Elected King (Synopsis)
Long, long time after the so used to royal ruling, monarchy, and aristocracy, a new idea of government system called republicanism begin to emerge inside the thirteen colonies of British America. Among many of the liberalists and human rights activists, there is one man named John King. He enlightened the entire town about why government should be formed by elected representatives of the people. In many hearts of the commoners, he is remembered as a well loved and badly hated man. Above all, he is the elected king.
On a summer day in mid 18s century, John King packs up his pamphlets. He leaves Boston on a wagon heads to the north, where most of the colonists are still loyal to King George, and reluctant to join force with the others against the newly imposed taxes. During his journey, he meets Grace Osmer, a beautiful girl from England. She is on her way to join her father, a local royal official.
When John arrives in a town named New Cambridge, he witnesses the hanging of a man, who is found guilty of betrayal the king. He knows what the name of the crime implicates and decides to stay. It is the town where Grace’s Father, Colonel Osmer governs.
John begins to devote himself in what he firmly believe, liberty, equality, and republicanism. He publishes newspaper articles, print pamphlets, talking to business man in the market place, making speech at secret gatherings. More and more people become aware of the new ideas, at the same time, the movement is set to be repressed by King George’s loyalists. John needs to know what and when is going to be the next move of his enemies.
When he meets Grace again, she suggests him to work for his father. The offer is tempting, although John has to repress his feelings toward her. His excuses of avoiding Grace are troubling her. She decides to follow him. When she found out what he has been doing at night, she is happy that there is no one else between them. She tells him that she is willing to be with him all the way to fight for his course. They fell in love with double the passion.
Their secret is soon found out by the Jealous Adjutant under colonel Osmer, James Woodward. He starts to plan his plot to get rid of John.
A few months later, the local committee led by John King has formed, it plans to take over colonel Osmer. It is time for John to confront Colonel Osmer directly. James now has the support of the Colonel to assassinate John.
At the same time, the conflict between the committee and Colonel Osmer intensifies. Osmer is removed from office, and separated from his army. James arranges his man to assassinate John, pending on the colonel’s approval.
In order to save John, Grace accepts her father’s demand of taking her back to England and lets him hold her hostage in his escape wagon. John has to let them go because he does not want to hurt Grace. It is too late when Grace find out her father has no intention what so ever to go back to England with her, but only to use her to escape.
When Grace is on board the ship back to England, Colonel Osmer and his man are on their way to attack New Cambridge.
One side is well armed man fighting for the King they are born to die for, the other side is militia led by the King they have elected to fight for their own freedom.
A bloody battle marks the beginning of the end of an era…
The world is about to welcome the birth of America, the most promising nation for many centuries after, and to come.
(根据中篇小说《约翰王与格里斯》改编)