343. Fathers and Daughters - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. MASTER BEDROOM - AFTERNOON


• MATTHEW sits at the edge of his bed, a pair of dress shoes on his knees.


• LUCY, his daughter, sits on the bed next to him, another pair of shoes on her knees, trying to look as much like him as possible.


• A little table sits in front of them, Matthew's shoe-shine kit and a glass with a little water neatly laid out on the wooden surface.


• Matthew grabs a can of shoe polish and pops it open, laying the top back on the table.


• MATTHEW
• Alright, now watch carefully. You put just a drop of water in the top, like this.


• He pours water from the glass into the metal tin.


• He grabs a well-worn rag from his hit and taking the wax in one hand he applies wax in a smooth circular motion to the rag.


• Lucy grabs a smaller tin of black wax and quickly copies his action.


• Her motion is unpracticed and jerky.


• MATTHEW
• Smoothly, smoothly. Little circles like this. Ok, good, now see, you have enough? Dip it into the water, just a drop.


• He takes his cloth, the waxed-up section wrapped around his finger, and dabs it carefully into the water.


• A small, perfectly round droplet stands sits on the wax.


• MATTHEW
• See, this is how you do a spit-shine.


• Lucy watches, carefully, quietly.


• He takes the cloth and begins applying it to his left shoe in the same smooth, round motion.


• Lucy copies him.


• The scuffed, shiny surface of the shoes go to a dull, matte, black.


• They work quietly, Lucy following his every motion, polishing the exact same parts of her shoe as he.


• He finishes the left shoe and places it on the table and begins on the right shoe.


• He looks over as Lucy begins her new shoe.


• MATTHEW
• There! You're getting it. Just like my father taught me.


• LUCY
• How old were you?


• MATTHEW
• Oh, I think I was your age.


• Lucy looks at him and wrinkles her nose, trying to imagine him as a nine-year old.


• MATTHEW
• Can't see it can you?


• He pokes her with an elbow and she giggles.


• MATTHEW
• Your grandfather taught me well. When I was a teenager, I worked at a barbershop shining shoes for the guys getting haircuts. Mr. Oglesby's barbershop...


• He keeps polishing quietly, lost in memories.


• LUCY
• You're gonna make me work at a barbershop?


• He pokes her again.


• MATTHEW
• Only if you want.


• They finish their shoes.


• MATTHEW
• Ok, here's the fun part.


• He grabs the left shoe and a thick, black brush, and begins brushing the shoe vigorously in strong, choppy motions.


• Lucy giggles.


• Matthew chuckles at the odd motion.


• MATTHEW
• You try it.


• Lucy grabs her left shoe and begins brushing in exaggerated motions.


• They laugh and he mimics her.


• MATTHEW
• Look, look, you see that?


• As they brush, the matte color of the shoes transforms into a clean, shiny, reflective black.


• LUCY
• Ohhh.


• MATTHEW
• This is my favorite part. Careful there, don't miss the back. Good, good.


• Lucy scoots closer to him and he smiles at her.


• They sit, brushing and laughing in the afternoon sun.


• FADE TO BLACK.