I've been blogging at WP since 2007 as Valentine Bonnaire, but that was a nom de plume. I'm a writer. June is Santa Barbara Writers Conference. You can find me here and in Facebook. That was an old gravatar from my WP blog Valentine Bonnaire - and this is my new one. Really loving the new version of WordPress as Premium. Learning this one first before I move to the Business version. Nice to meet you! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adrienne.d.wilson
copyright 2009 by Adrienne D. Wilson, all rights reserved
Screenplay by Adrienne D. Wilson
copyright 2020 WordPress.com all rights reserved
for Walter Halsey Davis
of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference
CONT.
from a little trailer I made as Valentine Bonnaire in 2012 in youtube…..
EXT. DRIFTWOOD HUT. Bright SUN, MORNING
DEVLIN is squatting on a sand due (Padaro Lane location) DUNES watching as TEENIE leaves the HUT.
DEVLIN
(whispers)
I wonder what she did in there
Devlin walks casually toward the hut, playing the harmonica Grandpa Jess gave him. A gull, flying. Devlin spots a dead gull on the beach, plastic wrapped around it’s neck. It’s dead. He begins to bury it.
DEVLIN
(tears)
Too much plastic in the sea, it’s not good for you
A gull perches on top of the driftwood hut, flapping its wings. Devlin enters the hut and sees what Teenie left for him, under three stacked stones.
copyright 2009 by Adrienne D. Wilson, all rights reserved
Screenplay by Adrienne D. Wilson
copyright 2020 WordPress.com all rights reserved
for Walter Halsey Davis
of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference
CONT.
EXT. DRIFTWOOD HUT. BEACH MORNING PEARLED LIGHT
Teenie leaves Devlin a note, under three beach stones, she has walked beach, dreamlike, to gather them. Close in on her drawing him a heart surrounded by clouds, with “Who are you?” then a seal’s head pops up from the waves as she walks away, smiling.
EXT. MR. HONEYGARTEN’S HOUSE. BRIGHT SUN, DAY
Teenie parks her bike by the old fence. MELLOMAN his dog is so happy to see her, clowns at fence, wagging and jumping. Birdsounds, Bluejay with peanut, landing.
TEENIE
Mr. Honeygarten are you there?
HONEYGARTEN
Just a minute, dear, let me get my staff. Well, hello Teenie dear how very nice to see you again
TEENIE
Mr. Honeygarten, I was wondering if I might be able to have some of those apples on your trees. I want to make a pie
Mr. Honeygarten smiles dearly at Teenie and begins to pick some flowers for her. Close in on his aged face, smiling eyes and warm smile, as Teenie pets Melloman.
HONEYGARTEN
You do? I see. Well suppose you help me pick them, and of course you can. I seem to have plenty to spare this year.
TEENIE
I want to share it with you Mr. Honeygarten
HONEYGARTEN
Oh my, I haven’t had an apple pie for a very long time
TEENIE
Neither have I, not since Dad left
HONEYGARTEN
You must miss him very much Teenie
TEENIE
I do. Every single day.
HONEYGARTEN
(old hips aching, puzzles)
Well let me see, we’ll need a basket and the ladder. How about if you go around to the garden shed and collect those for us and I’ll meet you by the trees.
Melloman and Teenie meander through English garden style flowers to the old shed, Honeygarten limps with staff toward the trees- lilting music, uplift close in on her hands picking apples, while he watches, Mellowman by his side
MONTAGE FLASHBACK – ESTABLISHING
Close in on a FOR SALE sign, Teenie’s parents working for a newspaper, bustling business – The Village Crier. Teenie’s parents at work, secretary and reporter. Out of business signs along streets. Teenie’s old house FOR SALE SIGN. Teenie in beautiful bedroom, packing, overhears her parents
INT. NIGHT, TEENIE’S BEDROOM
JAX
They closed it, everything. Lock, stock and barrel.
Walter Halsey Davis taught me about sound in film. Let me play this one for you.
HEART OF CLOUDS
by Adrienne D. Wilson
copyright 2009 by Adrienne D. Wilson, all rights reserved
Screenplay by Adrienne D. Wilson
copyright 2020 WordPress.com all rights reserved
for Walter Halsey Davis
of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference
INT. BATHROOM. MORNING
Teenie stands in the bathroom in pajamas, brushing her teeth. It’s as if it is the first time she has really seen herself. Focus on her hair, trying a bun, a ponytail. Lipgloss.
CHRISTINA
(walks by catches her daughter at mirror, being girlish, sternly)
Pretty is as pretty does, Teenie. Don’t be vain.
TEENIE
(in silence looks at her mother’s face)
Close in on Teenie’s hands at her closet, choosing her favorite jeans and sweater, slipping her journal and pen into the pocket. At door, leaving, close in on her face
TEENIE
Bye, Mom. I’ll be back with the apples and then we can do the pie.
EXT. DRIFTWOOD HUT. TEENIE MORNING BEACH, PEARLED LIGHT
Teenie rides her bike through the village on the way down to the beach to get back to the driftwood hut.
INT. DRIFTWOOD HUT. BEACH, PEARLED LIGHT
Teenie falls to knees at the sight of her origami bird in the shell, looks around quizzically to see if someone else is there, suddenly she sees Devlin standing on the top of the dunes. Wind ruffles in his sandy blond hair. He bolts, she realizes he left the shell for her.
TEENIE
(softly)
He must have done this. He must have left this here for me.
Takes you back, to a time when we were all so little, and we heard this. The actors that I sent the book to?
I meant it.
I meant every word I said. So, I have a reason for wanting to see this film realized, not just because to me those are some of the biggest stars on earth, but because of WHO they are as people.
I am making an intervention for the group that doesn’t know how to do things like Devlin and Teenie do. After the film, they will.
I wish you could have met my Dad or my Uncle, when I was little.
All day yesterday I listened to the music I was dancing around to at age ten or so. You might have been too, except some of you were a bit older than me, at that time. I just saw Swing Shift for the first time, yesterday, but Laugh-In, well my mom never missed it. Never. What a time that was. I guess I just want to say to you what beautiful people you are, okay, coffee and back to the page. Can’t wait to see what Viggo has done.
Jeff, Goldie, Robert, Viggo I meant it.
I know John Orland over in Facebook, and actually I bet you do too.
Losing Walter Halsey Davis, well. I know you feel this way, as well, when it is people you worked with.
My mother had just passed in the early years I met him at the Conference, and he showed us “Do You Remember Love” – yeah, I was the one in the audience who wept. I did yesterday again at the close of Swing Shift.
novel copyright 2009 Adrienne D. Wilson all rights reserved
Screenplay copyright 2020 WordPress by Adrienne D. Wilson all rights reserved
INT. GRANDPA AND GRANDMA JESS KITCHEN. EARLY EVENING, GOLDEN LIGHT
The kitchen, in the old brown shingled Craftsman exudes a glow. The warmth and beauty of GRANDPA JESS (70’s) and GRANDMA JESS (70’s) beams like light rays. They are an old fashioned California couple who grew up together and married early, in the 1960’s. The kitchen walls are hung with old cast iron pans and copper cooking pots, there is whimsy, and homey charm, houseplants. Dinnertime, and Grandma is cooking, Devlin’s favorite meal, in simple style. Though they are both worried for the boy, they don’t show it. He is enfolded in their loving arms. They are his father’s parents.
GRANDPA JESS
(lounging on a comfy overstuffed sofa, inhaling the scents of the dinner, as his wife cooks, he watches her, smiling eyes)
What did you do today son?
DEVLIN
Worked on the hut
GRANDPA JESS
How’s it coming along?
DEVLIN
Almost done
GRANDPA JESS
Your father called, he wondered how you were getting along
DEVLIN
Tell him I’m fine
GRANDPA JESS
Are you Devlin?
Devlin busies himself helping his grandmother set the table, and tasting the baked beans and cornbread.
DEVLIN
I miss my mom
GRANDPA JESS
I know you do, son
Grandpa Jess reaches behind the sofa and pulls out an old ukulele he had hidden, starts to strum, then hands it to Devlin
DEVLIN
You played this?
GRANDPA JESS
(eyes twinkling)
I think that’s how I won your grandmother’s heart. That or my old harmonica.
GRANDMA JESS
(rich sounds of her warm laughter fill the room)
I really don’t think you need to give that boy any ideas, Jess
DEVLIN
(practices playing both instruments, smiles)
GRANDMA JESS
(pulls out a special cake made just for Devlin)
Practice makes perfect, and we all know that – the two of you ought to come have supper now.
DEVLIN
Sighs, smiling as he looks at the cake
GRANDMA JESS
No reason every day can’t be a celebration, Devlin
I took Odin down to the beach yesterday for the longest walk. Let me play you another cover of a song that was my fave as a young teen girl. While I have this coffee. It’s another cover, but you will know the voice. Creedence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aae_RHRptRg I am about to write you Devlin’s grandparents. And the happiness!
A simple pine coffin, with flowers. DEVLIN and his FATHER standing near it, his arm is around the boy, who stands in silence. Mute. Close in on father’s face, we see the streaks of tears. His father is a big city architect, now he is lost at the death of his wife. Devlin is to be sent to his grandparents in California. GRANDPA JESS and GRANDMA.
INT. DAY. AIRPLANE DEVLIN’S FLIGHT
DEVLIN is taking a plane alone. We see him in profile at a window seat, as the land moves away underneath him, giving way to the land below as it recedes, until clouds.
EXT. BEACH – DEVLIN – DRIFTWOOD HUT
Devlin has found an abalone shell to leave for Teenie, He scoops some sand at the rear of the structure and carefully places her little orgami bird inside it. Late afternoon in golden light.
EXT. VILLAGE – TEENIE – MR. HONEYGARTEN’S HOUSE (establishing)
Teenie walks home, and passes MR. HONEYGARTEN’S (90) old Victorian house, with a tangle of brambles and old roses along the picket fence. All his apple trees are laden with fruit, sound of birdsongs, in golden afternoon light.
INT. TEENIE’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM
Teenie enters the grey light atmosphere, her mother Christina has not moved from the couch, TV droning on with the news. She wants to try and cheer her mother up.
TEENIE
Mom, remember that pie I made one time?
CHRISTINA
(wanly)
I do
TEENIE
Can I make another one someday?
CHRISTINA
Sure honey
TEENIE
MR. HONEYGARTEN’S garden has all kinds of apples, Mom. Maybe I could help him pick some?
CHRISTINA
Okay, but you be careful if you go up on the ladder
TEENIE
I could ask him Mom, tomorrow. We could share the pie with him.
