Pen Jen's Inkwell: May 2022

Monday, May 23, 2022

FATHER TIME synopsis

LOGLINE

Everything is made beautiful in its time, even if the Hours tries to steal your minutes.

PITCH

It’s all about time at The O’Clock Shop in a renovated lighthouse, where Father Time tries to defeat the thieving Hours. With frequent visits from Mother Nature and other customers, he sells magical clocks that can redeem time in every way possible. When the clock customers are ready, they can challenge the transitory moments in their lives with the help of Father Time.

SYNOPSIS

Time flies! In an abandoned lighthouse on the coast of Great Point in Nantucket, Massachusetts, an elderly bearded man opens the windows to a bright morning. Over time, he has converted the tower and its nearby buildings into The O’Clock Shop, where he makes and repairs clocks. His shop is filled with little clocks, big clocks, grandfather clocks, wrist watches, and pocket watches. Each of them tick-tock at once, causing most customers to feel dizzy with the noise, especially when he turns up an unknown radio station that only plays songs about time.

As the beach waves crash against the shore, they create an ebb and flow rhythm almost like a clock. With each splash of water, a new timepiece comes alive as the clocksmith tinkers away, hoping he can help defeat the evil Hours, his nemesis who loves to steal time. From time to time, Mother Nature visits Father Time, bringing groups of tourists that are interested in his magical clocks. She lives up the coast in a small cottage overgrown with flowers, fruit trees, and stalk vegetables. Flowers intertwine with the golden locks of her hair, as if the daises and roses grow from her own scalp.

Depending on which clocks the customers buy, Father Time shows his patrons how to turn back the Hours, turn forward the Hours, make the Hours stand still, and even extend the Hours. Most customers are confused at Father Time’s advice. The idea of what he says could happen is beyond their ability to believe. In most of his clocks, Father Time hides instructions in a back secret door, where customers can find the information when they are ready to confront the fleeting time in their lives. Although the Hours leaves Father Time threatening notes sometimes, he throws them out and keeps selling his clocks.

When a large gust of wind rushes through The O’Clock Shop, the Hours appears outside standing in the high grass with his skeleton body covered in a black robe. A pale horse accompanies him. Father Time warns his clock customers that no one deserves to have even a minute stolen from them. The Hours is ruthless and has already taken so much from so many people, but not if Father Time has anything to say about it.

THE POTTER'S HOUSE synopsis

LOGLINE

Being a willing vessel in the hands of the Potter can bring never-ending miracles.

PITCH

An award-winning potter and mystical artist named Sage Conrad teaches a pottery class, giving her students life lessons while making earthen vessels. Her longtime friend, Alfred Odin, sits in the back of her class, skeptical of her spiritual advice and tries to make his clay form into a masterpiece anyhow. Despite Alfie’s sarcasm, he hides a cross in his pocket and has secretly been in love with Sage since they were teenagers. As Sage says, even if vessels have cracks, it gives light the ability to shine through them all the more. Miracles can happen when you are clay in the hands of the Potter as a willing vessel.

SYNOPSIS

As legend has it, anyone who is a pottery student of Sage Conrad, a renowned potter in Charleston, South Carolina, is sure to experience a miracle, not like a hokey, made-up one, but a deep, mystical encounter that caused the person to change from the inside out. She is known for her studio called The Wheel. Like most mornings, her longtime friend Alfred Odin sits in the back of the studio while Sage teaches a class. He reshapes the clay on his wheel, unable to get the clay to do what he wants. He gives Sage a hard time for always trying to teach her students life lessons.

Sage kisses Alfie on the cheek and chides him for hiding his rosary in his pocket. For someone who loves to curse God, she thinks he has a funny way of always carrying a cross in his pocket just in case God might be watching. Alfie is angry that Sage tells everyone his secrets. As his rosary sticks out of his pocket, he uses his fingers to open the clay. Since his bowl is a bit lopsided, he starts over again, kneading the clay like dough.

“O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand,” Sage reads from the hand-carved sign at the front of her class, quoting Isaiah 64:8. She asks her students what they will allow God’s hands to make of their lives. She also asks them what they will make with their own hands. Alfie mumbles that he has heard her speech so many times that he could give it himself. Sage talks about being a willing vessel for the purposes of the Lord. She asks her students to stand up and sing praise. She leads them in singing “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” Alfie wearily conducts from the back of the room.

Then, Sage proceeds to teach the basics of making pottery on a wheel. Sage looks at Alfie’s latest creation with a critical eye. Then, Alfie insists that Sage has been in love with him since they were teenagers, but she could never admit it. Sage smiles, sitting down in front of a treadle wheel to teach the class her techniques firsthand. On the contrary, Alfie is so stubborn and hard-headed that sometimes he misses the blessing as a “crackpot,” she jokes. Despite the spat between Sage and Alfie, the students craft their clay jars with care. By the end of the day, the pupils have each made some sort of earthen vessel, ready for the first firing of the kiln, and then the glazing, and then firing their handiwork for the second time. Sage hopes that every time her students look at their finished creations, they can remember that they are willing vessels. There is no greater honor than to be clay in the hands of the Potter.

THE MUFFIN MAN synopsis

LOGLINE

Get your muffins while they’re hot!

PITCH

The Muffin Man, a baker on Drury Lane in London’s West End, delivers fresh muffins to regular and new customers every dawn, including homeless patrons. His love interest Miss Olivia Davies gets extra-special muffins each morning along with a visit from his orangish cat named Ragamuffin. Despite a foolish knight, who threatens to duel The Muffin Man for the hand of Olivia, Drury Lane is quiet, simply home to many families and school children. Unimpressed by the false suitor, Olivia enjoys dinners by the fire with her Muffin Man, who regularly escapes his adversary. The Muffin Man is ready for the next batch of English muffins to be delivered. The neighborhood would not be the same without The Muffin Man!

SYNOPSIS

One rainy and cold March morning, The Muffin Man, a baker on Drury Lane near Covent Garden in London’s West End, sets out with his umbrella and a fresh batch of warm English muffins. He bops down the street with a spring in his step. His orangish cat Ragamuffin is soaked from the drizzle as he follows The Muffin Man. Each morning, the baker has regular customers who enjoy his warm English muffins with salted butter. He stops by each of their homes, delivering his customers a morning treat like no other. Knocking on their doors, he hands them fresh muffins wrapped in quilted cloth napkins. He always takes extra muffins with him to sell to new customers that he might meet along the way. Ragamuffin joins him for the company and helps advertise the muffin business as the mascot.

Regular customers like Mrs. Esme Mason want to make sure that everyone knows The Muffin Man, asking, “Do you know The Muffin Man, who lives on Drury Lane?” Her children gather ‘round her for their morning tasty joy. Of course, the people on the street laugh, digging in their pockets for change, believing that everyone knows The Muffin Man. They take muffins from his basket and pet his cat. Like most mornings, The Muffin Man also has special souls to whom he gives muffins for free, including an impoverished homeless gent who lives on the corner of Drury Lane. Although most people know of the baker who travels door-to-door, some people are surprised to meet him for the first time, including young school children.

One very special woman loves to make his acquaintance each morning, a schoolteacher named Miss Olivia Davies, who always has a new book in hand. He gives her flowers with her muffins, and she kisses him on the cheek. The Muffin Man warns that he has been bribed again from a foolish knight for a duel in her honor. Olivia tells him to decline the fight. Instead, she agrees to a meat pie for dinner with a plum and apple cobbler for dessert and to play dancing games. As The Muffin Man leaves Olivia’s flat, a man dressed in a medieval armor with a sword appears from nowhere. He wants to fight to the death for the hand of Olivia Davies. The Muffin Man says the opponent has clearly lost his senses. The Muffin Man throws the remaining batch of muffins into the air, confusing his attacker. He grabs Ragamuffin and runs down Drury Lane in retreat, as it pours rain. As The Muffin Man hurries inside his bakery and shuts the door, the foolish knight disappears. The baker shoves a muffin in his mouth with relief. Despite all, Olivia and The Muffin Man enjoy dinner by the fire, and The Muffin Man is home early enough to start his new batch of English muffins for morning delivery, just like every other morning.

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS synopsis

LOGLINE

Offering yourself as a gift just might bring love at Christmas!

PITCH

When Christmas friends living in a castle in Edinburgh receive requests in the mail, asking them to bring true love to places all over Scotland, a partridge, along with turtle doves, French hens, calling birds, gold rings, geese, swans, maids, ladies, lords, pipers, and drummers, give themselves as Christmas gifts to couples with waning romances. Although the friends gave up on thinking they could ever reignite failing relationships, they try again at offering themselves as for-hire romantic presents during the holidays for The Twelve Days of Christmas.

SYNOPSIS

Nibbling on a sweet pear in its tree, a partridge in a Scottish castle reads a letter from the post, wondering if he really has any ability to help bring true love at Christmas to troubled couples. The bird knows that the last time he and his friends made attempts to spread romance at Christmas that it did not go very well. Asking his friends what they think, the drafty room falls silent, and his friends nod their heads and shrug their shoulders. The letters in the mail from strangers suggest that the group of Christmas friends have the power to save fleeing love. The partridge lives in a castle on the far side of Edinburgh with turtle doves, French hens, calling birds, gold rings, geese, swans, maids, ladies, lords, pipers, and drummers. Every year at Christmas, they receive abundant requests to travel all over Scotland as gifts, to bring true love to waning romances.

Despite their love for romance at Christmas, the friends have given up offering themselves as gifts for the purposes of true love. After so many failed attempts, they have lost their idealism and innocence. Two turtle doves say they are very much in love and wonder why everyone cannot do the same. Three French hens think if lovers listen to them that their accents can make them think of Paris. Four calling birds hum love songs that should make anyone fall in love. Five gold rings could make real gentlemen think of proposing at Christmas. Six geese-a-laying say the magic in their golden eggs spreads love. Seven swans-a-swimming put their necks together to make hearts that remind people of romance. Eight maids-a-milking make enchanted dinners with their delicious milk. Nine ladies dancing encourage couples to dance together again. Ten lords-a-leaping jump for joy at the thought of true love. Eleven pipers piping celebrate the love that can be found at Christmas. Twelve drummers drumming know that true love marches to its own beat.

After a moment, the partridge suggests to his friends that they try again to spread love. He responds to the kind sir that corresponded in the mail, saying that he and his friends would be willing to help the client, but they make no promises. The two turtle doves think the friends have been hiding in their castle alone for too long anyhow. At that, it is decided that the friends who were brought together through Christmas would once again attempt to bring true love for twelve straight days, offering themselves as gifts. No one could imagine a grander idea at the holidays! As time goes on, the friends become so famous that a song called “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is written about their endeavors. Much success is granted to their romantic gestures, and everyone in the world wants true love at Christmas.

TOUCHDOWN synopsis

LOGLINE

Football—just like life—can be a beautiful game.

PITCH

The greatest game you can win is won within! Nineteen-year-old Jenna Lake tutors 20-year-old quarterback Kevin Smith in Christianity at Syracuse College in New York. Although Kevin is unsure of what he believes and takes the class to please his grandmother, he ends up finding more faith than he ever thought imaginable when he falls in love with Jenna, who quits as his tutor after she realizes that he cheats on a test. Only when Kevin apologizes in tears for cheating does Jenna trust him and permanently resigns as his tutor. The biggest touchdown that Kevin makes is when Jenna agrees to give him a real chance at love.

SYNOPSIS

Practice winning every day! Jenna Lake, a 19-year-old sophomore at Syracuse College in New York, sits in the football wing of the college’s tutor department, trying to figure out how to help Kevin Smith, age 20, pass his Christianity class. She suggests that the first thing he needs is a Bible. She is paid $15 an hour, and there never seems to be enough time to teach the team’s quarterback everything he needs to know. Kevin grew up going to church because of his African American grandmother, and most of the time, he just goes along with religious talk. Unsure of what he actually believes, Kevin agrees to read the Bible to pass his class. He took the class to make his grandmother happy. So, if he skips church on Sunday, at least he can tell her that he took a class that had something to do with Jesus.

Each Tuesday night, Jenna rides the campus bus to the football fieldhouse for tutoring. Rain, sleet, snow, or hail—and there is lots of snow in the winter—she shows up with a smile. At least she is showing school spirit, she thinks, even if she is a tiny white girl who knows nothing about football. At the next tutor session, Kevin shows up late, asking if Jenna has a boyfriend, hoping that she does not study all the time. As Jenna takes a seat, she straightens her long dirty-blond hair and adjusts her glasses. Although she doesn’t wear a lot of makeup or trendy clothes, underneath her simple appearance, she is what her mother called a classic beauty. She tells him that he probably thinks she is a nerd. Kevin insists that she is pretty, and Jenna thinks that the Kevin is only flattering her. Now, all of a sudden, Kevin insists that he is a Christian, and his grandmother would like Jenna. He asks her to study over dinner tomorrow night. Then, he can take her back to her dorm. Jenna is stunned, asking him if this is a date. Kevin says that she needs to have more fun. Concerned that she could get fired from being a tutor, she tells him that his professor expects him to get an A on the next test, and if he fails the mid-term that his football coach will not let him play football. Kevin plans to pick her up at 7 o’clock outside the student center, and he will not be late.

When the next evening rolls around, Kevin picks Jenna up in his Range Rover. Thinking that she had given it her best to save Kevin’s grades, Jenna gives up. As the evening goes on, Kevin is not the only one who has forgotten about the exam. Jenna has so much fun that she wishes she could quit being Kevin’s tutor, so she did not have to be responsible for his failing grades. She plays one song after another on the jukebox and makes him dance with her until late into the night. At the end of the night, Kevin pulls up to the dorm, kissing her on the cheek goodnight. Next week at the tutor session, Kevin walks into the football wing with an “A plus” on his mid-term exam from Christianity. One of Kevin’s teammates walks past, saying that Kevin cheated by studying from last year’s exam. Jenna is so angry that she quits as Kevin’s tutor. When Jenna does not show up for tutoring for two weeks in a row, Kevin arrives at her dorm room unannounced. After she hears a knock on the door, she opens it to find Kevin standing in the hall in tears, promising to never cheat again. Kevin says that he prayed with his grandmother on the phone to have a brand-new start, and he has a tattoo of Philippians 4:13 to prove it. Jenna forgives him, and Kevin insists that they should never study together again. He says that she is beautiful and just wants to take her on a real date. He kisses her in the hall. Throughout all of Saturday’s football game, Jenna yells “Touchdown!” every time Kevin scores, which was several times in a row, including when he kisses her in front of the coach at the end of the beautiful game.