PARCHED by Michael Ugulini

PARCHED

Michael Ugulini

Synopsis

Walt is a farmer who is experiencing his third season of drought in a row. As his field becomes dry and parched he disintegrates along with it, both emotionally and psychologically.

Walt is wary of anyone who approaches his property as he fears they want to destroy whatever crop the hot sun and dry winds have not. He is a proud farmer steeped in the tradition of the land and deep inside feels he is a provider of bounty to others in the country. When his livelihood is threatened he becomes desperate.

Walt is jealous of another farmer, Frank Green, whose farm is a part-time venture and not his sole source of income. Frank also has a car lot and Walt bristles at the mention of this man’s name as he feels Frank could care less about the worsening drought conditions.

Walt first defends his field from three teenagers who want to pass through on the way to another farm…in a threatening posture he thwarts these teens from crossing through his property…they sense his state of mind and decide to steer clear of his field.

Walt visits the town market each day for pure and fresh bottled water to take with him as he guards his field. To Walt, water and rain symbolize life, cleansing, and a fresh start. His dealings with the store manager and his young female clerk begin to show how is character is cracking like the ground he farms upon.

At night, at home with his wife Barb, he seethes while watching a weather report talk of no rain on the horizon. He also snaps violently at his wife for serving him store bought corn. He feels she does not see him as a strong provider for the family anymore.

Walt is cold towards an elderly gentleman who has driven down from the city a few hours away .He is looking for fresh fruits and vegetable only to find them to be few and far between in this region. Walt does not want to talk about the conditions he finds himself forced to endure. To him this man from the city is from another world who could not possibly understand what he is going through. To the elderly gentleman paradise has become a wasteland.

Finally two teenage boys decide to cut through Walt’s property on their way to Miller’s Farm and they are not going to take no for an answer from Walt. It’s hot and they want to take the shortest, direct route possible. Walt finally cracks at this lack of respect for his authority over his property, and unable to stop himself, takes action that will affect him and his place in the community forever.

As the story ends, a teenage girl reveals what Walt has fought and struggled for his whole life …even as she walks away, oblivious to what she has brought to light.