25-35

Male

A charismatic leader whose self-assurance conceals deep-seated fears. He is now confined to a confessional room where he must listen to his former supporters unintentionally vent their resentment at him. Initially sarcastic and unyielding, Emery attempts to run away, but as the admissions come to light, he has to choose between seeking atonement or accepting his shortcomings after some reluctant reflection. Here is the scene with the lines we'd like to hear for the audition tape: EMERY (CONT’D) Never mind! Get me outta here! Emery reaches for the door handle, fearing the Clown’s return. In the other booth, the TRAPEZE ARTIST (20s), SNIFFLES, then bursts into TEARS. Another SQUEAK. * * * * * Emery pauses. He hesitantly looks through to the other booth, where the Trapeze Artist clutches a squeaking stuffed animal. Emery presses his lips together. Sits back down reluctantly. EMERY (CONT’D) Yes, my child? TRAPEZE ARTIST Father, I... I messed up our last show. I messed it up real bad... Emery keeps silent, conflicted. He watches the Artist. TRAPEZE ARTIST (CONT’D) See, the last show we did... There was a critic there. One we had to impress. But when I did my solo part for him, I froze up. Worst case of stage fright I’ve had in my life. Not even the ringmaster could salvage it, though I know he tried his best. And- and now all my troupe-mates hate me, and they hate Ringmaster Emery, and, and -- -- She’s cut off as Emery CLEARS HIS THROAT gently. EMERY Let me tell you a story, okay? I recently became a... priest... right? And I tried to lead someone through... God’s path? God’s path. But I messed up pretty bad on the follow-through. And the... Council of Fathers... were pretty mad about the whole situation. And instead of takin’ responsibility for my actions, I framed them as the jerks and prayed for God’s forgiveness so I didn’t have to deal with my own junk. (beat) Sometimes you shouldn’t shift the blame. A good old-fashioned apology can be the best way forward. (MORE) Blue Rev. (mm/dd/yy) EMERY (CONT’D) Own up to your actions, but don’t worry too much. Your mistakes don’t define you. Your follow-up does. TRAPEZE ARTIST (O.C.) You promise I can just say sorry? EMERY I promise. Have faith. TRAPEZE ARTIST (O.C.) Father? Thank you. Emery CHUCKLES as he hears the Artist LEAVE. EMERY Any time, my child.

30-35

Open

A former loyalist turned critic. Bitter and outspoken, they blame Emery for their downfall, forcing him to confront the consequences of his failed leadership. Here is the scene with the lines we'd like to hear for the audition tapes: Emery peers through the latticework to see the JUGGLER (30s) kneeling on the correct side of the confessional, holding an enormous bowling pin. Emery stands and reaches for the door handle to his side of the confessional. Then he pauses. Considers. A sly smile blooms on Emery’s face, and he sits back down. JUGGLER (O.C.) I had a vengeful thought. See, I’ve spent the last three weeks on the road with my traveling circus troupe, who’s recently shifted a few performers’ roles around. Emerywhipsoutanotepadandpenandbeginsflippingthrough * theformer,passingpagesfullofscribblednotesanddoodles * untilhearrivesatonethat’sblank.HeCLICKShispenopen. * JUGGLER (O.C.) (CONT’D) And after last night’s disastrous performance, lead by our new ringleader, well... I fantasized about throwing my pin at his head and knocking him out! EMERY (defensive) Okay, well, I’m sure the ringleader did their best... EmeryscowlsandWRITES:“jugglerisajerk.cutpay?”inhis * notepad. He DOODLES a crude frowning face next to the note. * Blue Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 2. JUGGLER (O.C.) Oh, he did not! After the trapeze artist froze, he absolutely blew his chance to improvise and save the show like he promised he could upon replacing our old leader. Emery HUFFS and circles where it says “cut pay?”. EMERY (under breath) You try suddenly becoming the ringmaster, you little... JUGGLER (O.C.) What was that? Outside the other booth, sharp KNOCKING. Emery ignores it as he SCRIBBLES a mustache and devil’s horns onto the frowny face and LABELS it “the juggler when he’s a big butt”. JUGGLER (O.C.) (CONT’D) Ah! Seems the clown wants her turn. Father, I ask for your absolution. EMERY (distracted by his “art”) Fine. Whatever. Read all three Bibles or something. JUGGLER (O.C.) All... Three? EMERY Yep. The extended editions. Next!

40s

Female

The clown's confession is a bizarre and darkly humorous disclosure of crimes and betrayals inside the group; it is unhinged, unpredictable, and potentially deadly. Emery finds his unpredictable behavior even more intolerable. The Clown stands for both the immorality of people asking forgiveness and the ridiculousness of unbridled authority. Here is the scene with the lines from THE CLOWN we'd like to hear: The other booth OPENS and the Juggler WALKS OUT. Emery * underlines text on the page so aggressively, he RIPS through * the paper to the next page of the notepad. * EMERY (CONT’D) Damn it! A CLOWN (40s; silly voice) KNEELS in the other booth. CLOWN (O.C.) * (joking) * Damn “it”? But who am I to strike * down my fellow clown!? * She CHORTLES at her own awful Pennywise joke. Emery SIGHS. * Blue Rev. (mm/dd/yy) 3. CLOWN (O.C.) (CONT’D) No, but really, I’d never kill anyone that famous! Bless me Father for I have sinned! Two weeks ago, that little bitch of a lion tamer -- SMASH CUT TO: * * * * Emery presses his face to the latticework to gawk at the * exuberant Clown, notepad long forgotten. * CLOWN (CONT’D) * -- and that’s why I laced Melinda the Sad Clown’s big red nose with arsenic! Boy, did she ever have to go to the hospital. Or maybe the morgue. Who knows. I definitely * sent the old ringmaster there. * Might do the new one, too. The point is, you’re a priest, so you can’t rat me out to Clowns of America International. Emery abandons his spying to grab his notepad. He flips to a * list of troupe members and starts reading them off. * EMERY So, to recap, since you last * confessed, you’ve poisoned: the * lion tamer, the contact juggler, the regular juggler, the fire eater, both stilts guys, previous ringmaster - to the new ringmaster who’s equally bad - and Kevin. CLOWN (O.C.) Kevin was an accident. EMERY Seventeen Hail Marys and get the Hell out of my confessional. CLOWN (O.C.) Okay!

20s

Open

In contrast to the others, she is here to acknowledge her own shortcomings rather than assign blame. Feeling that she has failed everyone, she begs for pardon after a terrible performance. Her fragility forces Emery to confront his own self-doubt and question his ability to atone. Here is the scene with the lines we'd like to hear for The Trapeze Artists' audition tape: EMERY (CONT’D) Yes, my child? TRAPEZE ARTIST Father, I... I messed up our last show. I messed it up real bad... Emery keeps silent, conflicted. He watches the Artist. TRAPEZE ARTIST (CONT’D) See, the last show we did... There was a critic there. One we had to impress. But when I did my solo part for him, I froze up. Worst case of stage fright I’ve had in my life. Not even the ringmaster could salvage it, though I know he tried his best. And- and now all my troupe-mates hate me, and they hate Ringmaster Emery, and, and -- -- She’s cut off as Emery CLEARS HIS THROAT gently. EMERY Let me tell you a story, okay? I * recently became a... priest... right? And I tried to lead someone through... God’s path? God’s path. But I messed up pretty bad on the follow-through. And the... Council of Fathers... were pretty mad about the whole situation. And instead of takin’ responsibility for my actions, I framed them as the jerks * and prayed for God’s forgiveness so * I didn’t have to deal with my own * junk. * (beat) Sometimes you shouldn’t shift the blame. A good old-fashioned apology * can be the best way forward. (MORE) Blue Rev. (mm/dd/yy) EMERY (CONT’D) Own up to your actions, but don’t worry too much. Your mistakes don’t define you. Your follow-up does. TRAPEZE ARTIST (O.C.) You promise I can just say sorry? EMERY I promise. Have faith. TRAPEZE ARTIST (O.C.) Father? Thank you.

50s

Male

When Father Stern, the legitimate confessor of sins, returns, he discovers an impostor in his booth. Stern authoritative, and unwavering, his presence shatters Emery’s illusion of control, forcing the final confrontation between truth and deception. Here is the scene with the lines we'd like to hear for Father Stern's audition: Emery stands, but FATHER STERN (50s) ENTERS the other side. FATHER STERN (O.C.) Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. You see, I abandoned my flock to indulge in a meal. (beat) Funny thing is, when I came back, I found somebody had taken my spot! Stern EXITS the other booth and WRENCHES OPEN Emery’s door. * Emeryslinksoutintothechurchproper,notepadabandoned... * 2 INT. CHURCH - DAY 2 ...only to see his entire circus troupe. The Juggler glares. The Clown smiles menacingly. The Artist looks confused. EMERY (to Stern) Have you been listening in this whole time? FATHER STERN (faux innocent) Sounds like someone needs to take their own advice about follow- * ups...