Poverty Island Gold
Adventure • Historical Mystery • Thriller
For more than a century, the ruins of Poverty Island Lighthouse have watched over a lonely stretch of Lake Michigan—and a fortune that was never supposed to be found.
Treasure hunter Buck Spencer comes to the island chasing the legend of Confederate gold. What he discovers is a mystery buried beneath generations of rumors, an old lighthouse keeper haunted by the woman he lost, and five missing chests that may prove the legend was true.
But Buck isn’t the only one searching.
As the past begins surrendering its secrets, a hunt for lost gold becomes a race against men willing to kill for it—and the truth behind Poverty Island may prove far more valuable than the treasure itself.
Logline
When a treasure hunter searching a remote Lake Michigan island for a lost Confederate fortune uncovers the tragic secret of an aging lighthouse keeper, he becomes caught in a deadly race to find five buried chests of gold before a rival treasure hunter claims them for himself.
About the Screenplay
Poverty Island Gold is a historical treasure-hunting adventure spanning generations, combining the mystery of a lost Civil War fortune with the tragic love story hidden inside an abandoned Lake Michigan lighthouse.
Treasure hunter Buck Spencer and his partner Rex Thorne arrive at Poverty Island chasing an enduring legend: five chests of French gold intended to help finance the dying Confederacy disappeared somewhere on the island and were never recovered.
Their investigation leads them to former lighthouse keeper Carl Jackson, a man whose connection to the island reaches back decades. As a young man, Carl and Jesse Whitten discovered the secret behind the missing treasure. But Jesse’s fatal fall from the lighthouse transformed their discovery into tragedy and left Carl living beneath the shadow of suspicion, guilt, and a secret he refused to reveal.
As Buck pieces together Carl’s past, the hunt attracts others who believe the gold is real—including Carl’s bitter former associate Andy Holcum. Old rivalries and new greed collide, turning an archaeological treasure hunt into a dangerous struggle for control of what Poverty Island has concealed for generations.
The final discovery reveals more than a fortune. It uncovers the truth about Carl, Jesse, and a promise that survived long after their lives were changed by the island.
Blending historical mystery, adventure, romance, and treasure hunting, Poverty Island Gold is ultimately a story about the difference between finding something valuable and understanding what it is truly worth.
Screenplay Details
Author: James Leach
Genre: Adventure • Historical Mystery • Thriller
Format: Feature Screenplay
Page Count: [Page Count]
Setting: Poverty Island / Lake Michigan
Time Period: Historical Flashbacks / Present Day
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.
JAMES LEACH Author • Screenwriter 