Homegrown

FADE IN:

EXT. APPALACHIAN WILDERNESS - ESTABLISHING - DAWN

Trees blanket the rolling mountains. A lone CABIN dots the

autumn landscape.

INT. CABIN - SAME

CHARLIE NASY (42) and his son WILL (15) sleep in parallel

twin beds in the bare bones, one-room cabin.

As the sun peeks in a window, they simultaneously awaken.

Without a word, they roll onto the floor and do push ups in

perfect unison. Flawless form, machine-like. Their muscular

physiques ripple through their threadbare attire.

BIRDS, CRICKETS, and a ROOSTER provide the only noise.

No electricity. The only decor is hundreds of BOOKS, lining

the walls from floor to ceiling on homemade shelves.

EXT. CABIN - SAME

Wilderness. Total isolation.

A large SHED, an OUTHOUSE, a WATER TANK, and a CROP FIELD

flank the cabin. SOLAR PANELS cover the shed and outhouse -

not the cabin. In the rear, an apple orchard meets the woods.

A DIESEL PICKUP TRUCK is parked in the long, unpaved driveway

that snakes away to an indiscernible starting point.

INT. CABIN - MOMENTS LATER

Charlie and Will do pull ups from a rafter, again in unison --

finish a set -- hang in a resting position, but not for long:

CHARLIE:

Fifteen more.

They snap back into the exercise, eyes straight ahead.

EXT. POND - DAWN

Charlie and Will fish side by side in silence.

2.

Charlie feels a bite. Inexpressive, he reels it in. The newly-

caught fish joins others in the bucket.

Will’s line grows taut. His face lights up momentarily, then

he adeptly reels in his catch.

EXT. CABIN - DAY

Charlie methodically chops wood. Will guts the fish on a

homemade table nearby.

EXT. APPLE ORCHARD - DAY

A WOODPECKER hammers high in a tree. Charlie and Will pick

apples below. Will admires the magnificent bird - only for a

moment - then back to work.

EXT. CABIN - DAY

A homemade punching bag - a potato sack filled with dirt -

hangs behind the cabin. Will watches as Charlie strikes it

with rapid, forceful punch combinations.

Charlie steps back. Will approaches the bag -- mimics

Charlie’s exact pattern of punches -- looks to Charlie for

approval or encouragement: no reaction.

Charlie replaces Will in front of the bag -- kicks the bag

with amazing force.

EXT. DRIVEWAY - DAY

Will loads the firewood onto the truck bed, already near-full

with apples, corn, mushrooms, berries, and squash.

Charlie fills a gas can with BIODIESEL fuel from an oil drum

near the shed -- pours it in the gas tank.

WILL:

Father..? May I come to town with you?

CHARLIE:

Not this time, William. See to your

studies then prepare dinner.

Will eyes his feet.

WILL:

Okay, Father.

3.

Charlie continues to pack the truck.

EXT. TOWN MARKET - LATER THAT DAY

TEN VENDORS line a quaint town square. CUSTOMERS peruse the

offerings -- tinker away on their SMARTPHONES.

Charlie - looking completely out of his element in

contemporary society - keeps to himself, reading a book

behind his display of produce, fish, and firewood.

The other Vendors chat amongst themselves.

A customer, THERESA (40s), scans Charlie’s produce -- bags a

selection.

THERESA:

My husband and me, we just love

your produce. It’s perfection.

What’s your secret?

CHARLIE:

No secret.

THERESA:

(re:
the fish)

What kind?

CHARLIE:

Trout.

THERESA:

Catch ‘em yourself?

CHARLIE:

This morning.

THERESA:

Delightful. I’ll take two.

Charlie packages the fish.

CHARLIE:

Fifteen.

She hands him the cash.

THERESA:

Is it possible to buy direct from

the farm? Or do you have a website?

You could really make a killing if

word gets out.

4.

CHARLIE:

(terse)

We cultivate a limited amount of

native crops. Not looking to

expand. But I’ll be here each week.

Theresa is surprised by his curtness -- departs.

A flirty woman, BEVERLY (38), approaches.

BEVERLY:

How’s business?

CHARLIE:

Okay.

BEVERLY:

Did Ann contact you about her roof?

(off Charlie’s nod)

Hope you don’t mind me passing your

name. It’d be selfish to keep you

all for myself.

Charlie tilts his head slightly in consent.

BEVERLY:

Come by later. My sink’s leaking

and there’re some dead lights. I

don’t have any new bulbs. Mind

picking some up?

CHARLIE:

Sure.

BEVERLY:

Sure as in you mind or sure as in

you don’t mind?

(off Charlie’s blank look)

Oh come on -lighten up.

CHARLIE:

I’ll bring the bulbs.

BEVERLY:

Anyway... I’ll see you soon then.

Beverly prances away.

EXT. WOODS - DAY

Will sits on a branch high up in a tree, reading Nietzsche’s

Thus Spoke Zarathustra. His perch overlooks the entire

property. How the hell did he get all the way up there?

5.

A SQUIRREL leaps from limb to limb. Will observes it until it

jumps from sight.

INT. HARDWARE STORE - DAY

Charlie pushes a cart to the register: LIGHT BULBS, DRAIN-O,

an opaque JUG OF LIQUID, THREE LARGE BEAKERS, and WIRING.

The OLD CLERK (65) eyeballs Charlie.

OLD CLERK:

Say there, son. You wouldn’t happen

to be that outta-towner does odd

jobs, wouldya?

CHARLIE:

No.

Charlie starts to unload his cart.

OLD CLERK:

Heard ‘bout you.

CHARLIE:

You have me confused with somebody.

OLD CLERK:

Someone’s been snatching up

business from the local contractor.

May not be aware he’s stepping on

toes, if you catch my drift.

(surveys Charlie’s items)

You building explosives, son?

Charlie shifts but maintains his composure.

CHARLIE:

This amount should take care of a

handful of gophers, right?

OLD CLERK:

(suspicious)

That’s about right, boss.

Charlie hands the Clerk some cash.

OLD CLERK:

You happen to see that outta town

handyman, tell him his services

aren’t ‘preciated round here.

Charlie stares down the Clerk, icy -- receives his change.

6.

OLD CLERK:

You have a good one now.

INT. CABIN - EVENING

Will finishes cutting vegetables -- wipes the knife on his

pant leg -- stares out the window, restless.

INT. BEVERLY’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - EVENING

Charlie works on the sink. Beverly enters in a low-cut dress

-leans in, dangling her cleavage. He doesn’t even glance.

BEVERLY:

Can I offer you something to eat?

CHARLIE:

No.

Charlie finishes -- stands -- turns on the faucet. They look

at the pipes:
no more leak. Beverly beams.

BEVERLY:

Sure you can’t stay for supper?

CHARLIE:

I’m sure.

BEVERLY:

At least let me get you a drink. I

have milk, lemonade, tea...

(with a seductive glance)

Maybe a glass of wine.

CHARLIE:

I have dinner waiting.

BEVERLY:

Oh... Your wife’s cooking?

No reply. Beverly hands Charlie some cash. He exits.

INT. CABIN - EVENING

Will cooks a fish over the open-flame stove. Smoke billows

out the window.

7.

INT. CABIN - LATER - DUSK

Charlie and Will dine in silence. Will inhales as if to speak

but suppresses the urge.

They finish eating. Will clears the dishes. Charlie exits.

Will hears the truck engine start -- exits...

EXT. CABIN - DUSK - MOMENTS LATER

Will enters the truck. No talk. Charlie drives away.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes