Daily Dialogue — August 2, 2013
MINISTER: We are here to honor Thomas James Sennett. He was born, May 7 1961, in Madison, Pennsylvania, and he was survived by his loving parents, Charles and Susan Sennett… The family has asked me to say a few words before we proceed. No words that I could say, would begin to describe the loss and grieving, one word that keeps ringing in my ear is Why? Why would God choose to take this little boy from us? I can’t give you an answer to that question, but I can tell you that God has chosen Thomas J for some very special reason, we must find solace in knowing that Thomas J is now in Gods care. In that face, there is no sorrow such as….
The ministers words fade into the very moving music
CAMERA IS ON VADA SLOWLY DESCENDING THE STAIRS AND LOOKING INTO THE FUNERAL ROOM, THE MUSIC, SCENE AND ACTIONS OF CHARACTERS IS GETTING TO THE POINT OF MAKING THE VIEWER CRY
Vada stops and sits on a step where she can look through and see Thomas J lying in his coffin, she begins to cry
BACK IN FUNERAL ROOM, VADA ENTERS AT THE BACK AND BEGINS TO SLOWLY MAKE HER WAY UP TO THE FRONT
MINISTER: ….disciples began to chastise them, and Jesus said “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (the minister notices Vada coming around the front of the
room) He laid his hands on their heads before he left that place, let us pray in silence.
Vada has made it right up to the coffin, which she leans over and crying, says the following…
VADA: Wanna go tree climbing Thomas J?
CAMERA DOES A CLOSE UP OF THOMAS J’S BEE STING COVERED FACE
CAMERA GOES BACK TO PREVIOUS SHOT INCORPORATING VADA AS WELL
VADA: His face hurts, and where is his glasses? He can’t see without his glasses! Put his glasses on! (Harry and Shelly are rapidly approaching Vada, Shelly takes hold of her and tries to pull her away) Put on his glasses! He was gonna be an acrobat.
HARRY: He’s gone sweetheart. He’s gone!
VADA: Get away, get away!!
— My Girl (1991), screenplay by Laurice Elehwany
The Daily Dialogue theme for the week is eulogy, suggested by Despina. Today’s suggestion by blknwite.
Trivia: The film’s original title was “Born Jaundiced”, which the producers understandably elected to change. To do that, they offered a $500 incentive to whichever Imagine employee who could come up with the best alternative. As a lot of the film is set in a funeral parlor, a lot of the suggestions were along the lines of “Mourning Glory”, “In Lieu of Flowers” and “Dearly Departed”. Other alternatives included “Vada!” (the name of Anna Chlumsky’s lead character) which was rejected on the grounds that it sounded like a South African uprising, and “I Am Woman”. Ultimately, it was the film’s producer Brian Grazer who came up with My Girl (and presumably pocketed the $500 reward himself).
Dialogue On Dialogue: And then there are eulogies that cause the tear ducts to spew, such as this one.
Comment Archive