[Jamie Handley]

Jamie Handley – The perfect pitch

THE PITCH

GENRE: DRAMA

TITLE: WORKING – MISGIVINGS

This is just a working title. Still working on it. I will circle back when it feels right.

THE STORIES WE TELL or A MATTER OF CHOICE / DROP OF A DIME / A MATTER OF FACT/ THE CONSCIENCESNESS OF CHOICE / CONSEQUENCES OF CHOICE

HIGH CONCEPT: Two women reflect on the choices they made in their sixty years of friendship and decide to write a book before one or the other dies.

MAIN CONFLICT: Their medical and family issues impede their goals but it all circles back to the various choices they made.

TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY: After years of hardships, loss and pain, the women realize they are a rut but find a way to reinvent their lives.

OPPOSITION: They are physically damaged by their choice of doctors having put their trust in the medical system only to discover there is a Medical Cartel. They are ingrained in old ways, the thoughts and opinion of others, refusing to own their own mistakes.

2-3 MAIN CHARACTERS

Justine and Annie. Two women whose lives are were destined to meet, long after they met in the early 1960’s.

[Jamie Handley]

Hello everyone. My name is Jamie, I’m a native Californian, lived in Orange County, school in Fullerton, moved to Encinitas (San Diego for those who don’t know the city) and later moved to Colorado, Nevada (Lake Tahoe/Incline Village), on to Montana and now reside in Arizona.

I’m a city girl but love the county side of me. After a horrific auto accident in Incline I had to close my business, built a home in Montana but couldn’t take the cold after several surgeries. And that’s how I came to Arizona. Too much metal in the body.

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 10 or so.

3. What you hope to get out of the class? A script I absolutely love.

4. Something unique, special, strange or usuZal about you?

[Jamie Handley]

May 22, 2013

I, Jamie Handley as a member of this group, I agree to this Agreement as follows:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie Handley MOD 5 LESSON 4

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

WITHOUT RECOURSE “Inspired by a True Story”

Today, first thing I am going to check on Act 1 and conflict. I’m going to make sure that the beginning, middle and end are clear and on to writing more. My Act 1 is longer but needed for the protagonist. We need to see her hurting at a much deeper level. I’ll go back to that in draft 2 but need to skim over it to make certain the set-up is very clear. We know who she is in character and the accident has happened but is it loud and clear that she is in a bad way (pain and suffering) when her problems are internal. She has her surgery in Act 2 but showing how one (person) suffers from an accident when they aren’t with a cast, tons of stiches etc., has to be seen. Working on that one down the road but I know it’s there and I need to make it bigger. That’s it for now. Just glad I am allowing myself to write fast. Yesterday, I had a moment that I couldn’t think of the answer and I went for a brief walk and it really helped.

[Jamie Handley]

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

WITHOUT RECOURSE

My story has changed from “Based upon” to “Inspired by” which changed the dynamics and forced me to write my ass off and quick. I love the concept/subject and have a great deal invested so I WENT OUT OF THE BOX and changed character and just how to present the story and I did it. Certainly not how I wanted it to be…through all the MOD’S, because I found those MOD’S to be very important and very helpful for a great outline. But for now, this is what I have and I do believe it will be a better story. Typing and thinking FAST is really helping. I don’t give it pause for anything…even spell check. I’m in Act 1 and it is longer than I thought but it has to be told for the character’s main conflict/problem. Now I have to ask myself…WHAT DOES SHE WANT/NEED? IS IT CLEAR? Who she is works well and the descriptions can be cut back a lot but I’ll be doing that later on. For now, I’m working away.

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie MOD 5 Lesson 2

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

I’ve started and transferred my slug lines etc., but know that it will all change and that’s ok. I did it, I went forward and didn’t look for words or to change anything…the dialogue is really going to be rough and that’s ok. too. I have definetely gone outside my comfort zone and went out of the box with the revision and I did it as quickly as I could and I’m good with it. I love the subject and changing the way to tell the story was an eyeopener for me. I can do it. In fact, I like this story better. Can’t wait to work on the script down the road…the other dreafts.

[Jamie Handley]

amie MOD 5 Lesson 1

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

WITHOUT RECOURSE

Having to rewrite the character and change the story in ways I didn’t anticipate because it is now “Inspired by” set me back but I’ve gone forward in spite of the issue, Mod 4 is critical as is Mod 4 which I wish I could work on but just can’t at the moment. I am going ahead with what I have and just run with it. It might be all over the page but for now that’s what it is. I am going back and work with the other MOD”S because they work and I love how everything unfolds in this class into a great outline. Right now mine is shit but that’s ok, I have a direction.

I’ve learned a lot for my error of “life rights”.

[Jamie Handley]

Terrie Cooper and Kristine Donnan are giving me feedback.

[Jamie Handley]

I have given both Terrie Cooper and Kristine Donnan on 9/20/22 my rough outline as they have offered and extended their help knowing my situation. They both give very different feedback, both are good.

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie Handley MOD 4 DAY 10

Because of a life rights bailout and waiting on one last copyright permission (now have) I had to reconstruct my entire script’s story. The concept is the same.

After an horrific accident, a woman shares her knowledge of medical negligence to her friends until she discovers the medical mafia and her closest friend is about to undergo a complex surgery by a surgeon who is connected to the mob.

WITHOUT RECOURSE “INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY”

In order to get to the first draft, MOD 5, I will come back daily to do the lessons in MOD 4 (which I feel is very important) one day at a time. For now this is my rough outline.

ACT 1

Arizona 2020

Justine is royally pissed off at someone (Marsha) on the phone, screaming and we hear the conversation. She’s a real bitch.

Justine’s been caring for her dying mother for seven years, exhausted and has physical issues. She wears a full back brace. Her mother, Sarah, falls, becomes unconscious. Firemen and ambulance attend to her. The chaos and sirens stir an old memory of a horrific accident she had years ago that changed her life forever.

FLASHBACK

JUNE 1994 Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Justine is in a complicated relationship with Davidson Wentworth, a wealthy, good looking slick man. She is financially dependent on him with her floral shop. The shop is her life until her accident, is airflighted to a Reno Hospital. An ambulance chaser lawyer finds her in hospital, she’s tempted to sign but her associate at the shop, Gemma, squashes that. She’s bedridden for days, released from hospital, has Gemma to help her while Davidson out of town.

When he returns she has nothing nice to say. In fact she can’t stand him right now. He doesn’t want to get involved.

Weeks are spent between the shop, medical issues and legal meetings. She finds a local attorney in town, William Randell who she signs with until later he fails to show in court. Her case is thrown out of court. Justine turns into a real bitch again. Snappy and short tempered. Now she has to plead to Davidson for help, once again at his mercy. He offers his attorney, Donavon Pierce.

Gemma brings up how crooked Donavon is, heard he was part of a new mafia, the medical mafia (signs with him anyway) Gemma thinks Davidson is around waiting for his share of the money or make her sell the shop. Justine doesn’t believe either.

Tired of the pain, the pills, office visits, is advised by seven surgeons that she needs surgery except one, who she blows up at in his office, but soon after she succumbs. She calls a close friend, Jax, a renowned floral designer, for help with the shop but to no avail. Calls daughter, Gracie, who comes to Tahoe while she goes to…

Turning Point

California, where her mother, Sarah, lives and has the surgery, almost dies. As she heals, Donovan calls about the settlement offer, she refuses. Davidson intervenes, meets with Donovan, he has his ways with Justine. He’ll get her to agree. She returns to Tahoe, Gracie returns home.

Reunited, happy to see the shop doing well and Gemma, Gemma happens to bring “the medical mafia article” to the shop for Justine to see. It shows a photo of the two men involved. Justine is still in disbelief, thinks it’s all politics.

Conference – Justine meets with Davidson before the final settlement offer hearing. At the meeting it’s the “good-old-boys” (Judge Blankenship, Donovan and Davidson) who all went to school together.

She is pressured to take the final offer, by the Judge and Donovan. However, final payment could take months because she signed a LOP (Letter of Protection aka medical lien) with Donovan. They settle out of court, but something doesn’t feel right to Justine, but what?

Davidson and Justine attend a large party with A-list professionals, investors, doctors etc. When the Judge and Donovan arrive this causes a big problem with Justine. She soon learns that Davidson is an investor in companies she’s never heard about. Who is he really?

NOTE – HERE’S WHERE WE MEET THE BIG ROLLERS IN THE MAFIA

AT A PARTY; Davidson, Donovan, Lucas, Judge, Dr. Sherman (Jax & Marsha’s surgeon) Neil Watson (Insurance adjuster @ settlement & 2 other men), Edward Grant CEO of D.W.E. Services, Inc./ medical & legal services (Davidson is an investor) and other faces in the court case and places to come. Several people are attending but not known at this stage of Act 1.

That night Justine finds an enormous wad of cash, a check (stating referral fee) from Donovan to Davidson and confronts him. Referral for what? He won’t say. None of her fucking business. They have a row, (she doesn’t know him kind of fight) and decides to leave him, close the shop and move to Arizona where it’s warm and good for her body. And she does.

ACT 2

BACK TO SCENE

2020 The beginning of COVID in ARIZONA

Justine falls over the oxygen line of Sarah’s and breaks her hip. Justine fakes that she has no pain until it’s so bad she is unable to walk. She calls Gracie to come help with Sarah but she’s the one who needs help but would never admit it.

Gracie shows up, moves in, but brings her significant other, Nathan with her, without asking or letting anyone know. This is a big upset, for everyone, even for Sarah. Sarah confronts Gracie with a lecture, men, money, future and health.

Justine must have surgery, signs an AMA, (Against Medical Advise) and walks out of hospital day after surgery. Two days later Sarah dies. Justine is devastated and despondent. She receives insurance money that Sarah left for her. (Sarah no longer cares about money like she once did)

Jax comes to help Justine and Gracie. Jax demands Justine come back with him to San Diego and recoup. She packs and goes with him.

Turing Point 2

SAN DIEGO

Little by little Jax helps her come around; walks on beach, dinners. The two go out to Lips, a drag queen dinner show, where Jax, a real boozer, meets up with his lover, Lucas Pierce, a good looking lawyer.

She gets drunk. Lucas and Justine spar over the law, brings up her court case and the good-old-boys and mafia. Big difference of opinion, she doesn’t like him. Next day she returns home.

ARIZONA

NOTE: WORK ON THIS….Gracie has the house decorated with Christmas. It feels good to be home for the first time in a long time. Could things get to being normal?

Turning Point 2/Midpoint

NEVADA

Lucas calls Justine to notify that Jax was in an accident but not a bad one. They went to Las Vegas to party but he’s going to stay with his mother, Karlie, who has a good doctor and lawyer. He hits Ellis Kilpatrick, an FBI agent.

Jax needs Gracie to cover an important event for him.

NOTE: AT HOTEL, CONFERENCE WITH THE MEDICAL DEVICE MAKERS. We see a lot of the familiar faces of surgeons.

ARIZONA

Justine gets on the phone, preaches about doctors and lawyers in Nevada. She shares the story of a friend, Marsha, who lives in Vegas whose spine caved in after a surgery there. His name doesn’t come to mind. MONTAGE OR SERIES – Sharing the story of lifelong friend, Marsha.

NOTE: Surgery is with Dr. Sherman & Cohen. Marsha’s lawyer is Donald Wittman.

Justine has her monthly visit with her primary, Dr. T. She questions is knowledge of the medical mafia, is it real? Dr. T. evades the question. [ETHICS] She borrows a book (Danger Within Us) from him.

Gracie gets package from Lucas with all the arrangements for the San Diego event. Jax has her to sign a confidential document, (like the one they did in Hawaii at a very private affair). She pays no mind. Nathan is pissed. They argue, she’s about done with him.

Justine and Gracie go to airport. Gracie confides about Nathan with Justine. They go their separate ways.

ACT 3

NEVADA

Justine arrives in Nevada to see Jax. At the hospital, TWO men shake hands, (Lucas and Granger) another with his back turned (Dr. Taylor Sherman) as he talks with Dr. Cohen, and she walks by unnoticed. The men appear to be sales reps, impressively dressed, both with identical expensive briefcases.

Justine turns around, Lucas puts a large envelope in his case, she notices, they don’t see her. Door shuts and Lucas slithers away with briefcase.

As she enters room, Jax is drugged up good. Tries to ask question him, he’s out of it.

Dr. Sherman enters room with Dr. Cohen and Joseph Granger, both with documents in hand.

Sherman – “he’ll need surgery down the road”, introduces Dr. Cohen as he’ll be doing the surgery, but with no insurance that’s when Granger steps up with a LOP document. Justine interrupts, refers to Jax as her brother, takes documents and they’ll get back with them after discussing with mother. (Karlie)

Justine’s beyond pissed, “I told you do not have surgery, you are going to have to learn to live with pain, there are no recourses.” Jax drifts off until…

Nurse walks in hands Jax an envelope. Inside a get well note from Ellis Kilpatrick with his business card. (FBI investigator) Justine reads it, questions it and keeps it.

Act 3 Turning Point

ARIZONA

WEEKS LATER

Justine gets a call from Karlie. Jax has met with an attorney, Donald Wittman who has been persuaded Jax to have the surgery, refers him to see a Dr. Cohen, for a spine surgery that he doesn’t need. Justine is alarmed. How did Wittman get involved? Why? It puzzles her.

Justine calls Davidson, brings him up to date with Jax. “But why would a FBI Agent give his card?” She asks for his help since Donovan says he won’t. He’ll get back with her.

Later that night she gets out the mafia article and rereads it. Justine studies the photo of the TWO MEN (Wittman and Sherman) with Lucas in background. (We can’t make it out well but it is Dr. Sherman) Suddenly she gets worried and scared.

Gracie overhears the conversation, calls Davidson. They have a long conversation about Justine and helping Jax. Gracie explains the situation but Davidson already knows all about it. She asks him to visit mom but he can’t, he has an important meeting in the morning.

Justine starts looking on the computer for anything. She discovers a worldwide medical website, BECKER’S , that releases information on surgeons who are corrupt and have bilked millions of dollars in kickback schemes. She dumbfounded. This goes on for days as she prints out the articles for herself and to share with Davidson and Jax.

NEVADA

Davidson calls Donovan and sets up a meeting with Dr. Sherman and Lucas. Donovan knows something about Lucas and he can’t be trusted. He’s a heat-seeking homing missile. He’s getting greedy and he can do some real damage. They need to talk in private.

The four meet for lunch. Bits and pieces are shared about, Ellis, too many surgeries, money, prescriptions, and work load. Sherman is beyond capacity with surgeries. Grapevine has it there’s an investigation under hat.

Davidson and Donovan leave together, step away and talk in private. Their conversation is about getting immunity if they become a government witness.

NOTE: MARK JACOBSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, claims that should have been minor, like Jax, were becoming major. Treated usually treated with P.T. were undergoing drastic spine-fusion surgeries. Some insurers sent in their top lawyers. There is 80 billion in insurance fraud annually. They even held an unusual meeting more than a dozen D.A. attended. Grainger offers protection, no malpractice suits, even threatens associates. Expert witnesses don’t want involved with us. Grainger thinks he’s a fixer for us but he’s going cause some real problems. Patients all signed medical liens (LOP) RIGHT!

ARIZONA

Davidson comes to Arizona to see Justine. They go to dinner, Davidson gathers information (she gives him many of Becker’s articles and goes back to his hotel where she spends the night with him.

At the hotel Davidson takes out his DEA Investigator badge, puts on counter without thinking along with the Becker files. Justine looks for a file, finds badge and asks for explanations. He does his best but there is so much he cannot talk about.

Davidson asks her to come to Tahoe and stay, maybe even get some rest, saying how much has changed, including him. She becomes enraged, refuses his offer and walks out again. Same old shit. She should have known better.

ACT 4

NOTE- Davidson has been following the pill-mill since Justine’s accident. That’s why he let her go so easily.

ARIZONA

Justine is beside herself. Calls to check on Jax, but he’s not around. Phone rings, it’s Marsha’s brother, Mike. Marsha had another surgery, got a blood clot, they caught it in time but is now paralyzed from the waist down. She wants to end her life and Mike doesn’t know what to do.

She didn’t take your advice when you last spoke, remember, you were yelling! Ya, gotta come help her. Justine breaks down in tears.

NEVADA

Jax is calling, stops the conversation with Mike…gotta take this call, call you later.

Jax didn’t do the surgery. Mr. Kilpatrick shed the light on the investigation with Jax. Jax will be a star witness. He’s doing ok and going to p.t. like Justine told him. Lucas won’t talk to Jax and has shut the door on him. But, the p.t. is pretty fine!!!

ARIZONA

Justine and Gracie have a heart-to-heart. The confidentiality agreement from Jax was really his will, leaving his home to Justine and business to Gracie if he dies. Justine is giving Gracie money to rent a small store front for her business. Justine gets a certified letter. Davidson sends a copy of his indictment (he’s turned government witness in Jax’s case) along with a ticket to fly in to Tahoe.

NEVADA – TAHOE

Davidson picks her up at airport. He shows up in a pick-up truck, not a limo like he would normally have done. They drive up Mt. Rose highway to Tahoe but it’s not the same home. It’s totally different. It’s just a nice comfortable cabin.

Justine is totally confused and begins with all her questions. Davidson admits to her who he really is, just a man doing his job, had to play a role. He beings to explain everything and she stops him in his tracks. NOW WHAT??? Where do we go from here? How about Montana? I bought us 20 acres and we can build whatever kind of home you want.

Justine wants to save it for another day maybe another time. She calls Gemma and they meet for lunch and catch up on all the daily gossip. Justine grabs the newspaper and finds a small article where a Las Vegas Medical group and a dozens of surgeons and personal-injury lawyers were charged with fraud, conspiracy and witness tampering.

Gemma takes Justine to airport. She stops in Las Vegas where Mike picks her up. She goes to see Marsha. They reunite, tears fall, 50+ years of friendship isn’t going to stop Justine from seeing Marsha.

NEED ENDING SHOTS…SERIES OR MONTAGE. Come back to this.

THEN:

REAL SHOTS OF HEADLINES ONE BY ONE:

New York neurosurgeon indicted for unnecessary, invasive tests in kickback scheme

Texas spine surgeon sued by an insurer who alleged he performed medically unnecessary procedures to inflate personal injury claim. $1.1M in damages

Hospital, orthopedic surgeon share liability in $6.3M verdict

Chiropractor sentenced to 14 months in spine surgery kickback scheme

Olympic volleyball player permanently paralyzed from chest down with spinal surgery.

20 doctors under the government’s cross hairs.

NOTE: ATTACHED DOCUMENT FROM BECKERS’ January 2018 – August 2022 SENTENCING CONTINUES IN CALIFORNIA SPINE KICKBACK CASE: 6 developments in 4+ years. (15 year scheme $500 M in fraud bill & $40 million in kickback; Dr Capen $5M in kickbacks , Full pardon to Taustino Bernadett, MD sentenced to 15 months in prison in illegal kickback scheme )

Hundreds of patients harmed by surgeons, maybe thousands and thousands we haven’t discover yet.

Former Sanford Health neurosurgeon to pay $4.4.M to resolve kickback charges.Ndw trial required for Missouri neurosurgeon’s kickback case.

Medical Mafia makes $80 Billion Killing

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie Handley MOD 4 DAY 9

Because of a life rights bailout and waiting on one last copyright permission (now have) I had to reconstruct my entire script’s story. The concept is the same.

After an horrific accident, a woman shares her knowledge of medical negligence to her friends until she discovers the medical mafia and her closest friend is about to undergo a complex surgery by a surgeon who is connected to the mob.

WITHOUT RECOURSE “INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY”

In order to get to the first draft, MOD 5, I will come back daily to do the lessons in MOD 4 (which I feel is very important) one day at a time. For now this is my rough outline.

ACT 1

Arizona 2020

Justine is royally pissed off at someone (Marsha) on the phone, screaming and we hear the conversation. She’s a real bitch.

Justine’s been caring for her dying mother for seven years, exhausted and has physical issues. She wears a full back brace. Her mother, Sarah, falls, becomes unconscious. Firemen and ambulance attend to her. The chaos and sirens stir an old memory of a horrific accident she had years ago that changed her life forever.

FLASHBACK

JUNE 1994 Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Justine is in a complicated relationship with Davidson Wentworth, a wealthy, good looking slick man. She is financially dependent on him with her floral shop. The shop is her life until her accident, is airflighted to a Reno Hospital. An ambulance chaser lawyer finds her in hospital, she’s tempted to sign but her associate at the shop, Gemma, squashes that. She’s bedridden for days, released from hospital, has Gemma to help her while Davidson out of town.

When he returns she has nothing nice to say. In fact she can’t stand him right now. He doesn’t want to get involved.

Weeks are spent between the shop, medical issues and legal meetings. She finds a local attorney in town, William Randell who she signs with until later he fails to show in court. Her case is thrown out of court. Justine turns into a real bitch again. Snappy and short tempered. Now she has to plead to Davidson for help, once again at his mercy. He offers his attorney, Donavon Pierce.

Gemma brings up how crooked Donavon is, heard he was part of a new mafia, the medical mafia (signs with him anyway) Gemma thinks Davidson is around waiting for his share of the money or make her sell the shop. Justine doesn’t believe either.

Tired of the pain, the pills, office visits, is advised by seven surgeons that she needs surgery except one, who she blows up at in his office, but soon after she succumbs. She calls a close friend, Jax, a renowned floral designer, for help with the shop but to no avail. Calls daughter, Gracie, who comes to Tahoe while she goes to…

Turning Point

California, where her mother, Sarah, lives and has the surgery, almost dies. As she heals, Donovan calls about the settlement offer, she refuses. Davidson intervenes, meets with Donovan, he has his ways with Justine. He’ll get her to agree. She returns to Tahoe, Gracie returns home.

Reunited, happy to see the shop doing well and Gemma, Gemma happens to bring “the medical mafia article” to the shop for Justine to see. It shows a photo of the two men involved. Justine is still in disbelief, thinks it’s all politics.

Conference – Justine meets with Davidson before the final settlement offer hearing. At the meeting it’s the “good-old-boys” (Judge Blankenship, Donovan and Davidson) who all went to school together.

She is pressured to take the final offer, by the Judge and Donovan. However, final payment could take months because she signed a LOP (Letter of Protection aka medical lien) with Donovan. They settle out of court, but something doesn’t feel right to Justine, but what?

Davidson and Justine attend a large party with A-list professionals, investors, doctors etc. When the Judge and Donovan arrive this causes a big problem with Justine. She soon learns that Davidson is an investor in companies she’s never heard about. Who is he really?

NOTE – HERE’S WHERE WE MEET THE BIG ROLLERS IN THE MAFIA

AT A PARTY; Davidson, Donovan, Lucas, Judge, Dr. Sherman (Jax & Marsha’s surgeon) Neil Watson (Insurance adjuster @ settlement & 2 other men), Edward Grant CEO of D.W.E. Services, Inc./ medical & legal services (Davidson is an investor) and other faces in the court case and places to come. Several people are attending but not known at this stage of Act 1.

That night Justine finds an enormous wad of cash, a check (stating referral fee) from Donovan to Davidson and confronts him. Referral for what? He won’t say. None of her fucking business. They have a row, (she doesn’t know him kind of fight) and decides to leave him, close the shop and move to Arizona where it’s warm and good for her body. And she does.

ACT 2

BACK TO SCENE

2020 The beginning of COVID in ARIZONA

Justine falls over the oxygen line of Sarah’s and breaks her hip. Justine fakes that she has no pain until it’s so bad she is unable to walk. She calls Gracie to come help with Sarah but she’s the one who needs help but would never admit it.

Gracie shows up, moves in, but brings her significant other, Nathan with her, without asking or letting anyone know. This is a big upset, for everyone, even for Sarah. Sarah confronts Gracie with a lecture, men, money, future and health.

Justine must have surgery, signs an AMA, (Against Medical Advise) and walks out of hospital day after surgery. Two days later Sarah dies. Justine is devastated and despondent. She receives insurance money that Sarah left for her. (Sarah no longer cares about money like she once did)

Jax comes to help Justine and Gracie. Jax demands Justine come back with him to San Diego and recoup. She packs and goes with him.

Turing Point 2

SAN DIEGO

Little by little Jax helps her come around; walks on beach, dinners. The two go out to Lips, a drag queen dinner show, where Jax, a real boozer, meets up with his lover, Lucas Pierce, a good looking lawyer.

She gets drunk. Lucas and Justine spar over the law, brings up her court case and the good-old-boys and mafia. Big difference of opinion, she doesn’t like him. Next day she returns home.

ARIZONA

NOTE: WORK ON THIS….Gracie has the house decorated with Christmas. It feels good to be home for the first time in a long time. Could things get to being normal?

Turning Point 2/Midpoint

NEVADA

Lucas calls Justine to notify that Jax was in an accident but not a bad one. They went to Las Vegas to party but he’s going to stay with his mother, Karlie, who has a good doctor and lawyer. He hits Ellis Kilpatrick, an FBI agent.

Jax needs Gracie to cover an important event for him.

NOTE: AT HOTEL, CONFERENCE WITH THE MEDICAL DEVICE MAKERS. We see a lot of the familiar faces of surgeons.

ARIZONA

Justine gets on the phone, preaches about doctors and lawyers in Nevada. She shares the story of a friend, Marsha, who lives in Vegas whose spine caved in after a surgery there. His name doesn’t come to mind. MONTAGE OR SERIES – Sharing the story of lifelong friend, Marsha.

NOTE: Surgery is with Dr. Sherman & Cohen. Marsha’s lawyer is Donald Wittman.

Justine has her monthly visit with her primary, Dr. T. She questions is knowledge of the medical mafia, is it real? Dr. T. evades the question. [ETHICS] She borrows a book (Danger Within Us) from him.

Gracie gets package from Lucas with all the arrangements for the San Diego event. Jax has her to sign a confidential document, (like the one they did in Hawaii at a very private affair). She pays no mind. Nathan is pissed. They argue, she’s about done with him.

Justine and Gracie go to airport. Gracie confides about Nathan with Justine. They go their separate ways.

ACT 3

NEVADA

Justine arrives in Nevada to see Jax. At the hospital, TWO men shake hands, (Lucas and Granger) another with his back turned (Dr. Taylor Sherman) as he talks with Dr. Cohen, and she walks by unnoticed. The men appear to be sales reps, impressively dressed, both with identical expensive briefcases.

Justine turns around, Lucas puts a large envelope in his case, she notices, they don’t see her. Door shuts and Lucas slithers away with briefcase.

As she enters room, Jax is drugged up good. Tries to ask question him, he’s out of it.

Dr. Sherman enters room with Dr. Cohen and Joseph Granger, both with documents in hand.

Sherman – “he’ll need surgery down the road”, introduces Dr. Cohen as he’ll be doing the surgery, but with no insurance that’s when Granger steps up with a LOP document. Justine interrupts, refers to Jax as her brother, takes documents and they’ll get back with them after discussing with mother. (Karlie)

Justine’s beyond pissed, “I told you do not have surgery, you are going to have to learn to live with pain, there are no recourses.” Jax drifts off until…

Nurse walks in hands Jax an envelope. Inside a get well note from Ellis Kilpatrick with his business card. (FBI investigator) Justine reads it, questions it and keeps it.

Act 3 Turning Point

ARIZONA

WEEKS LATER

Justine gets a call from Karlie. Jax has met with an attorney, Donald Wittman who has been persuaded Jax to have the surgery, refers him to see a Dr. Cohen, for a spine surgery that he doesn’t need. Justine is alarmed. How did Wittman get involved? Why? It puzzles her.

Justine calls Davidson, brings him up to date with Jax. “But why would a FBI Agent give his card?” She asks for his help since Donovan says he won’t. He’ll get back with her.

Later that night she gets out the mafia article and rereads it. Justine studies the photo of the TWO MEN (Wittman and Sherman) with Lucas in background. (We can’t make it out well but it is Dr. Sherman) Suddenly she gets worried and scared.

Gracie overhears the conversation, calls Davidson. They have a long conversation about Justine and helping Jax. Gracie explains the situation but Davidson already knows all about it. She asks him to visit mom but he can’t, he has an important meeting in the morning.

Justine starts looking on the computer for anything. She discovers a worldwide medical website, BECKER’S , that releases information on surgeons who are corrupt and have bilked millions of dollars in kickback schemes. She dumbfounded. This goes on for days as she prints out the articles for herself and to share with Davidson and Jax.

NEVADA

Davidson calls Donovan and sets up a meeting with Dr. Sherman and Lucas. Donovan knows something about Lucas and he can’t be trusted. He’s a heat-seeking homing missile. He’s getting greedy and he can do some real damage. They need to talk in private.

The four meet for lunch. Bits and pieces are shared about, Ellis, too many surgeries, money, prescriptions, and work load. Sherman is beyond capacity with surgeries. Grapevine has it there’s an investigation under hat.

Davidson and Donovan leave together, step away and talk in private. Their conversation is about getting immunity if they become a government witness.

NOTE: MARK JACOBSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, claims that should have been minor, like Jax, were becoming major. Treated usually treated with P.T. were undergoing drastic spine-fusion surgeries. Some insurers sent in their top lawyers. There is 80 billion in insurance fraud annually. They even held an unusual meeting more than a dozen D.A. attended. Grainger offers protection, no malpractice suits, even threatens associates. Expert witnesses don’t want involved with us. Grainger thinks he’s a fixer for us but he’s going cause some real problems. Patients all signed medical liens (LOP) RIGHT!

ARIZONA

Davidson comes to Arizona to see Justine. They go to dinner, Davidson gathers information (she gives him many of Becker’s articles and goes back to his hotel where she spends the night with him.

At the hotel Davidson takes out his DEA Investigator badge, puts on counter without thinking along with the Becker files. Justine looks for a file, finds badge and asks for explanations. He does his best but there is so much he cannot talk about.

Davidson asks her to come to Tahoe and stay, maybe even get some rest, saying how much has changed, including him. She becomes enraged, refuses his offer and walks out again. Same old shit. She should have known better.

ACT 4

NOTE- Davidson has been following the pill-mill since Justine’s accident. That’s why he let her go so easily.

ARIZONA

Justine is beside herself. Calls to check on Jax, but he’s not around. Phone rings, it’s Marsha’s brother, Mike. Marsha had another surgery, got a blood clot, they caught it in time but is now paralyzed from the waist down. She wants to end her life and Mike doesn’t know what to do.

She didn’t take your advice when you last spoke, remember, you were yelling! Ya, gotta come help her. Justine breaks down in tears.

NEVADA

Jax is calling, stops the conversation with Mike…gotta take this call, call you later.

Jax didn’t do the surgery. Mr. Kilpatrick shed the light on the investigation with Jax. Jax will be a star witness. He’s doing ok and going to p.t. like Justine told him. Lucas won’t talk to Jax and has shut the door on him. But, the p.t. is pretty fine!!!

ARIZONA

Justine and Gracie have a heart-to-heart. The confidentiality agreement from Jax was really his will, leaving his home to Justine and business to Gracie if he dies. Justine is giving Gracie money to rent a small store front for her business. Justine gets a certified letter. Davidson sends a copy of his indictment (he’s turned government witness in Jax’s case) along with a ticket to fly in to Tahoe.

NEVADA – TAHOE

Davidson picks her up at airport. He shows up in a pick-up truck, not a limo like he would normally have done. They drive up Mt. Rose highway to Tahoe but it’s not the same home. It’s totally different. It’s just a nice comfortable cabin.

Justine is totally confused and begins with all her questions. Davidson admits to her who he really is, just a man doing his job, had to play a role. He beings to explain everything and she stops him in his tracks. NOW WHAT??? Where do we go from here? How about Montana? I bought us 20 acres and we can build whatever kind of home you want.

Justine wants to save it for another day maybe another time. She calls Gemma and they meet for lunch and catch up on all the daily gossip. Justine grabs the newspaper and finds a small article where a Las Vegas Medical group and a dozens of surgeons and personal-injury lawyers were charged with fraud, conspiracy and witness tampering.

Gemma takes Justine to airport. She stops in Las Vegas where Mike picks her up. She goes to see Marsha. They reunite, tears fall, 50+ years of friendship isn’t going to stop Justine from seeing Marsha.

NEED ENDING SHOTS…SERIES OR MONTAGE. Come back to this.

THEN:

REAL SHOTS OF HEADLINES ONE BY ONE:

New York neurosurgeon indicted for unnecessary, invasive tests in kickback scheme

Texas spine surgeon sued by an insurer who alleged he performed medically unnecessary procedures to inflate personal injury claim. $1.1M in damages

Hospital, orthopedic surgeon share liability in $6.3M verdict

Chiropractor sentenced to 14 months in spine surgery kickback scheme

Olympic volleyball player permanently paralyzed from chest down with spinal surgery.

20 doctors under the government’s cross hairs.

NOTE: ATTACHED DOCUMENT FROM BECKERS’ January 2018 – August 2022 SENTENCING CONTINUES IN CALIFORNIA SPINE KICKBACK CASE: 6 developments in 4+ years. (15 year scheme $500 M in fraud bill & $40 million in kickback; Dr Capen $5M in kickbacks , Full pardon to Taustino Bernadett, MD sentenced to 15 months in prison in illegal kickback scheme )

Hundreds of patients harmed by surgeons, maybe thousands and thousands we haven’t discover yet.

Former Sanford Health neurosurgeon to pay $4.4.M to resolve kickback charges.Ndw trial required for Missouri neurosurgeon’s kickback case.

Medical Mafia makes $80 Billion Killing

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie Handley MOD 4 DAY 8

Because of a life rights bailout and waiting on one last copyright permission (now have) I had to reconstruct my entire script’s story. The concept is the same.

After an horrific accident, a woman shares her knowledge of medical negligence to her friends until she discovers the medical mafia and her closest friend is about to undergo a complex surgery by a surgeon who is connected to the mob.

WITHOUT RECOURSE “INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY”

In order to get to the first draft, MOD 5, I will come back daily to do the lessons in MOD 4 (which I feel is very important) one day at a time. For now this is my rough outline.

ACT 1

Arizona 2020

Justine is royally pissed off at someone (Marsha) on the phone, screaming and we hear the conversation. She’s a real bitch.

Justine’s been caring for her dying mother for seven years, exhausted and has physical issues. She wears a full back brace. Her mother, Sarah, falls, becomes unconscious. Firemen and ambulance attend to her. The chaos and sirens stir an old memory of a horrific accident she had years ago that changed her life forever.

FLASHBACK

JUNE 1994 Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Justine is in a complicated relationship with Davidson Wentworth, a wealthy, good looking slick man. She is financially dependent on him with her floral shop. The shop is her life until her accident, is airflighted to a Reno Hospital. An ambulance chaser lawyer finds her in hospital, she’s tempted to sign but her associate at the shop, Gemma, squashes that. She’s bedridden for days, released from hospital, has Gemma to help her while Davidson out of town.

When he returns she has nothing nice to say. In fact she can’t stand him right now. He doesn’t want to get involved.

Weeks are spent between the shop, medical issues and legal meetings. She finds a local attorney in town, William Randell who she signs with until later he fails to show in court. Her case is thrown out of court. Justine turns into a real bitch again. Snappy and short tempered. Now she has to plead to Davidson for help, once again at his mercy. He offers his attorney, Donavon Pierce.

Gemma brings up how crooked Donavon is, heard he was part of a new mafia, the medical mafia (signs with him anyway) Gemma thinks Davidson is around waiting for his share of the money or make her sell the shop. Justine doesn’t believe either.

Tired of the pain, the pills, office visits, is advised by seven surgeons that she needs surgery except one, who she blows up at in his office, but soon after she succumbs. She calls a close friend, Jax, a renowned floral designer, for help with the shop but to no avail. Calls daughter, Gracie, who comes to Tahoe while she goes to…

Turning Point

California, where her mother, Sarah, lives and has the surgery, almost dies. As she heals, Donovan calls about the settlement offer, she refuses. Davidson intervenes, meets with Donovan, he has his ways with Justine. He’ll get her to agree. She returns to Tahoe, Gracie returns home.

Reunited, happy to see the shop doing well and Gemma, Gemma happens to bring “the medical mafia article” to the shop for Justine to see. It shows a photo of the two men involved. Justine is still in disbelief, thinks it’s all politics.

Conference – Justine meets with Davidson before the final settlement offer hearing. At the meeting it’s the “good-old-boys” (Judge Blankenship, Donovan and Davidson) who all went to school together.

She is pressured to take the final offer, by the Judge and Donovan. However, final payment could take months because she signed a LOP (Letter of Protection aka medical lien) with Donovan. They settle out of court, but something doesn’t feel right to Justine, but what?

Davidson and Justine attend a large party with A-list professionals, investors, doctors etc. When the Judge and Donovan arrive this causes a big problem with Justine. She soon learns that Davidson is an investor in companies she’s never heard about. Who is he really?

NOTE – HERE’S WHERE WE MEET THE BIG ROLLERS IN THE MAFIA

AT A PARTY; Davidson, Donovan, Lucas, Judge, Dr. Sherman (Jax & Marsha’s surgeon) Neil Watson (Insurance adjuster @ settlement & 2 other men), Edward Grant CEO of D.W.E. Services, Inc./ medical & legal services (Davidson is an investor) and other faces in the court case and places to come. Several people are attending but not known at this stage of Act 1.

That night Justine finds an enormous wad of cash, a check (stating referral fee) from Donovan to Davidson and confronts him. Referral for what? He won’t say. None of her fucking business. They have a row, (she doesn’t know him kind of fight) and decides to leave him, close the shop and move to Arizona where it’s warm and good for her body. And she does.

ACT 2

BACK TO SCENE

2020 The beginning of COVID in ARIZONA

Justine falls over the oxygen line of Sarah’s and breaks her hip. Justine fakes that she has no pain until it’s so bad she is unable to walk. She calls Gracie to come help with Sarah but she’s the one who needs help but would never admit it.

Gracie shows up, moves in, but brings her significant other, Nathan with her, without asking or letting anyone know. This is a big upset, for everyone, even for Sarah. Sarah confronts Gracie with a lecture, men, money, future and health.

Justine must have surgery, signs an AMA, (Against Medical Advise) and walks out of hospital day after surgery. Two days later Sarah dies. Justine is devastated and despondent. She receives insurance money that Sarah left for her. (Sarah no longer cares about money like she once did)

Jax comes to help Justine and Gracie. Jax demands Justine come back with him to San Diego and recoup. She packs and goes with him.

Turing Point 2

SAN DIEGO

Little by little Jax helps her come around; walks on beach, dinners. The two go out to Lips, a drag queen dinner show, where Jax, a real boozer, meets up with his lover, Lucas Pierce, a good looking lawyer.

She gets drunk. Lucas and Justine spar over the law, brings up her court case and the good-old-boys and mafia. Big difference of opinion, she doesn’t like him. Next day she returns home.

ARIZONA

NOTE: WORK ON THIS….Gracie has the house decorated with Christmas. It feels good to be home for the first time in a long time. Could things get to being normal?

Turning Point 2/Midpoint

NEVADA

Lucas calls Justine to notify that Jax was in an accident but not a bad one. They went to Las Vegas to party but he’s going to stay with his mother, Karlie, who has a good doctor and lawyer. He hits Ellis Kilpatrick, an FBI agent.

Jax needs Gracie to cover an important event for him.

NOTE: AT HOTEL, CONFERENCE WITH THE MEDICAL DEVICE MAKERS. We see a lot of the familiar faces of surgeons.

ARIZONA

Justine gets on the phone, preaches about doctors and lawyers in Nevada. She shares the story of a friend, Marsha, who lives in Vegas whose spine caved in after a surgery there. His name doesn’t come to mind. MONTAGE OR SERIES – Sharing the story of lifelong friend, Marsha.

NOTE: Surgery is with Dr. Sherman & Cohen. Marsha’s lawyer is Donald Wittman.

Justine has her monthly visit with her primary, Dr. T. She questions is knowledge of the medical mafia, is it real? Dr. T. evades the question. [ETHICS] She borrows a book (Danger Within Us) from him.

Gracie gets package from Lucas with all the arrangements for the San Diego event. Jax has her to sign a confidential document, (like the one they did in Hawaii at a very private affair). She pays no mind. Nathan is pissed. They argue, she’s about done with him.

Justine and Gracie go to airport. Gracie confides about Nathan with Justine. They go their separate ways.

ACT 3

NEVADA

Justine arrives in Nevada to see Jax. At the hospital, TWO men shake hands, (Lucas and Granger) another with his back turned (Dr. Taylor Sherman) as he talks with Dr. Cohen, and she walks by unnoticed. The men appear to be sales reps, impressively dressed, both with identical expensive briefcases.

Justine turns around, Lucas puts a large envelope in his case, she notices, they don’t see her. Door shuts and Lucas slithers away with briefcase.

As she enters room, Jax is drugged up good. Tries to ask question him, he’s out of it.

Dr. Sherman enters room with Dr. Cohen and Joseph Granger, both with documents in hand.

Sherman – “he’ll need surgery down the road”, introduces Dr. Cohen as he’ll be doing the surgery, but with no insurance that’s when Granger steps up with a LOP document. Justine interrupts, refers to Jax as her brother, takes documents and they’ll get back with them after discussing with mother. (Karlie)

Justine’s beyond pissed, “I told you do not have surgery, you are going to have to learn to live with pain, there are no recourses.” Jax drifts off until…

Nurse walks in hands Jax an envelope. Inside a get well note from Ellis Kilpatrick with his business card. (FBI investigator) Justine reads it, questions it and keeps it.

Act 3 Turning Point

ARIZONA

WEEKS LATER

Justine gets a call from Karlie. Jax has met with an attorney, Donald Wittman who has been persuaded Jax to have the surgery, refers him to see a Dr. Cohen, for a spine surgery that he doesn’t need. Justine is alarmed. How did Wittman get involved? Why? It puzzles her.

Justine calls Davidson, brings him up to date with Jax. “But why would a FBI Agent give his card?” She asks for his help since Donovan says he won’t. He’ll get back with her.

Later that night she gets out the mafia article and rereads it. Justine studies the photo of the TWO MEN (Wittman and Sherman) with Lucas in background. (We can’t make it out well but it is Dr. Sherman) Suddenly she gets worried and scared.

Gracie overhears the conversation, calls Davidson. They have a long conversation about Justine and helping Jax. Gracie explains the situation but Davidson already knows all about it. She asks him to visit mom but he can’t, he has an important meeting in the morning.

Justine starts looking on the computer for anything. She discovers a worldwide medical website, BECKER’S , that releases information on surgeons who are corrupt and have bilked millions of dollars in kickback schemes. She dumbfounded. This goes on for days as she prints out the articles for herself and to share with Davidson and Jax.

NEVADA

Davidson calls Donovan and sets up a meeting with Dr. Sherman and Lucas. Donovan knows something about Lucas and he can’t be trusted. He’s a heat-seeking homing missile. He’s getting greedy and he can do some real damage. They need to talk in private.

The four meet for lunch. Bits and pieces are shared about, Ellis, too many surgeries, money, prescriptions, and work load. Sherman is beyond capacity with surgeries. Grapevine has it there’s an investigation under hat.

Davidson and Donovan leave together, step away and talk in private. Their conversation is about getting immunity if they become a government witness.

NOTE: MARK JACOBSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, claims that should have been minor, like Jax, were becoming major. Treated usually treated with P.T. were undergoing drastic spine-fusion surgeries. Some insurers sent in their top lawyers. There is 80 billion in insurance fraud annually. They even held an unusual meeting more than a dozen D.A. attended. Grainger offers protection, no malpractice suits, even threatens associates. Expert witnesses don’t want involved with us. Grainger thinks he’s a fixer for us but he’s going cause some real problems. Patients all signed medical liens (LOP) RIGHT!

ARIZONA

Davidson comes to Arizona to see Justine. They go to dinner, Davidson gathers information (she gives him many of Becker’s articles and goes back to his hotel where she spends the night with him.

At the hotel Davidson takes out his DEA Investigator badge, puts on counter without thinking along with the Becker files. Justine looks for a file, finds badge and asks for explanations. He does his best but there is so much he cannot talk about.

Davidson asks her to come to Tahoe and stay, maybe even get some rest, saying how much has changed, including him. She becomes enraged, refuses his offer and walks out again. Same old shit. She should have known better.

ACT 4

NOTE- Davidson has been following the pill-mill since Justine’s accident. That’s why he let her go so easily.

ARIZONA

Justine is beside herself. Calls to check on Jax, but he’s not around. Phone rings, it’s Marsha’s brother, Mike. Marsha had another surgery, got a blood clot, they caught it in time but is now paralyzed from the waist down. She wants to end her life and Mike doesn’t know what to do.

She didn’t take your advice when you last spoke, remember, you were yelling! Ya, gotta come help her. Justine breaks down in tears.

NEVADA

Jax is calling, stops the conversation with Mike…gotta take this call, call you later.

Jax didn’t do the surgery. Mr. Kilpatrick shed the light on the investigation with Jax. Jax will be a star witness. He’s doing ok and going to p.t. like Justine told him. Lucas won’t talk to Jax and has shut the door on him. But, the p.t. is pretty fine!!!

ARIZONA

Justine and Gracie have a heart-to-heart. The confidentiality agreement from Jax was really his will, leaving his home to Justine and business to Gracie if he dies. Justine is giving Gracie money to rent a small store front for her business. Justine gets a certified letter. Davidson sends a copy of his indictment (he’s turned government witness in Jax’s case) along with a ticket to fly in to Tahoe.

NEVADA – TAHOE

Davidson picks her up at airport. He shows up in a pick-up truck, not a limo like he would normally have done. They drive up Mt. Rose highway to Tahoe but it’s not the same home. It’s totally different. It’s just a nice comfortable cabin.

Justine is totally confused and begins with all her questions. Davidson admits to her who he really is, just a man doing his job, had to play a role. He beings to explain everything and she stops him in his tracks. NOW WHAT??? Where do we go from here? How about Montana? I bought us 20 acres and we can build whatever kind of home you want.

Justine wants to save it for another day maybe another time. She calls Gemma and they meet for lunch and catch up on all the daily gossip. Justine grabs the newspaper and finds a small article where a Las Vegas Medical group and a dozens of surgeons and personal-injury lawyers were charged with fraud, conspiracy and witness tampering.

Gemma takes Justine to airport. She stops in Las Vegas where Mike picks her up. She goes to see Marsha. They reunite, tears fall, 50+ years of friendship isn’t going to stop Justine from seeing Marsha.

NEED ENDING SHOTS…SERIES OR MONTAGE. Come back to this.

THEN:

REAL SHOTS OF HEADLINES ONE BY ONE:

New York neurosurgeon indicted for unnecessary, invasive tests in kickback scheme

Texas spine surgeon sued by an insurer who alleged he performed medically unnecessary procedures to inflate personal injury claim. $1.1M in damages

Hospital, orthopedic surgeon share liability in $6.3M verdict

Chiropractor sentenced to 14 months in spine surgery kickback scheme

Olympic volleyball player permanently paralyzed from chest down with spinal surgery.

20 doctors under the government’s cross hairs.

NOTE: ATTACHED DOCUMENT FROM BECKERS’ January 2018 – August 2022 SENTENCING CONTINUES IN CALIFORNIA SPINE KICKBACK CASE: 6 developments in 4+ years. (15 year scheme $500 M in fraud bill & $40 million in kickback; Dr Capen $5M in kickbacks , Full pardon to Taustino Bernadett, MD sentenced to 15 months in prison in illegal kickback scheme )

Hundreds of patients harmed by surgeons, maybe thousands and thousands we haven’t discover yet.

Former Sanford Health neurosurgeon to pay $4.4.M to resolve kickback charges.Ndw trial required for Missouri neurosurgeon’s kickback case.

Medical Mafia makes $80 Billion Killing

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie Handley MOD 4 DAY 7

Because of a life rights bailout and waiting on one last copyright permission (now have) I had to reconstruct my entire script’s story. The concept is the same.

After an horrific accident, a woman shares her knowledge of medical negligence to her friends until she discovers the medical mafia and her closest friend is about to undergo a complex surgery by a surgeon who is connected to the mob.

WITHOUT RECOURSE “INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY”

In order to get to the first draft, MOD 5, I will come back daily to do the lessons in MOD 4 (which I feel is very important) one day at a time. For now this is my rough outline.

ACT 1

Arizona 2020

Justine is royally pissed off at someone (Marsha) on the phone, screaming and we hear the conversation. She’s a real bitch.

Justine’s been caring for her dying mother for seven years, exhausted and has physical issues. She wears a full back brace. Her mother, Sarah, falls, becomes unconscious. Firemen and ambulance attend to her. The chaos and sirens stir an old memory of a horrific accident she had years ago that changed her life forever.

FLASHBACK

JUNE 1994 Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Justine is in a complicated relationship with Davidson Wentworth, a wealthy, good looking slick man. She is financially dependent on him with her floral shop. The shop is her life until her accident, is airflighted to a Reno Hospital. An ambulance chaser lawyer finds her in hospital, she’s tempted to sign but her associate at the shop, Gemma, squashes that. She’s bedridden for days, released from hospital, has Gemma to help her while Davidson out of town.

When he returns she has nothing nice to say. In fact she can’t stand him right now. He doesn’t want to get involved.

Weeks are spent between the shop, medical issues and legal meetings. She finds a local attorney in town, William Randell who she signs with until later he fails to show in court. Her case is thrown out of court. Justine turns into a real bitch again. Snappy and short tempered. Now she has to plead to Davidson for help, once again at his mercy. He offers his attorney, Donavon Pierce.

Gemma brings up how crooked Donavon is, heard he was part of a new mafia, the medical mafia (signs with him anyway) Gemma thinks Davidson is around waiting for his share of the money or make her sell the shop. Justine doesn’t believe either.

Tired of the pain, the pills, office visits, is advised by seven surgeons that she needs surgery except one, who she blows up at in his office, but soon after she succumbs. She calls a close friend, Jax, a renowned floral designer, for help with the shop but to no avail. Calls daughter, Gracie, who comes to Tahoe while she goes to…

Turning Point

California, where her mother, Sarah, lives and has the surgery, almost dies. As she heals, Donovan calls about the settlement offer, she refuses. Davidson intervenes, meets with Donovan, he has his ways with Justine. He’ll get her to agree. She returns to Tahoe, Gracie returns home.

Reunited, happy to see the shop doing well and Gemma, Gemma happens to bring “the medical mafia article” to the shop for Justine to see. It shows a photo of the two men involved. Justine is still in disbelief, thinks it’s all politics.

Conference – Justine meets with Davidson before the final settlement offer hearing. At the meeting it’s the “good-old-boys” (Judge Blankenship, Donovan and Davidson) who all went to school together.

She is pressured to take the final offer, by the Judge and Donovan. However, final payment could take months because she signed a LOP (Letter of Protection aka medical lien) with Donovan. They settle out of court, but something doesn’t feel right to Justine, but what?

Davidson and Justine attend a large party with A-list professionals, investors, doctors etc. When the Judge and Donovan arrive this causes a big problem with Justine. She soon learns that Davidson is an investor in companies she’s never heard about. Who is he really?

NOTE – HERE’S WHERE WE MEET THE BIG ROLLERS IN THE MAFIA

AT A PARTY; Davidson, Donovan, Lucas, Judge, Dr. Sherman (Jax & Marsha’s surgeon) Neil Watson (Insurance adjuster @ settlement & 2 other men), Edward Grant CEO of D.W.E. Services, Inc./ medical & legal services (Davidson is an investor) and other faces in the court case and places to come. Several people are attending but not known at this stage of Act 1.

That night Justine finds an enormous wad of cash, a check (stating referral fee) from Donovan to Davidson and confronts him. Referral for what? He won’t say. None of her fucking business. They have a row, (she doesn’t know him kind of fight) and decides to leave him, close the shop and move to Arizona where it’s warm and good for her body. And she does.

ACT 2

BACK TO SCENE

2020 The beginning of COVID in ARIZONA

Justine falls over the oxygen line of Sarah’s and breaks her hip. Justine fakes that she has no pain until it’s so bad she is unable to walk. She calls Gracie to come help with Sarah but she’s the one who needs help but would never admit it.

Gracie shows up, moves in, but brings her significant other, Nathan with her, without asking or letting anyone know. This is a big upset, for everyone, even for Sarah. Sarah confronts Gracie with a lecture, men, money, future and health.

Justine must have surgery, signs an AMA, (Against Medical Advise) and walks out of hospital day after surgery. Two days later Sarah dies. Justine is devastated and despondent. She receives insurance money that Sarah left for her. (Sarah no longer cares about money like she once did)

Jax comes to help Justine and Gracie. Jax demands Justine come back with him to San Diego and recoup. She packs and goes with him.

Turing Point 2

SAN DIEGO

Little by little Jax helps her come around; walks on beach, dinners. The two go out to Lips, a drag queen dinner show, where Jax, a real boozer, meets up with his lover, Lucas Pierce, a good looking lawyer.

She gets drunk. Lucas and Justine spar over the law, brings up her court case and the good-old-boys and mafia. Big difference of opinion, she doesn’t like him. Next day she returns home.

ARIZONA

NOTE: WORK ON THIS….Gracie has the house decorated with Christmas. It feels good to be home for the first time in a long time. Could things get to being normal?

Turning Point 2/Midpoint

NEVADA

Lucas calls Justine to notify that Jax was in an accident but not a bad one. They went to Las Vegas to party but he’s going to stay with his mother, Karlie, who has a good doctor and lawyer. He hits Ellis Kilpatrick, an FBI agent.

Jax needs Gracie to cover an important event for him.

NOTE: AT HOTEL, CONFERENCE WITH THE MEDICAL DEVICE MAKERS. We see a lot of the familiar faces of surgeons.

ARIZONA

Justine gets on the phone, preaches about doctors and lawyers in Nevada. She shares the story of a friend, Marsha, who lives in Vegas whose spine caved in after a surgery there. His name doesn’t come to mind. MONTAGE OR SERIES – Sharing the story of lifelong friend, Marsha.

NOTE: Surgery is with Dr. Sherman & Cohen. Marsha’s lawyer is Donald Wittman.

Justine has her monthly visit with her primary, Dr. T. She questions is knowledge of the medical mafia, is it real? Dr. T. evades the question. [ETHICS] She borrows a book (Danger Within Us) from him.

Gracie gets package from Lucas with all the arrangements for the San Diego event. Jax has her to sign a confidential document, (like the one they did in Hawaii at a very private affair). She pays no mind. Nathan is pissed. They argue, she’s about done with him.

Justine and Gracie go to airport. Gracie confides about Nathan with Justine. They go their separate ways.

ACT 3

NEVADA

Justine arrives in Nevada to see Jax. At the hospital, TWO men shake hands, (Lucas and Granger) another with his back turned (Dr. Taylor Sherman) as he talks with Dr. Cohen, and she walks by unnoticed. The men appear to be sales reps, impressively dressed, both with identical expensive briefcases.

Justine turns around, Lucas puts a large envelope in his case, she notices, they don’t see her. Door shuts and Lucas slithers away with briefcase.

As she enters room, Jax is drugged up good. Tries to ask question him, he’s out of it.

Dr. Sherman enters room with Dr. Cohen and Joseph Granger, both with documents in hand.

Sherman – “he’ll need surgery down the road”, introduces Dr. Cohen as he’ll be doing the surgery, but with no insurance that’s when Granger steps up with a LOP document. Justine interrupts, refers to Jax as her brother, takes documents and they’ll get back with them after discussing with mother. (Karlie)

Justine’s beyond pissed, “I told you do not have surgery, you are going to have to learn to live with pain, there are no recourses.” Jax drifts off until…

Nurse walks in hands Jax an envelope. Inside a get well note from Ellis Kilpatrick with his business card. (FBI investigator) Justine reads it, questions it and keeps it.

Act 3 Turning Point

ARIZONA

WEEKS LATER

Justine gets a call from Karlie. Jax has met with an attorney, Donald Wittman who has been persuaded Jax to have the surgery, refers him to see a Dr. Cohen, for a spine surgery that he doesn’t need. Justine is alarmed. How did Wittman get involved? Why? It puzzles her.

Justine calls Davidson, brings him up to date with Jax. “But why would a FBI Agent give his card?” She asks for his help since Donovan says he won’t. He’ll get back with her.

Later that night she gets out the mafia article and rereads it. Justine studies the photo of the TWO MEN (Wittman and Sherman) with Lucas in background. (We can’t make it out well but it is Dr. Sherman) Suddenly she gets worried and scared.

Gracie overhears the conversation, calls Davidson. They have a long conversation about Justine and helping Jax. Gracie explains the situation but Davidson already knows all about it. She asks him to visit mom but he can’t, he has an important meeting in the morning.

Justine starts looking on the computer for anything. She discovers a worldwide medical website, BECKER’S , that releases information on surgeons who are corrupt and have bilked millions of dollars in kickback schemes. She dumbfounded. This goes on for days as she prints out the articles for herself and to share with Davidson and Jax.

NEVADA

Davidson calls Donovan and sets up a meeting with Dr. Sherman and Lucas. Donovan knows something about Lucas and he can’t be trusted. He’s a heat-seeking homing missile. He’s getting greedy and he can do some real damage. They need to talk in private.

The four meet for lunch. Bits and pieces are shared about, Ellis, too many surgeries, money, prescriptions, and work load. Sherman is beyond capacity with surgeries. Grapevine has it there’s an investigation under hat.

Davidson and Donovan leave together, step away and talk in private. Their conversation is about getting immunity if they become a government witness.

NOTE: MARK JACOBSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, claims that should have been minor, like Jax, were becoming major. Treated usually treated with P.T. were undergoing drastic spine-fusion surgeries. Some insurers sent in their top lawyers. There is 80 billion in insurance fraud annually. They even held an unusual meeting more than a dozen D.A. attended. Grainger offers protection, no malpractice suits, even threatens associates. Expert witnesses don’t want involved with us. Grainger thinks he’s a fixer for us but he’s going cause some real problems. Patients all signed medical liens (LOP) RIGHT!

ARIZONA

Davidson comes to Arizona to see Justine. They go to dinner, Davidson gathers information (she gives him many of Becker’s articles and goes back to his hotel where she spends the night with him.

At the hotel Davidson takes out his DEA Investigator badge, puts on counter without thinking along with the Becker files. Justine looks for a file, finds badge and asks for explanations. He does his best but there is so much he cannot talk about.

Davidson asks her to come to Tahoe and stay, maybe even get some rest, saying how much has changed, including him. She becomes enraged, refuses his offer and walks out again. Same old shit. She should have known better.

ACT 4

NOTE- Davidson has been following the pill-mill since Justine’s accident. That’s why he let her go so easily.

ARIZONA

Justine is beside herself. Calls to check on Jax, but he’s not around. Phone rings, it’s Marsha’s brother, Mike. Marsha had another surgery, got a blood clot, they caught it in time but is now paralyzed from the waist down. She wants to end her life and Mike doesn’t know what to do.

She didn’t take your advice when you last spoke, remember, you were yelling! Ya, gotta come help her. Justine breaks down in tears.

NEVADA

Jax is calling, stops the conversation with Mike…gotta take this call, call you later.

Jax didn’t do the surgery. Mr. Kilpatrick shed the light on the investigation with Jax. Jax will be a star witness. He’s doing ok and going to p.t. like Justine told him. Lucas won’t talk to Jax and has shut the door on him. But, the p.t. is pretty fine!!!

ARIZONA

Justine and Gracie have a heart-to-heart. The confidentiality agreement from Jax was really his will, leaving his home to Justine and business to Gracie if he dies. Justine is giving Gracie money to rent a small store front for her business. Justine gets a certified letter. Davidson sends a copy of his indictment (he’s turned government witness in Jax’s case) along with a ticket to fly in to Tahoe.

NEVADA – TAHOE

Davidson picks her up at airport. He shows up in a pick-up truck, not a limo like he would normally have done. They drive up Mt. Rose highway to Tahoe but it’s not the same home. It’s totally different. It’s just a nice comfortable cabin.

Justine is totally confused and begins with all her questions. Davidson admits to her who he really is, just a man doing his job, had to play a role. He beings to explain everything and she stops him in his tracks. NOW WHAT??? Where do we go from here? How about Montana? I bought us 20 acres and we can build whatever kind of home you want.

Justine wants to save it for another day maybe another time. She calls Gemma and they meet for lunch and catch up on all the daily gossip. Justine grabs the newspaper and finds a small article where a Las Vegas Medical group and a dozens of surgeons and personal-injury lawyers were charged with fraud, conspiracy and witness tampering.

Gemma takes Justine to airport. She stops in Las Vegas where Mike picks her up. She goes to see Marsha. They reunite, tears fall, 50+ years of friendship isn’t going to stop Justine from seeing Marsha.

NEED ENDING SHOTS…SERIES OR MONTAGE. Come back to this.

THEN:

REAL SHOTS OF HEADLINES ONE BY ONE:

New York neurosurgeon indicted for unnecessary, invasive tests in kickback scheme

Texas spine surgeon sued by an insurer who alleged he performed medically unnecessary procedures to inflate personal injury claim. $1.1M in damages

Hospital, orthopedic surgeon share liability in $6.3M verdict

Chiropractor sentenced to 14 months in spine surgery kickback scheme

Olympic volleyball player permanently paralyzed from chest down with spinal surgery.

20 doctors under the government’s cross hairs.

NOTE: ATTACHED DOCUMENT FROM BECKERS’ January 2018 – August 2022 SENTENCING CONTINUES IN CALIFORNIA SPINE KICKBACK CASE: 6 developments in 4+ years. (15 year scheme $500 M in fraud bill & $40 million in kickback; Dr Capen $5M in kickbacks , Full pardon to Taustino Bernadett, MD sentenced to 15 months in prison in illegal kickback scheme )

Hundreds of patients harmed by surgeons, maybe thousands and thousands we haven’t discover yet.

Former Sanford Health neurosurgeon to pay $4.4.M to resolve kickback charges.Ndw trial required for Missouri neurosurgeon’s kickback case.

Medical Mafia makes $80 Billion Killing

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie Handley MOD 4 DAY 6

Because of a life rights bailout and waiting on one last copyright permission (now have) I had to reconstruct my entire script’s story. The concept is the same.

After an horrific accident, a woman shares her knowledge of medical negligence to her friends until she discovers the medical mafia and her closest friend is about to undergo a complex surgery by a surgeon who is connected to the mob.

WITHOUT RECOURSE “INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY”

In order to get to the first draft, MOD 5, I will come back daily to do the lessons in MOD 4 (which I feel is very important) one day at a time. For now this is my rough outline.

ACT 1

Arizona 2020

Justine is royally pissed off at someone (Marsha) on the phone, screaming and we hear the conversation. She’s a real bitch.

Justine’s been caring for her dying mother for seven years, exhausted and has physical issues. She wears a full back brace. Her mother, Sarah, falls, becomes unconscious. Firemen and ambulance attend to her. The chaos and sirens stir an old memory of a horrific accident she had years ago that changed her life forever.

FLASHBACK

JUNE 1994 Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Justine is in a complicated relationship with Davidson Wentworth, a wealthy, good looking slick man. She is financially dependent on him with her floral shop. The shop is her life until her accident, is airflighted to a Reno Hospital. An ambulance chaser lawyer finds her in hospital, she’s tempted to sign but her associate at the shop, Gemma, squashes that. She’s bedridden for days, released from hospital, has Gemma to help her while Davidson out of town.

When he returns she has nothing nice to say. In fact she can’t stand him right now. He doesn’t want to get involved.

Weeks are spent between the shop, medical issues and legal meetings. She finds a local attorney in town, William Randell who she signs with until later he fails to show in court. Her case is thrown out of court. Justine turns into a real bitch again. Snappy and short tempered. Now she has to plead to Davidson for help, once again at his mercy. He offers his attorney, Donavon Pierce.

Gemma brings up how crooked Donavon is, heard he was part of a new mafia, the medical mafia (signs with him anyway) Gemma thinks Davidson is around waiting for his share of the money or make her sell the shop. Justine doesn’t believe either.

Tired of the pain, the pills, office visits, is advised by seven surgeons that she needs surgery except one, who she blows up at in his office, but soon after she succumbs. She calls a close friend, Jax, a renowned floral designer, for help with the shop but to no avail. Calls daughter, Gracie, who comes to Tahoe while she goes to…

Turning Point

California, where her mother, Sarah, lives and has the surgery, almost dies. As she heals, Donovan calls about the settlement offer, she refuses. Davidson intervenes, meets with Donovan, he has his ways with Justine. He’ll get her to agree. She returns to Tahoe, Gracie returns home.

Reunited, happy to see the shop doing well and Gemma, Gemma happens to bring “the medical mafia article” to the shop for Justine to see. It shows a photo of the two men involved. Justine is still in disbelief, thinks it’s all politics.

Conference – Justine meets with Davidson before the final settlement offer hearing. At the meeting it’s the “good-old-boys” (Judge Blankenship, Donovan and Davidson) who all went to school together.

She is pressured to take the final offer, by the Judge and Donovan. However, final payment could take months because she signed a LOP (Letter of Protection aka medical lien) with Donovan. They settle out of court, but something doesn’t feel right to Justine, but what?

Davidson and Justine attend a large party with A-list professionals, investors, doctors etc. When the Judge and Donovan arrive this causes a big problem with Justine. She soon learns that Davidson is an investor in companies she’s never heard about. Who is he really?

NOTE – HERE’S WHERE WE MEET THE BIG ROLLERS IN THE MAFIA

AT A PARTY; Davidson, Donovan, Lucas, Judge, Dr. Sherman (Jax & Marsha’s surgeon) Neil Watson (Insurance adjuster @ settlement & 2 other men), Edward Grant CEO of D.W.E. Services, Inc./ medical & legal services (Davidson is an investor) and other faces in the court case and places to come. Several people are attending but not known at this stage of Act 1.

That night Justine finds an enormous wad of cash, a check (stating referral fee) from Donovan to Davidson and confronts him. Referral for what? He won’t say. None of her fucking business. They have a row, (she doesn’t know him kind of fight) and decides to leave him, close the shop and move to Arizona where it’s warm and good for her body. And she does.

ACT 2

BACK TO SCENE

2020 The beginning of COVID in ARIZONA

Justine falls over the oxygen line of Sarah’s and breaks her hip. Justine fakes that she has no pain until it’s so bad she is unable to walk. She calls Gracie to come help with Sarah but she’s the one who needs help but would never admit it.

Gracie shows up, moves in, but brings her significant other, Nathan with her, without asking or letting anyone know. This is a big upset, for everyone, even for Sarah. Sarah confronts Gracie with a lecture, men, money, future and health.

Justine must have surgery, signs an AMA, (Against Medical Advise) and walks out of hospital day after surgery. Two days later Sarah dies. Justine is devastated and despondent. She receives insurance money that Sarah left for her. (Sarah no longer cares about money like she once did)

Jax comes to help Justine and Gracie. Jax demands Justine come back with him to San Diego and recoup. She packs and goes with him.

Turing Point 2

SAN DIEGO

Little by little Jax helps her come around; walks on beach, dinners. The two go out to Lips, a drag queen dinner show, where Jax, a real boozer, meets up with his lover, Lucas Pierce, a good looking lawyer.

She gets drunk. Lucas and Justine spar over the law, brings up her court case and the good-old-boys and mafia. Big difference of opinion, she doesn’t like him. Next day she returns home.

ARIZONA

NOTE: WORK ON THIS….Gracie has the house decorated with Christmas. It feels good to be home for the first time in a long time. Could things get to being normal?

Turning Point 2/Midpoint

NEVADA

Lucas calls Justine to notify that Jax was in an accident but not a bad one. They went to Las Vegas to party but he’s going to stay with his mother, Karlie, who has a good doctor and lawyer. He hits Ellis Kilpatrick, an FBI agent.

Jax needs Gracie to cover an important event for him.

NOTE: AT HOTEL, CONFERENCE WITH THE MEDICAL DEVICE MAKERS. We see a lot of the familiar faces of surgeons.

ARIZONA

Justine gets on the phone, preaches about doctors and lawyers in Nevada. She shares the story of a friend, Marsha, who lives in Vegas whose spine caved in after a surgery there. His name doesn’t come to mind. MONTAGE OR SERIES – Sharing the story of lifelong friend, Marsha.

NOTE: Surgery is with Dr. Sherman & Cohen. Marsha’s lawyer is Donald Wittman.

Justine has her monthly visit with her primary, Dr. T. She questions is knowledge of the medical mafia, is it real? Dr. T. evades the question. [ETHICS] She borrows a book (Danger Within Us) from him.

Gracie gets package from Lucas with all the arrangements for the San Diego event. Jax has her to sign a confidential document, (like the one they did in Hawaii at a very private affair). She pays no mind. Nathan is pissed. They argue, she’s about done with him.

Justine and Gracie go to airport. Gracie confides about Nathan with Justine. They go their separate ways.

ACT 3

NEVADA

Justine arrives in Nevada to see Jax. At the hospital, TWO men shake hands, (Lucas and Granger) another with his back turned (Dr. Taylor Sherman) as he talks with Dr. Cohen, and she walks by unnoticed. The men appear to be sales reps, impressively dressed, both with identical expensive briefcases.

Justine turns around, Lucas puts a large envelope in his case, she notices, they don’t see her. Door shuts and Lucas slithers away with briefcase.

As she enters room, Jax is drugged up good. Tries to ask question him, he’s out of it.

Dr. Sherman enters room with Dr. Cohen and Joseph Granger, both with documents in hand.

Sherman – “he’ll need surgery down the road”, introduces Dr. Cohen as he’ll be doing the surgery, but with no insurance that’s when Granger steps up with a LOP document. Justine interrupts, refers to Jax as her brother, takes documents and they’ll get back with them after discussing with mother. (Karlie)

Justine’s beyond pissed, “I told you do not have surgery, you are going to have to learn to live with pain, there are no recourses.” Jax drifts off until…

Nurse walks in hands Jax an envelope. Inside a get well note from Ellis Kilpatrick with his business card. (FBI investigator) Justine reads it, questions it and keeps it.

Act 3 Turning Point

ARIZONA

WEEKS LATER

Justine gets a call from Karlie. Jax has met with an attorney, Donald Wittman who has been persuaded Jax to have the surgery, refers him to see a Dr. Cohen, for a spine surgery that he doesn’t need. Justine is alarmed. How did Wittman get involved? Why? It puzzles her.

Justine calls Davidson, brings him up to date with Jax. “But why would a FBI Agent give his card?” She asks for his help since Donovan says he won’t. He’ll get back with her.

Later that night she gets out the mafia article and rereads it. Justine studies the photo of the TWO MEN (Wittman and Sherman) with Lucas in background. (We can’t make it out well but it is Dr. Sherman) Suddenly she gets worried and scared.

Gracie overhears the conversation, calls Davidson. They have a long conversation about Justine and helping Jax. Gracie explains the situation but Davidson already knows all about it. She asks him to visit mom but he can’t, he has an important meeting in the morning.

Justine starts looking on the computer for anything. She discovers a worldwide medical website, BECKER’S , that releases information on surgeons who are corrupt and have bilked millions of dollars in kickback schemes. She dumbfounded. This goes on for days as she prints out the articles for herself and to share with Davidson and Jax.

NEVADA

Davidson calls Donovan and sets up a meeting with Dr. Sherman and Lucas. Donovan knows something about Lucas and he can’t be trusted. He’s a heat-seeking homing missile. He’s getting greedy and he can do some real damage. They need to talk in private.

The four meet for lunch. Bits and pieces are shared about, Ellis, too many surgeries, money, prescriptions, and work load. Sherman is beyond capacity with surgeries. Grapevine has it there’s an investigation under hat.

Davidson and Donovan leave together, step away and talk in private. Their conversation is about getting immunity if they become a government witness.

NOTE: MARK JACOBSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, claims that should have been minor, like Jax, were becoming major. Treated usually treated with P.T. were undergoing drastic spine-fusion surgeries. Some insurers sent in their top lawyers. There is 80 billion in insurance fraud annually. They even held an unusual meeting more than a dozen D.A. attended. Grainger offers protection, no malpractice suits, even threatens associates. Expert witnesses don’t want involved with us. Grainger thinks he’s a fixer for us but he’s going cause some real problems. Patients all signed medical liens (LOP) RIGHT!

ARIZONA

Davidson comes to Arizona to see Justine. They go to dinner, Davidson gathers information (she gives him many of Becker’s articles and goes back to his hotel where she spends the night with him.

At the hotel Davidson takes out his DEA Investigator badge, puts on counter without thinking along with the Becker files. Justine looks for a file, finds badge and asks for explanations. He does his best but there is so much he cannot talk about.

Davidson asks her to come to Tahoe and stay, maybe even get some rest, saying how much has changed, including him. She becomes enraged, refuses his offer and walks out again. Same old shit. She should have known better.

ACT 4

NOTE- Davidson has been following the pill-mill since Justine’s accident. That’s why he let her go so easily.

ARIZONA

Justine is beside herself. Calls to check on Jax, but he’s not around. Phone rings, it’s Marsha’s brother, Mike. Marsha had another surgery, got a blood clot, they caught it in time but is now paralyzed from the waist down. She wants to end her life and Mike doesn’t know what to do.

She didn’t take your advice when you last spoke, remember, you were yelling! Ya, gotta come help her. Justine breaks down in tears.

NEVADA

Jax is calling, stops the conversation with Mike…gotta take this call, call you later.

Jax didn’t do the surgery. Mr. Kilpatrick shed the light on the investigation with Jax. Jax will be a star witness. He’s doing ok and going to p.t. like Justine told him. Lucas won’t talk to Jax and has shut the door on him. But, the p.t. is pretty fine!!!

ARIZONA

Justine and Gracie have a heart-to-heart. The confidentiality agreement from Jax was really his will, leaving his home to Justine and business to Gracie if he dies. Justine is giving Gracie money to rent a small store front for her business. Justine gets a certified letter. Davidson sends a copy of his indictment (he’s turned government witness in Jax’s case) along with a ticket to fly in to Tahoe.

NEVADA – TAHOE

Davidson picks her up at airport. He shows up in a pick-up truck, not a limo like he would normally have done. They drive up Mt. Rose highway to Tahoe but it’s not the same home. It’s totally different. It’s just a nice comfortable cabin.

Justine is totally confused and begins with all her questions. Davidson admits to her who he really is, just a man doing his job, had to play a role. He beings to explain everything and she stops him in his tracks. NOW WHAT??? Where do we go from here? How about Montana? I bought us 20 acres and we can build whatever kind of home you want.

Justine wants to save it for another day maybe another time. She calls Gemma and they meet for lunch and catch up on all the daily gossip. Justine grabs the newspaper and finds a small article where a Las Vegas Medical group and a dozens of surgeons and personal-injury lawyers were charged with fraud, conspiracy and witness tampering.

Gemma takes Justine to airport. She stops in Las Vegas where Mike picks her up. She goes to see Marsha. They reunite, tears fall, 50+ years of friendship isn’t going to stop Justine from seeing Marsha.

NEED ENDING SHOTS…SERIES OR MONTAGE. Come back to this.

THEN:

REAL SHOTS OF HEADLINES ONE BY ONE:

New York neurosurgeon indicted for unnecessary, invasive tests in kickback scheme

Texas spine surgeon sued by an insurer who alleged he performed medically unnecessary procedures to inflate personal injury claim. $1.1M in damages

Hospital, orthopedic surgeon share liability in $6.3M verdict

Chiropractor sentenced to 14 months in spine surgery kickback scheme

Olympic volleyball player permanently paralyzed from chest down with spinal surgery.

20 doctors under the government’s cross hairs.

NOTE: ATTACHED DOCUMENT FROM BECKERS’ January 2018 – August 2022 SENTENCING CONTINUES IN CALIFORNIA SPINE KICKBACK CASE: 6 developments in 4+ years. (15 year scheme $500 M in fraud bill & $40 million in kickback; Dr Capen $5M in kickbacks , Full pardon to Taustino Bernadett, MD sentenced to 15 months in prison in illegal kickback scheme )

Hundreds of patients harmed by surgeons, maybe thousands and thousands we haven’t discover yet.

Former Sanford Health neurosurgeon to pay $4.4.M to resolve kickback charges.Ndw trial required for Missouri neurosurgeon’s kickback case.

Medical Mafia makes $80 Billion Killing

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie Handley MOD 4 DAY 4

Because of a life rights bailout and waiting on one last copyright permission (now have) I had to reconstruct my entire script’s story. The concept is the same.

After an horrific accident, a woman shares her knowledge of medical negligence to her friends until she discovers the medical mafia and her closest friend is about to undergo a complex surgery by a surgeon who is connected to the mob.

WITHOUT RECOURSE “INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY”

In order to get to the first draft, MOD 5, I will come back daily to do the lessons in MOD 4 (which I feel is very important) one day at a time. For now this is my rough outline.

ACT 1

Arizona 2020

Justine is royally pissed off at someone (Marsha) on the phone, screaming and we hear the conversation. She’s a real bitch.

Justine’s been caring for her dying mother for seven years, exhausted and has physical issues. She wears a full back brace. Her mother, Sarah, falls, becomes unconscious. Firemen and ambulance attend to her. The chaos and sirens stir an old memory of a horrific accident she had years ago that changed her life forever.

FLASHBACK

JUNE 1994 Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Justine is in a complicated relationship with Davidson Wentworth, a wealthy, good looking slick man. She is financially dependent on him with her floral shop. The shop is her life until her accident, is airflighted to a Reno Hospital. An ambulance chaser lawyer finds her in hospital, she’s tempted to sign but her associate at the shop, Gemma, squashes that. She’s bedridden for days, released from hospital, has Gemma to help her while Davidson out of town.

When he returns she has nothing nice to say. In fact she can’t stand him right now. He doesn’t want to get involved.

Weeks are spent between the shop, medical issues and legal meetings. She finds a local attorney in town, William Randell who she signs with until later he fails to show in court. Her case is thrown out of court. Justine turns into a real bitch again. Snappy and short tempered. Now she has to plead to Davidson for help, once again at his mercy. He offers his attorney, Donavon Pierce.

Gemma brings up how crooked Donavon is, heard he was part of a new mafia, the medical mafia (signs with him anyway) Gemma thinks Davidson is around waiting for his share of the money or make her sell the shop. Justine doesn’t believe either.

Tired of the pain, the pills, office visits, is advised by seven surgeons that she needs surgery except one, who she blows up at in his office, but soon after she succumbs. She calls a close friend, Jax, a renowned floral designer, for help with the shop but to no avail. Calls daughter, Gracie, who comes to Tahoe while she goes to…

Turning Point

California, where her mother, Sarah, lives and has the surgery, almost dies. As she heals, Donovan calls about the settlement offer, she refuses. Davidson intervenes, meets with Donovan, he has his ways with Justine. He’ll get her to agree. She returns to Tahoe, Gracie returns home.

Reunited, happy to see the shop doing well and Gemma, Gemma happens to bring “the medical mafia article” to the shop for Justine to see. It shows a photo of the two men involved. Justine is still in disbelief, thinks it’s all politics.

Conference – Justine meets with Davidson before the final settlement offer hearing. At the meeting it’s the “good-old-boys” (Judge Blankenship, Donovan and Davidson) who all went to school together.

She is pressured to take the final offer, by the Judge and Donovan. However, final payment could take months because she signed a LOP (Letter of Protection aka medical lien) with Donovan. They settle out of court, but something doesn’t feel right to Justine, but what?

Davidson and Justine attend a large party with A-list professionals, investors, doctors etc. When the Judge and Donovan arrive this causes a big problem with Justine. She soon learns that Davidson is an investor in companies she’s never heard about. Who is he really?

NOTE – HERE’S WHERE WE MEET THE BIG ROLLERS IN THE MAFIA

AT A PARTY; Davidson, Donovan, Lucas, Judge, Dr. Sherman (Jax & Marsha’s surgeon) Neil Watson (Insurance adjuster @ settlement & 2 other men), Edward Grant CEO of D.W.E. Services, Inc./ medical & legal services (Davidson is an investor) and other faces in the court case and places to come. Several people are attending but not known at this stage of Act 1.

That night Justine finds an enormous wad of cash, a check (stating referral fee) from Donovan to Davidson and confronts him. Referral for what? He won’t say. None of her fucking business. They have a row, (she doesn’t know him kind of fight) and decides to leave him, close the shop and move to Arizona where it’s warm and good for her body. And she does.

ACT 2

BACK TO SCENE

2020 The beginning of COVID in ARIZONA

Justine falls over the oxygen line of Sarah’s and breaks her hip. Justine fakes that she has no pain until it’s so bad she is unable to walk. She calls Gracie to come help with Sarah but she’s the one who needs help but would never admit it.

Gracie shows up, moves in, but brings her significant other, Nathan with her, without asking or letting anyone know. This is a big upset, for everyone, even for Sarah. Sarah confronts Gracie with a lecture, men, money, future and health.

Justine must have surgery, signs an AMA, (Against Medical Advise) and walks out of hospital day after surgery. Two days later Sarah dies. Justine is devastated and despondent. She receives insurance money that Sarah left for her. (Sarah no longer cares about money like she once did)

Jax comes to help Justine and Gracie. Jax demands Justine come back with him to San Diego and recoup. She packs and goes with him.

Turing Point 2

SAN DIEGO

Little by little Jax helps her come around; walks on beach, dinners. The two go out to Lips, a drag queen dinner show, where Jax, a real boozer, meets up with his lover, Lucas Pierce, a good looking lawyer.

She gets drunk. Lucas and Justine spar over the law, brings up her court case and the good-old-boys and mafia. Big difference of opinion, she doesn’t like him. Next day she returns home.

ARIZONA

NOTE: WORK ON THIS….Gracie has the house decorated with Christmas. It feels good to be home for the first time in a long time. Could things get to being normal?

Turning Point 2/Midpoint

NEVADA

Lucas calls Justine to notify that Jax was in an accident but not a bad one. They went to Las Vegas to party but he’s going to stay with his mother, Karlie, who has a good doctor and lawyer. He hits Ellis Kilpatrick, an FBI agent.

Jax needs Gracie to cover an important event for him.

NOTE: AT HOTEL, CONFERENCE WITH THE MEDICAL DEVICE MAKERS. We see a lot of the familiar faces of surgeons.

ARIZONA

Justine gets on the phone, preaches about doctors and lawyers in Nevada. She shares the story of a friend, Marsha, who lives in Vegas whose spine caved in after a surgery there. His name doesn’t come to mind. MONTAGE OR SERIES – Sharing the story of lifelong friend, Marsha.

NOTE: Surgery is with Dr. Sherman & Cohen. Marsha’s lawyer is Donald Wittman.

Justine has her monthly visit with her primary, Dr. T. She questions is knowledge of the medical mafia, is it real? Dr. T. evades the question. [ETHICS] She borrows a book (Danger Within Us) from him.

Gracie gets package from Lucas with all the arrangements for the San Diego event. Jax has her to sign a confidential document, (like the one they did in Hawaii at a very private affair). She pays no mind. Nathan is pissed. They argue, she’s about done with him.

Justine and Gracie go to airport. Gracie confides about Nathan with Justine. They go their separate ways.

ACT 3

NEVADA

Justine arrives in Nevada to see Jax. At the hospital, TWO men shake hands, (Lucas and Granger) another with his back turned (Dr. Taylor Sherman) as he talks with Dr. Cohen, and she walks by unnoticed. The men appear to be sales reps, impressively dressed, both with identical expensive briefcases.

Justine turns around, Lucas puts a large envelope in his case, she notices, they don’t see her. Door shuts and Lucas slithers away with briefcase.

As she enters room, Jax is drugged up good. Tries to ask question him, he’s out of it.

Dr. Sherman enters room with Dr. Cohen and Joseph Granger, both with documents in hand.

Sherman – “he’ll need surgery down the road”, introduces Dr. Cohen as he’ll be doing the surgery, but with no insurance that’s when Granger steps up with a LOP document. Justine interrupts, refers to Jax as her brother, takes documents and they’ll get back with them after discussing with mother. (Karlie)

Justine’s beyond pissed, “I told you do not have surgery, you are going to have to learn to live with pain, there are no recourses.” Jax drifts off until…

Nurse walks in hands Jax an envelope. Inside a get well note from Ellis Kilpatrick with his business card. (FBI investigator) Justine reads it, questions it and keeps it.

Act 3 Turning Point

ARIZONA

WEEKS LATER

Justine gets a call from Karlie. Jax has met with an attorney, Donald Wittman who has been persuaded Jax to have the surgery, refers him to see a Dr. Cohen, for a spine surgery that he doesn’t need. Justine is alarmed. How did Wittman get involved? Why? It puzzles her.

Justine calls Davidson, brings him up to date with Jax. “But why would a FBI Agent give his card?” She asks for his help since Donovan says he won’t. He’ll get back with her.

Later that night she gets out the mafia article and rereads it. Justine studies the photo of the TWO MEN (Wittman and Sherman) with Lucas in background. (We can’t make it out well but it is Dr. Sherman) Suddenly she gets worried and scared.

Gracie overhears the conversation, calls Davidson. They have a long conversation about Justine and helping Jax. Gracie explains the situation but Davidson already knows all about it. She asks him to visit mom but he can’t, he has an important meeting in the morning.

Justine starts looking on the computer for anything. She discovers a worldwide medical website, BECKER’S , that releases information on surgeons who are corrupt and have bilked millions of dollars in kickback schemes. She dumbfounded. This goes on for days as she prints out the articles for herself and to share with Davidson and Jax.

NEVADA

Davidson calls Donovan and sets up a meeting with Dr. Sherman and Lucas. Donovan knows something about Lucas and he can’t be trusted. He’s a heat-seeking homing missile. He’s getting greedy and he can do some real damage. They need to talk in private.

The four meet for lunch. Bits and pieces are shared about, Ellis, too many surgeries, money, prescriptions, and work load. Sherman is beyond capacity with surgeries. Grapevine has it there’s an investigation under hat.

Davidson and Donovan leave together, step away and talk in private. Their conversation is about getting immunity if they become a government witness.

NOTE: MARK JACOBSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, claims that should have been minor, like Jax, were becoming major. Treated usually treated with P.T. were undergoing drastic spine-fusion surgeries. Some insurers sent in their top lawyers. There is 80 billion in insurance fraud annually. They even held an unusual meeting more than a dozen D.A. attended. Grainger offers protection, no malpractice suits, even threatens associates. Expert witnesses don’t want involved with us. Grainger thinks he’s a fixer for us but he’s going cause some real problems. Patients all signed medical liens (LOP) RIGHT!

ARIZONA

Davidson comes to Arizona to see Justine. They go to dinner, Davidson gathers information (she gives him many of Becker’s articles and goes back to his hotel where she spends the night with him.

At the hotel Davidson takes out his DEA Investigator badge, puts on counter without thinking along with the Becker files. Justine looks for a file, finds badge and asks for explanations. He does his best but there is so much he cannot talk about.

Davidson asks her to come to Tahoe and stay, maybe even get some rest, saying how much has changed, including him. She becomes enraged, refuses his offer and walks out again. Same old shit. She should have known better.

ACT 4

NOTE- Davidson has been following the pill-mill since Justine’s accident. That’s why he let her go so easily.

ARIZONA

Justine is beside herself. Calls to check on Jax, but he’s not around. Phone rings, it’s Marsha’s brother, Mike. Marsha had another surgery, got a blood clot, they caught it in time but is now paralyzed from the waist down. She wants to end her life and Mike doesn’t know what to do.

She didn’t take your advice when you last spoke, remember, you were yelling! Ya, gotta come help her. Justine breaks down in tears.

NEVADA

Jax is calling, stops the conversation with Mike…gotta take this call, call you later.

Jax didn’t do the surgery. Mr. Kilpatrick shed the light on the investigation with Jax. Jax will be a star witness. He’s doing ok and going to p.t. like Justine told him. Lucas won’t talk to Jax and has shut the door on him. But, the p.t. is pretty fine!!!

ARIZONA

Justine and Gracie have a heart-to-heart. The confidentiality agreement from Jax was really his will, leaving his home to Justine and business to Gracie if he dies. Justine is giving Gracie money to rent a small store front for her business. Justine gets a certified letter. Davidson sends a copy of his indictment (he’s turned government witness in Jax’s case) along with a ticket to fly in to Tahoe.

NEVADA – TAHOE

Davidson picks her up at airport. He shows up in a pick-up truck, not a limo like he would normally have done. They drive up Mt. Rose highway to Tahoe but it’s not the same home. It’s totally different. It’s just a nice comfortable cabin.

Justine is totally confused and begins with all her questions. Davidson admits to her who he really is, just a man doing his job, had to play a role. He beings to explain everything and she stops him in his tracks. NOW WHAT??? Where do we go from here? How about Montana? I bought us 20 acres and we can build whatever kind of home you want.

Justine wants to save it for another day maybe another time. She calls Gemma and they meet for lunch and catch up on all the daily gossip. Justine grabs the newspaper and finds a small article where a Las Vegas Medical group and a dozens of surgeons and personal-injury lawyers were charged with fraud, conspiracy and witness tampering.

Gemma takes Justine to airport. She stops in Las Vegas where Mike picks her up. She goes to see Marsha. They reunite, tears fall, 50+ years of friendship isn’t going to stop Justine from seeing Marsha.

NEED ENDING SHOTS…SERIES OR MONTAGE. Come back to this.

THEN:

REAL SHOTS OF HEADLINES ONE BY ONE:

New York neurosurgeon indicted for unnecessary, invasive tests in kickback scheme

Texas spine surgeon sued by an insurer who alleged he performed medically unnecessary procedures to inflate personal injury claim. $1.1M in damages

Hospital, orthopedic surgeon share liability in $6.3M verdict

Chiropractor sentenced to 14 months in spine surgery kickback scheme

Olympic volleyball player permanently paralyzed from chest down with spinal surgery.

20 doctors under the government’s cross hairs.

NOTE: ATTACHED DOCUMENT FROM BECKERS’ January 2018 – August 2022 SENTENCING CONTINUES IN CALIFORNIA SPINE KICKBACK CASE: 6 developments in 4+ years. (15 year scheme $500 M in fraud bill & $40 million in kickback; Dr Capen $5M in kickbacks , Full pardon to Taustino Bernadett, MD sentenced to 15 months in prison in illegal kickback scheme )

Hundreds of patients harmed by surgeons, maybe thousands and thousands we haven’t discover yet.

Former Sanford Health neurosurgeon to pay $4.4.M to resolve kickback charges.Ndw trial required for Missouri neurosurgeon’s kickback case.

Medical Mafia makes $80 Billion Killing

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie Handley MOD 4 DAY 4

Because of a life rights bailout and waiting on one last copyright permission (now have) I had to reconstruct my entire script’s story. The concept is the same.

After an horrific accident, a woman shares her knowledge of medical negligence to her friends until she discovers the medical mafia and her closest friend is about to undergo a complex surgery by a surgeon who is connected to the mob.

WITHOUT RECOURSE “INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY”

In order to get to the first draft, MOD 5, I will come back daily to do the lessons in MOD 4 (which I feel is very important) one day at a time. For now this is my rough outline.

ACT 1

Arizona 2020

Justine is royally pissed off at someone (Marsha) on the phone, screaming and we hear the conversation. She’s a real bitch.

Justine’s been caring for her dying mother for seven years, exhausted and has physical issues. She wears a full back brace. Her mother, Sarah, falls, becomes unconscious. Firemen and ambulance attend to her. The chaos and sirens stir an old memory of a horrific accident she had years ago that changed her life forever.

FLASHBACK

JUNE 1994 Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Justine is in a complicated relationship with Davidson Wentworth, a wealthy, good looking slick man. She is financially dependent on him with her floral shop. The shop is her life until her accident, is airflighted to a Reno Hospital. An ambulance chaser lawyer finds her in hospital, she’s tempted to sign but her associate at the shop, Gemma, squashes that. She’s bedridden for days, released from hospital, has Gemma to help her while Davidson out of town.

When he returns she has nothing nice to say. In fact she can’t stand him right now. He doesn’t want to get involved.

Weeks are spent between the shop, medical issues and legal meetings. She finds a local attorney in town, William Randell who she signs with until later he fails to show in court. Her case is thrown out of court. Justine turns into a real bitch again. Snappy and short tempered. Now she has to plead to Davidson for help, once again at his mercy. He offers his attorney, Donavon Pierce.

Gemma brings up how crooked Donavon is, heard he was part of a new mafia, the medical mafia (signs with him anyway) Gemma thinks Davidson is around waiting for his share of the money or make her sell the shop. Justine doesn’t believe either.

Tired of the pain, the pills, office visits, is advised by seven surgeons that she needs surgery except one, who she blows up at in his office, but soon after she succumbs. She calls a close friend, Jax, a renowned floral designer, for help with the shop but to no avail. Calls daughter, Gracie, who comes to Tahoe while she goes to…

Turning Point

California, where her mother, Sarah, lives and has the surgery, almost dies. As she heals, Donovan calls about the settlement offer, she refuses. Davidson intervenes, meets with Donovan, he has his ways with Justine. He’ll get her to agree. She returns to Tahoe, Gracie returns home.

Reunited, happy to see the shop doing well and Gemma, Gemma happens to bring “the medical mafia article” to the shop for Justine to see. It shows a photo of the two men involved. Justine is still in disbelief, thinks it’s all politics.

Conference – Justine meets with Davidson before the final settlement offer hearing. At the meeting it’s the “good-old-boys” (Judge Blankenship, Donovan and Davidson) who all went to school together.

She is pressured to take the final offer, by the Judge and Donovan. However, final payment could take months because she signed a LOP (Letter of Protection aka medical lien) with Donovan. They settle out of court, but something doesn’t feel right to Justine, but what?

Davidson and Justine attend a large party with A-list professionals, investors, doctors etc. When the Judge and Donovan arrive this causes a big problem with Justine. She soon learns that Davidson is an investor in companies she’s never heard about. Who is he really?

NOTE – HERE’S WHERE WE MEET THE BIG ROLLERS IN THE MAFIA

AT A PARTY; Davidson, Donovan, Lucas, Judge, Dr. Sherman (Jax & Marsha’s surgeon) Neil Watson (Insurance adjuster @ settlement & 2 other men), Edward Grant CEO of D.W.E. Services, Inc./ medical & legal services (Davidson is an investor) and other faces in the court case and places to come. Several people are attending but not known at this stage of Act 1.

That night Justine finds an enormous wad of cash, a check (stating referral fee) from Donovan to Davidson and confronts him. Referral for what? He won’t say. None of her fucking business. They have a row, (she doesn’t know him kind of fight) and decides to leave him, close the shop and move to Arizona where it’s warm and good for her body. And she does.

ACT 2

BACK TO SCENE

2020 The beginning of COVID in ARIZONA

Justine falls over the oxygen line of Sarah’s and breaks her hip. Justine fakes that she has no pain until it’s so bad she is unable to walk. She calls Gracie to come help with Sarah but she’s the one who needs help but would never admit it.

Gracie shows up, moves in, but brings her significant other, Nathan with her, without asking or letting anyone know. This is a big upset, for everyone, even for Sarah. Sarah confronts Gracie with a lecture, men, money, future and health.

Justine must have surgery, signs an AMA, (Against Medical Advise) and walks out of hospital day after surgery. Two days later Sarah dies. Justine is devastated and despondent. She receives insurance money that Sarah left for her. (Sarah no longer cares about money like she once did)

Jax comes to help Justine and Gracie. Jax demands Justine come back with him to San Diego and recoup. She packs and goes with him.

Turing Point 2

SAN DIEGO

Little by little Jax helps her come around; walks on beach, dinners. The two go out to Lips, a drag queen dinner show, where Jax, a real boozer, meets up with his lover, Lucas Pierce, a good looking lawyer.

She gets drunk. Lucas and Justine spar over the law, brings up her court case and the good-old-boys and mafia. Big difference of opinion, she doesn’t like him. Next day she returns home.

ARIZONA

NOTE: WORK ON THIS….Gracie has the house decorated with Christmas. It feels good to be home for the first time in a long time. Could things get to being normal?

Turning Point 2/Midpoint

NEVADA

Lucas calls Justine to notify that Jax was in an accident but not a bad one. They went to Las Vegas to party but he’s going to stay with his mother, Karlie, who has a good doctor and lawyer. He hits Ellis Kilpatrick, an FBI agent.

Jax needs Gracie to cover an important event for him.

NOTE: AT HOTEL, CONFERENCE WITH THE MEDICAL DEVICE MAKERS. We see a lot of the familiar faces of surgeons.

ARIZONA

Justine gets on the phone, preaches about doctors and lawyers in Nevada. She shares the story of a friend, Marsha, who lives in Vegas whose spine caved in after a surgery there. His name doesn’t come to mind. MONTAGE OR SERIES – Sharing the story of lifelong friend, Marsha.

NOTE: Surgery is with Dr. Sherman & Cohen. Marsha’s lawyer is Donald Wittman.

Justine has her monthly visit with her primary, Dr. T. She questions is knowledge of the medical mafia, is it real? Dr. T. evades the question. [ETHICS] She borrows a book (Danger Within Us) from him.

Gracie gets package from Lucas with all the arrangements for the San Diego event. Jax has her to sign a confidential document, (like the one they did in Hawaii at a very private affair). She pays no mind. Nathan is pissed. They argue, she’s about done with him.

Justine and Gracie go to airport. Gracie confides about Nathan with Justine. They go their separate ways.

ACT 3

NEVADA

Justine arrives in Nevada to see Jax. At the hospital, TWO men shake hands, (Lucas and Granger) another with his back turned (Dr. Taylor Sherman) as he talks with Dr. Cohen, and she walks by unnoticed. The men appear to be sales reps, impressively dressed, both with identical expensive briefcases.

Justine turns around, Lucas puts a large envelope in his case, she notices, they don’t see her. Door shuts and Lucas slithers away with briefcase.

As she enters room, Jax is drugged up good. Tries to ask question him, he’s out of it.

Dr. Sherman enters room with Dr. Cohen and Joseph Granger, both with documents in hand.

Sherman – “he’ll need surgery down the road”, introduces Dr. Cohen as he’ll be doing the surgery, but with no insurance that’s when Granger steps up with a LOP document. Justine interrupts, refers to Jax as her brother, takes documents and they’ll get back with them after discussing with mother. (Karlie)

Justine’s beyond pissed, “I told you do not have surgery, you are going to have to learn to live with pain, there are no recourses.” Jax drifts off until…

Nurse walks in hands Jax an envelope. Inside a get well note from Ellis Kilpatrick with his business card. (FBI investigator) Justine reads it, questions it and keeps it.

Act 3 Turning Point

ARIZONA

WEEKS LATER

Justine gets a call from Karlie. Jax has met with an attorney, Donald Wittman who has been persuaded Jax to have the surgery, refers him to see a Dr. Cohen, for a spine surgery that he doesn’t need. Justine is alarmed. How did Wittman get involved? Why? It puzzles her.

Justine calls Davidson, brings him up to date with Jax. “But why would a FBI Agent give his card?” She asks for his help since Donovan says he won’t. He’ll get back with her.

Later that night she gets out the mafia article and rereads it. Justine studies the photo of the TWO MEN (Wittman and Sherman) with Lucas in background. (We can’t make it out well but it is Dr. Sherman) Suddenly she gets worried and scared.

Gracie overhears the conversation, calls Davidson. They have a long conversation about Justine and helping Jax. Gracie explains the situation but Davidson already knows all about it. She asks him to visit mom but he can’t, he has an important meeting in the morning.

Justine starts looking on the computer for anything. She discovers a worldwide medical website, BECKER’S , that releases information on surgeons who are corrupt and have bilked millions of dollars in kickback schemes. She dumbfounded. This goes on for days as she prints out the articles for herself and to share with Davidson and Jax.

NEVADA

Davidson calls Donovan and sets up a meeting with Dr. Sherman and Lucas. Donovan knows something about Lucas and he can’t be trusted. He’s a heat-seeking homing missile. He’s getting greedy and he can do some real damage. They need to talk in private.

The four meet for lunch. Bits and pieces are shared about, Ellis, too many surgeries, money, prescriptions, and work load. Sherman is beyond capacity with surgeries. Grapevine has it there’s an investigation under hat.

Davidson and Donovan leave together, step away and talk in private. Their conversation is about getting immunity if they become a government witness.

NOTE: MARK JACOBSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, claims that should have been minor, like Jax, were becoming major. Treated usually treated with P.T. were undergoing drastic spine-fusion surgeries. Some insurers sent in their top lawyers. There is 80 billion in insurance fraud annually. They even held an unusual meeting more than a dozen D.A. attended. Grainger offers protection, no malpractice suits, even threatens associates. Expert witnesses don’t want involved with us. Grainger thinks he’s a fixer for us but he’s going cause some real problems. Patients all signed medical liens (LOP) RIGHT!

ARIZONA

Davidson comes to Arizona to see Justine. They go to dinner, Davidson gathers information (she gives him many of Becker’s articles and goes back to his hotel where she spends the night with him.

At the hotel Davidson takes out his DEA Investigator badge, puts on counter without thinking along with the Becker files. Justine looks for a file, finds badge and asks for explanations. He does his best but there is so much he cannot talk about.

Davidson asks her to come to Tahoe and stay, maybe even get some rest, saying how much has changed, including him. She becomes enraged, refuses his offer and walks out again. Same old shit. She should have known better.

ACT 4

NOTE- Davidson has been following the pill-mill since Justine’s accident. That’s why he let her go so easily.

ARIZONA

Justine is beside herself. Calls to check on Jax, but he’s not around. Phone rings, it’s Marsha’s brother, Mike. Marsha had another surgery, got a blood clot, they caught it in time but is now paralyzed from the waist down. She wants to end her life and Mike doesn’t know what to do.

She didn’t take your advice when you last spoke, remember, you were yelling! Ya, gotta come help her. Justine breaks down in tears.

NEVADA

Jax is calling, stops the conversation with Mike…gotta take this call, call you later.

Jax didn’t do the surgery. Mr. Kilpatrick shed the light on the investigation with Jax. Jax will be a star witness. He’s doing ok and going to p.t. like Justine told him. Lucas won’t talk to Jax and has shut the door on him. But, the p.t. is pretty fine!!!

ARIZONA

Justine and Gracie have a heart-to-heart. The confidentiality agreement from Jax was really his will, leaving his home to Justine and business to Gracie if he dies. Justine is giving Gracie money to rent a small store front for her business. Justine gets a certified letter. Davidson sends a copy of his indictment (he’s turned government witness in Jax’s case) along with a ticket to fly in to Tahoe.

NEVADA – TAHOE

Davidson picks her up at airport. He shows up in a pick-up truck, not a limo like he would normally have done. They drive up Mt. Rose highway to Tahoe but it’s not the same home. It’s totally different. It’s just a nice comfortable cabin.

Justine is totally confused and begins with all her questions. Davidson admits to her who he really is, just a man doing his job, had to play a role. He beings to explain everything and she stops him in his tracks. NOW WHAT??? Where do we go from here? How about Montana? I bought us 20 acres and we can build whatever kind of home you want.

Justine wants to save it for another day maybe another time. She calls Gemma and they meet for lunch and catch up on all the daily gossip. Justine grabs the newspaper and finds a small article where a Las Vegas Medical group and a dozens of surgeons and personal-injury lawyers were charged with fraud, conspiracy and witness tampering.

Gemma takes Justine to airport. She stops in Las Vegas where Mike picks her up. She goes to see Marsha. They reunite, tears fall, 50+ years of friendship isn’t going to stop Justine from seeing Marsha.

NEED ENDING SHOTS…SERIES OR MONTAGE. Come back to this.

THEN:

REAL SHOTS OF HEADLINES ONE BY ONE:

New York neurosurgeon indicted for unnecessary, invasive tests in kickback scheme

Texas spine surgeon sued by an insurer who alleged he performed medically unnecessary procedures to inflate personal injury claim. $1.1M in damages

Hospital, orthopedic surgeon share liability in $6.3M verdict

Chiropractor sentenced to 14 months in spine surgery kickback scheme

Olympic volleyball player permanently paralyzed from chest down with spinal surgery.

20 doctors under the government’s cross hairs.

NOTE: ATTACHED DOCUMENT FROM BECKERS’ January 2018 – August 2022 SENTENCING CONTINUES IN CALIFORNIA SPINE KICKBACK CASE: 6 developments in 4+ years. (15 year scheme $500 M in fraud bill & $40 million in kickback; Dr Capen $5M in kickbacks , Full pardon to Taustino Bernadett, MD sentenced to 15 months in prison in illegal kickback scheme )

Hundreds of patients harmed by surgeons, maybe thousands and thousands we haven’t discover yet.

Former Sanford Health neurosurgeon to pay $4.4.M to resolve kickback charges.Ndw trial required for Missouri neurosurgeon’s kickback case.

Medical Mafia makes $80 Billion Killing

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie Handley MOD 4 DAY 3

Because of a life rights bailout and waiting on one last copyright permission (now have) I had to reconstruct my entire script’s story. The concept is the same.

After an horrific accident, a woman shares her knowledge of medical negligence to her friends until she discovers the medical mafia and her closest friend is about to undergo a complex surgery by a surgeon who is connected to the mob.

WITHOUT RECOURSE “INSPIRED BY A TRUE STORY”

In order to get to the first draft, MOD 5, I will come back daily to do the lessons in MOD 4 (which I feel is very important) one day at a time. For now this is my rough outline.

ACT 1

Arizona 2020

Justine is royally pissed off at someone (Marsha) on the phone, screaming and we hear the conversation. She’s a real bitch.

Justine’s been caring for her dying mother for seven years, exhausted and has physical issues. She wears a full back brace. Her mother, Sarah, falls, becomes unconscious. Firemen and ambulance attend to her. The chaos and sirens stir an old memory of a horrific accident she had years ago that changed her life forever.

FLASHBACK

JUNE 1994 Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Justine is in a complicated relationship with Davidson Wentworth, a wealthy, good looking slick man. She is financially dependent on him with her floral shop. The shop is her life until her accident, is airflighted to a Reno Hospital. An ambulance chaser lawyer finds her in hospital, she’s tempted to sign but her associate at the shop, Gemma, squashes that. She’s bedridden for days, released from hospital, has Gemma to help her while Davidson out of town.

When he returns she has nothing nice to say. In fact she can’t stand him right now. He doesn’t want to get involved.

Weeks are spent between the shop, medical issues and legal meetings. She finds a local attorney in town, William Randell who she signs with until later he fails to show in court. Her case is thrown out of court. Justine turns into a real bitch again. Snappy and short tempered. Now she has to plead to Davidson for help, once again at his mercy. He offers his attorney, Donavon Pierce.

Gemma brings up how crooked Donavon is, heard he was part of a new mafia, the medical mafia (signs with him anyway) Gemma thinks Davidson is around waiting for his share of the money or make her sell the shop. Justine doesn’t believe either.

Tired of the pain, the pills, office visits, is advised by seven surgeons that she needs surgery except one, who she blows up at in his office, but soon after she succumbs. She calls a close friend, Jax, a renowned floral designer, for help with the shop but to no avail. Calls daughter, Gracie, who comes to Tahoe while she goes to…

Turning Point

California, where her mother, Sarah, lives and has the surgery, almost dies. As she heals, Donovan calls about the settlement offer, she refuses. Davidson intervenes, meets with Donovan, he has his ways with Justine. He’ll get her to agree. She returns to Tahoe, Gracie returns home.

Reunited, happy to see the shop doing well and Gemma, Gemma happens to bring “the medical mafia article” to the shop for Justine to see. It shows a photo of the two men involved. Justine is still in disbelief, thinks it’s all politics.

Conference – Justine meets with Davidson before the final settlement offer hearing. At the meeting it’s the “good-old-boys” (Judge Blankenship, Donovan and Davidson) who all went to school together.

She is pressured to take the final offer, by the Judge and Donovan. However, final payment could take months because she signed a LOP (Letter of Protection aka medical lien) with Donovan. They settle out of court, but something doesn’t feel right to Justine, but what?

Davidson and Justine attend a large party with A-list professionals, investors, doctors etc. When the Judge and Donovan arrive this causes a big problem with Justine. She soon learns that Davidson is an investor in companies she’s never heard about. Who is he really?

NOTE – HERE’S WHERE WE MEET THE BIG ROLLERS IN THE MAFIA

AT A PARTY; Davidson, Donovan, Lucas, Judge, Dr. Sherman (Jax & Marsha’s surgeon) Neil Watson (Insurance adjuster @ settlement & 2 other men), Edward Grant CEO of D.W.E. Services, Inc./ medical & legal services (Davidson is an investor) and other faces in the court case and places to come. Several people are attending but not known at this stage of Act 1.

That night Justine finds an enormous wad of cash, a check (stating referral fee) from Donovan to Davidson and confronts him. Referral for what? He won’t say. None of her fucking business. They have a row, (she doesn’t know him kind of fight) and decides to leave him, close the shop and move to Arizona where it’s warm and good for her body. And she does.

ACT 2

BACK TO SCENE

2020 The beginning of COVID in ARIZONA

Justine falls over the oxygen line of Sarah’s and breaks her hip. Justine fakes that she has no pain until it’s so bad she is unable to walk. She calls Gracie to come help with Sarah but she’s the one who needs help but would never admit it.

Gracie shows up, moves in, but brings her significant other, Nathan with her, without asking or letting anyone know. This is a big upset, for everyone, even for Sarah. Sarah confronts Gracie with a lecture, men, money, future and health.

Justine must have surgery, signs an AMA, (Against Medical Advise) and walks out of hospital day after surgery. Two days later Sarah dies. Justine is devastated and despondent. She receives insurance money that Sarah left for her. (Sarah no longer cares about money like she once did)

Jax comes to help Justine and Gracie. Jax demands Justine come back with him to San Diego and recoup. She packs and goes with him.

Turing Point 2

SAN DIEGO

Little by little Jax helps her come around; walks on beach, dinners. The two go out to Lips, a drag queen dinner show, where Jax, a real boozer, meets up with his lover, Lucas Pierce, a good looking lawyer.

She gets drunk. Lucas and Justine spar over the law, brings up her court case and the good-old-boys and mafia. Big difference of opinion, she doesn’t like him. Next day she returns home.

ARIZONA

NOTE: WORK ON THIS….Gracie has the house decorated with Christmas. It feels good to be home for the first time in a long time. Could things get to being normal?

Turning Point 2/Midpoint

NEVADA

Lucas calls Justine to notify that Jax was in an accident but not a bad one. They went to Las Vegas to party but he’s going to stay with his mother, Karlie, who has a good doctor and lawyer. He hits Ellis Kilpatrick, an FBI agent.

Jax needs Gracie to cover an important event for him.

NOTE: AT HOTEL, CONFERENCE WITH THE MEDICAL DEVICE MAKERS. We see a lot of the familiar faces of surgeons.

ARIZONA

Justine gets on the phone, preaches about doctors and lawyers in Nevada. She shares the story of a friend, Marsha, who lives in Vegas whose spine caved in after a surgery there. His name doesn’t come to mind. MONTAGE OR SERIES – Sharing the story of lifelong friend, Marsha.

NOTE: Surgery is with Dr. Sherman & Cohen. Marsha’s lawyer is Donald Wittman.

Justine has her monthly visit with her primary, Dr. T. She questions is knowledge of the medical mafia, is it real? Dr. T. evades the question. [ETHICS] She borrows a book (Danger Within Us) from him.

Gracie gets package from Lucas with all the arrangements for the San Diego event. Jax has her to sign a confidential document, (like the one they did in Hawaii at a very private affair). She pays no mind. Nathan is pissed. They argue, she’s about done with him.

Justine and Gracie go to airport. Gracie confides about Nathan with Justine. They go their separate ways.

ACT 3

NEVADA

Justine arrives in Nevada to see Jax. At the hospital, TWO men shake hands, (Lucas and Granger) another with his back turned (Dr. Taylor Sherman) as he talks with Dr. Cohen, and she walks by unnoticed. The men appear to be sales reps, impressively dressed, both with identical expensive briefcases.

Justine turns around, Lucas puts a large envelope in his case, she notices, they don’t see her. Door shuts and Lucas slithers away with briefcase.

As she enters room, Jax is drugged up good. Tries to ask question him, he’s out of it.

Dr. Sherman enters room with Dr. Cohen and Joseph Granger, both with documents in hand.

Sherman – “he’ll need surgery down the road”, introduces Dr. Cohen as he’ll be doing the surgery, but with no insurance that’s when Granger steps up with a LOP document. Justine interrupts, refers to Jax as her brother, takes documents and they’ll get back with them after discussing with mother. (Karlie)

Justine’s beyond pissed, “I told you do not have surgery, you are going to have to learn to live with pain, there are no recourses.” Jax drifts off until…

Nurse walks in hands Jax an envelope. Inside a get well note from Ellis Kilpatrick with his business card. (FBI investigator) Justine reads it, questions it and keeps it.

Act 3 Turning Point

ARIZONA

WEEKS LATER

Justine gets a call from Karlie. Jax has met with an attorney, Donald Wittman who has been persuaded Jax to have the surgery, refers him to see a Dr. Cohen, for a spine surgery that he doesn’t need. Justine is alarmed. How did Wittman get involved? Why? It puzzles her.

Justine calls Davidson, brings him up to date with Jax. “But why would a FBI Agent give his card?” She asks for his help since Donovan says he won’t. He’ll get back with her.

Later that night she gets out the mafia article and rereads it. Justine studies the photo of the TWO MEN (Wittman and Sherman) with Lucas in background. (We can’t make it out well but it is Dr. Sherman) Suddenly she gets worried and scared.

Gracie overhears the conversation, calls Davidson. They have a long conversation about Justine and helping Jax. Gracie explains the situation but Davidson already knows all about it. She asks him to visit mom but he can’t, he has an important meeting in the morning.

Justine starts looking on the computer for anything. She discovers a worldwide medical website, BECKER’S , that releases information on surgeons who are corrupt and have bilked millions of dollars in kickback schemes. She dumbfounded. This goes on for days as she prints out the articles for herself and to share with Davidson and Jax.

NEVADA

Davidson calls Donovan and sets up a meeting with Dr. Sherman and Lucas. Donovan knows something about Lucas and he can’t be trusted. He’s a heat-seeking homing missile. He’s getting greedy and he can do some real damage. They need to talk in private.

The four meet for lunch. Bits and pieces are shared about, Ellis, too many surgeries, money, prescriptions, and work load. Sherman is beyond capacity with surgeries. Grapevine has it there’s an investigation under hat.

Davidson and Donovan leave together, step away and talk in private. Their conversation is about getting immunity if they become a government witness.

NOTE: MARK JACOBSON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, claims that should have been minor, like Jax, were becoming major. Treated usually treated with P.T. were undergoing drastic spine-fusion surgeries. Some insurers sent in their top lawyers. There is 80 billion in insurance fraud annually. They even held an unusual meeting more than a dozen D.A. attended. Grainger offers protection, no malpractice suits, even threatens associates. Expert witnesses don’t want involved with us. Grainger thinks he’s a fixer for us but he’s going cause some real problems. Patients all signed medical liens (LOP) RIGHT!

ARIZONA

Davidson comes to Arizona to see Justine. They go to dinner, Davidson gathers information (she gives him many of Becker’s articles and goes back to his hotel where she spends the night with him.

At the hotel Davidson takes out his DEA Investigator badge, puts on counter without thinking along with the Becker files. Justine looks for a file, finds badge and asks for explanations. He does his best but there is so much he cannot talk about.

Davidson asks her to come to Tahoe and stay, maybe even get some rest, saying how much has changed, including him. She becomes enraged, refuses his offer and walks out again. Same old shit. She should have known better.

ACT 4

NOTE- Davidson has been following the pill-mill since Justine’s accident. That’s why he let her go so easily.

ARIZONA

Justine is beside herself. Calls to check on Jax, but he’s not around. Phone rings, it’s Marsha’s brother, Mike. Marsha had another surgery, got a blood clot, they caught it in time but is now paralyzed from the waist down. She wants to end her life and Mike doesn’t know what to do.

She didn’t take your advice when you last spoke, remember, you were yelling! Ya, gotta come help her. Justine breaks down in tears.

NEVADA

Jax is calling, stops the conversation with Mike…gotta take this call, call you later.

Jax didn’t do the surgery. Mr. Kilpatrick shed the light on the investigation with Jax. Jax will be a star witness. He’s doing ok and going to p.t. like Justine told him. Lucas won’t talk to Jax and has shut the door on him. But, the p.t. is pretty fine!!!

ARIZONA

Justine and Gracie have a heart-to-heart. The confidentiality agreement from Jax was really his will, leaving his home to Justine and business to Gracie if he dies. Justine is giving Gracie money to rent a small store front for her business. Justine gets a certified letter. Davidson sends a copy of his indictment (he’s turned government witness in Jax’s case) along with a ticket to fly in to Tahoe.

NEVADA – TAHOE

Davidson picks her up at airport. He shows up in a pick-up truck, not a limo like he would normally have done. They drive up Mt. Rose highway to Tahoe but it’s not the same home. It’s totally different. It’s just a nice comfortable cabin.

Justine is totally confused and begins with all her questions. Davidson admits to her who he really is, just a man doing his job, had to play a role. He beings to explain everything and she stops him in his tracks. NOW WHAT??? Where do we go from here? How about Montana? I bought us 20 acres and we can build whatever kind of home you want.

Justine wants to save it for another day maybe another time. She calls Gemma and they meet for lunch and catch up on all the daily gossip. Justine grabs the newspaper and finds a small article where a Las Vegas Medical group and a dozens of surgeons and personal-injury lawyers were charged with fraud, conspiracy and witness tampering.

Gemma takes Justine to airport. She stops in Las Vegas where Mike picks her up. She goes to see Marsha. They reunite, tears fall, 50+ years of friendship isn’t going to stop Justine from seeing Marsha.

NEED ENDING SHOTS…SERIES OR MONTAGE. Come back to this.

THEN:

REAL SHOTS OF HEADLINES ONE BY ONE:

New York neurosurgeon indicted for unnecessary, invasive tests in kickback scheme

Texas spine surgeon sued by an insurer who alleged he performed medically unnecessary procedures to inflate personal injury claim. $1.1M in damages

Hospital, orthopedic surgeon share liability in $6.3M verdict

Chiropractor sentenced to 14 months in spine surgery kickback scheme

Olympic volleyball player permanently paralyzed from chest down with spinal surgery.

20 doctors under the government’s cross hairs.

NOTE: ATTACHED DOCUMENT FROM BECKERS’ January 2018 – August 2022 SENTENCING CONTINUES IN CALIFORNIA SPINE KICKBACK CASE: 6 developments in 4+ years. (15 year scheme $500 M in fraud bill & $40 million in kickback; Dr Capen $5M in kickbacks , Full pardon to Taustino Bernadett, MD sentenced to 15 months in prison in illegal kickback scheme )

Hundreds of patients harmed by surgeons, maybe thousands and thousands we haven’t discover yet.

Former Sanford Health neurosurgeon to pay $4.4.M to resolve kickback charges.Ndw trial required for Missouri neurosurgeon’s kickback case.

Medical Mafia makes $80 Billion Killing

[Jamie Handley]

I exchanged feedback from Kristine Donnan on 8/27/22 and from Terri Cooper Lee 8/29/22

[Jamie Handley]

I am exchanging feedback with Kristin Donnan. We have agreed to give feedback with each other.

If anyone is available to give additional feedback this late I would appreciate it. My story is as follows:

Genre – DRAMA –

Title – WITHOUT RECOURSE – Inspired by a True Story

Concept – Two women battle with the FDA, AMA and Justice System when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the Medical Mafia.

Sorry so late but I had to change how to tell the story when I needed copyright permission and some Fair Use issues. Publisher agreed finally and talk about quick writing…well, it’s rough and I need to work on it a lot more but the skeleton is done. Thanks, Jamie

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie’s Deeper Layer

What I’ve learned, I need to go back and bring out the research information but I believe this will come with the scenes played out and set-up. I need to work on this lesson again, and better but need to catch up first.

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

With no recourse to sue, two women battle with the FDA and AMA when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the medical mafia.

Surface Layer: Justine is helping her lifelong friend, Julia, with her failed neck and back surgeries. This is important to Justine as she’s been a victim of major surgery failures over the years as well as, the legal system when she filed suits.

Deeper Layer: Both the medical and legal system is about greed and not the care of the patient. The FDA and AMA control all medical devices with no clinical trials based on a 501K and grandfathered in for approval of use.

Major Reveal: There is a medical mafia that exists. It is revealed when Julia’s attorney receives the money from the surgeon who performs her surgery. The surgeon is the same surgeon who went to trial in Nevada, who was granted immunity as a government witness in 2002.

Influences Surface Story – Justine has never trusted Peter. He was to help Justine with a problem in years past only to get all her files and keeps them in his possession. He did nothing and said he lost her files. Justine has a plethora of knowledge of medical negligence from her own surgeries.

Hints: Peter meets with Julia and quickly has her sign the lawsuit, as leverage with the surgeons. Justine discovers an article about surgeons. Peter depletes Julia’s trust fund. He never billed her monthly and has control of her home etc. Julia reviews the article on medical mafia before Julia arrives. Justine contacts an esteem author on device fraud and the AMA and FDA rules. Justine contacts various journalists about the medical mafia.

Changes Reality: Justine realizes that Julia knew about the medical mafia all along and that Peter was well connected with judges, law firms, the surgeons he represents. This opens her eyes to trust and the meaning of friendship. Justine sees a new light on the medical profession promoting being proactive with the healthcare around the world. It’s not just in Nevada but the medical mafia exists everywhere.

Beginning: Justine cares for her dying mother but needs her daughter’s help who brings along her significant other. Her lifelong friend, Julia needs help with medical condition.

Inciting Incident: Justine falls and breaks her hip. Returns home day after surgery and her mother dies.

Turning Point 1: Justine has hip surgery and a IVC filter is implanted, unknown to her at the time. Weeks pass, mother’s estate is distributed, problems arise with IVC filter, it gets removed by specialists. Depressed she flies to see sister, Sadie, hoping to get out of rut but Sadie is ill and palliative care begins. Justine goes to help Julia in Vegas. Julia jokes about Nevada medical mafia, taken from her political perspective.

Act 2: Justine begins research after visiting new surgeon. Plans are made with Barrows and UCLA. Julia’s problems don’t make sense to Justine, she comes across article on medical mafia and is shocked. When she returns home and realizes the magnitude of Julia’s dilemma, she contacts journalists.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Justine confronts Julia about Peter’s relationship with surgeons. His name was in one of the articles. Peter has Julia sign legal papers. Justine and Julia have a row and part ways. Justine makes contact with Jeanne Lenzer, author, regarding medical devices and is stunned.

Act 3: Justine researches the FDA and AMA and hits a wall. All has failed her. Peter gets medical records from UCLA and Barrows sent to him without Julia’s knowledge. Julia requests her records back from Justine to help Peter with his suit but are to no avail and told they are lost.

Turning Point 3: Certified letter arrives to Justine from Vegas.

Act 4 Climax: Justine is stranded at Vegas airport. Gracie calls in a favor from Julia. Julia announces she’s going to do the surgery. Julia’s surgeon is the one turned governmental witness and is in the medical mafia.

Resolution: TBD at this time.

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie’s Character Structure

“What I learned from doing this assignment is…this lesson is all about getting the outline started and in alignment to some degree. Certain as I continue with the lessons things will change, I’ll see things differently and perhaps find more interesting ways to approach my concept.

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

With no recourse to sue, two women battle with the FDA and AMA when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the medical mafia.

Protagonist JUSTINE PARKER

• Beginning: 1991 -Justine is in a horrific accident, on a two lane highway with a semi-truck and trailer then airflighted out of Lake Tahoe down to Reno.

Present day – Justine is caring for her dying mother. Daughter, Gracie arrives to help but brings significant other, Nathan Mills, unknown to Justine. Julia Stone, has COVID, becomes bedridden.

• Inciting Incident: Justine falls, breaks hip, damages shoulder. Nathan and Gracie help out with Sarah when she has hip surgery. Gets released the next day, against medical advice, signs the AMA. IVC filter implanted for surgery. The day after surgery, she comes home, her mother wakes and has promises made with Justine. Later that night her mother dies.

• Turning Point 1: Packs up and divides her mother’s estate. IVC filter removed with complications. She starts writing in her journal. Gracie needs Justine’s help, lies to her. A big argument between them ensues over respect and money with Gracie and Nathan. Sadie goes in to palliative care. Sadie’s daughter, Hanna, becomes the caregiver. Justine becomes despondent, flies to Oregon to be with sister, Sadie. They reunite but soon learn her cancer is now in her lungs. She writes in journal, promises are made. Returning home she stops over and sees Julia.

• Act 2: Justine begins research on Julia’s medical evaluation. Gets medical records from hospitals posing as Julia. They meet with new surgeon, bad news. She returns home, presents Julia’s case to Barrows Neurological and a UCLA surgeon, sets up appointments. She begins further researching and discovers there is a medical mafia in Nevada. Contacts the newspaper journalist. Sees her primary doctor, Dr. T to discuss all her problems and picks his brain. Julia goes behind Justine’s back and asks Peter to get involved, file a law suit and take over.

• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Justine confronts Julia about Peter’s relationship with the surgeons (his clients). Julia hides her knowledge of medical mafia. Justine lets Julia know she doesn’t trust Peter. Justine and Julia part ways. Justine retreats and shuts down. She gets in contact with Jeanne Lenzer, author, regarding medical devices, begins writing again.

• Act 3: Justine digs deeper, begins medical research with FDA, AMA and revisits her primary. Research deepens on medical mafia. Julia’s medical records get lost. Surgeons she contacted are unable to help but one will provide so long as Julia knows the risks are high. Her article is published but she doesn’t care.

• Turning Point 3: Huge failure. Certified letter arrives from Las Vegas. Sister is now in hospice. Mother’s day approaches, Gracie needs her to help to make floral arrangements. She returns to Oregon to help sister after Mother’s day.

• Act 4 Climax: Sadie wants to die with the Oregon Death with Dignity act. Gracie pushes Justine’s buttons, reminds her of her promise she made to her mother, and why she’s so miserable. Justine is stranded at Vegas airport. Gracie calls Julia to help out and she picks up Justine. Julia lets Justine know she’s having surgery. Doesn’t need her help with Peter by her side.

• Resolution: Surgery day has arrived. I will come back to this later

Antagonist JULIA STONE

• Beginning: Julia has had COVID for months, her neck is in a brace bitches to Justine about her last surgery and the surgeon. Her back problems from surgery worsen.

• Inciting Incident: Julia’s spine caves in, bedridden when her brother calls and informs Justine that she’s not gotten out of bed for over a week.

• Turning Point 1: Calls Justine for help, to no avail, her mother died. Calls Peter, ex and attorney for help, doesn’t respond.

• Act 2: With Justine there, they meet with new surgeon, a straight shooter. Bad news. Julia calls Peter, wants to file law suit. Courier drops off papers. Peter discovers the surgeons that damaged Julia are his clients. She hands over her medical x-rays and records to Justine and flies home. Peter shows up and hands Julia papers to sign.

• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: After the argument with Julia she relies on Peter’s help. Refuses to take Justine’s calls. Julia gets worse.

• Act 3: She has no will to live but really never has. Calls Sadie, leaves a message.

• Turning Point 3: Julia is off the radar, still refusing to talk with Justine. Justine’s sister calls about dying with dignity. Peter makes arrangements for Julia to see a surgeon. She is convinced the surgery will work and sets date.

• Act 4 Climax: Julia helps Justine out when layover in Vegas is delayed a day. Informs Justine she’s having surgery with Peter’s help. Justine flies home.

• Resolution: Day of surgery.

TRIANGLE GRACIE WYATT

• Beginning: Gracie drives in from California with Nathen Yagger her significant other without her mother knowing. Arguments ensue. Visits with grandmother, brings joy back in the home. They have quiet time together, videos made.

• Inciting Incident: Gracie must take care of grandmother while Justine is in hospital.

• Turning Point 1: Gracie argues about her needs with her mother when if she goes to see Julia in Vegas. Grandmother dies. Help pack up grandmother’s items for family.

• Act 2: Gracie and Nathen fight over money and work. She confronts her mother, about her own needs and why her mother isn’t keeping her promise that she made to her mother, about living her life and making her dreams come true.

• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Gracie goes her own way, gets work and begins her journey. Gracie pesters her mother about her writing. She crashes Justine’s car tries to fix before she returns home but can’t.

• Act 3: Her work increases but she feels like she’s supporting Nathen and more arguments begin. Get a job Nathan!

• Turning Point 3: Mother’s day approaches, biggest floral day of the year and Gracie needs her mother’s help. She’s working out of the home.

• Act 4 Climax: Gracie calls Julia to help her mom stranded at airport. She sends Justine a song to listen to on her return home.

• Resolution: TBD

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie’s Supporting Characters

What I’ve learned is: first, this will all change as we go through the lessons. The background characters will grow or lesson depending upon the how the story plays out. Not worried about that. The supporting character could also change. But, this is a start.

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

With no recourse to sue, two women battle with the FDA and AMA when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the medical mafia.

Support 1:

Name: SARAH HENDERSON

Role: Justine’s mother

Main purpose: Death is inevitable, teaches Justine about living her own life.

Value: Shows the seriousness of the subject, medical system, being proactive. Her death moves Justine to visit her sister in Oregon.

Support 2

Name: SADIE

Role: Justine’s sister

Main purpose: Shows how the medical system has failed her. Cancer victim goes into hospice when Justine arrives to help her. Shows a family relationship and sisters.

Value: She helps drive Justine into taking care of herself and living out her dreams. She also shows the difficulty in her transition.

Support 3:

Name: GRACIE WYATT

Role: Justine’s daughter

Main purpose: She pushes her mother’s buttons; she must help her mother move forward and won’t let anything go unnoticed. Always reminding her mother the meaning of family, and abandonment issues.

Value: She adds compassion and rage throughout the story. She causes Justine to take a deeper journey in herself. We see how she changes and grows up when Justine leaves her to care for her sister and her friend Julia.

Support 4:

Name: NATHAN MILLS

Role: Gracie’s significant other

Main purpose: He helps Sarah while she is dying.

Value: He shows that a stranger is able to help in the smallest of ways but is courageous. He supports Gracie in her journey.

Support 4:

Name: Dr. T.

Role: Justine’s primary doctor

Main purpose: He guides Justine through her medical issues and the journey she is taking. He gives Justine the truth about the medical mafia.

Value: He gives merit that a GOOD doctor does exist.

Support 5:

Name: PETER COOK

Role: Lauren’s ex and attorney who is executor of her trust

Main purpose: He is not to be trusted. He uses Julia throughout the story for his own gain.

Value: Attorneys are difficult to trust. Be careful who you hire.

BACKGROUND CHARACTERS

JANE – GRACE HAMMOND

MARILYN – MARSHA BLANCHARD AKA – MS. M.

MEDICAL OFFICE WORKERS – DR. T’S OFFICE

ATTORNEY # 1 PETER COOK – CHANGE NAME

ATTORNEY #2 PARTNER

SURGEON #1(Lauren)

SURGEON #2 (Lauren)

SURGEON # 3 (Justine)

HOSPITAL PEOPLE

NEIGHBORS IN ARIZONA

BARBARA – ONE WHO CARES

MARYJANE – DAVID IS LOOKING AFTER

JUDGE #1 IN NEVADA

BYSTANDERS AT ACCIDENT

[Jamie Handley]

MOD 3 LESSON 7 Jamie Handley’s Character Profile Pt. 2

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

With no recourse to sue, two women battle with the FDA and AMA when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the medical mafia.

What I’ve learned: This will all change as the story develops which I’ve learned to welcome. Now I just have to incorporate these traits of the characters into the story in a very specific way.

JUSTINE

Character Subtext: Hiding that she knows how critical Lauren is. Afraid to say that she doesn’t trust or like Peter, her ex & attorney to Lauren. She fears loss.

Character Intrigue: Competitive with the doctors. Subtle competitiveness with Lauren with exterior values. Hidden agenda – She’s writing articles and doesn’t let Lauren know.

Flaw: She is moody and controlling. Overly protective.

Values: Honesty. Family/friendship. Knowledge.

Character Dilemma: The trusting side of her is in conflict with expecting the truth from everyone else, yet she is unwilling to trust or can’t be trusted.

LAUREN

Character Subtext: Hiding her fear of doctors. Withholding information from Justine about the medical mafia, also with the amount of pain she is in. She lies to doctors and carries the guilt of having an affair with Justine’s husband.

Character Intrigue: Unspoken wound – her deepest pain is the loss of her son. It reflects in her daily life. Hidden agendas are; knowledge of medical mafia and bringing in her ex, an attorney, to help her and not letting Justine know.

Flaw: Has a death wish. Doesn’t follow through with just about anything, all talk. She is a victim of abuse, medical, physical and a martyr. She holds grudges. Gifts are her expression of affection but not really. She buys love.

Values: Family but has lost it all. Being the best and winning is her game. Values loyalty above all.

Character Dilemma: Love verses duty, expecting from others to get the help she needs. She was the one who took care of her family but had no one to care for her.

GRACIE

Character Subtext: She seems to be always plotting something and does a good job at hiding what she’s up to. She is polite and filled with joy to hide her fears. Hides the truth about her father’s affair.

Character Intrigue: Unspoken wound – abandoned by her father and mother leaving her feeling she’s not good enough in any way.

Flaw: She undervalues her ability to accomplish anything so she overachieves or quickly give in. She doesn’t want to be responsible.

Values: Family is the most important value in her life. Helping people is who she is.

Character Dilemma: Pleasing other’s first rather than taking care of herself. She stays to herself and lives in her own world.

[Jamie Handley]

MOD 3 LESSON 6 JUNE 30/22

Jamie’s Character Profile

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

With each new lesson I learn more of my story. I see the changes with each new lesson and I know there is more to come. My characters are changing and growing too. This gives me notes to go back and break it down into a good/great bio.

JUSTINE

A. The High Concept. She’s a victim of medical and legal negligence, lives with chronic pain, drugs and braces, who put her life on hold at the expense of others, to use her knowledge to help her lifelong friend from dying.

B. This character’s journey. She’s a woman who many depend upon to a woman who detaches with unconditional love to reclaim her life dream.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. A unique and complex personality, knowledgeable, she’s kind-hearted and loyal as she is tenacious and gruff. This role is filled with emotions and vulnerability is a must. Her wounds are deep, so much so, that she has learned to block them out until a single moment comes to rise and changes her disposition instantly. Borderline bi-polar some might think!

Role in the Story: Protagonist

Age range and Description: She is seen in her forties and as a baby boomer.

Core Traits: Altruistic, knowledgeable, stubborn, controlling and reserved.

Motivation; Want/Need: Wants to be independent, to help lifelong friend from dying and a loving relationship with her daughter.

Needs: To re-establish a loving relationship with her daughter. Needs to become the person she once was; soft-spoken, fun, gentle and vulnerable mother. Needs to take care of her first. Needs to learn how to say no.

Wound: Fears loss. Abandonment. Rapped by her father and later in life, her step-son.

Likability – She’s a woman of her word. Family is most important to her. She shows you how much she cares. She loves deeply. She is persistent and kind. She finds something good in everyone.

Relatability – Defending and helping a friend. Compassionate. The importance of family. Being respectful and respected. Giving is unconditional. Trust doesn’t come easy.

Empathy: She risks her relationship with her daughter. Puts her daughter in harms way. The many surgeries have left her physically challenged. (Trust) choosing the wrong doctor, surgeon and lawyer. The difficulty and fear to challenge a professional when you know you are right and they hold the degree/are professional, have ethical standards. Making decisions for another’s welfare. Fear of something bigger than you imagine (mafia).

LAUREN

A. The High Concept. Lauren is broken, physically by the hands of two surgeons, has a medical issue that is life-threatening and has mourned the death of her son for years. She has become reclusive, envies Justine’s and Gracie’s relationship, she is judgmental, cynical and plays games to get her way or to fuck with someone, including Justine; the only one who cares and steps up to help her.

B. This character’s journey. She and Justine have years of memories and have daily talks. But, when Lauren is damaged by two surgeons, and faces death, she turns to Justine for help. Things become complicated when Lauren covertly brings her ex, an attorney, in to assist. A row ensues when Lauren finds out Justine has had an article published. Lauren drops the bomb that she has withheld information that the medical mafia could be involved. The relationship explodes, comes to a screeching halt that ends their friendship.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. She is skilled at playing games with people. She is seen as kind and caring, has a great sense of humor which is either cynical or judgmental in spirit. She’s clever and puts people on a need-to-know basis. Her wounds control her life. This isn’t who she is but what she’s become to be.

Role in the Story: Antagonist. She was an established set designer whose life was altered when she gets into an automobile accident. Her pain and past wounds take over her life and she becomes bitter and reclusive. She needs help and calls on her best friend, Justine. Her life becomes problematical by her own doing as she tries to find a surgeon who can save her.

Age range and Description: Lauren Quick is an attractive woman with distinct characteristics. She buys by the label, is fashionable and carries it over into her boomer days. She shows her kindness, which is control, in her giving. Her life is broken in so many ways and she uses it to get what she wants, if she can. She’s highly respected in her work environment. What appears on surface isn’t who she really is. She keeps a tally on everything she does for you.

Core Traits: Cynical, judgmental, Secretive, kind-hearted

Motivation; Want/Need: She wants to find a surgeon to fix what is wrong. She wants to sue two doctors, manufacturers and anyone that had to do with her damages. Wants to be respected, appreciated and loved. And, she wants her brother to move out but won’t do it. She wants to die.

She needs to want to live and find a life of her own. She needs to accept he losses and fight to live.

Wound: Her son was killed in an automobile accident; streetcar racing. Deepest wound is with her mother who she believes didn’t love her. Her uncle rapped her and her mother didn’t believe her.

Likability She’s respected by her industry. She thinks about others and is genuine in the moment. Asking for help.

Relatability She’s hurt and in pain. She needs help. She’s afraid to admit her weaknesses. It’s hard for her to trust.

Empathy: She was damaged by the surgeons. She was hit by a person with no insurance and skipped town. She has to make choices. She’s hurt and in pain.

GRACIE

A. The High Concept. Gracie is Justine’s daughter. Though her past still haunts her, she works at striving to do better. She is taking the back seat at a time when she needs her mother and learns to accept that Lauren needs help. She is the catalyst between her mother and Lauren and the family. She step in to help her mother but feels abandoned most of the time, rightfully so. She learns the meaning of family and helps her mother out of duty with some resentment. She grew up with Lauren’s son.

B. This character’s journey. At first she seems aloof and unreliable until Lauren needs Justine to help her. She proves she can be trusted taking care of her grandmother and the home. She proves to herself that she is worthy once and for all. She is concealing until she reunites with her mother, then she soars. She knows how to manipulate her mother and others but soon learns that she doesn’t need to anymore. She takes pride in her work and later begins a business.

C. The Actor Attractors for this character. This is a fun character, she a delight to be with, playful, adventurous, and has a passion for life. She is quick, kind and a loveable woman. She’s as complex as her mother but in different ways. She’s strikingly beautiful inside and out but her low self-esteem gets in her way. She is emotionally loaded.

Role in the Story: Triangle.

Age range and Description: She’s in her late 30’s pushing 40. She striking with beautiful features but she doesn’t think so. She’s a bit over weight and it holds her back.

Core Traits: Carefree, needy, unreliable, creative

Motivation; Want/Need: She wants to help her mother to help Lauren from dying. She wants to be acknowledged and respected. She wants to have a place of her own. She wants to be loved and married. She wants to help her grandmother, the one who loves her unconditionally and brings so much joy in her final days.

She needs to get a life and discover what she wants to do with it. She needs money and a home of her own. She needs her mother’s trust and love. She needs her significant other to propose and marry her. She wants her own business.

Wound: She can never have children. Her father abandoned her at a young age and had two other children. She also felt abandoned by her mother who had to provide for the two of them while growing up.

Likability She brings joy to everyone. She’s a fun and funny woman. She’s always there if you need her. She’s very thoughtful of others and respectful. She’s naïve like a fox.

Relatability She has never been a caregiver to older people. She’s there to help her mother, grandmother and Lauren, as well as herself. She takes over for her mother when she tends to Lauren’s needs. Being in an awkward position isn’t easy.

Empathy: She’s doing the best she can. She’s there to help a dying person, her grandmother. She has her own pain inside and afraid to show it. She wants a happy life knowing she’ll never have children. Having a dysfunctional family. Being the only child. Feeling alone in the world.

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie’s Likability/Relatability/Empathy

Mod 3 Lesson 5 June 30/22

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

What I’ve learned: This is a great tool to put in place with each scene, even in the outline. I really think this is an important skill.

Protagonist JUSTINE

Likability: She loves her mother so much that when her mother moves in with her she allows her mother to have her furniture in the living room and stores hers away.

Relatability: Demonstrates her love and understanding of her mother’s need to feel that Justine’s home is now her “home”. She goes beyond telling her so and showing her.

Empathy: Depending upon someone. Getting old, dying, loss.

Likability: When Lauren calls in the beginning, they laugh and tell stories of daily living.

Relatability: Friendship, an unspoken bond is established. A type of sisterhood. Miss seeing someone, your closest friend.

Empathy: Distance, not being able to drop by and visit. They care about each other.

Protagonist/Antagonist LAUREN

Likability: Lauren sends Justine a special birthday gift.

Relatability: Laughter, going out of your way to put a smile on your friends face. Shows how much she cares.

Empathy: The absence of human connection, being able to see, feel, and touch a person.

Likability: When Lauren takes ill and reaches out to Justine for help she makes arrangements to fly to Las Vegas.

Relatability: Someone has your back. Doing whatever we can to help someone.

Empathy: Feeling of helplessness. Everybody needs help especially when we’re ill. Even more so when you don’t have a mother, father or family member around/available to help.

Antagonist/Protagonist GRACIE

Likability: Gracie gives up her life in California, moves in with her mother to help her with her dying grandmother. She brings her significant other with her.

Relatability: Asking your child for help even when at odds. Hope for the relationship to mend. When unexpected situations occur we are able to be the bigger person. The need to be needed. Proving her (Gracie) love to her significant other and to her mother.

Empathy: Being put in an uncomfortable situation. It’s sad to give up your life to help another. Dealing with death. Putting your family first.

Likability: Gracie supports her mother’s decision to fly to Vegas to help Lauren and helps her pack.

Relatability: When someone is hurting we want to see them get the help they need. Gracie cares for Lauren but doesn’t trust her. Is she faking it? We all want to know that someone is there for us. Fear of her grandmother dying.

Empathy: How bad is Lauren? Gracie must care for her grandmother and fears she won’t do a good job. What happens to Gracie if her grandmother dies during her absence?

[Jamie Handley]

MOD 3 LESSON 4 Jamie’s Character Intrigue

June 27, 2022

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

What I’ve learned is that this lesson helps to tell the story in many various ways. I love it because it will change again and again.

Character Name: Justine Henderson

Role: Protagonist

Hidden agendas: She is always writing in her journal. She sees her family doctor to obtain medical advice. Justine plans to have Lauren on a television show. Justine is writing a book about the adventures they have shared over the years. She wants her on the Dr. Oz show.

Competition: There is a silent competition with where doctors and lawyers are concerned. Nothing new, they’ve always been competitive in their station in life and work.

Conspiracies: She conspiracies with Lauren’s brother to get information.

Secrets: Won’t let anyone see her journal and hides it.

Deception: She pretends she is Lauren when talking with various doctors to obtain information.

Unspoken Wound: She believes Lauren had an affair with her ex-husband.

Secret Identity: She’s a writer for various magazines.

List is included above.

Character Name: Lauren Quick

Role: Protagonist/Antagonist

Hidden agendas: She’s gay. She reconnects with her ex-boyfriend of many years to handle her trust to regain his love. When she becomes ill she calls on him to take her case. She begins to manipulate Justine asking her to visit, “she’ll pay for it all” but started sending her gifts on HSN, QVC and others, little by little, when the results of an MRI are discussed.

Competition: Lauren makes known all her friends are very important people, especially in all the legal field, firms, D.A.’s, judges. Her relationships with all the important people in the film industry. She always points out how much items, jewelry, clothes etc. are worth, some priceless. Brags about how little she paid for her home and got a steal. Her awards and photos for interior design and film set design cover the walls at the entrance of her home.

Conspiracies: She turns to her ex, who is her lawyer, without telling Justine. She and Justine call her lawyers friends (also attorneys) to find out information. Justine shows up at a hospital where Lauren had one of her surgeries and signs papers to get her medical records and shows Lauren’s driver’s license, and it worked. She has her ex/lawyer to change her will.

Secrets: She had an affair with Justine’s ex-husband but will never admit it. She waits to tell Justine about the medical mafia article till it’s too late. She hates her mother. She wanted to marry Justine’s ex-husband. She won’t wear the back brace Justine bought her and complains that it doesn’t work. Truth is, it does work and she wears it when her brother isn’t around. The trust is almost depleted. Said she has COVID but didn’t, then later gets it.

Deception: Denys to Gracie about her father’s relationship with her. She refuses to help her brother in front of Justine but when Justine isn’t around she helps him all the time. She resents that Justine knows more about the law and medicine. She colluded with Justine’s ex mother-in-law to get Gracie to come to Vegas and spend Christmas with her and Gracie’s father. She told Gracie that she went to see her mother in the hospital with her first accident but she didn’t. Lauren’s ex/lawyer, with the help of his assistant, overbill Lauren’s trust fund.

Unspoken Wound: Her son was killed in an auto accident but her son was the one who caused it. Her uncle raped her at a very young age and her mother called her a liar. She resents her mother and brother.

Secret Identity: She lets the nurses and practitioners think she’s doing okay. She lets everyone she knows that she is very ill and dying. She always wanted to be a doctor. She exaggerates her pain to others and especially to Justine. She’s gay.

Ideas are listed above.

Character Name: Gracie Wyatt

Role: Antagonist/Protagonist

Hidden agendas: Gracie comes to aid her mother, Justine, in helping with her dying grandmother. She agrees but it means bringing her significant other too only mom doesn’t know until they arrive.

Competition: Gracie has proof that Lauren wanted to marry her father, she didn’t have COVID and she’s not a good friend. Gracie always researches the medical issues that Lauren says she has. She blames her aunt for bringing her into the drug world. She competes for her mother’s love and affection.

Conspiracies: Doesn’t let her mother know she’s bringing her boyfriend to live with the family. Kisses up to Lauren she thinks that when Lauren dies she’ll inherit Lauren’s belongings and home.

Secrets: She steals her mother’s jewelry and gives them away as presents to her friends. She takes her mother’s pills for pain. She has a photo of her father and Lauren to prove that she loved her father.

Deception: She takes her mother’s pills for her own use and to make money.

Unspoken Wound: She was abandoned by her father who gave birth to two other children and neglected her for most of her life. She can’t have children. The shame she carries for using drugs for so many of her years.

Secret Identity: She is jealous of Lauren. She knows that she is much smarter than others see her. She fears success. She always wanted to be a mother.

Ideas of how that character’s subtext might show up in your movie are listed above.

[Jamie Handley]

MOD 3 LESSON 4 Jamie’s Character Intrigue

June 27, 2022

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

What I’ve learned is that this lesson helps to tell the story in many various ways. I love it because it will change again and again.

SORRY I WAS POSTING LESSON 4 WHEN I NOTICED I WAS IN 5. DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NOW??? WILL I BE ABLE TO POST 5?

• This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by  Jamie Handley.

[Jamie Handley]

MOD 3 LESSON 3 Jamie’s Subtext Characters

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

What I’ve learned is that first off I can’t stand the names and need to work on that down the road. I think that I should have included all three characters in lesson Module 2 Lesson 3 which I will do. And the same goes for Mod 2 Lesson 4.

Movie Title: WITHOUT RECOURSE

Character Name: Justine Henderson

Subtext Identity: Controller, Dogmatist

Subtext Trait: Loyal, stubborn, altruistic, persistent, overt

Subtext Logline: Justine rushes to aid her family and friends at their beckon call as a way of hiding or facing issues in her life. As she helps others she hurts herself in the process.

Possible Areas of Subtext: She proves her loyalty, friendship and her need to be needed through helping her family and friends. She abandons Gracie when Lauren needs help. She lives in her journal to holds all accountable for their wrong-doings or whatever she is following. She demonstrates her love for Gracie with her money. She is assertive with Lauren’s surgeons and doctors. She is an introvert when it comes to Lauren’s lawyer. She doesn’t trust surgeons and lawyers at all which causes a big riff.

Character Name: Lauren Quick

Subtext Identity: Pessimist, covert,

Subtext Trait: Cynical, judgmental, kind-hearted, dark humor.

Subtext Logline: Lauren is broken from the loss of her only child and by the hands of surgeons. Everyone is held accountable in some way or version from their lack of understanding her pain.

Possible Areas of Subtext: She goes overboard in her gift giving, especially with Gracie. She doesn’t trust her family but puts her faith in her attorney and the surgeons who have damaged her. She displays her dark sense of humor, wit, and cutting remarks at any given chance but most don’t get what she is inferring. She is competitive with Justine kills her with kindness.

Character Name: Gracie Wyatt

Subtext Identity: Intuitive, unworthy (self-worth), cunning

Subtext Trait: Unreliable, carefree, needy, and clever

Subtext Logline: Gracie is a lovable, generous, to a fault young woman who desperately wants to be loved and accepted for who she is, good or bad and doesn’t discover all the love her mother has for her until later in life.

Possible Areas of Subtext: She shows up in Arizona with significant other without her mother knowing that he’s moving in too. She hides her newly bought clothes in the trunk of the car as she spends her mom’s money. She buys her mom a ticket to see Bob Dylan after she starts working to make her mom happy, knowing, her mother has never done anything by herself. She continues to remind her mother that Lauren slept with her father. She gets busted by her mom for doing drugs. She finally gets her shit together and gets help from the SBA to open her own floral business.

[Jamie Handley]

MOD 3 LESSON 1 Jamie’s Actor attractors for Good Luck to you, Leo Grande

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

What I’ve learned in this lesson is it gave me a deeper understanding as to the “why” in finding the right actor for a film. It’s like the module is another subtext lesson, in and of itself, in the course of scriptwriting. We keep layering as we write. This made a big difference in the importance in who you are writing for, and not just the audience.

MOVIE- Good Luck to you, Leo Grande

A. In your genre. Comedy/Drama

B. Has big actors. No, it’s a contained film.

C. Is a well-known movie. She’s so big as an actress but is best known for two films, Sense and Sensibility and The Remains of the Day.

1. Why would an actor WANT to be known for this role? She’s made women of a certain age real and true-to-life. Something that “Hollywood” doesn’t support. Ageism is a huge issue in this industry and I think she nailed it, not on in this film but for the future of filmmaking. She’s open the door a wee bit more. LONG OVERDUE in Hollywood.

2. What makes this character one of the most interesting characters in the movie? Simple to answer because it is contained but, the character is human and so very interesting and with so many layers and subtext. All which is timely as well.

3. What are the most interesting actions the Lead takes in the movie? She drops all her clothes in the end, butt naked, but who is a women in her sixties.

4. How is this character introduced that could sell it to an actor? Most appropriately, nervous, anxiety filled waiting for her male sex teacher/escort to knock at her hotel door.

5. What is this character’s emotional range? Bigger than life! She exposes all her fears, frustrations, brings her family and deceased husband into the conversation and discusses all the topics that concern women, especially those that are so inhibited by nature, nurture or in general.

6. What subtext can the actor play? Her fear of being vulnerable in all her conversations with “Leo”. Her lack of knowledge and experience when it comes to sex. She’s never had an orgasm. Sixty years of faking it. Her sex life was beyond boring with her husband, it was a wham-bam-thank-you darling experience. Who does that? A lot of women do it all and go without having pleasure.

7. What’s the most interesting relationships this character has? In this case, it is more interesting with her character, Nancy. The relationship she has with herself. It’s what really moves the story forward consistently.

8. How is this character’s unique voice presented? Sometimes it is too on-the-nose but then again it had to be. The demons that live within her and the relationship she has with her two grown children. She is consistently nervous, that it makes you nervous for her. Sometimes to a fault but again, it had to be to make her case in the film.

9. What makes this character special and unique? By the end of the film she is more relaxed, did she have her orgasm? With each list of special desires she wished to accomplish she shows her growth and gave herself permission to experience a bit of joy. The ending scene is what made it out-of-the-box!

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie Handley’s Genre Conventions

Vision from this program: To me it is much more succinct and much easier (right!) to understand. Clarity seemed to be much better. I say “right” in jest because it is always a lot of work which you expound upon with integrity, wisdom, empowerment and knowledge. You make writing fun and not as difficult as others make it to be. You take us to the point and let us run with it, try and figure it out without shame or pressure. Thanks for your kindness and keenness. You’re a hard act to follow!

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

TITLE: WITHOUT RECOURSE – Inspired by a True Story.

CONCEPT: With no recourse to sue, two women battle with the FDA and AMA when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the medical mafia.

GENRE: Drama

List of the conventions:

Purpose: Stories with emotional and interpersonal high stakes for the characters.

Character Driven: Care about the character, internal journey drives film.

High Stakes Come from Within: There is a struggle, obstacles, and stakes come within character more than external.

Emotionally Resonates: Want to FEEL and be MOVED by characters emotions/how they experience the events.

Challenging, Emotionally-Charged Situations: Characters get challenged to their core by the emotional situations and the struggles along the way.

Hero: JUSTINE HENDERSON – An altruistic, to a fault, stubborn, juggler kind of older woman who’s been through it all with lawyers and the medical profession since her accident in year past. But, you wouldn’t want it any other way because she is as kind and loyal as she is rough and to the point. You want her on your side any day.

Antagonist: LAUREN DRAKE – Justine’s life-long friend who’s judgmental, cynical, yet kind-hearted with a dark sense of humor and is a victim of medical malpractice causing her spine to cave in and needs Justine’s help. Deep within her, she carries a haunting pain; the death of her only child.

GRACIE BRYANT is Justine’s only child. Her past adventures turned into drug abuse leaving a distance between the two. But it’s her joyful spirit and giving (even if something belongs to her mother) gets her in and out of trouble. She desperately needs her mother’s love and recognition, and is cunning and manipulating as she is smart (like a fox) and beautiful.

Act 1:

Opening Lake Tahoe – North Shore 1990’s.

A Jeep is run off a two-lane highway by a semi-truck and trailer caring a stream roller. A woman, JUSTINE HENDERSON is airflighted out by a helicopter.

2020 – TO PRESENT – Justine needs help from daughter GRACIE WYATT who brings her significant other (unannounced), DAVE YAGGER who moves in to help her mom with Gracie’s dying grandmother. Justine is exhausted, at odds with everything in her life and continues to need various surgeries. Life-long friend, LAUREN DRAKE is in an automobile accident.

Inciting Incident

Justine falls and breaks her right hip and shoulder back into hospital while Gracie and Dave care for SADIE HENDERSON. Sadie dies.

Turning Point –

Lauren needs Justine’s help with a life-threatening medical problem and flies to Las Vegas, Nevada. Lauren’s brother, MAX POTTER, three years younger, a pot-smoking bum, isn’t capable to help Lauren out. Justine and Max go a few rounds but Justine ends up helping him out too. Justine and Lauren meet with a new surgeon and the results are bad.

Act 2:

New plan –

Justine begins to research, steps in and talks with outside medical specialists while acting like she’s Lauren. Meetings are sets up. Gracie offers to help causes problems with Justine. Gracie gets a job, starts carrying the load while they argue with Dave over money and his contribution. Lauren gets COVID.

Plan in action –

Justine, now helpless, calls Lauren’s only friends to drop off food etc., to no avail. Max is still worthless, unable to use a computer so Justine begins to order online for Lauren.

Midpoint Turning Point –

With two out of state second opinions in hand, Justine returns to Las Vegas. They meet again with the new surgeon. Her case seems hopeless and the doctor shines a light on the medical situation. PETER COOK, a prominent attorney and Lauren’s ex stops by to pick up medical documents and leave documents for her to sign while Justine is out and about. Justine is taken back and conflicted. Why? How did he come into the picture? When and what is he going to do? This causes a row between the women. Justine returns home and finds a copy of a magazine article in her suitcase regarding the medical mafia in Vegas. Justine is floored, speechless and frightened. Gracie calls on her mom for financial help only to disappoint.

Act 3:

Rethink everything

Deal with it! Justine hunkers down in research, still dropping everything in order to help Lauren. Things get worse in the home with Gracie and Dave. Lauren begins to avoid Justine’s calls. Justine takes it up a notch and connects the FDA, AMA, surgeons and manufacturers with Lauren’s medical issues.

Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift

After investigating the medical mafia, dealings with the FDA, AMA and Justine’s own doctors, Justine becomes fearful that Peter and Lauren’s surgeons could be connected. Justine informs Lauren of the possibility, connecting the dots and Lauren turns on Justine leaving her hanging after Justine states she doesn’t trust Peter. Lauren ghosts Justine, just what Lauren wanted from the get go. She has no will to live.

Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict

Justine receives a certified letter from the District Attorney in Las Vegas regarding a wiretap on her phone. Gracie begs for help from Dave. Justine has a breakdown while at her monthly doctor’s appointment. DR. T., whose relationship with Justine is rare these days, makes time for Justine. He sets the record straight and leaves her in a better place. He reminds Justine who she is, her own health issues, and what she has going right in front of her. He gives her advice that is long overdue that only a mother would know and give. That’s how unique and rare he is and the trust or words of wisdom she needed to let go.

Resolution

Gracie is on a roll. She is working out of the home and doing well, with the help of her mom. Working with the flowers and arrangements, Justine and Gracie begin to heal. Reminisce their flower days in Tahoe. Dave has work and all seems to be well. Mother’s day is explosive and profitable. Justine connects with older sister and flies to be with her. SIS, recovering from rectal cancer, is in palliative care, which concerns Gracie. She needs the help as does her niece but this time Justine is going for her own growth. She needs her sister equally as much, if not more so, and asks for it. The two reconnect, joy and laughter fill their hours. Justine sets up shop to write her story in the peace and quiet of her sister’s home. Gracie begins to call missing her mom.

Note – At this point I am not sure how I will end this story completely. In time I will have it.

List the improvements that come from the Genre Conventions. Right now I feel that I have a character driven journey with the characters. There is much to tell but this is just the base of the beginning. Emotionally it expresses the need to learn to be proactive with your health and life. It shares the emotions within a family structure where pain and illness is concerned. The obstacles, stakes (which will be higher) will surface and there are lots of medical and legal issue to address. That is to come and find its right place in this story.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by  Jamie Handley. Reason: forgot name

[Jamie Handley]

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

With no recourse to sue, two women battle with the FDA and AMA when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the medical mafia.

What I’ve learned is I know that this is just a rough draft and things might be out of whack or in need of restructuring but it’s a start. I am going to go back over it and take in the big picture points to see if I even got them. But for now I am turning this in to get to the final lesson in the module. I just reviewed my structure and discovered many areas that need revised and completed but I’m still turning it in as is!

Main Conflict

Justine becomes deeply involved with her best friend’s medical condition until she learns that her BFF underhandedly gets her attorney and ex involved and later discovers there is a medical mafia which could involve her doctors. Justine must make a choice to continue the crusade or let her go and die a lonely death.

Old Ways

Justine is altruistic to a fault.

Justine takes her needs and her family last.

There are trust issues

Justine believes that being needed is how she finds her worth.

Justine’s daughter, Gracie, isn’t respected.

Justine fears success and questions her ability to write.

New Ways

Justine surrenders to the reality that the medical and legal system are bigger than she imagined.

Justine can let go of other’s needs and still be in relationship with them.

Justine and Gracie come to terms and bond in new ways.

Justine knows what she wants in life.

Success is a new adventure.

EXTERNAL JOURNEY – From always helping others to putting herself and family first.

INTERNAL JOURNEY – From being needed by others at her expense to finding her voice and self-worth.

Act 1:

Opening

1991 – Justine is in a severe accident in Lake Tahoe. 2020 – COVID begins. Justine is caring for her dying mother with the help of her daughter, Gracie and her significant, Dave, who lives with her. Justine breaks her hip. Day after surgery she demands an AMA and returns home. Next day her mother passes. One year later. Justine and Gracie argue about money and work issues with Dave.

Inciting Incident

Justine gets a call from Lauren’s brother crying for help. Lauren hasn’t been out of bed for over a week.

Turning Point

Justine flies to Lauren’s in Las Vegas and calls paramedics. Justine finds a new surgeon to get an outside evaluation; they learn the options are few and highly risky, more importantly; the two surgeons are at fault.

Act 2:

New plan

Justine returns home and begins to research. Arrangements are made with surgeons; Barrett Neurological and UCLA Spine Institute.

Plan in action

Lauren contacts Peter for advice who is her ex and legal counsel, unknown to Justine. Lauren fights with Justine; refuses to get help but then succumbs. Lauren’s brother needs help with getting a cell phone. Justine steps in for Lauren and gets him a phone on her plan. Gracie needs help starting her floral business while Dave continues to do nothing.

Midpoint Turning Point

Justine returns to Las Vegas to discuss the findings from the two institutes with the new surgeon. Her case is hopeless. Lauren shares a magazine article about the medical mafia in Las Vegas, which she has had all along. Peter stops by, gives Lauren legal documents to sign, and takes all her medical records. With Peter is in the picture Justine become conflicted. When Justine returns home Gracie confronts her mom about not being there for her when she needs her the most.

Act 3:

Rethink everything

Dumbfounded with Peter involved Justine takes pause, not knowing what her place is in helping Lauren. There’s more to this picture than what is being told.

New plan

Deal with it! Justine hunkers down in research, still dropping everything in order to help Lauren. Things get worse in the home with Gracie and Dave. Lauren begins to avoid Justine’s calls. Justine takes it up a notch and connects the FDA, AMA, surgeons and manufacturers with Lauren’s medical issues.

Turning Point: Huge failure / Major shift

After investigating the medical mafia, dealings with the FDA, AMA and Justine’s own doctors, Justine becomes fearful that Peter and Lauren’s surgeons could be connected. Justine informs Lauren of the possibility, connecting the dots and Lauren turns on Justine leaving her hanging after Justine states she doesn’t trust Peter. Lauren ghosts Justine.

Act 4:

Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict

Justine receives a certified letter from the District Attorney in Las Vegas regarding a wiretap on her brother’s phone. Justine is forced to call Lauren. Justine cancels his service. He’s connected to some druggie selling narcotics. Justine’s doctor confirms that what she has discovered with the two surgeons, FDA, AMA is correct and that the mafia is real. Justine breaks down in the doctor’s office as he points to the big picture in the medical system the bigger picture, which is her life at home. He gives her advice that is long overdue.

Resolution

Justine flies to Oregon to be with her older sister who she confides in. She needs the help and asks for it. Gracie calls and lets her know that Dave has landed a big job, her business license came through and she landed a big account to supply all their floral events and needs.

[Jamie Handley]

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

Here’s what I have learned; this is a very important lesson to learn prior to developing an outline or structuring a beat sheet or script. I am going to go back and continue making lists of subplots.

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

With no recourse to sue, two women battle with the FDA and AMA when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the medical mafia.

ONE THE SURFACE

Justine is helping Lauren with her medical problem and deals with her doctors and lawyers.

BENEATH THE SURFACE

Lauren knows that there really is a medical mafia.

Lauren pretends she doesn’t know much about computers,

Lauren withholds her conversations with Justine’s daughter, Gracie and Peter, her attorney.

Justine provides Lauren, doctors and her attorney with information that prove the doctors are at fault.

Peter knows Lauren that you can’t sue the mfg. but wants to take her case.

Peter Cook knows three of the surgeons, they are his clients.

Lauren withholds her conversations with Justine’s daughter, Gracie.

Lauren pushes Justine’s buttons about Gracie and what she knows.

Justine doesn’t trust Lauren’s attorney, Peter.

Lauren withholds her conversations with Justine’s daughter, Gracie.

Justine discovers that there is a medical mafia.

Justine is fearful of the consequences if they pursue the lawsuit.

[Jamie Handley]

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And made!

What I’ve learned is that it is much too early to see the full picture of my character but this is a start in the development and I know it will change again and again.

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

With no recourse to sue, two women battle with the FDA and AMA when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the medical mafia.

PROTAGONIST

<b style=”font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>ARC BEGINNING A controlling woman who knows what is best for everyone.

ARC ENDING She begins her own new journey and writes her first article.

INTERNAL JOURNEY – From she needs to be needed to feel worthy to accepting that others need their own life lessons and she doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone expect herself.

EXTERNAL JOURNEY From she is a woman who many depend upon, to a woman who detaches with unconditional love and reclaims her life dreams.

OLD WAYS

Is self-sacrificing and altruistic.

Sacrifices her personal life, career and daughter for the needs of others.

She doesn’t trust the medical and legal system and most people.

Is at odds with her daughter.

Doesn’t believe that she is worthy of having a life of her own.

She afraid of success.

NEW WAYS

She knows what she wants in life.

She surrenders to the reality that the medical and legal systems are bigger than she is.

She discovers she can let go of others needs and still be in relationships with them.

She bonds with her daughter in new ways.

Success is a new adventure.

[Jamie Handley]

Jamie’s Intentional Lead Characters

MOD 2, LESSON 2

VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer. And have it made!

What If learned is that it took me a while to understand what was expected from “unique” so I just kept typing until I got it, that it has to do with the concept only. No traits, backstory etc.

Concept: WITHOUT RECOURSE

With no recourse to sue, two women battle with the FDA and AMA when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the medical mafia.

Character: Protagonist

Logline: Justine is a woman, whose automobile accident imparted a plethora of medical and legal knowledge through the years, who lends to all, provided they pay heed. She is multifaceted, stubborn, and fearless especially when someone needs her.

Unique: She has had multiple surgeries over the years; most have failed in some way. She’s been through all the courts, lawsuits, appeals, malpractice etc. Both the legal and medical system has failed her for the most part. She a fighter and will go the distance. She is damaged goods, always having to live in a body brace and depends on medicine to help her for the rest of her life.

Character: Antagonist/Protagonist

Logline: Lauren is a highly cynical woman, with deep emotional wounds and a life threatening medical issue who undermines her lifelong friend’s help, goals and ties with her daughter.

Unique: She too is damaged but in much deeper ways. Before her accident her son was killed at a young age and the pain lives in her. The physical damage she is experiencing supports her cynical side. She is lost in her pain and is unable to cope. She refuses to believe she can be helped.

Character: Triangle

Logline: Gracie, Justine’s daughter, has a past that haunts her even after she turns her life around. She is a floral designer who holds her mother in check with every life situation, but most of all, for her to realize her dream she aspired to so long ago.

Unique: Gracie is able to see the pain inside of both these women having inflicted her own pain of drug abuse. She has also gone through her mother’s medical issues over the years and has seen the results, both good and bad, that have taken place. She has seen her mother become her mother’s caregiver and the death that follows. Vicariously she has lived what a life in pain is like but most of all she is her mother’s cheerleader.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 11 months ago by  Jamie Handley.

[Jamie Handley]

Concept reads well, title fits and you have a lot of visuals living in the Big Sky country. I lived outside of Missoula (Potomac) for a number of years. Great sky in summer. Looking forward to more. Enjoyed it!

[Jamie Handley]

Title: VISION: To sell my script or limited series with future spin-offs to a great producer.

Jamie’s Title, Concept, and Character Structure!

Title: WITHOUT RECOURSE – A True Story

Concept: With no recourse to sue, two women battle with the FDA and AMA when one has a life threatening medical condition and her doctor and attorney are part of the medical mafia.

Character Structure: Protagonist versus Antagonist

What I’ve learned: Deciding the character structure I’m not real sure of. I am going to lead with Protagonist versus Antagonist but, I think this will change to a Dramatic Triangle at some point, even at this stage. I am allowing myself to explore the options right here, right now.

[Jamie Handley]

1. Jamie Handley

2. How many scripts you’ve written?

6, and a whole lot of half finished ones.

3. What you hope to get out of the class?

My first goal is to have an amazing script ready for market. Second, excited to learn new process, to be “OUT OF THE BOX”, be more empowered than I have ever been. I write drama, rom-com, thriller/crime, political views on various subjects and strive to write a series with spin-offs and develop a brand of my own. Television, as we once knew it is not a consideration but don’t rule it out. Third, STAY CLEAR OF PERFECTION!!! My list of classes are too many to list from classes taken over the years which include many notable teachers. But when I came across SCREENWRITINGU, that was it. Hal’s (and Cheryl’s) methods is the cherry on top in my opinion. Hal’s classes are AMAZING. I’ve learned so much and appreciate every class I’ve taken (about 75% of what is offered!). So I am really excited for this journey with this class. Also, looking forward to meeting fellow classmates. I’m a native Californian, live in Arizona and film/scriptwriting has always been my dream. Now it’s time to make my dream come true.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you?

Unique – Well, that is really subjective. What I consider unique isn’t really unique to me but could open the eyes of some people and give pause. I was the first woman photographing college football (USC) BUT it took a cigar and cowboy hat so that I didn’t distract the players, which is why they were reluctant to allow me on the sidelines. A photographer from Fox assisted in allowing me a pass. Special – I’m still writing and won’t give up. Time to make it happen.

We look forward to working with you all!

[Jamie Handley]

1. Jamie Handley

2. The words “I agree to the terms of this release form.”

3. GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of Writing Incredible Movies, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, through social media, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, videos, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

[Jamie Handley]

1. Jamie Handley

2. “I agree to the terms of this release form.”

3. GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of Writing Incredible Movies, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, through social media, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, videos, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

[Jamie Handley]

What I’ve learned in this process is the need to define the circles to have available possible actors to step into the store and create various situations, conflicts etc., it’s like creating a map before the outline. I would think this also would help in the budget, knowing how many are needed, who can fill in as extras and so on. I like the connected circle, I think that is important for the conflicts and moving the story forward or in the direction needed ie; flashback to a younger age or time. This is a great starting point.

SHOW: BIG LITTLE LIES

THREE CIRCLE OF CHARACTERS

A. Main Characters

Madeline Martha Mackenzie

Celeste Wright

Jane Chapman

Renata Klein

B. Connected circle

Perry Wright and the kids

Ed Mackenzie

Bonnie Carlson

Nathan Carlson

Gordon Klein

Abigail Carlson

Ziggy Chapman

The waiter, Tom at coffee shop

Harper Stimpson

Amabella Klein

C. Environment circle

Several officers

Two investigative detectives

Students at school

Various parents throughout

Yoga students

Administrative employees

Principal

Reporters on air

[Jamie Handley]

BIG LITTLE LIES – 5 STAR MODEL

Jamie – What I learned doing this assignment is….the use of questions is so important to play out your story among many other issues. This is the beginning of an outline.

1. Big Picture Hooks

What is the big hook of this show?

Like who killed JR, in Dallas, this starts out with a murder but we don’t know who….not even a small leak or possibility. We don’t know who he/she is related to. We look for clues but Kelley is great at setting up etc., I chose this show because of his writing. And, the cast is great. I would watch the first episode just based on those two areas. That’s my hook. Also hooking me was all the intrigue and mystery.

2. Amazing and Intriguing Character

What makes these main characters intriguing and interesting? No matter what the status or age if you are a woman with a child you can relate to all their thoughts and feelings. The introduction with each character is uniquely done. Are they amazing, not really. They are living in a world of wealth with a contrast of one being extremely smart, one out of place with a secret for certain. Then there is always one passive and another is a gossip. This is a normal click for chicks. Different but the same. Each have various life situations which opens the door to conflict. Nice set up.

3. Empathy / Distress

What situation causes us to feel both empathy and distress for this character? We can start with the children. A boy wrongly accused or so we are led to believe. Your children grow up and who do you become? Typical of any era. There’s abuse with Kidman’s husband. Jealousy is very apparent and real. Dealing with a step-parent for the adult and the child.

4. Layers / Open Loops

What questions are created by this first episode that can only be answered by watching the entire season? Who is killed and why? Is the child lying about the choking of the little girl? Which guest or adult knows the women well enough? How do the husbands play out? Who has the “perfect” marriage? Do any of them? The dialogue followed the title to the episode, “Somebody’s dead.” Just another layer.

5. Inviting Obsession

How does this pilot create the need to see every single episode? First just by not know who is killed. Why did they kill them and all the set-up Kelley created that need paid off. It truly leaves you asking more and more questions.

[Jamie Handley]

1. Name Jamie Handley

2. How many scripts you’ve written 6, and how many are still in rewrite….6

3. What you hope to get out of the class? I think this class has much for us to learn from. I’m a crazy binging person for certain. In fact I’m kind of spoiled by it. If I like it, I’M ALL IN. I think my first binge was Entourage.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? Persistence. I’m in MSC 15 presently and I had to drop out of this class 2 other times because life happened and I had to make big choices like; my mother was dying, how should I spend my time? I have no regrets with decision to pull out but by God I’m doing it now. Then I saw the intro to this class and well…..couldn’t pass it up. I might be a wee bit late at the moment but I’ll catch up. I love how Hal teaches and I’ve been in a lot of famous and great classes. This is outstanding. Just follow his lead. And, of course do the work. Catch up soon….BTW, I live in Arizona but am a California native. Most of my life was in California but then the cowgirl in me wanted to go and explore. On to Nevada, Montana and Oregon. Loved it but I got into a horrific accident and I can’t be in the cold anymore. So I call Arizona where I live, for now, and I am grateful. Miss the greenery, hills, quiet etc. but ya do what ya gotta do. And here I am, taking yet another one of Hal’s many classes.

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[Jamie Handley]

Concept reads well, title fits and you have a lot of visuals living in the Big Sky country. I lived outside of Missoula (Potomac) for a number of years. Great sky in summer. Looking forward to more. Enjoyed it!

[Jamie Handley]

Love the title! Concept is very interesting, looking forward to see how you play out the old strippers. Unique, especially for mature actors to play.