3Hullo. This scene was written for my playwriting class and was inspired by Ernest Hemingway's six word short story: 'For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.' And this doesn't really become evident when the scene isn't read aloud, but the first part was meant to be comedic. I hope you find it funny...
Okay, read on!
P.S.: please tell me what you think! Thanks!
Baby Shoes
Vancouver, Canada: Downtown East Side, West Hastings Park.
Shy: Baby shoes, baby shoes! (enter Woman) Miss, would you like baby shoes? They're brand new, never worn.
Woman: No, thank you. (exit Woman)
Shy: Baby shoes, baby shoes! (enter Man) Hi, would you like to buy some brand new baby shoes?
Man: What would I need baby shoes for?
Shy: For your baby…?
Man: I don't have a baby and I don't want one. Go away.
Shy: Okay, okay. Alright, then. For sale: Baby shoes! Never worn!
Man: Go get a real job! Stop panhandling. It's people like you that I have to pay my taxes for. Damn you and your panhandling friends. Float your own boat! (exit Man)
Shy: (aside) I'm not panhandling. I'm just… I've no use for… (enter Woman 2) Hello, ma'am, would you like new baby shoes? They were never worn. Here they are. (presents shoes proudly to Woman 2)
Woman 2: (hesitant) Oh, lovely shoes. But I don't really need them. I just bought my baby new shoes last week. (exit Woman 2)
Shy: Uh, okay-? (enter Woman 3)
Woman 3: Oh my, those are very nice shoes.
Shy: Yeah? They are! Would you like to buy them?
Woman 3: I would've thought you'd want them. Don't you need them?
Shy: No, not really. My-
(Woman 3's phone rings)
Woman 3: Hello? (pause) Oh, yes, I'm actually on my way there. (pause) Yes, right this moment. I'll see you. (pause) Okay, 'bye. (to Shy) Well, I'm very sorry but I have to go. What's your name?
Shy: Oh, my name is Shy.
Woman 3: Well, Shy, I hope you find good use for those shoes. Have a nice day.
Shy: (aside) Yeah, I hope so too. (to Woman 3) Yeah, enjoy your day. (exit Woman 3, enter Woman 4) Hi. Baby shoes? They're new, never worn at all.
Woman 4: You know, you won't sell anything if you're all gloomy.
Shy: I tried smiling. It didn't really work. I guess either way, it really isn't going to work. Who'll buy these shoes from me? Everybody thinks I'm out to scam them.
Woman 4: Are you?
Shy: Of course not! I just want to get rid of these. I don't even know why I bought them. I should've known… I'm so stupid.
Woman 4: Is it something you can share? Because if it is, I'll listen. I've got plenty of time.
Shy: (starts crying) I let my angels die, Lara and Kate. We were in a car crash. I was driving. It was nighttime and rainy and I didn't see the truck… The ambulance was too late… I held onto them, but they left me. It was too early for my little Kate to die. All that was left were these shoes. I never had the chance to give them to her. Lara didn't even know that I bought them for Kate.
Woman 4: Oh, I am so sorry.
Shy: I'm selling these shoes so I can forget about what happened. I want to start anew.
Woman 4: (takes shoes from Shy) I'll buy them. I'm sure they'll fit one of my nieces. (pays for the shoes)
Shy: Thank you, kind ma'am. (exit Woman 4, enter Psychiatrist)
Psychiatrist: Are you alright, Shy? Come on, let's get you back home.
Shy: No. I don't want to.
Psychiatrist: Shy, you sold your baby's shoes and our deal was you sell them and then you come back again with me. And plus, it's getting late. You need to rest and I'm pretty sure you're hungry right now. Come on, Shy, let's go home.
Shy: No, I have to come home to Lara and Kate.
Psychiatrist: But they're gone, Shy. They're not here anymore, you know that. Come with me.
Shy: NO!
Psychiatrist: I didn't want to do this, but you asked for it. (sedates Shy) I'm really sorry, Shy. I don't like doing this to you or to anyone else. (drags Shy away)
Shy: For sale… baby shoes… never worn… because Kate was unborn…
End scene.