We've All Been There | Winner of Tropfest Australia 2013

TROPFEST

17 Feb 201306:46

Summary

TLDRIn a tense and dramatic narrative, Jess, a pregnant waitress, struggles with her demanding job and financial hardships. She pleads with her boss, Cass, for more hours or advanced pay, but is met with indifference. Later, Jess encounters a kind woman who shows empathy towards her situation. A chance meeting with a helpful man while her tire is flat reveals the kindness of strangers and the harsh realities of life. The story is a poignant portrayal of resilience and the unexpected support found in a challenging world.

Takeaways

🎬 The script begins with a suspenseful setting, suggesting a film or video recording.
📞 Communication attempts are made, possibly indicating a sense of urgency or disconnect.
🚗 There's a sense of movement and possibly a chase, with the sound of a car and heavy music.
🎶 The script includes various music cues, suggesting changes in mood or scene.
🤰 Jess is pregnant and seeking more work hours, which is a central conflict in the script.
💼 Cass, possibly a manager or boss, is unsympathetic to Jess's situation, showing tension in their relationship.
💰 Financial struggles are evident, with Jess asking for advanced pay and discussing better tips from day shifts.
🚫 Cass dismisses Jess's requests and suggests quitting if she's unhappy, indicating a lack of support.
🤰 The pregnancy is a recurring theme, with Jess's condition and the baby's gender being topics of conversation.
👶 Jess is due next month, adding a time-sensitive element to her predicament.
🏠 Despite being advised to rest, Jess continues to work, highlighting her determination and necessity.
🚗 A flat tire incident occurs, potentially adding another layer of difficulty to Jess's day.
👩‍❤️‍👨 A man helps with the flat tire, showing acts of kindness amidst the challenges.
💬 There's a conversation about the man's job search, adding depth to the characters and their circumstances.
🎵 The script ends on an uplifting note, with Jess sharing an experience, possibly indicating hope or a positive turn of events.

Q & A

What is the setting of the script?
-The script seems to be set in a place where there is a workplace with a phone, a car with a radio, and a location where a tire can be changed, suggesting a mix of indoor and outdoor urban environments.
Who are the main characters in the script?
-The main characters are Jess, Cass, a woman who Jess interacts with, and a man who helps with a flat tire.
What is Jess's situation at the beginning of the script?
-Jess is pregnant and is having a conversation with Cass about needing more work hours or an advance in pay due to her situation.
What is the relationship between Jess and Cass?
-Jess and Cass appear to have a professional relationship, with Cass being in a position of authority over Jess's work schedule.
What is the significance of the flat tire in the script?
-The flat tire serves as a plot device that brings the woman and the man together, leading to an interaction that highlights the man's character.
How does the woman's interaction with Jess reveal Jess's pregnancy?
-The woman notices Jess's pregnancy and asks if it's her first, to which Jess confirms and shares her due date.
What does the man's refusal to accept money for fixing the tire suggest about his character?
-The man's refusal to accept money suggests that he is kind and empathetic, understanding that everyone goes through tough times.
What is the significance of the music in the script?
-The music in the script helps set the mood for different scenes, such as the heavy music in the car indicating tension, and the uplifting music suggesting a positive or hopeful turn of events.
What is the weather like when Jess is talking to the woman?
-The weather is rainy, as indicated by the line 'Wow it's really coming down!'
What does the conversation between the woman and the man reveal about the man's situation?
-The conversation reveals that the man is looking for work and is from a few towns over, suggesting he might be in a difficult financial situation.
How does the script end?
-The script ends with Jess saying, 'You'll never guess what happened to me today,' implying that she is about to share a significant event from her day.

Outlines

00:00

🤰 Workplace Dilemma and Unexpected Assistance

In this paragraph, Jess, a pregnant woman, is struggling with her work situation and seeks more hours or advanced pay from her boss, Cass. Cass is unsympathetic, suggesting Jess should quit if she's unhappy. Jess also has a conversation with a customer who advises her to rest due to her pregnancy. Additionally, Jess encounters a man who helps her with a flat tire, refusing payment and showing kindness despite his own search for work.

05:14

😄 Encounters and Reflections

This paragraph is shorter and seems to be a transition where Jess shares an unexplained but presumably significant event from her day with an unknown recipient. The paragraph ends with Jess's car engine stuttering, suggesting potential further difficulties, and is accompanied by uplifting music, indicating a positive or hopeful tone despite the challenges.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. In the video, Jess is pregnant and this condition is central to her character's situation and challenges. It is mentioned when she talks about needing more hours at work due to her pregnancy and when a woman comments on her appearance, asking if she is expecting a boy or a girl.

💡Work Arrangements

Work arrangements refer to the conditions and schedules set for employment. The video's theme revolves around Jess's struggle with her work situation, as she seeks more hours or an advanced pay due to her pregnancy. The conflict with Cass, who is unsympathetic to Jess's request, highlights the tension between personal needs and workplace policies.

💡Financial Strain

Financial strain is the pressure or difficulty caused by a lack of money. Jess's request for more hours and advanced pay indicates that she is experiencing financial strain, which is a key element in the video's narrative. It is further emphasized when a customer offers her money after a service, but she declines, showing her pride and integrity.

💡Tips

Tips are optional payments given to service workers in addition to their regular wages, often based on the quality of service. In the script, Jess suggests taking day shifts for better tips, indicating her awareness of the economic benefits of different work shifts and her need for additional income.

💡Conflict

Conflict is a struggle between opposing forces or individuals. The video features a conflict between Jess and Cass over work conditions, which is a driving force in the narrative. This conflict is also a reflection of the broader societal challenges faced by pregnant women in the workforce.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. The video contrasts the lack of empathy from Cass with the empathetic response of the woman who interacts with Jess. Empathy is a key theme, as it is shown to be lacking in the workplace but present in the community.

💡Independence

Independence is the state of being self-reliant or not depending on others. Jess's situation highlights her struggle for independence, as she tries to maintain her job and financial stability while pregnant. Her interactions with others, such as the customer and the man changing her tire, show her striving to be independent despite the challenges.

💡Strangers

Strangers are people one does not know, especially those who are not friends or acquaintances. The video includes interactions with strangers, such as the woman who shows concern for Jess and the man who helps with her flat tire. These interactions are significant as they provide moments of kindness and support in contrast to the workplace conflict.

💡Flat Tire

A flat tire is a tire that has lost its air and cannot support the weight of a vehicle. In the script, a flat tire serves as a metaphor for unexpected life challenges. The man's offer to help change the tire and his refusal of payment reflect the kindness of strangers and the community's support for Jess.

💡Community Support

Community support refers to the assistance and encouragement provided by members of a community. The video shows Jess receiving support from the community, such as the woman's concern for her well-being and the man's help with her car. This support is crucial for Jess and represents a positive aspect of community life.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. Jess demonstrates resilience in the face of her challenges, such as her pregnancy and work conflicts. Her ability to continue working and maintain a positive attitude, despite the adversities, is a testament to her strength and a key message of the video.

Highlights

Initial attempt at communication with an uncertain response.

Phone beeps indicate a possible technical issue or call drop.

Door slam suggests a sudden or forceful action.

Heavy music in the car sets a tense or dramatic tone.

Banjo music plays, potentially indicating a cultural or regional setting.

Music fades to signal a transition in the scene or mood.

Jess requests more work hours, indicating a need or urgency.

Cass responds with a lack of availability, showing workplace constraints.

Noisy chatter in the background implies a busy environment.

Jess proposes an advanced pay, revealing financial strain.

Cass dismisses Jess's request, showing a strict workplace policy.

Jess suggests taking day shifts for better tips, indicating awareness of income opportunities.

Cass challenges Jess's expectations, revealing workplace tension.

Jess's pregnancy is mentioned, adding a layer of complexity to her situation.

Cass refuses to take responsibility, showing a lack of empathy.

Guitar music plays, possibly indicating a change in the narrative or emotional tone.

Tires splash and a bell rings, suggesting movement and a setting in motion.

Jess comments on the rain, adding atmospheric detail to the scene.

Woman's concern for Jess's pregnancy shows empathy from a customer.

Jess discusses the baby's gender and due date, providing personal details.

The woman advises Jess to rest, highlighting the perceived risk of her working condition.

Man informs Woman of a flat tire, introducing a new problem.

Man offers to help with the tire, showing kindness and community support.

Man's search for work is revealed, adding depth to his character.

Man's struggle with the tire lever indicates difficulty and frustration.

Woman refuses to accept payment for the tire help, showing generosity.

Man's self-deprecating humor adds a lighter touch to the interaction.

Jess shares an experience from her day, suggesting a significant event.