The Second-Hand Shoe Shop

3 characters: James, Wanderer, Archie

Scene 1

A barren, blasted landscape is visible in the background. Across the front of the stage is a damaged road. In centre stage, a wooden shop stand sits, made of odd shapes of scavenged wood like a shanty house. Inside, James leans back on a stool against the wall closest to stage left, reading a book. He’s wearing a torn white shirt, dirty hoodie and formal trousers held up by a rope belt. His shoes don’t match, and he’s in his thirties or thereabouts.

The book he’s reading has no cover or discernible features. Behind him, a small shelf contains some more unmarked, tattered books. In the opposite side of the shopfront, a large pile of worn, dusty shoes are visible. The top of the hut contains a large plank of wood with the shop name burned into it. Second Shoe.

We can hear the quiet howling of the wind. It is the only sound.

James turns the page of his book.

(Pause)

Then he turns to the next page.

(Pause)

He closes his book, gets up and walks over to the shelf. He places his book on it gently, then removes another book, sits back down and opens it somewhere in the middle.

(Beat)

WANDERER enters stage right, walking down the road, wearing a tattered coat and backpack. James notices him and perks up.

James: (eagerly) Hello Sir! Might I inte-

The wanderer breaks into a sprint, leaving stage left. James watches him go, then returns to reading his book.

ARCHIE walks on from stage left, looking over his shoulder down the road. He is wearing a thick jacket around his waist, the sleeves tied up around him. His shirt has several holes in and is bleached by the sun. He carries a large pack on his back, with various small tools hanging from it with rope. He’s only wearing one shoe, the other barefoot.

James: Why hello there sir!

Archie jumps and turns to face James. He sees the shop sign and relaxes. Slightly.

James: you sir seem to be a shoe short. Might I be able to interest you in my wide array of second

shoes? Just 1 can of soup per shoe, and with a trade in I can give you a new set!

Archie looks down at his own shoe.

Archie: Yea, Okay.

James: Fantastic sir, might I be able to see your current footwear?

Archie takes off his shoe and hands it to James, who starts to compare the sole to some shoes from the pile.

James: So sir, could I ask what brings you round these parts? And what do I call you?

Archie: I’m Archie.

James: Ah, its nice to meet you Archie, and why you’re here?

Archie: That’s a nice sign. How’d you burn it on like that?

James: (excitedly) Well Archie, I couldn’t find any flint or matches, but I did find this piece of glass.

The next sunny day, I spent hours etching it in like that! I think it worked out very well.

Archie: (nodding) Nice trick.

(Pause, James finds one shoe the right size and starts looking for another to pair with it.)

James: You can call me James by the way Archie.

(Pause, James finds a second shoe, and places both on the counter next to each other. Neither look new, and they don’t match)

James: Here you are sir! Two fresh shoes for your journeys.

Archie: Thanks.

Archie puts on the shoes, and walks around in a circle.

Archie: They’ll do.

James: That’s wonderful to hear. And my soup, sir?

Archie sprints off towards stage right. James tries to vault the shopfront, but gets his foot caught and he falls over, hitting his knee on the tarmac. He struggles up and watches Archie disappear off stage right.

James: Damn thief!

(pause)

Slowly, James turns back to the shopfront, dejected and nursing his knee. He struggles back inside and sits back down on his stool. He sees Archies original shoe still sitting on the counter, and throws it on the pile. He picks up his book and begins to read.

Scene end.