Synopsis/Details
In a quiet American town during the early 1940s, twelve-year-old Tommy Ellis leads a simple life delivering newspapers to help his family make ends meet. But when he notices that one house repeatedly returns the previous day's paper—marked with strange symbols—curiosity draws him into a mystery hidden behind manicured lawns and warm smiles.
After a chance encounter with the mayor’s elegant but distant wife, Tommy stumbles upon coded cries for help—cleverly disguised within the pages of returned newspapers. As he slowly deciphers their meaning, he begins to uncover a harrowing truth: behind the mayor’s polished public image lies a chilling private world of control and violence.
Drawn into a silent alliance with the woman, Tommy secretly develops a communication system that reveals more than just bruises—it exposes the power of appearances and the price of silence. When his efforts to expose the truth are thwarted and danger creeps closer, Tommy is faced with a daunting choice: turn away, or risk everything to be heard.
THE PAPERBOY is a haunting yet heartfelt drama about courage, injustice, and the power of one voice—however young—to disrupt a carefully crafted illusion.
Story & Logistics
Story Type:
Rescue
Story Conclusion:
Ambiguous
Linear Structure:
Non-linear
Cast Size:
Several
Locations:
Several
Characters
Lead Role Ages:
Female Middle Aged, Male under 13
Hero Type:
Ordinary
Villian Type:
Authority Figure
Advanced
Life Topics:
Childhood, Death
Time Period:
World War II (1939–1945)
Country:
United States of America (USA)
Relationship Topics:
Abusive relationship
