BSA 204 W16 : Dark Fairy Tale Treatment Development

The interior of a toy store in early 20th century England, some years after the first world war. The store owner watches past his round rimmed eyeglasses, not paying attention to the newspaper in his hand, where a boy's photo is prominently displayed with a heading proclaiming the 10 year old missing. Through the shelves a pair of shoes can be seen, a boy of about 13 years in age moves through the toy shelves, he glimpses the man looking at him and nervously pretends to busy himself with some toys nearby.

The store owner asks him what he's looking for, the boy is nervous and simply states that he's just browsing. The owner exclaims that he better not be thinking about stealing anything, the boy defends his honour whole heartedly and proclaims he'd never, in fact that's not even why he's there, he's there not to buy a toy at all actually. The owner tells him he doesn't want any loiterers, if he's not buying then there's no need for him to hang around. The boy tells him he's actually there to ask for a working position. The man laughs and tells him he's not hiring, the boy begs him saying his dad wants him to find a job, but he would love to work in a toy store. The man asks why and the boy simply states that its a toy store, its fun. The man tells him work isn't fun, and neither is working in a toy store, even if he was hiring he'd be looking for a hard worker not a kid looking to play. The boy says he can be a hard worker, the man tells him it doesnt matter anyway he's not hiring and tells him to leave if he isn't intending on spending any money.

The boy leaves the store and crosses the street, on the other side a proud looking man stands waiting. The boy goes to him and his dad asks him how it went, the boy tells him that the man wasn't hiring, the father pouts his lips and tells his son that it's fine there is plenty of experience to be found in the meat works or wood works. The boy isn't happy and asks his father why he has to get a job, the father tells him its important especially the age he is coming to. When he was young he had to do the same, there is a time when one must grow up and its important for Peter to do it first and set an example to his younger siblings. Peter is obviously not happy with this answer, his father says they should go meet up with mother and the kids in the park, they can stop by the meat works after.