Michael RilesJan 14th, 2007 - 20:29:46

Ref: Guidance In Submitting a Screen-play involving a look back, Book scout Male Korean war Vet Mentor Story that takes place in Chicago in the 1960's.

Greetings:

Hope all is well with you. Permit me to submit an idea to you that everyone is telling me to give up on given the “hit-list” the Boy Scouts of America is on. The story is entitled 812-The Story of a Scout Troop. It is a 1960’s nostalgic coming of age boy/male mentor tale.

812-The Story of a Scout Troop is a nostalgic coming of age male mentor story that takes place in Chicago in the 1960’s. If we want to relate it to past successes I would tie it in with The Wonder Years, Stand By Me and Mr. Holland’s Opus. It traces the antics of the writer who, as a boy, is something of a misfit, albeit a creative one. After seeing a documentary about Oliver Cromwell he and his cohorts form a gang called The Cromwellians. They declare war on the neighborhood Catholic kids attending catechism after loosing an earlier war with “girls”; a campaign inspired by the Queen Ann ‘s War as seen through the Tracy epic Northwest Passage. After the Cuban Missile Crisis the boogey-man of boogey-men, Nikita Krushev, springs up as Mike and his pals seek “asylum” via a local Boy Scout Troop. The scoutmaster is an ex-Korean war vet with a secret. Compared to the other scoutmasters, this man is exemplary and very professional. He builds up the troop from twenty boys to over one hundred in a year. The story concludes with a confession. The scoutmaster reveals “the secret”. While in Korea his unit was caught in a horrific engagement where he nearly lost his life. In the end, the boys grow to love and, now, understand what motivated this mentor to give back through them what he had no choice but to take away during that conflict.

This is a Norman Rockwell story---something people are screaming for given the events of late. Also, the 100th anniversary of the scouts is approaching both in the U.K and the United States. As I mentioned earlier my only source of encouragement is my wife, son and the main character who resides in Indiana. Many feel this country is too far gone socially to accept something this creative and wholesome. I don’t believe that. I believe America hungers for something like this. I received accolades from the National Council in Dallas, former president George Bush Senior and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the II of England who read it. All of them encouraged me, through correspondence, to never give up. The anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America is approaching in both the UK and the US. I thank you for your possible consideration and no, I will never give up.

Sincerely,

Michael Riles
983 Fox Valley Trail
Stone Mountain, Ga 30088
770-879-7527
riles.mike@gmail.com

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