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The Pedigree
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Logline:
A romantic-comedy/fantasy about a dog that comes back to life as a beautiful young woman determined to wreak havoc on the life of her former (and insensitive) owner. Things go awry, however, when she falls in love with him instead.
Synopsis:
Kenny Felzer is a likable advertising creative director in his late twenties who has always had a terrific fear of dogs - and commitment. Kenny is partners at his ad agency with Brad Kessler and Jack Baum, who are relying on Kenny to save the troubled agency by using his creative genius to land the lucrative TracTek account (TracTek is a revolutionary new pet product -- a pet tag with a tiny microchip planted inside that allows pets anywhere to be tracked and located by their owners).
The problem is that Wayne Stephens, TracTek's owner, expects Kenny -- in order to achieve the results he wants on the TracTek advertising campaign -- to have a strong sense of empathy for dogs and their owners. Of course, Kenny is terrified of dogs and absolutely clueless around them.
The other problem, unbeknownst to Kenny and his colleagues at the agency, is that Wayne's assistant, Jennifer Fowler, is secretly plotting behind Wayne's back to select her best friend's agency -- and take a cut of the action. Jennifer has selected Kenny's agency as the only competition for her friend's, knowing that the smaller agency will certainly falter in Wayne's eyes. Especially with the dog-shy Kenny at the helm.
Brad and Jack urge Kenny to get a dog in order to overcome his fear, hopefully enabling him to create a winning campaign for TracTek. Reluctantly, Kenny goes to an animal shelter and spots Abby, a beautiful golden retriever mix. Much to Kenny's surprise, he connects with Abby and he decides to take her. The only catch is that Abby comes in a package with her companion -- a feisty male rat-terrier named Ratso. Kenny relents and takes both dogs.
Kenny tries to relate to the dogs - to no avail (although it is clear that Abby truly does love Kenny). And his work on the TracTek account is not going any better. Finally, Kenny realizes that he's not being fair to the dogs -- and gives them to an elderly woman down the street. However, after being with the woman for just a few days, the dogs are abruptly abandoned once again when the woman suddenly dies. Sadly, their time is also up.
A few days later, we find ourselves in heaven where Abby is arriving on an elevator with a group of humans. Tony Angelica, a tough-talking angel from Brooklyn, explains to Abby that there was a mix-up and she got on the wrong elevator. Fearing for his job, Tony comes up with an idea: he will temporarily change Abby into a human, then send her down to earth until he can rectify the situation and find a proper spot for her in heaven.
Abby is indeed changed into a human: a beautiful, sensuous, intelligent and charming woman. Tony asks Abby where she would like to go on earth for her temporary stay. A mischievous look overcomes her as she also remembers the human who recently abandoned her: Kenny. Even though she was last with the old woman, it was Kenny who truly abandoned her love. Her main mission on earth will be to wreak havoc on Kenny's world.
Kenny arrives one morning at work to find a mysterious, beautiful woman sitting in his office. Abby Barker, as she introduces herself, is there to interview for the temporary secretarial position working under Kenny. Despite Abby's strange behavior (as a human, she still retains many of her dog-like mannerisms and habits), Kenny decides to hire her for the temporary position - until his own secretary returns from her leave-of-absence.
Abby manages to finagle her way into Kenny's home as his house guest and soon learns that she doesn't have it in her to be vindictive. After all, she's really a dog. And as everyone knows, dogs are forever forgiving. But things change when RATSO also returns to earth as a human -- and he's out for real revenge against Kenny. Dog or no dog.
One morning, while Kenny is working on the TracTek campaign, Abby tells Kenny that she would love a TracTek pet tag. Kenny is puzzled, but he gives her a tag.
Meanwhile, after two failed presentations to Wayne Stephens, Kenny and his colleagues are given one last chance by the TracTek president -- much to the chagrin of Jennifer.
Abby, who is falling in love with Kenny (and visa versa), uncovers Jennifer's plan. She decides to take things into her own hands by teaching Kenny herself what it's like to be a dog. Through a series of comical and heart-warming moments, she puts Kenny in situations that place him in a dog's role -- so he can develop the sense of empathy Wayne originally described. After sinking as low as he can go, and being forced to understand the desperation a dog feels when lost and abandoned, Kenny is finally transformed.
Throughout it all, Ratso keeps an eagle eye on Kenny, waiting for the right opportunity to spring.
The day before the presentation, Kenny calls Abby into his office and closes the door behind. He gives her a gold necklace for her TracTek tag, explaining that it symbolizes how he feels about her...that for the first time in his life he's found someone he never wants to lose.
Abby is touched, but also frightened and confused because she knows that her time on earth is almost up. She decides she has no choice but to finally tell Kenny the truth, which she does.
Incredulous and deeply hurt, Kenny accuses Abby of making up a wild excuse to break off their relationship. He tells her that he's always been the one in the past to make up the ridiculous excuses to break up with someone. He storms out of his office, leaving the dazed Abby in his wake. Late that night, Abby quietly leaves Kenny's apartment...for good.
At TracTek headquarters the next day, Kenny starts his presentation and it's immediately clear that his new direction is the right one for the campaign. On Jennifer's face, we can see a sudden look of fear. On Kenny's face, however, we can see a focused, yet empty expression. He's finally nailed the presentation, but he just lost the love of his life.
Meanwhile, before Abby goes back to heaven, she has one last stop: she goes to find her long lost mother. In a heartwarming scene, Abby visits the house where she was born. Her siblings are long gone, but she does find her mother, Maxie. Although half-deaf and half-blind now, the old dog still remembers her daughter. It's a touching moment as the two reunite.
Back at TracTek, Kenny finishes the presentation and it's apparent to everyone -- including Jennifer -- that he has won the account for his agency. A few moments later, he rushes out of the conference room like a man on a mission. He's off to find Abby before it's too late.
Kenny goes to the TracTek tracking station, where the monitoring is actually done via computer. Assuming that Abby still has the TracTek tag in her possession, Kenny will use the TracTek technology to find his own lost love. He has an animated conversation with the technician -- then he's off again.
Kenny is right: we see Abby walking aimlessly down a street, wearing her beloved necklace and TracTek tag. Unbeknownst to her, the tag is enabling Kenny to track her down. As Abby gazes up into the sky, the clouds suddenly part and a lightening bolt strikes out -- a signal to Abby that her time is almost up.
Abby exits a park, crosses a street and stops at a street corner. A bus passes in front of her, obscuring our view. After it passes, we see that Abby human has been transformed back to Abby dog. Another bolt of lightening lashes out. A moment later, Kenny exits the park and sees Abby standing on the opposite corner. Even though she's now a dog, he knows it's the same Abby...his Abby. She sees him, too, and their eyes lock.
In a trance-like state, Kenny makes a mad dash across the street towards Abby. Barreling down the road is a truck -- aimed right at Kenny. Abby barks out and people call out, to no avail. Kenny turns just in time to see the driver of the truck: Ratso. He's finally going to get his revenge.
The truck hits Kenny, knocking him to the pavement. A crowd gathers. With a tear in her eye, Abby stands at Kenny's side. Ratso gets out of his truck and approaches the scene. And literally out of nowhere appears Tony Angelica. Heaven sent, he's arrived a moment too late.
Three weeks later, we're at a park. Wearing a cast on his arm, Kenny is playing with his black Labrador puppy. He is startled when he hears a familiar voice behind him. He turns to see Abby the woman standing there. More radiant than ever, Abby explains to Kenny that she has been sent back to earth - where she belongs.
Kenny asks Abby what happened to Ratso and Abby dog. She lets out a whistle and both dogs come bounding down the path. Tony Angelica did right after all.
It's a wonderful reunion as Kenny, Abby and the three dogs head down the path together as one happy family.
In the end, Kenny and Abby finally find what they've always wanted: true love and a sense of belonging. Thanks to the help of one very special dog.