2. INT. MILITARY CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY Several Marine officers discuss a file. The camera is moving around them as they talk. COLONEL 1: “Platoon honor man out of boot camp. Saved his corporals' life at S.O.I. Passed Sniper indoc. S.E.E.R.S school, Jump school, basic recon company within a year of fleet time. No disciplinary record, NJP's, court marshals, nothing.” COLONEL 2: “2 tours in Iraq, 1 in Afghanistan and 13 classified missions Sargent Michael Rodriguez, Marine Corps Infantry bad ass.”
3.
4. A pan across his chest proudly displays his ribbons and medalsLT. COLONEL: “Perfect Physical fitness scores, expert marksman with every qual, this guy's a regular Chesty Pollar.”
5. “Gentlemen, the joint chiefs have asked us to thin out the ranks. Recruitment is closing up and the war is coming to an end. Now, I don't like it anymore than any of you but this Marines' active duty days are over. Sergeant Michael Rodriguez's request for re-enlistment is DENIED. Good luck in the real world killer. “ General: Michael’s truck pulls up to a farm with A long dirt driveway. He’s been away From home 8 years.
7. Michael is welcomed home with hugs. After dinner, his father tells him of the towns water troubles… “I swear, they hold back another acre-foot and this place'll need a miracle.”
8. Cut toINT. board room - day Jack O’Brien: “In 1935 President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved the Central Valley Project, allocating $20 million dollars and authorizing the construction of 3 dams in California…” “This project transformed desert into farmland, and more than quadrupled agriculture production in California.” “Gentlemen, you are looking at not only the most profitable endeavor in human history, but the most sustainable money maker man kind has ever taken part of.”
9. Suit1: “Genius Jack, pure genius.” Suit 2: “By this time next month we'll be pouring concrete.” Suit 3: “Come on Jackal, how did you get senate approval? I heard something about a fish?” Jack O'Brien: “HypomesusTranspacificus. The DELTA SMELT” “They have to maintain plenty of water for it to survive which means, with a little finessing, green-lighting our little water storage proposal.”
10. Synopsis Michael Rodriguez comes home from two tours of combat duty to find his hometown on the brink of self-destruction. A corrupt politician has sold out his small farming town to an evil corporation (Poseidon) monopolizing most of the county, and the state’s water. The starving community is collapsing, while the corporation buys up the land of the failing farmers with plans to dam up the valley the town rests in. The political shield and battering ram behind Poseidon’s death grip on water is a small, endangered fish. Poseidon uses the fish to leverage the congressional consent to construct 3 brand new dams. This only motivates a biologist by the name of Meghan Connors to find a way to save the fish and transplant them, removing them from the endangered species list and taking away Poseidon’s power. When Michael is pushed to his breaking point, he decides to take matters into his own hands. The missions of both Michael and Meghan are realized, separately, at the same time, on the same night and their actions combined shatter Poseidon’s control of California’s water into pieces.
11. EXT. DESERT GHOST TOWN - DAY Throughout the story Michael wrestles with dreams of combat entwined with his agricultural upbringing and the regaining of his purpose. Scenes 10A/B/C/D
13. EXT. The BACKCOUNTRY - DAY The plot unfolds as Michael becomes aware of exactly what happens to the water that is ruining Daly Scenes16/17/18/23/24
14. EXT. ECHO LAKE - DAY Scenes 9/28/29/32/37/38/39/40 The place where the Smelt adapt
15. EXT. CITY STREETS – DAY PROTEST The citizens of California can only take so much when a water rights rally turns radical and marches right up to Poseidon’s door Scene 21/A/B/C/D/E/F
16. EXT. TOP OF DAM - NIGHT The climax The Good Guy Michael Rodriguez battles Poseidon's Henchman… Scenes 50/56/59/64/66 McNeil… Jack O'Briens personal strong arm, cold blooded and cut throat
17. The locations are scouted, the cast is filling, and the cameras are ready to roll Packaged to shoot in February www.damcalifornia.com
