A brief synopsis (or what I have of it so far):
-exchange student in Japan
-leaves at airport emotionlessly (or emotions seem fake) with parents
-theme = running away from problems, but they stay with him even in Japan
-problems reccur in both Japan life and cross-ocean phone convos with family
-conflicts appear with first host family, so he transfers to another; conflicts with school, but no change
-second host family is great, falls in love with daughter
-only deep emotion (other than anger) he shows in movie is crying on the plane leaving-you get a sense that he's crying because he's sad for leaving, but also because he's happy in resolving his conflicts back home
-whole movie, only hear parents over the phone, then at the end you see them at the airport
And what I have of the script:
Homestay
by
Trace Myers
FADE IN:
INT. AIRPORT - DAY
Lobby, off to the side of security check. BRIAN (17) stands, wearing a backpack and holding a roller-bag, his MOTHER and FATHER directly in front of him. He is emotionless and they are distant with each other, paying minimal attention to BRIAN while ignoring the other's presence.
BRIAN
So... I'm going.
MOTHER
Alright sweetie, you be sure to call when you get there.
Father smiles subtly.
FATHER
Just hang in there, you'll be okay.
Mother's cell phone rings, she answers and turns away.
MOTHER
(on phone)
What? We can't, I told you that! ...Can't you just do it yourself? It's not that hard, Jonathan! Fuck!
Mother walks away, arguing on the phone.
Father turns to watch her, then turns back to brian.
FATHER
Think she'll be back?
BRIAN
Yeah, I dunno. I think I'm just gonna go.
FATHER
Good-byes are overrated anyway.
BRIAN
Yeah.
Brian flashes a half-smile and walks away.
Father (B.G.) raises arm as if to wave, but drops it and turns.
Brian goes through security check; when showing ID's, one of them is his passport. (slow-mo) Coming out of security, he b-lines it for the terminal, and slowly begins to smile as he walks.
