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DOWN WITH DAD

Three-time “Man of the Year” Dave McNabb tries to teach his teenage son Lincoln a simple life lesson: do good things, and good things happen. But when past mistakes and unexpected mischief collide, Dave’s world spirals into chaos—much to Lincoln’s delight—and the lesson backfires spectacularly.

Lincoln McNabb, almost 15, is convinced his dad, Dave, exists solely to embarrass him. For years, their relationship has been a quiet battlefield—until Dave decides it’s time for a life lesson: doing good brings good results.

Haunted by a minor Father’s Day theft he committed over 25 years ago, Dave sees a chance for redemption—and a teaching moment. With his wife Cindy, a fiery, self-employed beauty consultant, and Lincoln in tow, Dave revisits the site of his youthful indiscretion—a Big K-Mart—and confesses to the Customer Service Girl. But her response triggers a “Code 11”—a sticker-switcher alert—and soon Dave is dragged into an escalating mess by the overzealous store manager, Mr. O.

To Dave’s shock, the security footage doesn’t just reveal his past misdeeds—it captures Lincoln shoplifting a CD. Determined to shield his son from humiliation, Dave takes the blame, unwittingly exposing himself to public scrutiny. A local newspaper feature celebrating Dave’s long-delayed act of honesty turns into a media frenzy when a mysterious caller, “Rocky,” exposes Dave’s past sins. Suddenly, Dave is the town pariah: his job is at risk, his marriage is strained, and even his body seems to rebel against him.

Meanwhile, Lincoln thrives amid the chaos: teachers cut him slack, girls notice him, and for once, Dad seems absent. But the upside comes with consequences—Cindy’s business suffers, the household finances collapse, and Lincoln realizes that “winning” at life sometimes means missing what matters most.

When Lincoln finally admits his role in the Rocky debacle, Dave has fled town, Cindy is off on a wild escape, and the McNabb family is fractured. Determined to make things right, Lincoln braves a gauntlet of dangers—from BB guns to the roughest corners of town—to rescue his dad and restore order. In the end, his good deeds earn him not only his father’s pride but also a judge’s leniency, proving that integrity—and family—truly matter.

Script Excerpt
Written by:
Format:
Screenplay
Genres:
Budget:
Low
Starring Roles For:
15 YEAR OLD BOY
MATTHEW BRODERICK
Rachel McAdams
In the Vein Of:
AMERICAN BEAUTY
ELECTION
FERRIS BUELLER
Posted:
04/01/2020
Updated:
01/18/2026
Author Bio:
Art D’Alessandro co-founded and ran one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded talent schools for over 22 years. His love of movies has led to nearly 50 screenplays bearing his name as writer, including the produced feature films “The Final Season” (1100 screens, Sean Astin, Powers Boothe, et al), "She Drives Me Crazy" (Lifetime, Winner of CTV's Gemini Award for Best TV Movie, Melinda Clarke), "Mayor Cupcake" (Showtime, Lea Thompson, Zoey Deutch, & Judd Nelson), "Letters to God" (900 screens, Ralph Waite), “All Shook Up” (Sarah Chalke & Frank Gorshin) and the award-winning indie thriller “ZZYZX”, starring Kenny Johnson of The Shield and SWAT fame.

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