The Toast
A short film by Jermey W Fletcher
My role: Camera Operator
SYNOPSIS
STANLEY, in his mid-40s, and GRACE, in her early 30s, have been married for 10 years. After meeting at the Queen Elizabeth (pub) in Walworth in 1947 they fell madly in love – he with his carefree spirit and she with her naive optimism and outlook on life. Aspiring middle class with working class heritage, they married in 1948 after he was discharged from military service, moved into Walworth council housing next to St George’s Church (by the Grand Surrey Canal), and began to dream of having a family. After trying in earnest, Grace gave birth in 1950 to their only son, Charlie, who died tragically from drowning in the abandoned canal in 1957 while Grace looked on in horror. After Charlie’s death, Stanley coped by blaming Grace and Grace didn’t cope at all, blaming herself. Three years later, Stanley realizes he not only lost his only son, but he also lost the affections of his wife. Stanley desperately wants things back the way they were when they first met – to erase the past and start new.