Log Line
Caught in the midst of war, the teenage daughter of the head of MI6 in Cyprus, falls madly in love with a young rebel fighting against British colonial rule…
Treatment
MICHALIS Pantelas, an aging Greek Cypriot living in Scotland co mmits suicide, leaving behind a handwritten manuscript in which he confesses that, in 1957, having received a considerable amount of money from BR UCE Edward Robins, head of MI6 in Cyprus during the island’ s struggle for independence, betrayed his country and brutally executed two young EOKA freedom fighters in cold blood!
ALLEN MacCraw, an ambitious Scottish journalist comes across the dead man’s memoirs and fascinated by the traitor’s account, decides to write a book about the events that took place in Cyprus during the thorny ye ars of the Cyprus revolution.
Allen tracks down BETH Edward Robins, the daughter of the highr-anking Intelligence Officer who had recruited Michalis and asks her to help him write his novel. Beth decides to help the Scottish journalist. As her compelling story unfolds, the shocking details of what took place in Cyprus at the time a re painfully unveiled: We witness the birth of EOKA, the notorious Greek Cypriot guerrilla POETS NEVER DIE group formed under the leadership of GRIVAS, a heroic figure to some and a ruthless terrorist to others and, his struggle to force the British Crown to grant Cyprus it’s autonomy and the right to unite with Greece.
On the other camp, the brutal tactics engaged by Sir John HARDING, the British Governor of Cyprus, come to light. In a desperate attempt to subdue the revolution, the ruthless Governor does not hesitate to orde r his troops to round up and imprison hundreds of innocent men, to cruelly torture a great many of them and, finally, to hang all those found guilty of being involved in the guerrilla movement.
Allen finds Beth’s revelations captivating. Although intrigued by the historical details that become apparent, Allen’s real fascination begins when Beth discloses to him that during the upheavals she had allowed herself to fall madly in love with ORESTES; a young rebel who was on her father’s top-ten “most wanted” list!
As more details are disclosed about this conflict-ridden affair, the more it becomes apparent to Allen that his book should not focus on the Greek Cypriot traitor, nor on the historical events that took place on the island during the revolution, but rather on Beth. The teenage daughter of the head of MI6 in Cyprus, who fell madly in love with a Greek “terrorist”…
Beth’s fascinating story begins in 1955, the year her father was assigned to fly to Cyprus to dismantle EOKA: The “terrorist” group set to rid Cyprus from British colonial rule.
Encouraged by ANTONIA, her American archaeologist mother, Beth agrees to follow her parents to the beautiful and exotic Mediterranean island. Once there, she soon befriends Orestes; a young, handsome boy who is not only admired for his looks and academic achievements but also for his immense love for poetry.
Beth, mesmerized by Orestes’ good looks and charismatic persona, falls in love for the first time. Feelings she never knew existed overwhelm her spirit, body, and mind. Unable to fight the tidal wave of emotions that overco me her, she finally surrenders to the call of her newly awakened sexuality…
Orestes, a young patriot at heart, is enraged that the British army has been occupying his country since 1878. Nonetheless, this does not stop him from falling in love with his country’s worst enemy.
Beth pays no attention to her father’s severe warnings to stop seeing Orestes and secretly continues to meet the boy she has fallen in love with. At one of their secret encounters, Orestes picks up a lit candle…
ORESTES
I want this moment to overshadow
the aura of this flame! Look how gently
it flickers in the night… Frail and defenseless…
Ready to perish if caught in the path
of the slightest breeze… Yet mighty enough
to set the entire world on fire!
In the meantime, as the young couple’s romantic adventure unfolds, tensions between the newly formed “terrorist” group and the British army grow more violent. More and more “freedom-fighters” aka “terrorists” join the rebellious organization and start training in guerrilla warfare. Orestes is one of them…
At the same time the British Intelligence, lead by Beth’s father, tries to hunt down and dismantle EOKA before it actually starts to do any serious harm.
To no avail! On April the 1st 1955 the Cypriots take arms and start a revolution to free Cyprus from the Crown’s colonial rule. The bloody confrontation, that for almost five years brought havoc to the little Mediterra nean island and cost the lives to so many Greek rebels and British soldier,s is now a harsh reality…
After a serious confrontation with Bruce that almost cost him his life, Orestes is forced to join his fellow freedom fighters in the rough terrain of the mountains. In his first mission, he is ordered to shoot a terrified young En glish soldier in cold blood. He refuses to do so sparing the young soldier’s life.
Orestes’ “cowardly” action infuriates his commander who swears he will personally execute Orestes if the young rebel were to jeopardize their mis sion again.
The young man’s likable personality and indisputable talent to write inspiring, patriotic poems, help save the day. Rumors of Orestes’ refusal to employ violence against the British soon spread, creating a legend around the young, “pacifist” rebel.
Orestes and Beth continue to meet at their secret hideout, near a beautiful waterfall deep in the woods of Pafos. On the day that they finally allow t hemselves to completely explore their lust and passion for each other, Bruce’s car is blown up by EOKA, wounding Bruce and killing his driver.
This “terrorist act” works as a catalyst in Beth’s mind who for some time now had been tormented by the harsh reality that, while a number of young British soldiers were “brutally executed by the Greek terrorists”, she allowed herself to fall in love with one of them! In desperation, she breaks up with Orestes, leaves Cyprus and return to England.
A few days prior to her leaving, a strong earthquake hits the little town of Pafos. Beth and a number of other students are trapped under the rubble of their ruined school. Orestes, who had gone to the school to bid farewell to his beloved girlfriend, struggles to save her life.
Orestes comes out of the ruins holding Beth in his arms. Riskin g his life, he fearlessly walks over to Bruce who had just arrived at the s cene.
Orestes places the half-conscious body of his girlfriend in the officer’s arms.
Caressing Beth one last time, he turns around and calmly walks away.
Bruce, moved by the boy’s fearless move, lets the “terrorist” walk without making an attempt to arrest him…
Violence, death, and destruction become the rule of the day . Both parties suffer considerable casualties. The British government desperately tries to find a political solution that will both safeguard its interests in th e area and exonerate the Crown from the embarrassment of being incapab le of dealing with a handful of “terrorists”.
The British Governor of Cyprus tries hard to convince Makarios, the Greek Cypriots’ spiritual leader to abandon his dream for “Enosis” (Union with Greece) and accept some form of independence, but Makarios proves to be stubborn and uncooperative…
Orestes receives an order to move a number of guns and other am munition to a secret location. Betrayed by Michalis – the Greek traitor who had committed suicide in the opening scene – falls in an ambush and is captured. Ironically the British officer in charge of this operation is Bruce. His girlfriend’s father!
Beth, who had in the meantime flown to England, finds out about her lover’s capture and decides to return to Cyprus to help save his life. While in prison, Orestes is brutally tortured. To Harding’s great disappointment the seventeen- year-old poet refuses to talk. The Governor offers to spare the young man’s life only if he were to agree to sign a paper stating that hi s comrades were terrorists. Once again the young man adamantly refuses to succumb to Harding’s “generous” offer…
Orestes is finally taken to court and is accused of terrorism. After a short trial, the boy is found guilty and the judge rules that Orestes should die by hanging…
In a moving finale, we follow Orestes’ last moments. In desperation Orestes’ mother asks Antonia to help her write a letter to Queen Elizabeth II, imploring Her Majesty to spare the life of her son. Remarkably, the Queen’s impassiveness and her inability to adjudicate help the British Governor proceed with his merciless plans to hang the young man. Moments before Orestes is hanged, Beth visits
Orestes in his cell at death row…
ORESTES
I’m not afraid of dying my love. I’m a poet…
(pause)
Poets never die!
Nearly sixty years later, a much older Beth is reading the letter that Allen had sent, along with the manuscript of his completed novel, “Poets Never Die”.
In his letter, Allen apologetically reveals to Beth that he is the son of Michalis Pantelas. The Greek traitor who had betrayed her young lover and caused his death…
In his letter the Scottish journalist explains that having read his father’s manuscripts, he decided to write a book, telling the truth as to what had actually taken place in Cyprus during the island’s struggle for independence. Feeling shame for his father’s indefensible actions, Allen had chosen not to tell her the truth until now…
Allen’s book finally hits the stores creating a sensation, for it openly implicates the Royal Family and accuses the Queen of not using her influenc e to pardon the young poet and save his life…
Beth watches from a distance as Allen signs copies of his controversial book in a crowded bookstore in London. Unexpectedly, a mysterious young man resembling Orestes appears uncannily on the scene. Beth tries to follow the young man but “Orestes” vanishes in the crowd…
An extraordinary kaleidoscope of colors unfolds as we soar through the skies at an incredible speed. The spectral journey continues its metaphysical quest through an ocean of angry, purple clouds. Out of the vivid tempest of colors… a bright cone of light. Silence…
A picturesque waterfall appears in the distance. Green, purple a nd emerald waters are seen falling into a small lagoon. A few willows, roused by a cloud of mist rising from the pond, gently bend over to touch the foa ming waters. A million almond tree blossoms caressed by a gentle breeze take to the sky.
In slow motion: Orestes, completely naked, rides his white horse AWAY from the camera. A pack of wild horses follows Orestes in frenzy. Orestes enters an endless field of red poppies… Riding against the wind he disappears into the white…
