Keith Waters

The flashes of memory that return to Carrie Wallace as she lies bloodied in the street all share a common trait: Each culminates in an insincere apology. A casual bump in the street, a father’s indifference, a boyfriend’s exit, youthful disappointments. But despite her lifetime’s experience, she holds out hope that she may yet witness a true expression of remorse.

In this contemporary take on the classic fable “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” a man finds himself bored with his job — and decides to amuse himself by playing pranks on his coworkers, only to find that they may be disinclined to believe him when their trust is most critical.

Alina, eager for a promotion at work, agrees to take on what appears to be a straightforward task: Housesitting and taking care of her boss Sybil’s precious dog, Winston. But confusion sets in when Alina arrives at the home only to discover that ”Winston” is in fact a stuffed animal — leading her to question both her boss’s motives and her mental state.

Emily is nervous about meeting her husband Wilson’s family for the first time at their annual Independence Day gathering. Having eloped, she is concerned that the family will never accept her as one of their own. But Wilson has a plan to bring her into the fold — competing in the family’s annual (if ridiculous) tradition of throwing balls at a target object, a barely-recognizable variation of bocce.

Authors Libby Daricek and Mark LaSalle are each working to finish their respective novels — Mark’s being a crime thriller, and Libby’s an emotional drama. But as they describe scenes from their works (and propose changes to their pieces), their collaborative relationship is put to the test, especially as they learn they may be competing for the same goal.

Recent high school graduate Caleb is reluctant to embrace his friend Abby’s advice to embark on a new chapter of his life; he prefers the status quo. But his own perspective shifts radically when a sudden accident leaves him dead — and reanimated as a ghost. Guided by longtime spirit (and 1970s holdover) Paul, Caleb must acquaint himself with his newfound condition… and ultimately determine the course of his “unlife.”

A jaded political campaign operative gradually realizes the horrific true nature of the popular yet brash candidate she is working for.

Quentin has a problem: one of his neighbors is gradually taking over the community garden, pushing everyone else out and consolidating her claim. His friend Brent is pushing him to confront the offender, but Quentin seeks the wisdom of Tex — a genuine Old West gunslinger who just happens to find himself in the modern era.