Blood and Water
A home invasion goes horribly wrong when a young criminal must choose between his sister or his accomplice.
Sometimes, what pulls together a stellar short is tragic circumstance – and the raw emotion which inevitably trails in its wake. Pulp Fiction. Romeo and Juliet. And Warren Duncan’s Blood and Water.
T’was ever – lamentably - thus.
Opening with the titular image of blood and an ominous shore, the focus quickly switches to a few hours earlier… in a far happier, more Norman Rockwell place:
It’s the upperclass lakehouse of the Jefferson’s. 18 year old Jess babysits, with 5 year old Bobby as her charge. A carefree night of Chutes and Ladders… what could possibly go wrong?
Yet down by the lake, danger looms. Meth heads Blake and Damien share a pipe as the two discuss a pending B&E.
DAMIAN
You’re sure this is the place?
BLAKE
Yeah, man. These rich fuckers should have all sorts of shit.
Blake swaps his bottle for the pipe and lights one up. Damian rustles through a backpack which lies at his side, he pulls out an archaic looking revolver.
BLAKE
What the fuck, Damian?!
DAMIAN
Just in case.
In case of what? We all know that's a harbinger of dark things.
A few extra hours finds Jess dozing off in front of the TV. Bobby tucked into bed, fast asleep. Smashing glass jars her awake…
But as she runs to a back room to investigate, the butt of Damian’s gun smashes into Jess’s head; sending her back to unconsciousness again.
BLAKE (O.S.)
For fuck sake, why did you do that?!
As things go sideways in this smash and grab, how far will Blake play along with his partner in crime? What will happen to Jess – or Bobby? In this slice of life peek at how fast desperation can turn to tragedy, who will survive? And how many will die?
The production needs for Blood and Water don’t require much: an elegant home as a backdrop. A few scenes at the beach. Add to that a handful of terrific actors who can do it justice, and the right director will have their audience at the edge of their seats!