When the town historian is shot, and a priceless gold nugget is reported missing after 130 years, a young, unconventional county sheriff must survive a hornet’s nest of liars, thieves, and murderers to solve the crimes. [Written in Feature-length (or MOW), and one-hour TV Pilot formats]

SYNOPSIS:

Young Deputy Sheriff, ELLIE MAY LYONS (25), isn’t the best-dressed or subservient law enforcement officer in the mountains of Colorado, but she exudes the talent and tenacity for solving crimes. When the ski town’s 92-year-old historian (CECIL) is shot at an old gold mine, Ellie’s boss, Sheriff HANK PORTER (45), quickly assumes it was a stray hunter’s bullet that killed him. He wants the case wrapped up before the Founder’s Day Picnic and 1890s-baseball reenactment the next day, but Ellie has doubts, as a few “townies” may have lots to gain by the death. Meanwhile, the victim’s 95-year-old drunken sister (WINNIE) reports a lost “Cat,” which we learn is a ten-pound gold nugget, missing for 130 years.

The new Middle-eastern, female “DOC” in town, Ellie’s confidant, also serves as the town’s coroner. Things don’t add up for her either. The townies with the most to gain from Cecil’s death include: TONY (40), ski-bum living in Cecil’s barn; DERRICK (40), the African-American donut store cook; ROSA (35), a sultry museum volunteer; and DELANO GREEN (45), the town’s richest banker and lawyer. Each has an air-tight alibi, being seen by Ellie or Hank immediately before or after the sound of a booming muzzle-loading rifle is heard.

Ellie filters through carefully conceived lies, as dark secrets of the past emerge putting the current events into a sinister perspective. Tiny inconsistencies and departures from normal behavior begin to lead Ellie from the stray-bullet theory to a well-planned, well-timed, premeditated murder. The town’s Founder’s Day Picnic and historic baseball game brings all the suspects together, and Ellie uses the game to her advantage, picking away at her prey. Ellie also meets a former major league baseball player, TRAPPER JACKSON (35), who is mysteriously playing incognito for the Old-Timers, and may be another suspect.

Ellie proves Cecil’s death occurred an hour earlier than assumed, but without the murder weapon, she has no case. Ellie gathers the suspects at the donut shop, and goes overboard with accusations. Hank is unsupportive, and it looks like someone will get away with murder. But Ellie’s revised timeline and speculation about Cecil’s death have struck a nerve, and Delano sneaks off to dig up two buried rifles near the old mine. Ellie and Hank capture Delano as the mastermind of the near-perfect murder.

The celebration is short-lived. Immediately after Winnie’s lost Cat (gold nugget) is rediscovered in the cradle’s pillow, Ellie gets a disturbing call from Sheriff Hank. During the night, the rifles and shovel were stolen from the trunk of Hank’s patrol car. Critical evidence disappeared, coincidentally timed with the reappearance of a certain retired baseball player.

MOUNTAIN MYSTERIES: THE CASE OF THE GOLD CAT