Opening shot ( A large quiet living room, somewhat cluttered with every day objects).
Medium close-up shot ( A mantle and wall with family pictures in frames. The pictures have images of Mother and Father with multiple children. The pictures are snapshots in time of various stages in the growth and age of the children).
The Camera Pans left to right, like reading the pages of a storybook, starting with the children when very young and ending with the most recent. It is a group shot with the children all looking very mature surrounding the youngest child, he is wearing a cap and gown graduating from high school.
Cut to kitchen scene, same house, there is clutter on island, a middle-aged man sits on stool. He is slowly sipping from coffee cup. There is a plate of breakfast eggs in front of him.
MCU shot ( He is bringing cup to his lips slowly, but his eyes are glazed and distant, he is starring off into the distance.
Ultra close-up ( Just his eyes, we can see faint images of children playing in the yard, as if reflecting off his eyes or glasses).
We hear a distant voice of his wife calling.
Wife: "Well, I don't think we can expect, Sharon."
Husband: ( His face seems to come to life, with a somewhat dazed look on his face, as if pulled from a daydream).
Wife: "Honey, did you hear what I said? I don't think we can expect Sharon".
Husband: " I'm sorry, why are we not expecting, Sharon, and for what"?
( Camera cuts away to the wife entering the kitchen in wide out shot ).
Wife: " I'm talking about Thanksgiving dinner, I don't think she can make the trip. What with starting graduate school, Portland flights at Thanksgiving are expensive. She doesn't have the income".
Husband: " I am sure that you both have scoured all the web prices for airfares, if you two can't find a bargain, it can't be done".
The camera cuts to close-up of the man. The camera can catch movement of wife moving about the kitchen behind. The camera goes to ultra closeup of man's full face. His looks are knitted and fur roughed, it is as if he is straining to hold something inside. Then, his face calms, as if he has finally come to a decision.
Husband:" I am so lonely since the kids went to College".
The camera catches the wife stopping in the background. ( There is a long silence, maybe five seconds, it seems like longer). MCU of wife coming from behind husband they both have watering eyes with sadness slowly creeping on to their faces).
Wife: " I love you."
I appreciate that it is the father missing his children rather than the mother. There is a lot of expression and emotion written in to the narrative description even though the dialogue is minimal. It is simple, tender, vulnerable and universally human. If you had strong actors, this could be a lovely piece. I also think you could eliminate the last line and instead show her love through her response to her husband.
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