The War of the Redwoods

Synopsis

The War of the Redwoods (action/adventure) is inspired by the legendary crusade of a dedicated band of young environmental activists to save a priceless rainforest from clear-cutting.

The story pits JED HAWKINS, a mid-30’s timber executive and HARLEY PURVIS, a slick Wall St. takeover artist, against EARTH ANGEL, 25, a beautiful free-spirit activist, dedicated to saving the forest to the core of her existence.

Jed grew up in the logging town of Scotsland, CA. but can’t escape the angst of his painful childhood there.

When he helps Purvis takeover the company that owns the town and most of the world’s Old Growth Redwoods, it’s an opportunity for revenge against the forest, the town and his ex-wife, the company’s original owner.

Angel, part tom-boy, part homecoming queen, leads a group of dedicated college kids who call themselves EARTHLINGS. Their protest demonstrations are slowing Purvis’s campaign to clear-cut every standing tree for a quick buck -- so Jed goes undercover to sabotage their efforts.

But in order to win Angel’s trust, he is forced to become a double agent. When he wins her love instead, he’s caught between his heart and his demons.

But his ex-wife blows his cover, provoking a betrayed Angel to take up tree-sitting in SOLSTICE, a 2,000 year-old Redwood. Squatting on a tiny platform 250 feet up, she vows not to come down until all the cutting stops.

By now, Jed has discovered that love and revenge can’t occupy the same space, and he dedicates himself to Angel’s cause: protecting the forest he has hated all his life.

But Angel says, “It’s too late. I’ve dedicated my life to Solstice now.”

Undeterred, Jed and Angel are reunited following his harrowing tree climb. They have extremely risky sex on the tiny treetop platform, oblivious to the danger...all the while threatened by a menacing company helicopter above and angry loggers, armed with chainsaws, climbing fast.

The war spins out of control when loggers and activists are killed; some say murdered.  The Feds step in with a Catch 22 offer for Jed: either co-operate with the ruthless capitalist to save Angel from almost certain death, or honor her commitment to save the entire forest - even at the cost of her life.

It’s literally a choice between the forest and a tree.

But too late. A vicious storm topples the mighty Solstice, sweeping Jed and Angel down a steep hillside in a cascade of broken timber, mud and debris – into the town below..

[War of the Redwoods] [Home] [Synopsis] [Coverage] [First 10 pages] [The War in Pictures] [About the  writer]