Synopsis: When the senior partner of [the most prestigious African American] law firm in
the United States is murdered, his protégé is forced to defend the prime suspect.
Characters: (The contest only allows you to have four)
Daniel Braxton-Lawyer forced by the partners of his law firm to defend the prime suspect in the senior
partner's murder.
Margaret Vaughn-The prime suspect and new bride of the senior partner.
Shawnessy-One of the investigators investigating the crime.
Chaplain-Shawnessy's new partner.
I wrote Without A Doubt off and on for about year (Summer 1994 to Summer 1995). It was my third entry into
the Scripps Broadcasting contest. The local Scripps Howard station, WMAR Channel 2 and theatre company Arena Players
(The nation's longest, continuously running, African American community theater.) Basically the station handled the technical
part, and the theatre company handled the theatrical part. Arena Players auditioned and hired all the actors and directors,
Channel 2 personnel, who would normally work on news programs, handled the filming aspect. As usual (in the industry)
the writer (me) had no hand in any of the creative process. It was basically, "Thank you for your script, we'll see you
when it's finished."
The filmed play had it's "world premiere" party at Arena Players February 20, 1996, aired on Channel 2 February
24, 1996 and had an encore showing March 16, 1996.
Winning this contest was great. I was in several different papers including the Baltimore Sun, The Baltimore Afro American,
The Baltimore Business Journal, radio [WOLB 1010am] in Baltimore and appeared on Channel 2 several times [on the news and
their public affairs show "2 The Point"] to promote the play. It was a "world wind" of press promotion aided by my "manager"
and mother Elvera, who handled most of the arrangements while I was busy with school and work. Thanks, Mom.
This win was also bittersweet. It was not only my first script ever produced anywhere, my mother had the chance to be
there and actively share in my first success. She fell ill soon after I had won. As a writer herself I knew she
was the proudest of all and I was glad she was there to be a part of it.
