Jules is on a 6 month sabbatical. She's a civil servant who was asked to take six months unpaid to help balance the books.
She's doing this part of her trip on her own. Started off seeing some friends in the USA and then went to Peru and the Galapagos with these friends. Then she went to Australia where one of her best friends was getting married. She was there for about a month with her mates and now finally she's on her own with six weeks in South East Asia.
It's the first time she's ever travelled on her own. She did languages at university and spent a year in Chile doing Spanish but never went anywhere without her friends. In fact she's not used to doing much on her own.
She has a very tight knit group of friends- a gang of five girls. She's not totally comfortable in all male company. Not quite a girly girl but certainly more herself in female company when we're talking about groups.
That one of her gang is getting married in Australia is significant. It's beginning of the end of the gang. She's suddenly found that all the gang are in love apart from her. She presumed that she'd be able to get one of the gang to join her after the wedding for a bit of travel. But she discovered that they couldn't. Not because they couldn't take the time off work but because they wanted to use their holiday time to go off with their boyfriends rather than with her.
By contract Jules hasn't been in love since she was 18. Had a few relationships but nothing that stuck.
In the right environment, when she feels comfortable, she's great fun. Funny, flirty, filthy. But travelling on her own is a long way from her comfort zone. She flew from Oz to Bali and on to Kuta beach. And she really hated it. Didn't know how she was going to cope if travelling on your own was all going to be like this. She met someone who recommended she fly out to Flores and see Kelimuta and the Komodo dragons. This was a good call- she'd enjoyed Kelimutu and actually meeting more normal Indonesians. She was really enjoying the bus ride as it made her feel 'authentic' for want of a better word. Hence her annoyance when she meets Sean.
Monday, 28 December 2009
Sean bio (TJ)
Sean is on holiday in Indonesia. He's not there for that long- slightly under three weeks. He has a friend working in an NGO in Flores. His friend, a very devout Catholic, is working and can't get away to join him so he just spends a few days with him. This is why he's in the random village when the bus comes with Jules in it.
He works for Tesco's back in England. Doing quite well. He's always very interested in markets and commerce wherever they travel. He used to work for VSO in Bangladesh for two years (that's where he met his friend working in Flores) so Tesco's been quite a change. He doesn't fit in socially there. Most of his friends work in the public or charity sectors.
He's a middle child with an older brother and a younger sister. He is relationships most of the time but hasn't been in a serious one for a number of years. He'd been going out with his current girlfriend for about six months when he goes off on holiday. She'd thrown him a surprise going away party. Apart from the embarrassment of people coming to wave him off for just three weeks, he realised something: she really cares about him, went to quite a lot of trouble, is upset at the idea of not seeing him for three weeks; but he doesn't really care. He'd never have done anything similar. Hadn't even thought that it would be a big deal to not see for three weeks. And that gap makes him realise he needs to end it.
But he can't do it then. She's made all this effort. She's staying at his. He's too cowardly. He resolves he'll do it straight away when he comes back. He's not planning to cheat on her though. A) because you never really hook up when you're travelling and b) he feels he owes her that much.
He's a natural gadfly. Has lots of friends, works a party room well. Doesn't have that many good friends though. Apart from one guy, who actually he doesn't see that much, he doesn't know who he'd go to if he needed help.
He's done a bit of travelling (Bangladesh obviously but also after university he went to South America, Loved it. Especially the Galapapgos islands.
He's pretty smart. Studied Maths at Nottingham. He used to be quite political (Lib Dem) but has drifted somewhat.
He works for Tesco's back in England. Doing quite well. He's always very interested in markets and commerce wherever they travel. He used to work for VSO in Bangladesh for two years (that's where he met his friend working in Flores) so Tesco's been quite a change. He doesn't fit in socially there. Most of his friends work in the public or charity sectors.
He's a middle child with an older brother and a younger sister. He is relationships most of the time but hasn't been in a serious one for a number of years. He'd been going out with his current girlfriend for about six months when he goes off on holiday. She'd thrown him a surprise going away party. Apart from the embarrassment of people coming to wave him off for just three weeks, he realised something: she really cares about him, went to quite a lot of trouble, is upset at the idea of not seeing him for three weeks; but he doesn't really care. He'd never have done anything similar. Hadn't even thought that it would be a big deal to not see for three weeks. And that gap makes him realise he needs to end it.
But he can't do it then. She's made all this effort. She's staying at his. He's too cowardly. He resolves he'll do it straight away when he comes back. He's not planning to cheat on her though. A) because you never really hook up when you're travelling and b) he feels he owes her that much.
He's a natural gadfly. Has lots of friends, works a party room well. Doesn't have that many good friends though. Apart from one guy, who actually he doesn't see that much, he doesn't know who he'd go to if he needed help.
He's done a bit of travelling (Bangladesh obviously but also after university he went to South America, Loved it. Especially the Galapapgos islands.
He's pretty smart. Studied Maths at Nottingham. He used to be quite political (Lib Dem) but has drifted somewhat.
In the Tsunami (Towards Java)
This story is also based on truth but then dramatised. The true story is that a friend of my parents went to Thailand at the time of the Tsunami and realising that the waves were about to come in had to grab both of his young children and took one in each arm and raced to safety. He later confessed to my Dad that he shuddered at the thought of what would have happened if he'd had another child to pick up. He's not sure he could have and safely escaped.
And so the story is based on the Tsunami. And putting it to where it was at its most devastating: Aceh. I imagine a man, a stepfather to three children. A good man. Taking on the responsibility of looking after a woman with three young children. They have their difficulties and they live in a horribly stressful place, divided by civil war. But on Boxing Day 2004 he is happily playing in the surf with his three step children. When it comes he has to act instinctively. He takes the two smallest and tells the eldest to run. But the eldest tries and tries but lags behind and can't get high enough to safety. He looks for him for days but there's no sign of him. And his wife can't forgive him. Eventually he has to leave and that is where we find him. Shuttling boats to and from Komodo. Broken. Quiet. Scared of children. We get an insight into his biography as the boat travels. See Y Tu Mama Tambien for the style. I can't decide whether it should be filmed or just narrated.
And so the story is based on the Tsunami. And putting it to where it was at its most devastating: Aceh. I imagine a man, a stepfather to three children. A good man. Taking on the responsibility of looking after a woman with three young children. They have their difficulties and they live in a horribly stressful place, divided by civil war. But on Boxing Day 2004 he is happily playing in the surf with his three step children. When it comes he has to act instinctively. He takes the two smallest and tells the eldest to run. But the eldest tries and tries but lags behind and can't get high enough to safety. He looks for him for days but there's no sign of him. And his wife can't forgive him. Eventually he has to leave and that is where we find him. Shuttling boats to and from Komodo. Broken. Quiet. Scared of children. We get an insight into his biography as the boat travels. See Y Tu Mama Tambien for the style. I can't decide whether it should be filmed or just narrated.
The story of the man who ruled a village (TJ)
This is the idea I'm hoping to bring into Towards Java. I want it foreshadowed early and make it one of the reason's Sean is heading where is he. It's based on a true story.
This man is a Brit, a Scot. He worked as an engineer for 30 years in South East Asia. When he retired he realised he had no reason to go home. No real home to go to. Certainly not back in Britain.
So he spent 4 months on the coast of Bali just soaking up sun and gin but realised that there was no way he could do this until he died. He's not great with people but he is good at work and he'd rather do that. So he needs a project.
He became determined to find the most impoverished village in Indonesia. He searched practically all the islands only to find the poorest place was on Bali itself, way up in the mountains in the middle of the island. He went to the village elders and made an offer: I can improve the life of all the village, take everyone out of poverty but you'll have to do what I say. The elders went away for three days and then came back. They said yes.
And he's true to his word, he puts his engineering skills to good use creating proper water flows and setting up a school. The village is clean, ordered and the kids all get to go to school in the morning. The children are now numerate and literate to a reasonable degree and so help their parents at market.
The old people seem really happy with what has happened and so are easily deferrent to their dear leader. However a number of young people are feeling very rebellious, although some are extremely sycophantic.
I wonder if this is a sensible sidetrack. What I might do instead, is have a longish pause in the story to tell this story through someone they come into contact with. Two brothers who run away together after the younger one is offered to the benign despot as a thank-you. Makes it a bit harsher and Slumdoggy (and is also I should probably stress not something I'm aware of happening in the real case). It's one of a number I want to add. See next post for another example.
This man is a Brit, a Scot. He worked as an engineer for 30 years in South East Asia. When he retired he realised he had no reason to go home. No real home to go to. Certainly not back in Britain.
So he spent 4 months on the coast of Bali just soaking up sun and gin but realised that there was no way he could do this until he died. He's not great with people but he is good at work and he'd rather do that. So he needs a project.
He became determined to find the most impoverished village in Indonesia. He searched practically all the islands only to find the poorest place was on Bali itself, way up in the mountains in the middle of the island. He went to the village elders and made an offer: I can improve the life of all the village, take everyone out of poverty but you'll have to do what I say. The elders went away for three days and then came back. They said yes.
And he's true to his word, he puts his engineering skills to good use creating proper water flows and setting up a school. The village is clean, ordered and the kids all get to go to school in the morning. The children are now numerate and literate to a reasonable degree and so help their parents at market.
The old people seem really happy with what has happened and so are easily deferrent to their dear leader. However a number of young people are feeling very rebellious, although some are extremely sycophantic.
I wonder if this is a sensible sidetrack. What I might do instead, is have a longish pause in the story to tell this story through someone they come into contact with. Two brothers who run away together after the younger one is offered to the benign despot as a thank-you. Makes it a bit harsher and Slumdoggy (and is also I should probably stress not something I'm aware of happening in the real case). It's one of a number I want to add. See next post for another example.
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Key beats of Towards Java
Here's what I'm currently thinking in terms of beats for Towards Java
Prologue (well actually it sets the story up as a flashback)
1st act:
Get on the same bus
Talk at the roadside restaurant. Not a total success
Get to Labuanbajo and Sean gives up his room to Jules and goes to find another
They find themselves on the same boat to Komodo. Jules to begin with would rather talk to the other passengers but in the end starts talking to Sean.
They agree to eat at the same place and have enough fun to decide to travel together to the Gilis.
2nd Act:
The trip to the Gilis is long and draining. They get ripped off and sent in the wrong direction. Then Jules gets ill and they have to miss a bus and stay in a strange little town for a night.
Eventually they make it to the paradise of Gili Meno. A large bond has been formed and the attraction is impossible to miss. They accidentally get given a double bed rather than twins but don't complain too much. Go for dinner and then are walking back along the beach to their hut when suddenly Sean reveals he has a girlfriend in England. He'd decided to dump her before he went to travelling but didn't have the balls to do it on the last night so is going to have to do it when he gets home.
Jules flips out. Sean spends the night sleeping outside on the porch.
Turning point
The next morning Jules finds Sean has left and paid for the room. She goes to Gili Trawangan but is short on funds. She gets a dorm room and hangs out with some fun if seriously brash Australians. She bumps into Sean and tries to pay her share but Sean won't hear of it. He knows she's running short on cash. He proposes that if they bump into each other on Bali she can pay him back then. Seeing Jules flirting with the Australians is too much for Sean and he gets a boat of the island that very night.
The next day he heads off to Bali where he hears a story about a western man who runs a village up in the mountains. That night he goes to a Balinese monkey dance and sees Jules. At the end Jules comes up to him and wordlessly gives him his money.
Sean goes biking with some people he's met to go meet this western man and see his weird position as essentially a chief. He spends most of the day there and a minivan appears bringing a bunch of people including Jules. He pretends not to see her. And bikes back on his own. On the way back he crashes into a ditch and concusses himself. He's struggling to stand up and there's no way he can bike back to Ubud.
3rd Act
The minivan with Jules drives past and picks him up. Jules takes care of him and takes him back to his hotel.
That night she comes to see how he's doing and they go to get something to eat. They have a great night, playing with the family who own the restaurant and everything is perfect. But they agree that nothing can happen now and that it would just ruin everything if they saw each other back in England.
The next morning Sean wakes up and realises it's a stupid idea. He has to see her, he runs to her hotel room but the taxi taking her to the airport has already gone.
Epilogue: Sean is sitting in a nice, trendy brunch place in East london with mates but can't concentrate. Suddenly he realises that this date is the date Jules is meant to be coming back from all her travels. He sits there for ages, pondering if he should go. Eventually he tells his friends he has to leave.
Prologue (well actually it sets the story up as a flashback)
1st act:
Get on the same bus
Talk at the roadside restaurant. Not a total success
Get to Labuanbajo and Sean gives up his room to Jules and goes to find another
They find themselves on the same boat to Komodo. Jules to begin with would rather talk to the other passengers but in the end starts talking to Sean.
They agree to eat at the same place and have enough fun to decide to travel together to the Gilis.
2nd Act:
The trip to the Gilis is long and draining. They get ripped off and sent in the wrong direction. Then Jules gets ill and they have to miss a bus and stay in a strange little town for a night.
Eventually they make it to the paradise of Gili Meno. A large bond has been formed and the attraction is impossible to miss. They accidentally get given a double bed rather than twins but don't complain too much. Go for dinner and then are walking back along the beach to their hut when suddenly Sean reveals he has a girlfriend in England. He'd decided to dump her before he went to travelling but didn't have the balls to do it on the last night so is going to have to do it when he gets home.
Jules flips out. Sean spends the night sleeping outside on the porch.
Turning point
The next morning Jules finds Sean has left and paid for the room. She goes to Gili Trawangan but is short on funds. She gets a dorm room and hangs out with some fun if seriously brash Australians. She bumps into Sean and tries to pay her share but Sean won't hear of it. He knows she's running short on cash. He proposes that if they bump into each other on Bali she can pay him back then. Seeing Jules flirting with the Australians is too much for Sean and he gets a boat of the island that very night.
The next day he heads off to Bali where he hears a story about a western man who runs a village up in the mountains. That night he goes to a Balinese monkey dance and sees Jules. At the end Jules comes up to him and wordlessly gives him his money.
Sean goes biking with some people he's met to go meet this western man and see his weird position as essentially a chief. He spends most of the day there and a minivan appears bringing a bunch of people including Jules. He pretends not to see her. And bikes back on his own. On the way back he crashes into a ditch and concusses himself. He's struggling to stand up and there's no way he can bike back to Ubud.
3rd Act
The minivan with Jules drives past and picks him up. Jules takes care of him and takes him back to his hotel.
That night she comes to see how he's doing and they go to get something to eat. They have a great night, playing with the family who own the restaurant and everything is perfect. But they agree that nothing can happen now and that it would just ruin everything if they saw each other back in England.
The next morning Sean wakes up and realises it's a stupid idea. He has to see her, he runs to her hotel room but the taxi taking her to the airport has already gone.
Epilogue: Sean is sitting in a nice, trendy brunch place in East london with mates but can't concentrate. Suddenly he realises that this date is the date Jules is meant to be coming back from all her travels. He sits there for ages, pondering if he should go. Eventually he tells his friends he has to leave.
Prologue (Towards Java)
We see darkness. Not pitch black but not far off. We hear the crunch of people making their way slowly up a path. A stone slips and you hear it roll down hill.
Sean (o.s.): Everyone still here?
There's a chorus of voices. They're all Northern European: Danish, Dutch, German. Only one of them is female.
German voice: It's getting lighter. (Laughs). I mean, for sure, we still need a torch. But it's definitely getting lighter.
It is indeed getting lighter and as they come out of some tree cover the beginning of dawn helps them to see as well as feel their way along. The sounds of dawn begin, although they're the sounds of dawn in an infertile landscape. Then another, more mechanical sound comes into earshot.
Danish (female) voice: I think I hear a car.
Sure enough there is one coming and it's just as well they heard it becuase they turn a corner to find themselves joining up to a road as the car goes past. For the first time we can really see all of the walkers.
Danish woman (to partner, in Danish, not happy): We could have got a car to the top?
Her boyfriend looks sheepish. They start to walk up the tarmacked road being regularly overtaken by jeeps full of well-to-do Indonesian tourists laughing at the crazy Westerners.
And then they're suddenly at the top. They march past the stalls, brandishing their quarter full water bottles as proof they don't need anything.
They arrive at the viewing platform to find that all the tourists who weren't stupid enough to try and walk it in the darks have taken the best viewing spots.
German man: We should have left earlier.
Sean: True, or we could have got a ride.
The German guy laughs.
German: Yeah, or at least a torch with long lasting batteries.
Sean: Well it got us most of the way.
They look over at the Danish couple who are having an argument. Eventually the girl comes over to Sean.
Girl: Hi, Sean? (as if she's not sure she's got it right)
Sean: Yeah.
Girl: Our camera's battery has not been recharged. You have a digital camera, yeah?
Sean nods: Do you want me to take some photos and email them to you?
Girl (pleased not to have to ask): Yes. That would be great. I'll give you our email address.
They pose and he takes a picture.
Sean: Wait, let me take a couple more.
Suddenly the sun starts to rise over the valley below. Everyone makes sounds of awe.
Girl: Quick, you have to take photos of this.
And Sean does. Captures it all. The sky, the valley, the people around him. And then he remembers something.
Insert: A woman (Jules) and Sean are on a boat in the beautiful blue sea chugging between islands.
Jules: The thing about taking photos is they'll never capture what you're seeing. They just stop you looking up and really engaging with the beauty around you.
Sean: But if you don't take a photo you might end up forgetting all about it.
Jules: So take one as a reminder and then put the camera down.
Sean puts his camera down and soaks it all in in. The Danish couple come back up to him.
Danish girl: Can we see the photos?
Sean shows them all the photos.
Girl: Great. Great photos. You better send to us.
Sean: Promise.
Sean flicks on through the photos. There are ones of a card game with everyone who walked. A ferry. Lots from a bus. Then there's one of him with the girl from the flashback. They're smiling, bug genuine smiles and their heads are tipped together. He looks back out. Memories mist his gaze.
Cut to Sean at the bus stop at the beginning of the story.
Sean (o.s.): Everyone still here?
There's a chorus of voices. They're all Northern European: Danish, Dutch, German. Only one of them is female.
German voice: It's getting lighter. (Laughs). I mean, for sure, we still need a torch. But it's definitely getting lighter.
It is indeed getting lighter and as they come out of some tree cover the beginning of dawn helps them to see as well as feel their way along. The sounds of dawn begin, although they're the sounds of dawn in an infertile landscape. Then another, more mechanical sound comes into earshot.
Danish (female) voice: I think I hear a car.
Sure enough there is one coming and it's just as well they heard it becuase they turn a corner to find themselves joining up to a road as the car goes past. For the first time we can really see all of the walkers.
Danish woman (to partner, in Danish, not happy): We could have got a car to the top?
Her boyfriend looks sheepish. They start to walk up the tarmacked road being regularly overtaken by jeeps full of well-to-do Indonesian tourists laughing at the crazy Westerners.
And then they're suddenly at the top. They march past the stalls, brandishing their quarter full water bottles as proof they don't need anything.
They arrive at the viewing platform to find that all the tourists who weren't stupid enough to try and walk it in the darks have taken the best viewing spots.
German man: We should have left earlier.
Sean: True, or we could have got a ride.
The German guy laughs.
German: Yeah, or at least a torch with long lasting batteries.
Sean: Well it got us most of the way.
They look over at the Danish couple who are having an argument. Eventually the girl comes over to Sean.
Girl: Hi, Sean? (as if she's not sure she's got it right)
Sean: Yeah.
Girl: Our camera's battery has not been recharged. You have a digital camera, yeah?
Sean nods: Do you want me to take some photos and email them to you?
Girl (pleased not to have to ask): Yes. That would be great. I'll give you our email address.
They pose and he takes a picture.
Sean: Wait, let me take a couple more.
Suddenly the sun starts to rise over the valley below. Everyone makes sounds of awe.
Girl: Quick, you have to take photos of this.
And Sean does. Captures it all. The sky, the valley, the people around him. And then he remembers something.
Insert: A woman (Jules) and Sean are on a boat in the beautiful blue sea chugging between islands.
Jules: The thing about taking photos is they'll never capture what you're seeing. They just stop you looking up and really engaging with the beauty around you.
Sean: But if you don't take a photo you might end up forgetting all about it.
Jules: So take one as a reminder and then put the camera down.
Sean puts his camera down and soaks it all in in. The Danish couple come back up to him.
Danish girl: Can we see the photos?
Sean shows them all the photos.
Girl: Great. Great photos. You better send to us.
Sean: Promise.
Sean flicks on through the photos. There are ones of a card game with everyone who walked. A ferry. Lots from a bus. Then there's one of him with the girl from the flashback. They're smiling, bug genuine smiles and their heads are tipped together. He looks back out. Memories mist his gaze.
Cut to Sean at the bus stop at the beginning of the story.
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