Basket

Description

Janey is a lonely 12 year old girl who adores dogs, but doesn’t have one. She lives only with her angry, often drunk, Dad. We open with Janey sobbing, inconsolable. Dominant Dad paces, in the aftermath of a rage. Clear this is not the first or last, but this feels different even without knowing them. A hammer gripped in Dad’s fist. On the floor a fluffy toy dog writhes, its plastic head caved in. Bleating a weak malfunctioned bark. Dad’s anger directed only at himself now. He’s sorry. He always is. But “that yapping was doin my head in” Dad pleads. Janey flees to her small bedroom, in which everything is puppy themed. She locks the door as Dad stamps up the stairs. He knocks softly on the door. “I have a mate” says Dad “whose just had puppies…I can get us one if you want?”. Janey stops crying. Dad’s mate lives in squalor and only has one puppy left. Janey wanted a girl, but this is a little grubby boy. “Soft little runt, won’t even leave it’s basket” Dad says. But the moment Janey names him “Basket” she promises to take him somewhere better and love him forever. Basket trusts her and Janey naively promises Dad a puppy will make him happy too. The relationship between girl and puppy blossoms like in all of Janey’s favourite movies. Janey the happiest she has ever been. But nothing makes Dad happy. His shouting and chaos scares nervous Basket and soon shows Basket it is ok to bark and growl. Janey tries to hide Basket’s behaviour from Dad until Dad upsets Janey and protective Basket bites him. No real danger, but Dad is fearful of how strong a bigger Basket could become. Janey does all she can to show that Basket really is a good boy but Dad’s fears of losing his household power overwhelm him. So much so that Dad plans to drown Basket. Dad tells Janey he’s taking Basket fishing but Janey sees him pack a sack and rocks! Janey grabs Basket and they run.They flee deep into the countryside, to a favourite spot for dog walkers. Janey leaves Basket with a note begging the reader to take care of him. Janey watches from the trees. A kindly woman with more dogs than most could handle comes across Basket and takes him as her own. Janey watches the excited dogs welcome Basket into their pack. She follows them back to the ladies’ cottage. As the door closes Basket is gone. Janey’s heartbreak bitter-sweet, believing Basket has a valuable future. As sorrowful Janey drags herself to school the next morning, she’s stunned to see the same dog lady in the local shop. Putting up an advert. We next see Janey knock on the door of the cottage, triggering a throng of barks. One yap belongs to Basket. Janey bites her nervous smile. We see the advert gripped in her hand “Dog walker wanted”.

Biblical Connection

Exodus Chapter 2. I find the story of baby Moses very powerful. The images of him abandoned as those who love him watch from a distance cinematic. In this adaptation baby Moses is represented by Basket, a nervous loveable puppy. Pharaoh feared the growth in numbers of the Israelite slaves would one day overpower him. He decreed all their newborn boys be drowned. Here, Dad fears losing power within his dysfunctional house. He does not see weak puppy Basket as dangerous but fears the powerful dog Basket could become. Young Janey represents Jochebed, mother of Moses. She considers Basket her only friend and pledges to keep Basket safe. Dad’s distrust grows monstrous, and he plans to drown Basket. Janey must protect Basket and truly believes that Basket has a significant future and decides to surrender him and put her faith in strangers. Believing Basket is gone, Janey is heartbroken but like Jochebed, who became her baby’s nurse, destiny hands Janey a way back to Basket. As his dog walker. Our hearts will be with Janey’s bravery all the way. Her coming of age story is one of faith, protection and sacrifice. Putting another’s life you value before your own happiness.