wp-includes/template.php mods for passing variables

/**
 * Retrieve the name of the highest priority template file that exists.
 *
 * Searches in the STYLESHEETPATH before TEMPLATEPATH so that themes which
 * inherit from a parent theme can just overload one file.
 *
 * @since 2.7.0
 *
 * @param string|array $template_names Template file(s) to search for, in order.
 * @param bool $load If true the template file will be loaded if it is found.
 * @param bool $require_once Whether to require_once or require. Default true. Has no effect if $load is false.
 * @return string The template filename if one is located.
 */
function locate_template($template_names, $load = false, $require_once = true, $args = array() ) {
    $located = '';
    foreach ( (array) $template_names as $template_name ) {
        if ( !$template_name )
            continue;
        if ( file_exists(STYLESHEETPATH . '/' . $template_name)) {
            $located = STYLESHEETPATH . '/' . $template_name;
            break;
        } else if ( file_exists(TEMPLATEPATH . '/' . $template_name) ) {
            $located = TEMPLATEPATH . '/' . $template_name;
            break;
        }
    }

    if ( $load && '' != $located )
        load_template( $located, $require_once, $args );

    return $located;
}

/**
 * Require the template file with WordPress environment.
 *
 * The globals are set up for the template file to ensure that the WordPress
 * environment is available from within the function. The query variables are
 * also available.
 *
 * @since 1.5.0
 *
 * @param string $_template_file Path to template file.
 * @param bool $require_once Whether to require_once or require. Default true.
 */
function load_template( $_template_file, $require_once = true, $args = array() ) {
    global $posts, $post, $wp_did_header, $wp_query, $wp_rewrite, $wpdb, $wp_version, $wp, $id, $comment, $user_ID;

    if ( is_array( $wp_query->query_vars ) )
        extract( $wp_query->query_vars, EXTR_SKIP );

    if ( is_array( $args ) )
        extract( $args );

    echo $foo;


    if ( $require_once )
        require_once( $_template_file );
    else
        require( $_template_file );
}