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                                                                   Exhibit 10.11







                         PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC. 401(k)
                               PROFIT SHARING PLAN










   As Amended and Restated Effective March 20, 2000, or as otherwise specified





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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
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<S>                                                                                                              <C>
SECTION 1.........................................................................................................2
   DEFINITIONS....................................................................................................2
     1.01 ACCOUNTS................................................................................................2
     1.02 ADMINISTRATIVE DELEGATE.................................................................................2
     1.03 AFTER-TAX CONTRIBUTIONS.................................................................................2
     1.04 ALLOCATION PAY AMOUNT...................................................................................2
     1.05 ASSOCIATE...............................................................................................2
     1.06 AUTHORIZED LEAVE OF ABSENCE.............................................................................3
     1.07 BEFORE-TAX CONTRIBUTIONS................................................................................3
     1.08 BENEFICIARY.............................................................................................3
     1.09 BOARD...................................................................................................3
     1.10 CODE....................................................................................................3
     1.11 COMMITTEE...............................................................................................3
     1.12 COMPANY.................................................................................................3
     1.13 COMPANY ACCOUNTS........................................................................................3
     1.14 COMPANY MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS..........................................................................3
     1.15 COMPANY PROFIT SHARING CONTRIBUTIONS....................................................................3
     1.16 EFFECTIVE DATE..........................................................................................3
     1.17 EMPLOYER................................................................................................3
     1.18 ERISA...................................................................................................3
     1.19 FIDUCIARY...............................................................................................4
     1.20 FISCAL YEAR.............................................................................................4
     1.21 GROUP...................................................................................................4
     1.22 HOUR OF SERVICE.........................................................................................4
     1.23 INVESTMENT FUND.........................................................................................4
     1.24 MAY PLAN................................................................................................4
     1.25 MEMBER..................................................................................................4
     1.26 MEMBER ACCOUNTS.........................................................................................4
     1.27 MEMBER AFTER-TAX ACCOUNTS...............................................................................5
     1.28 MEMBER BEFORE-TAX ACCOUNTS..............................................................................5
     1.29 MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS....................................................................................5
     1.30 MEMBER ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNTS...................................................................5
     1.31 MILITARY SERVICE........................................................................................5
     1.32 NET PROFITS.............................................................................................5
     1.33 PAY.....................................................................................................5
     1.34 POOLED INVESTMENT ACCOUNT...............................................................................6
     1.35 PLAN....................................................................................................6
     1.36 PLAN YEAR...............................................................................................6
     1.37 PRIOR PLAN..............................................................................................6
     1.38 QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDER......................................................................6
     1.39 RETIREMENT..............................................................................................6
     1.40 ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS..................................................................................6
     1.41 SOCIAL SECURITY WAGE BASE...............................................................................6
     1.42 TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY OR DISABILITY............................................................6
     1.43 TRANSFERRED ACCOUNTS....................................................................................6
     1.44 TRUST AGREEMENT.........................................................................................6
     1.45 TRUST FUND..............................................................................................6
     1.46 TRUSTEE.................................................................................................6
     1.47 UNIT....................................................................................................7
     1.48 UNIT VALUE..............................................................................................7
     1.49 VALUATION DATE..........................................................................................7

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<S>                                                                                                              <C>
     1.50 YEAR OF SERVICE.........................................................................................7
     1.51 VESTING SERVICE.........................................................................................7
SECTION 2.........................................................................................................9
   MEMBERSHIP.....................................................................................................9
     2.01 CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY...............................................................................9
     2.02 RE-EMPLOYMENT..........................................................................................10
SECTION 3........................................................................................................10
   COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS.........................................................................................10
     3.01 AMOUNT OF COMPANY PROFIT SHARING CONTRIBUTION..........................................................10
     3.02 AMOUNT OF COMPANY MATCHING CONTRIBUTION................................................................10
     3.03 ALLOCATION OF COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS....................................................................10
     3.04 PROFIT SHARING ALLOCATION FORMULA......................................................................11
     3.05 INVESTMENT OF THE COMPANY CONTRIBUTION.................................................................11
     3.06 RETURN OF COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS........................................................................11
SECTION 4........................................................................................................12
   MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS..........................................................................................12
     4.01 PROCEDURE FOR MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS.....................................................................12
     4.02 LIMITATIONS ON AND DISTRIBUTIONS ON BEFORE-TAX CONTRIBUTIONS FOR HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEES..........14
     4.03 DISTRIBUTIONS OF EXCESS DEFERRALS......................................................................14
     4.04 LIMITATIONS ON AND DISTRIBUTIONS OF AFTER-TAX EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS AND MATCHING
          CONTRIBUTIONS FOR HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEES.........................................................15
     4.05 LIMITATIONS ON MULTIPLE USE OF ALTERNATIVE LIMITATION..................................................16
SECTION 5........................................................................................................16
   INVESTMENT PROVISIONS.........................................................................................16
     5.01 INVESTMENT FUNDS.......................................................................................16
     5.02 INVESTMENT DIRECTION...................................................................................16
SECTION 6........................................................................................................17
   ACCOUNTS......................................................................................................17
     6.01 MEMBER ACCOUNTS........................................................................................17
     6.02 COMPANY ACCOUNTS.......................................................................................17
     6.03 MAINTENANCE OF ACCOUNTS................................................................................18
     6.04 VALUATION OF ACCOUNTS..................................................................................18
     6.05 MEMBER STATEMENTS......................................................................................18
     6.06 SHARES OF PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC. (...................................................................18
     6.07 VESTING IN MEMBER AND COMPANY ACCOUNTS.................................................................19
SECTION 7........................................................................................................22
   EXPENSES......................................................................................................22
     7.01 ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES................................................................................22
SECTION 8........................................................................................................22
   WITHDRAWALS DURING EMPLOYMENT.................................................................................22
     8.01 WITHDRAWALS PROHIBITED UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED..................................................22
     8.02 AUTHORIZED WITHDRAWALS.................................................................................22
SECTION 9........................................................................................................24
   BENEFITS UPON RETIREMENT, DEATH, DISABILITY OR TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT......................................24
     9.01 BENEFITS...............................................................................................24
     9.02 BENEFICIARY............................................................................................24
SECTION 10.......................................................................................................24
   PAYMENT OF BENEFITS...........................................................................................24
     10.01 TIME OF PAYMENT.......................................................................................24
     10.02 FORM OF PAYMENT.......................................................................................26
     10.03 INDIRECT PAYMENT OF BENEFITS..........................................................................26
     10.04 INABILITY TO FIND MEMBER..............................................................................26
     10.05 COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFIT DISTRIBUTION TO MEMBERS.......................................................26
</TABLE>


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<S>                                                                                                             <C>
     10.06 COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFIT DISTRIBUTION TO BENEFICIARY...................................................26
     10.07 COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFIT DISTRIBUTION TO ALTERNATE PAYEE...............................................26
SECTION 11.......................................................................................................27
   PERMITTED ROLLOVER OF PLAN DISTRIBUTIONS......................................................................27
     11.01 ROLLOVER TO OTHER PLANS...............................................................................27
     11.02 ROLLOVER FROM OTHER PLANS.............................................................................27
     11.03 DEFINITIONS...........................................................................................28
SECTION 12.......................................................................................................29
   LOANS.........................................................................................................29
   12.01 AVAILABILITY OF LOANS...................................................................................29
   12.02 AMOUNT OF LOANS.........................................................................................29
   12.03 TERMS OF LOANS..........................................................................................29
SECTION 13.......................................................................................................30
     LIMIT ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PLAN..........................................................................30
     13.01 LIMIT ON CONTRIBUTIONS................................................................................30
     13.02 ADJUSTMENT FOR EXCESSIVE ANNUAL ADDITIONS.............................................................31
SECTION 14.......................................................................................................32
   ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN....................................................................................32
     14.01 PLAN ADMINISTRATOR....................................................................................32
     14.02 DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY...............................................................................32
     14.03 COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEES...........................................................................32
     14.04 ACCOUNTS AND REPORTS..................................................................................33
        14.05 NON-DISCRIMINATION.................................................................................34
SECTION 15.......................................................................................................34
   MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST FUND..................................................................................34
     15.01 USE OF THE TRUST FUND.................................................................................34
     15.02 TRUSTEES..............................................................................................34
     15.03 INVESTMENTS AND REINVESTMENTS.........................................................................34
SECTION 16.......................................................................................................35
   CERTAIN RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYERS AND MEMBERS.......................................................35
     16.01 DISCLAIMER OF EMPLOYER LIABILITY......................................................................35
     16.02 EMPLOYER-ASSOCIATE RELATIONSHIP.......................................................................35
     16.03 BINDING EFFECT........................................................................................35
     16.04 CORPORATE ACTION......................................................................................35
     16.05 CLAIM AND APPEAL PROCEDURE............................................................................35
SECTION 17.......................................................................................................36
   NON-ALIENATION OF BENEFITS....................................................................................36
     17.01 PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO ASSIGNMENT AND LEVY........................................................36
     17.02 ALTERNATE APPLICATION.................................................................................37
SECTION 18.......................................................................................................37
   AMENDMENTS....................................................................................................37
     18.01 COMPANY'S RIGHTS......................................................................................37
     18.02 PROCEDURE TO AMEND....................................................................................37
     18.03 PROVISION AGAINST DIVERSION...........................................................................37
SECTION 19.......................................................................................................37
   TERMINATION...................................................................................................37
     19.01 RIGHT TO TERMINATE....................................................................................37
     19.02 WITHDRAWAL OF AN EMPLOYER.............................................................................37
     19.03 DISTRIBUTION IN EVENT OF TERMINATION OF TRUST.........................................................38
     19.04 ADMINISTRATION IN EVENT OF CONTINUANCE OF TRUST.......................................................38
     19.05 MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR TRANSFER.....................................................................38
SECTION 20.......................................................................................................38
   CONSTRUCTION..................................................................................................38
     20.01 APPLICABLE LAW........................................................................................38
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<S>                                                                                                             <C>
     20.02 GENDER AND NUMBER.....................................................................................38
SECTION 21.......................................................................................................39
   TOP-HEAVY REQUIREMENTS........................................................................................39
     21.01 GENERALLY.............................................................................................39
     21.02 MINIMUM ALLOCATIONS...................................................................................39
     21.03 PARTICIPANTS UNDER DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS..............................................................39
     21.04 DETERMINATION OF TOP HEAVINESS........................................................................39
     21.05 CALCULATION OF TOP-HEAVY RATIOS.......................................................................40
     21.06 CUMULATIVE ACCOUNTS AND CUMULATIVE ACCRUED BENEFITS...................................................40
     21.07 OTHER DEFINITIONS.....................................................................................41
</TABLE>







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                            PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC.
                           401(k) PROFIT SHARING PLAN

                                  INTRODUCTION

         Effective April 1, 1996, Payless ShoeSource, Inc. withdrew from and
ceased to be a participating Employer in The May Department Stores Company
Profit Sharing Plan (the "May Plan"), and established the Payless ShoeSource,
Inc. Profit Sharing Plan (the "Plan"). Effective January 1, 1997, a portion of
the Plan covering Associates of Payless ShoeSource of Puerto Rico, Inc. was spun
off. As of August 1, 1997, Payless amended and restated the Plan, primarily to
establish a company matching contribution based on Members' contributions
effective January 1, 1998, to institute automatic enrollment in before-tax
contributions by Members, and to comply with certain changes in the law. On June
1, 1998, Payless restructured its corporate organization into a holding company
structure with Payless ShoeSource, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as the parent
corporation and the named Company for this Plan.

         Now, effective March 20, 2000, or as otherwise specified, the Company
is amending and restating the Plan, primarily to include provisions for loans
and the acceptance of rollover contributions from other qualified plans, a
change to daily valuation and other miscellaneous changes. Such amendment and
restatement applies only to Associates or former Associates who were employed by
an Employer on or after the effective date(s) of the respective amended
provisions, and the rights and benefits of persons thereunder are to be
determined solely in accordance with the provisions of the Plan in effect on the
date an Associate's employment was or is terminated. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, the change in valuation date shall be effective for all
Associates and former Associates, without regard to employment after the
effective date.

The terms and provisions of this new plan are as follows:


                                       1
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                                    SECTION 1

                                   DEFINITIONS

         1.01     ACCOUNTS means the Company Accounts and Member Accounts
established under Section 6.

         1.02     ADMINISTRATIVE DELEGATE means one or more persons or
institutions to which the Committee has delegated certain administrative
functions pursuant to a written agreement.

         1.03     AFTER-TAX CONTRIBUTIONS means Member Contributions which are
not Before-Tax Contributions and which are made by the Member in accordance with
Section 4.01(a).

         1.04     ALLOCATION PAY AMOUNT means with respect to each eligible
Member, (a) one (1) times the amount of Pay as defined in Section 1.33 up to the
Social Security Wage Base ("SSWB") for the Plan Year, plus (b) two (2) times the
amount of such Pay in excess of the SSWB for the Plan Year. Notwithstanding any
provision of this Section 1.04 or of Section 3.03 to the contrary, in no event
shall the percentage of Members' Pay to be allocated for any year below the SSWB
be less than fifty percent (50%) of the percentage of Pay allocated with respect
to Members' Pay in excess of the SSWB, nor may the latter percentage of Pay
(above the SSWB) exceed the former percentage of Pay (below the SSWB) by more
than 5.7% (or such other percentage as may be the maximum permitted differential
under Code Section 401(1) from time to time).

         In determining each eligible Member's Allocation Pay Amount, only Pay
received during the part of the Plan Year the Member is eligible for the Company
Contribution feature of the Plan, pursuant to Section 2, shall be considered,
and the SSWB to be applied for such Member shall be proportionally prorated if
such eligibility is for less than a full Plan Year.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Plan Year for which
applying the definition of Allocation Pay Amount set forth above would cause the
allocation made pursuant to Section 3.03 to violate the permitted disparity
limitations of Treas. Reg. Section 1.401(l)-2, Allocation Pay Amount shall be
adjusted to permit Section 3.03 to operate in compliance with the limitations of
Treas. Reg. Section 1.401(l)-2.

         1.05     ASSOCIATE means any person who is classified as an employee by
an Employer and who receives Pay from an Employer. The term Associate also may
include, based upon the express written determination of the Company or the
Committee, a U.S. citizen employed, at the request of the Company, by a member
of the Group (defined in Section 1.21) to the extent such employee otherwise
qualifies for membership under Section 2, in which case such Group member shall
be deemed to be an "Employer" hereunder, as to such person or persons only. The
term "Associate" shall not include (i) any person covered under a collective
bargaining agreement unless and until the Employer and the collective bargaining
representatives so agree, (ii) any non-resident alien, and (iii) any "leased
employee" within the meaning of Code Section 414(n)(2).


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         1.06     AUTHORIZED LEAVE OF ABSENCE means any leave of absence
authorized by the Employer under rules established by the Employer.

         1.07     BEFORE-TAX CONTRIBUTIONS means contributions which the Member
elects (in accordance with Section 4.01(b)) to have the Employer make directly
to the Plan on behalf of the Member, which election shall constitute an election
under Code Section 401(k)(2)(A). The "Member's Before-Tax Contributions" shall
refer to Before-Tax Contributions made to the Plan by the Employer on behalf of
the Member.

         1.08     BENEFICIARY means the person or persons entitled under Section
9.02 to receive any payments payable under this Plan on account of a Member's
death.

         1.09     BOARD means the Board of Directors of the Company.

         1.10     CODE means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time.

         1.11     COMMITTEE means the Profit Sharing Committee comprised of
three or more members as determined and appointed from time to time by the
Board.

         1.12     COMPANY means Payless ShoeSource, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and any other organization which may be a successor to it.

         1.13     COMPANY ACCOUNTS means accounts reflecting the portion of each
Member's interest in the Investment Funds which are attributable to Company
Matching Contributions ("Company Matching Accounts") and to Company Profit
Sharing Contributions ("Company Profit Sharing Accounts") and to any
contributions made by an Employer under prior plans, as well as to any income
and/or earnings attributable to such Company Contributions and prior plan
contributions.

         1.14     COMPANY MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS means contributions made by the
Company or an Employer, based on a Member's Before-Tax and/or After-Tax
Contributions, pursuant to Section 3.02.

         1.15     COMPANY PROFIT SHARING CONTRIBUTIONS means discretionary
contributions made by the Company or an Employer, based on Net Profits, pursuant
to Section 3.03.

         1.16     EFFECTIVE DATE originally meant April 1, 1996. However, the
effective date of this amendment and restatement of the Plan shall be March 20,
2000, unless otherwise specified herein.

         1.17     EMPLOYER means the Company and, if authorized by the Company
to participate herein, any subsidiary of the Company or any affiliated
corporation, partnership or sole proprietorship which elects to participate
herein.

         1.18     ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended from time to time.

                                       3
<PAGE>   9

         1.19     FIDUCIARY means the Employer, the Trustee, each of the members
of the Committee described in Section 14, and any investment manager designated
pursuant to Section 15.

         1.20     FISCAL YEAR means the Company's Fiscal Year.

         1.21     GROUP means the Company and any other company which is related
to the Company as a member of a controlled group of corporations in accordance
with Code Section 414(b), as a trade or business under common control in
accordance with Code Section 414(c) or as an affiliated service group in
accordance with Code Section 414(m) or the regulations under Code Section
414(o). For the purposes of the Plan, for determining whether or not a person is
an employee of the Group and the period of employment of such person, each such
other company shall be included in the "Group" only for such period or periods
during which such other company is a member with the Company of a controlled
group or under common control.

         1.22     HOUR OF SERVICE means any hour for which an Associate
(including a leased employee) is directly or indirectly compensated, or entitled
to compensation, by the Employer or by any member of the Group, whether or not
such Group member has adopted the Plan, for any of the following:

         (a) the performance of duties during the applicable computation period;

         (b) a period during which no duties are performed (irrespective of
         whether the employment relationship has terminated) due to vacation,
         holiday, illness, incapacity (including disability), layoff, jury duty,
         Military Service, or Authorized Leave of Absence;

         (c) a period for which back pay is awarded or agreed to, provided that
         no Hour of Service has been credited under subsection (a) or (b) with
         respect to the same period.

         Hours of Service and applicable computation periods shall be determined
in accordance with the requirements of 29 C.F.R. Section 2530.200b.

         1.23     INVESTMENT FUND means any fund for investment of contributions
as described in Section 5.01.

         1.24     MAY PLAN means The May Department Stores Company Profit
Sharing Plan.

         1.25     MEMBER means any person included in the membership of this
Plan as provided in Section 2.

         1.26     MEMBER ACCOUNTS means the Member Before-Tax Accounts, the
Member After-Tax Accounts and the Member Rollover Contribution Accounts. To the
extent an Associate makes a Rollover Contribution pursuant to Section 11.02 and
the Associate is otherwise eligible




                                       4
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but has not yet completed the participation requirements of Section 2.01, such
contribution shall also be a Member Account.

         1.27     MEMBER AFTER-TAX ACCOUNTS means the Member Accounts with
respect to a Member's After-Tax Contributions.

         1.28     MEMBER BEFORE-TAX ACCOUNTS means the Member Accounts with
respect to a Member's Before-Tax Contributions.

         1.29     MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS means the Member's Before-Tax
Contributions and After-Tax Contributions.

         1.30     MEMBER ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNTS means the Member
Accounts with respect to an Associate's or Member's Rollover Contributions.

         1.31     MILITARY SERVICE means effective December 13, 1996, any period
of obligatory military service with the Armed Forces of the United States of
America, or voluntary service in lieu of such obligatory service, provided that
the Associate returns to active employment with the Employer within the period
during which the Employer would be required to re-employ the Associate under
Federal law. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary,
contributions, benefits, loan repayment and service credit with respect to
qualified Military Service will be provided in accordance with Code Section
414(u).

         1.32     NET PROFITS means the consolidated net profits of the Company
for any given Fiscal Year, determined by generally accepted accounting
principles except that (i) no deduction or provision shall be made for any
federal, state or other taxes measured by net income, nor for any contributions
to the Trust or to any other pension or profit sharing plan, and (ii) there
shall be excluded any proceeds from life insurance of which the Company is
beneficiary (whether paid in a single sum or otherwise) and any gains or losses
on the sale of capital assets. Such term shall also mean any accumulated and
undistributed Net Profits (as defined in the preceding sentence) earned in prior
Fiscal Years to the extent that such accumulated and undistributed Net Profits
constitute surplus of the Company and its subsidiaries available for
contributions hereunder.

         1.33     PAY means the aggregate of (i) all regular pay, commissions,
overtime pay, cash incentives, prizes and cash awards, plus (ii) amounts which
the Associate elects to have the Employer contribute directly to the Plan on the
Associate's behalf in accordance with Section 4.01(b). Pay shall include any
amounts not otherwise includable in the Member's taxable income pursuant to Code
Section 125. Pay shall not include amounts for a pension, a retirement
allowance, a retainer or a fee under contract, deferred compensation (including
amounts deferred under the Deferred Compensation Plan of The May Department
Stores Company and the Deferred Compensation Plan of Payless ShoeSource, Inc.),
severance pay, distributions from this Plan or items of extraordinary income
including but not limited to amounts resulting from the exercise of stock
options, spinoff cash, spinoff stock and restricted stock awards. Pay in excess
of $170,000 shall be disregarded, although such amount shall be adjusted at the
same time and in such manner as permitted under Code Section 415(d).

                                       5
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         1.34     POOLED INVESTMENT ACCOUNT means an account established
pursuant to an administrative services agreement between the Company and the
Trustee.

         1.35     PLAN means this Payless ShoeSource Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing
Plan.

         1.36     PLAN YEAR means a calendar year ending each December 31.

         1.37     PRIOR PLAN means either The May Department Stores Company
Profit Sharing Plan, the Volume Shoe Corporation Profit Sharing Plan, or such
other qualified plan as may be so designated by the Committee.

         1.38     QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDER means a "qualified domestic
relations order" as that term is defined in Code Section 414(p), provided that
such order was entered on or after January 1, 1985.

         1.39     RETIREMENT means a Member's termination of employment on or
after age 55 and after completing at least five (5) Years of Service or
attaining the fifth anniversary of participation, as of which date the Member's
benefit shall be nonforfeitable.

         1.40     ROLLOVER CONTRIBUTIONS means contributions which the Associate
or Member, as applicable, elects to make in accordance with Section 11.02.

         1.41     SOCIAL SECURITY WAGE BASE means, with respect to each Plan
Year, the maximum amount of wages which are subject to tax in such year under
the Federal Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance System.

         1.42     TOTAL AND PERMANENT DISABILITY OR DISABILITY means the total
incapacity of a Member for the continued performance of regular active
employment with an Employer, which disability is expected to be permanent, as
determined by the Committee, provided that a Member shall not be considered
totally and permanently disabled for purposes of this Plan unless he qualifies
for disability benefits under Title 11 of the Federal Social Security Act.

         1.43     TRANSFERRED ACCOUNTS means Member and Company Accounts
transferred from the May Plan.

         1.44     TRUST AGREEMENT means the agreement or agreements provided for
in Section 14, as amended from time to time.

         1.45     TRUST FUND means all the assets of the Investment Funds and
any other assets which are held in one or more trusts by the Trustee or Trustees
for the purposes of this Plan.

         1.46     TRUSTEE means the corporation(s), person or persons which may
at any time be acting as Trustee or Trustees under the Trust Agreement.

                                       6
<PAGE>   12

         1.47     UNIT means one of the units representing an interest in an
Investment Fund as provided in Section 6.03.

         1.48     UNIT VALUE means the value of each Unit in an Investment Fund
as of the Valuation Date as determined pursuant to Section 6.04.

         1.49     VALUATION DATE means any day that the New York Stock Exchange
is open for business or any other date chosen by the Committee. Prior to March
31, 2000, Valuation Date means the last business day of each calendar month and
any other date chosen to perform a valuation.

         1.50     YEAR OF SERVICE for purposes of determining eligibility under
Section 2 means a year of employment during which the Associate has been paid
for not less than 1,000 Hours of Service for an Employer or any other member of
the Group. An Associate shall be credited with a year of employment on each
anniversary date of his commencement of employment with an Employer during which
he earns not less than 1,000 Hours of Service for an Employer or any other
member of the Group. Periods of temporary illness, temporary layoff, Military
Service, and Authorized Leaves of Absence shall not be deemed as breaking
continuity of employment and shall be counted in determining Years of Service.
The term "Year of Service" shall also include an employment year during which,
except to the extent otherwise provided in Treasury Regulations, a "leased
employee" within the meaning of Code Section 414(n) has been paid for not less
than 1,000 Hours of Service for the Employer even though during such period the
leased employee was not an Associate as defined in Section 1.05. The term "Year
of Service" shall include any period required to be included by the Family and
Medical Leave Act of 1993.

         The extent to which service with another organization, part or all of
whose business operations are acquired by the Company (or by an Employer), shall
be credited as "Years of Service" hereunder or as "Vesting Service" under
Section 1.51 shall be determined by the Company or by the Committee on a
case-by-case basis.

         1.51     VESTING SERVICE for purposes of determining a Member's vested
interest under Section 6.07 is based on "elapsed time" and is to be determined
in accordance with the following definitions:

         (a) "EMPLOYMENT COMMENCEMENT DATE" means the date upon which an
         Associate first performs an Hour of Service.

         (b) "HOUR OF SERVICE" means an hour for which an Associate is paid or
         entitled to payment for the performance of duties for the Employer or
         any other member of the Group.

         (c) "PERIOD OF SERVICE" means a period beginning on the Associate's
         Employment Commencement Date (or Reemployment Commencement Date, as the
         case may be) and ending on his Severance from Service Date.

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<PAGE>   13

         (d)  "SEVERANCE FROM SERVICE DATE" means the earlier to occur of:

                  (i) the last date upon which an Associate terminates
                  employment with the Employer or any other member of the Group
                  (either voluntarily or involuntarily), retires or dies; or

                  (ii) the first anniversary of the date upon which the
                  Associate was first absent from service with the Employer
                  (with or without pay) for any other reason (i.e., vacation,
                  sickness, disability, leave of absence or layoff).

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Severance from Service Date of an
Associate who is absent from service with the Employer beyond the first
anniversary of the first day of such absence on account of maternity or
paternity (as described in Code Sections 410(a)(5)(E) or 411(a)(6)(E)) shall be
the second anniversary of the first day of such absence; and the period of time
between such first and second anniversaries shall not be treated as a Period of
Service or as a Period of Severance.

         (e) "PERIOD OF SEVERANCE" means a period beginning on an Associate's
         Severance from Service Date and ending upon the Associate's
         Reemployment Commencement Date.

         (f) "REEMPLOYMENT COMMENCEMENT DATE" means the first date, following a
         Severance from Service Date, upon which the Associate performs an Hour
         of Service for the Employer or any other member of the Group.

         (g) "SERVICE SPANNING RULES." In determining whether or not an
         Associate has completed a twelve month Period of Service for purposes
         of vesting, the following Periods of Severance shall be treated as
         Periods of Service:

                  (i) If an Associate terminates employment with the Employer
                  (either voluntarily or involuntarily) or retires, and then
                  performs an Hour of Service within the twelve month period
                  beginning on the Severance from Service Date, such Period of
                  Severance shall be treated as a Period of Service; and

                  (ii) If an Associate terminates employment with the Employer
                  (either voluntarily or involuntarily) or retires during an
                  absence from service of twelve months or less for any reason
                  other than a termination or retirement, and then performs an
                  Hour of Service within a period of twelve months from the date
                  the Employee was first absent from service, the Period of
                  Severance shall be treated as a Period of Service.



                                       8
<PAGE>   14


                                    SECTION 2

                                   MEMBERSHIP

         2.01   CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY.

         (a)    Each Associate who on March 19, 2000 was a Member of or is
         eligible to be a Member of the Plan shall continue to be a Member of
         this Plan entitled to make Member Contributions pursuant to Section 4
         and eligible to share in Company Contributions pursuant to Section 3.

         (b)    Each other Associate shall be eligible to become a Member of
         the Plan when the Associate has completed one Year of Service and
         attained age 21, with membership to commence as of the first day of the
         month coincident with or following the date he has met these
         eligibility requirements. Such Associate shall be eligible:

                  (i)  to make Member Contributions pursuant to Section 4;

                  (ii)  to share in Company Matching Contributions pursuant to
                  Section 3.02;

                  (iii) to share in Company Profit Sharing Contributions, if
                  any, pursuant to Section 3.01.

         (c)    Each Member shall be deemed to have elected to make a three
         percent (3%) Before-Tax Contribution pursuant to Section 4.01(b),
         commencing with the first paycheck issued with respect to the first
         payroll period beginning on or after the first day of the month
         coincident with or following the date the Employer determines he met
         the foregoing eligibility requirements. Notwithstanding this "deemed"
         election, an Associate or Member may elect pursuant to procedures
         established by the Committee to not make, or to suspend making, said
         three percent (3%) automatic Before-Tax Contribution, or pursuant to
         Section 4.01(a) or (b) to make an After-Tax or a Before-Tax
         Contribution of an amount other than three percent (3%).

         (d)    All Years of Service with an Employer and Years of Service
         with The May Department Stores Company ("May") while the Employer was
         part of the Group which included May are counted toward eligibility,
         provided that, if an Associate has a 1-year break in service before a
         Year of Service, service with an Employer or May before such break will
         not be taken into account. For the purposes of this Section 2.01,
         "break in service" means a 12 consecutive month employment year as used
         in Section 1.50 during which the Associate does not complete more than
         500 Hours of Service with the Employer and/or May while part of the
         Group.

         (e)    Associates employed by the Company's Puerto Rican
         Subsidiaries are not eligible for membership hereunder. If any such
         Associate has Accounts in this Plan, such



                                       9
<PAGE>   15

         Accounts shall continue to be revalued as of each succeeding
         Valuation Date pursuant to Section 6.04.

         2.02     RE-EMPLOYMENT. A former Member who has retired or has
otherwise terminated employment and is rehired shall become a Member on the
first day of the calendar month after the Employer becomes aware of his rehire.


                                    SECTION 3

                              COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS

         3.01     AMOUNT OF COMPANY PROFIT SHARING CONTRIBUTION. The Company or
an Employer may contribute to the Trust, as of the end of each Plan Year, a
percentage of the Company's Net Profits as a Company Profit Sharing
Contribution. The amount of such contribution, if any, shall be determined by
the Board of Directors in its discretion. Any such contribution shall be made as
soon as practicable after the close of the Company's Fiscal Year. All such
contributions advanced to the Plan by the Company shall be reimbursed to the
Company by the Employer.

         3.02     AMOUNT OF COMPANY MATCHING CONTRIBUTION. The Company shall, in
its discretion, contribute to the Trust, as of the end of each Plan Year, a
total combined amount as to this Plan and the Payless ShoeSource, Inc. Profit
Sharing Plan for Puerto Rico Associates ("Puerto Rico Plan") equal to 2 1/2% of
its Net Profits, until determined otherwise by the Board of Directors, in the
form of a Company Matching Contribution. Such contribution may be made by an
Employer, rather than by the Company, as to that Employer's participating
Associates. The total amount of such contribution shall be allocated in
proportion to the amount that each Member's Contributions under Sections 4.01(a)
and (b) for such Plan Year, up to a total of 5% of such Member's Pay, bears to
the total amount of all Member Contributions up to 5% of such Members' Pay. Such
Company Matching Contribution shall be determined and paid to the Trustee as
soon as practicable after the close of each Fiscal Year.

         3.03     ALLOCATION OF COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS. The Company Contributions
shall be allocated only to the Company Accounts of Members who are employed by
the Employer on the last day of the Plan Year and on behalf of Members whose
employment has terminated during the Plan Year by reason of Retirement, death or
Disability. Company Profit Sharing Contributions shall be credited to eligible
Members' Company Profit Sharing Contribution Accounts. Company Profit Sharing
Contributions allocated prior to or as of July 31, 1997 shall be fully vested;
Company Profit Sharing Contributions allocated thereafter shall be subject to
the vesting provisions of Section 6.07. Company Matching Contributions shall be
subject to the vesting provisions of Section 6.07 and to the withdrawal penalty
provisions of Section 8.02(a). No Company Matching Contribution shall be made
with respect to a Member Before-Tax Contribution in excess of the Code Section
402(g) limit, as revised from time to time.

                                       10
<PAGE>   16

         3.04     PROFIT SHARING ALLOCATION FORMULA. The Company Profit Sharing
Contribution, if any, shall be allocated to all Members eligible to share in the
contribution according to the ratio that each Member's Allocation Pay Amount for
the Plan Year bears to the total Allocation Pay Amount for all eligible Members
for the Plan Year. For this purpose the term eligible Members includes Members
in both the Puerto Rico Plan and this Plan.


         3.05     INVESTMENT OF THE COMPANY CONTRIBUTION. The amounts allocated
to each Member pursuant to Section 3.03 shall be credited to his Company
Accounts and invested in one or more of the Investment Funds described in
Section 5.01 and in the percentages designated by the Member in the investment
election filed pursuant to Section 5.02 effective at the time the amount is
allocated.

         3.06     RETURN OF COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS.

         (a)      If, after the Company Contribution has been made and
         allocated, it should appear that, through oversight or a mistake of
         fact or law, a Member (or an Associate who should have been considered
         a Member) who should have been entitled to share in such contribution,
         receives no allocation or receives an allocation which was less than he
         should have received, the Company may, at its election and in lieu of
         reallocating such contribution, make a special make-up contribution for
         the Company Account of such Member in an amount sufficient to provide
         for him the same addition to his Company Account as he should have
         received. Similarly, if a Member received an allocation which was more
         than he should have received (or an Associate was inappropriately
         included in the Plan), the Company, at its election, may reallocate
         such contribution, offset other Company contributions against such
         allocation, or use such allocation to pay Plan expenses.

         (b)      Each contribution made to the Trust shall be made on the
         condition that it is currently deductible by the Company or Employer
         under Code Section 404 for the taxable year with respect to which the
         contribution is made. If a contribution subsequently is determined,
         whether in whole or in part, not to be currently deductible as provided
         in the preceding sentence, then, within one year of the date of
         disallowance of the deduction of such Company Contribution, an amount
         equal to the disallowed deduction shall be returned to the Company or
         Employer.

         (c)      Earnings attributable to a contribution that is returned
         pursuant to Subsection (a) or (b) above shall not be withdrawn, but
         losses attributable thereto shall reduce the amount returned to the
         Company and/or Employer.


                                       11
<PAGE>   17


                                    SECTION 4

                              MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

         4.01     PROCEDURE FOR MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS.

         (a)      AFTER-TAX CONTRIBUTIONS. Subject to the limitations set
         forth in Sections 4.02, 4.03 and 4.04, each Member may contribute to
         the Plan an amount equal to not less than 1% nor more than 15% (in
         whole percentage points) of his Pay as he shall have designated
         pursuant to procedures established by the Company (which may establish
         lower permissible After-Tax Contributions for Highly Compensated
         Employees); provided, however, that a Member shall not contribute, or
         elect to have contributed on his behalf, amounts with respect to Pay
         received by him after the close of the calendar year during which his
         employment terminates and further provided that any Before-Tax
         Contributions made on behalf of the Member shall reduce, by the
         percentage which he elects to have contributed pursuant to Section
         4.01(b)(i), the percentage of Pay that the Member may contribute
         pursuant to this Section 4.01(a).

         (b)      BEFORE-TAX CONTRIBUTIONS.

                  (i) Subject to the limitations set forth below, each Member
                  may elect that his Employer shall contribute directly to the
                  Trust Fund an amount equal to a whole percentage of his Pay,
                  not less than 1% nor greater than such percentage as may be
                  determined from time to time by the Company which amount shall
                  be his Before-Tax Contribution. The maximum Before-Tax
                  Contribution by a Member determined to be a Highly Compensated
                  Employee under Section 4.02, for the Plan Year in question,
                  may be further restricted or limited by the Company or
                  Committee from time to time.

                  (ii) Pursuant to Section 2.01(c), each eligible Member shall
                  be deemed to have elected to make a three percent (3%)
                  Before-Tax Contribution, unless the Member elects otherwise in
                  accordance with procedures established by the Committee.

         (c)      Notwithstanding any election in accordance with Section
         4.01(b), if the Committee at any time determines that all or any
         portion of the Member's Before-Tax Contributions should be treated as
         After-Tax Contributions in order for the Before-Tax Contribution
         provisions of the Plan to qualify as a "qualified cash or deferred
         arrangement" for purposes of Code Section 401(k), or if the Actual
         Deferral Percentage standards set forth in Code Section 401(k)(3) are
         not met at the end of the Plan Year, then the Committee, in its sole
         and absolute discretion,

                  (i) may, in accordance with Section 4.02 below, limit the
                  amount which shall be contributed by the Employer as
                  Before-Tax Contributions after the date of such determination
                  on behalf of all or any portion of the Members and,

                                       12
<PAGE>   18

                  (ii) may, except with respect to situations in which Section
                  4.01(h) applies, (and prior to March 15 of the calendar year
                  following the Plan Year in which such contributions are made)
                  declare all or such portion of the Before-Tax Contributions
                  theretofore or thereafter made on behalf of all or a portion
                  of the Members to be After-Tax Contributions.

         (d)      The Employer shall (i) deduct a Member's After-Tax
         Contributions from the Pay of the Member in such installments as the
         Employer may deem appropriate, (ii) contribute a Member's Before-Tax
         Contributions on behalf of the Member, and (iii) reduce the Pay that is
         paid to the Member directly in cash by an amount equal to the Member's
         Before-Tax Contributions in such installments as the Employer shall
         deem appropriate. The amounts so deducted and so contributed shall be
         paid by the Employer to the Trustee not later than 15 days following
         the end of the month with respect to which such amounts are to be so
         deducted and contributed or within such shorter period of time as may
         be designated under the Code, ERISA or related regulations. The
         Employer may, from time to time, make estimated contribution payments
         to the Trustee during each month.

         (e)      Effective with the first payroll period beginning in any
         calendar month, or as of such other effective time as may be determined
         by the Committee, a Member may elect to change the rate of his
         After-Tax Contributions to any other rate permitted by Subsection (a)
         of this Section 4.01 and may elect to change the amount to be
         contributed by the Employer directly to the Trust Fund as Before-Tax
         Contributions to an amount equal to an amount permitted by Subsection
         (b) of this Section 4.01 with respect to such contributions to be made
         after the effective date of the election, pursuant to procedures
         established by the Committee.

         (f)      Not later than 15 days prior to the beginning of a payroll
         period of a Member, or not later than such other date as may be
         determined by the Committee, such Member may elect, pursuant to
         procedures established by the Committee, (i) to suspend making
         After-Tax Contributions and (ii) that the Employer should suspend
         making Before-Tax Contributions on his behalf, all as of the beginning
         of such payroll period. Not later than 15 days prior to the beginning
         of a payroll period of a Member, or not later than such other date as
         may be determined by the Committee, such Member may elect (i) to resume
         making After-Tax Contributions and, (ii) that the Employer shall resume
         making Before-Tax Contributions on his behalf, by indicating any amount
         of contributions permitted under Subsection (a) and designating an
         amount equal to any amount of Pay as Before-Tax Contributions that is
         permitted under Subsection (b) hereof.

         (g)      Contributions pursuant to this Section 4.01 shall be credited
         to Member Accounts.

         (h)      Notwithstanding any election in accordance with Subsection
         (b), the total amount of a Member's Before-Tax Contributions and other
         contributions made by the Member under Code Section 401(k) to another
         plan qualified under Code Section 401(a) for any calendar year shall
         not exceed $10,500 (as adjusted from time to time by the Secretary of
         the Treasury or his delegate, pursuant to Code Section 415(d)). If any
         Member may reach

                                       13
<PAGE>   19

         the $10,500 limit (as adjusted) the Committee can direct that all
         or any portion of such Member's Contributions during such year
         shall be After-Tax Contributions regardless of such Member's
         elections pursuant to Sections 4.01(a) and 4.01(b).

         (i)      As of April 1, 2000, all then currently existing flat dollar
         Member Contributions shall be converted to Member Contributions based
         on 1% increments calculated by dividing such flat dollar amount by the
         Member's Pay for the prior year and rounding the product to the nearest
         whole percent; provided that no flat dollar contribution shall be
         converted to a percent contribution of less than 1%.

         (j)      Notwithstanding this Section 4.01, effective March 20, 2000,
         during the black out period as determined by the Committee and the
         Trustee established to change to daily valuation or a change in
         recordkeepers, no contribution rate changes or suspensions may be made
         by a Member except as provided by the Committee.


         4.02     LIMITATIONS ON AND DISTRIBUTIONS OF BEFORE-TAX CONTRIBUTIONS
FOR HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEES.

                  The Committee is authorized to reduce to the extent necessary
         the maximum contributions under Section 4.01(b) for Highly Compensated
         Employees prior to the close of the Plan Year if the Committee
         reasonably believes that the reduction is necessary to prevent the Plan
         from failing Code Section 401(k)(3). Such adjustments shall be made in
         accordance with rules prescribed by the Employer.

                  If the Plan fails to satisfy Code Section 401(k)(3), the Plan
         shall correct the failure within 12 months after the last day of such
         Plan Year under any method of combination of methods allowed under Code
         Section 401(k)(8) or Treasury Regulation Section 1.401(k)-1(f), taking
         into account any adjustments necessary due to changes to Code Section
         401(k)(8)(C) that are reflected in the regulations. For purposes of
         this Section 4.01, the actual deferral percentage of Non-Highly
         Compensated Employees shall be determined as of the the Plan Year for
         which the Plan must satisfy one of the tests in Code Section 401(k)(3),
         unless the Employer elects to determine such actual deferral percentage
         as of the Plan Year preceding the Plan Year for which the Plan must
         satisfy one of the tests in Code Section 401(k)(3). Any such election
         shall not be changed except as provided by the Secretary of the
         Treasury.

         4.03     DISTRIBUTIONS OF EXCESS DEFERRALS.

         (a)      Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, Excess
         Before-Tax Deferrals (as hereinafter defined) and earnings allocable
         thereto as determined pursuant to such rules and regulations as are
         prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, shall be distributed no
         later than April 15 to Members who claim such allocable Excess
         Before-Tax Amounts (which shall be the "Excess Before-Tax Deferrals"
         plus earnings, if any) for the preceding calendar year.

                                       14
<PAGE>   20

         (b)      For purposes of this Section 4.03, "Excess Before-Tax
         Deferral" means the amount of elective deferrals (within the meaning of
         Code Section 402(g)(3)) which is a Member Contribution under Section
         4.01 for a calendar year that the Member allocates to this Plan
         pursuant to the claim procedure set forth in subsection 4.03(c) hereof.

         (c)      The Member's claim shall be in writing; shall be submitted
         to the Committee no later than March 1; shall specify the amount of the
         Member's Excess Before-Tax Deferral for the preceding calendar year;
         and shall be accompanied by the Member's written statement that if such
         amounts are not distributed, the Excess Before-Tax Deferrals, when
         added to amounts deferred under other plans or arrangements described
         in Code Sections 401(k), 408(k) or 403(b), exceeds the limit imposed on
         the Member in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Code for
         the year in which the deferral occurred.

         (d)      Notwithstanding any provision of Sections 3 or 4 to the
         contrary, any Company Matching Allocation which would have been
         attributable to an Excess Before-Tax Deferral distributed to a Member
         under Section 4.02(a) shall not be retained or distributed, but shall
         be held unallocated in a suspense account and, as of the end of the
         Plan Year, forfeited and added to and allocated with Company
         Contributions in the next following Plan Year.

         4.04     LIMITATIONS ON AND DISTRIBUTIONS OF AFTER-TAX EMPLOYEE
CONTRIBUTIONS AND MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR HIGHLY COMPENSATED EMPLOYEES.

         The Committee is authorized to reduce to the extent necessary the
maximum amount of Employee After-Tax Contributions and Employer Matching
Contributions under Sections 4.01(a) and 3.02 contributed on behalf of any
Highly Compensated Employee prior to the close of the Plan Year if the Committee
reasonably believes that such adjustment is necessary to prevent the Plan from
failing Code Section 401(m)(2). Such reduction shall be made in accordance with
rules prescribed by the Employer.

         If the Plan fails to satisfy Code Section 401(m)(2), the Plan shall
correct the failure within 12 months after the last day of such Plan Year under
any method or combination of methods allowed under Treasury Regulation
1.401(m)-1(e), taking into account any adjustments necessary due to changes to
Code Section 401(m)(6)(c) that are not reflected in the regulations. For
purposes of this Section 4.04, the actual contribution percentage of Non-Highly
Compensated Employees shall be determined as of the Plan Year for which the Plan
must satisfy one of the tests in Code Section 401(m)(2), unless the Employer
elects to determine such actual contribution percentage as of the Plan Year
preceding the Plan Year for which the Plan must satisfy one of the tests in Code
Section 401(m)(2). Any such election shall not be changed except as provided by
the Secretary of the Treasury.



                                       15
<PAGE>   21



         4.05     LIMITATIONS ON MULTIPLE USE OF ALTERNATIVE LIMITATION.

                  (a)      Determination of Multiple Use.
                           -----------------------------

                                    The Committee will determine whether or not
                           multiple use of the alternative limitation has
                           occurred. Such determination will be made in
                           accordance with Section 401(m)(9) of the Code.

                  (b)      Correction Of Multiple Use.
                           --------------------------

                                    If a multiple use of the alternative
                           limitation occurs, the Committee shall correct such
                           multiple use by reducing the actual contribution
                           percentages of Highly Compensated Employees in the
                           manner set forth in Section 4 so that there is no
                           multiple use of the alternative limitation.

                  (c)      Special Definitions.
                           -------------------

                                    All terms used in this Section 4 shall have
                           the meaning given such terms in Code Sections 401(k)
                           and 401(m) and the regulations thereunder.


                                    SECTION 5

                              INVESTMENT PROVISIONS

         5.01     INVESTMENT FUNDS.

         (a)      There shall be established as part of the Trust Fund a
         reasonable range of investment options. The Committee may from time to
         time, in its discretion, change, delete or add Investment Funds
         available within the Trust Fund; provided that unless and until the
         Plan is amended accordingly, the Plan shall continue to provide a
         Payless Common Stock Fund as an investment option.

         (b)      Income from and proceeds of sales of investments in each
         Investment Fund shall be reinvested in the same Investment Fund. Any
         income or other taxes payable with respect to a Fund shall be charged
         to such Fund.

         (c)      A Trustee may, from time to time, make temporary investments
         in short term obligations of the United States Government, commercial
         paper, or other investments of a short term nature, pending investment
         in an Investment Fund.

         5.02     INVESTMENT DIRECTION.

         (a)      A Member may elect that his Member Contributions be invested
         in 1% increments totaling 100% in one or more of the Investment Funds.
         Such election must be made



                                       16
<PAGE>   22

         pursuant to procedures prescribed by the Committee. Such election shall
         be effective until and unless a Member makes a different election for
         any period, but only as provided for under Subsection 5.02(b) and
         Subsection 5.02(c). If the Member fails to file a timely initial
         investment election, he shall be deemed to have elected to have 100% of
         his Member Contributions invested in the stable, fixed income
         investment as may be determined by the Committee. Until such time as
         the Committee determines otherwise and so notifies Members, a Member's
         share of any Company Contributions, when allocated as of Plan Year-end,
         shall be invested in the same Investment Funds in the same proportions
         as the Member has elected in connection with investment of his Member
         Contributions at the time the Company Contribution is contributed to
         the Trust.

         (b)      A Member may change his election with respect to future
         Member and Company Contributions effective pursuant to procedures
         prescribed by the Committee and may not change his election in any
         other manner except as provided in Subsection 5.02(c).

         (c)      Effective as of the date determined by the Committee, and
         pursuant to procedures prescribed by the Committee, a Member may elect
         to have any or all of the value in any of the Investment Funds which
         are credited to his Member and/or Company Accounts transferred and
         invested in any one or more of the Investment Funds.

         (d)      Notwithstanding this Section 5.02, effective March 20, 2000,
         during the black out period as determined by the Committee and the
         Trustee established to change to daily valuation or a change in
         recordkeepers, no investment transfers or changes may be made by a
         Member unless provided in Section 6.06. Notwithstanding anything to the
         contrary, no loans, withdrawals or distributions shall be made during
         any such blackout period except as provided by the Committee.


                                    SECTION 6

                                    ACCOUNTS

         6.01     MEMBER ACCOUNTS. The Committee shall maintain or cause to be
maintained for each Member under each Investment Fund in which his Member
Contributions are invested separate Member Accounts which shall reflect the
portion of his interest in such Investment Fund which is attributable to his
contributions. The Member's After-Tax Contributions shall be credited to a
separate Member After-Tax Account. The Member's Before-Tax Contributions shall
be credited to a separate Member Before-Tax Account. The Member's or Associate's
Rollover Contribution shall be credited to a separate Member Rollover
Contribution Account.

         6.02     COMPANY ACCOUNTS. The Committee shall maintain or cause to
be maintained for each Member under each Investment Fund in which his Company
Contributions are invested separate Company Accounts which shall reflect the
portion of his interest in such Investment Fund which is attributable to Company
Contributions, as well as to contributions made by an Employer under prior plans
and to any income or earnings attributable to such Company



                                       17
<PAGE>   23

Contributions and prior plan contributions. The Member's Company Matching
Contributions shall be credited to a separate Company Matching Contribution
Account. The Member's Company Profit Sharing Contribution, if any, shall be
credited to a separate Company Profit Sharing Contribution Account.

         6.03     MAINTENANCE OF ACCOUNTS. For the purposes of maintaining
Accounts pursuant to this Section 6, each Investment Fund shall be divided into
Units, and the Interest of each Member in such Investment Fund shall be
evidenced by the number of Units in such Investment Fund credited to his
Accounts.

         6.04     VALUATION OF ACCOUNTS. As of each Valuation Date the
Committee shall determine the value of a Unit in each Account by dividing the
current market value of all property in each such Account as of such Valuation
Date (after deducting any expenses or other amounts including withdrawals
properly chargeable against such Account) by the number of Units then
outstanding to the credit of all Members in each such Account.

         6.05     MEMBER STATEMENTS. The Committee shall furnish or cause to
be furnished to each Member a statement of his Company and Member Accounts, at
least once each year, or more frequently if required by applicable law.

         6.06     SHARES OF PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC. ("PAYLESS STOCK") IN THE
PAYLESS COMMON STOCK FUND.

         (a)      Each Member (or beneficiary of a deceased Member) who has
         Accounts invested in the Payless Common Stock Fund shall, as a named
         fiduciary within the meaning of Section 403(a)(1) of ERISA, have the
         right to direct the Trustee with respect to the vote of the number of
         shares of Payless Stock attributable to Units credited to him in the
         Payless Common Stock Fund as of the latest practicable Valuation Date
         prior to or contemporaneous with the record date set by the Company for
         each meeting of shareowners of the Company. For such purpose the
         Trustee shall furnish to each such Member prior to each such meeting
         the proxy statement for such meeting, together with a form to be
         returned to the Trustee on which may be set forth the Member's
         instructions as to the manner of voting such shares of stock. Upon
         receipt of such instructions, the Trustee shall vote such shares in
         accordance therewith. If a Member's instructions are not received by
         the Trustee in a timely manner, the Trustee shall vote such Member's
         shares in the same proportion as the shares of Common Stock for which
         instructions were actually timely received from Members. The Trustee
         shall not divulge the instructions of any Member.

         (b)      Each Member (or beneficiary of a deceased Member) who has
         Accounts invested in the Payless Common Stock Fund shall, as a named
         fiduciary within the meaning of Section 403(a)(1) of ERISA, have the
         right with respect to the number of shares of Payless Stock
         attributable to Units credited to him in the Payless Common Stock Fund
         as of the latest practicable Valuation Date, to direct the Trustee in
         writing as to the manner in which to respond to a tender or exchange
         offer with respect to Payless Stock, and the Trustee



                                       18
<PAGE>   24


shall utilize its best efforts to timely distribute or cause to be distributed
to each Member such information as will be distributed to shareowners of the
Company in connection with any such tender or exchange offer, together with a
form requesting instructions on whether or not such shares will be tendered or
exchanged. If the Trustee shall not receive timely direction from a Member as to
the manner in which to respond to such a tender or exchange offer, the Trustee
shall not tender or exchange any shares of Payless Stock with respect to which
such Member has the right of direction. Tenders as a result of a self-tender
offer by the Company shall continue notwithstanding any investment change
blackout. The Trustee shall not divulge the instructions of any member. The
proceeds from the tender or exchange of shares attributable to Units in Payless
Common Stock Investment Fund accounts of Members shall be transferred to one of
the Investment Funds described in Section 5.01 and pursuant to a procedure
established by the Committee.

6.07   VESTING IN MEMBER AND COMPANY ACCOUNTS

(a)    VESTING SCHEDULE. A Member shall have a fully vested interest at all
times (i) in his Member Accounts and (ii) in his Company Profit Sharing
Contribution Account balance determined as of July 31, 1997. A Member who has
completed at least two full Years of Service as of August 1, 1997 also shall be
fully vested at all times (i) in his Company Matching Contributions Account and
(ii) in his Company Profit Sharing Contribution Account determined at any time
after July 31, 1997. The Company Matching Contribution Account of a Member who
is not or was not credited with at least two Years of Service as of August 1,
1997 and his Company Profit Sharing Contribution Account attributable to Company
Profit Sharing Contributions, if any, based on such Member's eligibility for
such contributions after August 1, 1997, shall vest according to the following
schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   Vesting Service               Vested Interest
                   ---------------               ---------------
                 <S>                                 <C>
                 Fewer than 2 years                     0%

                       2 years                         25%

                       3 years                         50%

                       4 years                         75%

                   5 years or more                    100%
</TABLE>

       Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Member's interest in his Company
Matching Contribution Account and his Company Profit Sharing Contribution
Account shall become fully vested upon the Member's Retirement, death or
Disability.


                                       19

<PAGE>   25


(b)    CASH-OUT DISTRIBUTIONS TO PARTIALLY VESTED MEMBERS AND RESTORATION OF
FORFEITURES. If, pursuant to Section 10.01, a partially-vested Member receives a
cash-out distribution before he incurs a Forfeiture Break in Service (as defined
in Subsection (e) below), the cash-out distribution will result in an immediate
forfeiture of the nonvested portion(s) of the Member's Company Matching and
Company Profit Sharing Contribution Account(s). See Subsection (e) below. A
partially-vested Member is a Member whose Vested Interest, determined under
Section 6.07(a), in either his Company Matching Contribution Account or his
Company Profit Sharing Contribution Account, or both, is less than 100%. A
cash-out distribution is a distribution of the entire vested portion of the
Member's Account(s).

       (i) A partially-vested Member who is reemployed by an Employer after
       receiving a cash-out distribution of the vested portion of his Account(s)
       shall have such forfeited amount restored, unless the Member no longer
       has a right to restoration under this subparagraph (i). The amount
       restored by the Plan Administrator shall be the same dollar amount as the
       dollar amount of his Account(s) on the Valuation Date immediately
       preceding the date of the cash-out distribution, unadjusted for any gains
       or losses occurring subsequent to that Valuation Date but reduced by the
       amount of the prior cash-out distribution. Restoration of the Member's
       Account balance(s) includes restoration of all US Code Section 411(d)(6)
       protected benefits with respect to the restored Account(s) in accordance
       with applicable Treasury regulations. The Plan Administrator will not
       restore a reemployed Member's Account balance(s) under this subparagraph
       (i) if the Member has incurred a Forfeiture Break in Service (as defined
       in Subsection (d) below).

       (ii) If restoration of the Member's Account(s) is permitted under
       subparagraph (i) above, the Plan Administrator will restore the Member's
       Account(s) as of the last day of the Plan Year during which such Member
       was reemployed by an Employer. To restore the Member's Account(s), the
       Plan Administrator, to the extent necessary, will allocate to the
       Member's Account(s):

              (A) first, the amount, if any, of Member forfeitures otherwise
              available for allocation under Subsection (e) below;

              (B) second, deductible Employer contributions for the Plan Year to
              the extent made under a discretionary formula; and

              (C) third, as otherwise permitted by law.

The Plan Administrator will not take into account any allocation under this
subsection (b) in applying the limitation on allocations under Section 13.

       (iii) The deemed cash-out rule applies to a 0% vested Member. A 0% vested
       Member is a Member whose Account(s) derived from Employer contributions
       is



                                       20
<PAGE>   26


       (are) entirely forfeitable at the time of his termination of employment.
       Under the deemed cash-out rule, the Plan Administrator will treat the 0%
       vested Member as having received a cash-out distribution on the date of
       the Member's termination of employment or, if the Member's Account(s) is
       (are) entitled to an allocation of Employer contributions for the Plan
       Year in which he terminates employment, on the last day of that Plan
       Year.

(c)    DETERMINATION OF VESTING SERVICE. For purposes of determining a Member's
Vested Interest in his Company Contributions Account(s) under subsection (a)
above, a Member shall be credited with that number of years of Vesting Service
determined by adding together all of the Associate's Periods of Service, whether
or not consecutive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Vesting Service shall not
include any Period of Service before the Plan Year in which an Associate attains
age eighteen (18). Only whole years of service shall be taken into account for
purposes of applying the schedule set forth in subsection (a) above, and, for
purposes of determining a Member's number of whole years of service,
non-successive Periods of Service must be aggregated, with 365 days of service
being deemed to constitute one year. For purposes of determining a Member's
Period of Service, the Service Spanning rules described in Section 1.52(g) shall
apply.

(d)    FORFEITURE BREAK IN SERVICE. For purposes of this Section 6.07, a "Break
in Service" is a Period of Severance of at least 365 consecutive days. A
"Forfeiture Break in Service" occurs when a Member of former Member incurs 5
consecutive Breaks in Service.

(e)    FORFEITURE OCCURS. A Member's forfeiture, if any, of his Account
balance(s) derived from Company contributions occurs under the Plan on the
earlier of:

       (i) the last day of the last pay period ending within the Plan Year in
       which the Member first incurs a Forfeiture Break in Service; or

       (ii) the date the Member receives a cash-out distribution.

       The Plan Administrator shall determine the percentage of a Member's
Account(s) forfeiture, if any, under this Subsection (e) solely by reference to
the vesting schedule of Section 6.07(a). As of the last day of each Plan Year,
the total amount of forfeitures which occurred during such Plan Year shall be
calculated and such amount shall be applied (i) to restore under (b) above any
amounts previously forfeited from rehired Members' Accounts and (ii) the
balance, if any, shall be added to and allocated with the Company Matching
Contribution for that Plan Year.

(f)    FORMER MAY PLAN MEMBERS. The provisions of this subsection (g) apply to a
Member who previously was employed by the Employer, when it was part of the
Group which included The May Department Stores Company, and who at the
termination of his employment had Company Accounts in the May Plan which were
forfeited as a result of termination of employment. If such Member has not
incurred five consecutive one-year Breaks in


                                       21

<PAGE>   27


Service as defined in Section 6.07(d), the value of the Member's Company
Account forfeited under the May Plan will be restored under this Plan (in
the manner described in Subsection (b) above) and will be 100% vested.

                                    SECTION 7

                                    EXPENSES

       7.01   ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. To the extent permitted by applicable
law, the costs and expenses for administering this Plan, consisting of Trustee
fees and expenses, Investment Manager fees and expenses, fees and expenses of
outside experts, expenses of maintaining records under Section 6 of the Plan,
and all other administrative expenses of the Plan, shall be paid out of the
Trust Fund unless the Company or the Employer elects to pay them with its own
funds. Costs incident to the purchase and sale of securities, such as brokerage
fees, commissions and stock transfer fees, are not regarded as administrative
expenses and shall be borne by the appropriate Investment Fund as determined by
the Trustee or Committee.

                                    SECTION 8

                          WITHDRAWALS DURING EMPLOYMENT

       8.01   WITHDRAWALS PROHIBITED UNLESS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORIZED. No
withdrawal from the Plan shall be permitted prior to a Member's termination of
employment, except as provided in Section 8.02.

       8.02   AUTHORIZED WITHDRAWALS.

       (a) Prior to his termination of employment, a Member may elect to
withdraw, in cash, any or all of the value in his Member After-Tax Accounts.
However, in the event a Member elects to withdraw all or a portion of his
After-Tax Contributions made after August 1, 1997, such Member shall forfeit his
right to fifty percent (50%) of the Company Matching Contribution, if any,
otherwise allocable in connection with his Member Contributions for the Plan
Year in which the withdrawal occurs.

       (b) Prior to his termination of employment, a Member may elect to
withdraw, in the event of a "hardship", an amount in cash equal to (i) the total
amount of the Before-Tax Contributions made to the Trust on his behalf, or (ii)
the value in his Member Before-Tax Account whichever is less provided, however,
that no withdrawal will be permitted to the extent that loans from the Plan are
available to the Member. In any event the amount withdrawn may not be greater
than the amount determined by the Committee as being required to meet the
immediate financial need created by the "hardship" and not reasonably available
from other resources of the Member, whichever amount is less. The term
"hardship" means a heavy financial hardship in light of immediate and heavy
financial needs as determined by the Committee in accordance with the PR Code
regulations. The amount of an immediate and heavy financial need may include any
amounts necessary to pay any federal, state or local taxes or penalties
reasonably anticipated


                                       22

<PAGE>   28


to result from the distribution. The determination shall be made in a
nondiscriminatory manner. Hardship shall include but not be limited to the
following:

       (i)    Medical expenses described in PR Code Section 1023(aa)(2)(P),
       previously incurred by the Member, the Member's spouse, or any of the
       Member's dependents (as defined in PR Code Section 1025);

       (ii)   Purchase (excluding mortgage payments) of a principal residence
       for the Member;

       (iii)  Payment of tuition, related educational fees, and room and board
       expenses for the next 12 months of post-secondary education for the
       Member, his or her spouse, children, or dependents (as defined in PR Code
       Section 1025);

       (iv)   The need to prevent the eviction of the Member from his or her
       principal residence or foreclosure on the mortgage of the Member's
       principal residence.

       The Committee may adopt written guidelines which identify additional
circumstances constituting hardship and which provide procedures to be followed
in the administration of hardship withdrawal requests, which guidelines are
hereby incorporated herein.

       In addition, such hardship must be one which in the judgment of the
Committee, based on the Member's representations, cannot be relieved (1) through
reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, (2) by reasonable
liquidation of the Member's assets to the extent such liquidation would not
itself cause an immediate and heavy financial need, (3) by cessation of Member
Contributions under the Plan or (4) by other distributions from employee benefit
plans maintained by the Company or any other employer or by borrowing from
commercial sources on reasonable commercial terms. The Member shall be required
to submit documentation, to be determined by the Committee, with his hardship
withdrawal request to enable the Committee to make a judgment regarding the
validity of such hardship withdrawal request. For any Member who has attained
age 59 1/2, the "hardship" requirement shall be deemed waived.

       (c)    A Member who was a Participant in or eligible to be a Participant
in the Volume Shoe Corporation Profit Sharing Plan (the "Volume Plan") as of
December 31, 1988 and who had an account balance in the Volume Plan attributable
to Employer Contributions made to the Volume Plan before July 31, 1976 and which
account became a Company Account under The May Department Stores Company Profit
Sharing Plan and which has been transferred to this Plan, shall be entitled to
withdraw the market value of such account balance determined (and frozen) as of
December 31, 1988.

       (d)    Associates with Member Rollover Contribution Accounts may elect to
withdraw their Member Rollover Contribution Accounts prior to termination of
employment.


                                       23

<PAGE>   29


         (e) A withdrawal election shall be made pursuant to application
procedures established by the Committee. For any withdrawal under this Section
8.02, if the amount which may be withdrawn exceeds $100, the Member may not
withdraw less than $100, and if the amount which may be withdrawn is less than
$100, the Member shall be required to withdraw all of such amount. Contribution
totals and Account values shall be determined as of the Valuation Date
coinciding with or next following the filing of the withdrawal election. If the
Member Accounts from which withdrawal is made are in more than one Investment
Fund, the withdrawal shall be pro rata from each such Investment Fund except in
the case the Member is subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 or has been designated as a "Designated Insider," in which case such
Member's withdrawal will be taken first from such Member's Investment Funds
other than the Payless Common Stock Fund.

                                    SECTION 9

    BENEFITS UPON RETIREMENT, DEATH, DISABILITY OR TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

         9.01   BENEFITS. Upon a Member's Retirement, death, Disability, or
other termination of employment, the value of his Member Accounts and of his
vested Company Accounts shall be determined as of the Valuation Date prior to
the date the distribution is calculated. A temporary Authorized Leave of Absence
for Military Service or for other purposes approved by the Employer shall not,
while any such Authorized Leave of Absence is validly in effect, be regarded as
a termination of employment.

         9.02   BENEFICIARY. Any benefits payable on account of a Member's
death shall be paid to such Member's spouse. If such Member has no spouse or if
such Member's spouse shall have consented to the naming of another beneficiary,
such benefits shall be paid to the person or persons (including, without
limitation, estates, trust, or other entities) last named as beneficiary by such
Member on an appropriate form filed with the Committee. A spouse's consent shall
acknowledge the effect of the consent and be in writing, witnessed by a Plan
representative or notary public. A spouse's consent shall be irrevocable. If no
beneficiary has been so named or the named beneficiary does not survive the
Member, any payment to be made under this Plan on account of a Member's death
shall be paid to such Member's spouse, or, if he has no spouse, to such Member's
estate. Whenever permitted by the Code or regulations thereunder, the Committee
may waive the requirements that a spouse's consent be obtained. Such waiver may
be on a case by case basis or by categories.

                                   SECTION 10

                               PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

         10.01    TIME OF PAYMENT.

         (a)      All amounts distributable to a Member or Beneficiary
         pursuant to Section 9 shall, unless the Member makes an approved
         election pursuant to Section 10.01(b) or 10.01(c), be paid in a lump
         sum payment to be made as soon as practicable after the Valuation Date









                                       24
<PAGE>   30

         as of which the Account values are determined pursuant to Section 9.01;
         provided, however, that any additional amounts which may be allocated
         to a Member's Company Accounts resulting from a Company Contribution in
         respect of the calendar year in which employment terminates shall be
         paid as soon as practicable after such contribution.

                  Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 10 to the
         contrary, if the present value of the nonforfeitable accrued benefit of
         a Member, including Company and Member Contributions (but excluding
         accumulated deductible employee contribution, if any) exceeds (or for
         distributions made prior to March 22, 1999, ever has exceeded) $5,000,
         no partial or total distribution shall be made unless the Member has
         consented thereto in writing in the manner required by law.

         (b)      A Member who was a Member of the May Plan as of June 30,
         1990 may elect that all Transferred Accounts distributable to him
         pursuant to Section 9 shall be paid in annual installments over a
         period not to exceed ten years beginning with the Valuation Date as of
         which the lump sum payment would otherwise be made. In the event of the
         death of a Member prior to the expiration of such period, all amounts
         which have not been distributed to him shall be paid in a lump sum to
         his designated Beneficiary or his estate if there is no designated
         Beneficiary. Subject to the foregoing, each such installment shall be
         paid as of a Valuation Date and, until all the Accounts of the Member
         have been fully distributed, they shall continue to be revalued as of
         each succeeding Valuation Date pursuant to Section 6.04.

                  Notwithstanding the paragraph above, a Member who as of
         December 31, 1988 was or was entitled to be a Participant in the Volume
         Shoe Corporation Profit Sharing Plan may elect that all Transferred
         Accounts distributable to him pursuant to Section 9 be paid in the form
         of equal monthly installments over a period not to exceed 120 months.
         Such payments shall otherwise be made in accordance with the foregoing
         portion of this Subsection 10.01(b).

         (c)      A Member who is entitled to receive a distribution in excess
         of $5,000 may elect to defer such distribution to age 65. An election
         to defer distribution shall conform to such requirements as to form,
         content, manner, and timing as shall be determined by the Committee and
         which requirements shall be applied in a manner which does not
         discriminate in favor of Members who are highly compensated employees
         (within the meaning of Code Section 414(q)). All Accounts of a Member
         who elects to defer his distribution shall continue to be revalued as
         of each succeeding Valuation Date pursuant to Section 6.04. A deferred
         distribution shall be paid when such Member attains the age of 65 years
         or at such earlier or later time as shall be determined by the
         Committee as permitted by law. In the event of the death of a Member
         prior to distribution of the deferred amounts, all amounts shall be
         distributed in a lump sum to his designated Beneficiary or to his
         estate if there is no designated Beneficiary. The value for payment
         shall be determined as of the Valuation Date coincident with or next
         following such Member's 65th birthday or such other payment date
         determined by the Committee.

                                       25
<PAGE>   31

         10.02    FORM OF PAYMENT. All distributions shall be made in the form
of cash, except that distributions from the Payless Common Stock Fund shall be
made in the form of full shares of Payless Common Stock, as applicable (with
payment in cash for a fraction of a share) or in cash if elected by the Member
or Beneficiary. The rights extended to a Member hereunder shall also apply to
any Beneficiary or alternate payee of such Member.

         10.03    INDIRECT PAYMENT OF BENEFITS. If any Member or Beneficiary
has been adjudged to be legally, physically or mentally incapable or
incompetent, payment may be made to the legal guardian or other legal
representative of such Member or Beneficiary as determined by the Committee.
Such payments shall constitute a full discharge with respect thereto.

         10.04    INABILITY TO FIND MEMBER. If a Member or Beneficiary or
other person to whom a benefit payment is due cannot be found during the three
years subsequent to the date a distribution was required to be made under this
Plan, the Accounts shall be forfeited at the end of such three-year period. The
value of such Accounts as of the date the distribution was required to be made
shall be restored if such Member or Beneficiary or other person makes a claim.

         10.05    COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFIT DISTRIBUTION TO MEMBERS. In
accordance with Code Section 401(a)(9) and Treasury Regulations promulgated
thereunder, distributions to a Member must commence not later than the first day
of April following the calendar year in which the Member attains age 70 1/2.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, distribution to a Member who is not a "five
percent owner" as defined in Section 20.10(f)(3) shall commence not later than
April 1 following the calendar year in which the Member attains age 70 1/2 or,
if later, the calendar year in which the Member retires.

         10.06    COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFIT DISTRIBUTION TO BENEFICIARY.
Distributions to the Beneficiary entitled under Section 9.02 to receive any
payments payable under this Plan on account of a Member's death shall be made in
a lump sum payment not later than December 31 of the calendar year following the
calendar year in which the Member died.

         10.07    COMMENCEMENT OF BENEFIT DISTRIBUTION TO ALTERNATE PAYEE.
Distributions to an alternate payee entitled under Section 16.01 to receive any
payments payable under this Plan pursuant to the terms of a Qualified Domestic
Relations Order shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Qualified
Domestic Relations Order and this Plan on or after the date on which the Member
has attained his "earliest retirement age" (as defined under Code Section
414(p)) under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, distribution to an
alternate payee may be made prior to the Member's attainment of his earliest
retirement age if, but only if: (1) the Qualified Domestic Relations Order
specifies distribution at that time or permits an agreement between the Plan and
the alternate payee to authorize an earlier distribution; (2) the distribution
is a single sum distribution of the alternate payee's entire benefit entitlement
under the Plan; and (3) in the event the present value of the alternate payee's
benefits under the Plan exceeds $5,000, the alternate payee consents to any
distribution occurring prior to the Member's attainment of earliest retirement
age.

                                       26
<PAGE>   32

         Nothing in this Section 10.07 shall be construed to permit a Member to
(1) receive a distribution at a time not otherwise permitted under the Plan, (2)
permit the alternate payee to receive a form of payment not otherwise permitted
under the Plan, or (3) cause his Plan accounts to be valued or otherwise
determined in a manner not otherwise permitted under the Plan.

                                   SECTION 11

                    PERMITTED ROLLOVER OF PLAN DISTRIBUTIONS

         11.01    ROLLOVER TO OTHER PLANS. Notwithstanding any provision of
the Plan to the contrary that would otherwise limit a distributee's election
under this Section, a distributee may elect, at the time and pursuant to
procedures prescribed by the Committee, to have any portion of an eligible
rollover distribution paid directly to an eligible retirement plan specified by
the distributee in a direct rollover. Such distribution may commence no less
than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) after any notice required under
Treas. Reg. Section 1.411(a)-11(c) (or its successor) and explanation of his
right to rollover his distribution and tax explanation in accordance with
Internal Revenue Rules are given to a Member or other distributee, provided that
the Member has been clearly informed that he has a right to a period of at least
thirty (30) days after receiving said notice to consider the decision as to
whether to elect a distribution or, if applicable, a distribution option, and
the Member nevertheless affirmatively elects distribution preceding the
expiration of thirty (30) days.

         11.02    ROLLOVER FROM OTHER PLANS. An Associate eligible to
participate in the Plan, regardless of whether he has satisfied the
participation requirements of Section 2.01, may transfer to the Plan an Eligible
Rollover Distribution provided that such distribution is from an Eligible
Retirement Plan. If such transfer is not a direct transfer, such a transfer may
be made only if the following conditions are met:

                  (a)  the transfer occurs on or before the 60th day following
                  the Associate's receipt of the distribution from the Eligible
                  Retirement Plan; and

                  (b)  The amount transferred is equal to any portion of
                  the distribution the Associate received from the Eligible
                  Retirement Plan, not in excess of the fair market value of all
                  property received in such a distribution reduced by employee
                  contributions, as defined in Code Section 402(a)(5)(E).

                  The Committee shall develop such procedures, and may require
                  such information, from a Member desiring to make such a
                  transfer, as it deems necessary or desirable to determine that
                  the proposed transfer will meet the requirements of the
                  Section. Upon approval by the Committee or its Administrative
                  Delegate, the amount transferred shall be deposited in the
                  Trust Fund and shall be credited to the Member's account. Such
                  rollover amount shall be one hundred percent (100%) vested in
                  the Member, shall share in the income allocations in
                  accordance with Section 5, but shall not share in the Company
                  Profit Sharing Contributions, the Company Matching
                  Contributions or the forfeiture allocations. Upon termination


                                       27
<PAGE>   33

                  of employment, the total amount of the rollover contribution
                  shall be distributed in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

                  Upon such a transfer by an Associate who is otherwise eligible
                  to participate in the Plan but who has not yet completed the
                  participation requirement of Section 2.01, his rollover amount
                  shall represent his sole interest in the Plan until he becomes
                  a Member.

         11.03    DEFINITIONS.  The following definitions shall apply for the
purposes of this Section 11:

         (a)      ELIGIBLE ROLLOVER DISTRIBUTION. An eligible rollover
         distribution is any distribution of all or any portion of the balance
         to the credit of the distributee as defined in Code Section 402(c),
         except that an eligible rollover distribution does not include: any
         distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal periodic
         payments (not less frequently than annually) made for the life (or life
         expectancy) of the distributee or the joint lives (or joint life
         expectancies) of the distributee and the distributee's beneficiary or
         for a specified period of ten years or more; any distribution to the
         extent such distribution is required under Code Section 401(a)(9); the
         portion of any distribution that is not includable in gross income
         (determined without regard to the exclusion for net unrealized
         appreciation with respect to employer securities); and any hardship
         distribution attributable to Before-Tax Contributions.

         (b)      ELIGIBLE RETIREMENT PLAN. An eligible retirement plan is an
         individual retirement account described in Code Section 408(u), an
         individual retirement annuity described in Code Section 408(b), an
         annuity plan described in Code Section 403(a), or a qualified trust
         described in Code Section 401(a), which accepts or will make, as
         applicable, an Eligible Rollover Distribution. However, in the case of
         an Eligible Rollover Distribution to a Member's surviving spouse, an
         eligible retirement plan is an individual retirement account or
         individual retirement annuity.

         (c)      DISTRIBUTEE. A distributee includes a Member or former
         Member. In addition, the Member or former Member's surviving spouse and
         the Member's or former Member's spouse or former spouse who is the
         alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order, as defined
         in Code Section 414(p), are distributees with regard to the interest of
         the spouse or former spouse.

         (d)      DIRECT TRANSFER.  A direct transfer is a payment by the Plan
         to the eligible retirement plan specified by the distributee as
         described in Code Section 401(a)(31).


                                       28
<PAGE>   34



                                   SECTION 12

                                      LOANS

         12.01    AVAILABILITY OF LOANS. Loans shall be permitted under this
Plan as established by the policy of the Committee. Any such loan shall be
subject to such conditions and limitations as the Committee deems necessary for
administrative convenience and to preserve the tax-qualified status of the Plan.
Loans are available to Associates who have a Member Rollover Contribution
Account.

         12.02    AMOUNT OF LOANS. No loan to any Associate, Member or
Beneficiary may be made to the extent that such loan, when added to the
outstanding balance of all other loans to the Associate, Member or Beneficiary,
would exceed the lesser of (a) $50,000 reduced by the excess (if any) of the
highest outstanding balance of loans during the one-year period ending on the
day before the loan is made, over the outstanding balance of loans from the Plan
on the date the loan is made, or (b) one-half the present value of the
nonforfeitable accrued benefit of the Participant. For the purpose of the above
limitation, all loans from all plans of the Employer and other members of a
group of employers described in Code Sections 414(b), 414(c), 414(m) and 414(o)
are aggregated. Furthermore, any loan shall by its terms require that repayment
(principal and interest) be amortized in level payments, not less frequently
than quarterly, over a period not extending beyond four and one-half years from
the date of the loan. If such loan is used to acquire a dwelling unit which
within a reasonable time (determined at the time the loan is made) will be used
as the principal residence of the Participant, the repayment period shall not
extend beyond twenty nine and one-half years from the date of the loan. An
assignment or pledge of any portion of the Participant's interest in the Plan
and a loan, pledge, or assignment with respect to any insurance contract
purchased under the Plan will be treated as a loan under this paragraph.

         12.03    TERMS OF LOANS.

         (a)      Loans shall be made available to all Associates, Members and
         Beneficiaries on a reasonably equivalent basis.

         (b)      Loans shall not be made available to Highly Compensated
         Employees (as defined in Code Section 414(q)) in an amount greater than
         the amount made available to other Employees.

         (c)      Loans must be adequately secured using not more than fifty
         percent (50%) of the Member's Vested Account balance, and bear a
         reasonable interest rate as determined from time to time by the
         Committee.

         (d)      An Associate or Member loan for less than $1,000 is not
         permitted; provided, however, that if such Associate or Member also
         receives a loan from the Puerto Rico Plan, such minimum amount
         limitation shall not apply.

                                       29
<PAGE>   35

         (e)      In the event of a default, foreclosure on the note and
         attachment of security will not occur until a distributable event
         occurs under the Plan with respect to the Member.

         (f)      No loans will be made to any Associate or Member who on any
         day during the Company's applicable fiscal year is a beneficial owner
         of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding stock of the Company.

         (g)      All loans shall be made pursuant to a written Member loan
         program incorporated herein by reference.

         (h)      Loans are available from the following accounts, and will be
         withdrawn from the Members accounts in the following hierarchy:

                  (a)   Member Accounts
                  (b)   Vested Company Accounts
                  (c)   Member Rollover Contribution Accounts

         (i)      Loans will be taken and repaid from and to the Investment
         Funds on a pro rata basis, except in the case the Member is subject to
         Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or has been
         designated as a "Designated Insider," in which case such Member's loan
         will be taken first from such Member's Investment Funds other than the
         Payless Common Stock Fund.

                                   SECTION 13

                       LIMIT ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PLAN

         This Section 13 is intended to conform the Plan to the requirements of
Code Section 415 and limits the contributions that can be made by and for an
individual under the Plan.

         13.01    LIMIT ON CONTRIBUTIONS.  Notwithstanding any provision of the
Plan to the contrary:

         (a)      The amounts allocated to a Participant during the Limitation
         Year under the Plan and allocated to the Participant under any other
         defined contribution plan to which the Employer or any other member of
         the Group has contributed shall be proportionately reduced, to the
         extent necessary, so that the Annual Addition does not exceed the least
         of:

                  (1)      $30,000; or

                  (2)      25% of the Participant's remuneration from the
                           Employer or any member of the Group during the
                           Limitation Year; or

                  (3)      such other limits set forth in Code Section 415.

                                       30
<PAGE>   36

The amount set forth in subparagraph (1) above shall automatically be adjusted
to reflect adjustments made by applicable law. Remuneration for purposes of this
Section means remuneration as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.415-2(d)
and shall also include the deferrals described in Code Section 415(c)(3)(D).

         (b)      For purposes of this Section, Limitation Year means the 12
         month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.

         (c)      For purposes of this Section, Annual Additions means the sum
         for the Limitation Year of Employer contributions, Employee
         contributions (determined without regard to any rollover contributions
         as defined in Code Sections 402(a)(5), 403(a)(4), 403(b)(8) and
         408(d)(3) and without regard to Employee contributions to a simplified
         employee pension plan which are excludible from gross income under
         408(k)(6) of the Code) and forfeitures.

         13.02    ADJUSTMENT FOR EXCESSIVE ANNUAL ADDITIONS.

         (a)      If, as a result of the allocation of forfeitures, a
         reasonable error in estimating a Member's Pay or other facts and
         circumstances to which Treasury Regulation Section 1.415-6(b)(6) shall
         be applicable, the "annual additions" under this Plan would cause the
         maximum "annual additions" to be exceeded for any Member, the Committee
         shall (1) return any Member Contributions credited for the "limitation
         year" to the extent that the return would reduce the "excess amount" in
         the Member's Accounts, (2) hold any "excess amount" remaining after the
         return of any member Contributions in a "Section 415 suspense account",
         (3) use the "Section 415 suspense account" in the next "limitation
         year" (and succeeding "limitation years" if necessary) to reduce either
         Company Contributions for that Member if that Member is covered by the
         Plan as of the end of the "limitation year" or if such Member is not
         covered by the Plan at the end of the "limitation year" to reduce
         Company Contributions for all Members in the Plan, before any Company
         Contributions or Member Contributions which would constitute "annual
         additions" are made to the Plan for such "limitation year," (4) reduce
         Company Contributions for such "limitation year" by the amount of the
         "Section 415 suspense account" allocated and reallocated during such
         "limitation year." For purposes of (3) above, the Plan may not
         distribute "excess amounts" to Members or former Members.

         (b)      For purposes of this Section, "EXCESS AMOUNT" for any Member
         for a "limitation year" shall mean the excess, if any, of (1) the
         "annual additions" which would be credited to his account under the
         terms of the Plan without regard to the limitations of Code Section 415
         over (2) the maximum "annual additions" determined pursuant to Section
         13.01(a).

         (c)      For purposes of this Section, "SECTION 415 SUSPENSE ACCOUNT"
         shall mean an unallocated account equal to the sum of "excess amount"
         for all Members in the Plan during the "limitation year." The "Section
         415 suspense account" shall not share in any earnings or losses of the
         Trust Fund.



                                       31
<PAGE>   37




                                   SECTION 14

                           ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

         14.01    PLAN ADMINISTRATOR. The Company shall be the Plan
Administrator of the Plan for purposes of ERISA and shall be a "named fiduciary"
as determined in ERISA Section 402(a)(2).

         14.02    DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY.

         (a)      Authority to administer the Plan has been delegated to the
Committee and the Administrative Subcommittee, if any, in accordance with
Sections 1.42 (Total and Permanent Disability), 4.01 (Member Contributions),
6.01 (Member Accounts), 6.02 (Company Accounts), 6.05 (Member Statements), 8.02
(Authorized Withdrawals), 13.02 (Adjustment for Excessive Annual Additions),
20.02 (Withdrawal of an Employer) and this Section 14.

         (b)      Authority with respect to the Investment Funds of the Plan
has been delegated to the Trustee in accordance with Sections 7.01
(Administrative Expenses), 5.01(c) (Investment Funds), 15 (Management of the
Trust Fund) and 6.06 (shares of Payless ShoeSource, Inc. (Payless Stock) in the
Payless Common Stock Fund).

         (c)      Authority to direct the investment of the Plan's funds has
been delegated to the Investment Subcommittee, if any, in accordance with
Section 15.03(b), (c) and (d) (Investments and Reinvestments).

         (d)      The Committee shall also have the authority and discretion
to engage an Administrative Delegate who shall perform, without discretionary
authority or control, administrative functions within the frame work of
policies, interpretations, rules practices and procedures made by the Committee
or other Plan Fiduciary. Any action made or taken by the Administrative Delegate
may be appealed by an affected Member to the Committee in accordance with the
claims review procedure in Section 16.05. Any decisions which call for
interpretations of the Plan provisions not previously made by the Committee
shall be made only by the Committee. The Administrative Delegate shall not be
considered a fiduciary with respect to the services it provides.

         14.03    COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEES.

         (a)      The Committee may appoint two subcommittees (an
"Administrative Subcommittee" and an "Investment Subcommittee"), each
Subcommittee to consist of at least three persons, who need not be members of
the Board. The Committee and each Subcommittee, if appointed, shall elect from
its members a Chairman and a Secretary, and may appoint one or more Assistant
Secretaries who may, but need not be, members of the Committee or such
Subcommittee, and may employ such agents, such legal counsel and such clerical,
medical,


                                       32
<PAGE>   38

accounting, actuarial and other services as it may from time to time deem
advisable to assist in the administration of the Plan. The Committee and each
Subcommittee may, from time to time, appoint agents and delegate to such agents
such duties as it considers appropriate and to the extent that such duties have
been so delegated, the agent shall be exclusively responsible for the proper
discharge of such duties.

         (b)      The Administrative Subcommittee shall have the general
responsibility for the administration of the Plan and the carrying out of its
provisions, and shall have general powers with respect to Plan administration,
including, but not limited to, the powers listed in this Section 14.03. The
Administrative Subcommittee shall have the discretionary authority to interpret
and construe the Plan, the power to establish rules for the administration of
the Plan and the transaction of its business, the power to remedy and resolve
inconsistencies and omissions, and the power to determine all questions which
arise in the administration, interpretation, or application of the Plan,
including but not limited to questions regarding the eligibility, status,
Account value and any rights of any Member, Beneficiary, and any other person
hereunder.

         (c)      The Investment Subcommittee shall have the powers provided
for in Section 15.03(b).

         (d)      The Committee and each Subcommittee shall act by a majority
of its members and the action of such majority expressed by a vote at a meeting,
or in writing without a meeting, shall constitute the action of the Committee or
such Subcommittee. All decisions, determinations, actions or interpretations
with respect to the Plan by the Committee or either Subcommittee and the
individual committee or subcommittee members shall be in the Committee's,
Subcommittee's or individual member's sole discretion. The decision,
determination, action or interpretation of the Committee or either Subcommittee
and the respective individual members of the Committee or Subcommittee in
respect to all matters within the scope of its authority shall be conclusive and
binding on all persons. No member of the Committee or either Subcommittee shall
have any liability to any person for any action or omission except each for his
own individual willful misconduct. If a Subcommittee is not appointed, the
Committee shall exercise such Subcommittee's authority and perform its duties as
described herein.

         (e)      Nothing in this Section 14 or in any other provision of the
Plan shall be deemed to relieve any person who is a fiduciary under the Plan for
purposes of ERISA from any responsibility or liability for any responsibility,
obligation or duty which Part 4 of Title I of ERISA shall impose upon such
person with respect to this Plan.

         14.04    ACCOUNTS AND REPORTS. The Committee shall maintain or cause
to be maintained accounts reflecting the fiscal transactions of the Plan and
shall keep in convenient form such data as may be necessary for the
administration of the Plan. The Committee shall prepare annually a report
showing in reasonable detail the assets and liabilities of the Plan and setting
forth a brief account of the operation of the Plan for the preceding year.

                                       33
<PAGE>   39


         14.05    NON-DISCRIMINATION. Neither the Committee nor either
Subcommittee shall exercise its discretion in such a way as to result in
discrimination in favor of officers, shareholders or highly compensated
employees (within the meaning of Code Section 414(q)).


                                   SECTION 15

                          MANAGEMENT OF THE TRUST FUND

         15.01    USE OF THE TRUST FUND. All assets of the Plan shall be held
as a Trust Fund in one or more trusts and shall be used to provide the benefits
of this Plan. No part of the corpus or income shall be used for, or diverted to,
purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of Members and their Beneficiaries
under this Plan and administrative expenses of this Plan.

         15.02    TRUSTEES. The Trust Fund may, at the direction of the
Company, be divided into one or more separate trusts, each of which may have a
separate Trustee appointed from time to time by the Company and subject to
removal by the Company. The Trustee or Trustees of each trust shall have
complete authority and discretion with respect to the investment and
reinvestment of the assets of each trust, subject, however, to (i) the
provisions in the Trust Agreements between the Trustee or Trustees and the
Company, and (ii) the provisions of this Plan. Any or all of such separate
trusts shall be referred to collectively from time to time as the Trust Fund.
Any division of the Trust Fund into one or more separate trusts shall be at the
direction of the Company.

         15.03    INVESTMENTS AND REINVESTMENTS.  The investment and
reinvestment of the assets of the Trust Fund shall be in accordance with the
following:

         (a)      The Company shall have the authority to instruct the Trustee
or Trustees to accept and follow the instructions of any designated investment
manager (within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(38)) with respect to the
investment and reinvestment of the assets constituting a money market or stable
value fund, a fixed income fund, a common stock fund, or any other Investment
Funds the Company may designate.

         (b)      The Investment Subcommittee shall have the powers, with
respect to investment and reinvestment of the assets constituting the Investment
Funds, to promulgate limitations, restrictions, rules or guidelines with respect
to the investment policies and classes of investments in which the assets of the
Investment Funds may be invested or reinvested by the Trustee or Trustees,
including any such investments made pursuant to the instructions of any
investment manager. In the event an investment manager designated pursuant to
Section 15.03(a) resigns or otherwise is unable to act, the Investment
Subcommittee shall have such power and authority as otherwise would be
exercisable by such Investment Manager.

         (c)      In the event that the assets of the Trust Fund shall be
divided into one or more separate trusts pursuant to the authority provided for
in Section 15.02, then the powers of the Investment Subcommittee as provided for
in Section 15.03(b) may be exercised with respect to one or more of such trusts
within the discretion of the Investment Subcommittee.


                                       34
<PAGE>   40

         (d)      The powers of the Investment Subcommittee as provided in
Section 15.03(b) may be exercised at any time or from time to time by the
Investment Subcommittee within the discretion of the Investment Subcommittee and
shall be pursuant to a written agreement between the Investment Subcommittee and
the Trustee or Trustees or, if an investment manager has been appointed, between
the Investment Subcommittee and the investment manager.

         (e)      The Trust Agreement between the Company and the Trustee or
Trustees implementing the Plan shall contain provisions effectuating the
provisions of this Section 15 of the Plan.



                                   SECTION 16

             CERTAIN RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYERS AND MEMBERS

         16.01    DISCLAIMER OF EMPLOYER LIABILITY.

         (a)      No liability shall attach to any Employer with respect to a
benefit or claim hereunder and Members and their Beneficiaries, and all persons
claiming under or through them, shall have recourse only to the Trust Fund for
payment of any benefit hereunder.

         (b)      The rights of the Members, their Beneficiaries and other
persons are hereby expressly limited and shall be only in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to give a
Member any interest in any specific property of the Trust or any interest other
than a right to receive payments pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.

         16.02    EMPLOYER-ASSOCIATE RELATIONSHIP. Neither the establishment
of this Plan nor its communication through a Summary Plan Description (or
otherwise) shall be construed as conferring any legal or other rights upon any
Associate or any other person to continue in employment or as interfering with
or affecting in any manner the right of an Employer to discharge any Associate
or otherwise act with relation to him. Each Employer may take any action
(including discharge) with respect to any Associate or other person and may
treat him without regard to the effect which such action or treatment might have
upon him as a Member of this Plan.

         16.03    BINDING EFFECT. Each Member, by executing an enrollment
form, beneficiary designation and otherwise agreeing to participate in the Plan
agrees for himself, his beneficiary(ies), heirs, successors and assigns to be
bound by all of the provisions of the Plan.

         16.04    CORPORATE ACTION.  With respect to any action permitted or
required by the Plan, the Company may act through its appropriate officers.

         16.05    CLAIM AND APPEAL PROCEDURE. A Member or beneficiary may file
with the Committee or its designee at any time a written claim in connection
either with a benefit payable


                                       35
<PAGE>   41

hereunder or otherwise. The Committee or its designee, normally within 90 days
after receipt of a written claim, shall render a written decision on the claim,
unless an additional 90 days is required by special circumstances which shall be
explained to the claimant. If the claim is denied, either in whole or in part,
the decision shall include the reason or reasons for the denial; a specific
reference to the Plan provision or provisions which are the basis for the
denial; a description of any additional material or information necessary for
the claimant to perfect the claim; an explanation as to why the information or
material is necessary; and an explanation of the Plan's entire claim procedure.
The claimant may file with the Committee, within 60 days after receiving the
written decision from the Committee, a written notice of request for review of
the Committee's decision. The review shall be made by a committee of up to three
individuals (which may include members of the Committee) appointed by the
Company or by the Committee. Said committee shall render a written decision on
the claim containing the specific reasons for their decision, including a
reference to the Plan's provisions, normally within 60 days after receipt of the
request for review, unless an additional 60 days is required by special
circumstances which shall be explained to the claimant. If a Member or
beneficiary does not file written notice of a claim with the Committee or its
designee at the times set forth above, he shall have waived any right to a
benefit other than as originally proposed by the Company or the Committee.


                                   SECTION 17

                           NON-ALIENATION OF BENEFITS

         17.01    PROVISIONS WITH RESPECT TO ASSIGNMENT AND LEVY. No benefit
payable under this Plan shall be subject in any manner to anticipation,
alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, levy or charge, and
any attempt so to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, encumber, levy
upon or charge the same shall be void; nor shall any such benefit be in any
manner liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements
or torts of the person entitled to such benefit, except as specifically provided
herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the creation, assignment, or recognition
of a right to any benefit payable to an alternate payee with respect to a
Qualified Domestic Relations Order shall not be treated as an assignment or
alienation prohibited by this Section. Any other provision of the Plan to the
contrary notwithstanding, if a Qualified Domestic Relations order requires the
distribution of all or part of a Member's benefits under the Plan, the
establishment or acknowledgment of the alternate payee's right to benefits under
the Plan in accordance with the terms of such Qualified Domestic Relations Order
shall in all events be deemed to be consistent with the terms of the Plan.

                  Notwithstanding the above a Member's benefit will be offset
against any amount he or she is ordered or required to pay to the Plan pursuant
to an order or requirement which arises under a judgment of conviction for a
crime involving the Plan, under a civil judgment entered by a court in an action
involving a fiduciary breach, or pursuant to a settlement agreement between the
Participant and the Department of Labor or the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation. Any such offset shall be made pursuant to Section 206(d) of ERISA.

                                       36
<PAGE>   42

         17.02    ALTERNATE APPLICATION. If a Member or Beneficiary under this
Plan becomes bankrupt or attempts to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer,
assign, pledge, encumber or charge any benefit under this Plan, except as
specifically provided herein, or if any benefit shall, in the discretion of the
Committee, cease, and in that event the Committee may hold or apply the same or
any part thereof to or for the benefit of such Member or Beneficiary, his
spouse, children or other dependents, or any of them, or in such other manner
and in such proportion as the Committee may deem proper.


                                   SECTION 18

                                   AMENDMENTS

         18.01    COMPANY'S RIGHTS. The Company reserves the right at any time
and from time to time in its sole discretion to alter, amend, or modify, in
whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of this Plan, provided, however,
no such alteration, amendment or modification shall be made which shall decrease
the accrued benefit of any Member. Anything in this Plan to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Company in its sole discretion may make any modifications
or amendments, additions or deletions in or to this Plan as to benefits or
otherwise and retroactively if necessary, and regardless of the effect thereof
on the rights of any particular Member or Beneficiary, which it deems
appropriate and/or necessary in order to comply with or satisfy any conditions
of any law or regulation relating to the qualification of this Plan and the
trust or trusts created pursuant hereto and to keep this Plan and said trusts
qualified under Code Section 401(a) and to have the trust or trusts declared
exempt from taxation under Code Section 501(a).

         18.02    PROCEDURE TO AMEND. This Plan may be amended by action of
the Company's Board of Directors and evidenced by a written amendment signed by
the Company's Secretary or by any other person so authorized by or pursuant to
authority of the Board of Directors.

         18.03    PROVISION AGAINST DIVERSION. No part of the assets of the
Trust Fund shall, by reason of any modification or amendment or otherwise, be
used for, or diverted to, purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of
Members and their Beneficiaries under this Plan and administrative expenses of
this Plan.
                                   SECTION 19

                                   TERMINATION

         19.01    RIGHT TO TERMINATE. The Company reserves the right to
terminate this Plan, in whole or in part, at any time and, if this Plan shall be
terminated either in its entirety or with respect to any Employer included
hereunder, the provisions of Section 19.03 shall apply and the Accounts of
affected Members shall become (or remain) fully vested and nonforfeitable.

         19.02    WITHDRAWAL OF AN EMPLOYER. If an Employer shall cease to be
a participating Employer in this Plan, the Trust Fund and the Accounts of the
Members of the withdrawing Employer and their Beneficiaries shall be revalued as
if such withdrawal date were a Valuation


                                       37
<PAGE>   43

Date. The Committee shall then direct the Trustee either to distribute the
Accounts of the Members of the withdrawing Employer as of the date of such
withdrawal on the same basis as if the Plan had been terminated pursuant to
Section 19.03 or to deposit in a trust established by the withdrawing Employer
pursuant to a plan substantially similar to this Plan assets equal in value to
the assets of the Trust Fund allocable to the Accounts of the Members of the
withdrawing Employer.

         19.03    DISTRIBUTION IN EVENT OF TERMINATION OF TRUST. If this Plan
is terminated at any time including a partial termination as defined in Code
Section 411(d)(3), or if contributions are completely discontinued and the
Company determines that the trust shall be terminated, in whole or in part, the
Trust Fund and all Accounts shall be revalued as if the termination date were a
Valuation Date and the affected Members' Accounts shall be distributed in
accordance with Section 10.

         19.04    ADMINISTRATION IN EVENT OF CONTINUANCE OF TRUST. If this
Plan shall be terminated in whole or in part or contributions completely
discontinued but the Company determines that the trust shall be continued
pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, the trust shall continue to be
administered as though the Plan were otherwise in effect. Upon the subsequent
termination of the trust, in whole or in part, the provisions of Section 19.03
shall apply.

         19.05    MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR TRANSFER. In the case of any merger
or consolidation with, or transfer of Plan assets or liabilities to, any other
plan, each Member shall be entitled to receive a benefit immediately after the
merger, consolidation or transfer (if the transferee plan then terminated) which
is equal to or greater than the benefit he would have been entitled to receive
immediately before the merger, consolidation or transfer (if the Plan had then
terminated).


                                   SECTION 20

                                  CONSTRUCTION

         20.01    APPLICABLE LAW. The provisions of this Plan except as
otherwise governed by ERISA shall be construed, regulated, administered and
enforced according to the laws of the State of Kansas and, whenever possible, to
be in conformity with the applicable requirements of ERISA and the Internal
Revenue Code.

         20.02    GENDER AND NUMBER. Wherever applicable, the masculine
pronoun as used herein shall include the feminine pronoun and the singular
pronoun shall include the plural.


                                       38
<PAGE>   44


                                   SECTION 21

                             TOP-HEAVY REQUIREMENTS

         21.01    GENERALLY. For any Plan Year in which the Plan is a
Top-Heavy Plan, the provisions of Sections 21.02 and 21.03 shall automatically
take effect in accordance with Code Section 416.

         21.02    MINIMUM ALLOCATIONS.

        (a)       Minimum Employer Allocations and allocations of Plan
        forfeitures for a Member who is not a Key Employee shall be required
        under the Plan for the Plan Year as set forth in Section 21.02 (b)
        and(c).

        (b)       The amount of the minimum allocation shall be the lesser of
        the following, percentages of Pay: (i) four percent (4%) or, (ii) the
        highest percentage at which such allocations are made under the Plan for
        the Plan Year on behalf of a Key Employee. For purposes of this
        paragraph (b), all defined contribution plans required to be included in
        an Aggregation Group shall be treated as one plan. This paragraph (b)
        shall not apply if the Plan is required to be included in an Aggregation
        Group and the Plan enables a defined benefit plan required to be
        included in the Aggregation Group to meet the requirement of Code
        Sections 401(a)(4) or 410. For purposes of this paragraph (b), the
        calculation of the percentage at which allocations are made for a Key
        Employee shall be based only on his Pay not in excess of $170,000, such
        amount to be adjusted periodically for increases in the cost of living
        in accordance with Code Section 401(a)(17). The minimum allocation
        described in this paragraph (b) shall be in addition to (and shall not
        be reduced by) any Member Contributions under Section 4 (whether
        Before-Tax or After-Tax) and any allocation of forfeitures, if any, to
        which a Member may be entitled.

        (c)       For purposes of this Section 21.02, the term "Member" shall
        be deemed to refer to all Members who have not separated from service at
        the end of the Plan Year including, without limitation, individuals who
        declined to make contributions to the Plan.

         21.03    PARTICIPANTS UNDER DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS. If any Member
other than a Key Employee is also a participant under a defined benefit plan of
an Employer which is a Top-Heavy Plan, then Section 21.03(a) shall not apply and
the required minimum annual contribution for such Member under this Plan shall
be 7 percent (7 %) of such Member's Pay. Such contribution shall be made without
regard to the amount of contribution, if any, made to the Plan on behalf of
Employees.

         21.04    DETERMINATION OF TOP HEAVINESS.

        (a)       The determination of whether a plan is Top-Heavy shall be
        made in accordance with paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Section
        21.04.

                                       39
<PAGE>   45

        (b)       If the Plan is not required to be included in an Aggregated
        Group with other plans, then it shall be Top-Heavy only if when
        considered by itself, it is a Top-Heavy Plan and it is not included in a
        permissive Aggregation Group that is not a Top-Heavy Group.

        (c)       If the Plan is required to be included in an Aggregation
        Group with other plans, it shall be Top-Heavy only if the Aggregation
        Group, including any permissively aggregated plans, is Top-Heavy.

        (d)       If a plan is not a Top-Heavy Plan and is not required to be
        included in an Aggregation Group, then it shall not be Top-Heavy even if
        it is permissively aggregated in an Aggregation Group which is a
        Top-Heavy Group.

         21.05    CALCULATION OF TOP-HEAVY RATIOS. A plan shall be Top-Heavy
and an Aggregation Group shall be a Top-Heavy Group with respect to any Plan
Year as of the Determination Date if the sum as of the Determination Date of the
Cumulative Accrued Benefits and the Cumulative Accounts of Employees who are Key
Employees for the Plan Year exceeds 60 percent (60%) of a similar sum determined
for all Employees, excluding former Key Employees.

         21.06    CUMULATIVE ACCOUNTS AND CUMULATIVE ACCRUED BENEFITS.

        (a)       The Cumulative Accounts and Cumulative Accrued Benefits for
        any Employee shall be determined in accordance with paragraphs (b)
        through (e) of this Section 21.06.

        (b)       Cumulative Account shall mean the sum of the amount of an
        Employee's accounts under a defined contribution plan (for an
        unaggregated plan) or under all defined contribution plans included in
        an Aggregation Group (for aggregated plans) determined as of the most
        recent plan Valuation Date within a 12-month period ending on the
        Determination Date, increased by any allocations due after such
        Valuation Date and before the Determination Date.

        (c)       Cumulative Accrued Benefit means the sum of the present
        value of an Employee's accrued benefits under a defined benefit plan
        (for an unaggregated plan) or under all defined benefit plans included
        in an Aggregation Group (for aggregated plans), determined under the
        actuarial assumptions set forth in such plan or plans, as of the most
        recent plan Valuation Date within a 12-month period ending on the
        Determination Date as if the Employee voluntarily terminated service as
        of such Valuation Date.

        (d)       Accounts and benefits shall be calculated to include all
        amounts attributable to both Matching Allocations and Employee
        contributions but excluding amounts attributable to voluntary deductible
        Employee contributions.

        (e)       Accounts and benefits shall be increased by the aggregate
        distributions during the five-year period ending on the Determination
        Date made with respect to an Employee under the plan or plans as the
        case may be or under a terminated plan which, if it had not been
        terminated, would have been required to be included in the Aggregation
        Group.


                                       40
<PAGE>   46

        (f)       Rollovers and direct plan-to-plan transfers shall be handled
        as follows:

                 (i)    If the transfer is initiated by the Employee and
                 made from a plan maintained by one Employer to a plan
                 maintained by another Employer, the transferring plan continues
                 to count the amount transferred under the rules for counting
                 distributions. The receiving plan does not count the amount if
                 accepted after December 31, 1983, but does count it if accepted
                 prior to December 31, 1983.

                 (ii)   If the transfer is not initiated by the Employee or
                 is made between plans maintained by the Employers, the
                 transferring plan shall no longer count the amount transferred
                 and the receiving plan shall count the amount transferred.

                 (iii)  For purposes of this subsection (f), all Employers
                 aggregated under the rules of Code Sections 414(b), (c) and (m)
                 shall be considered a single employer.

         21.07    OTHER DEFINITIONS.

        (a)       Solely for purposes of this Section 21, the definitions in
        paragraphs (b) through (i) of this Section 21.07 shall apply, to be
        interpreted in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 416 and
        the regulations thereunder.

        (b)       AGGREGATION GROUP means a plan or group of plans which
        included all plans maintained by the Employer in which a Key Employee is
        a participant or which enables any plan in which a Key Employee is a
        participant to meet the requirements of Code Section 401(a)(4) or Code
        Section 410, as well as all other plans selected by the Company for
        permissive aggregation, the inclusion of which would not prevent the
        group of plans from continuing to meet the requirements of such Code
        sections.

        (c)       DETERMINATION DATE means, with respect to any Plan Year, the
        last day of the preceding Plan Year.

        (d)       EMPLOYEE means any person employed by an Employer and shall
        also include any Beneficiary of such persons, provided that the
        requirements of Sections 21.02 and 21.03 shall not apply to any person
        included in a unit of Employees covered by an agreement which the
        Secretary of Labor finds to be a collective bargaining agreement between
        Employee representatives and one or more Employers if there is evidence
        that retirement benefits were the subject of good faith bargaining
        between such Employee representatives and such Employer or Employers.

        (e)       EMPLOYER means any corporation which is a member of a
        controlled group of corporations (as defined in Code Section 414(b))
        which includes the Company or any trades or businesses (whether or not
        incorporated) which are under common control (as defined in Code Section
        414(c)) with the Company, or a member of an affiliated service group (as
        defined in Code Section 414(m)) which includes the Company,

                                       41
<PAGE>   47

        (f)       KEY EMPLOYEE means any Employee or former Employee who is,
        at any time during the Plan Year, or was, during any one of the four
        preceding Plan Years any one or more of the following: (1) an officer of
        an Employer who has annual Pay of more than 50% of the amount in effect
        under Code Section 415(b)(1)(A) for such Plan Year, unless fifty (50)
        other such officers have higher annual Pay; (2) one of the 10 persons
        employed by an Employer having annual Pay greater than the limitation in
        effect under Code Section 415(c)(1)(A), and owning (or considered as
        owning within the meaning of Code Section 318) the largest interests in
        the Employers (if two Employees have the same interest, the one with the
        greater Compensation shall be treated as owning the larger interest);
        (3) any person owning (or considered as owning within the meaning of the
        Code Section 318) more than five percent of the outstanding stock of an
        Employer or stock possessing more than five percent of the total
        combined voting power of such stock; (4) a person who would be described
        in subsection (3) above if "one percent" were substituted for "five
        percent" each place it appears in subsection (3) above, and who has
        annual Pay of more than $150,000 (for purposes of determining ownership
        under this subsection, Code Section 318(a)(2)(C) shall be applied by
        substituting "five percent" for "50 percent" and the rules of
        subsections (b), (c) and (m) of Code Section 414 shall not apply).


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Plan to be
        executed by a duly authorized officer this 20th day of March, 2000.

                                        PAYLESS SHOESOURCE, INC.



                                        By: /s/  Jeffrey A. Long
                                           ------------------------------------



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