Undaunted, The
Genre: Action/Adventure, Drama
Logline: In 1883, two men are forcibly brought from China as laborers for building the trans-Canada railway through the Fraser Canyon.
Synopsis: Wong Chi, a dispossessed farmer, and Siang Yun, an ex-convict, form an uneasy life-long bond when the latter saves the former's life. In 1883, shanghaied from China, they arrive in Yale, B.C. and are put to work building the trans-Canada railway. In spit of the harsh environment and dangerous working conditions, each is sustained by a personal agenda: Wong Chi to get rich quick and buy land in his native place, and Siang Yun, a member of a quasi-religious revolutionary movement, dreams of returning to overthrow the oppressive Manchu regime in China. The machinations of their white bosses, and the greed of their compatriot, quickly impact upon them.
Matters come to a head when Wong Chi rescues Nell, a chamber maid at a brothel, from being raped by Morgan McDermot, his racist foreman. Afterward, Morgan only recalls his attacker was a coolie with stripes across his back. Nevertheless, the incident incites a riot. The Chinese work camp catches fire and a powder magazine nearby explodes, burning down half the town. As the town struggles to get on its feet again, coolies' rage against the explosive compradore Mr. Liu boils over. They kill him and recognize Siang Yun as their leader and spokesman henceforth.
As the work force moves up the Fraser, Wong Chi is detailed to remain behind to care for injured coolies. Wong Chi encounters Nell again and they fall in love. The coolies discover the illicit affair and alter Siang Yun. Fearing repercussions, he breaks up the romance by ordering Wong up-river where the final sections of track are being laid.
Determined to complete the railway on schedule, Olson, the railway's main engineer/contractor, must work through the winter. A landslide cuts the overland supply route. Olson devises a daring plan to bring in rails and other supplies by boat. This sets off a wild bout of betting activities in Yale, with townsfolk making huge wagers against Olson. Olson wins against heavy odds by using coolies to drag a paddle-wheeler upstream through the Hell's Gate rapids.
As the last tunnel is blasted through the mountain, Morgan accidentally discovers Wong Chi is Nell's rescuer. A confrontation takes place in the tunnel as the last charges of dynamite explode. Wong is critically injured. Siang Yun takes Wong Chi through the rapids in a rowboat in a desperate attempt to seek help in Yale. However, he dies. As Morgan follows them to Yale, bent on vengeance, his past finally catches up with him; a sheriff's deputy, intending to arrest Morgan, kills him instead.
As the first train arrives in Yale, Siang Yun returns to China.
Author Info: MICHAEL DAVID KWAN was born in Beijing, China. His several careers include social worker, and broadcaster before carving a niche in the airline and travel industries. During his teaching stint in his native Beijing (1987-90) he began writing seriously.
Kwan's writing credits include, a play, The Day of the Phoenix, which was a winner in Theatre B.C.'s Canadian National Playwriting Competition, 1992. His second play, A Season in Purgatory won the Du Maurier Arts Canadian National Playwriting Competition, 1995. His memoir, Things That Must Not Be Forgotten recently won the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize, 2000 for non-fiction.
MICHAEL DAVID KWAN, Writer
Agent: Robert Mackwood
Contemporary Management
(604) 734-3663
rmackwood@ccpr.com
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