The Apartment Page #5

KIRKEBY:

Sure, sure. Look, kid -- I put in

a good word for you with Sheldrake,

in Personnel.

BUD:

(perking up)

Mr. Sheldrake?

KIRKEBY:

That's right. We were discussing

our department -- manpower-wise --

and promotion-wise --

(finds the galoshes

behind a chair)

-- and I told him what a bright boy

you were. They're always on the

lookout for young executives.

BUD:

Thank you, Mr. Kirkeby.

KIRKEBY:

(starting toward door)

You're on your way up, Buddy-boy.

And you're practically out of liquor.

BUD:

I know. Mr. Eichelberger -- in the

Mortgage Loan Department -- last

night he had a little Halloween

party here --

KIRKEBY:

Well, lay in some vodka and some

vermouth -- and put my name on it.

BUD:

Yes, Mr. Kirkeby. You still owe me

for the last two bottles --

KIRKEBY:

I'll pay you on Friday.

(in the open doorwaY)

And whatever happened to those

little cheese crackers you used to

have around?

He exits, shutting the door.

BUD:

(making a mental note)

Cheese crackers.

He carries his load into the kitchen.

The kitchen is minute and cluttered. On the drainboard are

an empty vermouth bottle, some ice-cube trays, a jar with

one olive in it, and a crumpled potato-chip bag.

Bud comes in, dumps his load on the drainboard, opens the

old-fashioned refrigerator. He takes out a frozen chicken

dinner, turns the oven on, lights it with a match, rips the

protective paper off the aluminum tray and shoves it in.

Now he starts to clean up the mess on the drainboard. He

rinses the cocktail glasses, is about to empty the martini

pitcher into the sink, thinks better of it. He pours the

contents into a glass, plops the lone olive out of the jar,

scoops up the last handful of potato chips, toasts an

imaginary companion, and drinks up. Then he pulls a

wastebasket from under the sink.

It is brimful of liquor bottles, and Bud adds the empty

vodka and vermouth bottles and the olive jar. Picking up

the heavy receptacle, he carries it through the living room

toward the hall door.

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