Logline

1870's, Rossburg, PA—-Lumber barons control the wealth, politics, and the lives of their workers. In their greed and hubris, they never see millhand Ian Douglas coming. The battle he wages will send shock waves through the community and an unintended consequence rippling through time.

Synopsis

SEASON 1 (6 episodes)—Available in screenplay or book. 

After the Civil War, there is a great demand for lumber to rebuild the war-torn country. Surrounded by an abundance of forests of prime timber, Rossburg is a frontier town destined to become the lumber capital of the world. Overnight, small sawmill owners become millionaires and the boundaries of the inner circle are drawn.

Young Scottish immigrant and millhand Ian Douglas dares to challenge those boundaries when he falls in love with the beautiful Eleanor Morgan, daughter of powerful lumber baron Cyrus Morgan and Ian's employer. Attracted to him, Eleanor returns Ian's interest, but, in the end, he's not a member of society.

Scarred by the loss of his family (which he blames on poverty), spurned and humiliated by the woman of his dreams, Ian is determined to gain wealth, power, and social position. When a confluence of events presents opportunity, Ian strikes. In the lumber barons’ hubris and greed, they never see him coming. In his determination to win, Ian betrays a childhood love and friendships in a dangerous game with the power elites that sends shockwaves through the community and an unintended consequence rippling through time.

90 Second Pitch

MILLIONAIRES’ ROW-- fictional, episodic, period drama (1868-1888). Timber is king and power of lumber barons unqualified. Impoverished sawmill worker will upend their gilded world.

Story inspired by history/actual events of writer’s hometown as it rose to become lumber capital of the world.

Location: Valley between Susquehanna River and Allegheny Mountains. “Boom” is key to prosperity. Little infrastructure remains, but homes on “Millionaires’ Row” survive as monuments to a golden past.

Life is not linear, man not inherently good or bad but shaped by events, driven by emotions. It all comes down to character and conscience.

Ian Douglas—emotionally scarred by loss of family; blames it on poverty. Vows to be master of his destiny. Eleanor Morgan—spoiled, lost in fantasies of her gilded world. Maven McInnis—Ian’s childhood friend; collateral damage.

Cyrus Morgan—leader of lumber barons; Ian’s employer/Franklin Jeffries--railroad magnate—keepers of status quo.

Ian smitten with Eleanor but spurned. He’s not society. Fuels his drive for power/revenge. Humiliated, he turns to Maven, his emotional safe harbor, but she has deeper feelings.

Employing clever gamesmanship, Ian acquires Morgan’s wealth. Morgan drops dead. Ian gives Eleanor option to marry him. She resentfully agrees. Maven devastated/pregnant. Tommy O’Brien--childhood friend, Ian’s foreman—loves her, marries her. Secret kept, friendships fracture.

Maven gives births to a son, Eleanor to a daughter.

Ian battles elites/Tommy killed. Profoundly affected, Ian seeks revenge. Jeffries murdered; Ian charged, exonerated after scandalous trial.

Events sober/mature Ian and Eleanor; see each other in different light, mend marriage with Maven’s help. But unaddressed past will follow.

Millionaires' Row

Some men accept their fate.

One man vowed to determine his .