Reunion, The
Genre(s): Drama
Logline:
The Reunion is a drama about Graham Carpenter who attends his ten-year high school reunion only to discover that his best friend Randy Hawkins, who died on grad night, also shows up and wants to resolve the past.
Synopsis:
Graham Carpenter is haunted by an event from the past--his best friend Randy Hawkins was killed in a car crash on grad night. Since Graham was driving, he blames himself for Randy's death. Traumatic memories resurface, increasing pressure on Graham as he struggles to hold down his job as a photographer and keep his marriage together with his new wife Laura. Finally Graham decides to attend his upcoming high school reunion and face his past. As he packs for the trip to his home town he hides a gun in his suitcase, planning suicide.
At the gathering, Graham is reunited with his old buddies Wade Bracket and Lumpy Kershaw who haven't completely resolved Randy's death either. Graham's personal turmoil escalates until he gives a heartfelt speech to his former classmates. At the climax of his address, Graham reaches for the gun in his jacket. But before he has a chance to use it, he is stunned to see his dead friend Randy.
Laura tries to comfort Graham, but is upset to discover the gun. Graham breaks away, rushing after Randy, followed by Lumpy and Wade.
The four young men all meet at the water tower where they used to hang out as teenagers. Incredibly, Randy is back with the living for just one night. Despite Graham's protests, they pile into Randy's souped-up old Plymouth Satellite and hit the highway -- just like the old days.
On the road, the guys relive the rowdy times they once shared. Graham, however, sees the past repeating itself and he wants no part of it. Randy has other plans; he wants to settle the score.
Out on the back roads, their partying takes a dark turn as the four friends re-enact the fateful night Randy was killed in a dangerous game of "up and over" -- two passengers climb out the windows and cross over on the roof while the car speeds down the highway. It's a wild ride and they all nearly end up dead in another crash that mirrors their grad night. This time, however, Graham saves Randy's life.
Through these dramatic events, Graham comes to realize his perception of the past was wrong -- Randy's death wasn't an accident, and it wasn't his fault. More than a ghost story, The Reunion is about the eternal bonds of friendship and the redemptive power of love.
Author Info:
MONTGOMERY BURT has written teleplays for Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone, one of which won second prize in the Writer's Digest Writing Competition. His radio drama Leonard McTivey's Last Day at Work was produced for CKNW Radio. For the past twelve years Montgomery has headed Upwords, an ongoing screenwriters workshop that develops new talent. Outskirts of Paradise is his third feature film script; he is currently writing a thriller called Oceanview Motel.
MONTGOMERY BURT, Writer
1288 East 14th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5T 2P3
(604) 875-0660
montyburt@telus.net
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