Art Direction – Adrienne Wilson

HEART OF CLOUDS – SCREENPLAY – 15

Posted on May 28, 2022 by Adrienne in Adaptation, Novel, Art Direction, Ecopsychology, Heart of Clouds, Screenwriter

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

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

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.

HEART OF CLOUDS – SCREENPLAY – 13

Posted on May 27, 2022May 27, 2022 by Adrienne in Adaptation, Novel, Art Direction, Heart of Clouds, novelist, Screenwriter

Heart of Clouds

by Adrienne Wilson

(for Walter Halsey Davis, of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference)

*chapter FIRST KISS p. 89 in my novel

EXT. DEVLIN’S CASTLES. LOON POINT. SUNNY

Devlin watches Teenie walking by the sea, she is the first girl he has ever thought of as pretty.

*establishing first feelings for a girl

Shakes his head, to and fro. He runs down the beach like a race horse to get back to the driftwood hut, finds her note hidden in the abalone shell.

FLASHBACK

Teenie kissing her note to him with an invisible kiss. Then pocketing his note to her.

*establishing first feelings for a boy

Devlin has paper and pen in his uke case. Scribbles a next note, in all CAPS.

MEET ME HERE TOMORROW AT TEN O’CLOCK

Love, Devlin

EXT. HONEYGARTEN HOUSE. GARDEN GATE. MELLOWMAN

Teenie rides her bike to Mr. Honeygartens, and Melloman has been waiting for her at the gate. Her feelings for Devlin make her want to ask Mr. Honeygarten about Claire. She stops to inhale one of his exquisite old red rambler roses along the picket fence.

old house in Carp, with look for Honeygarten house

image for look of Honeygarten fence, this is next door to the yellow house above in Carp.

TEENIE

(calls up to his upper windows)

Mr. Honeygarten are you home?

HONEYGARTEN

(his face appears smiling down at her, from the high window)

Hello, my dear

Would you like some tea?

TEENIE

Yes I would Mr. Honeygarten

HONEYGARTEN

Why don’t you go and get the shears and bring some of those roses in, my dear. Take Mellowman along with you.

(Mellowman leaping and clowning around, tail wagging, garden scenes, tangled English garden look)

(Teenie moving along the fence picking the lush red roses)

INT. HONEYGARTEN HOUSE. PARLOR

Mr. Honeygarten has made tea and is arranging his delicate cups and saucers for the two of them, as well as petits fours.

HONEYGARTEN

Aren’t they the loveliest?

TEENIE

(arranging roses in a vase)

They are, Mr. Honeygarten

HONEYGARTEN

Sit down my dear. Tell me how you have been?

TEENIE

Fine

HONEYGARTEN

Any wild adventures?

TEENIE

(looks away shyly thinking of Devlin)

Well….

Mr. Honeygarten?

HONEYGARTEN

Yes my dear

TEENIE

Who was Claire?

HONEYGARTEN

Ah, Claire. Why Claire was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen

TEENIE

She was?

HONEYGARTEN

Yes my dear. She was.

TEENIE

When did you know her?

HONEYGARTEN

When I was fifteen

TEENIE

Really?

HONEYGARTEN

Yes my dear, and I have never, ever forgotten her. Not once in all these years.

*image of Mary Pickford in Stella Maris — Mr. Honeygarten’s “Claire”

HONEYGARTEN

(eyes, dreamily remembering Claire, he takes a sip of tea and reaches for a petits four)

TEENIE

She must have been very special Mr. Honeygarten

HONEYGARTEN

She was my dear. In fact she stole my heart.

TEENIE

(puzzling over what Mr. Honeygarten has just said)

HONEYGARTEN

(sighs deeply)

Claire was the love of my life, my dear

TEENIE

She was?

HONEYGARTEN

Yes, Teenie she was

TEENIE

Well how did she. I mean

HONEYGARTEN

How did I fall in love with her?

TEENIE

(smiling at Mr. Honeygarten, while secretly thinking of Devlin)

HONEYGARTEN

Oh my dear, where shall I begin?

(pauses, close in on kind eyes smiling at Teenie)

I suppose my dear, she was a bit like you

TEENIE

She was?

HONEYGARTEN

Yes, she was. I suppose I shall just have to tell you that story, won’t I?

I don’t suppose you might bake another apple pie for me once I finish?

TEENIE

Mr. Honeygarten if you tell me about Claire, I’ll make you an entire pie. Just for you.

(Fire crackling in the hearth, Mr. Honeygarten and Teenie savor the petits fours and cakes, while sipping tea, as Teenie pours, watching the little elf on the teaspoon, it seems to smile at her)

Where did you get these little teaspoons, Mr. Honeygarten

HONEYGARTEN

Claire gave them to me, my dear. I’ve had them all these years.

TEENIE

She did?

HONEYGARTEN

Yes, in fact we had tea together almost every day as children

TEENIE

You did?

HONEYGARTEN

(nods, solemnly)

All these little spoons were given to me by her. I have four. For the four birthdays we shared together.

TEENIE

You saved them all these years?

HONEYGARTEN

Nothing in the world would ever make me part from these spoons

TEENIE

You must have loved her very much Mr. Honeygarten

HONEYGARTEN

I did my dear. More than anything in the whole world.

*to page 94 in my novel, Heart of Clouds

HEART OF CLOUDS – SCREENPLAY – 12

Posted on May 26, 2022 by Adrienne in Adaptation, Novel, Art Direction, FILM, Heart of Clouds, Screenwriter

Heart of Clouds

by Adrienne Wilson

(for Walter Halsey Davis, of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference)

*chapter “Seadreams” p. 81

EXT. DRIFTWOOD HUT. MORNING. SUNNY.

Teenie is amazed to see that there is a seaweed curtain like a door. She parts the curtains and enters, captivated. Finds Devlin’s note in the abalone shell after shaking it to and fro. She hugs the note to her heart, rocking back and forth, listening to the sounds of the ocean.

TEENIE

(speaking softly to horizon, out to sea, to islands)

Dad I think you would like this boy

FLASHBACK

(Jax and Teenie the day he told her about writers and hats and they had shopped for one)

JAX

Every writer needs a hat Teenie

PRESENT

Teenie pulls the hat down, smiling and remembering her father. Unfolds Devlin’s note carefully, sees his signature, marvels at how much he said on paper. Close in on her face, reading intently, absorbing each word.

TEENIE

Pulls her journal and pen from pocket and begins to write back to him

*establishing EMPATHY

Teenie answers each line he has written we close in on his words, then hers.

Hi, Teenie

I’m really glad you left me this letter, because I really wanted to meet you

Hi Devlin,

thank you for writing this really long letter back to me. I really wanted to meet you too from the minute I saw you that day on the dunes, but it was like you ran away before I could say hi.

That day I saw you on the beach you were crying and so I didn’t want to bother you, even though you were in my secret driftwood castle.

I totally wondered if you built this sea hut, ever since I saw you. Nobody here ever built one of those like you did. I didn’t realize it was a castle though, until today when you added the door!

I’ve been really missing my old friends and that’s how come I wanted to be friends with you. I’ve only been here about two months and school is going to start pretty soon. I’m going to be in eighth.

I’m going to be in eighth, too! Maybe we’ll be in the same classes and stuff. I’m sorry that you miss your friends from back home. Do you like living with your grandparents? It must have been really hard at first, Devlin. It must have been really hard to move here and then have to start all over and make new friends. Right before school starts too.

I was like thinking you were my age too – but I wasn’t sure. It looks like you really miss your Dad a lot.

I do really miss my Dad, Devlin. He’s been gone for a really long time now and that day you saw me crying it was about him. I just missed him so much and it seems like nothing is any fun without him. He and my mom lost their jobs and he used to be a reporter for the newspaper in the Village. He worked there my whole life. He’s gone because he had to go south and try and find a new job. We had to sell our house too, and move. Sometimes I look up at my old house and I just get so sad walking by it. It’s that big white one on the hill. That pretty house.

Your mom sounds kind of cool – like she cares about the ocean a lot. It’s my favorite place too.

My Mom totally cares about the ocean, Devlin. She keeps on watching the news though and she is so worried about The Wave coming that she just sits there most of the time all day long in front of the TV. The doctor told me she had something called a “depression” and they gave her a whole bunch of pills to take. She doesn’t even seem like my Mom anymore, sometimes.

I hope we can meet again sometime

I hope we can really meet each other, too.

Sometimes it’s really hard to talk to anyone about how I really feel. Do you ever feel like that?

Devlin Underwood

Sometimes I do feel like it is pretty hard to explain my feelings to people, Devlin. It was like this summer when it got the hardest. My Dad was the one I talked to most. I could tell him anything and it was like he just understood me. It’s totally easy to talk to you though in a letter and I don’t know why, even. It just is.

Love, Teenie Alexander

TEENIE

(sits looking at what she has written to Devlin for a long time, exhales softly)

Dad you told me writers were always outsiders. Remember when you got me this hat?

EXT. DEVLIN’S CASTLES. LOON POINT. SUNNY.

*Images from location at Loon in magic hour light

EXT. DEVLINS CASTLES. GOLDEN LIGHT. ATOP BLUFFS AT LOON.

Devlin has been watching Teenie from above, sitting crosslegged atop the bluffs, in his castle, unbeknownst to her, watching. He has his uke and harmonica with him.

*core musical theme plays, sweeping sound

Devlin watches Teenie leave the driftwood hut, and walk in the waves with her pant legs rolled, until she rounds the bend out of sight.

DEVLIN

(softly out to sea)

Maybe we can really meet each other soon, Teenie

Close in on his hand drawing a heart in the sandy blufftop. He draws the letter T inside it.

(picks up his uke and plays a song his grandfather taught him)

(hawks circling, images of dolphins out to sea, seals)

*to page 87 in novel.

HEART OF CLOUDS – SCREENPLAY – 10

Posted on May 21, 2022 by Adrienne in Adaptation, Novel, Art Direction, Heart of Clouds, Screenwriter

EXT. RED TRUCK. BACKCOUNTRY DRIVE. SUNNY.

GRANDPA JESS

(gestures at driver’s seat)

You take the wheel son. It’s high time you learned to drive

DEVLIN

(face lights up in sheer shock at this offer, smiles broadly at his grandfather, can’t believe it, moves into driver’s seat)

I get to drive?

Really?

GRANDPA JESS

(laughing as Devlin grinds the gears a little, til he manages, they take off up the road)

You’ll get the hang of it son. Why I wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of the day

DEVLIN

(braking suddenly at the wonder of seeing a Bobcat with huge golden eyes in the road)

GRANDPA JESS

We’ll be to the top in no time

Photo by Gabriele Brancati on Pexels.com

I had this over in pinterest, location is Figueroa Mountain where Dev and his Grandfather go for the cones, picnic spot

EXT. PICNIC. BIG ROCK MOUNTAIN. DAY, SUNNY

Devlin and Grandpa Jess sit at Big Rock Mountain and open the picnic basket which overflows with all the things packed inside.

GRANDPA JESS

Your grandmother sure loves herself a nice fire, Dev

DEVLIN

She told me it warms her spirit

(the two of them enjoy the lunch, while we pan on the wildlife and flowers of location)

*sound quiet winds on the mountain

Devlin and Grandpa Jess collect the cones all day in burlap sacks, as evening falls, dusk light. Thoughts of Teenie at the beach float through his mind like butterflies, he realizes they won’t be home before dark, so he will miss being able to get to the driftwood hut.

INT. CHRISTINA’S KITCHEN. DISMAL BLUE LIGHT. MORNING.

Christina in her kitchen, opening the cabinets, frustrated by the lack of food, missing her husband Jax, She can hardly cope. Nothing in cabinets except for a jar of peanut butter and macaroni and cheese, boxed. She closes cabinets, rests her head against them. Realizes she has to find the strength to go shopping. Decides to make Teenie soup they can share.

CHRISTINA

(says to ceiling)

All the fun has gone out of my life. All the fun is gone.

TEENIE

(comes from the beach)

CHRISTINA

Honey where were you. I was worried, you didn’t leave a note. I got up and the house was just empty this morning.

TEENIE

I just went down to the beach Mom

CHRISTINA

Do you want some lunch

TEENIE

I’m starved

CHRISTINA

I made you some soup

TEENIE

You did?

CHRISTINA

It’s on the stove. Want to sit down together?

TEENIE

That would be nice Mom. You weren’t watching TV today?

CHRISTINA

No honey. I wanted a day off from it.

TEENIE

Mom how come the news is always so bad

CHRISTINA

It’s just how the world is now, Teenie

TEENIE

What was it like when you were a girl?

CHRISTINA

Well, it was the same world, just different. People had problems then too, Teenie, but it didn’t seem quite as hard as it is now.

(Teenie watches her mother at the stove stirring the soup. She is happy they will be sitting together, even if her father isn’t with them.)

CHRISTINA

I missed Jax a lot today, Teenie

(she ladles two bowls of the fragrant soup, and we close in on the colors she is putting into the bowls. Sudden life in the dismal blue light.)

*Teenie and Jax fave soup, Christina has made it, scratch

I really missed him Teenie

TEENIE

I miss him too, Mom

(smiles, as she takes her first spoonful, warmth filling her)

I think about Daddy every day

CHRISTINA

Oh honey. Most of the time I do too.

(pauses, wistful look into distance)

Jax used to love this soup, Teenie

*at page 72/Chapter is EMOTIONS

HEART OF CLOUDS – SCREENPLAY – 9

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Adrienne in Adaptation, Novel, Art Direction, Heart of Clouds, Screenplay, Screenwriter

Heart of Clouds

by Adrienne D. Wilson

(for Walter Halsey Davis)

*chapter 9, “Landscapes” p. 63 in my novel Heart of Clouds for film

Look of the old red truck Grandpa Jess drives, and teaches Devlin

INT. GRANDPA JESS HOUSE. GARAGE. MORNING

Grandpa Jess lovingly waxes the curves of his old truck, knowing later, he will be teaching Devlin to drive as a surprise. He backs into the drive.

GRANDPA JESS

Hop in, son.

Wait til you see what Grandma Jess fixed up for us

(nodding at the giant wicker picnic basket)

*image for the style of old fashioned picnic basket Grandpa Jess and Devlin take up into the mountains

Grandpa Jess and Devlin drive the windy roads down to the village, then head up to Big Rock Mountain to collect pine cones for the fireplace together

EXT. TRUCK RIDE. SUNNY DAY

GRANDPA JESS

Steer for me a minute will you Dev?

DEVLIN

(smiling, shock of surprise, taking the wheel for the first time)

GRANDPA JESS

Son, I’ve been meaning to have a talk with you for quite some time

Grandpa Jess takes the wheel back, serious, but smiling, holding all the weight of the moment, and his own son in his mind, careful to be the best strongest grandfather he can be

DEVLIN

(looking out window at scenery of the mountains)

GRANDPA JESS

I know how hard it has been for you to lose your mother

(pauses)

Grandma Jess doesn’t like to bring it up, so I thought we could have a man-to-man about it

DEVLIN

I don’t really feel like talking Grandpa

(Devlin fidgets in his seat, uncomfortable having to discuss feelings)

GRANDPA JESS

All right then, we’ll let it go for now son, but I want you to know you can always come to me, if you want to talk

DEVLIN

(close in on his serious eyes, looking at his grandfather)

GRANDPA JESS

Always, Dev. Any time okay?

Panning through the landscape scenes of the hills, hawks, stones, roads, as they drive up out of the fog into the sun.

FLASHBACK

INT. GRANDMA JESS KITCHEN. NIGHT. GOLDEN LIGHT.

(worried over the boy, Grandpa and Grandma Jess, cooking up a big picnic for the next day)

GRANDMA JESS

Jess do you think he will like these cookies?

GRANDPA JESS

nodding as he packs the picnic basket with care

GRANDMA JESS

(close in on her hands wrapping cookies in wax paper)

GRANDPA JESS

(broadly smiling at her)

Think we need all those?

GRANDMA JESS

(close in on the two of them hugging in the kitchen)

Just in case, Jess.

INT. TRUCK. DAY. COUNTRY ROAD, BIG ROCK MOUNTAIN

(Grandpa Jess pulls over on the dusty dirt road high in the mountains)

GRANDPA JESS

Are you looking forward to school son?

It’s hard to believe you are going to be in the 8th grade

DEVLIN

I know. I just wish I knew a few people before it starts, though, Grandpa

(sighs, looks out window)

I knew a lot of people back home in the city

GRANDPA JESS

Small towns are different, Devlin

It takes a while

(they both look at the puffy white cumulus clouds banking up against the hills)

GRANDPA JESS

Want something to eat or do you want to wait a bit?

DEVLIN

Grandpa, those were a lot of pancakes this morning

GRANDPA JESS

(laughing heartily, pushes his old straw hat back and wipes his forehead with a red bandana)

Yes, son, I guess we did do justice to those little pancakes didn’t we?

(Grandpa Jess exits his seat, and makes hand gesture at the driver’s seat)

INT. TEENIE’S APARTMENT. FOGGY MORNING, BLUE GREY SAD LIGHT

(Close in on Christina as she wakes up, in bed, sad, and reaches for one of her many pill bottles on the nightstand, swallows the one for depression she has been precribed, dozens of bottles)

CHRISTINA

(moving as if underwater, to the door of Teenie’s room)

(whispers)

Maybe she’s down at Mr. Honeygarten’s again. It’s good for her to be able to play with Melloman.

(Christina sees a pile of clean laundry on Teenie’s little twin bed. She begins to fold it, tenderly, smoothing out the little shirts and jeans.)

(She speaks to the ceiling)

You monster. How could you have ruined our lives like you have. My little girl’s life.

FLASHBACK

In a montage, scenes of her marriage to JAX, when they are working, buying the white Victorian high on the hill where Teenie was conceived, happiness. The Village Crier, where they had worked until the firings. Rocking Teenie to sleep as a baby, smiling at JAX.

image for look of Honeygarten house (location is Carp)

*image Teenie’s old house, that white Victorian high on hill at Summerland

CHRISTINA

What kind of a world will my daughter grow up in?

What kind of a world will our kids be inheriting?

Image look for Mr. Honeygartens picket fence and roses, next door to yellow house in Summerland

*image of the old church in Summerland

atmospheres in “The Village”

house that was where this author llived in the Summer of ’71, Summerland. She was a friend of Mother’s and the kitchen was trompe l’oiel with blue sky and clouds. Raised around artists! ❤

HEART OF CLOUDS – SCREENPLAY – 7

Posted on May 19, 2022 by Adrienne in Adaptation, Novel, Art Direction, Heart of Clouds

Heart of Clouds

by Adrienne D. Wilson

(adaptation from my novel, for the screen, for Walter Halsey Davis, my teacher at the SB Writers Conference)

*page 50 – chapter “Touchstone”

INT. DEVLIN’S BEDROOM. NIGHT, WARM LIGHT

Devlin climbs into bed, but is restless. Hard to fall asleep, he tosses and turns. First thoughts of “a girl” that he has seen in Teenie, and excitement over wondering what will happen next. He wants to ask her why she is sad, feels like he said to much about himself already. His mind races, boyish nervousness.

DEVLIN

(fingering the notes she left him)

(whispers)

Maybe we are connected for a reason, by our hearts

(looks to ceiling, pulls his mother’s face up like a vision, she appears like a mirage on the ceiling, giant, beautiful, smiling down at him, blurry edges, watery illusion)

DEVLIN

Mom, I saw this girl on the beach. She’s totally cool too.

(he pauses watching his mother’s expressions)

I don’t know what her name is yet, but I left her this note and I told her what mine was. She wanted to know. You should have seen the little note she left me the first day

(unfolds the note with the heart and the clouds, so his mother can see)

(his mother beams and nods down at him in joyous watery mirage fashion)

DEVLIN

(slowly unfolds her note with the heart and the clouds, presents it to ceiling where his mother’s face hovers, we see her beaming down at him)

Check it out, Mom. I think she might be an artist. She did this one too.

Devlin glides the paper airplane through the air, then unfolds.

DEVLIN

Look what she wrote inside

FLASHBACK. GRANDMA JESS. NIGHT OF FUNERAL, (tucking Devlin in)

GRANDMA JESS

Devlin, all you have to do is think of her face and she’ll be here for you. That’s what I did after my mother was gone. Try it and see.

Grandma Jess smoothes the blankets, kisses Devlin on forehead.

GRANDMA JESS

(nodding at the doorway)

See you in the morning

Close in on Devlin’s face, blurry with tears.

DEVLIN’S MOTHER SAYS (from cieling mirage)

Put those someplace special, Devlin

Devlin tucks the notes inside his pillowcase. We hear the sound of an owl softly hooting, as he drifts off to sleep.

(soft, lulling sounds of the owl)

INT. TEENIE’S BEDROOM, DAWN LIGHT, FOGGED IN

Teenie wakes up with a start. She’s had a strange dream. The apartment is quiet, as Christina is still asleep, stayed up all night watching the news. Teenie makes herself a hot chocolate and piece of raisin toast. She plans to slip away before her mother wakes up and go back down to the beach. She makes gestures of being freezing cold, chooses a warm plaid jacket.

Fog, November light, Bluffs in Carpinteria

to page 55, Chapter is “Fogbanks”

HEART OF CLOUDS – SCREENPLAY – 6

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Adrienne in Adaptation, Novel, Art Direction, Heart of Clouds

Heart of Clouds

by Adrienne D. Wilson

(for Walter Halsey Davis, my teacher, at the SB Writers Conference)

*page 39 in my book Heart of Clouds

Chapter “Secret Smile”

EXT. BEACH. DRIFTWOOD HUT. (Sunny to Fog light)

Teenie runs down the beach to get back to the driftwood hut. She is surprised to see that Devlin has left a red tailed hawk feather in front of the abalone shell, and that her note to him is gone, the stones rearranged. She climbs out and scans the dunes for him, but he is nowhere in sight. She picks some sandflowers along the dunes.

One of my images of the dunes at Carpinteria

My dog Odin, with some of the flowers that grow in sand – this at SB Harbor near Yacht Club

TEENIE

(whispers, puzzled)

He took my note, but he didn’t leave me a note back.

Teenie watches as the fog rolls in over the islands, smoothing the feather, and running it through her fingers.

TEENIE

(softly)

Maybe he left this for me because he wanted to tell me he was a bird

Teenie places the feather in her journal, and decides to draw it, as a note for Devlin.

Close in, on her hand beginning to draw the feather, and under the feather’s picture, she writes:

boy of the dunes who left a feather

who are you and what is your name?

Teenie folds the note carefully into a paper airplane shape, places it in the abalone shell and weights it down with a stone. She doesn’t realize Devlin has been standing on the high cliffs watching her.

an image of mine for the “castles” for Devlin my character. Location is Loon Point, Padaro Lane – Carpinteria on the beach looking up.

Devlin watches Teenie running down the beach, until out of sight, around the bends in the cliffs. Then he squats down and traces a little heart in the sand at the clifftops. He pulls the harmonica from his pocket his grandfather gave him, and blows out a little tune, practicing. Close in on the hawks circling overhead turning pinwheels in the sky, and their cries as the fog rolls in.

Devlin makes his way down to the driftwood hut, two hawk feathers in his hands, arms outstretched, and sees that Teenie has taken the feather he left for her. Quickly he reads her note, and runs back to the village, to craft an answer. He runs so fast he bangs his knee against the door to his bedroom at his grandparent’s house. Grabbing a pen and paper he runs back to the hut as a thick fog rolls in. Close in on his hand as he begins to write the note for Teenie.

I am Devlin,

boy of the dunes and boy of the air who left you the magic feather and you are the sad girl I saw crying. I am the boy who built this driftwood shelter. I am fourteen years old and my mom died and so this summer my dad left me here with my grandparents, do you want to be friends?

INT. TEENIE’S APT. DAY.

Teenie passes her mother on the couch and heads to her bedroom with her notebook, Devlin’s feather safely tucked inside. Her first feelings for a boy. Curiosity, wondering what will happen next. She tucks the feather in her little jewelry box, looking at the things her father had given her. Slips a tiny turquoise ring on her finger. Wonders if the pie had cheered her mother up, even the smallest bit.

Christina sits before the television watching the news roll on about extinctions in the sea, of the fish.

CHRISTINA

it’s so awful Teenie. When I was little tuna fish sandwiches were my favorite

TEENIE

Mom did you like the pie?

CHRISTINA

It was great Teenie

TEENIE

Mr. Honeygarten loved it

CHRISTINA

I’m glad honey

TEENIE

You should have seen Melloman today

CHRISTINA

How was he?

TEENIE

Barking as usual, I wish we could have a dog, Mom

CHRISTINA

I know, Teenie. Maybe when the economy gets better we can.

CHRISTINA

(noticing the ring Teenie has on)

Teenie you are wearing that little ring

(takes Teenie’s hand in hers, and holds it, staring as if remembering her daughter at age five)

TEENIE

It only fits on my little finger now, Mom

CHRISTINA

You are growing up so fast sometimes I don’t know what to make of it

TEENIE

I miss dad, Mom

CHRISTINA

I know honey

TEENIE

I really miss him

CHRISTINA

(silence)

I know you do sweetheart. I wish there was something I could do to help you, but I can’t.

Teenie’s mother’s eyes return to the TV set. Blankly staring. She retracts her hand which suddenly feels so cold., putting it in her pocket

CHRISTINA

Those poor fish. All those poor, poor little tuna fish. Extinct.

A pause as Teenie realizes she cannot connect with her mother. She feels invisible.

CHRISTINA

School’s going to be starting soon

TEENIE

I know Mom

CHRISTINA

Do you need anything?

TEENIE

No Mom, I’m okay

CHRISTINA

All right, sweetie. Why don’t you go see what we have for dinner

*to page 50 in my book Heart of Clouds – in this scene establishing the antagonist, in the mother. This is a “Cold” Family system, with the father gone, and so forth. Character arcs forthcoming. Both Teenie and Devlin have “problems” – they are beginning to reach puberty, first feelings of “liking” someone, also the innocent ways of that liking, and the notes explained here.

Image of a seal, on Linden, in Carpinteria near the dunes

HEART OF CLOUDS – Adaptation SCREENPLAY – 5

Posted on May 15, 2022 by Adrienne in Adaptation, Novel, Art Direction, Heart of Clouds, Screenplay, Screenwriter

Heart of Clouds

(for Walter Halsey Davis, of SB Writers Conference, my teacher)

by Adrienne D. Wilson – adapting her novel Heart of Clouds for film.

INT. TEENIE APT BATHROOM. SILVERY LIGHT

Teenie while pie is baking and filling the apt. with scent, goes to the bathroom mirror, thinking of the boy who left her the abalone shell. She recalls the other teen girls at school, talking about pretty, and putting on make-up.

TEENIE

(asking mirror)

What is pretty? Is it like that abalone shell and all the colors that he left for me?

Devlin is the first boy she has ever thought about, on this cusp of her 14th year.

She goes to her bedroom, after trying on a bit of lipgloss, and wondering. Sitting crosslegged on her bed, she takes out her notebook again and draws a picture of the pie, while waiting.

She writes a note to leave at the driftwood hut, as if Devlin is an imaginary friend.

Close in on her hand and handwriting:

boy of the dunes

boy who was running like a wild horse

boy who wears plaid shirts and flannel

boy who I wish was my friend

what can I do to make you see me like I’m pretty?

CHRISTINA

Teenie what are you doing in there

TEENIE

Just writing Mom, I’m waiting for the pie to cool

CHRISTINA

It looks nice honey

TEENIE

Mom, I told Mr. Honeygarten I would take him some

CHRISTINA

That’s nice of you Teenie

TEENIE

He’s a really nice man

CHRISTINA

I know he is honey

TEENIE

Can you help me cut him a piece

CHRISTINA

Come on, let’s cut a piece of that beautiful pie and taste it

Teenie runs to her mother’s side and hugs her tightly

TEENIE

I love you Mom, I really do

CHRISTINA

(tenderly smoothing back her daughter’s hair)

I know you do

TEENIE

I just want you to feel better Mommy

Teenie and her mother taste the pie, then wrap a piece in waxed paper for Mr. Honeygarten.

EXT. HONEYGARTEN HOUSE. GOLDEN SATURATED LIGHT. DAY.

Teenie rides her bike through the village to his house. Melloman greets her at the fence, tail wagging and barking around, sniffing her hands carrying the pie.

TEENIE

(laughing)

Mello, it’s not for you but maybe you can taste some

Mr. Honeygarten waves at her from a second floor window with old fashioned lace

curtains.

HONEYGARTEN

(calling down to her)

Teenie dear whatever do you have in that basket

TEENIE

(smiling up at him)

The pie! You knew I’d be bringing it

HONEYGARTEN

Well, I was hoping so my dear. It isn’t often that I get to have such a wonderful piece of pie, now is it? come in and let’s have a seat in the parlor.

Mr. Honeygarten goes to his special china cabinet and takes out a beautiful tea set with old fashioned flowers and gilded rims. The silver had different fairies carved on the handles, a gift from his grandmother when he had been a boy.

HONEYGARTEN

Oh what a lovely piece of pie that is my dear. I’ll just put the kettle on for tea, dear and you serve the pie why don’t you?

Teenie carefully arranges the tea set, and slices the pie.

*this pin from my “pleinairella” storyboard space on Pinterest for Mr. Honeygarten style. Formal, Victorian, a gentleman, the tea set. I have props for the teaspoons.

Teenie and Mr. Honeygarten settle in comfort to have pie and tea.

TEENIE

Mr. Honeygarten?

HONEYGARTEN

Yes, my dear

TEENIE

Am I pretty?

HONEYGARTEN

Why Teenie whatever makes you ask that?

TEENIE

Am I?

HONEYGARTEN

Why of course you are my dear

TEENIE

Are you sure?

HONEYGARTEN

Why, Teenie I do believe what I can see with my own two eyes, dear

TEENIE

(sigh of relief)

Oh good

HONEYGARTEN

(kind eyes, smiling, close in)

Why on earth would you ask such a question?

TEENIE

Well, I just wasn’t sure whether I was or not

HONEYGARTEN

Well you are dear, and prettiness is something women grow into. It takes a very long time, by the way. I suppose you are just at the beginning of that rather long journey, yourself.

Mr. Honeygarten and Teenie sit sipping the tea. Silence, as they taste the pie.

HONEYGARTEN

Is there a boy, my dear? Is there a boy involved in all of this asking about prettiness?

TEENIE

(utterly blushing)

There is

HONEYGARTEN

You know my dear, when I was a boy, there was a certain girl I thought was the most beautiful girl in the world. Her name was Claire.

*the character Claire is based on the looks in the image above. It is from very old Hollywood, Mary Pickford.

*to page 39 in my novel, the chapter is Secret Smile

Heart of Clouds – SCREENPLAY adaptation DEVLIN/Gulls/Plastic

Posted on September 29, 2020September 29, 2020 by Adrienne in Adaptation, Novel, Art, Art Direction, DRAMATIST, Screenplay, Screenwriter

HEART OF CLOUDS

by Adrienne D. Wilson

Screenplay by Adrienne D. Wilson

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.

INT. GRANPDA JESS HOUSE. AFTERNOON, golden light. DEVLIN (at bathroom mirror)

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