PIPE DREAM

US, 2002, 90 minutes, Colour.
Martin Donovan, Mary- Louise Parker, Kevin Carroll, Guinevere Turner.
Directed by John Walsh.

Pipe Dream is an entertaining light film. It’s central characters are not one hundred percent likable – but they are likable, especially as they go through the process of trying to find their better selves.

This is a New York story. Martin Donovan portrays a plumber, seen going about his jobs – not without getting some extra money for overcharging (later revealed in a television expose). He feels that people don't see him. This is especially true of an encounter with writer Toni (Mary- Louise Parker). He feels that film people get all the attention and are recognised – and, in discussions with his schooldays friend, R.J. (Kevin Carroll), he puts him up to setting up a casting session with the plumber acting as a director to see what happens, and to make some dates with girls.

The plumber also decides to steal some pages from the screenplay by Toni. Eventually she joins in and the auditions are a great success. Word gets around that Pipe Dream is to be a successful independent film, people want to invest, people want to be in it.

The plumber later uses the analogy of Cyrano de Bergerac to explain what happens on the set. He says the words. However, Toni is saying the directions in his earpiece. After the television expose, the film is about to fall flat on its face but the investor feels that he will be made a fool of and so employs the plumber again. However, Toni is to be the director. He is to be the caterer. At the end, they go off hand in hand discussing possible scenes...

1. A blend of reality and fantasy? An entertaining story of finding one’s true self?

2. A New York story, plumbers, class distinctions, their work, being ignored? Not recognised? The world of agents and staff? The film world and casting, auditions? Film-making, the sets, the equipment, the crew? The media? The investment world?

3. The light touch, the charm of the story, the dialogue, the characters and their mistakes, recovery?

4. The title for each of the central characters? Wish fulfilment?

5. David, his work, his clients, the woman on the phone (and later discovered to be the wife of the agent who does not recognise him when he pays him)? Parts and expenses, overcharging – and the later TV expose? His helping Toni, her anger with her boyfriend, listening to her, the sexual relationship? The morning, hearing her on the phone, resenting her comments about plumbers?

6. R.J. and his friendship, the meal, discussion about the cheque, the deal, the invisibility issue, the idea of having a casting session, the girls, David as a director? The casting organisation, Toni and the pages, David copying them? Toni finding out? Her becoming part of the setup?

7. The auditions, the performances, the text being funny? The star – and her being rejected in favour of Marlis? David and his being coached to say a few words? The effect? His wanting Marlis – and the callback?

8. Toni, her skills in writing, the truth, going along with the pretence, sitting in, getting out from Marlis’s audition, the fact that she worked with her in the office?

9. Toni, her work, discussions with Marlis, the lawyer who wanted to date her, her using him for the contracts? The agent? The office work? The outings with the lawyer?

10. The money offer, the investor, his working on the internet, his motivations? The talk about the film, the gossip, people phoning, the go-ahead, the crew, the interviews, the building of the sets?

11. The Cyrano de Bergerac story? Its effect? Toni and her direction, David saying the words? Her encouraging him? The car being towed away? The food, the status of the caterer, seeing himself as invisible? The stars? Marlis and her being rather dumb? David encouraging her? The meal, the sexual encounter, her being bothered afterwards, David trying to help, the kiss, Toni and her jealousy, Toni helping Marlis, later realising her misjudgement?

12. The scenes, their success, finding the right words, the congratulations?

13. Plumber jobs, David having to go off, the wife of the agent? The television comments? The phone calls? His being exposed?

14. David as a director, his being noticed, his language, the media interview, the change in him? His being fired, called back?

15. The caterer, his character, the discussions? David becoming the caterer?

16. His going back, the truth, working with Toni, the collaboration – and the final scene of them walking off together, the friendship, love, working together?