On Board
A "ship of fools" indeed: madcap teenagers, a lush head of security, a priest who loves riddles, a captain off death-row, a martial artist challenging a boxer — and a serial killer. Come on board for the cruise of a lifetime.
The captain of a cruise ship, saved from death-row by Martin, goes to search for him, with the aid of the ship’s priest, who has a touch of the other-worldliness. They find Martin in a dark lane: a derelict.
The captain takes him on board and makes him head of security in the hope of giving him dignity, a seeding – in a normally futile attempt – to wean him off his alcoholism.
The captain organises for Martin’s family – wife Francine and daughter Petra – to be on board in the hope of reuniting the family after nearly a year’s estrangement.
When a girl is raped-and-killed on board, Martin comes alive to the task of finding the murderer, whom he believes has all the signs of a serial killer in the making.
There are many suspects. There is too the fear of a second killing.
Meanwhile, a group of teenagers seeks romance and adventure.
The priest tries to tell truths about certain passengers by giving them riddles to work out that may lead to self-discovery.
A teenage karate expert is determined to challenge a young boxer on his way to America to fight for the world middleweight title, unaware of the boxer's violent history.
In a Poirot-like dénouement, Martin gathers the suspects and explains his efforts in finding the killer before naming him.
There is the promise of a sequel. In the last scene, Petra proclaims to her father they should go to Florida and resume the search for the serial killer responsible for wiping out three single-parent families.
On Board caters to many demographic groups and serves several genres. It has the promise of being a huge commercial success should it be made into a film.
LATEST NEWS. Today (7 January 2025), I have completed a thorough revision of On Board. Wow, some 50 outright errors have been spotted and corrected. Many stilted action / descriptive paragraphs have been rewritten. Dialogue has been fine-tuned. The result: reading On Board will be smoother as there will be less jarring due to encountering errors, stilted / ambiguous action paragraphs and bloated / unflowing dialogue.
ScriptLinks
Post Your Script Here!LIKE PULLING TEETH
When in 1910 New York City a dentist accidently finds himself with a second job as a private investigator, he eavesdrops on one of the greatest country-changing secret meetings, becoming a dangerous loose end.
Xanadu Shores: Proof of Concept (PoC)
Two ex-pilots become embroiled in a kidnapping and gold heist, after an employer's scheme escalates from theft to kidnapping.
Xanadu Shores 12 Pages.w
Two ex-pilots become embroiled in a kidnapping and gold heist, after an employer's scheme escalates from theft to kidnapping.
RUNNING FROM DEATH
Trials and tribulations of the notorious John Wesley Hardin, 1800’s Texas gunfighter, who’s gunfighting abilities are tested while he runs from death throughout his life.
AT THE MERCY OF FAITH
A former preacher, haunted by the tragic rape/murder of his twin sister, spirals into darkness as supernatural forces, both angelic and demonic, wage war for his soul.
PITTSBURGH PHIL
Biopic of Harry Strauss, a.k.a.
Suicide Prevention - Please Hold
Ex Navy Pilot returns home anticipating matrimony, abandoned by his bride to be, contemplating suicide.
THE SOCIAL POLICE
Twenty years from now, an FBI agent patrols the social media.
CIRQUE D' ETOILES
*** Russian astronaut, thrown out of the space program, hijacks a space taxi going to the International Space Station.
THE CALL CENTER
Locusts invade the building, the adherence schedules are off kilter, and one of the night managers is watching TV and preaching the word.
