The Mad Dog and Miss Effie
A timeless story of one girl’s fight to survive — and a father’s unwavering determination to save her.
SCREENPLAY
Welcome to the World of
The Mad Dog and Miss Effie
A Thrilling Adventure
Follow a resilient young girl and her determined father on a race against time through 1920s Texas. What begins as a medical emergency becomes a quietly profound adventure—where every mile tests their courage, deepens their bond, and reveals the unexpected power of compassion in a world on the edge of modernity.
Unforgettable Characters
Twelve-year-old Effie Mae Dekker’s journey to the city becomes a quiet rite of passage, shaped by her devoted father, her steadfast mother, a wise folk healer, and a cast of eccentric strangers. Each encounter helps Effie see the world—and herself—with new eyes.
From Page to Screen
With richly drawn characters, authentic period detail, and a powerful emotional core, The Mad Dog and Miss Effie is a screenplay crafted to resonate on the page and come alive on screen. It offers a compelling narrative with strong roles, visual storytelling, and an intimate journey that stays with audiences long after the final scene.
About the Script
The Writer
Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, writer-director Bret McCormick brings a lifelong love of cinema to this deeply personal story. From spending Saturdays in local theaters to making his first film in 1984, Bret’s passion shines through in a script rich with heart, humor, and old-school storytelling.
The Genre
A poignant period drama infused with coming-of-age urgency, quiet adventure, and understated humor. Set against the backdrop of 1920s Texas, it explores the fierce bond between father and daughter through a lens of rural realism and emotional authenticity.
The Premise
In 1922 Texas, when twelve-year-old Effie Mae Dekker is bitten by a rabid dog, her father must race against time to save her—bringing her to Austin with the dog’s head in tow. As Effie endures the grueling treatment, the journey tests their bond, exposing the quiet strength of a father’s love and the resilience of a girl on the edge of growing up.
The Story
In 1920s Texas, where medicine is scarce and time is unforgiving, twelve-year-old Effie Mae Dekker is bitten by a rabid dog—setting off a race against death. With nothing but a bucket, a train ticket, and her father’s quiet resolve, they journey to the city in search of a cure. Along the way, Effie meets strangers who challenge her worldview, deepen her spirit, and reveal a world far bigger than the farm she came from. What begins as a fight for survival becomes a tender rite of passage, as a father and daughter face fear, faith, and the fragile beauty of growing up.
Act One: The Bite
Twelve-year-old Effie Mae Dekker’s quiet life on a Texas farm is shattered when she’s bitten by a rabid dog. With no local cure available, her father, Van, must act quickly—setting them on a desperate journey to the Pasteur Institute in Austin. As Van prepares for the trip, tensions rise at home, old remedies are challenged by science, and faith is tested in a town unsure how to help. The collision isn’t between outlaws, but between tradition and modernity, fear and resolve—and between a father’s will to protect and a girl’s sudden confrontation with mortality.
Act Two: The Journey
Effie and Van board a train carrying a bucket with the dog’s severed head—proof required for the Institute’s treatment. In Austin, Effie begins a grueling round of painful injections. As she endures the physical and emotional toll, she finds strength in unexpected places: the stoic love of her father, the kindness of strangers, and the vibrant, electric world of the city. From the women of a boarding house to a boy bitten by a skunk, every encounter expands her world, deepens her resilience, and reveals a life far different from the one she knew.
Act Three: The Big Shift
As Effie nears the end of her treatment, her inner transformation becomes clear—no longer just a frightened farm girl, but someone shaped by adversity, connection, and the quiet strength of survival. Van, too, is changed, discovering new depths in his relationship with his daughter. Back home, things remain the same, yet nothing feels unchanged. What began as a crisis has become a defining chapter in their lives—one marked by courage, tenderness, and the enduring bond between a father and his daughter.
BRET McCORMICK
Get To Know The Screenwriter
Bret McCormick was born in 1958 and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. His parents were industrious working class people and were probably somewhat relieved when their son eagerly amused himself by watching old movies on their small black and white television set. At the age of 8 Bret was allowed to attend double features at the local movie theater so long as he had a friend to go with him. Until he entered high school he could be found every Saturday afternoon at the Poly Theater. He developed a fascination with the career of maverick director/producer, Roger Corman.
After reading an article about some boys in New York who were making their own monster movie using an 8mm home movie camera, Bret was inspired to do the same. From the age of 12 until he graduated from high school, Bret and his friends could often be found shooting crazy 8mm movies in a variety of East Fort Worth locations.
In 1976, McCormick enrolled in the University of Texas at Arlington and studied film production under A.C. Anderson. Later, he spent a year in film production classes at Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California.
Between 1984 and 1996 Bret McCormick produced, directed, wrote or was otherwise instrumental in the production of 21 feature film projects in North Central Texas. He fulfilled a childhood dream by producing and directing two features Executive Produced by Roger Corman.
Currently, Bret writes daily, dabbles in painting and occasionally creates micro-budget movies as a hobby.
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