THE GARDEN (Drama)
Inspired by a true story

2001, Forty-four-year-old MILDRED STRAND, stares at the sunrise until it burns her eyes. She turns to her garden, which lies naked and freshly turned with all the flowers waiting, in perfect lines, to be planted. She takes a tattered pile of papers out of her pocket and reads them over. Whatever they contain brings energy to her tired body and she returns to her task.

1977, twenty-year-old JAMES STRAND, sings passionately to a crowd of adoring fans in a bar in small town Ontario. Across the room, he spots nineteen-year-old Mildred. They soon fall in love as James shares his visions of stardom and tells Mildred she'll be with him every step of the way.

2001, PETER STRAND arrives at the Vancouver airport where his estranged brother, JIMMY, meets him. Hopes of building a relationship are dashed as trying to deal with the past in silence tears them apart. Things go from bad to worse as Peter falls for JESSICA, a local girl with an abusive father.

1977, Mildred gets pregnant and James trades centre stage for factory floor. They have two boys, Jimmy and Peter. As the years go by, James' resentment turns into violence against both Mildred and the boys. Mildred's shame and love for James keeps her chained to his side. But as the boys grow so does their contempt and they get out at the first opportunity.

2001, Peter, calls Jessica with a plan to run away together but she refuses. When Jessica is found murdered, Peter is the main suspect to both the police and Jimmy.

2001, Mildred hasn't seen Peter in months or Jimmy in years. With the loneliness getting harder to bear, she receives a letter from Jimmy saying that she is going to be a grandmother. She decides that one way or another, she'll have her family back.

2001, Peter, returns to the place where he first met Jessica, determined to be with her again. Jimmy, realizing his mistake, rushes to try and save him.

2001, Mildred stares at the sun as the earth absorbs it. She turns back to her freshly planted garden and thinks how the earth has had a busy day. Then she looks at the little Popsicle stick cross. Mildred smiles at her newfound freedom and dreams of being with her boys again.