MY FAMILY CIRCUS

By

David M. Tregde

dtregde@gmail.com

http://davidtregdecreations.com

Copyright: Climbing the LAdder

Productions

FADE IN:

EXT. LOS ANGELES CITY BLOCK - DAY

Bright sun, clear sky. Tall, dark, glass building. Busy

street. Pedestrians hurrying by.

Straight-laced JOHN (22)--dressed in solid tie, tailored

jacket, and slacks--exits building. He exhales a heavy sigh

before loosening his tie.

He pulls a notepad out of his pocket and flips it open. On

it are the names of banks and financial institutions written

in neat calligraphy; most are crossed off. He crosses off

one more.

He returns the notepad to his pocket, turns and walks down

the street.

INT. THE CLOWN’S DEN - DAY

Passive-aggressive FATHER (40s) and confrontational MOTHER

(40s) move around the first floor tidying up and putting the

final touches on their clown costumes. Props and clown

paraphernalia crowd the coffee table and shelf space in the

den. Models and figurines of clown fish scatter the house.

John cautiously opens the front door, his parents’ presence

surprises him. After a moment, he recovers and closes the

door. Parents cease costuming.

FATHER

Where’ve you been?

John looks at his Father briefly before averting his gaze.

MOTHER

Answer your father.

John looks down, takes a deep breath. Father crosses to

John, his clown shoes making a light SQUEAKING noise. He

tugs at John’s tie.

FATHER

What is this?

JOHN

A tie.

MOTHER

Where are the polka-dots?

John doesn’t respond.

2.

FATHER

What’s wrong with your regular

clothes?

JOHN

No one would take me seriously--

Mother adjusts her wig.

MOTHER

Clowning is a very serious

business. We’ve tried to teach you

that all your life. I guess we

failed.

JOHN

It’s not like that. I just--

MOTHER

What?

JOHN

...Nothing.

BEAT.

FATHER

This came for you today.

Father pulls an opened letter from a deep pocket and

hands to John. John excitedly and skims it. He then looks

at his parents. He clears his throat and puts the letter

down.

FATHER

Business School?

MOTHER

What’s going on, John?

Silence. John waits, braces himself for coming reaction.

JOHN

I don’t want to be a clown.

Father turns away, ripping off his clown nose. Mother

stands.

JOHN

I’ve never liked clowning.

3.

MOTHER

I don’t believe this.

JOHN

This really shouldn’t be a

surprise.

FATHER

We gave you everything, and now

you’re throwing a pie in our face.

JOHN

I just don’t want to put on this

act anymore.

MOTHER

It’s who you are.

JOHN

It’s not, at all.

FATHER

John, don’t you see. You we’re

always meant to clown. You were

born a clown and you’re going to

die a clown, just like everyone

else in our family.

Family photos of all three are scattered throughout the

room. Old black and whites transition into modern portraits

of John and his parents. Throughout the photos, John is

dressed in a jacket and tie.

JOHN

I don’t want to make balloon

animals until I’m sidelined by

carpal tunnel, I don’t want to

take pies in the face until I’m on

oxygen, I’m sick of reliving

facial puberty because of all the

makeup, And I’m sick of making

kids cry because their parents let

them watch IT way too young, I

don’t want to be a clown!

John takes in a deep breath after unleashing his

attack. Stunned, his parents wait to respond.

MOTHER

Well you better get over all that.

4.

JOHN

Why?

FATHER

Because Uncle Scotts-O’s circus is

in town and we are expected to make

a family appearance.

JOHN

I’m not going.

MOTHER

Oh, yes you are. And we’re all

going to perform.

JOHN

What?

FATHER

Your mother promised your uncle

we’d be in his act.

JOHN

You’re kidding.

FATHER

For once, I am not.

JOHN

I’m not going to go.

MOTHER

You’re being ridiculous.

JOHN

Says the woman in the rainbow afro.

MOTHER

Then good luck.

JOHN

With what?

MOTHER

Finding a place to live, because,

unless you start clowning around

real fast, you’re out on your

own. The reunion is in one hour.

John looks down at his watch, processing the reunion before

processing the threat.

5.

JOHN

You’d really kick me out?

MOTHER

You think you can make it out there

on your own?

FATHER

It’s not like you’ve ever been on

your own.

JOHN

You’ve never let me try.

MOTHER

Fine. Go out there and find a job

and a place to stay, and we’ll just

roll over and let you stomp on

everything we’ve done for you.

JOHN

Don’t take this personally.

FATHER

When you refuse to accept what

makes you who you are, it is

personal. We’re you’re family,

John. We’re all that you have.

JOHN

You’ve never given me a choice.

MOTHER

Well, now you have one. Get

dressed for the reunion, or get

out.

John opens his mouth to respond, then closes it. He exits

to his room.

INT. JOHN’S ROOM - DAY

John tosses his jacket and tie on his bed. He pulls out his

costume--plaid pants and striped shirt with suspenders--and

lays it beside his jacket and tie. He walks over to his

desk where a clown doll sits.

John sits in front of his desk/mirror. He applies his clown

makeup. He finishes with wig and nose. He draws a smile

over his disheartened expression.

6.

John picks up a family photo from about 10 years

previous. His younger self is dressed in a jacket and tie

similar to the one he wore to his job interviews. His

parents are decked out in full clown gear. John puts down

the photo and steps away from his desk.

INT. THE CLOWN’S DEN - DAY

Mother and Father sit on couch waiting for John. John,

dressed in his earlier jacket and tie, enters carrying

suitcase, his fish, and his clown nose. His parents look

from his feet to his face. He crosses to his dad, puts his

clown nose on his dad’s nose...

John and his parents stare at each other.

JOHN

Goodbye.

EXT. THE CLOWN’S HOUSE - DAY

[SLOW MOTION]

John emerges from the house with his suitcase and clown

doll, strolling freely down the driveway to his

comically-small, red car. He places his suitcase in the

back seat and his fish in the passenger seat. He starts the

car, drives away, HONKING his clownishly quirky horn.

FADE OUT