True Story of the Perfect 36 synopsis
Writing a synopsis for one of my scripts isn’t my favorite thing to do, but it is necessary.
Here’s this morning’s attempt at a synopsis for True Story of the Perfect 36, my newest script. Enjoy!
___
Nashville, 1920. The Nineteenth Amendment needs to be ratified by 36 states or women won’t get the right to vote. It has passed in 35 states but is expected to fail in the remaining states. Except for Tennessee. In Tennessee it has a slim chance.
Philip has lost everything and knows it is his own fault. He’s playing bodyguard to Becca and Maddie, unlikely experts of time travel. The sisters, ages 11 and 12, dress as boys because they fear they would be restricted in 1920 America if anyone knew they were girls.
Philip, Becca, and Maddie arrive in Nashville too late to stop Douglas Whitfield, aka Mr. Selfish, from stealing the letter to Harry Burn from his mother. History states that the letter convinced Harry Burn to flip his vote and give the necessary votes to ratify the amendment.
Amid the contentious backdrop of yellow roses versus red ones, yellow for ratification, red against, Douglas makes friends with Sara, a member of a high-powered group intent on stopping the ratification. Which puts him in a good position to make sure things go his way.
Philip and the girls, not to be outdone, befriend Angela, Sara’s sister, and Angela’s daughter, Jane. That gives them the chance to steal the letter back from Douglas. But they have no access to the legislators, so how to get it to Harry Burn?
The legislators vote, Philip, Becca, and Maddie watching in the observation balcony. Ratification is losing. Maddie and Becca scale the wall and make a mad dash for Harry Burn, intent on returning his letter to him. But Becca gets tripped, hits her head, and falls unconscious on the floor. Maddie gives Harry Burn the letter. He sticks it in his pocket, unread.
When Becca is examined by a doctor it’s discovered she’s a girl. The doctor is against suffrage, so Becca, Maddie, and Jane end up in jail.
Angela bribes the girls out of jail. Douglas tries to blackmail her into betraying her new friends. He fails.
Then it’s all about the vote. Harry Burn flips his vote and women get the right to vote.
The time travelers still need to find Douglas Whitfield to prevent him from causing any more problems. But he’s disappeared.
They spot him getting off a train. Philip tackles Douglas, Douglas fights back. Philip looks ready to win until Douglas fights dirty and knocks out Philip. Maddie surprises everyone by knocking out Douglas.
The time travelers return to the portal with Douglas, where Maddie and Becca reunite with their mother and sisters.
___
Just read it again.
Hate it!
But that’s okay. I can always rewrite it.
It’s part of the process.
