Blowin In The Wind
Original screenplay by Chris Shugart
Genre:
coming of age drama
Logline:
In 1963, the ordinary life of a small-town boy takes an extreme turn when he befriends a California surfer who turns out to be a Viet Nam deserter.
Synopsis:
For twelve year old Kelly Patrick, life is simple. His main activity is riding around town on his bike while listening to the local top-forty station on his transistor radio. Through his travels he’s gotten to know many of the locals.
Occasionally Kelly enjoys watching the older boys surf. Dan, in particular is an exceptional surfer whom Kelly wants to meet. Soon the two become casual friends. Eager to cultivate this new relationship, Kelly helps Dan find a job and even fixes him up with a girl. Somewhat of a loner, Dan does not immediately respond to this new friendship. But he is attracted to Kelly’s innocence and enthusiasm.
Kelly’s parents are wary of his new friend, believing that Kelly may be associating with the wrong element. Kelly disregards his parents, ignores his friends and becomes engrossed and spellbound by the exciting world of surfing.
What Kelly doesn’t know is that Dan was a Viet Nam soldier in 1962. Now the army is looking for him and getting ever closer. Worse perhaps, there are two bikers with a personal vendetta who are looking for him as well. When Kelly discovers that the army is looking for Dan, he’s faced with a new and harsh reality that forces him to take a stand.
Meanwhile, Dan knows he can’t stay. He tries to lay low while figuring out a way to leave town undetected by the army authorities, avoid a confrontation with the bikers, and somehow salvage Kelly’s loyalty and admiration.