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Schizopolis


            Murdo and his father, Tom, journey from Scotland to North Alabama to visit their America/Scots relatives. Taking the cheap coach from Memphis they are forced to spend a night in Allentown, Mississippi, after Murdo is responsible for them missing the connection. The following morning, Murdo ventures out to buy breakfast. At the store he hears accordion music being played nearby. He follows the music and ends up in the back garden of Queen Monzee-ay, an African American grandmother who is playing her accordion on the garage porch. Murdo forgets about the breakfast order and is soon trading tunes with the old woman and her family including Sarah, her granddaughter; Traditional Scottish, Irish, French, Zydeco. Its invigorating. Murdo confides in Sarah about his mother's recent death from cancer, and his sister's death from the same strain a few years prior. His dad is coping but only just. It's the first time he has managed to articulate such feelings, the first time anyone has asked him how he feels. Queen Monzee-ay is playing a retrospective gig at the upcoming Lafayette festival in Louisiana and offers him the chance to come play. Murdo's father turns up, angry at Murdo for wandering off and declines an invitation to dine with Queen Monzee-ay's family. Sarah gives Murdo a CD with the music which they will be performing at the festival for him to learn. The invitation and the music becomes a wedge which drives itself between Murdo and Tom.A day late, they finally they arrive at uncle John and aunt Maureen's. It's an exclusively white neighbourhood. Buried in a basement bedroom, Tom berates Murdo for constantly listening to the 'psycho' music and not 'taking part'. "It's zydeco music". says Murdo, "not psycho. I'm learning it". The music begins to create a wedge between them.They are invited to a friend's BBQ. Murdo is confronted by a 'family friend', an evangelist who bullies him, telling him that the Lord is with him in his grief even though he might not be able to understand it in his present state; and that he should be grateful for the providence of God. Murdo is speechless in the circumstances. Aunt Maureen shows him off to her girlfriends and tells them his sad story. They assure him that he has the memories of his sister and mother and that they are with the good Lord now. Murdo confronts them and articulates his feelings for his sister - she is not a memory, she is in the present still, and sometimes when he opens a door, she is there. They are stunned into silence.Outside Murdo listens to a guest, Declan, playing 'Doc's guitar'. The music makes him feel good. Then 'MacPherson's Farewell ' with uncle Chess, a fiddler. The lyrics hit home - it's about musicians getting persecuted. Soon, the fiddler invites Murdo to join in and they play. A crowd gathers as the music gets going. Tom arrives and is surprised and delighted to find people reacting positively to Murdo playing. They play 'When i die'. The power of it makes Tom think of his dead wife and child. He has to go down to the bottom of the garden just to breathe. He looks back at Murdo surrounded by music and people.Back at uncle John's, Murdo and Tom argue over Murdo sunbathing topless in the garden. Not on a Sunday, says Tom, it could offend auntie Maureen. It confirms Murdo's observation that his dad avoids rather than challenges; is too entrenched to change his ways. Murdo feigns illness to miss a trip to the mountains organised. Tom is furious with him, he should be grateful. As soon as they have left Murdo raids his dad's holiday money, packs his bag and hits the open road for Lafayette having left a note for his father.On the road, Murdo experiences the real everyday America, ordinary folk going about their business, coping with their problems. Having bought a second hand accordion, Murdo finally arrives in Lafayette. Tom frets and worries, the penny dropping that he was ultimately responsible for Murdo's defection.After a night sleeping rough on the streets, Murdo phones home. Aunt Maureen tells him his father and Declan are coming to get him. Murdo goes to the festival and watches Queen Monzee-ay play her festival gig - she is amazing - a mixture of zydeco and Cajun tunes - to a packed house. Murdo is just about to leave after spotting that Sarah is with another young guy, but before he can disappear he is spotted by the family. Murdo is introduced to an accordion-led Tex-Mex band who are backing the famous Diego Narcisco. Murdo makes his excuses and leaves promising to come to the gig later that night where he will play in the band. Meanwhile, his worried father arrives in Lafayette with Declan the musician. Declan challenges Tom over his reading of the situation and tells him that if Murdo has a chance to play with the famous Queen Monzee-ay, he'll be here. He should trust his son instead of constantly doubting him.Murdo arrives at the club and speaks with Queen Monzee-ay out the back before the gig. She tells him she knows all about his troubles, his mother, and his sister, and his dad, how hard it is. She tells him that he has to make his own space if he wants anything in this world. Make the space and take it!Murdo and Queen Monzee-ay play the gig - two accordions. Tom turns up during the gig and Murdo is aware of him but keeps going. Diego Narcisco and his young band are there to watch the gig. The gig culminates in a rendition of the Beau Jocque slow blues number - 'I'm on the Wonder'. with Murdo on the accordion! After the gig Murdo is asked by the young Mexican band to join them on a tour along the border. Outside the club Murdo is reunited with his father and blurts out that he has been offered a job with the band. His father is appalled, he cannot go with them, he is going home! He does not have a passport, money or permission! Diego, listening to the argument steps in and administers Murdo permission in comic papal fashion.The following morning, Murdo waits for the band to come and pick him up from the motel. Declan encourages him to speak with his father. Inside. Tom is bewildered his son is stepping beyond him but acknowledges that he is proud of him and that his mother would have been proud too. Murdo leaves with the band and disappears down the open highway to the conjunto sound of the Texas Tornadoes - 'Ay Te Dejo In San Antonio'.
    

Marcus Lyle Brown

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