This is the very FIRTS film idea I ever came up with. It was after law school and I was in DC. I had story ideas before but until I took a class in Script writing at United States Graduate School in DC most of my ideas were more short story in format.

I lost the original treatment I wrote. It may be in a file on a hard drive or folder. But I have not found it yet. But I remember it as if I were looking at the page. My brain works in story.

The story begins with the return home of a young first year law student for the summer to her home town in Northern California and her father’s lumber yard business. Her name is Sarah. Not long after her return one of her old friends from school who works for the lumber yard is murdered. Sarah is a bit of a NANCY DREW type and the young man who was murdered meant a great deal to her. She starts digging into the murder.

Sarah has some help from a long time friend who runs the local bait and gift shop. He is a native Indian with a pet Racoon Rascal who likes to steal things. Rascal ends up stealing some valuable evidence that leads to Sarah realizing that not all is well for her father’s business. Someone wants to drive her father out and take the land. Others are practicing illegal logging and cutting into the lumber yards profits. But the real motive for the killing is not simple and the real murderer may have his sights on Sarah next.

Of course my first script idea ever was a murder mystery. I am not sure why living in DC I felt the need to set it in California. I was preparing for the California bar and I wanted one day to see the giant red woods.