Over the Barricades

Treatment

Paul Szabo witnesses an I.N.S. raid conducted on Vale Shoe Company, a business owned by Emerson Vale, Paul's closest friend and most important client. Confronted by Tony White, an ambitious U.S. Justice Department attorney, Paul backs off from intervening when the federal agents beat up Jose Alvarez, an illegal employee.

Although a former anti-war activist, Paul has joined the establishment and has become a successful CPA and devoted family man.

His world falls apart when White wrongfully charges him with conspiring with Vale to conceal a scheme to employ illegal aliens.

Paul is convicted when Vale cops a plea and testifies against him. Then he learns that White obtained the indictment by lying to the grand jury.

Enraged, Paul barges into White's office and threatens him with exposure. In line for promotion to U.S. Deputy Attorney General, White pressures Paul and tries to scare him off. When Paul refuses to cave in, White arranges for a thug to muscle him. Threatened with a gun, Paul fights with the thug. Paul's daughter gets shot.

With the help of his wife, Carol, and Jose Alvarez, Paul goes underground, vowing to ruin white and avenge his daughter.

Disguised as a waiter, Paul attends the banquet at which White is to receive a prestigious and coveted award. He tricks White into opening a gift containing his daughter's bloodied dress. White is mortified and Senator Fletcher, a member of the confirmation committee, expresses reservations about White's nomination.

Fleeing through the hotel's duct system, Paul shoves White's thug down a shaft to his death.

Desperate to regain his credibility, White pursues Paul to a flea-bag hotel. While Jose creates a spectacular diversion of fireworks on the roof, Paul entraps White in an alley and extracts his confession.

Paul and Jose join together and take over Vale Shoe company.

For coverage of  this screenplay, go to Mike.

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