We’re looking down an aisle in the electronics department of some unnamed-but-clearly-Wal-Mart shopping center. There’s no audio, no crowd, no movement aside from the television screens in the back, and the nervous fidgeting of a solitary figure facing the rack to the right. He’s 17, tallish, wearing a green shirt that’s way too large for him. He hesitantly picks up an mp3 player case, inspects it, looks around, and runs.
CUT TO BLACK:
A large, white number 1 is set harshly against a black background, accompanied by a sudden burst of sound.
CUT TO:
Freeze frame of RON, the kid, mid-run.
RON (V.O.)
I’m a fucking idiot.
Back to normal speed, with an upbeat and hi-tempo punk song in the background. Something along the line of Bad Reputation, but not. RON quickly attracts the attention of security guards.
RON (V.O.)
I just remembered what I did. I ran. Why did I do that? Out of all of the possible courses of action I could’ve taken, I went with the one that drew the most attention. Seriously. Fuck me.
RON accidentally tackles a bystander.
FREEZE:
RON (V.O.)
Oh, crap. Forgot the intro.
CUT TO BLACK:
RON (V.O.)
Let’s start over.
Everything that takes place chronologically before RON tackles the bystander is now playing backwards at a high speed. VHS style rewind artifacts obscure enough of the action that the audience won’t mind watching it at normal speed. The opening credits go over this, with a song by Atom and His Package in the background. Hopefully “I’m Downright Amazed At What I Can Destroy With Just A Hammer”.
RON levitates off his back from a bed as the film rewinds, and then collapses back down as time slows, stops, then returns to normal. He stares at the ceiling, turns to his side, and tries to sleep.
