Original artwork, not a still
I'm not even supposed to be here today!
— Clerks • 1994
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It is the complaint of anyone dragged into work they never chose, and Dante keeps saying it because it is half true. Randal calls him out on the other half: the line is also an excuse. That mix of whining and honesty made it a slogan for retail workers everywhere.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for ClerksShow the scene
In Kevin Smith's black-and-white Clerks (1994), Dante Hicks is told to cover a morning shift on his day off at the Quick Stop in Leonardo, New Jersey. He repeats the complaint through a day of locked shutters, a hockey game on the roof and a funeral. He says it for the last time in a furious blow-up at his friend Randal, who mimics it back and points out that nobody forced him to come in. Smith shot the film for about 27,575 dollars, in stores where he worked.
Sources (2)
- Wikipedia: Clerks (film)Plot section; leadReference checked
- Wikiquote: ClerksDante Hicks quotes; Dante and Randal exchangeReference checked
Context reviewed
