Rexford's Music Web Site: Screenplay Treatment

1960’s

Cook, James Tyler, (Rexford) was trapped. His life of long nights, working behind hot ovens, seemed never- ending. It was seven days a week of purgatory. Life merged from one evening of cooking and drinking to another. He rarely knew what day it was. He hated it. But, that’s how it was. He made the best of a bad job. With a family to support, there seemed no way out. He had worked hard from the age of seven, taking on many odd jobs to earn himself pocket money. Living in an isolated village in the middle of nowhere, cash was a scarce commodity. He thought about those days as the chicken sizzled on the griddle. He dreamed of being successful. Somewhere in his heart he felt he could be. Then, the next screamed order for steak and chips woke him from his eternal daydream. In-between orders he remembered an emotional moment in a farmer’s field (1954) where he worked as a labourer at the age of ten, cutting grass and thistles with a scythe bigger than himself. A miraculous find during a haymaking session was to change the course of his life.

1956 (December)

10 years old James sleeps fitfully in the sparse, creepy 2nd floor bedroom of a 16th Century, rambling three-storey country pub. His parents had just acquired the tenancy. Without any form of heating the temperature in the bedroom dropped to below freezing, and his breath kissed the night air. Christmas party revellers made the most of last orders in the bar below. James was effectively trapped. His parents had locked the only access to the upstairs areas. This was to ensure James’ safety. He disliked this enforced imprisonment intensely. Sleep was James’s only respite from his worries about the future. But sleep would not come. A strange presence in the room made his heart pound. His eyes flashed open. He saw the ghost of a very old woman, dressed in ancient garb. She screamed, “Get out, you don’t belong here, this is my place.” She held a chair above her head and was about to launch it down on the petrified youngster. James desperate attempts to escape are mixed through Africa.

1990

From a glimpse of the story’s beginning to a preview of the end sees The President leaving The State House in a motorcade. He was headed for a multi national concert at The National Stadium. The event had been instigated, organised and produced by James. He had also composed the theme music. The concert had become a vital link to draw the nation together and could not be allowed to fail. However, an impending monsoon was about to dash all James’ hopes. Although the dusty road to the venue had a major security presence another force was prevailing. The wind of change in Africa was gaining momentum, creating defectors in the President’s own government. It was sinister and dangerous. James involvement with The President and the impending political coup is accurately portrayed in screenplay. James became a target for Enemies of The State.

December 5th 1975

It was the Christmas party season. The pub was bustling with happy smiling faces. James, now 31 was the pub’s cook and barman. He had prepared early in the day. A busy night was in store. Preparing meals for a party of local farmers was no easy task. However, it would be a double celebration for the young chef. The birth of his son was imminent. The crusty weather-beaten farmers eagerly awaited their Christmas meals and frothy pints to celebrate the birth also. James was a popular, happy-go-lucky character, and all seemed set for a glorious night. Their trusty cook was now very late, and a hungry farmer was not a happy sight. It was not like him. He was always on time. Eventually he arrived, but was sullen, depressed, unsmiling and would not talk to anyone. After the Christmas mayhem he hid behind a giant fridge and collapsed in tears. His beautiful son Ben had died tragically earlier that day, and his wife was hanging onto life by a thread. His previous 12 hours had been one of hell beyond description. He felt his mind had exploded into a million different parts. Nothing made sense anymore.

Following the funeral he had an extraordinary dream. Suddenly, he was back at the graveside re-living the events of that disastrous day. Being a hard-bitten atheist he was not prepared for what he was about witness. He began to hear music; wonderful music, and kindly, distant angelic voices gave him comfort. For James this was a singular point in time. The dream would not let go. Over the next weeks and months his mind became a reservoir of incredible thoughts. Suddenly the fragmented visions formed one giant moving landscape. He saw the future unfolding before his eyes. ‘It was a film,’ he thought.

The ‘dream movie’ gave him an escape route from his terrible reality. The script continued unabated. It was Colourful and detailed. He saw himself travelling the world as a great composer and meeting Presidents and Kings. The dream had a beginning, middle and an end. As he reluctantly wound his way to the pub for another 12-hour cooking session, his heart sank. The cold light of day hit him hard. His wife had returned from a year in hospital and yearned for a simple life, but her husband had changed, dramatically. Months of heart-wrenching deliberations culminated in a decision.

He would pour out his heart of dreams, and lay them before his wife. Then the bombshell. He would follow them……wherever they would take him…she dismissed his ramblings as a requirement for therapy. An explanation of supporting the family through the dreams was met with equal derision. James made a date to leave his job and set on a road to become a great composer and make the film. It all seemed so simple. It was a big vision but he saw it clearly. He had no knowledge of films or music and was devoid of money, but he believed his imagination would see him through.

1981

Within a year his wife had re-married and James eventually found himself homeless on the streets of London. He had stepped into his own movie for real…. and the journey began……………………