Scriptapalooza coverage for A Ship Through Fire (formerly The Pegasus Gambit) (11-2011)

‘A Ship Through Fire’ is an engrossing, exciting screenplay that demonstrates solid writing across the board. A thrilling tale about smugglers dodging Nazis at the start of the World War II, the script mixes history and high adventure on the seas and the end result is effective. There are tons of big set pieces and nail-biting close calls. The ending is effective but organic. Jake is a great protagonist, a brave, smart ship captain with unquestionable loyalty to his men and his mission. His refusal to turn his back on his human cargo, even after it became unpopular, showed his real integrity. The secondary cast is strong as well, from protective sidekick Obasi, to love interest Miriam, to treacherous Seamus, they all work and help elevate the material. Bauer is compelling as the bad guy, a formidable antagonist to face off with Jake. Also, the relationship that develops between Jake and Miriam feels believable. The dialogue is also strong throughout and helps flesh out some of the characters discussed above. There’s also some subtext layered in a number of fronts including violence, loyalty, tolerance, courage, integrity, and redemption. There are also some sharp and witty one-liners and observations. Last, the tone is even and consistent throughout.