The Last Sunset

"When his son returns home from prison, an estranged father must accept his failings if he wants any chance of mending their relationship, before it’s too late."

We open on a Isaac, a quiet young man, as he’s being released from prison. There's a somberness in the air. What should be a joyful moment feels anything but. Something is deeply wrong.

Soon after, we meet Joe, an older man. Through an unusual news broadcast, he learns that prisons have begun releasing all their non-violent criminals. Then - a knock at the door.

To his surprise, he opens the door to find Isaac, his son, who we saw in prison. This catches Joe totally off guard. He invites Isaac inside and, through conversation, we learn it’s been quite some time since they last met. We get the distinct feeling they have a troubled past. Outside, we hear the beginnings of a thunderstorm.

They enjoy their last sunset together in the garden. We learn that what’s coming is no regular storm but that, when it strikes, it will be fatal. Isaac recounts a memory from his experience in prsion. Joe is taken utterly aback and still seems still to be dealing with the surprise return of his son.

As night falls, they play games and reminisce about memories of the past. Their game ends however when an argument breaks out. Isaac blames Joe for being an absent father, Joe denies it all, instead, blaming Isaac. Each says things they don't mean, inflicting great pain upon the other.

The rumbling outside has become more frequent, and suddenly there’s a terrible crash of thunder, crackling through every particle in the air. It dawns on Joe and Isaac that they don’t have as long left as they might like. Isaac steps outside and is confronted by the immensity of the storm. It's otherworldly; unlike anything he has ever seen. And they are running out of time.

Joe leaves to his bedroom, broken. Now totally alone, he processes the situation and finally faces himself. He is confronted by his deep-seated trauma as a failed father; a reality he has been avoiding for years.

Joe returns downstairs to Isaac, hoping to mend their relationship before it's too late. But when Isaac presses Joe for answers, he still can’t bring himself to admit his failings to his son. Instead, he feigns ignorance to the reality.

In a moment of clarity, Joe realises that all he is doing is wasting time and robbing both of them of the chance to be together in the end, as father and son. Joe finally explains the truth to Isaac about his past and about why he was such an absent father. Isaac is overcome with emtion.

In their final moments, Joe takes a seat beside his son. Each of them with their heart on their sleeve. Holding nothing back from one another, they are now finally able move past their pain, and spend their final hours together, as father and son. As we fade to black, the thunder outside seems to fade to insignificance.