The Storekeeper

NOTE: The pilot episode also works very well as a standalone, ethereal one hour tale... The pilot episode was adapted from a novella, with was initially adapted from an ethereal three act stage play. The novella is available in paperback, large print paperback, hardcover and ebook. The stage play adaptation is available in paperback and stage play format. An anthology series; each episode begins at the General Store / Train Station. The Storekeeper welcomes one or more characters each week, sending them on their way to that week’s story. The protagonist / primary character of each episode is drawn from the ensemble cast of characters who appeared in the pilot episode, whom the Writer now uses in his new stories. Not all the primary characters will appear in each episode. The selection of characters is dependent upon the waiting story. And while the characters are same, the life histories of the characters may be different from episode to episode, as necessary. Where possible, similarities will be threaded through the length of the series. Also making subtle appearances somewhere within the episodes will be objects belonging to some of these primary characters; Will Dawson’s pocket watch, Mrs. Mayfield’s black plastic purse, etc. They will appear as talismans for the characters, serving as connecting threads throughout the series. The Storekeeper and General Store / Train Station exist solely within and are a part of the subconscious mind of the unseen Writer. The Storekeeper is not a literary creation of the Writer and therefore will never appear in the stories themselves. The first episode explores the mystery of the Storekeeper, the General Store and the Train Station. As the episode plays out, we discover what the environment is, who the Storekeeper is, and who the seven characters he welcomes to his universe are. The second episode defines the ongoing role of the Storekeeper and his world of the General Store and the Train Station in welcoming back one or more of the original characters each week and sending them on to that week’s story, then following the character(s) to that story. The second episode also defines the structure of further episodes in the series. Note that while the first episode consists of an ensemble cast with no one protagonist, all subsequent episodes will have a single protagonist drawn from the set of characters from the first episode. From the second episode onward, each episode will begin at the General Store / Train Station. The Storekeeper will welcome that week’s character or characters, will send them on their way. The episode will then follow the character(s) of that story. To further clarify and reinforce the transition from Train Station to the story, the earlier episodes may include a scene on the train. Depending on the story, an episode may include characters disembarking from the train and entering into the story. Series bible and first episode screenplay available on request.