I agree! I agree so hard--not that I've seen the film, but just from your description. Perkins is trying hard to hold onto a job, a horrible job! Who knows who's dependent on him--maybe an old mother, maybe an invalid father, maybe an orphaned nephew. What a lot of story in those 99 seconds! And you're right too about him being a great example of unexpected friends. Nice. Really nice.

(I giggled at your remark about the narration pushing its luck, eavesdropping on thoughts. Oh God!)