Broken Hallelujah


            West of Eden is inspired by a true story and set in Rural New Zealand.
It is 1960. Billy lives with his mother and older brother Joe.
At work Billy and Pete have formed a close friendship. Rumours circulate and they become the target of hostility and a beating. Billy announces that he is leaving home to work on a farm. As he leaves Pete reminds Billy of his own words "not to run away but to stand up for yourself" he accuses Billy of cowardice, Billy keeps walking.
With cowboy hat and boots, just like his idol James Dean, Billy trains and hitches his way to the Henshaw farm.
The farm is the largest in the district and was inherited by brothers Frank and Eddie. Frank, the elder brother, lives in the big house with his wife Eva and their two teenage children Tess and Tom. Eddie lives opposite, in the smaller cottage, with his wife Ruth.
On arrival Billy unwittingly witnesses one of the farms best kept secrets. He inadvertently sees Eva making love with her brother-in-law Eddie. Billy soon finds out that this is the cause for deep tension on the farm and Frank's vexation.
Frank's anger is paralleled by the underlying resentment held by the head drover Danny Birch. Danny is bitter about the loss of his family's fortunes to the Henshaw's.
Danny plans to wed Tess, so he can get back what he believes should have been his in the first place. Initially he was interested in Tess purely as a way to recover his lost family fortune, but despite his calculating plans he has fallen in love with her. Unfortunately for Danny his infatuation is not reciprocated, and Tess repeatedly rejects his unwanted attentions.
Undeterred Danny plans to take Tess to the end of summer dance later in the year. He presses Eva to convince her daughter to accompany him. When she refuses, he threatens to expose her affair with Eddie.
It becomes clear to Billy that not all are in favour of his appointment as farm hand; the decision to employ him has been made unilaterally by Frank. Frank's son Tom has shown no interest in becoming a farmer and Billy has been employed partly to make up for Tom's lack of interest. Tom however does show an interest in Billy.
During his cousin's wedding, Tom confides in his sister Tess about his feelings for Billy. She insists he just hasn't found the right girl. When he flatly rejects that explanation she warns him that his desires are dangerous and he risks destroying their family and their standing in the community. He mocks her concern for their family's reputation and reminds her what a lie it all is.
Tom senses Billy is attracted to him and continues to push their friendship further. Billy struggles with his conscience and desires; he has misgivings about reciprocating. He knows how people react to even a hint of homosexuality in their midst, and is only too aware of the potential fall-out.
Finally Billy and Tom are alone working on the farm on a warm late summer's afternoon. Desire overcomes caution and Billy makes his move. Tom has been waiting for this moment for what has felt like a life time.
Eva is aware something is going on with her son and Billy. She suggests that Tom start showing interest in girls to stop tongues wagging. He rejects her concern and reminds her she is hardly in any position to take the moral high ground. Unlike her he does not want to live a lie, he has found true love and he's not letting go.
Eva is not the only one aware of the growing bond between Tom and Billy. Danny has been watching them both closely. Danny can see his chances of working in partnership with Frank being jeopardised by Billy's enthusiasm for both Tom and the farm. Danny sees Billy as a challenge to his plans and threatens to destroy him.
On the night of the dance Danny arrives to escort Tess, suited-up and with a bunch of red roses. After hearing the news from Eva that Tess has already gone, Danny, hurt and furious, rushes into the house and bumps into Tom who is preparing to clean the gear for the rabbit cull; he offers to help. While they are working on the guns Danny starts a conversation, saying that he has noticed the developing relationship between Tom and Billy, and that he is not the only one. He threatens Tom, making it clear that he will destroy any scheme that get in the way of his plans. Tom tolerates his chat until he can no longer bear it and lashes out. He tells Danny a lie, but I lie he knows will cut Danny to the quick: he says that Tess has gone to the dance with someone else.
Danny is seething with inner rage and retaliates in the only way he can, to put a stop to the potential loss of everything he has worked towards.
The aftermath of Danny's rage is devastating for everyone.
    

Vanessa Riddell

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