The Day the Clown Cried

EXT. PARIS CIRCUS - NIGHT

The normal activity and excitement of showtime around the

circus is in evidence where we see the half dark street and

alley directly adjacent to the circus tent which (in Paris

is an enclosure) ... the animals, the midgets, the people

and the roustabouts moving with a fixed speed and getting

faster as we now know showtime is momentarily due.

We MOVE TOWARD the action, slowly but definitely picking up

SOUNDS and actions of the busy people as we go.

STRAIGHT CUT TO:

EXT. CIRCUS - FRONT OF CIRCUS - PEOPLE ENTERING - NIGHT

We see barkers, children, people, pushing ... buying

tickets, hats, candy ... SOUNDS of children laughing, MUSIC

playing from o.s. within the tent area ... and we ...

CUT TO:

EXT. BACK OF CIRCUS - NIGHT

A continuation of the animals, trainers, clowns INTERCUT

with the action of the circus customers jamming the

entranceway to get in ... (complimented CUTS from backstage

to out front ... building to the final crescendo ... as we

see the alley empty and clear out vs. the front area

clearing and also becoming empty.)

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CIRCUS PROPER - NIGHT

The fully dressed orchestra playing the oncoming people to

their respective seats as we PAN ALONG the happy faces and

excited children ... DOWN and BACK within the circus

backstage and SLOWLY COME TO A STOP OUTSIDE: "CLOWN ALLEY".

CLOWN ALLEY - NIGHT

The heartbeat of any circus ... The long row of unkempt, yet

beautifully neat trunks where the clowns make up, with many

of the clowns just coming in and setting their clothers and

things around their own little areas ... midgets running and

playing, like the little children they are about to

entertain ... MUSIC is in the deep background ... as we COME

TO A STOP at the large trunk with the letters clearly

printed ... 'GUSTAV - EUROPE'S PREMIER CLOWN."

We PULL BACK and AWAY from the lettering on the trunk and

REVEAL the face of a gentle but drawn man, a man whose body

and movements indicate he has been at this for a long time.

As he sits, the little midgets run close to see what they

can do to help; one pulls the chair for him to sit on;

another brings a hot cup of coffee; another takes his coat

and hangs in on the haltree, adjacent to his trunk ... as we

PUSH PAST HIM to introduce the other clowns ... some half

made up, others finishing their make-up ... and some just

sitting and rapping together, smoking, drinking coffee,

waiting for showtime ... and in the very distant b.g.,

almost against the wall of clown alley, we see the trunk and

the body of a "CLOWN" in silhouette ... we CRAWL TOWARDS the

body and the trunk ... and COME TO A STOP ... HOLDING FULL

FRAME. The clown, already made-up and dressed in his tramp

outfit, has his head in his hands, leaning down on the trunk

table top, a depressed and sad looking hulk of a man ... an

o.s. voice:

MIDGET:

Coffee? It's nice and hot.

The MIDGET slides the cup in front of the clown's face ...

as he picks up his head and smiles and nods yes ... he sips

the coffee and we see the clown is HELMUT DORQUE (pronounced

Doork).

He is a depressed and very unhappy clown ... the frown on

his face shows years of knocking around ... plus fear that

those years are now over. From o.s. we HEAR the SOUND of a

small air horn being blown and carried by one of the

midgets. He is yelling through an old megaphone.

MIDGET:

15 Minutes to circus ...

15 minutes to circus.

Upon hearing this, "Clown Alley" really gets busy ... all

the clowns get up and put their last minute touches together

... touching up their make-ups ... getting their coats and

props together ... and as they get themselves up and ready,

they exit the clown alley area and start for the arena. The

last one to go is Helmut, lingering behind intentionally as

we:

CUT TO:

INT. CIRCUS ARENA - CLOSEUP RINGMASTER - NIGHT

RINGMASTER:

Ladies and gentlemen, we proudly

present ... "The Clowns"!

INT. CLOWN ALLEY - NIGHT

Helmut hangs back until the very last clown exits Clown

Alley, as we:

CUT TO:

INT. CIRCUS PROPER - NIGHT

The MUSIC is really going strong ... and the clowns come on

like all forty. They explode in the ring ... doing all

their bits and pieces which ultimately brings them back to

the entrance area they just came from and they make the

"West Point" arch for the TIMPANY DRUM ROLL and the grand

entrance of "Gustav" the Great.

CLOSER SHOT:

"Gustav" makes his famous comedy walk into the tent with the

longest pair of tails ever seen (at least 75 feet long) and

at the end holding them from dragging on the floor is

Helmut, the "Tramp Clown".

WIDER SHOT:

We see Gustav taking the applause, and it is tremendous. He

stops center of the ring, but Helmut keeps walking and

doesn't see the post in front of him as he walks around the

post, still holding the tails and goes on his butt, pulling

Gustav down as well. The audience screams with laughter,

believing this all part of the act, as we:

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. CLOWN ALLEY - NIGHT

All the clowns are sitting around their respective trunks

and there is a sense of gloom permeating the air, as Gustav

and MR. SCHMIDT pace back and forth behind Helmut, both

going at him unmercifully.

MR SCHMIDT:

(in the middle of his tirade)

Not to mention how

unprofessional that was ...

HELMUT:

But it was an accident ...

GUSTAV:

Oh, sure it was ... A very well

planned and calculated accident!

HELMUT:

I swear to you ...

it was an accident!

Gustav stops and grabs Schmidt's arm, and with a

threatening, pointing finger ...

GUSTAV:

I don't want to hear any more ...

You will get me another stooge.

I don't want this man!!

SCHMIDT:

Don't get excited, Gustav,

you shall have it.

GUSTAV:

You bet I will,

or you shall have no show.

Gustav walks away, sits at his trunk, starts taking his

make-up off.

SCHMIDT:

(moving to Helmut's trunk,

leaning over into Helmut's ear)

You will run with the other clowns

and that's all you will do ... is that clear?

Helmut, shattered, nods his head yes.

SCHMIDT:

(continuing)

And if there is another one of your

cute tricks ... I promise you will do your

bits for the "Cats" while cleaning their cages!

Schmidt walks away ... leaving Helmut stunned and shocked.

Helmut lifts his trunk cover, which opens on a hinge and

stays upright, as we SLOWLY CRAB AROUND to REVEAL the "One

Sheets" glued to the inside of the trunk lid ... as Helmut

reaches for a towel to clean his face, we read:

RINGLING BROS. & BARNUM AND BAILEY

PRESENTS:

THE WORLD'S GREATEST CLOWN

"HELMUT"

(from Germany)

The one sheets are battered and torn and certainly appear to

be many years old. As we PAN the "Lid" to see them all,

Helmut's face is reflected in the mirror as we see the tears

rolling down his face. As we FREEZE FRAME, MUSIC hits for:

MAIN TITLES:

THE DAY THE CLOWN CRIED

FOLLOWING CREDITS:

EXT. DESERTED STREET AND BISTRO - NIGHT

Helmut, dejected and as sad as any man could be, strolls

down the deserted street, alone.

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