Christmas Eve at McTavish's

A hard-headed saloon-keeper clings to his shattered dream and risks destruction unless he lets go and reaches for help.

Plot outline

“Christmas Eve used to be huge at McTavish’s !” It was “the place to be.” The family was proud of the bar which passed from father-to-son. Now, Ron McTavish runs the joint his father gave him. Ron’s dream? Groom his kid, Joey, to take over. But, Joey never commits to the dream. Ron decides to get Joey to “buy-in.” He knows the dream is worth it.

Ron gets blind-sided by optimism, myopia and willfulness. Then, whammy! Trouble arises to threaten his dream, and he has to decide: either to acknowledge the storm and adjust, or, deny it, stick to his course and cross his fingers. Unable to adjust, he spews litanies instead: “I can’t be wrong !”

With twisted logic his words, actions – and inaction – scare the “steadies” away. The joint is a wreck. Ron needs help – but if he accepts it, is it a sign that he’s weak or stupid? He resists every offer.

Tonight, Ron’s successful younger brother Brian shows up. He finds it hard to be with Ron who denies, resists and resents his help. Brian tries to push-pull Ron off dead-center. Nothing works. The final straw falls and Ron tells Brian to leave.

Alone, Ron spots Joey’s photo from Iraq which triggers his memories. They spin with images of people, places and events, collide, then explode. He’s caught in a flat-spin death spiral with no one turn to. Can he survive? It’ll take a miracle.

Awards

2012 Award of Merit - Best Shorts Competion, La Jolla, CA

Description

Dramatic Narrative Short (17 minutes)