Your Big Break

EXT. WHARF/SOUTH ISLAND LAKE - DAY

At a remote, picturesque lake, amidst towering mountains, an OLD MAN stands alone on a wharf eating an ICE-CREAM.

Dressed for the season in a pair of shorts and jandals, the dishevelled OLD BLOKE seems oblivious to his spectacular surroundings.

As he gazes down at the crystal-clear water below, a barefoot, MAORI KID hurtles up behind him on a B.M.X BIKE. Locking up the brakes, THE KID skids his bike to a stop next to the OLD BLOKE, nearly giving him a coronary.

BAREFOOT KID
(gesturing to the ‘Mr. Whippy’ ice-cream van parked at the end of the wharf)
Hey bro! Can you buy me a choc-top with sprinkles?

The OLD MAN clearly wants to be left alone.

OLD MAN
Nothing comes for free, mate.

BAREFOOT KID
(reluctantly agreeing)
Yeah, true. That’s what my Mum always says. You wanna do some bombs?

OLD MAN
Some what?

THE KID takes his singlet off, dumping it on the ground.

BAREFOOT KID
Some bombs, cuz!

Climbing onto the railing, THE KID strikes a heroic pose.

OLD MAN
Hey, be careful mate!

BAREFOOT KID
(hollering to the heavens)
Yeah-yaaaaaa!

Ignoring the OLD MAN’s concerns, THE KID leaps from the bridge, performing a picture-perfect, reverse-backward somersault to the water below!

BA-BOOM!!!

A spectacular plume of water shoots high into the air, causing the OLD MAN to drop his ice cream over the edge! Staring down at the rippling surface, the concerned OLD MAN waits for the boy to emerge, but after several moments, there is still no sign.

BAREFOOT KID (O.C.)
Your turn, bro!

The OLD MAN turns to see THE KID climbing up over the railing on the other side of the wharf.

OLD MAN
(sigh of relief)
Nah, I’m too old for that sort of thing, mate.

BAREFOOT KID
Not even, cuz! My Grandma’s heaps older than you, and she does bigger bombs than all of us!

OLD MAN
Really?

The OLD MAN looks a little depressed by the thought.

BAREFOOT KID
You alright, cuz?

OLD MAN
Yeah...
(staring up at the heavens)
Just got a few dramas back at home that’s all.

Tying his singlet around his head like a bandana, THE KID stares out across the epic vista, enjoying the warm sun on his face.

BAREFOOT KID
Mean day, aye bro?

For the first time the OLD MAN takes a good look at his stunning surroundings, allowing just a little bit of the sunshine and serenity in.

BAREFOOT KID
So, what’s your name anyway?

OLD MAN
I’m known by many names.

BAREFOOT KID
One’ll do.

OLD MAN
OK...
(cautious)
How does GOD sound?

THE KID looks at him as if he were a little crazy.

BAREFOOT KID
You’re GOD?

OLD MAN
Yep.

BAREFOOT KID
You can be whoever you wanna be I guess. That’s what my Dad always says.

OLD MAN
(a little pissed off)
What? Do you want me to prove it?

BAREFOOT KID
Yep.

Thinking THE KID is making fun of him, the OLD MAN begins to clamber up onto the railing.

OLD MAN
You wanna see a bomb? I’ll show you a bomb!

BAREFOOT KID
Bro, can you even swim?

OLD MAN
Of course I can swim! I invented swimming!

As the rickety OLD BLOKE stares down at the water below, he is suddenly overwhelmed by fear and vertigo! Losing balance, he falls forward off the wharf!

OLD MAN
(high-pitched squeal)
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

As he plummets downward, he suddenly performs a miraculous, one-of-a-kind, triple-twisting-flipping manoeuver, hitting the water on his backside in perfect bombing position!

KA-BOOOOOOM!!!!!!!

An almighty explosion of water erupts into the air causing the mountains to shake and the nearby wildlife to take to the heavens!

As the KID continues to watch on, totally stunned, the OLD MAN suddenly reappears, riding the giant plume of water back into the air! Popping over the railing, he lands effortlessly back on the wharf!

BAREFOOT KID
Farrrr! You ARE God!

OLD MAN
(a little surprised himself)
I told you.

BAREFOOT KID
What are you doing in New Zealand?

OLD MAN
I’m not sure really. I just felt like I needed to come back here... back to my EDEN.

BAREFOOT KID
(matter-of-factly)
We call it AOTEAROA around here bro, but sweetaz.

Overwhelmed with emotion, the OLD MAN’s eyes begin to fill with tears.

BAREFOOT KID
It’s good to come home now and then, aye bro? Eat some ice-creams, do some bombs...
(pause)
You’re never too old, bro. You’re never too old.

THE KID’s wise-words hit the OLD MAN, hard, like a punch in the guts.

OLD MAN
Who said that? Your Mum?

BAREFOOT KID
Nah! That was all me!

The OLD MAN laughs out loud. For the very first time he looks to have regained some inner strength and peace.

OLD MAN
(smiling)
Come on, cuz. Let’s get you that choc-top with sprinkles!

BAREFOOT KID
Chur!

As the warm, summer sun begins to set beyond the epic mountains, the excited KID rides after the OLD MAN, popping a wheelie as he goes.

FADE OUT.

BIOGRAPHY – Tim McLachlan (writer/director)

Tim began making films as a youngster in the mid-eighties which eventually led to a career in the New Zealand entertainment industry. After graduating with an Acting degree from the School of Performing and Screen Arts in 1998, Tim went on to work as an actor and stunt performer on such projects as ‘The Lord of the Rings Trilogy’, ‘X-Men 3’, ‘King Kong’, ‘The Water Horse’, ‘30 Days of Night’ and the upcoming ‘The Warrior’s Way’. As a writer and director of independent film and theatre projects, his credits include sell-out seasons of the acclaimed play, ‘Wedding Speeches’ (2002/2006), the award-winning short films, ‘Henrietta’ (2007) and ‘Cuz’ (2009), and the made-for-$7000 feature film, ‘Hidden’ (2005), which won awards for ‘Best Film’ and ‘Best Director’ at festivals in Hollywood, New York, and Toronto. Tim is currently developing his own feature film projects with the hope that one day his big break will come!

www.youtube.com/fireandicepictures