The Adventuress

Synopsis

In Australia, 1917, Jane Bennett watches a herd of brumbies. Jane tells her sickly mother, Nellie, and describes how one horse jumped on the back of another, but got kicked off. Nellie admonishes Jane to never forget what she saw and instructs her that girls get to choose. Jane’s father leaves her at her mother’s burial, with foster parents. After Jane fights off attempted rape but isn’t believed, she is left at a Catholic orphanage. A mature Jane is chased by an older boy, Ron White, and his mates, but escapes by climbing a tree. Ron asks her to “lift up her dress” for them to go away. Jane demands a shilling. A nun interrupts and next Jane is placed in the Hoppe household as a maid. The elderly Mr. Hoppe asks Jane to sit on his lap. She agrees but demands payment in advance. At the train station, Jane, now seventeen, encounters Ron. They begin to date, but Jane limits his sexual advances. Ron is madly in love and proposes. Jane isn’t sure. Mrs. Hoppe interrupts Jane masturbating her husband, and Jane leaves her employment with a large roll of banknotes. Jane marries Ron, moves to Sydney, and reinvents herself as Jean. At a pub, a drunk Ron wants to gamble. Jean agrees but asks for the rent money. Ron is embarrassed and slaps Jean. She breaks his nose and leaves. Ron promises to stop gambling. Jean is at home crocheting when Ron's bookie assaults her. She defends herself by stabbing him in the eye with her hook. She grabs some clothes, a hidden bankroll, and escapes. She calls the police and secretly watches as Ron and the police arrive. Jean walks off with her suitcase. In Melbourne, Jean meets Barry Mulvany. He is smitten and asks her out. Barry quickly professes his affections and reveals that he is a medical student from a prominent family. A chance encounter with a con-lady has Jean rethink her identity. Barry and Jean are affectionately walking in the park when Barry pronounces his love for her. Jean relents and tells him that her real name is Lady Cynthia Cavendish, has a child by Lord Mountbatten that she sees every six months, and is divorced. Barry is gobsmacked but asks Cynthia to marry him in secret until he graduates. Cynthia rushes off to Sydney where she sleeps with Ron in exchange for signing divorce papers. Months later A pregnant Cynthia finally meets Barry’s family. She is welcomed by all except skeptical Edward, the father, who checks into her story. Baby Cynthia Mary arrives and Jean finds out about Edward’s investigation. Edward receives a copy of Jean White’s wedding certificate and confronts Cynthia. She cleans out the bank account and disappears with the child. Barry and the family are disconsolate. A year later, Edward’s private detective tracks down Cynthia living as Jean Craig. Barry kidnaps his child. Jean tells Ron he might be a father and he, Jean, and her new “husband,” David Craig, unsuccessfully attempt to grab the child. The trio retaliates with a court summons claiming custody. Judge Martin awards Barry full custody due to jean’s “adventuress lifestyle.” Jean is shattered. When the police arrive to arrest her for bigamy, Jean taunts the constables, puts a gun in her mouth, and pulls the trigger.

Writer's Biography

DM Damien Mulvany Writer

CV:
 Damien A. Mulvany DOB:
 1/18/1954, Melbourne, Australia EDUCATION:
 HS: Xavier College, Melbourne, Australia
 BS: College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA.
 DMD: Washington University School of Dental Medicine, St. Louis, MO. WORK HISTORY:
 1982 - 2018
 President of Acacia Dental Group, Englewood, CO. 2018: Retired SCREENWRITING HISTORY:
 The Thursday whaler (2017) Diorbivol (2020) The Adventuress (2020)