Army chaplain wrestles military and establishment resistance to inaugurate the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in time for the Armistice Day anniversary, risking his own credibility to ensure the countless unnamed dead are never forgotten.
Type:
Feature
Status:
For sale
Page Count:
110pp
Genre:
Biography, Drama, History, Mystery, War
Budget:
Independent
Age Rating:
13+
Based On:
True Events and THE FLAG, written by Andrew Richards
Copyright Details:
WGAw Registered #2246497
Synopsis/Details
THE UNKNOWN By Graham Mulvein Synopsis The year is 1955. David Railton falls to his death from a moving train. Gathered onlookers have no idea of just what this man achieved in his life. As his story begins to unfold, we are taken back to the year 1916, to the Battle of the Somme, in the hells-cape of the First World War. As a military chaplain, Railton is front and centre in the midst of the carnage. He's not there to fight, but he's damn well in as much danger as anyone else. As his time in the Great War progresses and finally, mercifully, comes to its end, Railton is struck by the terrible notion that hundreds of thousands of young men lie buried anonymously in the fields of France and Flanders. On his return to his family in England, Railton finds the once peaceful nation a much changed place. A cynicism exists now, where once only hope existed, a nation where families have been decimated by the Great War. Sons, husbands and brothers have been wiped-out indiscriminately. Troubled by the number of families whose loved ones never returned and as such, now have no place to grieve, Railton decides to put a plan in place to change that. His plan is to inter the body of one of those unknown comrades, creating a place where rank, race and class will not matter in a grave, amongst the Kings and Queens, within Westminster Abbey. A grave where everyone can attach their grief. And so he begins to campaign tirelessly, writing letters to the military brass and the church. When news of Railton's idea eventually reaches King George V, after some initial misgivings, just one month prior to the unveiling of the Cenotaph in London’s Whitehall, his plan is finally given the go-ahead. The task is then to locate an unknown warrior’s body and ensure that the selection is carried out in a meticulously secretive fashion and deliver it through Northern France, back home to Great Britain. On the 11th November, 1920, The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior is unveiled to King and country in Westminster Abbey, and David Railton's legacy is finally cemented.
All Accolades & Coverage

TOP 8% of discoverable projects on Coverfly.
Winner Critics' Choice Best Screenplay Award 2024
Winner International Film Calvacade Best Screenplay Award 2024
2024 Finalist at:
The Script Lab Screenplay Contest
The Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards
The London International Scriptwriting Competition
The Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards
The Faith in Film International Film Festival and Screenplay Awards
The Cambridge Script Festival
Official Selection The Berlin International Screenwriting Festival
Official Selection and Honourable Mention at The Filmique International Film Festival
Official Selection New York City International Scriptwriting Festival

The Black List Coverage:
'Visceral, emotional, yet surprisingly intimate, this war drama subverts expectations of the genre by focusing not on the horrors of war, but on how we honour the sacrifices of those who fell and learn to heal from the wounds we suffered. The premise is instantly intriguing, tapping into moviegoers fascination with history and war, while also engaging their love of mystery by lifting the curtain on an untold part of that history. And as protagonists go, David Railton is a paragon of nobility -- selfless, heroic, and dedicated to his goal of carving out some meaning and honour for the countless lives lost whom he bore witness to. As much as its a story about a country coming together, it's also a story about this one man healing his own deep, internal wounds. It has incredible emotional potency. World War I may be a century in the past, but we feel the gravity of it in every scene, whether in the visceral, realistic depictions of battle, or the subtle, nuanced portrayal of the difficulties that soldiers -- and the nation -- faced upon returning home. There has always been -- and it seems, always will be -- space in the feature marketplace for movies about war. And with the recent success of films like 1917 and ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT, it's clear there is an appetite for stories about this war in particular. What distinguishes this spec from others in the space is that, while it certainly delivers on our expectation for big, visceral, action-driven war scenes, the story actually focuses on the elements of the period that exist off the battlefield -- the grief, loss, and unseen wounds that everyone carried with them after the Armistice, soldier and civilian alike. With a sharp, clear voice and a keen cinematic eye, this is a powerful, cathartic experience for any reader, British or not.'

WeScreenplay Coverage:
This is a terrific concept for a film and the writer has done a fantastic job of bringing it to life. It's not easy to find a fresh and interesting way to tell a story about one of the World Wars but this script manages to do so. It tells an important story and is brimming with vital themes and imagery that are never more pertinent than they are today. David Railton achieved something beautiful that still resonates to this day, a little known legacy that deserves to be told. This script does an excellent job of doing exactly that.This is a very well written piece of work from a writer with an excellent command of the material. A confident and always engaging script about a fascinating man and his quest to do something right after living through unspeakable horrors. A polished and recommended read.

Coverfly All-time Overall Top 10%
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Submitted: 2024-Oct-11
Last Updated: 2025-Aug-07
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Mark Deuce's picture

The Writer: Graham Mulvein

I worked in musical theatre, opera and corporate events.I was the Stage Manager on the original London West End transfer of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and set-up the first UK tour's of A CHORUS LINE and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. I then became a producer and amongst other projects, created the world stage premiere of SCROOGE - THE MUSICAL. A few years back, I decided to concentrate on writing. 2024 has been a great year - NEWLEY! reached the finals of The London International Screenwriting Competition, The Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards; The Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards, The Screen Lab Screenplay Contest & The ScreenCraft True Life & Public Domain Competition… Go to bio
Graham Mulvein's picture
Agency: BPRCM
Manager: Barry Phillips-Richardson