ANOTHER MAN'S HAPPINESS

A “Burnt Carrot Studios” FILM
WRITTEN BY Zak Foote

November, 1987.

The NZ stock exchange has just suffered its biggest ever crash, and inflation has reached record levels. Faced with interest rates floating at a crippling 20%, the overleveraged dreams of a young farming couple are falling apart.

Forced to lay off their workers, they’ve borrowed from their neighbour but are still going backwards with the bank. As the financial pressures mount, the strain of sixteen hour days starts to take its toll on their vulnerable relationship.

Things looks to improve when they take in a passing stranger, who agrees to help out on the farm in exchange for board and company.

Their initial successes draw the attention of their neighbour, who is more interested in their land than their debt repayments. Trying to speed up settlement on what seemed like a done deal, he finds himself up against renewed resolve.

The situation escalates as the neighbour’s heavy-handed negotiations put him on a collision course with the uncompromising stranger.

SHANE meets SHOTGUN STORIES in this low budget NZ Western.