LITTLE ELLIOTT:
AFTER THE HANDOFF
by Brick Walters, 4/28/00

Dc: The world was watching last week as the drama of little Elliot Gunderson crossed an important watershed. French police posing as tourists surrounded little Elliot and his Paris relatives at a charming outdoor café, and recklessly brandishing their point and shoot cameras, the police shepherded Elliot into a waiting transport which whisked him away to a reunion with his father at Euro Disney.
As news of the official "abduction" spread, the American expatriate community issued angry words of protest. Brick Walters reports.

Brick: Disgruntled Parisians filled the streets today, muttering to themselves about the complete absence of even a shred of elegance or fun in American culture. In that sense, it was a day like any other.
But in the American expatriate community, otherwise known as "little Hoboken," people were even more vocal in their protests.

(sfx: milling crowd)

Disgruntled French woman: They put a baseball cap on his head and pushed him into the bus like he was a member of some sightseeing group! I saw the fear on his face. Perhaps he thought he was going to the Eiffel Tower again! He was humiliated.

Disgruntled French man: I saw Elliot removed from the café by force … a croissant was left sitting on the table! They took him during a meal! That is an insult!

(sfx: crowd out)

Brick: Elliot Gunderson's Paris relatives have lodged a formal protest with the American embassy. The couple, Tom and Patty Gunderson, were particularly upset once they learned about the plans for reuniting the boy with his father.

(sfx: café w/ accordion in bg)

Tom: The idea of taking that child to Euro Disney!

Patty: He doesn't know what that's about! We've spent months treating him to French culture. He hungers for subtlety! Style!

Tom: He's been to the Paris Opera. And the Louvre.

Patty: And that Jerry Lewis film festival!

Tom: The boy knows art.

Patty: He'll be traumatized by the saccharine, empty abominations of the whole Euro Disney milieu!

Brick: But in the pictures released by the American embassy … Elliot seems to be having fun.

Tom: No, no, no! In the one with Goofy, I can see confusion on Elliot's face. True, Goofy doesn't speak … but Elliot knows he is not a REAL mime.

Patty: And they won't let us visit! The efforts to set up a meeting … they weren't serious. (choking up) They wanted us to come to … to come to McDonald's! (weeping)

Tom: This is child abuse!

(sfx: café w/ accordion out)

Brick: But there is also some civility on display in this otherwise edgy and bleak confrontation. As a courtesy, Elliot's father, Michael Gunderson, has agreed to not attempt to leave France until the nation's truckers have had a chance to strike during the boy's stay.
Experts estimate it will be another four weeks before the pair can return home. Out in the field, I'm Brick Walters.

Dale Connelly Reporting Home