Risen from the Ashes is an extremely intelligent and engrossing novel that focuses on a brilliant businessman and his attempt to frame an employee for his own faked death. It’s mature, smart, and is full of suspenseful scenes. At its core is an intriguing character that could potentially grab the attention of a top tier actor, making this novel a perfect candidate for a film adaption. As with every book to screen conversion, changes must be made in order to fit into the much more economical format of film. It’s simply impossible to fit the details of a nearly three-hundred-page novel into a treatment. To this end, much of the compelling plot elements have been streamlined and simplified for the sake of a clear narration. This treatment focuses on the scenes that are imperative to the narrative and plot. Character focus has also been placed on Peter, and a few of the characters in the novel have been condensed into the one character of Peter for the sake of clarity. It must also be mentioned that treatments are only a model of what an actual screenplay might look like. In the event of this treatment being adapted into a fully-fledged screenplay, many of the missing plot elements, characters, and information will be reintroduced, as there’s much more room in a screenplay. All that said, every care was taken to remain true to the novel’s characters and ideas. What’s left is a suspenseful and inventive psychological thriller with a complex and memorable antagonist that’s sure to appeal to an adult audience.

Logline: A brilliant but evil businessman fakes his own death and pins his fake murder on his employee. Treatment: Rain pours down in London. PETER ALDRIDGE, a tall and handsome lawyer, makes his way through the rain and arrives at the Rendezvous café. Wriggling on a bar stool, droplets of rain drip from his hair and down his neck. A MAN sitting some six feet

away observes him. Standing up, the man approaches Peter and introduces himself, ‘I am JOHN PEARSON.” Taking out a photo, “My son, David Pearson, has been arrested accused of murder.” Looking at the photo of David, Peter admits that he has heard about the murder. Pleading with Peter, John requests that Peter’s firm takes David’s case. Pearson has done his research and knows Peter is intelligent but doesn’t have a large caseload to distract him. Knowing he’s right, Peter invites John Pearson to sit. “I need to know everything about the case, Mr Pearson.” Pulling out a file, Pearson states that the victim is the CEO of Solstice International and also David’s boss. There was an audit of accounts due to commence next Tuesday, and there is suspicion of embezzlement and the murder and arson looks like a cover-up. He knows it looks bad for David but believes that’s because it’s how it is supposed to look. Pearson believes his son is being framed. Peter Aldridge appoints DONALD PARTINGTON, private investigator, to look into the affair.

FLASHBACK: GEOFFREY PAGET-LOWNDES is a tall man who is fit and athletic. His fair hair is parted regimentally on the side and he dresses like a city solicitor. It’s a windy night and Geoffrey chats with a vagrant, JIM BANKS, who sleeps in an alley that adjoins the Solstice’s headquarters. Banks admits that he is an alcoholic and it has destroyed his life. Showing apparent compassion, Geoffrey encourages Banks to be more optimistic about the future and suggest he will help Banks get on his feet again. Giving him a bottle of whisky and ten pounds, Geoffrey tells him to meet him next night at the same place when Geoffrey will arrange for Jim to shower, provide him with new clothes, and a lot more money. The next night, Geoffrey meets Banks and leads him into his executive suite. Jim showers and shaves and then Geoffrey gives Jim his own finely tailored Savile Row suit, and determining that Banks and Geoffrey are similar builds, tells Jim to try it on. Later, Geoffrey and Banks are in Solstice’s CEO office. Revealing that this is his office, Geoffrey encourages Banks to take a seat in the leather high-backed chair. Once Banks takes a seat, Geoffrey hands him a bottle Chivas Regal. He tells Banks to make himself comfortable and he’ll be back shortly. The moment Geoffrey leaves the office, Banks takes hold of the bottle of Chivas Regal. Hours later, Geoffrey returns. Having switched the comb brush and toothbrush for his own from home to provide necessary DNA evidence later, he finds the whisky bottle empty and Banks passed out. With a smile, Geoffrey puts on surgical rubber gloves and produces a syringe. He plunges it into Jim’s arm and injects the drug. Checking the time, Geoffrey picks up the phone and dials a number. Soon, on the other end DAVID PEARSON answers. Geoffrey informs David that he must come to his office right away, as figures in the accounts appear to be grossly incorrect, and Geoffrey suspects embezzlement. Astonished, David assures him he’ll be right over. Hanging up the phone, Geoffrey begins to pour kerosene on the unconscious Banks.

Taking in his mahogany panelled office one last time, Geoffrey lights the office and Banks on fire and escapes through the fire escape. Later, Geoffrey slips into a public telephone booth with a direct view of the building. Waiting a moment or two, Geoffrey picks up the phone and dials the emergency number and requests the Fire Brigade and police. Stating the address of the building, Geoffrey hangs up. He stays in the callbox and hears the approaching sound of the Fire Brigade and police. The escape door on the building opens and he sees David emerge, his clothes smeared with evidence of the fire. In David’s hand is the kerosene can Geoffrey left inside. Slowly but cheerfully, Geoffrey walks away in the opposite direction. END FLASHBACK. David Pearson is led from a holding cell into an interrogation room at City Police Headquarters. Waiting for him is Peter Aldridge, who tells David they don’t have time to chit-chat and he just wants David to tell him everything he knows. Sitting down, David tells Peter his account of the murder. David states that he got the call from Geoffrey and headed to the building. When he parked his car, he heard the fire alarm and rushed into the building. The lift wasn’t working because of the fire so he took the stairs. He tried to get into Geoffrey’s office, but it was impossible through the heat and smoke. Giving up, he left the building and was immediately detained by the police. Jittery and scared, David says he has done absolutely nothing wrong. Calming David, Peter wants David to know everything the police have. They have found a button from a jacket and a fountain pen that belongs to David at the scene. David says that’s impossible. A great deal of money is missing and the initial discussions with the bank officers indicate that they have been withdrawn using David’s signature. Things look bleak for David, but Peter promises him they’ll get to the bottom of the case and do everything they can to defend him. Putting his head in his hands, David asks who has done this to him. And why? DONALD PARTINGTON is appointed private detective to try to sort out the mess. Geoffrey is led through the halls of Vienna Surgery of Heinz Pflegel by DR. PFLEGEL. Geoffrey lies to the doctor, telling him how vain he is, and that he feels his ears and nose are far too big. He wants to recover his youth and look like a completely different man. Dr. Pflegel assures Geoffrey that he has come to the right place. In Paris, just over a month later, Geoffrey drives in his Morgan to the Champs Elysees. He parks and exits his car. The plastic surgery makes a difference on his appearance, but it’s not too great. He looks a good deal slimmer and at least ten years younger. His hair is dark and brushed straight back as opposed to the old blond look with a parting. Entering an outdoor café, Geoffrey takes a seat to warm himself in the sun. He spots a young BLONDE woman with a very limited mini skirt sitting alone. Intrigued, he rises and approaches her. Smooth as silk, Geoffrey asks if he can sit with her. Casually waving a hand in indifference, the woman barely glances at him. Taking a seat opposite her, Geoffrey introduces himself as Roger Bryce. Finally giving him attention, she says her name is Celine Mazarin. Geoffrey asks if he can buy her a drink. “Hmmm. I suppose that Champagne could be appealing,” Celine answers.

Peter is again in the interrogation room meeting with David. Peter states that there were eight transfers over a nine or ten-month period during the last financial year. In every case the transfers were made to the account of one John Troughton. Thinking, David recalls a John Troughton. Geoffrey asked him to give the chap a reference so he could open the account at the Bank of Eire. But he cannot understand why Solstice would transfer large sums to him. Gravely, Peter explains that David’s signature as finance director was on every check request slip. Shaking his head in disbelief, David says Geoffrey’s name should be on the checks as well, as Mr. Troughton would need a second reference. But Peter tells him they have already checked, there is nothing from Geoffrey Paget-Lowndes. Confused, David thinks aloud that if Geoffrey was the one embezzling funds, why would he cover it up with his own death, even if he wanted to frame David for the theft. Both men are at a loss. David asks where the money from the transfers are, as it should be in the account of the Bank of Eire. Peter replies that the money is gone, but they are seeking to find out its ultimate destination.

The sun forces its rays through fittingly French windows open to the terrace, which allows fresh air to circulate. A soft thud announces the arrival of the newspaper. Swinging his feet out of bed and into waiting slippers, Geoffrey pads to the front door and retrieves the paper. Celine stirs in the bed, her shapely legs exposed from under the sheets. He approaches her and strokes those legs. She smiles as she wakes. Glancing at the newspaper, Geoffrey freezes in shock. The headline reads: “David Pearson released on bail.” Sensing something is wrong, Celine asks what’s wrong. Ignoring her, Geoffrey falls onto a chair and opens the paper. Attempting to act casual, Geoffrey says, “that David Pearson fellow was released on bail.” Celine shrugs, not that interested in the story. Geoffrey reads it aloud in a daze. Apparently, the British Police withdrew the objection to bail due to anomalies in the case. Mainly, they are searching for one Jim Banks, whose fingerprints were found on a whiskey bottle at the murder scene. Getting out of bed and wrapping the blanket around her, Celine kisses Geoffrey on the forehead and saunters towards the bathroom. Geoffrey calls after her, informing her that he must fly to Switzerland.

In Switzerland, Geoffrey wears a hat and a raincoat, and with his moustache he resembles Inspector Clouseau. Arriving at the bank the moment it opens, he approaches a teller and informs them he wishes to close his account and be given gold certificates. He passes his passport and passbook to the teller. Looking at the passport, the picture is of Geoffrey, but the name reads JOHN TROUGHTON. Once everything is in order, the teller excuses himself to retrieve Geoffrey’s money. After the teller is gone, Geoffrey nervously looks around the bank, expecting the police to barge in at any moment. Soon, the teller returns, startling Geoffrey. Scooping up the gold certificates, Geoffrey hurries to leave the bank. As he does, he passes DONALD PARTINGTON. The two briefly glimpse at one another in the revolving doors to the Bank, but there is no recognition.

Donald approaches the teller. He lies to him and tells him he’s looking for a friend who has an account with them, but he can’t see him in the banking hall. One John Troughton. The teller interrupts him, letting Donald know that Mr. Troughton has just left. Spinning around, Donald realizes he just passed the man whom he thinks is John Troughton. He runs outside, but the street is empty, and Geoffrey has vanished.

Back in London, Peter sits in a conference room at the solid mahogany table with David, and his father John Pearson. Paperwork and photos are spread across the table in an organized mess. Peter is frustrated, because he almost had found Troughton, but missed him by minutes. It’s okay, because they have a grainy picture from the surveillance photo and hope to retrieve his DNA from the bank. David’s trial starts soon, and they must be ready.

Barristers, lawyers, and clerks settle in the courtroom, awaiting the entrance of the Judge. “All rise!” is announced and everyone stands. MR. JUSTICE HARDWICKE enters the room, then everyone but David sits down. Hardwicke announces the charge of murder and asks how David will plea. David responds, “Not guilty.”

BEGIN TRIAL MONTAGE:

–The PROSECUTER makes his opening statements, claiming David murdered Geoffrey Paget-Lowndes to cover up his embezzlement scheme.

–Peter makes his opening statements, pointing out that the case is surrounded in mystery, and that someone has been devising an extraordinary scheme to defraud Solstice, kill its CEO, and frame David for the crimes.

–A DETECTIVE takes the witness stand. Peter uses the surveillance video of the building to prove a timeline. From the time David entered the building to the time he is seen exiting, he would have had less than two minutes to murder Geoffrey, light the room on fire, and escape. The detective has no choice but to agree with this timeline. Murmurs erupt in the courtroom in the light of this evidence.

–A TRAMP sits in the crowd watching the proceedings. And though he’s very convincing, it’s clear that this tramp is GEOFFREY in disguise.

–Peter has a GRAPHOLOGIST on the stand and he’s just finishing his questioning. Peter asks if the expert agrees that if all eight of the transfers were altered after David had signed them, then he cannot have intended to credit the account of Mr. John Troughton. The Graphologist concurs.

–Justice Hardwicke adjourns the case until the following Monday.

Outside the courthouse, David speaks with Peter about the case. Geoffrey spots him and moves closer to him, as if in a trance. Moving aside from his lawyer, David suddenly turns in Geoffrey’s direction. Quickly turning away, Geoffrey hurries towards a waiting taxi. Recognition flashes on David’s face and he calls after Geoffrey, asking if he knows him. He jogs to the taxi but is too late. David watches as the taxi disappears in the city.

A phone call wakes a sleeping David. He answers it to find it’s Peter. Peter tells David he’s never going to believe this. The police managed to get a sample of John Banks’ DNA through his brother. It’s a match. The corpse isn’t that of Geoffrey, but of Jim Banks. Bolting up and wide awake now, David asks what this means. With a smile, Peter informs him that David has no motive to kill a bum. They’re going to dismiss his case. Dropping the phone, David lies back in bed and breaths a huge sigh of relief that his ordeal is over.

The headline of David’s charges being dropped are on the screen of Geoffrey’s computer. Sitting next to him on the couch in their hotel, Celine takes a bite from a peach. Closing the laptop, Geoffrey says he must talk to Celine. He asks if Celine loves him, and she responds with a yes. Then he asks if she trusts him, and she responds with a yes. He wonders if she would ever consider marriage. Celine lights up and gets on Geoffrey’s lap. She says of course she will marry him. But Geoffrey warns that he has done some ruthless things in his life, and he wants her to trust him, no matter what. Thrilled, Celine promises she will always trust him.

David and Peter are in Peter’s conference room. Hard at work studying files, pictures, and bank receipts, Peter comments that he’s impressed that David is working so hard to find the man that framed him. As they’re looking through files, Peter spots the picture of Geoffrey in the bank in Switzerland with his moustache. Then he glances to a picture of Geoffrey as the victim and CEO. Comparing the two, he grabs a marker and fills in a moustache on the picture of Geoffrey the CEO. There’s an uncanny resemblance, but it’s still just a guess. Picking up a magnifying glass, he takes a closer look of the photo. Calling over David, he wants him to look at these little scars on Geoffrey’s picture. They indicate surgery. Peter has a realization.

Speaking out loud but almost to himself, he says the CEO arranged fraudulent transfers to Troughton, who is either a conspirator or his alter ego. He sees the audit coming along and conceives a plan to put the blame on David Pearson. It’s a good plan and well thought out but may not actually achieve conviction. To be on the safe side the CEO must disappear. What better way for that to happen than for him to apparently be killed in a fire at his office. David is staring at Peter when it comes to him. Geoffrey Paget-Lowndes still lives as John Troughton. It’s Geoffrey that’s been behind all of this. And he’s using plastic surgery to change his appearance. If this is true it is unlikely that he’s still John Troughton, as he would have to change his appearance again to avoid being caught. Peter grabs the evidence and rushes out of the conference room with David at his heels. As they walk, Peter tells David that with this evidence they’ll be able to get a warrant for the Swiss bank Geoffrey used as Troughton and will be able to access information regarding his account.

The next day, David and Peter go through paperwork given to them by the bank. They both admit there’s not much here. Troughton has naturally emptied his accounts. However, David finds something. A phone log. Apparently, Geoffrey had made four phone calls to four different people in Paris while he was at the bank. Taking the phone log, Peter asks his assistant to get addresses for all these numbers. Once the assistant exits, Peter tells David that it looks like they’re going to Paris.

It’s six in the morning in Geoffrey and Celine’s hotel room. Geoffrey reads the news while Celine sleeps. Her cell phone BUZZES. Getting up, Geoffrey checks the phone, but doesn’t recognize the number. Assuming it’s nothing he puts the phone down. It stops buzzing as the call has ended. As he’s about sit back down the phone gives one final BUZZ indicating a voicemail. Intrigued, Geoffrey picks up her phone and checks the voicemail. The colour rushes from his face when he hears David’s voice on the other end. He’s hoping to meet Celine to find out who in the bank contacted her and he tells her he’ll be in Paris and hopes to meet with her. Geoffrey falls back in his seat in a complete state of shock. Celine wakes up and looks over to Geoffrey, sensing something is wrong. She gets up and asks if he’s okay. Looking into her beautiful eyes, he tells her he may need a favour.

It’s early afternoon in the lobby of the Ritz where David and Peter wait. Not long and they turn their attention to Celine. Without looking around, she takes a seat in a prominent position and crosses her delightful legs. The men make their approach.

They introduce themselves and sit across from Celine. Explaining the situation to her, they ask if she knows anyone named John Troughton. Celine says she does not. David asks why he would be calling her cell if she doesn’t know him. Putting on the charm with a fake pout, Celine tells them it’s this cursed number. Ever since she got her new phone, she’s been getting wrong number calls frequently. Usually from banks, financial advisors, and that sort. Her charm is undeniable, and she comes across as innocent. David admits that those would be the type of people Troughton would be calling. Celine apologises, saying she wish there is something she could do. As Peter and David get up to leave, her curiosity gets the better of her. She inquires as to what this John Troughton has done. David tells her that he’s not John Troughton at all. He’s Geoffrey Paget-Lowndes, and he’s an embezzler and a murderer, amongst other things. Giving her his card, he thanks her for her time and tells her to call him if something comes up.

Back in their hotel room, Geoffrey is waiting for Celine to return. The second she enters the room he asks if they bought her story. Celine informs him that they bought it whole-heartedly. Relief flushes over Geoffrey. Giving Celine a kiss, he thanks her and tells her he loves her.

That night, Celine is on her laptop as Geoffrey sleeps. She googles both Geoffrey Paget-Lowndes and John Troughton. Her eyes widen the more she reads. She looks over at the sleeping Geoffrey, wondering what she’s gotten herself into. Opening her purse, she pulls out David’s card.

The next morning Celine and Geoffrey eat breakfast in their room. Geoffrey asks, “what do you wants to do today? She replies, “I am just going to do a little shopping.” Geoffrey offers to go with her, but she tells him it’ll just be boring for him. Standing and kissing his forehead, Celine goes to take a shower. Suspicious, Geoffrey looks at her as she goes and eyes her laptop on the couch. He feels something is not right. Noticing her purse, he opens it and pulls out David’s card.

Later, Geoffrey kisses Celine goodbye as she leaves to go shopping. The moment she’s gone he dashes to the safe, emptying its contents. $250,000 in cash plus a large number of diamonds. He crams everything in a suitcase and rushes out of the room.

It’s late in the evening and Celine dials her phone from the hotel. Geoffrey answers. He’s in a car speeding into the night. Celine says, “Roger, I am worried sick, where are you?” Coldly, “I don’t go where I’m not wanted!” He continues that they should not pretend. He admits to loving her unconditionally, and it’s evidently not the same for her. Denying this, Celine begs for him to come back, then she asks where he is. The line goes dead.

REVEAL David Pearson, Peter Aldridge, a CHIEF INSPECTOR, and several OFFICERS FROM INTERPOL in the room with Celine. Surrounded by equipment to trace the call, they deduce Geoffrey made the call from abroad. He’s gone.

In a small fishing town in Greece, Geoffrey is on boat attempting to catch fish with a net. He wears faded cut-off jeans. His hair, which is restored to its natural blond colour, is now long and straggly and he has a real beard. His skin is deep reddish brown from the exposure to the sun. He looks nothing like his old self, instead he looks simply like a poor local fisherman down on his luck