We open on a clear blue sky. A Peter Gabriel-inspired world beat softly begins to swell as we pan down to reveal our location is the Serengeti. A man draws his bow and arrow. We fix on his hand on the bow which fades into another bow, that of a Native North American man. This image begets a regionally diverse montage of early man using bows and arrows across the globe – Mediterranean, Scandinavian, Aboriginal, Mongolian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, Arctic, European etc. Like a flipbook the images of myriad cultures go by, raising the bow and finally shooting the arrow which we follow to a contemporary scene of a little boy shooting a suction arrow into a plastic target. The Little Boy runs to His Grandfather who was watching. His Grandfather commends him and they join the rest of the family at a backyard picnic.
Later we see The Little Boy in His Grandfather’s room, looking at his wardrobe and accessories. His Grandfather comes into the room. The Little Boy is startled and might get in trouble but instead His Grandfather shows The Little Boy his garments, his collection of ties, clips, kerchiefs and pocket squares. He takes out a bow tie and teaches his grandson how to tie it. The Little Boy runs out of the room to show his family, who all delight in his new look and praise this new skill.
Flash forward. The Little Boy has become A Young Man. He is with His Grandfather, being measured for his first tailored suit. We hear The Astroids Galaxy Tour’s “Golden Age” in the background as we close up on images on the wall of well dressed men in tailored suits and bow ties; The Rat Pack, James Bond, Fred Astaire, etc. Cut back, slight passage of time. Now Our Young Man wears the finished tailored suit. He looks at himself in the mirror. His Tailor presents a tie to him. Our young man indicates he prefers a bow tie. His Grandfather and The Tailor look at one another, knowingly.
In half speed, Our Young Man exits The Tailor’s storefront. Estelle’s “American Boy” plays as he steps onto the street. We hear Kanye West’s lyric “before he speaks his suit bespoke”. Our Young Man seems to glow as he walks, heads turn, women giggle and swoon. Old men stop playing chess to look, babies sit up in their carriers and take notice. One baby gives a ‘thumbs up’.
We focus in on a Woman. Her gaze is commanding. Our Young Man pauses, they exchange glances.
All of a sudden and in full speed, Our Young Man is surrounded by a Gang of Disheveled Adult Men with no fashion sense looking for a fight. Our Young Man immediately begins fighting them off underscored by ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man”. Shortly after the fight begins, the women who had been giggling and swooning are up in arms helping Our Young Man fight off his attackers in a marvelously choreographed and epic battle, reminiscent of Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury if the fight had escalated and Bruce Lee had been assisted in battle by fit women with good taste.
After making quick work of said battle Our Young Man remains unscathed and steps into a sky scraper where he is immediately noticed by WASPy men and ushered into a boardroom. The upper echelon is so impressed they climb over one another to try and get him to work for them. As they scramble and scrape he politely bids them adieu and steps into a classroom of children where he smiles and turns to write on the chalkboard. The children all raise their hands. The bell rings and Our Young Man steps into an arena where he puts on a rock show for thousands of adoring fans. Afterward, he heads out a back way and zip-lines down to the street where he is met again by the Gang of Disheveled Adult Men he handled earlier. He looks them in the eyes. One man steps forward. The message is clear; they do not want to fight. They want a respite from living as Disheveled Adult Men. Softly we hear Weezer’s “Undone” in the background.
His Grandfather and The Tailor run up to Our Young Man, ready to help. Behind them stands the Woman with the commanding gaze. She holds up her sewing supplies. Our Young Man has His Team.
Cut to: Our Young Man and His Team are in The Fashion Lair. On the walls of The Fashion Lair are clippings from favorite design houses and craftspeople, inspiring looks and images of well dressed men from history. Underscored by Stephen Sondheim’s “Putting It Together,” we see a montage of The Team and Our Young Man discussing design concepts, expressing creative ideas through paint, drawing, collage, power point and sewing.
There is a knock at the door. Our Young Man opens it. On the other side of the door is Arthur Slugworth. We hear Pink Floyd’s “Money”. Slugworth opens his trench coat to reveal a sweatshop of children. The message is clear: these slaves can make it for you cheap. Our Young Man thinks of the children in his classroom as he looks upon the children in the sweatshop. He shakes his head no. Slugworth opens the other side of his trench coat to reveal a warehouse containing bolts of sweatshop-produced low quality synthetic fabric.
Offended, Our Young Man indicates it’s time for Slugworth to get out of here and slams the door.
Our Young Man’s Team supports his decision. Admiring the fabric they’ve collected from regional fabric designers, they hunker down with their local hires and continue working.
Cut to: Our Young Man and His Team present new looks to the Gang of Disheveled Adult Men. As the men look upon themselves in tailored suits, it is as if they’re seeing themselves for the first time. They smile, some cry. We hear “Brand New Day” from The Wiz as the Gang of Formerly Disheveled Adult Men pour onto the street in celebration. They walk and dance with their heads held high. “Help Wanted” signs on office buildings, sky scrapers and government buildings are turned around to read “Help Found!” as the Gang of Formerly Disheveled Adult Men pass by in their fantastic attire. Women wolf whistle and rejoice as this parade of handsome and well kempt men strut by.
Cut to: Our Young Man puts a sign up in a storefront window which reads “Bowyer & Fletcher”. We zoom out to reveal it is a virtual store. We see a finger on a screen click “buy”.
The End.