Charlie's Shoes

By Robert Ale

The story begins at Charlie’s birthday party. Everyone’s having a good time until, Michael, Charlie’s brother, stands up and starts drunkenly yelling at Charlie. Charlie expects such behavior from his difficult brother. But not only did, Michael yell at Charlie during his karaoke song, he also knocked himself, and Charlie’s wife, Katie, into the pool. Charlie says enough is enough, and orders Michael to leave immediately. All of this leads to a four-year fight between the brothers. During the four-year fight, Michael’s life begins to tumble away. He has no friends, no one to be there for him, and he ends up getting himself into prison. And that’s where the four-year fight comes to an end. While Michael’s in prison he uses his phone call to call, Charlie. During his phone call, he proposes to, Charlie, an idea. He proposes that, Charlie should break him out of prison.

Charlie obviously declines, but his marriage begins a roller coaster ride that’s only heading down. His failing marriage leads him to consider the proposal even more. And eventually, Katie becomes too much for Charlie to handle, so he goes half a state away to break his brother out of confinement. But by doing so, it leaves Katie to question her and Charlie’s relationship. As Katie’s questioning their relationship, Charlie’s gathering men for the prison escape. Charlie eventually frees his brother from a life in prison, but shortly after he does this, Katie, calls him up. She calls him up explaining that a long break, or possibly a divorce would be beneficial for the both of them. When Charlie hears this, he freaks out and takes it out on, Michael. This leaves, Charlie and Michael in a new fight, and Charlie and Katie in another. Charlie then plots another plan to win back both his brother and his wife, but will it succeed?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Ale
• Release date: Mar 27, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311850003

Robert Ale

I write all types of stories

Book preview

The following text fades in over black with voice over from CHARLIE KETZ:

This is a true story. The events being told took place in Nevada in 2004. At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred.

Flare to white

Fade in from White

Ext. Charlie's Backyard - night

It's Charlie's birthday party, and it's a pretty extravagant one. There are tables of food, a pool, a jacuzzi, a karaoke station, and etc.

It's clear Charlie's a rich one.

The karaoke that's going on at the moment's just finishing up.

We see Charlie and his wife, KATIE KETZ sitting at a table.

Both Charlie and Katie are in their mid thirties, and both look good for their age.

KATIE

You wanna go up there with me?

CHARLIE

No... No.

KATIE

C'mon, it'd be fun. I mean, it is your party, and I think it's like an unwritten rule that the host must sing at least one song on the karaoke machine.

CHARLIE

Hmm. I don't think that's true, but okay.

Charlie and Katie walk up to the karaoke machine.

The music starts and the song, Don't Go Breaking My Heart by, Elton John begins to play, or possibly any other love song.

KaTIE

We're going to sing, Don't Go Breaking My Heart.

Titles begin to roll.

CHARLIE

Don't go breaking my heart.

KATIE

I couldn't if I tried.

CHARLIE

Honey if I get restless.

KATIE

Baby you're not that kind.

CHARLIE

Don't go breaking my heart.

KATIE

You take the weight off me.

CHARLIE

Honey when you knocked on my door.

KATIE

I gave you my key.

BOTH

Nobody knows it.

CHARLIE

When I was down.

KATIE

I was your clown.

BoTH

Nobody knows it.

CHARLIE

Right from the start.

Katie

I gave you my heart.

(beat)

I gave you my heart.

CHARLIE

So don't go breaking my heart.

KATIE

I won't go breaking your heart.

Both

Don't go breaking my heart.

CHARLIE

And nobody told us.

KATIE

'Cause nobody showed us.

CHARLIE

And now it's up to us babe.

KATIE

I think we can make it.

CHARLIE

So don't misunderstand me.

KATIE

You put the light in my life.

CHARLIE

You put the sparks to the flame.

KATIE

I've got your heart in my sights.

CHARLIE

Nobody knows it... When I was down.

KATIE

I was your clown.

CHARLIE

Nobody knows it... Right from the start.

KATIE

I gave you my heart... I gave you my heart.

CHARLIE

So don't go breaking my heart.

KATIE

I won't go breaking your heart.

Beat.

BOTH

Don't go breaking my heart.

There's a long beat, and Katie begins to dance a little more now that there's no singing.

CHARLIE

Nobody knows it... When I was down.

KATIE

I was your clown.

CHARLIE

Right from the start.

KATIE

I gave you my heart.

(beat)

I gave you my heart.

CHARLIE

So don't go breaking my heart.

KATIE

I won't go breaking your heart.

CHARLIE

Don't go breaking my heart.

(beat)

Don't go breaking my heart.

Beat.

KATIE

I won't go breaking your heart.

CHARLIE

Don't go breaking my heart.

Beat.

KATIE

I won't go breaking your heart.

ChARLIE

Don't go breaking my heart.

Beat.

KATIE

I won't go breaking your heart.

End titles

As the titles begin to wrap up so does the song, and as the song ends, Charlie and Katie get a round of applause from the guests.

But as they're getting their applause Charlie's brother, MICHAEL KETZ, who's in his early thirties, stands up, and starts clapping.

MICHAEL

Oh yeah, that was just great. Real fucking great.

Michael's clearly drunk.

CHARLIE

Thanks, Michael. Why don't you sit down? You look a little drunk.

MICHAEL

Don't tell me what to do, Charlie. You're always telling me what to do, Charlie.

Michael walks over to Charlie and Katie.

CHARLIE

My brother everyone!

Michael stumbles and falls onto Katie knocking her and himself into the pool.

The guests gasp and Katie screams.

Michael then emerges from the water and throws up into the pool.

Title card: Four years later

INT. Charlie's Kitchen - Day

Charlie is now in his late thirties.

He walks into the kitchen where Katie, who's also in her late thirties, sits eating her food.

CHARLIE

Hey, good