The man in the white shoes

I see no mud....only shiny shoes.





Made by Paul Facer, a brilliant and obsessed young researcher working in a textile mill up north. He invents an incredibly strong fibre which repels dirt and never wears out.From its fabric he makes a pair of sidis which are brilliant white because it cannot absorb dye, and slightly luminous because it includes radioactive elements. Facer is lauded as a genius until both management and the trade union realise the consequence of his invention - once consumers have purchased enough material, demand will drop precipitously and put the textile industry out of business. The managers try to trick Facer into signing away the rights to his invention but he refuses. Managers and workers each try to shut him away, but he escapes.

The climax sees Facer riding through the forest at night in his glowing white sidis, pursued by both the managers and the employees. As the crowd advances, his shoes begin breaking apart as the chemical structure of the fibre breaks apart with time. The mob, realizing that his yarn has a flaw, rips pieces off his shoes in triumph, until he is left standing in his socks. The next day, Facer is dismissed from his job. Departing, he consults his chemistry notes. A realization hits, and he exclaims "I see!" and strides off to perhaps try again......