Gruff

A “Northwest Digital” FILM
WRITTEN BY Louis Mendiola and Gareth Van Niekerk

Empty streets. Scarce food. No one to fix your watch. This is Robert Powel’s life as the last man on earth. Drifting day to day aimlessly, the lonely theatre stagehand struggles to find a reason to live as despair and desolation sink in. That is until he finds his favourite childhood book, “The Billy Goats Gruff”. Inspired, Robert begins adapting the classic tale of the three goats facing off against an evil troll for the stage.

After months of struggling with his feuding alternate personalities, Robert’s work finally pays off as opening day arrives. Although initially jittery, Robert gives it his all as he belts the last line to the closing song. Taking a bow, Robert relishes in his achievement until he hears clapping. It is not one of his alternate personalities, but a stranger lurking in the shadows. Scared, Robert calls out to the stranger as it creeps through the darkness. Catching glimpses of a large caveman-like Savage, Robert flees. The Savage, however, quickly corners him as Robert pleads for his life.

Suddenly, a gunshot echoes throughout the theatre as the Savage growls viciously. Wounded, the Savage scampers away into the darkness. Looking up, Robert finds Billie, a battle hardened warrior, holding a sniper rifle. Reloading her gun, Billie mentions how odd it is for a Savage to be above the surface during the day; their eyes do not deal with daylight well. Although shaken by the sudden appearances of other people, Robert is relieved to have someone to finally talk to. Someone real.

Through Billie, Robert discovers that a subterranean race of Savages have overthrown humanity in order to consume all of the surface resources. Since the Savage-uprising, Billie has been tracking the Savages down in order to find her kidnapped daughter. Although most of the prisoners taken by the Savages are used for food, Billie has faith that her daughter is still alive; it’s the only thing keeping her alive. Consulting his alternate personalities, Robert decides to join Billie on her journey to save her daughter.

Robert learns how to battle the Savages through Billie’s guidance as the two encounter several more. Although they are strong and vicious, the Savages have their weaknesses and Billie has mastered the art in exploiting them.

Along the way, Robert’s alternate personalities grow stronger as Billie eventually notices Robert talking to himself. Sensing Robert had gone slightly mad due to his isolation, Billie seeks to help Robert deal with his own issues. One of the personalities takes issue with Billie’s offer to help. Feeling threatened, the personality tells Billie to mind her own business. Hurt and offended, Billie heads off alone.

Things quickly take a turn for the worse when Billie is captured. Scared and remorseful, Robert realises that he will have to go underground, find the courage to take on the Savages and save his friend. Robert begins the dangerous journey down.

But what will Robert find in the dark? What lurks ‘under the bridge’?

Based on the 2009 48hours film “Gruff”