Anna Patterson - Disgrace of the Vain Footed Lady

SCREENPLAY

By Romance Novelist Anna Patterson

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Screenplay

Disgrace of the Vain-Footed Lady

A modern problem, old-fashioned family drama.

Its Christmas and a family faces a dramatic crisis. Elizabeth is in a rage. She must move back in with her widowed mother, recently remarried. She is hoping to find family love and sanctuary here.

Her younger brother still lives with Mom and resents this sudden intrusion. They hurl insults at each other as she begs her mother for room for her shoes!

Her stepdad refuses her request stating emphatically he had no room in his house for a disgraced vain-footed lady!

A Screenplay of Forty Pages.

DISGRACE OF THE VAIN-FOOTED LADY

About this Screenplay:

This is a work of fiction. Names, places and all incidents are the products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously.

After many years of employment, Elizabeth Webb feels her life is in turmoil. She must move in with her widowed mother, Desi Hammond ONeil. Her younger brother lives there also. This means moving back to Midland, Texas, where she was raised but hasnt even visited in many years.

It is the Christmas Holidays. Elizabeth expects there to be many changes, but she does not expect a new stepdad, Charles ONeal, and it seems that no matter what they both do, they just cant seem to get along.

Arguments can sometimes start over the silliest things; her mother just wants to put her foot down and make her daughter get rid of her stuff (years of accumulations). She especially wants her to throw away some of her old shoes. Stepdad warns, his wife, Desi, is right, why on earth would Elizabeth Webb fight over a box of old mis-matched shoes.

Things come to a head when he requests stating emphatically, he has no room in his house for a disgraced vain-footed lady!

CAST OF CHARACTERS

DISGRACE OF THE VAIN FOOTED LADY

1. Elizabeth Webb out of a job and moving back home
2. Desi Hammond ONeil widowed mother, remarried to Elizabeths surprise
3. Clark Hammond younger brother who lives there
4. Stepdad Charles ONeil tries to keep peace in his new family
5. Virginia Roland, a married neighbor.
6. Philip Madison clergyman and friend
7. Jack Willis, friend
8. Evie Goldman old friend of Elizabeths
9. Louis Matlock unmarried neighbor

DISGRACE OF THE VAIN FOOTED LADY

A screenplay by Romance Novelist Anna Patterson

There is no one lonelier than a person with a loving heart and no one to love.

Quote from Charles ONeil, stepdad in this piece.

Prologue:

This screenplay centers on a small but changing family. The entire screenplay takes place in Midland, Texas, Present Time.

Midland, Texas is situated on the Southern Plains of the state of Texas western part. Its population is over one hundred thousand and increasing. The city covers 71.5 square miles (in my research findings).

This Screenplay is about a family drama about a woman who feels her own character is flawed, and she hopes to renew her life goals but finds her small family faces its own challenges as they renew their own lives and seek the courage they need to face the future.

DISGRACE OF THE VAIN FOOTED LADY

NARRIATOR: It is the Holiday Season and a small family is facing a dramatic crisis.

Its just a few days before Christmas and Elizabeth has flown home but not just to visit, she is having to move in after losing her job.

She has sent some of her things on ahead, in boxes, and things she has mailed or sent by post to her mothers house.

Now she appears tired, worn out, and facing a future impossible to see beforehand.

She hopes her family can lift her spirits and help her get back on her feet. They hope so to.

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FADE IN: Somewhere in Midland, Texas Present Time

DAY IN THE DRIVEWAY OF THE FAMILY HOME.

This is the family home of Charles ONeil and his wife Desi Hammond ONeil. The house is a modest home but a split level with an upstairs, and a one car garage to the side.

The expansive house has a white stone exterior and brown shutters. A wooden privacy fence surrounds the backyard, but the front yard has a few trees and a sidewalk.

Clark Hammond is trying to shake his sister gently awake. She has fallen asleep and now they have arrived at their destination.

Coming Home

Outside in driveway just in front of closed garage door.

It is a bright sunny day.

Clark Hammond shakes his sister awake. She is slumped over in her car set. He has just driven her from the airport.

He helps her with her car seat best.

Clark is a handsome man in his early forties. He is shaking his older sister awake.

She is fifty years old and he is clearly worried about her. She is calm.

CLARK: Elizabeth. Sis! You fell asleep!

ELIZABETH: I did not. Surely, I was not sleeping.

CLARK: You were snoring my dear!

ELIZABETH: I dont snore!

CLARK: Since when?

ELIZABETH: I mean it. I havent been home for years.

CLARK: Well I wont argue. You sure were asleep, though.

ELIZABETH: (sheepishly) I missed a lot of sleep. And I waited some for you.

CLARK: Stop. Im sorry. We had a brief sandstorm. I waited it out. I should have started out earlier or called you. You know Im always late. Sorry, I was late though.

ELIZABETH: Thats okay. I saw part of that storm. Pretty scary.

ELIZABETH: I had been thinking about things while I was waiting for you to pick me up at the airport. I guess I must admit my thoughts were more like memories. Do you remember that park we used to go to?

CLARK: That is back in the past. You were tadpole fishing with your younger brother. What made you think of that, much less dream of it.

ELIZABETH: Coming home, I guess, maybe it is just me coming back home, but we saved that kids life, REMEMBER?

CLARK: I remember now. That little boy flying that kite. It was too big for him. And then the storm came. That sudden wind and then the lightning. Now I remember we both just ran ran through the rain, the lightning. The kid was hit by lightning. His kite just blew away. We both worked on him to get him breathing again.

ELIZABETH: We had just learned that CPR in school that year. He lived but it blew his shoes off and burnt his clothes. We tried to find his shoes, but I found one later and could not figure out how to get it back to him.

CLARK: Look, we better go in. Mother is waiting.

They both got out of the car. Her brother helps her with her luggage.

ELIZABETH: Did those boxes arrive?

CLARK: Yes, they sure did. Some boxes came.

ELIZABETH: It was all I could do. I sent them here as best I could.

CLARK: (Worried) Mother opened one.

ELIZABETH: I asked her on the phone not to do that!

THEY HAD BOTH STOPPED AT THE FRONT DOOR NOW.

CLARK: It was heavy and a little torn. It just had a bunch of old shoes, not even matching in it.

CLOSE SHOT ELIZABETH

ELIZABETH: (Her voice shakes. She hides her face in her hands after dropping the handle of the suitcase she was holding.) Just tell me what she did with them. She didnt throw them, away did she.

CLARK: How can you say that? Mother never throws anything away!

ELIZABETH: What a relief.

CLARK: (tenderly, fearfully) Sis, I need to tell you something. Mother has remarried.

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INSIDE OF HOME

DESI: Where have you two been? (She watches as her two children come in and her son shuts the door.

DESI: (Turning to her husband) He is always late, but Elizabeth never is!

ELIZABETH: Hi, Mother!

DESI: Meet your new stepfather

CLOSE SHOT CLARK

Clark: (His voice vibrant) What an introduction.