The Christmas Maze
FANTASY FAMILY SUSPENSE / THRILLER YOUNG ADULT FABLE CHILDREN'S DRAMA ADVENTURE CRIME MYSTERY
1960s & '70s
Danny Fahey
Logline
One beautiful summer’s evening in 1964, Matthew and his sister Carla are out in the front yard playing games. A Valiant station wagon stops outside their house and the driver offers the children a puppy but on one condition – because the mummy dog doesn’t like boys, only Carla can go with him to get the puppy. Matthew never sees Carla again.
Genre
Fantasy, Family, Suspense / Thriller, Young Adult, Fable, Children's, Drama, Adventure, Crime, Mystery,
Short Summary
Matthew blames himself for Carla’s loss. The one hope Matthew has is his belief in the story his parents told him every Christmas about The Christmas Maze and how it gave hope to naughty children who did terrible things.
Setting
Melbourne, Australia and then another "land"
Based on a True Story
No
Plot - Premise
Quest
Plot - Other Elements
Meaningful Message, Twist, Happy Ending
Mature Audience Themes
Sexual Abuse
Main Character Details
Name: Matthew Malloy
Age: 11
Gender: Male
Role: Protagonist
Key Traits: Heroic, Lone Wolf, Insecure, Naive, Perseverance, Underdog, Complex, Desperate
Additional Character Details
Name: Lou Key
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Role: Mentor
Key Traits: Complex, Decisive, Desperate, Extraordinary Powers and Abilities, Flexible, Secretive, Skillful, Sophisticated
Additional Character Details
Name: Gary Newman
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Role: Antagonist
Key Traits: Villainous, Aggressive, Criminal, Desperate, Manipulative
Additional Character Details
Name: Carla Malloy
Age: 7
Gender: Female
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Desperate, Naive, Obedient