Brief

A man with the rare gift of being able to turn time bonds with a woman and her two children, while being pursued by a violent villain desperate to control him.

What We Liked

At its core, VELVET RAIN deals in darkness, not unlike Stephen King. It follows multiple POVs, but a single, unique protagonist with the ability to spin time while in pursuit by a villain willing to do anything for the power. The story is layered, especially when it comes to interpersonal relationships. Strong bonds are formed between the characters, which makes it easy to root for them. As a bonus, those relationships balance the darkness in a way that makes the story feel particularly well-rounded.

Film: VELVET RAIN has feature potential, and seemingly franchise potential, too. While there is resolution at the end, it feels minimal enough to keep an audience hooked while not compromising on the satisfaction necessary for a story to be considered successful. There are also complex characters throughout – even with the supporting cast – and interpersonal relationships that humanize the speculative element enough for things to feel well-balanced and plausible overall.

TV: Throughout the manuscript, it’s clear that there is much room for continuation and/or expansion. There are loose ends that could be extended, and storylines that could play out over multiple seasons. Additionally, the story focuses strongly on two opposing characters who have minimal resolution, and interpersonal relationships chock full of drama that could satiate an audience throughout the traditional television format.

Key points:
Strong sense of place.
Complex protagonist.
Singular villain.
Strong interpersonal relationships.
Room for continuation.

Synopsis

KAIN RICHARDS is in the middle of a fight outside of a bar. He uses his gift, the Turn, to go back in time and prevent it. Somebody sees and the news lands in a local newspaper. In May 1962, Kain and SARAH-JANE stop for a beer at a local bar in Missouri, before returning to her place together. They spend a week together, before Kain decides he can no longer see her. He travels from Missouri to Iowa, and begins looking for a job. He meets AL HEMBRUFF on his way to Wisconsin and is hired as a
field hand alongside five other men, including JIMMY LONG, a local baseball player.

Al’s wife, GEORGIA, begins to question Kain’s scars. He ponders telling the truth, once and for all.
Kain is in a diner when the waitress, LYNN, is confronted by her ex, RAY. Kain steps in, and Ray retreats with a promise to return. Lynn gives Kain a lead on an apartment to rent. He arrives to find that it is her own, and learns that she is Al’s daughter. He begins to bond with Lynn’s daughter, LEE-ANNE, and her son, RYAN, another local baseball player. When a friend, BEN CALDWELL, accidentally hits the family dog with his truck, Kain decides to spin time and reverse the damage. In November 1961, BRIKKER sees the article about Kain turning time outside the bar. He vows to catch up with him. Meanwhile, Lynn and her children sense that something is awry after Kain turns time. Ryan argues with Kain, and demands to know the truth. Lynn apologizes on behalf of her son.

Kain teaches Lee to drive, and they wreck the truck. Both Lee and Al are hurt, but Kain refuses to turn time. In the chaos, Kain reveals that Lee has a crush on Jimmy Long.
Kain and Lynn begin to theorize that Ray is responsible for killing Jimmy’s father, TOMMY, years ago. They are walking through the woods when Kain begins to feel a darkness creep in. He notices COSTELLO, who sets a violent cat on Lynn and Ryan.
They escape, and Kain faces Ryan’s wrath back at the house. Ryan insists that he will never trust Kain, and Lynn becomes periled at her son’s distress.

Brikker kidnaps Sarah-Jane and tortures her, in his quest to find Kain. Meanwhile, Kain and Lynn participate in a three-legged race, while Ray taunts them from the sidelines.
Later, Ryan goes through Kain’s things and finds a photo of Kain from 1934. He uncovers some truth about Kain and attacks him with a baseball bat. Kain wakes up in Lynn’s bedroom two days later, and ultimately reconciles with Ryan. They begin to bond, and he reveals that Ray abused Lee. Kain tries to console him. Later, he tells Lynn the truth. Kain was born in 1920 Newark, New Jersey. He learned about his gift from his grandfather, GRAMPS. He confesses that his gift has been weakening, and warns Lynn that Brikker will never stop looking for him.

Ray gets into a fight with Jimmy Long, and beats him within inches of his life. Kain doesn’t tell Big Al the truth, and Big Al winds up dead. Ray sneaks onto Lynn’s property and kills the family dog before kidnapping Ryan and attacking the rest of the family. Brikker watches from afar as Ray sets the place on fire. Kain finally uses the Turn, and the world begins anew. Ray is again stalking the family dog. Lynn begins to sense that Brikker is nearby. This time, Kain intervenes. He is able to save the family, but must sacrifice his place in it in order to fight Brikker once and for all.

About The Author

David is an award-winning author, the twisted mind behind several chilling books of horror and suspense. His supernatural thriller, The Dark, won the Independent Book Publishers Award and ReadersFavorite.com Award in horror fiction.