About Time

By
Jana Knochs, Josephine Losurdo & Giuseppa Nastasi

2015

Log Line
An emotionally distant man leaves his wife and newly adopted
son, only to be reconnected with his son fifteen years
later.
Synopsis
A happily married young couple adopts a child, as they
cannot have one of their own. However, the husband, James
Walker, is having doubts about bringing an adopted child
into their lives. He decides to abandon his wife and newly
adopted son.
Fifteen years later, during the middle of the night, a knock
is heard on Jamess front door. Luke, his adopted son who is
now sixteen years old, stands outside the door of his
fathers apartment. At first, the father has no interest in
seeing his adopted son, but as time passes, we see their
relationship develop. Meanwhile, Jamess ex-wife Bethany
Thomson travels across the country for her job and plans to
take Luke with her.
Treatment
About Time is a feature film, which examines the
relationship between a father, James Walker and his adopted
son, Luke Thomson. The film takes place in Sydney, in the
present day, however, flashbacks are used to provide a
deeper back story.
The opening sequence is set in Jamess run down apartment.
Beer cans, unclean dishes and take out boxes are scattered
across the apartment. Old photos of James hiking and nature
scenes are shown to imply he once enjoyed hiking. James is
asleep on the couch; only the faint sounds coming from the
TV are heard in the background. The ringing of his phone
suddenly wakes James. He gradually sits up and rubs his eyes
before answering it. His ex-wife, Bethany is on the phone,
concerned about the whereabouts of their adopted son. James,
still half asleep, dismisses Bethanys distress and Beth
becomes extremely frustrated and ends the call.
Two hours later, during the middle of the night, there is a
knock on Jamess front door. He reluctantly opens it, and
sees an irritated police officer tired and ready to go home
standing next to his sixteen-year-old son, Luke, who smells
of alcohol. Tired and confused, James lets Luke in.
The story then shifts to the past, on the day that James and
his wife, Bethany, finally meet their adopted son, Luke.
Beth frantically runs around the house, making sure
everything is spotless. Meanwhile, James paces back and
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

2.

forth, shaking his head and mumbling to himself of the

doubts he has as to whether he will be able to love this
child as his own.
Fifteen years later, back to the present day. Throughout the
film James helps Luke get his own self confidence and
identity back, as he is struggling with peer pressure. As
seen in the beginning of the film, Luke has begun drinking
to try and fit in at school. James uses hiking to help Luke
find a passion he enjoys. This helps James and Luke bond,
and Luke is able to regain a father figure in his life.
Towards the end of the film we find out that Beth has been
offered a promotion in Tasmania and is taking Luke with her.
This makes both James and Luke very upset as they have just
reconnected.
A week later, James is alone in his apartment. He walks to
the fridge, grabs a beer and heads over to the couch. He
accidentally drops the beer and it rolls under the couch.
James bends down and reaches under the couch. He feels
around and instead of finding the can he pulls out one of
Lukes jumpers that he had accidentally left behind. Holding
it in his hands, he sits silently on the floor. He instantly
remembers what day it was: the day Luke and Beth would be
leaving for Tasmania. Without any hesitation, James gets up
with the jumper in hand, lunges for his keys and races out
of the apartment.
James pulls his car up Beths driveway and races out of the
car. He breathes heavily, while frantically knocking on the
door. Beth opens the door, carrying empty boxes and tape.
James breaths a sigh of relieve and tells Beth that he
thought they had left. She tells him that they leave
tomorrow and calls for Luke to come downstairs. They stare
in silence and smile at one another.
James and Luke race to the car and drive to the park next to
bush trail entrance. Both of them eagerly walk over the
rocky and dusty ground. Their faces are filled with content
as they reach the cliffs edge. James places his arm around
Luke and the sunset, creates a silhouette of them both.

3.

INTRO SCENE INT. JAMES APARTMENT - SYDNEY - NIGHT

Dark room, only the desk lamp and television light the
room. We see old take out boxes and empty beer cans
scattered throughout Jamess apartment. Among the mess we
also see old pictures of James hiking. The clock shows
12:30am. We hear distant city traffic and an old movie
playing softly. James is sleeping on the couch.
The phone rings loudly, waking James. He sits up slowly and
listens to it ring, putting his head into his hands. After
six rings he answers the phone .
We hear the distressed voice of his ex-wife, Beth Thomson
coming from the other end.
BETH THOMSON
James finally! Lukes not home yet
and Im getting worried.
JAMES WALKER
(dismissive)
What do you want me to do about it?
BETH THOMSON
Youre his father, you should care
about his well-being. Hes only
sixteen and he could be anywhere.
JAMES WALKER
Hes not my son.
BETH THOMSON
Just grow up for once! -James rubs his eyes and sits back into the couch.
BETH THOMSON(CONTD)
(upset and defeated)
Call me if you hear anything.
Beth hangs up on James.
James chucks his phone on the coffee table and takes a sip
of the beer sitting next to him.
CUT TO BLACK.
OVER BLACK.
We hear a knock on a screen door.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4.

CUT TO:
James opens his eyes. He leans over half asleep and reaches
for his phone which reads 2am. We hear another knock. James
slowly sits up and stumbles to the door.
He opens the door to see a tall police officer with a thick
moustache standing next to Luke. Luke appears to be
intoxicated and is gently swaying from side to side.
POLICE OFFICER
Are you James Walker?
JAMES WALKER
Yes.
POLICE OFFICER
Your son was found was found
intoxicated with alcohol in his
possession. We have let him off
with a warning this time, please
make sure this doesnt happen
again.
James gestures his hand to take Luke in. He steps towards
him with effort, James places his hand on Lukes shoulder to
steady him.
JAMES WALKER
Thanks, Ill take care of it.
The police officer leaves. James shuts the door and leads
Luke inside. Luke stumbles around to the couch and slumps
into it.
JAMES WALKER
What the hell do you think youre
doing?!
LUKE THOMSON
(Jokingly)
Im sitting
Luke reaches over to the half full can of beer left on
James coffee table and tries to pick it up. James see this
and in two large strides snatches the can from Lukes hand.
JAMES WALKER
(while finishing the beer)
Youre drunk and you show up at my
door at 2am! Your mother is worried
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

5.

JAMES WALKER (contd)

sick, Im going to have to call
her.
As James leans down to pick up his phone, Luke tries to
suddenly stand up but falls immediately back down into the
couch.
LUKE THOMSON
(Suddenly flustered)
No you cant! please dont let her
know Ive been drinking!
James rubs his hand on his face in frustration.
JAMES WALKER
Why should I lie for you? She needs
to know the truth Luke.
Luke reaches out and grabs James hand and pleadingly tugs
on it.
LUKE THOMSON
You cant shell kill me!
James looks down at Luke and sees the pathetic desperation
in his eyes. Too tired to argue with him now James puts down
his phone momentarily.
JAMES WALKER
(sighs)
Fine. I wont tell her now, but she
has to know youre here -James picks up an old worn tartan blanket and chucks it at
Luke. Luke breathes a sigh of relief.
JAMES WALKER
Just go to sleep, well deal with
this in the morning.
Luke clumsily lies back onto the couch and closes his eyes.
James rubs his eyes in exhaustion and picks up the remote to
turn the television off. He leans over Luke and switches off
the lamp next to the couch leaving the room with only a
faint glow from the street lamp outside. Taking his phone
with him, James slowly walks into his bedroom and closes the
door.
FADE TO BLACK

6.
ENDING SCENE - INT. JAMES APARTMENT - AFTERNOON
James is in his apartment once more, alone. He walks to the
fridge, grabs a beer and heads over to the couch. He
accidentally drops the beer and it rolls under the couch.
With a sigh of frustration, James gets down onto his knees
and tilts his head under the couch. He discovers one of
Lukes jumpers that he had accidentally left the last time
he had been there. He pulls it out; holding it in his hands,
he sits silently on the floor filled with regret as he and
Luke left on sour terms. He instantly remembers what day it
was: the day Luke and Beth would be leaving for Tasmania. He
wasnt exactly sure what time however as the two of them had
not spoken since Luke had told him the news of their
departure over a week ago. Without even thinking, James gets
up with the jumper in hand, lunges for his keys and races
out of the apartment.
CUT TO BLACK
OVER BLACK.
We hear a door bell ring.
EXT. BETHS HOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON
James stands in front of Beths house with Lukes jumper in
his hand. Beth answers the door. She looks surprised.
BETH THOMSON
James?
JAMES WALKER
Beth! Thank god, I was hoping you
hadnt left yet.
BETH THOMSON
We dont leave until tomorrow...?
James is now surprised, and also relieved.
JAMES WALKER
Oh... Right... Um...
The two do not say anything. As Beth stares at James, she
looks down at the jumper in James hands and then back up to
him. She then yells.
BETH THOMSON
LUKE! Its for you!
Beth walks away. A couple of seconds later, Luke emerges. He
too stares at James without saying anything.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.

JAMES WALKER
I um... Found your jumper in my
apartment. Thought you might be
needing it in Tassie.
James hands the jumper over to Luke. Luke continues to stare
at James, waiting for him to say something else and break
the silence. James takes a moment to think about a good way
to say goodbye.
JAMES WALKER
Hey are you doing anything right
now?
Luke looks confused. He then slowly shakes his head.
LUKE THOMSON
No...ah...I was just packing, but
it can wait
A smile peaks from James lips.
JAMES WALKER
Okay, come with me.
Luke throws his jumper onto the staircase railing behind
him. Excited and curious, Luke proceeds out the door
following James to his car.
CUT TO BLACK
EXT. BUSH TRAIL - LATE AFTERNOON
We see James pull up in his car and park next to a bush
trail entrance. James and Luke get out of the car, James
leads the way into the bush trail with a grin on his face.
Luke jogs to catch up with James and walks next to him.
JAMES WALKER
You know how I told you about the
the coastal walk that follows Garie
beach? Well this is one of the best
views youll see.
Luke smiles up at James, excitement bubbling up within him.
Both of them with an eager pace, walk over the rocky and
dusty ground. We can hear the ocean in the distance paired
with crunching gravel and leaves from their footsteps.
The bush trail opens up the large rocky expanse, ending on a
cliff facing the ocean. The sun is low in the sky, creating
a vibrant sunset

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

8.

LUKE THOMSON
(Whispers)
Holy Shit
JAMES WALKER
(Chuckles)
Told you
When they reach the cliffs edge, Lukes face is filled it
awe and Jamess with content and nostalgia. The sun sets
before them and we see the silhouettes of both of the them
as James puts his arm around Lukes shoulder.
LUKE THOMSON
It sucks that I wont be able to do
this walk with you
JAMES WALKER
Hey its okay, even though youre
leaving doesnt mean we cant still
do it. Ive waited fifteen years to
gain the motivation to begin hiking
again and see this coastline in
full. I can wait a little longer to
walk it with you.
Both James and Luke smile at each other and continue to
watch the sunset.
FADE TO BLACK
END