When the clock is ticking & the springs are wound up tight.
Expect nothing to go wrong...
Alex has only "Harmony" between his ears
but
when the planets
align...
1
Warm Bonds
CITY
highest point
on a
skyscraper,
a lone figure felt a vibration and the annoying sound of his phone ringing in his earpiece.
Alex: ‘Timing.’ He thought.
Far below
Alex: ‘Timing.’ He thought.
Far below
building tops
were reaching
up
to
him.
He knew who it was. ‘There’s only ever one person who'd possibly ring me right at this very moment.’ he said to himself.
Dawn: ‘Good afternoon Mr. Harmony.’ A jingle-tone voice. ‘How are you today?’ Tongue-in-cheek.
Alex: ‘Not a good time.’ He shot back smiling and trying to swing around on the framing of
He knew who it was. ‘There’s only ever one person who'd possibly ring me right at this very moment.’ he said to himself.
Dawn: ‘Good afternoon Mr. Harmony.’ A jingle-tone voice. ‘How are you today?’ Tongue-in-cheek.
Alex: ‘Not a good time.’ He shot back smiling and trying to swing around on the framing of
the light box peak.
continued, ‘We’d give you a call to say-.’
Alex: ‘I’ll, continue this conversation very shortly thankyou.’
Trying to be as polite as possible and starting to realise he was “caught- up” in something around his legs.
SHOP
The clouds
were rolling in
and
from where
he was,
even concrete
looked
better.
Dawn: ‘Oh we just thought you know, being at the top of the world,’ The jingly voicecontinued, ‘We’d give you a call to say-.’
Alex: ‘I’ll, continue this conversation very shortly thankyou.’
Trying to be as polite as possible and starting to realise he was “caught- up” in something around his legs.
He
tried
to
look.
Every worker had brought up an extra safety harness strap.
It was his last day before long service leave.
He was young but had been with Sparks & Construction Partners since the beginning.
Dawn: ‘Well deserved Alex.’Both her and “hubby” said via speaker phone.
Perched up high on a tower; high above anything else around as he had just finished with the connection for a new tower.
The extra safety harnesses were all over him and he was literally “snagged” in a spider web of harnesses.
He looked down and could just make out three of the crew of seven.
They were all close; best of mates and the helmets were disappearing as everyone headed down.
Alex started counting as he “unclipped” himself.
Every worker had brought up an extra safety harness strap.
It was his last day before long service leave.
He was young but had been with Sparks & Construction Partners since the beginning.
Dawn: ‘Well deserved Alex.’Both her and “hubby” said via speaker phone.
Perched up high on a tower; high above anything else around as he had just finished with the connection for a new tower.
The extra safety harnesses were all over him and he was literally “snagged” in a spider web of harnesses.
He looked down and could just make out three of the crew of seven.
They were all close; best of mates and the helmets were disappearing as everyone headed down.
Alex started counting as he “unclipped” himself.
Alex: ‘Twelve?’ Incredulously, ‘Including mine.’
The wind picked up
and
was
in his face.
Alex: ‘That’s ridiculous.’
And then
he just began
to laugh
and hung up on them.
His rare skin condition, which he had a prescription for but seldom took, made him occasionally have these episodes.
It was a yet-to-be completed foyer of a yet-to-be-open hotel.
The ceramic tiles were being laid, Alex was almost done wiring and connecting.
It was an easy job and just one last one before his big break.
Nothing he wasn't use to.
Always had
2
Just
Another
BED & BREAKFAST. FOYER
The tiles were aquamarines, turquoises, yellows and golds and from Alex’s’ position perched high up on an extension ladder installing conduit, all he could see were chess pieces; larger than life and sliding effortlessly across the floor.His rare skin condition, which he had a prescription for but seldom took, made him occasionally have these episodes.
It was a yet-to-be completed foyer of a yet-to-be-open hotel.
The ceramic tiles were being laid, Alex was almost done wiring and connecting.
It was an easy job and just one last one before his big break.
Nothing he wasn't use to.
Always had
a job
on-the-go.
The phone
The phone
always rang.
Too constantly sometimes he would joke to himself but never let anyone down and always finished either on time or some times ahead.
Too constantly sometimes he would joke to himself but never let anyone down and always finished either on time or some times ahead.
Then he thought of the phone call he received an hour or two back when he woke alone which was the first time in a long time.
It was his girlfriend Julia;
his long-time love.
Hewas
not
thinking
straight.
~
BED & BREAKFAST. LAWN
Alex: ‘Uhha.’ Listening and trying to throw his tools into the backseat. ‘Lochseayd.’ Sitting in his car listening, he shot a look at the rear-view mirror.
The road disappeared over a rise; the edges covered by whisks of curled, long grass.
Alex: ‘So you’re at the very end and I’ll see a sign-?’ He checked his glovebox for something. ‘Ok, so at the very end-.’ He found a half-eaten muesli bar and took the top off his bottle of juice near the handbrake. ‘That’s fine Mrs-.’ He took the muesli bar from out of between his teeth, wiped his bottom lip. ‘Pat. Ok then Pat. See you in a little while and thanks again.’
~
SOMEWHERE RURAL
Silence.
He’d had a good morning and the big, commercial office job was behind him.
‘Now I have time to play.’ He thought as he chewed loudly and tried to swing a look at the road seeming to go nowhere.
His young brow
His young brow
formed
lines.
‘The road turned out alright after all that major roadworks a few rises and dips back.’ He thought and made him think again about his Julia.
They always talked about everything.
His phone tingled; it was a text from Dawn and hubby telling him he had a new job.
Alex: ‘Knows about it.’ He said looking out his driver's window chewing loudly.
~
Driving along a country road he sees a sign and turns off.
This road seems to go forever as well but he was assured to go to the very end.
Another rise and the ocean appears.
He slams on the brakes as he sees another sign exactly the same as the last but this one, a woman is holding.
They walk across an open field.
It’s blustery then it suddenly calms and the sun.
He notices she begins walking even faster and leads him into what must be her front of house, into the house and through to the back yard.
She stops and turns.
Pat: ‘At the moment Mars-.’ She seems to have caught herself out.
Alex: ‘You wanted me to look at some switches and wiring?’
Pat: ‘No no. Have to just wait for the sun to set.’ Almost giggling.
Alex tried to remain calm and not bewildered.
Pat: ‘Wait for the stars to come out.’ With relish.
Alex: ‘No switches then.’ He looked all around on the spot and took in the house.
Part brick, part fibro, part cladding, nails.
It had a reasonable feel to it and he then noticed he was standing under a brick arch covered in bougainvillea.
He immediately felt relaxed and it reminded him that he had forgotten to take his medication.
“Again.”
“Again.”
Just then he looked back to where she was.
Gone.
Pat: ‘There’s a job further down love at the Peninsula but it’s only accessed by ferry and you’ll have to be quick for there is only two, two ways a week and it’s leaving now.’
She was standing behind him with her arm up on the brick arch leaning forward to his back. As he swung, their faces were close.
Her skin was young and glowed purple.
3
Seeing the Seas
FERRY. OPEN SEA. EVENING
The wind and rain was horizontal.
His view was through a peep-hole of his hood and all he could see was grey, black and rain streaks.
A door opened on the side of the wheel-house of the ferry and a man struggled to keep it open and waved to attract his attention but he had his back to him.
The wind and rain peppered his hood when suddenly the ferry's horn blasted which made him turn and he could see the ferryman waving; signalling for him to get ready.
He braced himself against the front handrail which overlooked the bow and suddenly two large white painted posts tops appeared and seemed to surge up and over the ferry.
Alex watched as a rope was thrown and perfectly wrapped around one of the posts and was secured. The deck hand signaled with a nod and this was Alex's cue.
He looked back to the Captain's wheel house. There was a light on and there was a figure but no movement and then a horrible squeal and bellowing thump.
A bell clanged.
Alex shot a look down to the deck hand who rang the bell to get his attention and swung his arm to say disembark.
Alex held onto the railing and speedily descended the stairs and was between the white painted pointed tops posts.
Deck Hand: 'I'd get off now.' From within a hood. 'Before the water turns rough.'
Alex didn't want to show the whites of his eyes. He noticed the deck hand was readjusting his footing but within his hood he could see a young face nodding.
He didn't wait, hugging his bag, he leapt and found a firm landing.
DOCK. NIGHT
The ocean was spraying up from underneath the dock and appeared between enormous cross beams dark as steel.
Looking ahead he could only see a wooden deck and so he began walking.
The gaps in the decking were narrow so he felt comfortable in his footing and began walking.
It didn't take long before he realized looking along the vast edge with thick rope threaded; weaving along through the beams, that he was on a long suspension bridge.
He was impressed.
He held onto the side of his hood concentrating on his footing then took a look back at the ferry and to his absolute surprise, it was gone and for the briefest of moments, caught a glimpse of a distant light from the wheel house as it was reflected off the waves.
He could feel an incline in the suspension bridge but also a solid grounding then saw between the gaps, a steel, riveted structure.
He ran his eyes along and could see he was approaching a bitumen area. He moved his hand along the edge of his hood and saw something with a light on top and headed for it.
Through the howling horizontal wind and rain, he can just make out a box; office and doesn't give it a second thought but as he makes his way across the suspension bridge, he realizes; he feels he needs to "check-in" with the small office.
As he looks to ready himself, a small light is on inside the box office.
He approaches holding firmly onto the suspension bridges' rope rail and feeling the metal rings run through his fingers that bind and fix the thick ropes and beams together, he sees a figure inside the small box office and cannot believe it.
His face is up against the glass.
He gets his breathe.
ALEX: 'I can't believe someone is here to receive me but thankyou.' He bares his teeth. 'Considering the circumstances and the weather-.' He stops. He looks and the two sided glass box is empty. 'What?' Exclaiming; catching his breath. His hands come out in front. 'There was somebody in here.'
He was dumbfounded.
He was dumbfounded.
LAND. NIGHT
His boots go from thick beams to bitumen to river stones and to patchwork of concrete.
Silently, Alex; a lone figure leaning into the wind and rain finds a door and enters a room.
ADMIN OFFICE. NIGHT
In the dark; things swirl and clatter and fall lightly to rest then the room fills with light.
Quietly he closes the door and takes a moment.
He slowly takes his jacket off and looks for somewhere to place it.
He pulls back his hair.
Looking around he is in an admin office.
Looking reasonably organised, Alex looks for and finds a map on the wall and begins getting his bearings.
He quietly goes to his bag and gets something to eat, drink and goes back to the map.
4
Light, Glass & Optics
Sunlight under the door wakes him up.
His eye is aligned with the floor and all he can see is a side-on panoramic slit of blue sky and green grass.
The door opens and he walks out.
LAND
The view is stunning.
Uninterrupted coast.
Uninterrupted coast.
Down one side is the way to the ferry dock and the other, is a slight rise and feels to him; aswell as having had a look at the map, the township. He thinks about which way to start and decides to take a look at the town.
He walks over the rise and slows.
A picture perfect township.
Rugged coastline one side leading to a point and on the other, grass slopes with a building at the very top.
He leaves that for another time.
Alex: ‘Just beautiful.’
He walks down and into the town.
A pathway appears and leads him to a corner with a laneway in front of him.
He realises soon enough that there is no one around.
He hadn’t thought about it until he reached an intersection and looked every way; the sensation he felt. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
He walked along to a T intersection which ran down and out to the grass slope which led to the coast.
He was out of the laneways, adjusted the “map” in his head, turned and looked at what he had previously seen on the top of the slope.
He walked up to the top of the rise and a round building appeared.
‘Lighthouse perhaps?’ He thought.
LIGHTHOUSE. GROUND FLOOR
The ground level was a weird configuration.
A standard size room with a divider down the middle but as he moved around the divider, a set of stairs were against the far wall.
As he approached, he saw movement above and froze.
Getting his breathe back he went closer to the foot of the stairs and began to climb and saw what he had just seen moving.
LIGHTHOUSE. FIRST FLOOR
A projection.
The top of his head emerged and then he heard the twist of heels.
He was gripping the side of the floor beams jutting then went further up.
A woman stood with hands on hips then spun around.
Alex ducked then reappeared and saw the woman had walked across the floor chewing her nails and in doing so, the projection was gone.
A knocking sound.
She spun around.
Woman: ‘Hello?’
LIGHTHOUSE. GROUND FLOOR
Descending and appearing at the front door.
Alex: ‘Oh hi there. Sorry to disturb you. Just wanting to say hi. I’m Alex Harmony and I’m here for a little while and I just thought I’d introduce myself.’
She had her hands on her hips.
Alex: ‘Like I said, I’m sorry to have disturbed you. Cheerio.’
He was walking away smiling.
LAND
He heard something.
It was faint like grass rustling from a breeze.
Woman: ‘I’m sorry.’
LIGHTHOUSE. FIRST FLOOR
Heavy, large military binoculars were mounted on an equally impressive tripod.
She had her spindly fingers sliding down the lens covers.
He was sitting on the furthest end of a three seater lounge.
She silently sat on the edge at the extreme other end of another three seater.
There was another between them.
She looked at her glass of water and he saw this and gestured that he was fine.
They sat silently for some time.
Woman: ‘And what is it that you do-?’
Alex: ‘Alex.’ He said helping her.
He noticed; everything seemed painful for her.
‘I work for-. I’m an electrical contractor basically and my bosses are very good to me but I also have long service and wanted to go somewhere-.’
She tried to fold her arms.
Couldn’t.
Went to cross her legs and didn’t.
Her spindly arms, hands and legs seemed to have a mind of their own.
Alex: ‘Different?’ Whispering.
He thought he would leave and stood.
He could see she seemed really relieved with her head bowing to her knees.
He didn’t react and looked across the room for the stairs and saw from the corner of his eye a galley-style kitchen but with a difference.
A hose for a tap and a bucket for a sink.
LAND
Alex: ‘Thanks. Bye.’ From outside on the grass and walked away and then stopped.
He thought he would check for roof guttering, downpipes and drainage.
He walked all the way around and not only no signs of domestic drainage but; and he hadn’t noticed before, no lower windows.
‘I don’t want to know.’
To himself aloud.
5
Fractured
Light
&
Crockery
Cracks
LANDHe felt a desire to go and look over the rise of the downward slope to his left; further along past the lighthouse and as the grass past under him, a lengthy section of concrete emerged. He stopped.
It looked vast.
He decided to keep that
He decided to keep that
for later.
Alex: ‘Probably tomorrow.’ As he turned, his perspective was the rows of roof tops of the township.
Alex: ‘Probably tomorrow.’ As he turned, his perspective was the rows of roof tops of the township.
Nearly all the same height, size and colour.
He looked for the T intersection and felt he could see it.
One of the rows gained his interest.
His boots were on a combination of cobble stones, loose bitumen and patches of concrete.
All the glass panelling wound through the laneway both sides like mirrored serpents.
One “shopfront”
lured him.
He walked into the shop and was immediately consumed by wood panelling.
The “shop” looked straight out of first settlement days. A large, long, wide rectangle counter that almost reached the far wall and was exactly the same, if not identical to the walls that seem to go up forever into a darkness but also seem to loom over him like a heavy weight. They also looked stressed.
Another arch corridor A Crisp Voice: ‘Leave your money where you are on the counter.’ Alex nearly back-flipped.
One of his palms nearly slapping the old countertop.
One of his palms nearly slapping the old countertop.
A Crisp Voice: ‘The paper is down through there. Just leave your money on the counter.’ The crisp voice again and was raised this time treating him like a school child.
He looked everywhere for where the voice was coming from and then a slight movement.
From the other corner at the other end of the long counter.
He looked everywhere for where the voice was coming from and then a slight movement.
From the other corner at the other end of the long counter.
In a chair was an old woman. At least that is what he thought it was and then an arm moved along the armrest.
Alex: ‘I’m sorry,’ He quietly breathed out. ‘I didn’t see you there.’ He broke into a smile and went to walk around the counter to her. ‘Hi, I’m Alex.’ He extended his hand.
A Crisp Voice: ‘It’s ok. Just leave your money where you are.’
A Crisp Voice: ‘It’s ok. Just leave your money where you are.’
He could feel a cold breeze and the air around him encouraged him to go down the wooden arch corridor and into the light.
He dug into his pocket and found money and quietly placed it. He nodded and slowly walked down the corridor.
Just as he entered, he saw from the corner of his eye the figure move again but it looked weird. ‘Her knees are going up towards her head.’ He thought.
The warmth of the sun made him relax enough to look ahead.
The arch went further along but darker.
He was now in front of a vase of flowers on a table.
He just shook his head.
He just shook his head.
A pile of newspapers were on the table but as he approached, the headline looked animated.
The letters seemed as if they were jumbling and mixing with one and other.
He was fascinated; curious then a warm breeze gently caressed his back and he felt himself stumbling towards the table and then he looked down severely.
The bold, two line headline read.
"Deaths at Minigan’s Blow-Hole.
Tragedy at Gap."
Tragedy at Gap."
A banging sound and it was the twin glass door being pushed open by a strong breeze.
The sunlight poured in like a beam and directly hit the pile of newspapers catching a flower stem casting shadows across the front page creating the animated effect.
He was still mesmerised then the wind turned some pages and the flicking sound.
He snapped back, turned and walked out into an enclosed courtyard. ‘Beautiful.’ He thought and was caught-up in the wind swirling up in the courtyard.
Leaves raced past his eyes and somehow he saw a gap in the brick wall and before he knew it, he was outside in the neighbouring lane.