A Scene By Scene Spoiler - Part 1 of 2
FINDING KATE
My Scene by Scene Spoiler
As most of us are aware, Katherine Brooks made a short film back in 2003 called Finding Kate starring Erin Kelly. She wrote this note to explain where the idea for the film came from:
“Growing up, I lived in a small town in Louisiana and hated it. I never fit in and all
I wanted to do was run away. My cousin Victoria had done it. I had never met her,
but I heard stories about her. She lived on a boat with her husband and they sailed
from country to country. I use to daydream about what it must be like to have that
kind of freedom. And what it must be like to be her.
It was a family wedding. She showed up, unexpected. I had never seen a more
beautiful person in my life. My only thought for the night we spent together, the night
you are about to see, is maybe, just maybe, she’ll take me with her – away from here.”
The following is my scene by scene spoiler for all of the Katherine Brooks and Erin Kelly fans who haven’t been able to see it. Please note that in the film Victoria mentions staying at Aunt Vic’s – I believe that’s where the pool is, where they got something to swim in and where they spent the night, but it’s not directly stated as such in the film.
FINDING KATE
(Violin music is playing in the background)
It’s a bright, clear and breezy day as a lone sailboat glides along the coast. The seagulls are making their usual squawking noises as they soar overhead. Kate sits alone on the beach looking out across the choppy blue sea. Her sweet young face peers out between the grey wool knit hat covering her head and the brown knit scarf loosely wrapped around her neck. Her long golden hair flutters in the wind against her light blue cotton jacket. Further down the beach to her left several seagulls are standing in the sand as the waves roll in. Kate lies back with her arms outstretched along the warm moist sand. Her bent knees are covered by a filmy, dark blue print skirt that brushes against her bare feet. A tall clear glass bottle stands upright in the sand directly at her side. Kate closes her eyes for a moment. She slowly opens them and gazes up at the endless blue sky as her thoughts drift back to the events of the previous day.
What had started out to be a day of family obligation – wedding, reception and having to make nice with all the relatives, took a surprising turn for Kate. Having arrived at the beautiful Spanish style multi-story house for the reception, Kate walked along the veranda toward the back where some of the guests had gathered. Kate was still in her bridesmaid’s wedding attire, a floor length dark red dress with spaghetti straps and thin silver piping under the bust. She had added her own personal touch by wearing her black biker boots, which certainly had turned a few heads. As she rounded the corner, the beautiful lush Southern California valley and the distant mountain range came into view. Several of the guests were chatting away while sitting between the vertical columns on the wide stucco ledge. Kate stopped suddenly as one woman, down toward the end, caught her attention. Kate stared directly at her. Her heart and mind were reeling with the realization that her cousin Victoria was here in person after being away for so long. Kate couldn’t believe how beautiful she was. Victoria’s brunette hair cascaded in waves well past her shoulders and down her back. She had on an eye catching red, knee length halter dress. Her eyes sparkled and her face glowed as she spoke animatedly to some guests about trying to get her husband to wear a tie. Kate glanced down for a moment, smiling. As her eyes looked up again in the direction of her cousin, she nervously bit her lower lip in anticipation. Victoria glanced at Kate while she was talking, but quickly turned her focus back to the group. Kate continued to stare at Victoria. Still talking, Victoria looked back again, this time allowing her eyes to be captured by Kate’s. As their gaze intensified, Victoria’s concentration was broken and she stopped speaking mid-sentence. Kate’s lips slowly curled into a Cheshire catlike grin.
Later that evening, with the sun having set over the Pacific Ocean, the reception continued. The hillside house was now illuminated by lights and a multitude of candles. Numerous people were gathered on the veranda talking and laughing. The sounds of Credence Clearwater Revival’s Proud Mary drifted out from the house, through the French doors, across the veranda and down into the valley.
Inside the house Kate sat in one of the living room chairs. Her right hand was clasped in the hand of a clean cut young man wearing a coat and tie, who was sitting on the couch next to her. He was having a conversation with another young man who was next to him on the couch. Kate’s chin was propped in the palm of her left hand with her elbow resting on her knee as she feigned interest in the ongoing conversation. Her eyes slowly drifted across to the other side of the living room where people were dancing. Victoria was dancing with some older gentleman. Kate found herself staring again as she watched Victoria dance, laugh and twirl around. Victoria glanced over at Kate, catching her by surprise. Kate instinctively jerked her hand away from her date’s grasp. As Victoria’s focus turned back to her dance partner, Kate shifted and cupped her chin in her right hand as she continued to gaze longingly at her cousin. Her senses were so focused on Victoria that Kate didn’t even notice that her date was now curiously watching her and the woman who had captured her attention. Without a word Kate got up and headed toward the dance floor as her date watched her walk away. Victoria looked at Kate as she approached. For a brief moment their eyes came together in a private dance of their own. Kate blinked, breaking the connection, as she walked to the right of the dancers and stepped out the doorway to the veranda.
Kate walked toward a small linen covered table that was filled with assorted beverages and glassware. She reached toward the back of the table for a glass, thinking that perhaps a drink might bolster her courage to speak to her cousin. Realizing how silly she was being she set the glass down. Victoria, having followed Kate, was standing in the doorway as Kate turned around from the table. A smile slowly spread across Kate’s face as Victoria stood grinning at her. Victoria continued to smile as she came down the steps and walked over to Kate, “Hey.” Kate couldn’t stop grinning, “Hey.” Victoria’s eyes skimmed over Kate as she commented, “You look so grown up. I hardly recognized you.” “When did you get back?” Kate asked. “Yesterday. I was going to call you but I wanted it to be a surprise,” Victoria responded as she reached out and took Kate’s left hand in hers. She rubbed her thumb across the top of Kate’s hand as she stared into her eyes. Kate could feel tingles running up her arm. “How long are you staying?” she asked. Victoria lightly shrugged, “I’m not sure yet.” Kate nodded and smiled as the two of them continued to hold hands and gaze at each other. Kate’s date appeared as he came walking up the outside stairway. He reached the top of the stairs, hands in pockets, and looked at the two women as they stood there in companionable silence holding hands. A few seconds went by before Kate realized that he was standing there waiting to be acknowledged. She looked over as she said, “Hey!” He stepped forward smiling as Victoria released Kate’s hand. Kate made the introductions, “This is my cousin, Victoria. This is my boyfriend, Jess.” Victoria looked somewhat surprised, but managed to say, “Hi.” Jess responded in kind, “Hi.” He then looked at Kate and asked, “You want to take off?” “Don’t you want to stay a little longer?” Kate questioned. Jess shook his head, “No. I’m going to leave.” He turned toward Victoria and said, “It was nice to meet you.” He then proceeded to head back down the stairs. Victoria looked at Jess and then back at Kate with a questioning expression. Kate was torn between her desire to stay and her obligation to Jess. She silently implored Victoria to wait for her as she said, “I’ll be right back.”
Jess had already gotten to the bottom of the stairs by the time Kate spotted him. Kate called out to him, “Jessie. Jessie, wait a minute!” He was walking across the small courtyard when he stopped, turned around and said, “What?” Kate hopped down the last couple of steps and walked over to where Jess stood underneath a tree illuminated with little white twinkle lights. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked. Annoyed, Jess responded sharply, “What’s wrong with me? You’re the one that’s been acting weird all night!” Kate softened her tone, “I’m sorry. Don’t be mad at me.” “I’m not mad at you,” Jess stated. Now standing right in front of Jess, Kate’s eyes looked directly up into his gaze. “You still want me to come over tonight?” she shyly asked. Jess, sounding frustrated, asked, “And do what – watch movies?” Kate grinned, “We don’t have to watch movies.” “Then what do you want to do?” Jess asked. Kate reached up and kissed him. As he responded to her kiss, Kate took each of his hands and placed them on her small, shapely derriere. He rubbed his hands over her as their kiss deepened. Jess pulled back from the kiss as he warned Kate, “Don’t be messing with me again.” “I’m not. I want to,” Kate asserted. “Really?” Jess asked doubtfully. “Really,” Kate confirmed. Jess smiled, “Okay. Tell Victoria I said goodnight.” “Hurry,” he said as he gave Kate a quick kiss. As Jess walked away, Kate turned and quickly headed back up the terra cotta tile stairs.
Victoria was standing near the ledge, looking out across the valley, as she smoked a cigarette. Kate felt extremely relieved to see that Victoria had waited. She smiled as Victoria turned to look at her. Kate sat down on the nearby white wicker loveseat that was covered with a beautiful multi-colored throw and decorative pillows. She drew her knees close to her chest as she pulled her black boots up on the loveseat and then arranged her dress over her knees, legs and boots. Victoria put out her cigarette, sat down next to Kate and laid her right arm across the back of the loveseat. “So, have you two done it yet?” Victoria inquired. Kate wrapped her arms around her knees as she lightheartedly responded, “None of your business.” She and Victoria smiled at each other. “Come on, you can tell me,” Victoria said sincerely as she attempted to cajole Kate into spilling the beans. Kate’s hesitation and her faltering glance gave away the answer. “Don’t tell me you’re still a virgin!” Victoria exclaimed. “You make it sound like a bad thing,” Kate pointed out to Victoria. “How old are you now? Sixteen?” Victoria inquired. “Seventeen,” Kate answered quickly. “It’s definitely time Kate,” Victoria instructed as she gently touched Kate’s shoulder with her fingertips. Kate once again felt a tingling sensation course through her body as Victoria traced her fingers along Kate’s soft skin. The unspoken attraction between the two women could be felt as they gazed at each other with unabashed desire. Victoria took the first step, “So, you want to get out of here?” “Can’t,” replied Kate. “Come on, you can stay with me tonight at Aunt Vic’s,” Victoria said as she tried to convince Kate. “I told Jess that I’d come over tonight,” Kate explained. Disappointed, Victoria protested, “Come on Kate. I haven’t seen you in forever.” Her fingers and eyes maintained their contact with Kate. Victoria watched as Kate glanced down, deep in thought. She tried a different tactic, “So, I guess that this is goodnight?” Kate looked up at Victoria, a hint a panic and sadness in her eyes. It was exactly the look that Victoria was hoping to see. Having captured Kate’s attention, Victoria confessed, “I never did stop thinking about you.” Her eyes remained fixed on Kate’s as she got up from the loveseat. Kate, transfixed by her cousin’s declaration, stared in stunned silence as Victoria walked away.
Part 2 will be posted on a seperate board, as soon as possible. Please know that there is no major love scene in this film (boo-hoo), but there is a very sweet pool scene which is coming up next!
Love ya,
Softy :)