EXTRACT FROM 'THE SHOE'
by Peter Devonald and Kevin Scrantz
COPYRIGHT 2004-2009: Contact pdevonald@hotmail.com for more details

               FADE IN:



               BLACK SCREEN

               TITLE CARD: THE SHOE

               A truck's engine idles O.S.



               EXT. STREET - DAY

               The idling truck shifts into gear and drives off. It's been
               raining: the street has a wet, sticky, shiny feel to it.
               Footsteps all around. 

               A bland wing tip shoe lies in the middle of the road.

               Cars go past.

               PEOPLE walk by ignoring the shoe. They're old, young, male,
               female. 

               Cars slow down, run over the shoe.

               More people walk past, eyes not looking at the shoe.



               YOUNG GIRL 

               Appears on the pavement, escorted by her shrill prim
               MOTHER. 

               The Girl sees the shoe, stops, stares at it.

                                   GIRL
                         Look, Mum!

               Her face tilts, confused, frowning. 

                                   MOTHER 
                         Come on, we'll be late.

               Mother tugs Girl's hand, tries to make her follow.

                                   GIRL
                         But look!

                                   MOTHER
                         Look, what? It's an old shoe.

               More People, more cars. The shoe lies there.

                                   MOTHER 
                         I won't tell you again.

                                   GIRL
                         But, Mum -

               Mother grabs her arm and pulls her away. 

               Empty pavement.

               Girl returns, fascinated with the shoe.

                                   GIRL
                         It must belong to someone.

                                   MOTHER
                         Yes, some drunk clown, no doubt.

                                   GIRL
                         A clown?

                                   MOTHER 
                         Now come on! It's dirty and
                         smelly and you mustn't touch it.

                                   GIRL
                         But won't the clown need his
                         shoe? 

               Girl steps off the curb to retrieve the shoe -

               CAR SPEEDS PAST.

               Mother drags Girl back.

                                   MOTHER 
                         Don't go into traffic, what is
                         wrong with you?! 

               Girl stares at the shoe in the wet street, transfixed.

               She breathes out deeply, thoughtful.



               EXT. STREET - DAY (FANTASY)

               A CLOWN backlit in a haze of white light, smiles.



               EXT. STREET - DAY

               Cars go past. Girls' attention is just on the shoe. Mother
               puts her hands on her hips, scowls at the Girl.

                                   MOTHER
                         We're going to be late, and Daddy
                         will be annoyed -

                                   GIRL
                         But if it's a clown, shouldn't we
                         help him? 

                                   MOTHER
                         But nothing, I told you we're
                         late. I don't have time to track
                         down some worthless drunk just to
                         reunite him with his long lost
                         shoe. Now come on!

               Mother tugs Girl by the arm. Girl loudly shrieks.

                                   GIRL
                         Ow! Ow! You're breaking my arm!

               PASSERS-BY stop and stare. Mother, mortified, looks at
               them, apologetic.

                                   MOTHER
                             (to Passers-by)
                         She's only saying that to get her
                         way.

               Passers-by slow down, watch them. Mother desperately turns
               back to the Girl.

                                   MOTHER
                         Now you tell them I'm not
                         breaking your arm.

                                   GIRL
                         She's not, really.

               Passers-by disperse. Mother smiles at the people as they
               leave.

               She snaps back, glares at Girl.

                                   MOTHER
                         Don't think your father won't
                         hear about this.

               Girl taps her mouth, thinks out loud.

                                   GIRL
                         I think... I think if it's a
                         clown's shoe, then we should
                         return it, even if he is drunk.



               EXT. STREET - DAY (FANTASY)

               The wing tip shoe and its mate appear on the feet of the
               CLOWN. 

               Plastered in makeup, downbeat around the eyes, he lurches
               along drunk. He clutches a giant novelty liquor bottle
               under his arm and a bunch of big red balloons on strings.