Wild Pony Island

Our story alternates between 2015 and 1958, a year of transformation for Rick Landon on the island of Ocracoke, North Carolina. 

2015 - On the long ferry ride to Ocracoke Island, an old man meets a young baseball player, traveling with his team to play the first-ever baseball game on Ocracoke. Without a cell signal, there is nothing to do but listen to the old man tell the story of Rick Landon, a troubled teen from Brooklyn, who in 1958 served a one-year probation on Ocracoke. 

1958 - Rick, 14, dreams of being a cowboy, or maybe a Coast Guard officer, like his dad, who died a hero’s death. Playing hooky to see the rodeo at Madison Square Garden, he meets a bronc rider who teaches him how to "gentle" a horse. Rick’s mom, Ann Landon, worries about Rick’s deteriorating behavior since his father died. Rick attends PS 68, a dismal inner-city school. The principal confronts him for skipping school and fighting. One teacher, Miss Vronsky, challenges him to live up to his potential, especially his talent for writing. Pressured to join a gang, Rick is arrested during a rumble for accidentally knifing a rival. The arresting policeman, Officer McClure, looks into Rick’s case. At juvenile court, McClure and Vronsky speak on Rick’s behalf. The judge sentences Rick to an upstate juvenile reformatory, which Office McClure describes as a "criminal factory." His mother proposes instead a move to her hometown, the island of Ocracoke, far away from inner-city influences. The judge agrees, but with a strict one-year probation. Rick is ordered to write monthly progress reports, and report any incidents or trouble to Officer McClure. 

Arriving on Ocracoke, Rick, bitter and angry, is aghast at the backward lifestyle of the island. The lack of modern conveniences (no electricity, tv, or indoor plumbing) and the natives’ odd dialect called the Ocracoke Brogue infuriates Rick. Rick’s city-slicker ways make him “a fish out of water.” Frustrated and embarrassed, he struggles to adapt to island life, and is skeptical of the townsfolks’ friendliness.  Mr. Randall, principal at the only school on the island, agrees to discreetly supervise Rick’s probation. The only bright spot for Rick is that wild horses inhabit the island. Ocracoke has the only mounted Boy Scout troop in America, and though Rick scoffs at the idea of being a Scout, he discovers that Boy Scouts can purchase their own pony. Captain Howard, leader of the Scout troop, becomes a father figure for Rick. Rick becomes captivated by the natural beauty and history of the island, and an occasional glimpse of a wild palomino that no one else believes to exist. 

Gradually, Rick makes friends with the Scouts, and meets Judy Ann at a town square dance. One Scout, Windy Jenkins, the island bully, taunts Rick at every turn. Rick perseveres through a series of unpleasant jobs, cleaning fish, shrimp, and shucking oysters to earn the money to become a Scout. Captain Howard helps Rick get his own pony, Dandy. He and the Scouts teach Rick to tame Dandy in many unique and inventive ways. 

Although Ocracoke starts to win him over,  Rick's probation hangs over his head. He is accused of stealing a valuable knife from a visiting schooner. Since a new highway is being built on the island, the Scouts plan to build fencing to protect the ponies. Rick proposes an idea for a fundraiser with Scouts and horses “square dancing” together. Windy sabotages Rick’s horse before the show. When Rick finds out, he confronts Windy. Rick knows he must not fight, but is forced to defend himself. During the fight, Windy brandishes the stolen knife. Both boys are called into the principal’s office. Rick is cleared of stealing the knife, but must report his fighting incident to Brooklyn. Windy delights in overhearing about Rick’s probation. Hurricane Helene hits Ocracoke Island, and the town pulls together to help each other survive. Tragically, Rick’s horse Dandy dies in the storm. 

Distraught, Rick wanders alone on the beach for days. One day, the wild palomino sneaks up on Rick. They have a delightful "courtship," where Rick “gentles" the horse, and their souls unite. Rick names him Spaniard. Later, during duck season, a hunter is missing from Tom Jenkins' tourist group and the Scouts form a search party. On the dunes that evening, Spaniard appears to Rick and leads him to rescue the wounded hunter. Tom silently observes this from a distance. Rick starts over to earn money for another pony, hopefully the elusive Spaniard. Rick meets Miss Hamilton, an author and marine biologist who visits Ocracoke to study migrating birds. Rick’s reports to Miss Vronsky display his talent for writing, and he is asked to write an article about Miss Hamilton for the school paper. It is a great success throughout the village. This infuriates Windy, who reveals Rick’s probation secret to the entire class. Rick feels that his probation has failed and that he is doomed to return to Brooklyn and the juvenile penitentiary. 

During the annual 4th of July pony penning, the palomino, stormy and fierce, is discovered and rounded up in the corral. Officer McClure and Miss Vronsky arrive from New York. Thinking they have come to take Rick away, Judy Ann warns Rick to hide. While hiding, Rick’s plan to own Spaniard is crushed by Windy’s father, Tom, who buys the horse. The village is shocked, but in a surprising twist, Tom gives the horse to Rick, revealing that he had witnessed Spaniard leading Rick to rescue the hunter. He apologizes for Windy’s behavior, and announces that they are leaving Ocracoke. No one wants to approach the wild palomino. The town is astonished as Rick “gentles” Spaniard and then effortlessly mounts the majestic palomino. He victoriously circles around the corral to the delight of the entire island. Miss Vronsky and Officer McClure inform Rick that he has successfully completed his probation. They surprise Rick with the news that they are newlyweds and are honeymooning on Ocracoke. 

The old man ends his story as the ferry docks at Ocracoke. He and the team head for the inaugural game at the town's only baseball field, nicknamed the “Field of Dreams.” The visiting players are surprised that the old man, there to watch his grandson play for the home team, is a well-known local writer named Rick Landon, who, accompanied by his wife, Judy Ann, is asked to throw the first pitch of the game. 

And that is the pitch for our screenplay!