Neon Cactus

WALTER FREEMAN is a successful business consultant from Los Angeles unaware that he harbors Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from an incident that occurred decades ago while in Vietnam. One day, while driving to Phoenix for a work trip, he decides to pull off the Interstate and walk amongst the phenomenal saguaros in Arizona. One of the towering cacti appears to glow in the late afternoon sun, and to Walter's amazement, he hears a voice that he assigns to the cactus. The voice informs Walter that he is about to meet a most amazing woman, at a rest stop along the highway, before he reaches his destination. Sure enough, a few rest stops down the road, Walter meets the enigmatic ELIZA. Amazed by the prophecy, Walter returns to speak with the cactus more. Using the information given by the cactus, Walter's business skyrockets. The caveat in all these new encounters, Walter receives instructions to heal all his relationships, especially his relationship with Andrea, a wannabe actress whose behavior borders on the redline of codependence. Walter's travels lead him to Quartzsite, Arizona, where he encounters an angry young cowboy, jealous of Walter's good looks and success. An enemy is made. One blazing hot day, Walter returns to the cactus to discuss a strong uneasy feeling growing within. The cactus leads Walter through a flashback where Walter reviews a "friendly fire" artillery mission he lead in Vietnam that resulted in the death of U.S. Soldiers. Walter returns to his motel in Quartzsite to find Eliza waiting. Eliza reveals that while residing in Afghanistan, she became involved with a canine IED detection team. One of the dogs assigned to the team frequently ran away, often seeking refuge with Eliza. The troops extorted Eliza into going on missions and walking with the dog in front of troop convoys. During one sortie, things went awry and the dog and several of the troops were killed. Eliza was blamed. She reveals the long, dark road she walked to heal from her own PTSD. She tells him once his healing is complete, his life will never be the same - in good way. After an intimate encounter with Eliza, Walter returns to the cactus to discover his cowboy adversary shooting the cactus to pieces. Walter confronts the cowboy in a vain attempt to save his cactus friend. Defeated by the stronger, well-armed cowboy, all appears to be lost... until an arm from the wounded cactus falls, landing on and crushing the cowboy. Bewildered, with no where to turn, Walter is lost... until he discovers the voice of the saguaro was actually inside all along. Eliza mysteriously appears and guides Walter to a grand vista where it is revealed they must each go their own way, and continue as ambassadors of healing. In the script's first incarnation it placed as a QuarterFinalist in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) Nicholl Fellowship (1990). Greg Beal, fellowship director, wrote that the script was "Offbeat and inspiring." Comps: The Coen Brothers meet Bruce Beresford Field of Dreams meets Born on the 4th of July