Gooseberry Fields

Synopsis:

An opening montage reveals that in the late 60s, a young man named Rio inherited an apartment complex. He then offered all his friends a years’ free rent, each in their own flat, with the provision that they create a co-operative community based on love and peace. Taking a page out of the Beatles songbook, Rio put a few berries forward for the name of his apartment buildings: blue and rasp split the vote, leaving goose for the win.

Flash forward to the 21st century. It’s evening in Gooseberry Fields. Rio, now 70 years old, brings a drink cart to the common courtyard. He's accompanied by Fay, his wife, an artist who sculpts strange creatures that are dappled throughout the GF gardens.

The couple share stories and martinis with local reporter, Justine, who’s doing an article on their unique community. This article is important to Rio and Fay as they want to sell the complex and need to publicize just how special a place it is. Fay is in a wheelchair and with aging comes increased medical expenses. They feel their only option is to sell, but they hope to find just the right person to take over GF. The residents don’t know about this plan yet, but Rio hopes Justine’s article will help them understand.

Rio hands Justine a drink and tells her: “Gooseberry Fields is a co-operative community of some hundred and fifty people, all of various ethnicities, genders, ages…” Nearby some residents start to bang on pots: “…and talents,” Rio adds. He explains that ever since the pandemic, this group has made noise for the frontline workers. But now, two years after all lockdowns have ended, they just can’t stop.

Rio points out a lively octogenarian who “fancies himself something of a Gene Krupa on the stewpot”. White hair flying with his vigorous pot-and-spoon manoeuvres, he is one of the original residents.

Rio, Justine and Fay sip cocktails while good-naturedly enduring the noise. Not far from them Zeke and his husband Porter barbecue chicken on their grill. Another neighbour, Prue, waters her azaleas with the garden hose. Justine makes notes.

As the noisemakers conclude their session, Wing, a teenage movie buff wearing a sequinned gown, arrives to set up a screen and projector for the evening’s movie. Fay tells Justine: "That's Wing. They are the great great great grand lovechild of Anna May Wong and Valentino." Justine looks confused. Fay: "You're welcome. I mean, you can use that." She points to Justine's notebook.

A man swears loudly at a squirrel digging in his potted plants. Justine takes a photo as he takes a broom to the rodent: it climbs up a drain pipe to a window ledge where a woman is putting out peanuts for it. Rio says that the situation about sums up neighbour relations in GF: the push and pull of opposing forces. "Or - it's just plain nuts," Justine offers.

Interupting the man's swearing is Prue as she blares at Zeke and Porter about the evils of smoke from a bbq. Porter flips her off and before you can say “vegetarian”, she’s dousing their dinner with the garden hose.

This sets off a keystone cop chase around the courtyard. Someone’s pet dog joins in the chase, barking all the way. Wing’s movie screen gets knocked down so they quickly shield their projector.

Two Goodwill Ambassadors show up. Rio says: "They're peacekeepers." Justine replies that it looks like a tough job. Rio responds: “I've seen compassion and creativity solve neighbour problems many times. Other times it's hoses and brooms. But always with love." Fay remarks: "Oh, that's good, Rio," then turns to Justine: "Put that in your article, dear."

Rio gets up to go help Wing set up their screen again and Justine follows. She snaps shots as, in mid-chase, Prue slips and falls on the grass that’s been soaked by the hose. This causes the grill to go flying, only to land in her azaleas. The dog immediately moves in to eat the water-logged chicken, and within seconds, he’s joined by a few cats.

Goodwill Ambassador Tangie, an original resident, helps Prue up and then starts doing an interpretive dance around her, chanting a litany of rhyming words meant to heal and calm. Rio and Justine return to Fay. As Justine downs her drink, Rio tells her she should stay for the movie - "It's Fellini - very appropriate" - but Justine is anxious to go.

The next day, the newspaper has a front page shot of Prue falling. The headline blares: “Chaos at Local Commune”. Making morning coffee, Rio mutters to himself, “Not a commune. How many times do I have to say it?” He drops the newspaper and picks up a piece of paper outlining a generous offer from a condo developer. If he accepts it, his dream of 50+ years will be over and all GF residents displaced. If he doesn’t, Fay may not get the care she needs.

He looks out the window and sees a gang of residents heading towards his doorstep. They are led by Prue and no one looks happy; in fact, most look ticked off. They wave copies of the newspaper in the air as they gather on his stoop.

In Conclusion:

Gooseberry Fields has the feel-good humour of “Andy of Mayberry” crossed with the hilarious mayhem of “Arrested Development”. There is true charm in the way this community attempts to live in harmony, a goal they sometimes achieve but often do not. As these folks learn to navigate the sometimes complicated relationships between neighbours, slapstick antics and warm wit always undercuts the intensity of living in close proxemics.

Episodes Include:

“Hosta La Vista, Baby”, which concerns the theft of a neighbour’s beloved hosta plant, its eventual return and the healing, if fumbling, apology that follows.

“The Hub”, wherein it’s suspected that a certain mysterious neighbour is really L Ron Hubbard, reincarnated - or: was he ever really dead? Prue has a mad crush on him.

“Christmas Craft Sale”: The Hub wants to sell books at the craft sale. Some participants insist that “books are not crafts.” while others claim: “He wrote them himself, so who’s to say his work isn’t as worthy as Prue’s crochet toilet paper covers?”

Primary & Secondary Characters:

Rio - an artist and flaneur; reasonable, funny and creative; can often be found playing his clarinet.

Fay - bon vivant in a wheelchair; Rio's wife; brings compassion to her creative efforts as a painter and good neighbour.

Prue - professional busybody and crocheter of strange things.

Wing - stylish and smart, they run the outdoor movie night and look at all situations through the lens of cinema.

Tangie - a new age hippie; she likes to play the trickster and dance; fond of saying “Just ask the universe.”

The Hub - a mysterious resident; rumour has it he is L Ron Hubbard.