David Gairdner - Tomato

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Landline phone. Middle-aged. TRENT GORMAN is on the phone. The house is cluttered with things. Trent is crying.

TRENT

Ambulance.

Buddy. Buddy's not breathing.

I reversed my car onto Buddy. Buddy

ate a chicken bone... choking...

I killed him... I killed him...

My address is ... ... ...

Buddy's a dog.

You're still coming right?

You're not coming....

Please, please. I need you here.

I can get it to the vet....

It's dying ....

Please...

Give me CPR. I don't how to do cpr...

Please...

Fuck you... Fuck you. Fuck you... Go

fuck yourself seriously.

I hope you fucking die...

I hope your family dies...

INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY

TRENT is crying over his dog. The dog is on the mat passed away.

As Trent cries, we see a photo of Trent and Buddy on the fridge. Buddy is a small Tenterfield Terrier.

We see a food and water bowl.

We see a dog leash hanging up from the wall.

Trent has a lot of dog stuff in his house, like dog cups and posters of dogs.

Trent looks over at a poster of some wolves on a mountain.

There is some Indigenous American wisdom above it about wolves and mountains.

Trent is on his computer looking at pictures of Barrington Tops.

Trent pats his deceased dog.

TRENT

I'm going to take you home, Buddy.

Trent puts the body of the dog in his backpack. He also places a large spoon inside the backpack.

EXT. BUS STOP – DAY

Trent hitches a ride on the bus.

INT. BUS – DAY

Trent is near the back of the bus. He still seems emotional.

He whispers to the backpack.

JILL, a concerned middle-aged woman clambers over to where Trent is. She seems to smell something.

JILL

You OK?

Trent tries to brush her off.

JILL (cont'd)

It's OK.

When I'm in trouble I like to pray.

Can I pray for you?

Trent doesn't respond.

JILL (cont'd)

What's your name?

Trent doesn't reply.

JILL (cont'd)

That's all right, you don't have to tell me. Dear Lord, I come to you today thanking you for the time I have with this man. I want you to give strength to him... in this challenging time.

TRENT

Can you pray for Buddy.

JILL

We pray for Buddy?

TRENT

Buddy died.

JILL

We pray for Buddy who died. We believe, we trust that Buddy was a good man and that he will be in heaven.

TRENT

He's not a man.

JILL

Huh?

TRENT

It was my dog.

JILL

OK, we pray that Buddy is at rest, sleeping peacefully.

TRENT

Why not at heaven.

JILL

Well, dogs don't have souls. But people do. You do. You can go to Heaven.

Trent listens, he clasps his hands in prayer and looks up.

Trent mouths "fuck you", before glaring at Jill. Jill moves away from the seat.

EXT. GLOUCESTER BUS STOP - DAY

Trent gets off the bus with the backpack.

He calls someone up from the pay phone close by.

A taxi parks at the kerb.

Trent enters the car. He puts the backpack in the backseat, next to himself.

INT. TAXI - DAY

Trent and TAXI DRIVER surge through the countryside.

TAXI DRIVER

You doing some bush walking up at the mountain? This car should handle. Just a bit tricky if it is snowing. You got cash on you?

Trent stays silent. The Taxi Driver begins to smell something.

TAXI DRIVER (cont'd)

Can you smell that?

TRENT

No.

TAXI DRIVER

What is that? Is that coming from your bag?

TRENT

No.

TAXI DRIVER

It's coming from your bag mate.

Taxi driver pulls over.

TAXI DRIVER (cont'd)

That smell. I can't drive with that smell. Can you leave it here and come back.

TRENT

No!

TAXI DRIVER

Put it in the boot.

Trent picks up the bag and puts it in the boot, with a gentleness. Trent returns to the back seat and they keep driving.

TAXI DRIVER (cont'd)

Can you still smell that?

TRENT

No.

TAXI DRIVER

Look I can't deal with this. I'm sorry. I'm worried that I won't get the smell out.

The Taxi Driver parks at the side of the road.

TAXI DRIVER (cont'd)

I can't help you mate. The owner of the car will kill me if the car stinks like this.

Trent gets out of the taxi and pulls out the backpack from the boot. The taxi drives away.

Trent keeps walking towards the mountain.

EXT. MOUNTAIN BASE DAY

Trent is walking through the forest now. He is dehydrated.

He sees ROBERT, a bearded old man, with a picnic blanket near the BBQ area. Trent looks run down.

ROBERT

You all right?

Trent doesn't respond.

ROBERT (cont'd)

You want some water?

Trent walks over. Robert gives Trent a bottle. Trent drinks.

ROBERT (cont'd)

Have some food.

Robert passes him a sandwich.

ROBERT (cont'd)

You got a long journey, friend?

Trent is quiet. Trent gorges himself with the sandwich. It is a tomato sandwich. Trent sloughs the tomato pieces onto the ground.

ROBERT (cont'd)

My wife and I would come up to this spot every year on our anniversary. I lost her last year. I made these sandwiches for her. I'm sure she'd want you to have them. Tomato was her favourite. Day by day, I realise that there still is beauty and happiness. No matter dark it felt.

TRENT

If you can find happiness after someone's died. I doubt you really loved anyone.

Trent throws the water bottle back. Trent trudges the ahead.

EXT. MOUNTAIN INCLINE - DAY

Trent walks up the mountain. He sees a bush turkey. It gets closer. Trent whistles.

TRENT

Buddy. Is that you? Buddy... I love you. I love you Buddy.

Trent tries to get closer but the turkey waddles away. Trent keeps climbing up the mountain.

EXT. MOUNTAIN TOP - DUSK

He gets to the top nearly exhausted. He finds a spot and begins to dig with the spoon. PARK RANGER encounters him.

PARK RANGER

What do you think you're doing? What's that in your bag?

The Park Ranger looks inside and finds the dead dog.

PARK RANGER (cont'd)

What the heck are you doing with this dog?

TRENT

I'm putting Buddy to rest.

PARK RANGER

This isn't a cemetary? You can't do that. It's against the law. Heavy fines apply. There's a bin over there.

Trent grabs the bag and pushes the park ranger over and runs away down the mountain.

EXT. MOUNTAIN DECLINE -  DUSK

Trent runs down the mountain and trips and falls near the dirt road. He has sprained his leg.

TRENT

Ow... Buddy give me a sign your still here?

Ants crawl out of the bag and bite him.

TRENT (cont'd)

No Buddy, no.

A ute drives past and notices him. BLAKE the man in the ute gets out.

BLAKE

You right there?

Trent doesn't answer. Blake picks him up from the bushes and brings him over to the car. Trent puts his backpack in the the back of the ute. Trent sits next to Blake.

BLAKE (cont'd)

Sorry about my voice. I've got a bit of a cold. I'm getting over it though. I still can't smell anything though. Looks like you got lost up here.

Trent stares out the window.

EXT. GLOUCESTER BUS STOP - NIGHT

Blake pulls over across from the bus stop.

BLAKE

You'll get through OK.

Trent gets out of the car and crosses the road.

BLAKE (cont'd)

Buddy, buddy, nice to meet you, buddy.

Trent on the other side of the road turns around and goes back to the ute. Blake has his hand out to shake.

TRENT

Buddy?

Blake nods. Trent grabs his hand to shake. He also moves his and into Blakes and pats Blake's head like a dog.

BLAKE

I'll see you around.

TRENT

Go free!

Blake nods his head and drives away. The bag is still on the tray of the ute. Trent waves and smiles. He mouths, "Thank you."