"Saving Hampton Beach" Feature or Pilot--"The Boss of Hampton Beach."

“Saving Hampton Beach””—Synopsis Log line—To clear himself of a bogus murder charge an oceanfront bar owner, recovering from addiction and self-inflicted personal loses, must join forces with a group of zany barflies who are battling the same drug money laundering developers who framed him and are intent on turning their beloved Ocean Boulevard into an exorbitant, high-rise condo infested yuppie Ville. A proposed one-hour television series by Jed Power. Adapted from the eight-book Dan Marlowe/Hampton Beach, NH Crime series by Jed Power. Genre: Drama, crime, dark comedy. It’s “Cheers” meets “The Sopranos” with Sam Malone an Amateur Detective. Pilot Synopsis Dan Marlowe, an oceanfront bar owner, is doing his damndest to stay away from cocaine, the drug that cost him everything important in his life. But when a boat crashes into Hampton’s jetty with two bullet-riddled bodies and a rumored missing cargo of two-hundred pounds of cocaine, Dan’s checkered past comes back to haunt him, as he is suspected as the perpetrator of the crime by his nemesis—a Hampton police lieutenant who assumes Dan is behind any criminal activity of significance on the beach. As Dan attempts to clear his name, he joins forces with an eclectic and zany cast of barflies and co-workers who are attempting to thwart the same criminals who framed Dan. They are ruthless, drug smuggling, money-laundering developers who are intent on turning iconic Ocean Boulevard into a chintzy, miniature Miami Beach At the same time, Dan also must confront an even larger danger—his inner demons and hope that, ironically, the drug that stole everything, short of his life, may be the one thing that can help him get it all back. Episode 2 Dan is asked to help a local immigrant businessman who is being subjected to everything from harassment to arson in an attempt to get him to sell his valuable Ocean Boulevard property Episode 3 Dan is offered a fistful of quarters by a young local skateboarder to help him find the killer of the boy’s mother. Episode 4 Dan is asked to help a local immigrant businessman who is being subjected to everything from harassment to arson in an attempt to get him to sell his valuable Ocean Boulevard property. Episode 5 Dan is asked by an acquaintance to help get his daughter away from a low-life drug dealer who the girl is staying with at the run-down and infamous Honeymoon Hotel. Future Episodes and Seasons There is no end to possible plot ideas, many of which I already have myself, for further episodes and future seasons. Main Character Descriptions 1. Dan Marlowe One-time owner of the best restaurant/bar on Hampton Beach, “Dan Marlowe’s High Tide Restaurant & Saloon.” The establishment was almost lost, as his family was, along with almost everything else dear to him, including what was once a great reputation on Hampton Beach. All because of a cocaine addiction. The Tide was only saved from being acquired by condo developers when it went into foreclosure by Dan’s friend, and on-and-off again girlfriend, Dianne Dennison, who bought the Tide at auction and kept Dan on as a bartender. 2. Hampton Beach, New Hampshire Where series takes place is a major character itself, with its century-long character and charm, now being threatened by profit-driven modernization. 3. Michael “Shamrock” Kelly Dan’s best friend, sidekick, dishwasher and all-around handyman at the Tide. His face is like the map of Ireland. Very slight, light brogue. 4. Dianne Dennison Current owner of the Tide, who saved it from being taken over by condo developers at foreclosure. She kept Dan on as bartender. Very attractive. Recurring Characters 5. Steve Moore Dan’s friend and a Hampton Police Detective. 6. and 7. Eddie Hoar and Derwood Doller A pair of low-life, bumbling beach hustlers who have caused Dan trouble more than once by dragging him unwillingly into their schemes and scams. 8. Lt. Richard Gant Dan’s nemesis, who falsely believes Dan to be guilty of every crime of significance on Hampton Beach. 9. and 10. Eli and Paulie Regular characters at the Tide. 11. Ruthie Waitress at the Tide and Dianne’s best friend. Main Locations 1. Dan Marlowe’s High Tide Restaurant & Saloon The best bar/restaurant on the beach. Not only mobbed with tourists and day trippers in the summer season, the Tide is also the favorite of the “winter people,” who call Hampton Beach their home in the off-season, too, even though some of the more well-off year-round homeowners often say, “there is nothing as dark, depressing and desolate as a summer resort in the winter,” a visit to the Tide can always cheer up almost anyone. Half of the establishment contains a casual dining room with tables; the other side, the bar area where Dan can often be found building drinks, pouring beers and holding court with a varied and often trying group of regulars and drop-ins. There is a long, polished mahogany bar with stools scattered along its length. One end of the bar ends in an L-shape with a large picture window that looks out on Ocean Boulevard, a narrow municipal parking lot, the beautiful sandy beach and beyond the Atlantic Ocean. The bar and dining area are separated by a shoulder-high wood partition. Running the length of the top of the partition is an aquarium with all kinds of multi-colored fish. On the far side of the dining area are two swinging doors which lead to the kitchen with its shiny metal speed table, Fryolators, ovens, large walk-in cooler and a commercial dishwasher, which, more than likely, Shamrock is operating. Beyond the kitchen is a smaller walk-in, mostly stacked with beer and beside that a small office for Dianne, which used to be Dan’s, back when he still owned the Tide and was nicknamed “Boss.” Now Dianne spends her time there doing paperwork when she isn’t needed to help out in the kitchen or dining room. Outside, the front of the Tide on Ocean Boulevard faces the Atlantic. The business name runs the length of the building near the top. The entire front of the business is festooned with nautical bric-a-brac—lobster traps, plastic seagulls, and even a large row boat with a mannequin of a fisherman holding a harpoon seated inside. Fish netting covers the front of the building from top to the sidewalk. There is also a small fountain near the front door. The large amount of various coins visible at the pool’s bottom reveals that it is used as a wishing well by patrons lined up and waiting to be seated on busy evenings. 2. The “Strip” Ocean Boulevard is one of the last ocean-front business districts in New Hampshire. The century-old main boulevard is now a little rough around the edges, with pizza, T-shirt shops, arcades, fast-food joints, and some buildings in need of serious updating. Developers are now moving in, trying to get hold of the valuable ocean-front property for condos and high-end businesses, acquiring the old ocean-front buildings any way they can, then demolishing them and throwing up high-rise condo buildings. Hampton Beach’s long-time residents have mixed feelings about their beloved beach being transformed in this way—some are happy to see the tawdry businesses done away with and sparkling new condo buildings replacing them. Others though hate to see the heart and soul of their beloved beach be turned into a condo-infested yuppieville with high-end stores replacing the iconic businesses they remember, some as far back as their childhood. This transformation has caused a split between the local population and continuing animosity between the two sides. Secondary Locations Dan’s cottage located on the southern end of Hampton Beach, in what is known as the “Island” section of the beach. A fifty-year-old summer cottage in the old, shingled sides beach style. A porch with a door that enters into the front room where the walls and bookcase are covered with beach-themed knick knacks , a ship’s clock, seashells retrieved from the ocean only a short distance away by Dan’s children through the years. A small kitchen and bathroom and three small bedrooms complete the cottage. Antagonist Antagonist will sometimes be the same in each episode but will often be a new character, as Dan is presented with a new crisis at the start of most episodes by a different beach dweller. My motivation for writing this series is a life-long love of Hampton Beach, beginning as a child going every summer with my parents, and later being fortunate enough to take my own family for the summer. Contact: email: jedpower@verizon.net Phone: (978) 979-2371