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GENERAL GRANT IS DOOMED!
“NEVER RETREAT, NEVER SURRENDER!” Ex-President Ulysses S. Grant struggles to complete his “Personal Memoirs” while combatting terminal cancer. He produces a masterpiece. The true story. Can be expanded to TV miniseries. Professional Coverage: “Recommend” - Dave Trottier (Author, The Screenwriter’s Bible) Multiple contest wins and placements
Undaunted, Grant proceeds with the formidable writing project in spite of violent coughing fits and a deteriorating physical condition.
Grant’s memories are depicted in the film as he writes the “Memoirs”. He recounts…
• The early days at West Point, his outstanding horsemanship, mathematical ability, and artistic talents, • His physical strength and heroic performance in the Mexican War, including encounters with Robert E. Lee, • His determination in leading his regiment to a California outpost via Isthmus of Panama during a cholera epidemic, • His resignation from the Army, drinking accusations, and subsequent failure in business, • His recall to active duty in the Civil War, and meteoric rise to Brigadier General, • His unique ability to concentrate and evaluate a situation – military or otherwise – and develop a clear, practical solution that works, • The Battle of Fort Donelson -- where he becomes “Unconditional Surrender” Grant, • His inner turmoil over Civil War casualties, • The surrender of General Lee at Appomattox.
Grant suffers greatly during this writing ordeal. He is unable to swallow without intense pain, and eventually loses his ability to speak.
His wife Julia, and children Nellie and Fred Grant stand by him – and also suffer -- throughout this ordeal.
Grant’s illness sparks a nation-wide death watch. Reporters camp out by his home and even try to dupe his doctors and the housemaid to get further information.
Then Grant has a severe choking experience which nearly kills him. Saved by his doctors – who use a unique medical procedure -- the Ol’ Warrior rallies and vows to finish his manuscript.
In June, 1885 Grant is moved to the Mt. McGregor Cottage in upstate New York to avoid the blistering heat of New York City.
There he complete his manuscript and dies on July 23, 1885.
The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant were published shortly after his death. Mark Twain's company printed 350,000 sets -- 700,000 volumes -- a record number of books for that time.
Grant’s “Personal Memoirs” were a great success -- praised by the public, historians and literary critics. They have been acclaimed as the foremost military memoir in the English Language.
They have never gone out of print.
Screenplays
Jim specializes in screenplays based on historical true events (including musicals), bio/pics and/or disasters. In alphabetical order:
“BOJANGLES, EUBIE AND BERT!” Three Black musical legends of the past – Bert Williams, Eubie Blake and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson – relive their show business success in spite of racism and theatrical bigotry.
ScriptLinks
Post Your Script Here!Osali
Osali is about a ghost of a witch who was murdered during the Salem witch trials.
Sting
Sting is about a solar flare that hits Earth in the distant future and sends the world into an apocalypse.
Arch Angel
Arch Angel is about Michael, the general of Heaven's Angel Army.
The life once lived
The life not lived is about a scientist named Doctor Conners who created a memory device called Ganesha that can allow people to remember who they were in a past life.
Out of time
Out of time is about a struggling musician who runs into a disgraced talent agent from Hollywood.
Only Human
Only human is about a homeless man that doesn't know he's really a Dog.
Sword of Might
Sword of might is about a cursed Sword that gives special abilities to whoever wields it.
Quick Shot
Quick Shot is about an ex-marine with the special ability to slow down time and shoot at impossible targets.
Just Deserts
A bestselling female author avenges her sexual abuser by reversing the power dynamic, creating a nightmare scenario, to make the abuser feel the degradation and lifelong shame he dished out and give her justice so she can finally live in peace.
She Remembers Everything
A memoirist famous for immortalizing his lost love logs into a VR reunion—only to find her AI replica has rebuilt itself from the truths he buried, locking him in a deadly reckoning.
