Midway
Following a botched robbery, a criminal finds himself in a nightmarish dive bar with no idea how he got there.
When metaphors and universal human themes intersect, the result can be beautiful. Hauntingly nightmarish, as well.
Such is Paul Sheridan’s short Midway - the richly visual story of addict Jacob Sterling; he’s a man on a crash course with tragedy. Yet with the biggest decision still to come….
As the script opens, Jacob’s high on… well, whatever the substance is, it’s surely not “life”. Huddled in a trash filled car, he’s casing “First Colonial Bank.” Just adjacent: an ice cream shop. Waiting for the ideal moment to strike, Jacob pulls something from the glovebox of his car, and idly watches a woman stroll past with her five year old daughter. The little girl clutches a cartoon Panda balloon, bobbing in Jacob’s vision. A tableau of innocence, awaiting whatever sweet treats the day might supply…
RECORD SCRATCH.
Coming to, Jacob suddenly awakens in a dive bar. Almost instantly, several things seem… awry.
For instance, thee’s that bizarre RED STAIN on Jacob’s shirt. The bartender serving him fails to respond to what Jacob orders or observes – at best, Mr. Whiskey Slinger seems an AI stuck on loop.
Then there’s the jukebox inexplicably blasting songs no-one’s paid for: particularly the late, great Ornette Coleman with Focus on Sanity. Is that a lyrical metaphor? It certainly seems that way – especially considering what Jacob encounters next:
In the bathroom: A Sheriff’s Deputy. There’s a red stain on his shirt, too. As Jacob watches transfixed, the man observes:
DEPUTY (O.S.)
Some stains you just can't get out, no matter how hard you try.
Then there’s that pesky Panda Balloon Jacob encounters. A new splash of red mars its design… as does the HOLE in the panda’s head. Despite the obvious puncture, it just doesn’t seem to deflate.
And what about the dark haired man in a tattered suit, sitting at the far end of the bar? When Jacob engages him, the man – whose face seems to be “scratched out” - flashes shark teeth in a gruesome smile.
MAN IN BLACK
I am the one seeing you off.
He pulls out a BUS TICKET and holds it out toward Jacob.
MAN IN BLACK
To get you where you're going.
And where would THAT be, exactly?
Dear Readers, the Man in Black isn’t the only visitor to this forsaken bar. When Jacob’s life crosses paths (again) with the little girl, his life (and sanity, per Ornette Coleman) – are sure to be ripped apart.
A visual feast of human tragedy, karma and choice, Paul Sheridan’s Midway is a metaphysical gem for any director who’s equally comfortable with tales of human nature… and the cinematography needed to bring it to life. Or it that death? Either way, Midway's a direction audiences are sure to discuss and love!