The true story of deputy U.S. marshal John Bethlehem McGill's (David vs Goliath) effort to derail an illegal whiskey operation in the Indian Territory of Oklahoma in 1896.
Type:
Feature
Status:
For sale
Page Count:
113pp
Genre:
Drama, History, Western
Budget:
Independent
Age Rating:
13+
Based On:
A true story.
Synopsis/Details
Deputy U.S. marshal John Bethlehem McGill gets wind that a St. Louis distiller is setting up an illegal whiskey cartel in the Indian Territory of Oklahoma and have bribed an unknown lawman to inform them of any attempts to derail their operation. John elects to work undercover with plans to not only shut down the cartel but to also expose the corrupt informant and bring him to justice. But someone informs the cartel of John's intention and a price is put on his head. With attempts to assassinate John failing, the cartel then decides to pay a local misfit to trump up some bogus charges against John, including horse stealing and selling whiskey to the Indians, to put John out of commission while they continue to establish their illegal operation. John is subsequently arrested and hauled off to jail where he is to reside until his trial, several weeks later. But John isn't about to sit by and allow the law-breakers to run free. So he enlists three of his five sons to carry on in his stead, and the McGills continue to be thorns in the side of the cartel. And when the McGill boys discover and confiscate a large cache of the cartel's whiskey destined for the Indians, the battle is on. In retaliation, the cartel kidnaps John's youngest son and holds him ransom, which drives John crazy, since he's locked up in jail and can't personally go save his son. So John is forced to come up with an extremely creative but risky plan to not only free his son and protect the rest of his family, but to also take down the cartel once and for all and expose the corrupt lawman aiding and abetting their lawlessness.
All Accolades & Coverage

Coverfly's RED LIST
Finalist, Scriptapalooza Screenplay Competition 2018
Quarterfinalist, PAGE Awards - PAGE International Screenwriting Awards Competition 2018
Semifinalist, Filmmatic - Inroads Fellowship 2019
Semifinalist, Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices Competition - Creative Screenwriting Unique Voices Screenplay Competition 2021
Semifinalist, Filmmatic Drama Screenplay Awards 5th
Quarterfinalist, Creative World Awards 2019

Coverfly All-time Overall Top 10%
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Nicholas Zingarelli's picture

The Writer: Lyndon McGill

I'm a retired chiropractor and screenwriter living in Salem, Oregon. I have written several scripts and a short that have all either won or were finalists in several top screenplay contests. https://imdb.com/name/nm10303168 . Go to bio
Lyndon McGill's picture
Manager: Jason Bellitto at Citizen Skull Management