"Microhell!"Abandoned for New (Better) Story Idea

So Microhell! has gone the way of most story ideas - all the way to the back-back-burner. Probably never to see the light of day, but hey - c'est la vie.

The primary catalyst for this idea was the shoes the lady sitting next to me was wearing on Southwest Flight 2665 from Oakland, California to Salt Lake City, Utah last Tuesday morning, but looking back there were several things that also contributed.

But all of that is really beside the point. I present for your consideration - my new story (in screenplay format).

INT. SHOE STORE - MORNING

CHUBBY sales clerk trying to reach a shoe on one of the upper shelves on the display wall that looks like it is about to fall off, but it’s barely out of reach. A bell rings as someone enters the store. CHUBBY stops what he’s doing and rushes over to help the newly arrived customer.

CHUBBY

Hi there! And hooooow can I help
you today?

MUSCLE

Well, let’s see. I’m looking for something tall.
You know, with some height.

CHUBBY

All right. Okay. Something tall.
(Looks around the store)
How about this?

CHUBBY holds up a basketball high top shoe.

MUSCLE

Naw...You have anything taller?

CHUBBY

What about this?
(Showing him a biker boot)
This is pretty tall.

MUSCLE

I was thinking something more along the lines of...

MUSCLE starts eyeing the walls intently while CHUBBY still has the boot in hand. CHUBBY quickly gets rid of the boot, eager to find MUSCLE the perfect shoe. Camera locks in on men’s half boot that is right at the end of the men’s section. Hand reaches for the boot, but bypasses it. Camera adjusts to show that he is actually reaching for the super high heel right next to it.

CHUBBY

Oh.
(Eyes VERY wide.)

MUSCLE

You have this in my size?
(Inspecting the shoe.)

CHUBBY

(Bewildered.)
Um...I'll be right back.

CHUBBY comes back with two boxes and hands MUSCLE the shoes.

CHUBBY (CONT'D)

Not sure if they're going to fit...

MUSCLE looks very excited and sits down to try them on.

MUSCLE

Perfect! Now, do these have good ankle support?

CHUBBY

Ummm, (fake smile to deadpan) I wouldn’t know, sir.

MUSCLE uses CHUBBY as a brace to stand up, grunting a bit at the effort, which makes CHUBBY even more uncomfortable. He stands up and looks at himself in the mirror. We hear the door open and bell ring again and hear footsteps approaching.

MUSCLE

What do you think, honey?

CHUBBY turns around and does a double take.

Slow camera pan up to show a towering woman smiling down.

WOMAN

Muuuuch better...

CU of high heels facing flat shoes in profile. Cut to faces that are on the same level.

MUSCLE

So THAT’s what your eyes look like? Haha!

They kiss. Cut to them walking away towards the cash register. MUSCLE loses his footing.

WOMAN

Careful there!
(As she grabs his arm to steady him)

CHUBBY looks both ways to see if anyone is watching and then grabs a pair of high heels himself. He puts them on, reaches up and fixes the shoe he couldn’t reach before the customer came into the store.
The End.

(Optional Epilogue)
After credits roll, CHUBBY walks past SKINNY who is standing behind the cash register. SKINNY hears and sees the high heels that CHUBBY is still wearing.

SKINNY

Uh, what are you doing?

CHUBBY

A man’s gotta do...what a man’s gotta do.
(As he walks towards camera, shoeboxes in hand)