butterflies
Out of the clouded mist, the Ranch House restaurant appears. We follow a kaleidoscope of butterflies as they criss-cross in the foreground. The camera follows one of the butterflies as it flies through the entrance of the restaurant and traverses through the enchanting grounds of the property. And just when we think the journey is over, it continues, including a moment when the butterfly traverses over a koi pond. Until, alas, the butterfly flies away and the camera comes to rest on a Ranch House sign affixed to a large oak tree.
CHAPTER TITLES
The shot begins with the camera framed on a dining room table. A waiter’s hand enters frame and sets a plate down. The plate contains the wheel of astrology. The camera pushes in, focusing on 1 of the houses below:
2nd House: wealth
4th house: land
5th house: romance
7th House: marriage
8th house: resurrection
10th House: fame
11th House: community
12th House: retreat
Background: Alan is a devoted astrologer. To him, the astrological wheel is a cosmic crystal ball. Each house represents a key part of his life, from marriage to wealth to fame and everything in between.
FIRE
Alan becomes bombarded by memories of past rejection and failed connections. The cooking process becomes frenzied and violent. The image of a pan on fire will serve as a visual interpretation of Alan’s grief and heartache.
MOLD
Alan's dark inner psyche manifests as mold invading the Ranch House restaurant. We watch helplessly as fibrous mold grows and spreads across tree trunks and tables of food.
ZOOM OUT to space
In a continuous shot, we follow today's Ranch House servers as they move through a restaurant full of guests. Over this, we hear the voice of Interviewees as they continue to explain why Alan was the greatest influence in their lives. After a former wine steward says, “Alan opened the world,” we zoom out from the restaurant, beyond the clouds, beyond the stars, to Earth in space. Until alas we hear Alan say, “My, my you know the discovery is wonderful. It’s like the greatest thing. Discovery, not what I discover. But the discovery process itself is this!”