The Unlikely Metamorphosis of Lord Reginald Campbell 3rd

Description

A comedy about Lord Reginald Campbell 3rd, a decadent, eccentric aristocrat who loves 18th Century cosplay. He’s renowned for being mean and heartless, a descendant of the infamous Campbell clan. Conversely, he views himself as a generous philanthropist; feeding local orphans with food scraps and providing his enslaved servant with work. On a trip to the Scottish Highlands, Campbell sees his life flash before him when he’s thrown off his horse, into a loch which strips him of his possessions and identity. A nun obsessed with ‘stranger danger’ accompanying children, hurries past the injured Campbell by the roadside - mistaking him for a tramp. An American tourist - with upset stomach, asks Campbell for directions to the nearest ‘potty stop’ - but doesn’t help him. Amazingly, arch-rival, Fraser MacDonald helps - taking him to an inn where an eccentric innkeeper nurses him. Heavily bandaged, Campbell awakens to discover his accident has triggered ‘Foreign Accent Syndrome’ - he no longer sounds posh but Cockney. Grateful for another chance in life to redeem himself and humbled that his enemy rescued him, Campbell returns home changed, frees his serf, opens his mansion to the orphans and metamorphoses into a kinder, more generous man.

Biblical Connection

The parable of the Good Samaritan, (Luke 10:25-37), is about a Jewish traveller robbed, beaten and left for dead. A Priest and a Levite ignored him and walked on. Surprisingly, a Samaritan (historical enemies of the Jews) helped him by bandaging his wounds, putting him on his donkey and paying for his stay at an inn. In this adaptation, I want to focus on the traveller’s story represented by Campbell. What kind of person was he before the incident? Why didn’t some people help him? What was his stay with the innkeeper like and how was his life altered by these events? In this contemporary version Campbell’s injuries are from a riding accident and his possessions lost in the loch. By touching on Scottish history by way of the 1692 Glencoe Massacre - where 38 MacDonalds were murdered by their guests, the Campbells, this also gives a unique take to the story. The bible characters of Jews despising Samaritans are replaced by MacDonalds hating Campbells for the sins of their ancestors. This film is about how a life-threatening event can be a positive wake up call, allowing someone a second chance to amend their ways and become a better person.