"BOUND FOR INVERCARGILL"
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EXT. WIDE SHOT: Honda Civic Hatchback passes on through frame in a vast stunning southern New Zealand landscape.
MID SHOT : Honda Civic winds around the corners of a rural road. Two sisters CAROL and HEATHER (in their forties) are silent & gazing boringly out the front windscreen of the traveling car on a hot day.
HEATHER (O.S)
Ahh.. for crying out loud!
INT. MID SHOT:
CAROL
(concerned)
What?!
HEATHER
(fed up)
...It's 1pm, we've got no idea where we are, and its certainly not anywhere near Wanaka!
CAROL
Well I'm enjoying the scenery!
MID SHOT: Car drives on through scenic landscape.
CLOSE UP: HEATHER spots a hitchhiker off in the far distance. Slowly begins to sit up intently inspecting the young man up ahead.
HEATHER
(curiously)
Oooo... what do we have here then?
MID SHOT: Hitchhiker turns to walk backwards facing the approaching car and sticks his thumb out in hope for a ride.
There is a quick contrast of looks between sisters.
HEATHER
(excitedly)
Pull over Carol!
CAROL
No!
HEATHER
Yeah go on! Pull over!
CAROL
No!
HEATHER
Yes! Yes!
CAROL
He could be a-
HEATHER
-Hitchhiker Carol! Just pull over!
MID SHOT: Hitchhiker anticipating the chance of a lift with car approaching.
CAROL (O.S)
(disapprovingly)
Where's he going to fit Heather!
INT.CLOSE UP:
HEATHER
(turning to inspect the cramped back seat)
...Ah...he'll fit!!!
CAROL
(scoffs)
Yeah. On the roof!
Car approaches and swiftly passes the hitchhiker.
EXT. ClOSE UP: Hitchhiker looking confused and passing/dithering vehicle.
INT. CLOSE UP: HEATHER & CAROL squabble while HEATHER wrestles for the steering wheel. Car swerves off the road and skids to an abrupt halt.
EXT. EXTREME WIDE SHOT: Emphasises the cars over shot distance form where FRANZ (the hitchhiker) stands.
EXT. MEDIUM: f.g CAROL and HEATHER in front seat of car b.g FRANZ 50m away. HEATHER prompts CAROL with a look, CAROL wrenches into gear and reverses unsteadily.
FRANZ warily walks toward at the reproaching car and is revealed into frame through car window.
HEATHER
(winding down the window)
Hello you. Where ya headed?
FRANZ
(observing the lack of space in the car)
Eeerrr.. I like to go to In-ver-car-gill..?
HEATHER
(unbuckling her seat belt)
Well, this is your lucky day!
A brief hesitant on look from FRANZ at the tightly pack car.
TIME CUT: EXT. MID SHOT: Honda Civic Hatchback. FRANZ gear is strapped precariously to the roof of the car traveling through beautiful scenery.
INT. CLOSE UP
HEATHER
(turning to FRANZ now in the back seat)
All good?
A weak smile and thumbs up for approval from FRANZ tightly wedged between items of luggage in back seat.
CAROL
(Sighs, agitated and shaking her head)
We are going to be so late Heather!
HEATHER
(sighing and turning to FRANZ)
You'll have to excuse Carol ... errr ?
FRANZ
Oo Franz. My name is Franz, ya.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
-Franz. We are lost and heading to an all important family reunion in Invercargill and my sister Carol here seems to have her knickers in a twist about arriving late!
FRANZ looks confused and a concerned for CAROL.
CAROL
(snaps)
-Oh I do not Heather!!
HEATHER turns to FRANZ raising her eyebrows in a silently unconvinced response to CAROL.
HEATHER
So what takes you to Invercargill then Franz?
FRANZ
Ahh.. I like to go to Stewart Island I sink.
HEATHER
Ah yes.
FRANZ
(while gazing out the window)
Ya I like to experience alot of being in the nature while I am here, ya.
HEATHER scans about the front seat around her. A wary side glance form CAROL.
HEATHER
Where are those Anzacs you made Carol?
CAROL
(through clenched teeth)
No Heather! They're for aunt Margret!
HEATHER (CONT'D)
Oh that's right they're in the back. Franz could you pass over that tupperware container behind you?
CAROL
No! ....
FRANZ is startled, paused mid-reach. CAROL eyes him from the rear vision mirror.
HEATHER nods encouraging him to pass it. FRANZ hesitates as CAROLS eyes are still fixed on him.
HEATHER
Yip that's the one. Pass it here.
FRANZ gingerly passes the container of Anzacs avoiding CAROLS stare of disapproval.
HEATHER
(while handing an Anzac over)
Here get this down ya. True blue New Zealand grub that is!
FRANZ accepts and eats it with over exaggerated (but genuine) gestures of enjoyment.
FRANZ
Ohh... You are a very good cook Carol. Mmmmmzz... yes, yes!
CAROL gives a pleased, quietly flattered look in response.
CAROL
Oh thank you Franz, but they aren't my best.
HEATHER notices CAROL relishing the compliment and is bothered by it.
FRANZ
Mmmz I sink maybe I can have another Anzuk Carol?
CAROL
(feeling the swing in the steering wheel)
Noooo.. No no no ! NO!
A thunk-thunk-thunk sound grows louder.
FRANZ
(startled and embarrassed)
Oh okay. Ya ya they for aunty Margret. Mmm.
EXT. EXTREME WIDE SHOT: Car slows, sound of a flat tyre whirrs. Car grind to a halt on the road side next to a beautiful lake in near distance.
CAROL
(distressed, getting out of the car, voice echoing in the landscape)
That's it! Now we are really going to be late! Mum's going to have kittens.
TRACKING/STEADY CAM SHOT: Focus stays on FRANZ in foreground as he gets out of the car. The conversation/bickering continues O.S with sisters behind him as he is taken by the beauty and serenity of the lake and landscape before him. Sounds of 'silence' and tranquility leak in over the squabbling behind him as there is then a slow long glorious (POV) pan of the pristine lake nestled in its settling like an oasis from situation at hand.
HEATHER (O.S)
Ooooh relax! Let the woman have kittens!
CAROL (O.S)
(dialing on her cell phone, goes to look for spare tyre)
I will not relax Heather, 'Road Side' will be hours away!
HEATHER (O.S)
Err.. yeah sorry I got rid of the spare tyre so we had room for the tent.
CUT: CLOSE UP: CAROL glares to HEATHER in disbelief. Then simultaneously turn noticing FRANZ undressing.
FRANZ
(stripping off)
I think I go for a swim then ya? This is okay?
HEATHER & CAROL nod in unison gobsmacked trying to hide their surprise as he strips his very last item of clothing off himself and confidently walks toward the waters edge to dive in.
HEATHER
(turning to CAROL with a glowing smile)
Ha! What a great idea!
HEATHER begins to remove her shirt.
CAROL
(whilst then answering the phone)
... Heather there's no time!? -Hello? Yes..?
HEATHER
(mimicking Carols words over her shoulder as she skips away toward the water in her underwear)
Ohhh 'Road Side' is houuurs away!'
EXT. WIDE SHOT: (O.S) CAROL answers call to 'Road Side' explaining their situation and whereabouts. As FRANZ frolics in the lake and HEATHER joins him.
CLOSE UP: HEATHER finishes the call then hangs up and turns from observing the flat tyre to abruptly find FRANZ wet and right in front of her.
FRANZ
(breathless)
You must experience de water Carol.
CAROL is speechless trying to not look down.
CAROL
oh. Ah...
FRANZ
(concerned and matter of factly with hands on his hips)
Ya ya you must embrace dis is a beautiful day.
A little flustered, CAROL flaps her collar as though very hot.
TIME CUT:
f.g Three piles of clothes are next to the car. b.g Three figures relaxed and swimming in the lake in distance.
'Road Side' car pulls up. Service man gets out looks confused at the empty car and looks to the lake stunned yet humored by the situation.
EXT. CLOSE UP:
CAROL looks up to the service man in horror treading water in a sudden panic.
HEATHER (behind CAROL) just as surprised but also humored takes a big breath and disappears under water out of sight just as FRANZ casually walks naked out of the water to greet (the now awkward) service man. FRANZ is oblivious to the embarrassment at hand as CAROL (realizing HEATHER has bailed on her) weakly waves to assure the service man he has found the right place.
FADE TO BLACK.
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Actresses: Caroll Simcox & Carole Parr
Actor: George Connor
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Some notes in response to the brief :
I think it's our im-perfections that make us the '100% PURE New Zealand' that I'm proud of. We are a young country and its evident through our almost abrubt honesty, kiwi ingenuity, our ability to not take ourselves too seriously and humourous art of being able to point the finger at ourselves. I was also decidedly drawn to the fact that most middle aged Kiwi's haven't seen much of our own country and I love the way our landscape can have a sudden strong youthful influence on our behaviour and interaction with it.
A Bit About Me:
After studying a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design Majoring in Digital Video I've been lightly freelancing as a Videographer along side my industry job in TV/Broadcast. I'm working on establishing myself as multi skilled professional within design & video/film production of which I have specific interest in documentary and the psychology of its mechanisms.
I won a Zonta Award and Best Design Award in 2007 for my major reasearch project at university and continue to fulfill my passion for telling peoples stories creatively through video/film.