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Baby Max - VR or animated short film concept (2020)
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You are Max.
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You look around, taking in a lounge room. There is a front door to your right and stairs with a baby gate to your left. You can't look down properly because your vision is impaired by white lacy frills going all the way around your field of vision.
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You see Mum sitting on the couch reading a magazine. She looks at you, smiles and calls you over because you have something on your face.
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You wobble over to her slowly and carefully. She reaches out her hand which comes underneath the lacey bonnet, towards you. With her soft and gentle hand, she wipes something off your cheek and smooths down what must be a stray hair on top of your head. She calls you 'Max darling' and 'Max sweetie' as she fusses, also 'Max baby' even though she admits “you're so big… now that you're eighteen months old”.
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The sound of KEYS IN THE DOOR, Dad is home!
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Mum's smile fades. She stands up and now you are level with the hem of her dress. Mum mutters something about finishing dinner and walks to the kitchen.
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Dad comes inside and hangs his coat up. He walks towards you, bends down, cups your chin and gives you a quick kiss, saying he loves you, then follows Mum into the next room.
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On his way past the glass coffee table, he puts down something that rattles. You make your way over to investigate. The glass coffee table is too high for you to reach but from underneath you can see it is a soft round ring with bright dots. A toy for you!
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Shouts come from the kitchen distracting you. Mum and Dad are fighting again. You turn and head to the kitchen where you peek around the doorframe to see Mum and Dad standing on either side of the bench.
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Their voices are raised and their arms are thrashing wildly in the air. They are arguing over who you will be going to live with after something called 'a divorce'. Each insists you will live with them and not the other.
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Mum spots you. Her body changes, arms dropping to her sides. Her voice goes soft. She squats down and puts out her arms beckoning for you to go to her, tears in her eyes. Dad says sorry and assures you they weren't fighting because of you.
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You walk towards them, past the oven. The oven light is on and you can see a yummy-looking chicken roasting inside.
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Mum and Dad have lowered their voices and now argue through gritted teeth, grumbling that it is the other one upsetting you and these things should not be discussed in your presence.
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Once you get to mum she gives a weak smile. She says something about the lace coming off and needing to be re-glued, as she takes off whatever was on your head. You catch a quick glimpse of a clear plastic cone in her hand before she stands up placing it on the bench out of sight.
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A loud DING from beside you, the oven is finished. The light has gone off. You can now see your reflection. Your golden coat, your red collar and your front paws are in casts.