THE MAILMAN'S SON
The soccer-obsessed son of a widowed mailman develops an enduring bond
over the course of twenty years with the desolate daughter of a miserable marriage.

Everyone has a story.

Consider the people we encounter in our everyday lives. We may know some only by their occupation or role: the Barista, Teacher, Grocery Clerk, Car Mechanic, Grandfather… the names and labels roll on.

Who are you? It’s probably a safe assumption you're a Reader. Likely a Screenwriter, Film Producer or Director, too. But when one sets out to describe human beings, how can such a simple description ever be… enough? Are we who others think we are? As Hamlet points out, “Ay, there’s the rub.”

In the skillful hands of writer J. B. Storey, The Mailman's Son follows the weekly route of “The Mailman” through a picturesque suburban cul-de-sac. He’s in his early-40s, recently widowed and a new father.

On Monday, The Mailman stops his truck in front of the "Blue Mailbox House.” In planter boxes besides the mailbox, rose bushes “in their infancy” bud. 

Wearing a baby sling, The Mailman exits the truck ever so carefully. For “cradled against his chest” is his sleeping infant son. As he slips the mail into the box, The Mailman notices an envelope’s been left inside. He removes it – and sees his name.

The front door opens, and The Mailman meets The Mother.

In her early-30s, she sports a baby sling, too. Making her way across the lawn, she gestures “with a careful, kind smile” for The Mailman to open the envelope. He reads: “With Heartfelt Sympathy.” It’s a condolence card.

Inside his truck on the dashboard, The Mother eyes a picture of a Pregnant Woman adorned with faux candles. It’s a heart wrenching “mini memorial” for the man’s wife.

The Mother’s face floods with sympathy, too much for the Mailman to bear. So he turns his head away. A tear runs down his cheek.

Waiting and watching from the door is The Father. As The Mother returns to the house, he glances briefly at The Mailman. Sighs at his wife… and slams the door.

Are storms brewing under this placid suburban surface? On “Day One”, it sure looks that way.

Time passes. Now, it's Tuesday. Metaphorically.

In the real world, much more than 24 hours has sped by. As the mail truck pulls up to the Blue Mailbox House, the planter boxes of roses are in full bloom.

And the house's door is now decorated with balloons. Stenciled on the front: ‘Happy Birthday, Angel!’

On the lawn, a very different type of “Flower” has sprouted: a makeshift cupcake stand, operated by The Woman’s 10 year old Daughter in an Angel Costume.  Hawking cupcakes at $1, the little girl is spreading her “wings”… and growing up!

As is the Mailman’s son. Wearing a ragged, pre-owned soccer shirt and proudly carrying his new soccer ball, the ten year old boy accompanies Dad on his rounds.

When The Boy sees the Daughter, his face lights up. There’s genuine connection between these young souls. That is, if life’s troubles don’t intercept them both!

Random encounters, perhaps – but with effects that reverberate lifetimes. Emotionally rich and visually striking, The Mailman’s Son uniquely has NO spoken lines. It doesn’t need them. Because the gestures, action and depth of its characters shows all.

So, what’s in a name? When Juliet says to Romeo "That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet", her meaning was clear. Both in Shakespeare’s time and modern day, it’s easy to label others, and we comfort ourselves with these identities to some degree. But like the characters in The Mailman’s Son, we’re all human with troubles, hopes, and dreams.

A complex story lies under everyone’s “label”. One simply needs to look and see.

You’ll rarely find better cinematic companions to ride with through the neighborhood of life than The Mailman, The Son, The Mother, The Father and The Daughter. If you’re a filmmaker who seeks heartfelt, meaningful stories, express-deliver The Mailman’s Son to the screen!