Dramedy. Errol Flynn's son, Sean, disappears in the Cambodian jungle when
investigating Nixon's illegal bombing of Cambodia. (Screenplay, Play, Novella).

SYNOPSIS:

Sean Flynn was the son of Hollywood movie stars Errol Flynn, and Lily Damita. He grew up in his father's shadow in the superficial world of Hollywood in the 50's and 60's. Somewhat better looking and every bit as dashing as his father, he was seized upon at an early age by fast-buck producers and cast as the lead in the sequel to his father's first movie - "The Son Of Captain Blood".

Rejecting the false stardom he fled America in search of 'real' adventure. He

became a freelance war correspondent in the Middle East. After various jaunts

through Europe, he again found the lure of war irresistible, and traveled to Vietnam.

Sporting an Australian sweat cloth and riding a red dirt bike to the battle front, his

charisma, good looks and dashing manner soon won him acclaim as - "The man

who makes a war look the way a war ought to look."

But Flynn became a victim of his 'over-reality' psychosis. He grew so absorbed in

war that he would often travel to the front without his camera. He was last seen at an

American checkpoint on the Vietnam/Cambodian border. His assignment was to

investigate the illegal bombing of Cambodia by the Americans, something which was

strenuously denied by the then President, Richard Nixon. Sean Flynn was never

seen again. Officially listed as 'Missing, Presumed Dead', it has been speculated he

was killed by order of the C.I.A..

"The Correspondent" fictitiously places Sean Flynn in a Vietnamese prison in

Cambodia. He is imprisoned in an earthen pit with two prisoners; a New Zealand

intelligence officer named Richard, and an Australian infantryman named Tom.

Through a series of flashbacks the story of Sean Flynn's life is told and his

psychosis revealed. As this happens, he plays a 'reality' game with his fellow

prisoners, sadistically manipulating them under the guise of 'art': Richard and Tom

carry emotional scars from the war; deep guilt over mistakes they have made. They

ask Sean to join them in a death pact. He agrees only on the condition that they play

a game - the two winners of which get to be killed by the loser. The game they play is a mixture of the children's games "I Spy" and "Hangman".

During the game, however, a fourth, unexpected character is introduced. A marine

sergeant, Chuck, is imprisoned with them. Through manipulating Richard and Tom

to destroy Chuck, Sean demonstrates that their remorse will always be misplaced.

Although dealing with a complex character in Sean Flynn, and conveying his

pessimistic view of man in relation to war, there are many lighter moments, and

humor is a propelling force. The humorous interplay of characters while in a deadly

situation lends ironic commentary to the plot, and to this profile of the most dashing

Flynn of all.

THE CORRESPONDENT