Heart of Clouds
by Adrienne Wilson
(for Walter Halsey Davis, of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference)
*page 94, in my novel Heart of Clouds
EXT. VILLAGE. SUNSET
Teenie leaves Mr. Honeygartens, walking her bike home, watching the sunset. Sad at what Mr. Honeygarten told her, about Claire.
VOICEOVER as Teenie looks out to the island, Honeygarten
HONEYGARTEN
She is with me every single day, Teenie. Every single day. And you see my dear, this is why I use her spoons as I do. I feel that when I stir the tea, it’s almost like she is here with me.
*establishing, love lives forever, even after loss
INT. TEENIE APT. COLD DIM LIGHT.
Teenie wants to talk to her mother, but she is passed out, rolled into a ball on the couch. Teenie spends a long time looking at her mother’s face, which is relaxed and beautiful in sleep.
TEENIE
(whispers)
It’s been so long since I have seen you smile, Mom.
INT. DEVLIN BEDROOM. NIGHT.
Devlin kisses her note to him as he falls asleep with it tucked safely in his breast pocket, against his heart.
Devlin tosses and turns in sleep, dreaming of a squadron of sea turtles who have come to take him to the sea kingdom. Tut, the largest of these, is weeping. Devlin sees the tears in his eyes.
TUT
You will ride me, Devlin. I shall take you to the source of the Wave.
Tut moves so that Devlin can climb aboard his giant ancient shell, as the other turtles in the squadron watch. Devlin hold’s Tut’s ancient flippers as the other turtles form a giant flotilla that the whales and dolphins also join.
BLUE WHALE
One of the blue whales swims up close to TUT, with Devlin aboard. He communicates with his eyes, to Devlin, Devlin can understand through the looks in their eyes to each other.
BLUE WHALE VOICEOVER
The sea gods are angry Devlin because people have not shown them respect.
INT. DEVLIN BEDROOM. MORNING. DREAM SEQUENCE.
Devlin awakes again with a start from his dream. He thinks he sees Tut in the tree limbs outside his window, he’s tired and wants to go back to sleep again, but he is back in the seadream. Tut awaits him, beckoning with a flipper. They press on through the sea, and the Orcas have joined them. The sea turns a sickening color of green, purple yellow and magenta. Devlin sees hundreds of the plastic shoes floating in a vortex. Tut halts the other sea animals with his flipper, as Devlin sits up, astride him. The Orcas swim away in disgust as the sea turned blackish green.
(Devlin wakes up and feels for Teenies note. Sigh of relief. Rubs his chest at his heart.)
VOICEOVER TUT
Devlin you are the last boy on earth who can understand the sea gods wrath, because you know the language of the air
DEVLIN
Does Teenie know how to speak my language?
TUT
You could teach her Devlin Underwood. She knows how to speak the language of the heart Devlin.
TUT VOICEOVER continues
The language of the heart is a very, very old language Devlin. Some people said that the trees taught it to the human race, or the clouds, or the sun and moon. Some say it comes from walking alone for miles in the mountains and others say it comes from gazing into a flower, or sometimes the eyes of another human being.
DEVLIN
Tut why didn’t the Orcas speak?
TUT
Their hearts are broken
INT. GRANDMA JESS KITCHEN. MORNING GOLDEN LIGHT
Grandma Jess bustles in the kitchen cooking breakfast for Devlin, Oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar.
GRANDMA JESS
Did you sleep well Devlin?
DEVLIN
Not exactly Grandma
I had a very strange dream about the Wave
GRANDMA JESS
Your grandfather is still asleep, Devlin, but I’m sure he’d like to hear about it when he wakes up.
DEVLIN
(eating the oatmeal)
I’m going to the beach today, right after I finish this. I want to work on the seahut some more.
GRANDMA JESS
GRANDMA JESS
How has it been coming along?
DEVLIN
It’s getting there slowly Grandma
GRANDMA JESS
Well, you run along then, Dev.
DEVLIN
(carries bowl to sink, and washes it off, then kisses his grandmother on the cheek)
GRANDMA JESS
(eyes twinkling at her grandson)
I think Grandpa Jess has a surprise in mind for you, Devlin
DEVLIN
He does?
GRANDMA JESS
(smiling as Devlin leaves, warmly)
*chapter “Hearts” in my novel Heart of Clouds, to page 101. Adaptation of book to film.
Adrienne Wilson 