Paul Chopuda – 32 to 36 year-old – Native American – Paul Chopuda is a single private investigator who has returned to his old college town in New Hampshire after 5 years away. He is a former student of William Yellow Feather and knows the Yellow Feather family well. He is very street smart but can be too trusting at times. Paul knows little about his Native American heritage and is drawn to the local tribe to find culture devoid in his life.
57% completed
Synopsis:
After years of being away, Paul Chopuda returns to his college town in New Hampshire and starts his private investigation agency. An old friend and mentor hires him to look after his daughters who mysteriously disappear in the evening. Paul’s investigation uncovers a dark conspiracy in his small town that threatens the very people whom he is asked to look after.
Setting:
- A college town in New Hampshire
- Paul Chopuda’s PI Office
- The Yellowfeather House, a respected Native American professor
- The woods near a Native American reservation
Themes:
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
- Strength of Women
- Seeing Through the Deception
Cast of Characters: 5 Females, 3 Males
William Yellow Feather – 50 to 60 years-old – Native American – William Yellow Feather is a respected professor of drama at the local university and throughout the country. He is Paul’s old teacher, graduate school advisor and mentor. He is well-spoken and well-mannered, as an academic would be. While William knows his Native American heritage, he opts to live more like an Academic than in the traditional ways. He is a single father of four daughters since his wife passed away over 5 years ago.
Alder Yellow Feather – 28 to 30 years-old – Native American – Alder Yellow Feather is the oldest of the Yellow Feather Daughters. She left school to take care of her father after her mother died. Alder has a strong sense of responsibility towards her father and family. However, she also wants to see what life has in store for her.
Ash Yellow Feather – 16 to 17 years-old – Native American – Ash Yellow Feather is the youngest of the Yellow Feather daughters. Ash is a junior in high school and is desperate to be like her older sisters. Ash has been sheltered from the realities of the world by her father and sisters. She rushes headstrong towards what she wants with little regard to the dangers and struggles which may occur.
Cherry Yellow Feather – 24 to 26 years-old – Native American – Cherry Yellow Feather is the 2nd oldest of the Yellow Feather daughters. She has recently completed her master’s degree and is looking for work as a teacher. Cherry is close to her sisters and is very protective of them.
Maple Yellow Feather – 21 to 22 years-old – Native American – Maple Yellow Feather is the 3rd oldest of the Yellow Feather daughters. She is close to finishing school at the local university with an Arts degree in English. Maple focuses on her studies and constantly has her head in her books.
Whisper – 21 to 22 year-old – Native American – Whisper is a young Native American woman who has died. She appears to Paul as a spirit to help guide him to discover who murdered her. Whisper only speaks in traditional Abenaki and can only be understood by other spirits.
Steve Mickelson – 32 to 26 year-old – Any Race other than Native Ameerican – Steve Mickelson is a detective with the local police department. Steve and Paul went to college together. He is a gruff type of character, but tries to respect the local customs and traditions, though he knows little about them. He has little time to play around and wants to get right to the point.
more to come …
Inspiration:
This is an adaptation of the Grimm Fairy tale The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces. It was a favorite short story of one of my friends.
4 Page Excerpt:
SCENE 08: INT. THE OFFICE OF PI CHOPUDA – AFTERNOON
LIGHTS UP
PAUL is sitting at his office desk while the radio is playing music in the background. He has several newspapers strewn across the floor. Books are piled up on the coffee table, sofa and desk. PAUL holds up the feather in an evidence bag. PAUL picks up three more feathers. PAUL holds the feathers to the light coming from the window. PAUL shakes his head, puts the feathers on the desk, and rubs his tired face. PAUL notices the owl on his desk and puts the feather up to it. PAUL picks up the phone and dials a number.
PAUL
C’mon pick up the phone.
(a beat)
Steve? Paul. After you sent me the addresses I walked around the previous crime scenes. That feather you found … I found three others. One at each of the scenes. And these feathers …
(looking at the feathers)
I think they might be owl feathers.
(patting the owl statue)
In fact, I’m almost certain they’re owl feathers. I bet you can find an owl somewhere around the perp.
(puzzled)
I don’t know what it means? I’m guessing somewhere around your perp is an owl. You can’t expect me to do everything for you.
(laughing)
Yeah. Yeah. I get it. Go back to your doughnuts. I’ll keep doin’ your job.
PAUL puts down the receiver and rubs his temples. There is a knock at the door. PAUL takes the feathers and places them in the evidence bag.
Hold on a sec.
PAUL takes a moment and then pulls out three feathers. PAUL takes out an envelope and places the three feathers inside. PAUL places the envelope in his desk.
Come in. Door’s open.
page 1
ALDER walks into the room from stage left. ALDER is wearing PAUL’s hat and is much calmer than the last time she was in the office. PAUL is visibly excited to see her.
ALDER
I hope I’m not interrupting anything.
PAUL
(seeing the hat)
You have it? I wonder where he went off to. Looks like he found a new adventuring partner.
(standing up)
Come in. Come In. I’m so happy to see you.
PAUL closes in towards ALDER and kisses her on the cheek. PAUL brings ALDER to the sofa to sit down. ALDER takes off the hat and puts it on the table.
ALDER
Paul …
(pulling away)
Paul. I’m scared …
(looking around)
What is happening here?
ALDER tries to open up one of the files on coffee table. PAUL quickly picks up the strewn files, stands up and puts them on his desk.
PAUL
Sorry, the place is a mess. I’ve been asked to help with the missing and murdered native women happening around in the area. Steve Mickelson thought …
ALDER
(interrupting)
Steve Mickelson? Why do I know that name? Did you go to college together?
PAUL
Yeah. He was in criminology. I was in … well … liberal studies? We met in your dad’s class. Took a couple courses together. He’s back in town and reached out. He’s a police detective now.
PAUL returns back to the sofa and sits down. PAUL is attentive and is interested in everything ALDER says.
page 2
ALDER
He’s back? Now?
He’s back? Now?
PAUL
Yeah. He got back into town about three – four months ago. He always said it would be great to live here after college. He loved this place. Somethin’ about New England college towns. It’s interestin’ how we got back into town around the same time.
ALDER
(lost in thought)
Interesting …
(catching herself)
Well I hope you two can figure out something. Dad said most of these incidents become cold cases. He mentioned more than a hundred of natives go missing every year.
PAUL
It’s more than that, Aldy. Across the country thousands of Native women go missing and murdered. Thousands of unsolved cases. So many lives, just gone.
(a beat)
Wait … you might be able to help out. The paper from yesterday. Didn’t you say you knew her?
ALDER
Did I?
(hesitantly)
It’s possible. I don’t know her name, but I’ve seen her before.
PAUL
(inquisitive)
Are you OK?
ALDER
Paul … I don’t know how to explain it, but something is …
(a beat)
wrong. Dad’s been more demanding lately. And the girls … they’re starting to revolt. The blowup last night … it … it wasn’t the first time. I’m glad you were there. I’m glad you were able to see our family dynamic. Something’s not right … and I’m afraid things are going to come to a head real soon.
PAUL
What do you mean?
ALDER
I think …
page 3
(a beat)
I don’t know. I feel … tired. I think I need to take a nap. All I ever do is work. Clean, wash the laundry, cook the meals. I’m just so tired. I need a rest, Paul.
(yawning)
I just need a little sleep.
ALDER wraps her arms around PAUL and kisses him passionately. ALDER leans into PAUL and pushes him down on the sofa. ALDER breaks the kiss and rests her head on PAUL’s chest.
ALDER
Can I just stay here for a while?
(a beat)
I want to stay here for a while.
(closing her eyes)
Is that possible, Paul? Can I have this moment …
(drifting off to sleep)
for a while?
PAUL
Of course.
PAUL kisses ALDER’s forehead.
You can stay for as long as you like. You can stay forever.
PAUL looks at his watch and smiles. PAUL caresses ALDER’s back and moves into a comfortable position. PAUL closes his eyes. We can see the passage of time through the light in the window.
The lights on stage shift to blue. WHISPER and other native GIRLS, wearing jean jackets and various white outfits, walk into the scene and look at PAUL. WHISPER picks up his hat and puts it on. WHISPER dances around the stage and blows a kiss to the audience. The other girls laugh silently. WHISPER puts the hat on the hat rack. Some of the girls around the desk beckon WHISPER to come over. WHISPER takes one of the files from the pile and opens it. There is a silent murmur from the rest of the GIRLS. WHISPER motions to the GIRLS that it is time to leave. All the GIRLS and WHISPER leave the stage.
It has moved from late afternoon to the beginning of dusk. Music plays from the radio and swells. After a moment the music is interrupted by the announcer.