Thursday, July 9, 2015

Suntime Farm

Without meaning to imply that there isn't a lot of fun to be found in the other films featured on this blog, for this entry I wish to turn to what may well be the most fun film of the bunch, Suntime Farm. I know that in part my opinion is fuelled by being the age I am. When Suntime Farm came out in 1998, I was the perfect demographic to appreciate it on all levels.

The story of Clara and Jesse, two kids whose parents send them to their grandparents for the summer while the parents hammer out their divorce. Once at Gran' and Gramp's the kids discover that the neighbouring seniors' group home is specifically a residence for retired hosts of childrens' television - and not just of the Captain Kangaroo variety, in fact most of the characters next door are puppets and cartoons who have fallen from grace. And while none are exactly hosts of shows I grew up on, they are all spot-on familiar archetypes.  It is all very meta, and entirely delightful.

The scene - from Kate VanMergroet's script - is the scene where Clara and Jesse make their first (of many) bizarre discoveries about their grandparents' neighbours... though I suppose it pretty much speaks for itself.




EXT.  BACKYARD - DAY
Clara and Jesse have marched a long way from the house, but Jesse is lagging behind. As she approaches the hedge marking the edge of the lot, Clara shouts back at Jesse.
CLARA
Ya'know, I don't care if you come or not. Just because Gran' said you had to come with me doesn't mean I have to let you keep up.
JESSE
Do you know where you are going?
CLARA
Do you really care?
Jesse doesn't answer. Just keeps walking.
CLARA (CONT'D)
You got an answer?
JESSE
We're out here. Where are we going?
CLARA
Where are you going?
JESSE
Wherever you are going. I guess.
CLARA
Maybe I'm gonna sit right here.
JESS
And do what?
CLARA
Wait until Gran' lets us come back inside.
JESSE
You'll never make it.
Clara punches him in the arm.
JESSE (CONT'D)
Ow!
He kicks at her and in half a blink they are scuffling.
As they fight, they are being watched. Through a hole in the hedge peers a strange face - a puppet - fuzzy, with floppy faded blue-green ears and a lazy tongue.
Clara pins Jesse's shoulders to the ground and starts poking him. Hard - she isn't playing.
Jesse winces and shouts and as he opens his eyes again he glimpses the odd observer. Clara reads the confused look on his face and turns just as the startled puppet disappears.
CLARA
What?  What did you see?
She gets off Jesse as she heads for the hedge.
JESSE
It was...
CLARA
What?
JESSE
The puppet from that show.
CLARA
The one you weren't watching?
JESSE
The one you thought was dumb.
CLARA
Someone's got an old Baggs McToad puppet. Big deal.
JESSE
Yeah, but they were watching us.
CLARA
With a puppet?
JESSE
It's kinda weird.
Clara shouts through the hedge.
CLARA
Hey!
JESSE
Maybe we should just ask Gran' who the neighbours are.
CLARA
It's probably kids if they're playing with puppets. Hello?
She pushes her way through the fence.
JESSE
Oh - so not cool.
CLARA
C'mon.
JESSE
Yeah - no. That's probably not a good idea.
He looks around the empty, over-grown yard. He is so far from the house...  so suddenly alone.
JESSE (CONT'D)
Yeah...  Maybe kids would have a puppet from the 20th century.
He pushes through the hedge.
On the other side is a well-groomed estate. There are groupings of sun-chairs and a wide flat area unmistakably trimmed for lawn-bowling or bocce-ball. There is a raised patio with a table, wide sun umbrella and a hot tub.
Clara is half-way across the lawn.
CLARA
Hey, who is there? Hello?
JESSE
Maybe we shouldn't go so...
He looks back at the hole in the hedge and the widening gap between himself and his sister. With a whimper he follows.
CLARA
I saw you. 
JESSE
I did.
CLARA
Or your toy...
JESSE
Puppet.
CLARA
Whatever. Hello?
Nothing.
CLARA (CONT'D)
Look, I'm Clara. This is...
JESSE
Don't.
CLARA
Jesse.
JESSE
You don't know what kind of people they are.
CLARA
We're at our grandparents next door all summer.
JESSE
Oh - oh - oh...
CLARA
Maybe we could - play...  or something.
Still no response.
JESSE
(Relieved.)
Hoooo....  Looks like they're gone...
Something clatters behind the hot tub.
JESSE (CONT'D)
AHHH!
CLARA
There! I know you are there, behind the hot tub. Why don't you just come out?
Hesitantly, over the top of the hot tub peeks the puppet. Then it disappears again.
CLARA (CONT'D)
(Sarcastic.)
Cute.
JESSE
Or maybe creepy.
CLARA
Fine. How about we just start by meeting old Baggs McToad...
The puppet peers over the hot tub again.
BAGGS
You know my name...?
CLARA
(Grudgingly.)
Of course. Gran' said even she watched Baggs as a kid, even though all we get is re-runs.
BAGGS
They show Baggs on TV?
JESSE
Yeah, its classic.
CLARA
Lame. But classic.
BAGGS
Kids still know about me?
CLARA
Okay, this is getting dumb.
Clara moves around the tub. Baggs shuffles in the other direction.
BAGGS
No no - wait. Kids today like Baggs' old adventures?
CLARA
Not so much...
BAGGS
Oh -
Clara moves around the tub again, Baggs counters, keeping the hot tub between himself and Clara (and the camera.)
CLARA
...I'm just bored stupid at Gran's and thought maybe, whoever you are, that we could...
BAGGS
No no stop.
Clara continues.
CLARA
Just stand up and introduce...
Baggs back-pedals - not realizing Jesse is around the other side of the hot tub. Baggs turns, coming face to face with Jesse, who is now half hidden behind the hot tub himself.
Jesse looks down to where Baggs' puppeteer should be...
JESSE
So. Weird.



J.R Sass 'N' Frass, the Purple Wubbie, Bronto-Ben and Dookie Hoser hatch a plan to escape from Mrs. Poppykins.

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