PERSONAL MESSAGE

A thriller that contains elements of horror (not gore), an insurance accidental death investigation into a recent accident that reveals secrets of a long past accident involving a missing baby and the reluctance of the local authorities to not cooperate in either situation.

LOGLINE

A woman who committed suicide 50 years ago continues to haunt the waterways of a small, southern town, searching for the baby she lost in the slow moving waters of what is now known as Cry Baby Creek.  A young woman investigating a local teen’s death uncovers secrets that might help her finally find her baby.

SYNOPSIS

Wendy Gamboa has finally started to feel the effects of marrying a Mexican farm worker in a small town in South Carolina.  The love and passion that carried her trough the marriage and ultimately their baby girl has given way to the hurt brought on by racism of the 1950’s.  The hurt eventually leads her to leaving her husband with their baby girl on a rainy night, down the muddy dirt road that lead to the bridge that she plunges over.

Wendy wakes up choking on the muddy water, and then thrashes about in the dark, searching for her baby. The sheriff tells her daily the search is futile.  The authorities lose interest.  The community’s support drifts.  Wendy continues to search the banks, listening for her baby.Wendy’s eyes are closed.  She tilts her head to the side to listen for the cries.  She tilts the other way.  Nothing.  She drops her head, licks her lips and jumps from the bridge over the creek.  The noose tightens.  She feels the pressure on her neck.  She feels her body go numb.  Her eyes roll and the blood is cut off.  Wendy swings back and forth, her toes slide through the water of the creek below.  We hear the faint sound of a baby crying.

Wendy opens her eyes.

Forty years later, Bethany investigates the accidental death of a local teenager at Cry Baby Creek. The local sheriff doesn’t appreciate the second look by an independent investigation company, especially considering the investigation is being conduction by his estranged granddaughter.  Bethany took on this investigation for personal reasons: to have a reason to come back home, to thumb the nose at the grandfather who disapproves of her relationship with a black man, and to distract herself from the baby who died in her arms not more than a month ago.

The investigation is simple.  The boy slipped and fell at the bridge.  But video testimony of his friends lead to each one seeing and hearing something different.  Each one saw a little more than the other, and Bethany begins to wonder what else there is to find at Cry Baby Creek. Bethany meets Wendy herself, tethered to the bridge, listening for her baby.  She learns from other locals that Wendy isn’t always tied to the noose that killed her.  She learns that Wendy can work her way up and down the creek as far as she wants…as far as she thinks she needs to find her baby.  Bethany learns that Wendy’s efforts to find her baby have become increasingly intense over the years, and seem to be reaching a certain level of desperation. Her grandfather (Sheriff) puts increasing pressure on her to abandon her investigation.  Other elders of the town encourage her to led dead women do what they do on the banks of a long forgotten creek in the backwoods.  They tell her that some secrets are better left alone.  And some babies are not meant to be found.

Wendy is frustrated that no one will help her find her baby.  She’s gonna change that.

I think thrills come in dialogue and character arrangement much quicker than with someone swinging an axe.  It’s the thinks we don’t see that scare us more.  The thrills are what’s just around the corner, not what’s in front of us.

RESUME/ABOUT ME

Wrote five produced plays for community theater with 5-7 sell-out shows each (cast size ranged from 7 to 24 players).  Columnist for the local paper.

Community Theater (playwright)

– 3 produced children’s plays (adult appreciated humor); 7 sell out performances (7-15 characters)

– 1 produced adult murder/mystery set in a small town; 5 sell out performances (7 characters)

– 1 produced (two different years) family Christmas comedy; 5 sell out performances (6 characters)

Other Writing

– Columnist for local paper (4 time SC Press Association Award winner)

– Wrote forward for a gallery graphic novel for a high profile comic artist

– Co-writer of published collection of adult humor comic strips