The Waterfall is rated PG-13, for alcohol, language, outdated terms, and suggestive content.
Patty Newman and her wife Tess are cleaning out her late grandfather's house in 2023, when Patty finds a note from him written on the back of a picture, in which he reveals himself as bisexual. He tells her the location of a diary where she learns about how her grandfather, Murray, had a secret relationship with his best friend Fred in 1950s Oregon. After this revelation, the plot switches back and forth between 2023, where Patty and Tess are searching for more information, and the 1950s, where Fred and Murray navigate being in a very secretive male-male relationship during the age of McCarthyism.
Based on the Reedsy Prompt "Start your story with someone discovering a photograph that has something written on the back," from the July 23rd, 2021 contest.
"Joey we can't take a picture of us kissing! If anybody found out, we could be arrested" Harry Smithson exclaimed nervously as his boyfriend leaned in towards him just as the camera was about to snap another picture in the photo booth.
It is the beginning of summer in the early 1950s in a small village in Yorkshire, England. Two young lads; Harry and Joey meet and fall in love against all the odds that are thrown at them. One is going to into the RAF and the other is going to work in his Father's newsagents that has been in the family for decades.
They find stolen moments to have together wherever possible throughout the summer. Nobody could ever find out because it is an offense to be caught; and not only that but society won't accept them either.
Can they fight against all of the prejudices thrown at them and stay together? Will their love alone be enough to see them through?
Find out in 'The Photo Booth'