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Tam Lin

In a modern romantic fantasy based on an ancient Scottish fairy tale, a strong young woman risks everything to save her mysterious lover from the evil Fairy Queen, and bring him back to a world he's never known.

Janet Logan must leave her boyfriend to care for widowed father Gerald, professor of folklore, in a remote Scottish village.

Their rented house is a wreck. Local lad Hamish helps her fix it up.

Janet saves Malcolm, a strange little boy with Williams Syndrome who looks like an elf, from being run over. His mother Margaret invites her to a dance.

Janet learns her boyfriend has dumped her. She takes her mother's necklace and goes to the dance. Hamish tries to assault her. She runs away and finds a rosebush by an old well. She picks a rose and meets a weird young man, like a fairy tale knight. He stares at her; she starts to fall under his spell but pricks her finger. The spell is broken. She runs away.

She realises she has lost the necklace and goes back to find the strange man. His name is Tam Lin, and he serves a mysterious mistress. A strange female voice in the wind; he runs away. Ravens attack Janet.

Janet asks Margaret about Tam Lin. She says he's only a legend.

Janet meets Tam again. He has no knowledge of human life. She teaches him how to eat and asks him to run away with her. He can't. He falls asleep, murmuring the name "Ina".

Janet finds Ina, an old woman with a photo of Tam. Janet steals it. In the frame is a news story about Tom Ross, who disappeared 49 years ago.

Janet asks her father about the Tam Lin legend. He starts to tell her, but the window shatters. He warns her she is playing with dangerous forces.

Janet takes a photo of Tam and shows it to Ina. Ina tells her they were engaged, but the Faerie Queen stole him. She says Tom lived in Janet's house.

Janet finds Tom's journals and shows them to him. He remembers everything. They try to leave, but the trees force Janet out. Tam gets back to the well where the Queen can't touch him. Hamish is watching. He tells Tam Janet is in danger and gets him to leave the well. The Queen takes Tam.

Janet learns Tam Lin will be sacrificed by the Queen on Halloween: the next night. She vows to save him.

Gerald locks her in the attic. Malcolm helps her escape. She finds the Queen about to sacrifice Tam. A fiery pit opens, Tam starts to ride into it, Janet pulls him from the horse and kisses him. He becomes himself again. They run. The Queen turns Tam into a rat, a pecking raven, a vicious dog, and finally Hamish, but Janet holds on tight. The Queen opens the ground and they fall in. Malcolm, revealed as a powerful elf king, appears and tells the Queen to let them go. He offers Hamish as a sacrifice instead.

Janet and Tom leave the woods. They meet the ghost of Ina, who has died that night. She gives them her blessing. They return home and live happily ever after.

Format:
Screenplay
Genres:
Starring Roles For:
20’s Female- Vibrant
dreamy knight, 60s folk vibe
cranky prof
In the Vein Of:
Outlander
Secret of Roan Inish
Beauty & The Beast
Posted:
03/06/2019
Updated:
10/11/2023
Author Bio:
We are Toronto-based writers who have written 4 feature-length screenplays. Windigo has been optioned twice, but is currently available.

We have also made the following films: Blood Creature From Beyond the Grave - Runner-up, Famous Players Student Film Awards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gwxG_-DzNE 2 Bucks Short - 8th place, Toronto Urban Film Festival https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWip7f2M5KA

Contest Results:
Toronto Metropolitan (Finalist) [2020]
ScreenCraft SciFi (Semifinalist) [2017]
ScreenCraft Fellowship (Quarterfinalist) [2020]
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