Two strangers stranded in the Scottish Highlands during snowfall team up to try and get home for Christmas.

SYNOPSIS:

It’s Christmas eve in the Scottish Highland town of Fort William. Rob (34) is a hard working, straight laced man. He plays safe and by the rules. He has a sensible job, a clear path and the perfect attractive girlfriend Nicki (32), or so he thinks. An ill-judged plan to propose marriage leaves Rob abandoned and trying to make his way home to Glasgow as the weather takes a turn for the worst. Isolated at a deserted Highland train station with heavy snow falling all around, Rob meets Jen. Jen (36) is a quirky free spirit; dressed to impress and laden with bags of Christmas presents, luggage and a ukulele. Jen has just had her heart broken. While turning up at her boyfriend Mark’s family retreat to surprise him, she is surprised to discover Mark (38) is in fact married and father to a young child.

Jen and Rob realise that there won’t be a train passing this way anytime soon due to the weather. Jen convinces Rob they should pool their resources and try and get home in time for Christmas. After they fail to find any other forms of available transport and a brief altercation with the only local taxi driver, Jen hatches a plan to “borrow” Mark’s car. Jen takes Rob to the nearby holiday home where Jen sneaks around to the back door where she knows his keys are kept. Under the cover of Mark and his wife screaming at each other over his adultery, Jen picks up the car keys. Convincing Rob she has permission to borrow the car, the pair set off across the winter covered Rannoch Moors in Mark’s old clapped out Volvo estate.

Rob soon discovers the car is in fact stolen and is afraid that he may end up spending Christmas in jail. Jen makes light of the situation, claiming it’s less than Mark deserved for his infidelity. The unlikely pair are soon met by a farmer in a Land Rover who advises them to turn back as the road is disappearing under the snow. They ignore his warnings and soon find their old Volvo stuck in the snow. Abandoning the car, the pair continue on foot, which is easier said than done for Jen in her 4 inch festive heels, they start to bond as they continue on their journey. As night falls the pair discover the isolated Clachaig Inn, though first they must navigate their way across a car park where they find a group of festive doggers complete with their Santa spandex and yuletide logs!

Greeted by the obviously merry night manager Bhupinder, the weary travellers book the last room at the Inn. To their surprise they find they must share a small double bed. Rob is mortified, vowing to sleep on the floor, while Jen takes it in her stride and makes light of the situation. Settling into their shared room they Tip-toe around the reality of the shared bed. However, Jen doesn’t let it spoil her attempts to get into the festive spirit. Rob stands in the corner; cold, wet and grumpy. He is taken aback by Jen’s generosity when she dips into her bags of festive treats and pulls out a bottle of expensive malt whisky and a Christmas jumper for Rob to change into.

Our imperfect strangers descend to the bar for dinner. The bar is decked out like an old log cabin, they both take to the homely setting immediately, as have the motley crew of fellow guests. A dozen or so weary travellers are lounging around the room; two single parents with their social media obsessed teenage offspring, a jovial but drunk looking pair of elderly friends and a grieving same sex widow enduring her first Christmas alone. During dinner Rob and Jen share the bottle of whiskey, gradually opening up to one another and sharing their tragic love stories, punctuated by occasional interruptions by their fellow guests. On a small stage in the corner a trio plays soft Americana, stoically avoiding the predictable festive classics, reflecting the bars despondent atmosphere. Jen requests the band play some Christmas classics, they oblige but with an Americana spin. Jen eventually encourages Rob to dance, in a vain attempt at cheering him up. The pair are brought together through their troubles and the intense emotions within them erupt into unexpected romance. Their drunken passion continues back in the room as they temporarily cast off their troubles and give into the moment, forgetting the world outside and letting go.

Just before sunrise, Rob gets up, dresses and leaves, we are left to think he has walked out on Jen while she sleeps.

Dawn comes and Jen wakes up alone as she finds the room has been transformed into a festive wonderland; tinsel is draped on every surface, while a miniature tree sits at the foot of the bed. Rob then returns to the room with breakfast in bed; his Christmas gift to her. They continue celebrating their day with the other guests. Each group sits at their own designated table, playing out their own festive story, but a furtive spirit slowly overtakes them. The guests connect across the restaurant and they join together in a spontaneous and joyous Christmas banquet. The teen romantics find each other, much to the despair of their singleton parents, who also fall victim to the mistletoe. The elderly couple whilst adopting the lonely widow as their own, lead the group in some impromptu carolling. Rob encourages Jen to get out her ukulele and sing a song. She plays while he drums with his cutlery, joining in with all the carol singers. She finds the confidence and plays her own song bringing a poignancy to the proceedings. Rob is incredibly moved and uplifted by Jen’s emotive performance. At no point do Jen and Rob mention the practicalities or longevity of their romance; they just allow themselves to live in this happy moment as long as it lasts.

The next day the weather begins to clear and our duo reluctantly continue their journey home. Sitting next to each other on the bus they begin to reflect on the events of the last few days, realising they have helped one another through their heartache, and that the possibility of healing is now on the horizon. Once back in the city they part company without regret or sadness, moving forward with their own separate lives. They reluctantly walk away in opposite directions.

SCREENPLAY AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

contact : ryan@journeyboundfilms.co.uk