Dream promotion within reach, self-made glamorous financial wizard Amelia Dickens receives a mysterious letter from her true southern roots forcing her to choose between two lives . . . and two romances.

SYNOPSIS:

My name is Richard Wilkinson and I have written a romance in the vein of “The Notebook” set in the glamorous world of Manhattan finance and a simple Oklahoma farm. “Scrabble” bridges the two worlds of urban and country life where our beautiful protagonist must choose where she belongs, and who she belongs with. The feature, rich with drama, romance and comedy, makes for a great date night or family film.

Characters:

Amelia Dickens (30s) is a sophisticated, no-nonsense rising star in Manhattan finance. Climbing the ladder of success, if she looks down she sees the parentless young Emily (herself) who ran away after being raped by boys at the lake. A letter from the man who raised her, Grandpa Joe, now beckons her home.

Shane Boyd (30s) was born into his father’s banker wealth. After graduation from Duke, he realized the damage his father had done in foreclosing on local farms. Handsome, softspoken, he spends his days helping the old farmers. Shane, ashamed of his father’s past, dreams of resurrecting the farming community.

Jeff Riser (30s), Amelia’s colleague, is the perfect man with the perfect wink wearing the perfect suit. He and Amelia are in friendly competition for the new CEO position. He respects and desires Amelia, knowing deep down that she deserves the promotion.

Chance (30s) is an unsuccessful fashion guru. Fact is, he spends more time trashing fashion than designing it. He plays the flamboyant role required for his world, but deep down he’s lost. Amelia’s best friend, he has no problem setting her straight.

Grandpa Joe (70s) is a Korean war vet. Mute from a war wound, Joe raised Amelia after a twister took her parents. He lives on a simple farm, walks his pet pig daily, and, if he drinks too much, ponders drowning himself in his backyard pond so he can be reunited with the love of his life. He follows Amelia’s career and has reached out to her one last time.

John and Ethel (70s) are Joe’s fun, yet caring, neighbors. They know Amelia from when she was a pup. Ethel still flirts with the best of them, including with young Shane. Carefree and secure in herself, you might find her skinny dipping in Joe’s pond.

Summary:

On the farm, Grandpa Joe starts his morning with day-old coffee as the pig and cow, best friends, say good morning to each other from their pens. It’s another simple day on an Oklahoma farm. Joe takes a seat and waits for his morning duel of scrabble with a local farm hand Shane, a soft spoken handsome university grad dedicated to helping the struggling farms.

Meanwhile, Amelia awakes under silk everything in her glamorous Manhattan studio apartment. A financial mega investment portfolio manager, she starts her day practicing her sophisticated British accent and executing pre-market trades. Amelia’s a workaholic chasing as much success as it takes to bury her past - that of a simple farm girl on an Oklahoma farm.

In the morning finance meeting, Jeff, Amelia’s only true competition for the pending CEO position, uses insider information to outshine Amelia. Jeff’s a charmer – confident bordering on arrogance with a killer wink. There is mutual respect and chemistry between the two. Amelia is furious that Jeff used the insider trading information – not because of the edge, but because of concern for Jeff. Jeff invites her for drinks after work, something she never does. But this time, she shows up.

Cornered with probing questions from a real ex-pat, Amelia pleads with Jeff to take her home. He does, and they explode in passion, landing on the dining table where Amelia backs into an odd single handwritten envelope – return address, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. In the envelope, a blank scrabble tile. Amelia knows the blank tile is her grandfather calling her home.

Emily, her true name, and her irreverent fashionista friend Chance arrive at Joe’s farm and are greeted by Grandpa Joe in a wool sweater and old baggy underwear. Oops. Joe insists they spend the night - a comical evening of random pet rats and terrifying farm noises. Emily marvels at the sophistication of the wall-mounted games of scrabble, assuming the author of the games is her grandpa’s old friend, John. But, in a twist, the author is Shane, the rugged helpful farmhand. Shane takes Emily on a ride-along while helping the local farms. Their chemistry grows.

On the verge of a romantic evening, things go awry and the two fight. It seems both have hidden secrets. Before she leaves, Emily confesses that her secret involves a day long ago by the lake . . . and three depraved country boys. She had been raped. That memory and the loss of her parents caused her to finally leave the small town.

Conflicted, she returns to Manhattan set on accepting the promotion. Both desperately miss each other. Shane confronts the last of Emily’s surviving abuser and writes to Emily about their ill-fated ends.

In a romantic climax, with Emily at a formal gala on the verge of accepting the promotion, she is shocked to see Shane, “pretty womaned” by John and Joe, sitting next to Jeff. His presence helps her speak of her true self to the crowd. She decides to return home . . . with Shane.

In the final epilogue, Emily and Shane play a game of scrabble. Shane puts forth “Marry me” but Emily only has two last letters. In a final miracle, she digs through her purse and retrieves the forgotten blank scrabble tile forming the word “Yes”.