Script Idea?

Let's have a little bit of fun and weave a story to see if we can make the front page of the local newspaper. Start with a somewhat "who dat" actor, mid 30's, who claims that he had a flat tire on a major thoroughfare in Palm Springs -- that borders the "wrong part of town," a very popular neighborhood for its pharmacological interests. Now, the flat tire occurs at say, 2:00 in the afternoon, with a bright sun shining above, and some African American males offer to help the hapless "he looks familiar" actor change the tire. Of course, he accepts their assistance as it's just a bunch of guys offering to help out a former somewhat Hollywood star who's well out of his own kind of neighborhood and in a strange town. Nothing like accepting a little hometown hospitality from the local guys and absolutely no reason to call Triple A!

Sound the alarm: once the tire has been changed, the helpful tire guys allegedly kidnap the "I think he's ... someone" actor in his own car, force him to drive around Palm Springs, stopping here and there along the way, and then -- gasp!! -- force him to do drugs with them. He escapes after a harrowing 12 hours of captivity and calls the police at 2:30 AM. There are no details about the escape, but suffice it to say that it could have turned ugly, couldn't it? He's currently in seclusion with friends at an undisclosed location, recouperating from his ordeal (but may be available to talk to the media).

Our brave Hollywood hero endured this nightmare last week, but, alack, it didn't make the front page of the local paper, so, perhaps, a publicist had to bring it to the attention of the local media so our "publicity challenged" actor could have his front page fame.

However, what this dynamic duo may have overlooked in their haste to garner publicity for this harrowing event in the "isn't he?" actor's life is that the story seems, at first glance, to be total fiction! Looking at the holes in the fabric of the narrative, it was 2:00 in the afternoon on a very busy street in Palm Springs. He was in a "bad" neighborhood, clearly marked by the extensive street art that defines the area. He was not approached by one helpful citizen, but by several large males who offered to help him change the tire, and he decided that their help would be more appreciated than calling Triple A. At any time during the next 12 hours, the "is that?" actor could have pulled over, jumped out, or honked his horn and flashed his lights to draw attention to his plight as the group drove aimlessly around the resort community, stopping here and there along the way. Finally, this event began a bit too close to the drug dealers' territory and, again alas and alack, that's where it also ended, so it would appear at first blush that this was a drug deal with consequences.

If this script were to land on anyone's desk, even that of a second grader in the local school system, it would be tossed in the trash as too far-fetched, but because it's a slow news week, it did make the front page of the local paper. Once the euphoria of the smokin' dope part of the narrative has worn off, even the "once featured in" actor and his publicist must see that there is, indeed, some validity in the concept of BAD publicity after all.