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ABANDON SHIP!
By Stephen J. Smith

GENRE: Comedy, Romance
LOGLINE: When his overbearing girlfriend gives an ultimatum to propose or get lost, a lovelorn man tries to work up the balls to commit on a five-day cruise, only to discover the ex who shattered his heart is also on board and desperate to win him back.

SYNOPSIS:

Three years ago, the love of Trent Marsh’s life, Lily Cooper, agreed to marry him, only to disappear less than a week later. The hole she left in Trent’s heart never closed, and though Trent’s made a fine effort to hide it from everyone—especially himself—the very thought of proposing to his stunning but overbearing current girlfriend, Jane Harris, gives him cold sweats. Too bad, cause he’s about to be forced to confront his fears head-on. When Trent fails to propose at their two-year anniversary dinner, Jane’s hopes that he’ll ever man up are crushed. Her ultimatum? Propose or kiss her goodbye. Stuck between a shiny rock and a hard rejection, Trent meets his brash, cruiseline performer best pal Ed for a drink. Ed despises Jane, but seeing Trent’s turmoil, presents an enticing offer—two free tickets for tomorrow’s cruise. A five-day getaway to figure out what Trent really wants...and if it’s Jane, to give her a proposal she’ll never forget. Arriving at the ship, Jane’s still steaming over Trent’s unbent knee, but he manages to win back her affections until they attend the first formal dinner where they meet their beautiful, charming tablemate…Lily! Terrified what will happen if Jane finds out she’s sitting next to the former almost-Mrs. Marsh, Trent plays dumb. Lucky for him, Lily plays along. A little too well. Jane and Lily become instant BFFs, trapping Trent in his own personal hell. Trent confronts Ed about the situation and Ed confesses to setting the whole thing up to keep Trent from making a huge mistake proposing to Jane. Trent’s furious, but as he spends the days sandwiched between the two women, he comes to realize his old feelings for Lily may still be stronger than he’d like to admit. Then Lily drops the bomb that she regrets ever leaving him. Jane, meanwhile, meets an onboard Tae-Bo instructor, Flavio, and it’s love at first jab-kick. As the secrets hilariously mount, Trent is torn between the two women until his fears that Lily will get cold feet a second time drive him to tell her he’s moved on, then set up the perfect proposal for Jane... only to walk in on Jane and Flavio’s sweaty lovefest. With Trent at rock bottom, Ed finally admits the whole truth—that Lily arranged the cruise through him so she could win Trent back. Stunned, Trent realizes she truly has changed and goes to tell her so, only to learn she’s left the ship for a flight home to accept another proposal waiting for her Stateside. Enlisting Ed’s help, Trent races to catch Lily before she’s gone for good—again—ultimately leading to a confession of love in a TSA holding room, and a long overdue wedding at sea.

Stephen J. Smith

This script was the winner of the Overall Prize for The 2011 Script-a-thon Contest.

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