10 Items or Less 2006

A well-known Hollywood actor Jonah Hill, who has not appeared on screen in four years, is drawn back into the spotlight when a young filmmaker named Packy recruits him for a potential comeback as a supermarket manager. The plan hinges on a short, intense observation stint: spend an hour at Archie’s Ranch Market, a Hispanic grocery in Carver City, to study its inner workings and decide if a film project could be built around this setting.

While exploring the store, the actor spots a discounted film he previously shot with Ashley Judd and quietly tries to hide it from view. An authoritative cashier’s announcement suddenly echoes through the aisles, pulling him toward the registers. The first person he notices at the moment is Scarlet, the woman at the “10 Items or Less” register, who has just delivered the announcement and earned his admiration for her rapid, efficient handling of the front lines.

The situation soon reveals a tense backstage dynamic: the other cashier negotiates a lighter workload by sleeping with the manager, leaving Scarlet to manage the tougher, more worn-out lane herself. The actor, curious about the manager’s role for his research, explains why he’s there, and Scarlet recognizes him from the Ashley Judd film. Before long, Lee, the older assistant manager, steps into the scene, and the actor shadowing him becomes a way to soak up the atmosphere—restocking shelves, observing processes, and even using the loudspeaker to commend Scarlet on her work.

As Scarlet’s shift winds down and Packy remains oddly absent, the actor finds himself needing a ride home. Scarlet reluctantly agrees to drive him after she finishes a few errands. En route, she discovers her soon-to-be ex-husband has her car keys, so they must swing by Bobby’s trailer park to retrieve them. The journey becomes an improvised window into their lives: the actor compliments her on a striking transformation, and passersby recognize him, adding a new layer of attention to their already charged encounter.

At the trailer park, Scarlet confronts Bobby and Lorraine—the other cashier—about the keys and money she’s owed. Lorraine mentions a pregnancy and Scarlet’s green card status, underscoring the personal strains she’s balancing. In the friction of the moment, Scarlet’s shirt is torn as she gathers her things, and she even backs into Lorraine’s car on the way out, forcing her to confront the immediate consequences of the chaos around her. Distraught, she contemplates canceling a later job interview, but the actor steadies her, helping her pick out a new blouse at Target—a retail experience he hasn’t enjoyed in years, yet one that impresses him with its ordinary practicality.

Back in motion, the actor coaches Scarlet through an interview technique for a construction company secretary role, turning the car wash stop into an impromptu classroom. They practice, role-playing scenarios until she gains a renewed sense of confidence and purpose. Both admit they don’t have close friends, and they share lists of favorites and hates under a playful, almost ritual bond formed in that one-hour window.

In the end, the moment arrives when the actor commits to the acting role he was considering. They reach Brentwood, and with a mix of resolve and bittersweet goodbye, they seal a pact to live fully, work with intention, look toward the future, and—perhaps for the last time—promise to never see each other again.