A screenplay by Bill Hutchinson
Tagline: Barbara Walters meets Ma and Pa Kettle in Hawaii
Logline: After losing her husband of 40 years, Ruth, a New York television personality, moves from the Big Apple to the Big Island of Hawaii hoping to find solitude and discovers anything but.
The screenplay From da Big Island was a semifinalist in the Scriptapalooza 9th Annual International Screenplay Competition.
The screenplay From da Big Island was a finalist in the Best Feature Screenplay category at the 2006 Cecil Awards. The Cecil Awards are in honor of Cecil B. DeMille and given to those who achieve academic excellence in specific film industry categories.
The pitch:
Integrated within the pitch are sections from the script. The pitch denoted is in Times New Roman font, while the script is in Courier font.
During the opening credits we hear a ukulele strumming to "The Holly and the Ivy." However, we are high over New York City seeing scenes of the city at Christmastime; people shopping, hurrying about, and in Central Park people walk by a Hawaiian man wearing an Aloha shirt over his parka strumming his ukulele who starts singing different words to "The Holly and the Ivy," which set us up pretty much like Gilligan's Island "Three Hour Tour" does.
Ruth, our protagonist, is a New York television personality on the par of Barbara Walters, always ending her weekly syndicated show From the Big Apple with, "Until next time, this is Ruth Newcomb, From the Big Apple."
The first act point of attack is the accidental death of her husband. Ruth inherits a house with a macadamia nut orchard in Honokaa on the Big Island of Hawaii. At first, Ruth refuses the house. Not adjusting to the death, her show is placed on hiatus. Her fans continue to interrupt her life so much so she can no longer stand being in New York and wants to be alone and have a peaceful, tranquil life.
It is cold. Bundled up people go about their hurried way.
Ruth, is so bundled up, in her long black woolen coat, designer shoes, and the red woolen scarf which obscures most of her face so she almost blends in with the crowd.However, as she walks down the avenue, she stands out since she is dressed like a million dollars and walking slower than the crowd.
As a few people pass, they turn their heads, smiling and nodding to Ruth.EXT. CENTRAL PARK - DAY
Ruth slowly walks through the park.As people walk by, some smile and nod to her. Others, stop and point at her.
The sounds of a ukulele and a man singing MY LITTLE GRASS SHACK.Ruth follows the music to find the Hawaiian Man wearing his Ray Bans and an aloha shirt over his parka.
She stops.A beat.
Ruth reaches into her purse taking out a twenty dollar bill and tosses it in his ukulele case.
Ruth starts to walk away.
Ruth pauses, looks over her shoulder at the Hawaiian Man.
He smiles, winks, and starts playing the ukulele picking up MY LITTLE GRASS SHACK.
Finally, she accepts the call to go to Hawaii.
Ruth, having never been to Hawaii, thinks that it is hula boys, pool side drinks, and palm laden beaches. She arrives in Honolulu only to find out that her cat needs to be quarantined. During which time she stays in a large suite at the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki; this is the life she wants and expects.
Act two begins with Ruth and the cat being met in Kona on the Big Island by Ben Kokua, her housekeeper. Her antagonist is Auntie and her keiki's [pronounced KAY-kees]. Ben tells Ruth that in Hawaiian keiki means children. The next scene, engages dramatic irony, where in Auntie's plastic Quonset hut greenhouse, we, the audience, see Auntie and Ben harvesting her keiki's (marijuana).
There are comedic vignettes where Ruth encounters with wild boar at night; wild turkey and chickens compete for her cat's food; and her enjoying the Big Island.
William, an at risk high school senior in danger of failing high school, is her next door neighbor. Although Ruth wants to be alone, the "B" story is Ruth helping William be the first person in his family to graduate from high school.
Ruth is driving down the two lane road towards town. She sees William hitchhiking.
Ruth pulls the car over, picking up William.
EXT. TWO LANE ROAD - DAY
William gets into the car. The SUV pulls away.INT. SUV - DAY
The car approaches the school.
William looks at Ruth and smiles.
William frowns.
William smiles.
Ruth stops the SUV at the front of the school.
By the end of the second act, Ruth finds out about the keiki's and alienates everyone. She realizes that she got her wish to be alone.
During the third act, Ruth adjusts to Big Island life, accepting everyone, and helping Auntie with her keiki's. During all of this, she starts a local television travel show called From da Big Island which is nominated for an Emmy. Ruth returns to New York to attend the Emmy Awards and made an offer she can't refuse.
Ruth, wearing a muumuu, and Jim, Ruth's former television station owner, are eating lunch.
Will Ruth accept the offer and remain in the Big Apple or return to da Big Island?