"I really liked this story from screenwriter Patrice Williams. "The Unfinished" centers on a man brought back from the dead for 72 hours in order to identify his killer. It's written in a real conversational style, and builds up to a fun, surprising conclusion. I've already said too much."
Derek Haas, writer of films 3:10 to Yuma, Wanted, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Creator, NBC's Chicago Fire
I've been a writer since age 6 when I pinned the wildly successful (in my own mind) "The Day Snoopy Got Married." After that I was off to the races!
I've written over 10 screenplays; some of which have been optioned. Hoping one will make it to the big screen some day.
After reading short stories from Derek Haas' (bad-ass, big time screenwriter) website, aptly called Popcorn Fiction, where he features short stories from writers, I decided to give it a go.
I came up the idea of THE UNFINISHED from being a sci-fi fan, but also a die-hard TCM movie fan; (watch more b&w films from the 30′s and 40′s than current films). Love the idea of taking a character out of one world and implanting them in another… known as "fish out of water" stories.
THE UNFINISHED: In a future where the Unfinished (murdered) are brought back to life for only 72 hours to testify against their killers before being "put down" for eternity… an Unfinished is resurrected to what he believes is his one chance to point the finger at his accused killer.
He remembers the final details of his life; his boring job as a mattress salesman, the Dame he had high hopes for and the Mug who took his life.
Once brought back from the dead and taken to court, this Unfinished could never have imagined what was awaiting him.
Set in a world that is our future, giving homage to 1940′s detective noir stories, "The Unfinished" serves up a twist ending that will leave you wanting to follow his story to the end.
After reading the short story, you can read the first few pages of the full novel on my website for free.