by Lucas Brawner. Neowestern thriller
Log line:
An aging Utah rancher and his young daughter defend their land from a corrupt housing developer.
SADDLE ROCK Synopsis. To read the complete script please contact the writer.
Written by: Lucas Brawner, brawner@chapman.edu
Cache Valley, Northern Utah. Home to a booming housing market and an inlux of wealthy outsiders that’s quickly rendering locals extinct. People like CLIFF LASSER (60s). A bitter, aging widower stuck with his late wife’s illegitimate firecracker of a daughter, JESS (12).
Together, they’re the sole inhabitants of the largest remaining ranch in Cache Valley: Saddle Rock. But their precious land’s on its last legs: Cliff’s behind on payments, his cattle have just been killed by a mountain lion, and the sprawl of nearby housing developments grows ever-closer. This makes Cliff the perfect target for the domineering force of change in Cache Valley: Sunrise Homes. Headed by its cocksure CEO, DAVE BRADSHAW (40s).
Cliff is invited to meet with Bradshaw. Bradshaw makes Cliff a generous offer for his land, but Cliff firmly refuses. With Bradshaw intent on pursuing Saddle Rock at all costs, Cliff enlists the help of Cache County Sheriff and close companion LORI OLSEN (40s).
Cliff reveals a secret to Lori: his land is leased. If Bradshaw were to find that out, he’d be able to go straight to the landlord and swipe Saddle Rock away. Together, Cliff and Lori bury any evidence of the lease. Bradshaw catches scent of their scheme; things escalate to such a degree that Bradshaw turns to his ex-military associate, COOPER (20s), and demands that he secure Cliff’s mail- which contains the landlord’s info- at all costs.
Cooper robs a USPS truck before it reaches Cliff’s home; the robbery goes awry, resulting in the deaths of the USPS driver and a Sheriff’s Deputy- CHARLOTTE (20s)- that Lori’s close with. But with Cliff’s mail secured, Bradshaw visits the landlord and successfully buys Saddle Rock.
With Lori going after Bradshaw in the wake of her deputy’s death and Cliff still refusing to leave, Bradshaw’s backed into a corner with a hundred-million-dollar hole in his pocket. Using Cooper’s military connections, he calls in a group of mercenaries to eliminate Cliff.
Cliff knows his death is likely on the horizon; he uses his final hours to be the parent to Jess that he never was. When the mercenaries arrive, Cliff manages to take them down, but Jess meets her fate in the crossire.