CLOUDY DAYS TOWARDS THE SUN

" If you only walk on sunny days, you will never reach your destination."
- spoken by a Buddist Monk to a Vietnamese refugee.

 ( From Oliver Stone's Vietnam War Trilogy film ' Heaven and Earth' )

This title presents an expanded non-fiction auto-biographical work. The television mini-series project ACCOUNTABILITY is drawn from this auto-biography. This book includes more detail, as well as supplements additional political topics and specific experiences in my personal life. More emphasis is stressed upon those previously unmentioned years 1943-1960 ( i.e. not in ACCOUNTABILITY ), being raised the son of a high-ranking military officer, and, experiences of living in four different countries by the time I was twelve years old.

The theme of this book concentrates upon struggles from catastrophes in life. Hence, we have a learning how to survive those ' cloudy days' in order to ultimately one day ' see the sun.'

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SCREENPLAY LOGLINES:
1 - ACCOUNTABILITY :

A talented young singer, after being drugged and traumatically raped by a Roman Catholic priest, struggles through adult life afflicted with serious mental illness. Her lawyer husband crusades inexorably to extract retributive justice from the Vatican City State.

2 - CLOUDY DAYS TOWARDS THE SUN:

AUTO-BIOGRAPHY - This work concentrates upon struggles from catastrophes in life. Hence, we have a learning how to survive those ' cloudy days' in order to ultimately one day ' see the sun.'

3- LAMERHAV :

A distraught Palestinian professor, demanding justice for deaths of his family on a London street, learns the suspect is a diplomat trying to sell Israeli nuclear technology to Iran. When this official is granted immunity for secret information, the professor then pursues nemesis with help from Israel’s intelligence services.

4- LEGIONS OF HONOR:
In 1934 a highly-decorated United States Marine Corps General grapples to prevent Wall Street billionaires executing an elaborate coup d'état plot to replace President Franklin Delano Roosevelt with a quasi-dictator, and, thereafter align the USA with fascist politics in Europe.

NOTE: For intellectual property protection rights, all of these works are registered with the US Library of Congress and Writers Guild of America - West .

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HISTORY OF WRITINGS

Writing screenplays originally begins as a research hobby over thirty years ago. In 1982 an interesting potential project catches my eye. That is a 50-word trivia piece in the SACRAMENTO BEE newspaper ( California ) about a little known coup d'etat plot against United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Thereafter arrives thoughts for " Legions of Honour." 

From 1986-1990 I work on a PhD. at the London School of Economics & Political Science. My thesis topic is Israeli-South African Relations. From this research arises groundwork for a screenplay called " Lamerhav " ( Hebrew meaning 'into the open' ).

During the 1990's my past time hobby is taken more seriously by reading books about screenwriting and film making. I attend weekend short courses at the UK National Film and Television School in London. They are screenwriting, documentary & drama production, business skills, camera and sound, film editing, and, directing.

My personal life and world experiences give birth to numerous project ideas from 1990-2010. However, further creative development is limited to four screenplays and an associated auto-biographical book. 

Eventually I purchase Movie Magic Screenwriter software to revise projects. I also decide to market my work to producers and creative executives under the banner of: WINDRUSH RIVER PRODUCTIONS. This name derives from the Windrush River, which runs through a region where I live in West Oxfordshire, England.

Alas, as of 2016 my projects awaken to approaching specific story editors and producers with a rudimentary logline blog approach, as well entire screenplay submissions to BBC, Film 4 and ITV television commissioning divisions in the United Kingdom.

LEGIONS OF HONOUR

General Smedley D. Butler ( 1881 - 1940 ), who is asked by fascist-sympathizing Wall Street financiers to organise and lead an army of war veterans to depose President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

FACTUAL BACKROUND OF STORY

In 1934 a serious plot exists to attempt the overthrow of United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR). A member of his cabinet  (sympathetic to the conspirators) is to supplant him as a  de facto dictator of the country.  If the coup d'etat  is carried out, its impact could ignite a bloody civil war in the USA. 

The roots of this plot originate in July 1933 with several influential Wall Street billionaires. Their objective is to build and take power through an anti-communist nationalist movement modelled primarily from France's veterans-based Croix de Feu ( ' Cross of Fire ' ). They ask retired U.S. Marine Major-General Smedley D. Butler for his support. A highly decorated war hero with two Congressional Medals of Honour, he is greatly respected and trusted by veterans of the American Legion.  

Butler is asked to organize and lead an army of 500,000 American war veterans. He is offered six million dollars ( = about 106 million dollars in 2014 purchasing power ) at his disposal to do so. This force of former soldiers is to march on Washington D.C. and take over all strategic positions throughout the district. Rumours of the plot surface in Washington. General Butler finally becomes so alarmed at the projected sophistication of this plot, that he contacts a New York Times journalist. 

The reporter's investigation leads to a labyrinth of clandestine links between the plotters and fascists in England, France, Germany and Italy.  As well as Wall Street financiers, the plan includes people within FDR's own administration, in addition to high-ranking American military officers. Newspaper articles about the conspiracy virtuously expose its intentions.  

On November 20, 1934 the United States Congress commences inquiries into the alleged plot. All executive hearings are held in tight security and secrecy. A highly censored report ( 73^rd Congress, Hearings No. 73-DC-6 Part 1 ) on the conspiracy is issued on December 29, 1934. Most condemning documents are classified ' top secret ' for 100 years ( until 2034 ). While this report agrees that sophisticated plans for a coup d'etat against President Roosevelt had indeed existed, no further action is taken. Nobody ever faces prosecution.

Even a letter written in 1936 to the US Secretary of State from William Dodd, American Ambassador to Germany, fails to prompt any action. He writes:

"A clique of U.S. industrialists is hell-bent to bring a fascist state to supplant our democratic government and is working closely with the fascist regime in Germany and Italy. I have had plenty of opportunity in my post in Berlin to witness how close some of our American ruling families are to the Nazi regime.... A prominent executive of one of the largest corporations, told me point blank that he would be ready to take definite action to bring fascism into America if President Roosevelt continued his progressive policies."

The Business Plot events essentially become a 'footnote of history.'  

General Butler spends the remaining few years of his life as an isolationist and peace activist, claiming that  " war is a racket." 

- One Depiction of the ' Business Plot '

- The Man on the White Horse

- BBC Radio 4 story on the ' Business Plot,' recorded in 2007
- The MacGuire Affair

FICTIONAL ADAPTATION TO HISTORY

In the early 21^st century a university history student finds diaries of his 100-year old great-grandfather, long living in a care home. This relative turns out to have been closely associated with the ‘business plot’ against FDR in 1934. Hence, the story is told through writings and memories of the old man. In doing so, the plot’s significance in helping shape United States politics for decades thereafter is highlighted.

LAMERHAV

Shimon Peres Nuclear Processing Centre: Dimona, Negev Desert, Israel.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Israel denies possessing nuclear weapons. Considerable evidence to the contrary exists. Israel helps the Republic of South Africa develop nuclear bombs, before the latter dismantles them in 1989. Israel also has a record of making preemptive strikes against suspected 'Islamic' nuclear weapon facilities. Iraq in 1981 and Syria in 2007 are examples. 

With India's tacit endorsement Israel has contingencies ( dating back to 1982 up until 1998 ) to destroy Pakistan's nuclear facilities. American coercion, as well as Indian fears of Pakistani retaliation, prevents these plans reaching fruition. Pakistan tests its first nuclear bomb in 1998. Pakistan and India now possess well over 200 nuclear warheads between them. With apprehension of Pakistani nuclear bombs being seized by terrorist groups, Pakistan still manages to have the world's fastest growing nuclear program.

The current Israeli government also still favors destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities via military means. Its missiles can easily reach Iran fired directly from Israel. Israel persistently regards Iran the greatest threat to its national existence.

FICTIONAL ADAPTATION

The time scale is 1990, just before Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. Operation Lamerhav is a covert Israeli-Indian plan to destroy Pakistan's nuclear processing facilities. Lamerhav is a Hebrew word roughly translated as "community." 

Our main character's connection with this sub-plot begins in England. An American university professor of Palestinian origins witnesses his wife and children killed by a hit-and-run driver on a London street. London and Interpol Police authorities are unable to trace identity of this driver. 

A long-time military friend, an intelligence officer with the US Army, comes to the distraught father's rescue to track this fugitive driver. Their efforts lead to a senior South African diplomat involved with illicit arms trading. He plans to sell Israeli nuclear and missile technology to Iran. South Africa acquired this technology through Israel's helping that country develop nuclear weapons capability. 

This South African diplomat is also privy to the existence of Operation Lamerhav. His attempted sale of Israeli secrets to Iran is exposed to British and American authorities. In exchange for details of his contacts and information about Operation Lamerhav, he benefits from diplomatic immunity. The diplomat is hustled back to South Africa and into hiding. 

Operation Lamerhav is to be carried out from the Indian Ocean. A disguised container ship is to launch long-range Israeli Jericho-2 ballistic missiles into Pakistan. India supplies general logistical support and unmarked Harrier 'jump-jets' on the ship for its protection. ( Britain actually sells Harriers and an aircraft carrier to India in 1987 ).  A Gal Class Israeli submarine escorts the container ship for added protection. Care is taken to ensure this attack is not traced having originated from within India itself. 

American officials inform Israel of a the thwarted Israeli technology transfer. It also warns Israel and India of their uncovering Operation Lamerhav. On the very day Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait, Israel is forced to abort its clandestine operation. Their priority is now worrying about Saddam's next move, as well as Iran's nuclear agenda.

Our professor and colleague are not prepared to leave the South African murderer living free. Hence, with the help of Israeli Mossad intelligence and security agents, the Palestinian professor arrives in  Southern Africa to extract retributive justice from this diplomat. 

MOSSAD INSIGNIA

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NOTE:  The idea for this plot originated in 1990 after finishing my PhD thesis at the London School of Economics and Political Science ( LSE ).  The dissertation subject was Israeli-South African Relations. One of many topics covered was Israel's nuclear weapons program information sharing with the apartheid era Republic of South Africa.