The Replacement Child is a 2007 short film written and directed by Justin Lerner. Set in a small town somewhere in the United States, the film tells the story of a young man named Todd Turnbull who is released from Juvenile Hall after brutally beating his stepfather. He returns, vowing non-violence, to see his best friend dying and his friend's family's refusal to see a doctor because of it's interference with their beliefs in Christian science. Turnbull must make a desicion: to either do nothing and watch his friend die, or to interfere and break his vow of non-violence. The film was Lerner's thesis film at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.
Plot The film starts with Todd Turnbull (Travis Quentin Young) walking through the heavy grass while listening to gospel music. He later enters a building and reads his confession of beating his stepfather to another man, vowing to never use violence again. He then goes to his friend's house, but finds a muscular man named Burl (Daniel Booko) chopping wood outside, telling him that he cannot enter the house. Todd enters through the back and surprises his sick friend Michael (Matthew Fahey) in bed. He is later asked to leave by someone else in the house. Todd goes to his mother's house, being greeted by his twin sisters and being informed that his stepfather let the twins turn his room into their playroom, but he takes the room anyway. He later meets his stepfather who, testing whether or not he can control his anger, punches him in the face, breaking his nose. Todd controls his anger as best as he can and walks off. He then decides to surprise his old girlfriend, but learns that she is not only married to another man, but is also pregnant. He also auditions for the church choir and doesn't get chosen, and gets his old job back at an ice cream shop, but is now second in command to the boss' son who always pressures him that he must smile for each customer. He later plays cards with Michael who starts coughing up blood. Todd has dinner with his friend's family, protesting that they should make an exception with their christian scientist beliefs and take him to a hospital. They refuse, and while they are praying for his friend's life, Todd snaps, saying dryly, "This isn't fucking working," at which point he is asked to leave. He soon learns that he cannot stay in his old room any longer and is in danger of losing his job if he doesn't cheer up. Todd tries to get back together with his old girlfriend but she refuses. He then decides that it is best for Michael if he breaks him out and takes him to a hospital. Upon arriving, Michael becomes unconscious and Todd starts panicking. He carries his friend downstairs, at which point Burl walks by and sees him carrying his unconscious friend. Burl threatens violence against Todd, but stops once Michael's father walks in, checking his son's vital signs. Meanwhile, Burl keeps Todd kneeling and later strikes him with a fireplace poker. Michael's father sees this and starts arguing with Burl. Todd looks up and sees Michael briefly open his eyes and then shut them again. Todd then stands up, punches Burl in the face and Michael's father in the stomach, and leaves carrying Michael. Todd drops him off at a hospital and runs away from the town. Police sirens can be heard. Todd stops at the cemetery, smiles, puts his headphones on, lies down in the grass, closes his eyes, and starts playing music as the police are heard surrounding him.
Awards The film won several awards including the College Television Awards for Best Director and Best Drama. It also won the director's spotlight award at UCLA as well as awards from the Santa Fe Film Festival, the Beverly Hills Film Festival, the Omaha Film Festival, the Boulder International Film Festival, the Festroia International Film Festival, and the Winnipeg International Film Festival. It was also in the official selection of the Telluride Film Festival, the Los Angeles Film Festival, and the Torino Film Festival. The film also won 1st place for Best Student Film at the 2008 Rhode Island International Film Festival, and won the Director's Choice Award at the 2008 Angelus Student Film Festival.
Trivia * One of the men that turns down Todd for the Church choir is Justin Lerner's younger brother. * The man that plays Todd's boss' last name is Turnbull.