Whalefall

In a flashback to 2012, seven-year-old Jay is on Carmel Beach with his father. Mitt draws different whale flukes in the sand and quizzes Jay on their identification. When Jay makes several incorrect guesses, he grows increasingly anxious and agitated as Mitt expresses his frustration.

Finally, Mitt erases the drawing in disgust and reveals that the correct answer is a sperm whale. When Jay protests that they never see this type of whale, Mitt explains that it is because the sperm whale is so rare that it is important to be able to recognize it when it does appear. The lesson leaves the young Jay feeling deeply insecure.

Underwater near the Monterey Submarine Canyon, Jay observes the massive sperm whale. The sight fills him with awe and reminds him of his father’s reverence for the species. He imagines the respect that he will finally earn from the diving community when he reports this encounter.

As Jay makes eye contact with the whale, he is overcome by a sense of a shared, intelligent consciousness. In the whale’s gaze, he perceives the presence of a sentient soul.