The Fisherman’s Wife
ALAN NAFZGER’s The Fisherman’s Wife
The Fisherman’s Wife – Pecan Street Press
Lubbock ● Austin ● Fort Worth
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The Fisherman’s Wife is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Amazon edition
Copyright © 2015 Alan Nafzger
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 9781072132028
THE FISHERMAN’S WIFE
Written by Alan Nafzger
The Fisherman’s Wife FADE IN
EXT. FISHING BOAT AND DOCK – SMALL FISHING VILLAGE – DAY
TITLE CREDITS
The Fisherman’s Wife
RAMON (19) is a relatively successful fisherman. He has a tiny boat but he brings in a healthy catch. He examines the catch and seems happy. He motors the fish to the dock. He unloads the fish into plastic containers and totes them to a small fish market and butcher shop. Several boys help bring the fish up to a market. Ramon gives each boy a small fish for their effort. The boys seem happy and run away. One boy brings the fish home to his mother, who greets him at the door. She takes the fish and waves to Ramon, thanking him.
EXT. FISH MARKET – SMALL FISHING VILLAGE – DAY
The Fisherman’s Wife
JAZZY (18) is Ramon’s wife and operates the tiny fish market. She sells the fish that her husband catches. The first thing we notice is her energy and her skill with a butcher knife. They fish simply open up when she looks at them. She works hard and fast and has an appealing smile for the customers. She is actually the ultimate sales lady.
We see her sell several of the fish. Her clients like the price and they like her. She smiles even more when she sees Ramon approaching from the dock with tubs of fish to sell. She maneuvers to create more space in their tiny refrigerator. By the time Ramon and the boys arrive with the fish, she has some space available. It is a hot summer day and Jazzy throws some ice, from a tiny kitchen (counter-size) ice maker, on the fish she has on display.
The Fisherman’s Wife
Ramon’s grandmother, GRACE (68) is there at the butcher shop. She has a chair that she rarely moves from. She has the beginnings of dementia. She is observing. RAMON hands over the fish and together they pack them away and display the rest.
Ramon and Jazzy have a humble butcher shop and a humble boat and a humble house in a tiny little fishing village on Luzon not far from Manila.
The Fisherman’s Wife
END TITLES
Ramon hugs his grandmother.
Ramon brings out a hand-cranked homemade ice cream machine. He pours in the cream, sugar, an egg, vanilla and berries. He mixes it all up and closes the lid. He pours in ice and rock salt in the outside compartment. He sits and turns the crank.
Jazzy deals with a customer.
CUSTOMER
Oh, you have so many nice fish.
JAZZY
Thank you. My husband is an excellent fisherman.
CUSTOMER
But you have so many.
The Fisherman’s Wife
CUSTOMER #2
I’ve heard the other villages are having problems.
JAZZY
I’ve heard that also. But not to worry.
CUSTOMER
That’s right; this village has three fishing boats.
They look out into the tiny cove and sure enough there are three small fishing boats. The two other fisherman are loading their catch onto small trucks.
CUSTOMER
Well okay. I won’t worry. I will take this one.
The Fisherman’s Wife
The customer pays and takes a fish.
JAZZY
Thank you and come back.
All the while she has been speaking to the client, Ramon has been turning the crank on the ice cream maker and watching Jazzy. When finished with the transaction, Jazzy looks at Ramon to.
JAZZY
Are you ready yet?
RAMON
It’s ready.
JAZZY
Well, lets’ go.
RAMON
(to his grandmother)
You are okay to watch the shop?
The Fisherman’s Wife
GRACE
Yes, yes. You two newly weds run along.
JAZZY
We are going to get cleaned up for dinner. I’ll come close the shop when we are done.
Grace chuckles.
RAMON
Thanks, gran.
Ramon and Jazzy, with ice cream bucket in hand, run to their tiny home one block away.
INT. TINY HOME – DAY
Ramon and Jazzy strip down on the path to the shower. They are kissing and removing clothes the entire way. Clothes leave a trail from the door to the shower. They are in the shower kissing and cleaning. She takes an inferior soap and scrubs Ramon all the while kissing him and smiling. Ramon does the same.
They leave the shower for bed. They are rolling around in the bed and are about to make love, but Jazzy stops. She smells Ramon, so Ramon smells her in return. She jumps up and hand in hand they reenter the shower. They repeat the process.
They leave the shower and roll around in the bed. Tight shot on their faces.
RAMON
Are you ready?
Jazzy nods, yes.
JAZZY
Oh, oh. That tickles.
Jazzy wiggles around a bit.
RAMON
Just lie still for a second, I’ll be done in a minute.
JAZZY
But, it feels funny. And, it’s cold.
The camera pulls back and we see Ramon with a spoon eating ice cream off her stomach.
JAZZY
Well? Can I have a bite?
Ramon takes a spoonful and gives it to Jazzy.
JAZZY
Hey, that’s pretty good.
RAMON
Best batch yet.
JAZZY
I’m glad.
EXT. FISH MARKET – SMALL FISHING VILLAGE – DAY
Clients arrive and select fish. Grace doesn’t get up from her chair. She just points to the counter.
GRACE
Just put the money on the table and take the fish. I’m too old for this.
CUT TO minutes later…
Ramon rolls off of Jazzy. Both have a satisfied look on their faces. They stare up at the ceiling.
They get up and get in the shower again.
Jazzy dries herself off, dresses and goes to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Ramon dries himself off, dresses and goes to the butcher shop. Grace is asleep in the chair. Ramon collects the money off the table. He throws the remaining fish in an ice chest and throws some ice in there as well.
He gently wakes his grandmother.
Ramon
Gran, it’s time for dinner.
Grace rises with difficulty; she seems to be arthritic. Ramon helps her up.
Grace exits and begins to walk to Ramon’s home.
Ramon closes and locks the shop.
Ramon returns to his home.
INT. KITCHEN – TINY HOME – DAY
When Ramon gets to his house. The table is set. Grace is sitting and Jazzy is at the stove. Ramon washes his hands at the kitchen sink. Ramon and Jazzy whisper while washing their hands…
Ramon
This afternoon was sure good.
JAZZY
Yes, it was.
(half beat)
What was that flavour?
Ramon
Churros Con Leche.
JAZZY
Very good.
Ramon
Thank you.
JAZZY
No, thank you!
Jazzy gives him a sexy wink and brings a gourmet meal to the table. Ramon follows her.
INT. KITCHEN TABLE – TINY HOME – DAY
Grace is already sitting at the table. She is exhausted.
Jazzy brings the platter to the table.
Ramon
And people say I married you for your cooking!
JAZZY
You did, didn’t you?
Ramon
Well there are a few other qualities.
JAZZY
Glad to hear it.
INT. FISHING BOAT – DAY
Ramon has caught many fish in his net and he brings them on board. He is motoring back to the dock and throws in a sport fishing line. He slowly trolls the boat and something big grabs the line and pulls. Ramon shuts off the engine and returns to the fishing pole.
Later…
Ramon has returned with something incredible – a fish so large he can’t get it out of the water. It is a 1000 lbs swordfish. It is lashed to the side of the boat. Slowly word is spread and soon everyone from the village is down at the dock.
A youth with an ancient and grainy video camera records nearly everything – dragging the fish out of the water, the hoisting and weighing it, the butchering it and then the meal the fish makes.
The other two fishermen come to look. They organize an effort to get the fish out of the water and on the deck. The entire village helps drag the fish out of the water. One fisherman motions the others to just hang on. The village stand around looking at the fish.
Later, the fisherman returns with a scale not entirely suitable for recording a world record.
They hang the fish from the flag pole at the village school but it bends (ruins) the pole.
The one fisherman disappears again and returns with a truck with a large hoist on the back. He attaches the scale to the hoist and they lift the fish into the air. The fish about pulls the truck over backwards. The sound of the hoist motor straining to pull up the fish is key to the scene.
The scale is crude. The one fisherman gets a tall ladder and must stand on top of that to read the scale.
One fisherman
Over 1000 pounds. It is one notch over; lets call it. 1020 lbs.
SECOND FISHERMAN
It is a world’s record.
One fisherman
Maybe a record for the Philippines. But I’m not sure about the entire world.
SECOND FISHERMAN
But perhaps right?
FISH MONTAGE
A WOMAN in the village has a cell phone and a takes a photo of Ramon and the two other fishermen posing with the fish. She sends it to her cousin, who sends it to their cousin, who sends it to their cousin, who sends it to a journalist for a newspaper in Manila.
Before the fish is cut down, the photojournalist is on the scene. He takes some more photos of the fish. They drive the truck over to Ramon’s fish market, for scale. They take some more photos. The journalist climbs the ladder and photographs the scale. First the three fishermen, and then they take a photo of just Ramon with his fish.
The village lets down the fish and butchers it on the dock. The blood in the water draws what seems to be 100 of sharks.
The village has a feast. All the village get all they can store in their small refrigerators and ice chests. The two fishermen with trucks make phone calls; they pack the trucks full of swordfish and drive to their buyers.
The innards of the swordfish are pitched out to the village dogs and soon they have eaten so much they all lay down with their bellies stuffed. They actually look miserable.
The reporter documents everything and remains for the meal.
The village gathers for a real spread. There are tables out at the school and everyone brings the cooked fish back on platters.
END FISH MONTAGE
The journalist and Jazzy are sitting next to each other at the table. Everyone is chatting. Ramon is still being congratulated. Ramon is on top of the world.
JOURNALIST
This will be in the Sunday morning newspaper.
JAZZY
Okay.
JOURNALIST
There will be other reporters, television maybe and radio. You might even have some tourists and bloggers who want to interview your husband. It’s good for tourism and to draw sport-fishermen to the islands.
JAZZY
I understand.
JOURNALIST
Running a business, I figured you would.
JAZZY
Okay, I see. I will go to Manila and get some new clothes.
JOURNALIST
It looks like you have a successful business.
JAZZY
It’s okay.
JOURNALIST
It’s going to get better after Sunday.
JAZZY
Oh, thank you. Ramon is a serious fisherman. He takes feeding this town seriously.
The journalist makes a note of Jazzy’s “serious” comments. It will end up in the story.
JOURNALIST
Well, he should get some recognition.
INT. SCHOOL – DAY
The young person with the crude video camera uses the school’s internet to upload the video to Facebook.
EXT. FISH SHOP – Village – DAY
Ramon and his mother are at the butcher shop. Grace is in her chair. No on is coming by to buy fish (their refrigerators and ice chests are full of swordfish) but many in the village walk by smiling and waving. Many congratulate Ramon again.
Ramon notices at least five groups of tourists – both Filipino and foreigners – walking around the village. They are looking at the fishing boats at the dock. They examine the huge severed fish head; a dog is licking it but is still too stuffed to eat on it.
The tourists spend most of the time watching the sharks that are still swirling about under the dock.
They are at the school looking at the bent flagpole. They look at Ramon in the butcher shop and point.
VISITOR
You are the fisherman who caught the record swordfish?
RAMON
Yes. Hello, my name is Ramon.
VISITOR
Congratulations.
GRACE
This is my grandson, the world famous fisherman!
VISITOR
Well, wonderful. You should be very proud.
GRACE
Thank you.
INT. JEEPNEY TO MANILA – DAY
Jazzy is riding the Jeepney to town.
INT. MALL OF ASIA – MANILA – DAY
Jazzy picks out a new shirt and pants for Ramon. She is about to leave but she catches a smell in the air. She follows it around a corner or two. She finds the soap and cleaning aisle.
There are the Western made soaps – Dial, Dove, Irish Spring, Zest. She turns her back to the shelf and smells each through the packaging. Clearly, Jazzy’s olfactory system is highly developed.
At the bottom of the shelf, there is a fictional soap manufactured in the Philippines. The brand is “Real”.
Jazzy bends over picks it up and smells it. She prefers it. She reads the packaging and decides to purchase it.
EMPLOYEE
Can I help you?
JAZZY
Why is this brand at the bottom?
EMPLOYEE
The Western brands pay for the shelf space.
JAZZY
What?
EMPLOYEE
They pay to be here in the middle at eye level. The brands that can’t pay, we put at the bottom or at the very top.
Jazzy looks at the top shelf and the bottom shelf. She gives the store employee an uneasy look.
JAZZY
Thank you.
Jazzy reaches down and pulls up four more bars of “Real”.
INT. JEEPNEY TO VILLAGE – DAY
There are some uptight and worried people on the bus with Jazzy. Jazzy returns to the village with one of the bars of soap holding it on her chin. Her eyes are closed. She doesn’t know anything about “scent therapy” but has invented something near it. The wind is entering the window and blows over the soap. Pretty soon the entire bus is relaxed.
INT. FISH MARKET – BUTCHER SHOP – DAY
Grace is asleep in her chair. Some tourists walk buy but don’t stop.
INT. BATHROOM – TINY HOME – DAY
Jazzy is bathing the next-door neighbor’s kids. There is a BOY (6) and a GIRL (5). The children are grumpy.
GIRL
I know we don’t have a daddy, but why isn’t my mommy giving us a bath?
JAZZY
She is busy working in Manila.
GIRL
I don’t want to have a bath here.
JAZZY
Please, I don’t have time to wrestle with you.
GIRL
Your soap smells funny.
The little girl points to the old soap.
GIRL
It makes me smell like Mr. Ocampo.
JAZZY
It does?
Jazzy thinks and smells the old soap. The little girl seems to have a point.
JAZZY
Well, Mr. Ocampo drinks a lot of beer and that is what you smell.
GIRL
I don’t want to smell like beer.
Jazzy has put the good new Real soap in the shower. She resists using the good soap on children. But the kids are just so cute and convincing.
JAZZY
I have a surprise for you.
Jazzy gets up and opens the Real soap bar from the shower.
The little girl smells and she likes it. Jazzy begins to soup up the little girl.
The little boy wants to use the new soap also.
BOY
I don’t want to smell like beer either.
JAZZY
Good for you.
Jazzy soups him up too. The children are happy.
EXT. TINY HOME – DAY
The children’s mother has returned from Manila and is walking toward the village. Jazzy opens the door and the children run into their mother’s arms.
Ramon has been cranking on the ice cream maker again all the while staring at the house. He sees the children leaving. He takes the ice cream and walks toward the tiny house.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33812370-the-fisherman-s-wife