Chapter 4: Here Comes Charlie

Author's Note: Hello, guys and gals, and welcome back to the next chapter of What Could Have Been: 2001 Edition! This was my favorite chapter to write so far, so I hope that you'll enjoy reading it! Now, it's review response time!

Turrislucidus, I agree! I love how this script even uses dialogue and descriptions taken straight from the book- some not even used in the 2005 film! This is actually one of my favorite adaptions of CATCF to date.

MrWonkyWonka, thanks for the suggestion, and I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far!

Now, on with the chapter, everyone!

The newsreel came to an end, and a ten-year-old boy named Charlie Bucket was staring at that exact same padlock and looking up at the factory. Charlie was wearing tattered clothing full of patches, as well as crummy shoes with shoddily repaired holes in them.

"Are you in there?" Charlie asked.

He took a whiff of the sweet-smelling air that surrounded the factory, then continued his walk as he approached a small, run-down cottage which was bordered on either side by a vacant lot. He entered it, then began to make breakfast for his family.

"Mother!" Charlie called out. "Breakfast!"

In a bright and cheery atmosphere with his spirits high, Charlie started to flip pancakes on his stove, then moved to the cupboard to take down a bottle of syrup. While he was doing so, a box of cereal tumbled out. The cupboard was stuffed full of delicious food, and the sun was shining brightly in his small yet humble home.

Mrs. Bucket, Charlie's mother, came rushing into the kitchen, dressed in a smart navy-blue suit and pearls. Her shiny, auburn hair was glowing in the sun as she smiled at Charlie and sat down at the table.

"Here you go, Mom," Charlie said, setting down a steaming pile of pancakes in front of his mother. There was another place set across from her.

"Charlie, you're the sweetest boy," Mrs. Bucket smiled, and Charlie closed his eyes as she kissed him on the top of his head. "What's this?"

Charlie opened his eyes once again and looked down at the plate, which was now chipped and well-loved. It had a single piece of toast on it. As he slipped out of his daydream, the kitchen was no longer bright and cheerful, but instead sorry-looking and dingy. Mrs. Bucket still looked lovely, but she had no jewelry and was completely unadorned. Her hair was back and held up in a bandanna, and her clothing was plain instead of shiny and glowing.

"What?" Charlie said, coming back to reality.

"What is this?" Mrs. Bucket asked, holding up the piece of toast.

"That's breakfast," said Charlie.

Confused, Mrs. Bucket looked back down at the piece of toast as if it was a bomb ready to go off at any moment.

"A whole piece?" asked Mrs. Bucket.

"You need it," Charlie replied. "You're going to work."

Mrs. Bucket turned towards the chair across from her.

"What about your father?" she asked, and Charlie stared at her and said nothing. "He may want something to eat."

Charlie watched as Mrs. Bucket tore the toast in half, then put one half on her end and the other on the plate across from her.

"I'm late for school," Charlie remarked, then walked over to a small broom closet off the kitchen and opened it. It was covered with old Wonka candy wrappers, as well as newspaper clippings about the famous chocolatier. There was a small chair in the corner which served as Charlie's "room." He grabbed his school books off the chair, then went into his home's only bedroom.

This bedroom was given to Charlie's four grandparents, who were named Grandpa Joe and Grandma Josephine, and Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina. They were laying in a large bed in the center of the room, and were so frail and skeletal that they were almost see-through, and Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina were rolling over in unison as snoring was heard.

Charlie checked the covers, refiled a glass of water that was on a nightstand with a pitcher, then started to walk back out when he suddenly heard Grandpa George calling out to him, "No good-bye?"

"I thought you were asleep," said Charlie.

"It's too cold to sleep," Grandpa George replied.

"Good-bye, Grandpa George," said Charlie. "Grandma Georgina…"

"Good-bye, Charlie," smiled Grandma Georgina.

The old couple rolled over and reached out for Charlie, who gave each of them a soft kiss on the forehead.

"Good-bye, Charlie," said Grandma Georgina.

"Learn something useful, skipper," said Grandpa George.

Charlie straightened up, then looked at the end of the bed at his Grandpa Joe and Grandma Josephine. Grandma Josephine rolled over to face him just as Grandpa George and Grandma Georgina had done.

"Good-bye, Grandma Josephine…" Charlie said to Grandma Josephine, kissing her on the forehead.

"Good-bye, sweetie…" Grandma Josephine smiled.

Charlie straightened up, then stared at the back of Grandpa Joe, who was the only one of his grandparents to not turn over and face him. Grandma Josephine nudged him gently.

"Joe?" said Grandma Josephine. "Charlie's off to school…"

"What's the point?" Grandpa Joe muttered. "Go to school...study hard. Play by the rules. All so he can wind up like his father–"

He was interrupted by the other three grandparents, who quieted him with a "Shhhhh!" as Mrs. Bucket stuck her head in the room. Everyone turned towards her.

"Good-bye, all," Mrs. Bucket told them, then she turned to Charlie and said, "I might work a second shift."

"I'll keep dinner for you," Charlie said, and she turned away from the bedroom. Grandpa Joe shook his head.

"Or so he can end up like his mother, working in a toothpaste factory," he grumbled. "People earn more in prison making brooms! Kid might as well stay home and play with matches."

Then he turned his back and rolled over.

"Ignore him, Charlie," said Grandma Josephine. "He's a mutineer this morning." She kissed his forehead and said to him, "Have a nice day."

Charlie touched Grandpa Joe's nearest him.

"I'll see you later, Grandpa Joe," said Charlie, then he walked out of the tiny room and to the front door. He took a breath in and out, preparing for the ruckus of the outside world, then he opened the door.

Immediately, the sounds from the street reached Charlie's ears, from buses zooming by to cars honking and pedestrians walking to and fro.

As Charlie started down the sidewalk, he trudged through town, walking past shops with the windows full of things that he couldn't buy.

He passed a policeman who was shoving a donut into his mouth. A kid was wolfing down half a sandwich, then tossed the rest into the gutter where a dog quickly grabbed it and ate the rest of it up. Charlie finally stopped in front of a shop and peered in the window, where he was met with piles and piles of candy and chocolate. He stared at them, then forced himself to move on.

Charlie stopped once again at Mr. Wonka's factory, and he peered through its tall gates and watched as smoke was coming out of the smokestacks. Charlie closed his eyes and smelled the air around him, almost as if he was trying to eat the smell itself.

"A hint of raspberry," a voice said from behind him, and Charlie turned to see a man with a briefcase standing near him, and another man was standing with him.

"I'm getting cherry," the other man said, and another pedestrian stopped to stiff the air just as Charlie was doing.

"Definitely macadamia," she said, then they all moved on, leaving Charlie alone. Charlie looked one more time at the factory, with its foreboding walls, iron gates, and windows at the top, then moved on to continue his trek to school.

Author's Note: What did you think, everyone? I really liked how this script includes the detail of Charlie stopping in front of the factory when going to and from school, and it's interesting how writers pretty much unanimously agree that Charlie is ten years old to me. I hope that you're looking forward to the next chapter as much as I am. Stay tuned!

Until then,

Gabe S. :)