Dead Hand
Espionage Thriller • Cold War Thriller
At the twilight of the Cold War, a Soviet engineer discovers that the nuclear command system he helped create has been compromised—setting off a race to prevent a rogue faction from turning the Soviet Union’s ultimate deterrent into the weapon that could start World War III.
Logline
When the Soviet Union’s secret automated nuclear retaliation system falls into the hands of a rogue military faction, one of its architects becomes the key to stopping a conspiracy that could trigger an unstoppable nuclear exchange between the superpowers.
About the Screenplay
At the end of the Cold War, the Soviet Union possesses one final safeguard against a devastating American first strike: Perimeter, a secret command system designed to ensure the country can retaliate even if its leadership and conventional command structure are destroyed.
But a system built to guarantee retaliation becomes something far more dangerous when control of it is compromised.
Soviet engineer Dmitri Yarynich, one of the men intimately familiar with Perimeter, is drawn into a conspiracy involving military hardliners, intelligence operatives, and a weapon whose very existence was intended to remain secret. As Soviet and American intelligence agencies begin piecing together what is happening, Dmitri and his daughter Zina become caught between forces willing to risk nuclear war to preserve their vision of the Soviet Union.
Dead Hand is a Cold War political thriller combining espionage, nuclear brinkmanship, and historical events with a fictional conspiracy surrounding one of the Soviet Union’s most secretive weapons systems.
Screenplay Details
Author: James Leach
Genre: Espionage Thriller • Cold War Thriller
Format: Feature Screenplay
Page Count: [use the screenplay’s actual page count]
Setting: Soviet Union • United States • Europe
Time Period: Cold War / Late 1980s
Status: Completed / Available for Option
Available Materials
Screenplay
Synopsis
Treatment
Character Sketches
Pitch materials / Storyboards
About the Screenwriter — James Leach
James “JC” Leach is a U.S. Air Force veteran, technical writer, and screenwriter who has been developing original screenplays since 2008. His work spans historical drama, military and geopolitical thrillers, science fiction, suspense, horror, and stories inspired by real events.
With a professional background in technical writing, instructional design, and simulation development, JC brings extensive research, technical authenticity, and a disciplined approach to storytelling. His military experience in electronic warfare and aviation provides an additional foundation for stories involving military operations, technology, and high-stakes environments.
JC has developed a diverse portfolio of feature-length screenplays. His work includes original material as well as two adaptations of public-domain literary works, giving him experience translating existing stories into cinematic narratives.
He is currently adapting his screenplay portfolio into novels, expanding his stories across both film and publishing. JC is interested in connecting with producers, representation, and creative collaborators seeking distinctive, character-driven material with strong cinematic potential.
