CONTEST RESULTS

Red Inkworks – top 25 scripts

Scriptapalooza – semi-finalist

Austin Film Festival – second round (top 10%)

LOGLINE

An idealistic FBI agent must decide whether to support his President or to risk his life in an attempt to restore real freedom to America.

SYNOPSIS

“Maybe it’s time to declare the War on Terror over.”

It’s 2055, and FBI Agent LUCAS QUINN has just spoken his mind to President BLAIR SCHMIDT. Several years ago, the Bill of Rights was temporarily suspended to facilitate the capture of terrorists and to secure Middle Eastern oil.  But now, despite a lack of real terrorist attacks, Schmidt resists reinstating it because he wants to maintain his tight control of America until he has achieved his rather lofty goals. A few senators attempt to persuade their colleagues to impeach the President and restore the Bill of Rights, but one-by-one, these renegades disappear. Small bands of freedom fighters have formed to resist the government. But FBI Director JARED THANE strives to eliminate these traitors. And now, he has assigned Lucas to infiltrate one such group led by the charismatic chess player DANIEL O’KEEFE.

Lucas believes he is patriotic in his devotion to his job and the President, but Daniel has some compelling ideas about the Constitution and individual freedom. Lucas finds himself sympathizing with Daniel and his band of resistance fighters. He hides information from Jared, who grows increasingly suspicious. Jared presses Lucas for more information, allegedly so he can arrest Daniel and stop the violence. However, Lucas resists as he becomes more suspicious of Jared. Jared ups the ante when he murders a young freedom fighter Lucas has befriended. Then Jared kidnaps another freedom fighter, but somehow MARLEY ORENDA mysteriously escapes from the FBI. It is then that Lucas realizes not all government officials are on the same side. Lucas tries to help the resistance and find out what is behind Jared’s mysterious behavior, without blowing his own cover. Nothing he does seems to help. Then he discovers  Jared has his own plans to assassinate the President, take control of the country, and end any hope of democracy.

As Jared plans an attack on Daniel’s base, Lucas must decide where his loyalties lie and how far he will go to protect the America he loves. Just when it seems all is lost, Lucas chooses to sacrifice himself in order to kill Jared, setting in motion a series of events ending with a new President and a restored Bill of Rights.

CONTEST RESULTS

American Accolades – semi-finalist

Wisconsin Screenwriters Forum – semi-finalist

Red Inkworks – second place

Nicholl Fellowships – top 15%

Chicago Screenwriters Contest – semi-finalist, one of the top four dramas

LOGLINE: In the year 2065,  the Bill of Rights has been suspended to facilitate the capture of terrorists and the securing of Mideastern oil.  A disillusioned store manager becomes an unlikely revolutionary after the tragic  death of his slave.

SYNOPSIS

By the year 2065, the War on Terrorism has taken a toll on America.  The Bill of Rights has been suspended to facilitate the capture of terrorists.  Prisons overflow with Americans convicted of treason.  None of this matters to Jackson Cade, 37.  He’s desperate only to escape his bleak life,  to end the hopelessness of dealing with his controlling boss and manipulative girlfriend, Mariah Graham.  He’s seldom able to sleep through the night.

Congress passes the Traitors Rehabilitated to Assist Democracy (TRAD) Act.  To ease the burden on the prison system, upstanding citizens will be given custody of a TRAD.  In effect, the TRADs are slaves.  Owning a slave he could control seems to be Jackson’s wish come true. He applies for ownership of a TRAD.

Idealistic college students Adrian Kamensky, 19, and Daniel Bright, 21, belong to the underground organization, Liberty or Death, which is dedicated to restoring freedom.  When Adrian is convicted of treason and given to Jackson, Jackson’s life unravels. At times, he empathizes with Adrian, but his feelings are conflicted, and he is capable of cruelty as well.  Mariah deceives Jackson into believing Adrian has made advances toward her, and Jackson gives his slave a brutal beating.  But he learns the truth, and filled with remorse, he realizes he believes the TRAD Act is wrong.  Adrian discovers that Jackson has a couple of treasonous secrets of his own.

Daniel plots a bold escape for Adrian.  In the middle of the night, he acts.  Jackson, awake as usual, hears them and pursues the runaways. He foils the escape attempt, but finds he can’t bring himself to turn in the two fugitives to the Security Department as the law requires.

Adrian despairs.  While Jackson works, Adrian uses Jackson’s illegal handgun to kill himself.  In his suicide note, Adrian makes requests of Jackson and Daniel.  Jackson must make some tough decisions. If he gives Adrian’s body to the Security Department, they’ll know about the gun. Should he flee to Chicago to hide among the hordes of homeless people living there?  Or should he for once follow his conscience and act with courage?

When Jackson sees a slave being abused, he knows what he has to do. He steals the slave and joins Daniel in a journey to the wilderness of Idaho where the Second American Revolution brews.