Southwest Airlines released a 12 minute film about a woman who took a flight, rented a car, and wound up in the 1880s. It’s Back To The Future meets The Big Chill but with a woman who meets up with her father in a past that precedes both of them. And they did this as an homage to Kiyoshi Kurosaw because something about their 50th anniversary being two years ago.

Set in a town frozen in time, “Alone in Tombstone” tells the story of a young woman searching for her place in life, when she’s faced with a surprise visitor. This is a coming-of-age tale about life, love, and loss.

“Alone in Tombstone” is the first-ever brand film for Southwest Airlines and the first Wattpad Brand Original. The project began in 2021, when Southwest and Wattpad, a leading webnovel platform, celebrated the airline’s 50th Anniversary through a writing contest.

The contest, Southwest: Storytellers On The Rise, called upon the Wattpad community to share stories of kindness rooted in travel. The winning short story, written by Wattpad author E.A. Comiskey, was adapted into a short film, “Alone in Tombstone,” by Tongal community member Kelsey Taylor (Alien: Specimen, 20th Century Fox).

Why does this description reminds me of the story of Billy Mumphrey’s downfall as a result of “love, deception, greed, lust – and unbridled enthusiasm”?

The woman’s father (who reminds me of Sam Elliott) gets asked if he wants to be “a lawman or an outlaw?” He offers that “The destination is the goal. That’s not what you remember. You remember the stops along the way.” Which is sort of like Southwest Airlines famous direct flights that stop in Baltimore and Kansas City.

I am genuinely not sure whether this is amazing or twelve minutes of my life I’ll never get back. Which did you think it is?