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WOODWORKING WITH LOU
BY
Benjamin L Canning
copyright teamjobbie productions 2003
INT - SMALL WEATHER BOARD HOUSE – DAY
Lou is sixty eight years old and retired he has just
walked in the front door with a big bunch of flowers
for his wife. Lou is dressed in a pair of old carpenters
overalls, is a bit over weight and has a huge bald
spot on his head. Lou makes his way through the
house towards the kitchen with a big smile on his
face, he can smell the aroma of a tomato based
spagetti sauce cooking. as Lou gets to the kitchen
he hides the flowers behind his back, he sees his
wife Rosa stirring cooking food in a big pot on the
stove Rosa turns to see Lou walk into the kitchen.
Rosa has an apron on and is short and frumpy, she
also has a bit of a mustache and goatee. Rosa looks at
Lou with an annoyed look on her face, Lou, still with
a big smile on his face pulls out the big bunch of
roses from behind his back and presents them to his
wife Rosa. Rosa walks over to Lou, smiles and takes
the roses from him, she slowly takes a couple of steps
backwards and still with a smile on her face she opens
up the kitchen bin and throws the roses inside. she
smiles at Lou, Lou's smile quickly turns to a dejected
glare and he lowers his head, he's eyes almost start
to water. Rosa point to the exit of the kitchen as if
to say stop wasting my time and get out. Lou turns
around and slowly makes his way out of the kitchen
and into the lounge, he slumps back into his favorite
armchair and lowers his head even further. then Lues
head springs up again and his finger raises to the air
is if he has come up with a good idea. Lou leaps out
of his chair and opens the back door. he does a bit of
a jig as he opens the door to the garage. inside the
garage is a full workshop where Lou does all of his
woodwork. Lou looks through a few pieces of timber
until he finds the right piece, he starts to chisel the
timber, plain the timber and shape into a work of art.
Lou sands the piece he is working on, gives a bit of a
shine with some bees wax and then holds it up in
front of him so that he can admire he's creation. it's
a beautifully hand crafted rearing horse.
CUT TO –
INT – KITCHEN
Lou is standing in the kitchen smiling with the carved
horse hidden behind his back. Rosa is still standing at
the stove cooking, Lou takes a few steps closer to her
and she turns to see him standing there with a big
grin on he's face. Lou quickly pulls the carved horse
from behind his back and presents it to Rosa. Rosa
looks at the horse, tilts her head and smiles at Lou,
Lou smile grows bigger as he thinks his wife loves
the work he has created. Rosa takes the carved horse
from Lues hand and starts to inspect it, she looks it
over, turning upside down and around and around.
Rosa smiles at Lou, Lou looks pleased, Rosa then snaps
the head off the wooden horse and shoves it into
Lou's chest. Lou's smile quickly disappears as he clutches
the broken horse, his eyes start to well up again. Rosa
turns back to the stove and continues on with her
cooking, Lou's head lowers and he slowly makes his
way out of the kitchen and back to his favorite arm
chair where he once again slumps back and lowers
his head. again, Lue's head springs up again, he has
another great idea. Lou looks more exited this time
as he makes his way back to his workshop in the
garage, for this time he will make the best present
a man has ever made his wife. Lou picks through
the pieces of timber he has on offer in his workshop
until he selects the perfect piece, once again Lou
starts to create another masterpiece. Lou chisels
the timer, plains the timber and with some intricate
moves carves great detail into his work. sweat leaks
from Lou's forehead as he pours his heart and soul
into his work, he sands the piece meticulously and
once again polish's it with bees wax. Lou takes a
couple of steps back to admire his hard work.
what Lou has created is a beautifully carved scale
model of the Sydney oprea house.
CUT TO –
INT – KITCHEN
Lou stands in the kitchen facing his wife Rosa with
a huge smile on his face, surely she will love the
model he has pour his blood sweat and tears into for
her. Rosa turns from her cooking to face Lou, she has
look on her face thats says "you again" Lou pulls the
model out from behind his back and once again
presents a gift to her. a huge smile comes to Rosas
face when she sees what Lou has made, she walks
closer to him and takes the model from his hands.
Rosa then places it on the kitchen bench as if to
admire it. Rosa turns to the bench, picks up a
rolling pin, walks over to the model and proceeds
to smash it to bits. Lou watches on in horror as his
hand crafted work is destroyed, Rosa turns and looks
at Lou with a cold stare. Rosa points towards the
back door if to say "get out" Lou drops his head
and tears start to roll down his face, he slowly walks
out the back door. standing in the backyard sobbing,
Lou's head springs back up, another idea has come to
him. Lou quickly moves into the shed and starts
sorting through more pieces of timber, he picks out
ten or so pieces of timber that he likes.
Lou then proceeds to put his woodworking skills
to use again, this time the project looks to be on a
bigger scale. Lou drills holes in the timber, nails
pieces together, glues timber on timber saws and
glues timber together.
CUT TO –
KITCHEN – THREE HOURS LATER
Rosa is still in the kitchen cooking, she looks at her
watch then peers out of the kitchen window and sees
that it is dark, Lou has not been into the kitchen for
hours. Rosa walks down the hallway and opens the
bedroom door, Lou is not in there. she shuts the door
and looks around with a puzzled look on her face,
Rosa walks into the lounge, looks around but Lou is
not in there either. she then walks out the front door
and proceeds to the front of the shed, she reaches for
the garage roller door and lifts it up. what Rosa sees
inside is what Lou has been working on. standing in
the garage is a giant timber construction like the
ones you would draw in a game of hangman, there
is a thick rope hanging from the top of it and on the
end of the rope is Lou swaying in the wind, dead.
Rosa stares at him for a couple of seconds and
slowly a smile breaks out on her face, she then
starts to clap loud with amusment,
finally, she loves what he's made.........
THE END
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