At the End of the Day

September 22nd, 2011
7:00 pm

Directed by Dionisio Ceballos
Written by Dionisio Ceballos & Stephen W. Brown

Synopsis

Marte is desperate for work. He’s lost in a city where he can neither speak the language nor find his family. Whether by chance or fate, he wanders by the house of Fred Borders – where rose bushes sit in the hot morning sun, waiting for someone to plant them. Marte gets to work…

Fred is recently retired and about to begin an exercise program. But first he decides to have some waffles and bacon. When he opens his mouth for that first bite, he glances out the window and beholds Marte…

Fred rushes outside. An initial attempt at communication fails completely. Fred calls his wife Pam at the elementary school where she works. She enlists the Spanish teacher Dolores to translate. And a deal is seemingly struck between Fred and Marte.

Periodically Fred checks on Marte’s progress, fascinated by the way the stranger goes about his work. Fred even picks up a fast-food lunch for Marte similar to his own.

After a mid-afternoon siesta, Fred awakens to find the roses all planted. Marte has vanished — leaving behind both his hat and his payment. Fred cruises the neighborhood. No Marte. He drives further, searching frantically. He asks strangers if they’ve seen this man he tries to describe. Fred even ventures into a Latino store…

Finally, just as the sun is going down and Fred is about to give up the search… He spots Marte near the railroad tracks. Can the two men at last communicate and settle accounts?

The Hackworth IMAX Dome Theater at
The Tech Museum
201 South Market Street
San José, CA 95113