Loglines & Screenplays by Mick Smith

GENRES: Drama

Burning America: In the Best Interest of the Child?

Mick Smith / 619.227.3118 / mick.smith@wsiworld.com

LOGLINE

A respectable middle-class professor and primary caregiver has a peaceful world shattered when their five-year-old daughter is kidnapped by his mentally disturbed wife. The professor must drop everything to fight the mother’s village of custody court to save their child from abuse, neglect, and a terminal end.

ACT ONE

The story is set in middle-class suburban Main Line Philadelphia but happening all over America. The plot unfolds to reveal the meaningless phrase of `in the best interest of the child’ during a custody fight. Thirty five year old Mom abruptly makes profound lifestyle changes involving a close neighbor while taking their five year old child 3,000 miles away from home, family, and school. The tone is constant conflict. In media res is mom takes all assets including child away.

ACT TWO

Father fights other parties in the best interest of the child to return daughter to her home but all to no avail. Mom manipulates the system and uses the child to alienate and torture the father while neglecting their daughter. Mom’s health declines rapidly.

ACT THREE

Mom declared terminal but as resolution to custody fight the judge awards child to non-family best friend of mom and neighbor to father. The next day Mom dies at thirty eight which is the only intervention in the best interest of the now eight year old child who is finally able to return home to caregiver father. 

WRAP-UP

Full-time single father freedom as daughter is reunited to child’s home, family, and school. Father and daughter drive off together proclaiming that family court equals child abuse.