Synopsis
The year is 1868. The Civil War is over, and life in Exeter, New Hampshire, is resuming its gentle path.
When Henry, our 11-year-old hero, and his father, George, attend a local political rally, it sets in motion for both of them a journey that will challenge their integrity and inspire them to grow in unimagined ways.
Henry, awed by a charismatic brass band leader, begins a quest for a shiny brass cornet, and embarks on a series of comical odd jobs and misadventures to earn the $25 he needs to buy it. Meanwhile his father, George, a likable guy with a streak of boyish irresponsibility still in him, gets roped into small-town politics.
So while Henry struggles to earn his cornet, his father struggles just as hard to avoid his own responsibilities. Their conflicting paths clash in humorous ways, building to a town hall rally where George has been forced into giving a speech.
The source
Based on The Real Diary of a Real Boy by American humorist Henry A. Shute, known as the Mark Twain of the Northeast. First published in 1902 and reissued nearly every decade since, the book is now in the public domain.
Honors
- Creative Screenwriting AAA Screenwriting Contest Quarterfinalist, 2008