GUESS I'M PRETTY TIRED. WHY DON'T YOU GO UPSTAIRSAND GO TO SLEEP? CAN'T. GOT TO PREPARETHIS ORAL REPORT FOR HISTORY CLASSTOMORROW. [ YAWNS ]I JUST GOT BACK FROM THE STORE. HOW WAS WORK?FINE. DID YOU KNOW THAT ONGOINGCOMPUTERIZED INVENTORY CONTROL IS 71% MORE EFFICIENTTHAN WEEKLY CHECKS? I'VE ALWAYS SUSPECTED IT. [ YAWNS ] YOU WANT SOME WARM MILK? SURE. HOW ARE YOU ENJOYING IT --YOUR NEW JOB? WELL, IT'S FINE, I GUESS. MOST OF THE PEOPLESEEM PRETTY NICE. EXCEPT FOR 17 AND 24 --THEY'RE A LITTLE STANDOFFISH. HIGHER NUMBERS ARE USUALLYEASIER TO GET ALONG WITH. THE TRUTH IS... I DON'T TALK TO ANYBODYWHEN I'M WORKING. BUT THEY LOOK LIKENICE PEOPLE. ANYWAY, I'M GOING ON THEASSUMPTION THAT THEY'RE NICE. THAT'S STRANGE. WHAT? THE MILK FROM ADLER'SIS FROZEN.[ THUD ] OH,I TOLD SKIPPY ABOUT THAT. THE COOLER BREAKS DOWN,AND THE MILK FREEZES. REMIND METO YELL AT HIM TOMORROW. OH, ALEX,YOU ARE SO TENSE. I'M NOT TENSE. ANYWAY, MOM, I TOLD YOU. I HAVE TO WORK THESE HOURSAT SHOP-A-LOT. IF I DON'T,I'M GONNA STAY JUNIOR STOCK BOYNUMBER 28 FOREVER. NO ADVANCEMENT,NO PROMOTIONS. BUT IS IT WORTH IT,MAKING YOURSELF MISERABLE? OF COURSE IT'S WORTH IT. EVERY TIME I TAKE A PACKAGEOF FURRY MICE OUT OF THE CARTON OR -- OR STAMP THE PRICEON A BOX OF BUZZY BALLS OR PUT A CATNIP PUNCHING BAGUP ON THE SHELF, I KNOW I'M ONE STEP CLOSERTO THE EXECUTIVE SUITE. I GUESS THE ROAD TO SUCCESSIS PAVED WITH KITTY LITTER. DON'T MISUNDERSTANDWHAT I'M GONNA SAY, ALEX. I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOUHOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE OR WHAT KIND OF PERSONYOU SHOULD BE. JUST -- JUST THINK OF THISAS FOOD FOR THOUGHT. MAYBE I SHOULDN'T SAY IT. NO. SAY WHAT? YOUR FATHER AND I HAVE MADE SPECIFIC CAREER CHOICESOVER THE YEARS. YOUR DAD COULD BE MANAGINGA NETWORK AFFILIATE STATION INSTEAD OF A PBS STATIONAND EARNING A LOT MORE MONEY. I COULD BE WORKINGAT A BIG ARCHITECTURAL FIRM INSTEAD OFWORKING INDEPENDENTLY. DO YOU UNDERSTANDWHY WE MADE THE CHOICESTHAT WE'VE MADE? NO, BUT IT'S YOUR LIFE. OKAY, LET'S SAY THATALL YOUR HARD WORK PAYS OFF AND YOU GETYOUR PROMOTION AND YOU'RE MADE ASSISTANTMANAGER OF CAT SUPPLIES. WHAT THEN? WELL, THEN I WORK TOWARDS BECOMING MANAGEROF PET SUPPLIES. BUT WHERE DOES IT END,ALEX? I DON'T KNOW.CHAIRMAN OF THE CAT TOYS? I GUESS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAYIS THIS. DO YOU EVER ENVISION YOURSELFREACHING A POINT WHERE YOU'REINTRINSICALLY SATISFIED WITH THE WORKTHAT YOU'RE DOING? WHERE YOU'RE NO LONGERWORKING TO GET AHEAD BUT SIMPLY BECAUSEYOU ENJOY IT? I DON'T KNOW, MOM. I JUST CAN'T MAKE THATA PRIORITY RIGHT NOW. I MEAN, IF I WANTED TO BEENJOYING WHAT I WAS DOING, I MIGHT AS WELLSTILL BE WORKING AT MR. ADLER'S. THAT DIDN'TCOME OUT RIGHT. HI, MR. ADLER. ALEX?HOW ARE YOU? I'M FINE.HOW ARE YOU? FINE. FINE. UH, LISTEN, I ACCIDENTALLY WORE MY APRON HOMETHE LAST TIME I WORKED. MY MOM WASHED IT. UH, THERE IT IS. THANK YOU. I JUST THOUGHT I'D BRING IT BYIN CASE YOU MIGHT NEED IT. I REALIZE YOU HAVETWO OTHER ONES, BUT, UM, ONE OF THEMHAS A BIG STAIN IN THE FRONT, AND THE OTHER ONE'SMISSING THE "G" IN "GROCERY." IT JUST SAYS"ADLER'S ROCERY." WELL, GOOD, GOOD.FINE. I MEAN, WE WOULDN'TWANT TO THROW PEOPLE OFF. THIS DEFINITELY IS THE BESTAPRON OUT OF THE THREE. [ CASH REGISTER DINGS ] THANK YOU. SO, HOW'S YOUR NEW JOB,ALEX? OH, IT'S GREAT.IT'S, UH, REALLY GREAT. I LIKE IT A LOT. I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT. SO, ANYWAY, I BROUGHTTHAT APRON BACK FOR YOU. MY BEST ONE. WELL,I'D BETTER GET GOING. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF,ALEX. YEAH, YOU TOO. EXCUSE ME. DO YOU CARRYANY NON-DAIRY CREAMER? NON-DAIRY CREAMER? YEAH.ALL YOUR MILK IS FROZEN. [ THUDDING ] WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY,HUH? ABOUTTHE NON-DAIRY CREAMER. MR. ADLER, YOU KNOW WHATI DO ALL DAY AT THE SHOP-A-LOT? I UNLOAD BOXESOF CAT TOYS. AND THEN AFTER I UNLOAD THEM,I STAMP THE PRICES ON THEM. AND THEN AFTERI STAMP THE PRICES ON THEM, I PUT THEM ON THE SHELF. I HATE CAT TOYS. SO DON'T PLAY WITH THEM. AND IT'S NOT JUST THE CAT TOYS,EITHER. I HATE WORKING IN A PLACEWHERE I'M KNOWN ONLY AS 28, AND NOBODYTALKS TO ANYBODY ELSE, AND WHERE THE HUMAN FACTOR IS FILTERED OUT OF ALMOSTEVERY ASPECT OF THE BUSINESS. THEY CALL YOU 28? EVEN CATS HAVE NAMES. I DON'T SUPPOSEYOU'D CONSIDER GIVING ME MY OLD JOB BACK,WOULD YOU? GIVE HIM HIS OLD JOB BACK,PLEASE. I GOT TO GET HOME. WHAT ABOUT SKIPPY? I THINK THIS JOBHAS SKIPPY ON THE VERGEOF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. YOU KNOW, ALEX,THIS PLACE IS NO SHOP-A-LOT. YOU'RE NOT KIDDING.I CAN'T SHOP AT ALL. YOU WEREN'T HAPPY HEREBEFORE. WHAT MAKES YOU THINKYOU'RE GONNA BE HAPPY HERE NOW? NO, SEE, I WAS HAPPY HERE.I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT. I GUESSI JUST GOT CARRIED AWAY. WHEN THEY OPENEDTHOSE BIG, AUTOMATIC DOORS FOR ME OVER THERE, WELL, I GUESS,FOR ONE BRIEF, SHINING MOMENT IT WAS SHOP-A-LOT. I MISSED YOU, ALEX. SKIPPY'S OKAY, BUT WE'RE RUNNING OUTOF ICE CREAM. [ CHUCKLES ] SO, WHEN CAN YOU START? DON'T HUG, OKAY? I'M A SENSITIVE MAN. I'D LIKE NOT TO GETEMOTIONALLY INVOLVED HERE. THAT'S $4.64. I WANT YOU TWO TO KNOWI'M CANCELING MY OTHER ERRANDS. [ CASH REGISTER DINGS ] THEY'D BE ANTICLIMACTIC. YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M GOING TOCLOSE UP A FEW MINUTES EARLY AND WATCH THE SUNSET. ARE YOU INTERESTED? THE SUNSET? DO YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH WORKI HAVE TO DO? I'LL BET SKIPPYSET THIS PLACE BACK 30 YEARS. OH, GREAT. BUSINESS WAS GOOD30 YEARS AGO. I'M SERIOUS. SO AM I. I AM GONNA WATCH THE SUNSET.ARE YOU COMING? YEAH, I'M COMING. [ COOLER HUMMING ] [ COOLER RATTLING ] WILL YOU AT LEASTCONSIDER GETTING A NEW COOLER? DON'T START.