Brief

Jonas Hawke and his wife Emma are proprietors of a local bed and breakfast, where a sex worker named Mary Louise works and lives. As a newcomer comes to town prying into the past, it brings back unhappy memories for Jonas and all, including those of an affair Emma had with a defendant of Jonas’s. All the while, several of Mary Louise’s clients relay their concerns to her about a large corporation’s cardiac stent product which may be problematic. While Jonas must navigate the dark and/or embarrassing secrets in his family being exposed, he is increasingly pulled in to assist Mary Louise in possibly exposing the corporation for their malpractice. Soon, Jonas, Mary Louise, and others must work together to strategize a whistle blow against a powerful—and potentially dangerous—corporation.

What We Liked

This work stands out for any number of reasons, but perhaps its most notable virtue is the rich cast of characters. If truly feels like any of the supporting players could conceivably be the lead for how motivated, grounded, and well-rounded they are. It seldom feels like we are reading about mere characters, but rather people, warts and all. This work also stands out for the author’s very reasoned efforts to imbue as much subtextual protein into this work as possible.
From the Jonas/Mary Louise tension to Jonas’s marital tension—not to mention a bombshell potential corporate conspiracy and the stakes that it raises for key players—this work has any
number of facets of suspense sizzling on its skillet. All in all, Willen appeals squarely to his target audience, offering an immersive experience of a small town and its distinct, memorable populace.

Film: While this work has undeniable potential for both the big and small screens, it seems to be dense and expansive enough both with its themes and characters to where it may be doing the material a disservice to adapt it to film. As noted clearly above, this work has more than enough characters that deserve their due screen time, and the small screen would afford the material the format and time it needs to tell its story most properly.

TV: This work is checking an inordinate amount of boxes for a viable adaptation to the small screen.
For one thing, the breadth of its cast of characters all but demands that this work be told in the longer, more patient format. Any number of characters in this work are well-rounded to the point where they could conceivably be the lead in themselves—Which is a testament to the quality of the writing and story, as the above statement cannot be said about many in earnest.
All in all, it would behoove a premium network like HBO to pick up this work and to green light it in service of the elder two quadrants of the marketplace.

Key points: The Protagonist – Jonas Hawke is a rare lead that is as likable and interesting as he is flawed and complex. His distinction of character makes him fun to watch, as is his academic command of language.
The Setting – The author goes the extra mile to paint a picture of a small town in Vermont. The
reader is gifted a sincere and vicarious experience of small-town life, not just as a visitor but as a resident.
The Subtext – Many a scene in this work is simmering with subtextual tension, with Jonas’s warm thoughts and feelings for Mary Louise being a key example.
The Climax – Jonas’s back-and-forth exchanges with the errant CEO in the final act are quietly arresting. It is a real pleasure to witness a Jonas we haven’t seen before, and the volleying quality of the meeting feels like a proper showdown.
The Themes – This work carves out a considerable share of thematic value for itself, and it promise to leave its readers/audience with an abundance of food for thought.

Synopsis

Stoic, well-respected retired lawyer Jonas Hawke attends the funeral for his late law partner in the small Vermont town where his has made his life. It’s a somber day in the otherwise idyllic New England community, where Jonas owns a bed and breakfast with his wife Emma. At the B&B, there also lives a sex worker named Mary Louise, with whom Jonas has a strange connection—He views her like a daughter, while also shooing away sexual thoughts about her.
Soon, a stranger comes to town—One Steven Delacourt, who seems to be hiding something. He visits Jonas and Emma’s son Nathan, who runs the local paper, seeking information about his father—A man who was tried for murder and who Jonas helped acquit. It’s a bit of a sore spot for the Hawke family, as Jonas insisted on taking the case despite his family reeling over the death of his and Emma’s son Lucas. All the while, there are murmurs over whether a large medical device company, Harrison, is going to move to the small town, which would be a huge economic boost.
Mary Louise continues to see a series of clients, including several regulars. Among them is an employee of Harrison, who relays his fears of one of the company’s products to Mary Louise—Evidently, there is some issue with their cardiac stent products, which may have resulted in a series of deaths and which was not properly reported to the FDA. This enlivens Mary Louise, who is a principled and well-meaning soul. Slowly, she starts to open up about her findings to Jonas, who offers his advice on the ambiguous scenario she presents as best he can.
Another client is Ed Riley, the de facto town mayor, with whom Mary Louise has a growing romantic connection. Delacourt continues prying around, and Emma and Jonas grow wary of his intentions. Turns out, he is the son of the heiress of the Harrison company, and he has come looking for answers on his father, a man accused of killing Delacourt’s grandfather, the founder of the company. As noted, Jonas helped defend Delacourt’s father. All the while, Jonas and Emma grapple with a bad memory from their past—An affair Emma had with none other than Delacourt’s father. She was sleeping with him on the night that their son died, no less, not to mention the night in which the murder or suicide of Delacourt’s grandfather occurred.
Meanwhile, current Harrison CEO grapples with his crisis—A whistle blow would likely prove detrimental to the company’s image, not to mention its profits. He does his best to keep tabs on the potential whistle blow, even setting into motion some intimidation tactics to keep the controversy on the down low.
As Delacourt continues to collect answers about his father’s hidden past, Emma and Jonas realize they must tell their children about the affair before they find out in a less than desirable way. While their daughter is irate, Nathan is totally understanding, and his words of affirmation to Jonas make Jonas break down and. Jonas has a tough sit-down with Delacourt, where he shares his experience of his father and sheds light on the series of hidden truths. Soon, while the main whistleblower has folded due to a threat to out him for seeing Mary Louise, Mary Louise finds a resolve—She eventually becomes committed to doing the right thing, looping in Jonas more fully to assist her in her endeavor. All the while, she falls more and more in love with Ed Riley, a key witness, although she fears it may be a futile love given her career. Soon, Jonas sets a meeting with Anderson, and a tense back-and-forth volley ensues—Pressing questions and damning insinuations from Jonas and deflections and redirects from Anderson.
There is a personal element to Jonas helping out—His late partner had one of the potentially errant stents after all. Eventually, at risk to themselves, Jonas, Mary Louise, and co. agree to notify the FDA. The result will be a broken open and thorough investigation of the company, one that at the very least will result in time and money lost, and potentially even the dissolution of the entire company. Harrison is let go as CEO, while the owner, Delacourt’s mother, appoints Steven Delacourt as CEO. Mary Louise and Jonas are satisfied with the difference they made—They followed their principles and the rule of law successfully. However, Mary Louise is heartbroken when her relationship with Ed deteriorates—She is not ready to commit to him exclusively, and he does not want her to stop working altogether. It results in bitterness and broken hearts. Soon, a ruffian comes to visit Mary Louise, demanding a free session, but Jonas intervenes and helps intimidate him away. Mary Louise makes the tough decision to leave town for Boston, where she can have a new start. She has a tender goodbye with Jonas. Last we see, Jonas shares a passionate kiss with his wife—Perhaps a new start for them as well.

About The Author

The “About the Author” section seemed succinct and strong as it is. My only suggestions/contribution would be to trim it down and to cut out a couple of redundancies— Mark Willen was born and raised in New England, where he developed a special appreciation for the values, humor, and strength of its people. As a journalist, he has been a contributor at The Voice of America, National Public Radio, and Bloomberg News, among others. Mark retired from journalism in 2010 to devote himself to writing fiction. He lives in Maryland with his wife.