Synopsis:

Story by David Short and Paul Ian Johnson
Screenplay by Paul Ian Johnson and David Short.

A story of redemption, life on the streets, and an improbable sailing adventure of a lifetime.

The story:

This fictional story, set against the backdrop of Cape Town’s street kid subculture, follows the lives of David Khumalo, a disgraced navy captain and alcoholic, whose downward spiral on the streets leads him to an unlikely interaction and subsequent friendship with street kids Faith, Larry and Martin, child prostitute Lizzie and older vagrant Dingaan. Banding together in the docks of Cape Town, drawn to the shelter of an abandoned concrete sailing boat, the children convince Khumalo to teach them all he knows about sailing. On dry land.

Concurrently, in Cornwall, 75-year old widow Marie Venter is pondering the future of the docks she owns in Cape Town, including the decrepit sailing boat, which accidentally caused the death of her husband Bill many years earlier. She subsequently retired to the UK, and spends her days going on long seaside walks with her trusted butler Erasmus, who left South Africa with her and has been a loyal companion.

Unbeknownst to Mrs Venter, her Cape Town-based children Barry and Judith, are plotting to sell the dockyard to a developer. When she arrives to oversee the sale and meets the boats’ new “inhabitants”, she is overcome by nostalgia and sentimentality, and the scene is set for a showdown. Add to this the legal red tape normally associated with minors and vagrants, and we have a scenario that quickly spirals out of control, leaving the kids with only one choice: to take to the high seas.

BlueCat Screenplay Report – Script Coverage:

This script should come with an  “absolutely fantastic” watermark on each page. I whooped in glee, I gasped in fear, I cried, and I raised my fist in victory. I now want to learn how to sail. I do. I am not kidding. I could see this vessel skimming waters. I could almost feel the spray of the water and smell the sea. I would have been fine and loving this script if the Ave Maria never even set sail but then half way through the script it does, it hits water and races toward everything that is right and good. Races toward Mrs. Venter and everything you want to champion. I am incredibly impressed with the ability to tell a story in these pages.  Powerful and beautiful!

I love the flavor of South Africa and its people. The songs throughout, punctuate the culture and the soul of people. People everywhere. The songs ebb and flow, matching the rhythms of the scenes. So many characters get their moment in the sun. David recovers from his fallen captain days and rises to glory, Matabane kicks his demons, Faith finds her self worth, the others find a home and purpose. So many reasons to cheer for these characters. Their character arcs are so satisfactorily fleshed out.

It’s so beautiful to watch the strength of people. Mrs. Venter is so smart and determined. Erasmus is a beautiful, faithful man of service. There is so much goodness in these characters; I cannot stop smiling.

It’s so perfect watching Barry and Judith do everything in their power to sell the yard. Great choice to have the antagonist be the family. Character choices are difficult to make when they are muddled in family, and family standing behind “the right thing to do” song. Ugh, it makes me want to scream.

When the Ave Maria sea family comes together with their push ups and matching outfits, and order taking from David, my heart swells. Seeing David and crew make a deal with Sean and command his sailboat, wow! These moments are beautiful to watch. I love the “Pretty Woman” film moment when Sean lays down all his high-end credit cards on the counter and tells the sales associate to get David whatever he wants. Bravo!
Amazing story. We loved every moment. Thank you!