The Turtle Apprentice: Michael Covel & Richard Dennis

MARK BURNETT (V.O.)

(Wide establishing shot: vintage trading pit overlays with modern digital trading screens. Dramatic, synth-infused music builds. Cut to MARK BURNETT walking through a glass studio filled with trading monitors.)

In 1983, a legendary bet between two men reshaped the world of finance.

One believed trading could be taught. The other was certain it couldn’t.

What followed was one of the most successful experiments in financial history—The Turtle Traders.

Now, in 2025, a new challenge begins.

Ten elite apprentices. Ten grueling episodes. One shot at mastering the mindset, strategy, and chaos of the markets.

This isn't just a game. This is Turtle Traders: The Apprentice.

The markets don’t care who you are. But after this, you will know exactly who you are.

Let the first challenge begin.

(Cue dramatic title screen with electronic trading sounds and “Episode 1: The Bet.”)

 (Note: This is an imaginary conversation, a creative exploration of an idea, and not a real speech or event.)

Episode 1: "The Bet"

Theme: Can Great Traders Be Made?

🎞️ [COLD OPEN – FLASHBACK SEQUENCE – B-ROLL STYLE]

ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: 1980s Wall Street ticker tape. Overlays of headlines: “Dow Hits All-Time High!” “Commodities Boom!” “Trader Rakes in Millions.”

NARRATOR (V.O.):

“In the chaotic jungle of Wall Street, one man believed trading wasn’t an art… but a teachable skill.”

🎥 [INT. DIMLY LIT CONFERENCE ROOM – NIGHT – 1983]

CAMERA: Slow dolly-in across a dark oak table. At opposite ends sit RICHARD DENNIS and WILLIAM ECKHARDT. Shadows flicker on their faces from a single desk lamp.

RICHARD DENNIS (calm but firm):

“I say we can train them. Give them the system. See who follows it.”

WILLIAM ECKHARDT (shaking his head):

“And I say you're gambling with science. Instinct matters. Pressure breaks people.”

CAMERA: Close-up on a chessboard between them. Richard moves a pawn forward.
CUT TO BLACK.

✨ TITLE CARD: TURTLETRADER: THE EXPERIMENT

Music: 80s synth, rising tension. Turtle silhouette morphs into a candlestick chart.

📺 SCENE 1: OPEN CASTING

[INT. HOTEL CONFERENCE HALL – MORNING]
CAMERA: Wide-angle. Dozens of candidates stream in — old, young, men, women, bookish, bold. All nervously clenching manila folders.

NARRATOR (V.O.):

“They answered a newspaper ad. No finance degree required. Just brains, guts… and a willingness to follow rules.”

Quick interviews:

CANDIDATE 12 (mid-30s, ex-marine):

“Discipline? That’s the one thing I’ve got.”

CANDIDATE 34 (young woman in glasses):

“I’ve never traded, but I love patterns. And math.”

🎥 SCENE 2: THE FIRST MEETING

[INT. CLASSROOM – CHICAGO – DAY]
CAMERA: Richard Dennis stands in front of a chalkboard. It reads “Can Trading Be Taught?”

DENNIS:

“Welcome. Some of you are about to become the most successful traders of the decade. If you’re willing to trust a system more than your gut.”

*CAMERA: Over-the-shoulder shots of attendees scribbling notes. A woman underlines: “2% Risk” three times.

🧪 SCENE 3: THE RULES ARE REVEALED

[INT. MOCK TRADING ROOM – AFTERNOON]
CAMERA: Each desk holds a yellow legal pad, a ruler, a calculator, and a thick binder marked “TURTLE TRADING SYSTEM.”

DENNIS (walking the aisles):

“You’ll trade 20-day and 55-day breakouts. You’ll risk exactly 2% per trade. And if you ever think you know better—leave.”

CAMERA ZOOM: Candidate #7 bites lip. Nervous.

🎬 SCENE 4: TRADING SIMULATION CHALLENGE

[INT. HIGH-PRESSURE MOCK FLOOR – DAY 2]
CAMERA: Clock ticks down. Fake market screens flash. Each participant must log a simulated trade within 90 seconds.

CANDIDATE 18 (panicking):

“Wait—does the ATR change on news?!”

MICHAEL COVEL (observing with clipboard):

“No commentary. Just trades. This is about reaction time and trust.”

🍽️ SCENE 5: AFTER-HOURS BAR CHAT

[INT. HOTEL BAR – NIGHT]
CAMERA: Casual, overhead lighting. Four candidates sip coffee, venting. Laughter mixes with fear.

CANDIDATE 21 (to group):

“I used to play blackjack in Vegas. I’m used to risk—but this feels… cleaner.”

CANDIDATE 3:

“Cleaner if you can detach from winning.”

🧠 SCENE 6: PRIVATE DEBATE

[INT. STRATEGY ROOM – LATE NIGHT]
CAMERA: Split-screen. Richard Dennis watches footage of each trader. William Eckhardt joins him.

ECKHARDT:

“They’ll fold under real money. You watch.”

DENNIS (confident):

“Then the system will weed them out. The ones who survive… will thrive.”

📈 SCENE 7: RESULTS – WHO FOLLOWED THE RULES?

[INT. BOARDROOM – DAY 3]
CAMERA: Classic Apprentice-style setup. One long table. Michael Covel at the head. Richard Dennis beside him. Ten candidates lined up.

COVEL (to Candidate 6):

“You overleveraged. Broke the 2% rule.”

DENNIS:

“That’s not just a mistake. That’s a deal-breaker. You’re out.”

*CAMERA: Silent, tense. The candidate stands and exits. Others glance down.

🌌 SCENE 8: FINAL REFLECTION

[INT. ROOFTOP – DUSK]
CAMERA: Richard Dennis and Michael Covel overlooking the Chicago skyline.

DENNIS:

“You don’t need to predict the market. You need to survive it. The ones who get that… they’re the real turtles.”

🐢 END CREDIT ROLL

Footage shows candidates training at night, flipping through charts, making mock trades in silence.

NARRATOR (V.O.):

“10 made the cut. But only 1 will earn the right to manage millions.”

TEASER FOR NEXT EPISODE:

“Rules vs. reality. When the first real money is on the line, who breaks—and who breaks out?”

Episode 2: "Breakouts and Breakdowns"

Theme: Rules Make the Trader—Until Pressure Tests Them

🎞️ [COLD OPEN – QUICK-CUT MONTAGE]

Close-up: a red candlestick plunges on a chart.
Cut to: a shaking hand hovering over a calculator.
Cut to: a vintage yellow notepad with the word “Breakout” circled in ink.
VOICEOVER (Michael Covel):

“They’ve memorized the rules… but now we see who can live by them.”

📺 SCENE 1: THE REVEAL — $1 MILLION ACCOUNTS

[INT. TRADING ROOM – EARLY MORNING]
CAMERA: A line of flat-screen monitors flicker to life as 10 contestants file in, sipping coffee, nervous.

MICHAEL COVEL (stepping forward):

“Welcome to the real game. Starting today, each of you will be trading a $1 million simulated account. We’ll be watching everything—from execution to psychology.”

RICHARD DENNIS (appearing from the back corner):

“Don’t think. Follow the rules. The market doesn’t care about your opinion.”

CAMERA: Some nod. Some wince. One candidate clenches fists behind his back.

🎬 SCENE 2: FIRST BREAKOUT SIGNAL

[INT. TRADING DESK – MIDDAY]
CAMERA: Monitors show a sugar futures contract hitting a 20-day high.
Candidate #9 stares at the chart.

INTERNAL MONOLOGUE (Candidate 9):

“That’s the signal. 20-day breakout… but it’s already run up so much…”

She hesitates. Timer on-screen ticks. 8…7…6…

CAMERA CUT: Candidate #3—ex-military—enters trade instantly. Calm, fast.
DENNIS (V.O.):

“The good ones don’t hesitate.”

🧪 SCENE 3: RULE BREAKERS

[INT. OBSERVATION ROOM – LIVE FEEDS]
CAMERA: Michael Covel, Richard Dennis, and guest trader Linda Raschke analyze screens.

COVEL (pointing):

“Candidate 6 just moved their stop loss. Twice.”

DENNIS:

“You give people a system and they still try to outsmart it. That’s ego.”

RASCHKE:

“That’s how careers end before they start.”

*Buzzer sounds. Candidate 6 freezes as a message pops up: RULE VIOLATION: STOP LOSS MODIFIED

🕯️ SCENE 4: LATE NIGHT CHECK-IN

[INT. CANDLELIT HOTEL ROOM – 2:30AM]
CAMERA: Candidate 4 watches the chart on a laptop. Her journal reads: “Follow the breakout. 2% risk. Trust.”

INTERNAL MONOLOGUE (Candidate 4):

“Every part of me wants to double the position. But Dennis said: consistent beats clever.”

She takes a deep breath. Closes laptop. Trusts the plan.

🎥 SCENE 5: BOARDROOM – FIRST ELIMINATION CANDIDATES

[INT. MODERN BOARDROOM – NEXT DAY]
CAMERA: Three candidates stand before Dennis and Covel.

MICHAEL COVEL (stern):

“Candidate 6—you moved your stop. That broke the one thing this experiment is built on.”

CANDIDATE 6:

“The market looked different. I adjusted.”

DENNIS:

“You adjusted your future out the door. You’re cut.”

Candidate 6 exits in silence. Chair left empty.

📈 SCENE 6: THE PROFITS EMERGE

[INT. MONITORING ROOM – EVENING]
Screens flash green. Candidate 3 is up 5%. Candidate 9 is flat. Candidate 2 is down 3% but followed all rules.

COVEL (smiling):

“Now we know. This isn’t about results. It’s about repeatability.”

DENNIS:

“I’d rather back a rule-follower with losses than a gambler who wins once.”

🍽️ SCENE 7: DINNER DEBATE

[INT. CATERED LOUNGE – NIGHT]
CAMERA: Contestants gather for a quiet dinner. Tension simmers.

CANDIDATE 3 (cutting steak):

“If you don’t have the stomach for losses, don’t be in the game.”

CANDIDATE 2:

“Or if you don’t have the discipline. Risk is the cost of admission.”

CANDIDATE 5 (sarcastic):

“Tell that to the guy who’s now sleeping at home.”

🧠 SCENE 8: PRIVATE COACHING SESSION

[INT. SIDE OFFICE – LATE NIGHT]
Each candidate sits one-on-one with Michael Covel.

MICHAEL (to Candidate 4):

“You hesitated. But you didn’t break the rules. That counts.”

CANDIDATE 4 (nodding):

“I felt like I was in a storm, and the rules were my anchor.”

MICHAEL:

“Good. Now double-down on that mindset—not your trades.”

🌆 SCENE 9: MENTOR REFLECTION

[EXT. CITY ROOFTOP – NIGHT]
CAMERA: Dennis and Covel looking over Chicago skyline, coffee in hand.

DENNIS:

“What separates the good from the great? One thing: emotional neutrality.”

COVEL:

“We’ll see if they’ve got it. Next week, we throw them a curveball.”

CUT TO BLACK

🐢 END TEASER: NEXT TIME ON TURTLETRADER

“One fake news flash. One panic market drop. Who sticks to the rules—and who caves to chaos?”

Episode 3: “The Discipline Trap”

Theme: When Following Rules Feels Wrong—but Saves You

🎞️ [COLD OPEN – QUICK CUT MONTAGE]

Close-up: news headlines scream “Oil Crash Imminent.”
Cut to: a Turtle contestant hyperventilating at his desk.
Cut to: Richard Dennis watching through a tinted glass wall, unfazed.

VOICEOVER (Michael Covel):

“Discipline isn’t glamorous. But when chaos hits… it’s the only thing that saves you.”

📺 SCENE 1: SURPRISE ASSIGNMENT — THE MANIPULATED MARKET

[INT. TRADING FLOOR – MORNING]

CAMERA: Contestants gather around Covel. Energy is off. Tension is thick.

MICHAEL COVEL:

“Today’s market has been seeded with manipulated news. Fake data. False headlines. Designed to test your resolve.”

He steps aside. A massive screen behind him flashes:

🧪 “THE DISCIPLINE TRAP: You can’t Google your way out.”

RICHARD DENNIS (appearing suddenly):

“The turtles who made millions did one thing better than anyone: they trusted the system when the world screamed not to.”

🎬 SCENE 2: THE HEADLINE HITS

[INT. CANDIDATE TRADING ROOM – 11:00AM]

A breaking news alert flashes across all screens: “GOVT TO BAN COMMODITY FUTURES ON SPECULATION.”

CANDIDATE 5 (panicking):

“That wipes out everything we’re trading!”

CANDIDATE 2 (calm):

“It’s not real. This is the test. Stick to breakout logic. ATR. 2% rule.”

CANDIDATE 8 (sweating):

“But what if this isn’t the test?!”

CAMERA ZOOMS IN on her mouse hovering over the “close all” button.

🕵️‍♂️ SCENE 3: THE SHADOW OBSERVATION ROOM

[INT. HIDDEN CONTROL ROOM – LIVE FEEDS]

Covel, Dennis, and guest mentor Paul Tudor Jones watch real-time reactions.

DENNIS (grinning):

“Candidate 5 just exited a perfect breakout trade. Lost $80k in unrealized gains. Gut over system.”

PAUL TUDOR JONES:

“That’s not trading. That’s flinching.”

🧠 SCENE 4: MINDFRAME DRILL

[INT. DARK STUDIO ROOM – NIGHT]

CAMERA: Each contestant enters a solitary black room lit by a single light and sits for a video coaching session.

MICHAEL (on screen):

“Did you follow the plan today? Or did fear drive the wheel?”

CANDIDATE 2:

“I stuck to the system. Even when my gut was screaming. Especially then.”

MICHAEL:

“That’s the signal. Not the chart. You.”

💔 SCENE 5: MELTDOWN

[INT. CANDIDATE 8’S ROOM – NIGHT]

She’s crying quietly, writing in her journal.

VOICEOVER (her writing):

“I knew it wasn’t real. But I didn’t want to be the idiot who lost everything.”

Her screen shows the trade she exited early has now moved +8%.

⚖️ SCENE 6: BOARDROOM ELIMINATION

[INT. HIGH-CONTRAST BOARDROOM – NEXT DAY]

Top 3 worst performers stand before the mentors.

COVEL:

“This was the easiest test to fail—and the most important one to pass.”

CANDIDATE 5:

“I’ve traded real money before. I had to protect capital.”

DENNIS:

“You didn’t protect capital. You protected your fear.”

He turns slowly to Candidate 8.

DENNIS (softly):

“You were ahead. You knew the rules. But you ran anyway.”

COVEL:

“And for that, you’re cut.”

📈 SCENE 7: THE STANDOUTS

[INT. STRATEGY ROOM – EVENING]

Charts show Candidate 2 and Candidate 4 both ended the day in profit.
Neither violated a single rule.

PAUL TUDOR JONES (impressed):

“That’s what we bet on. Not intelligence. Not instincts. Resilience under uncertainty.”

🎤 SCENE 8: CONFESSIONAL MOMENTS

[INT. CONFESSIONAL ROOM – NIGHT]

CANDIDATE 2:

“There’s a war going on. Inside me. But now I know who wins—my checklist.”

CANDIDATE 4 (smiling):

“Every time I obeyed the rules, the storm got quieter.”

📹 SCENE 9: POST-ELIMINATION REFLECTION

[INT. CITY OVERLOOK – MICHAEL & RICHARD]

CAMERA: Rooftop shot of Chicago. The skyline blinks below. Covel lights a cigar.

COVEL:

“We didn’t need to simulate a crash. Just the suggestion of one.”

DENNIS:

“Fear did the rest. The system doesn’t fail. People do.”

🐢 TEASER – NEXT EPISODE

“Next week, they trade live. Real money. Real market. And for the first time—real consequences.”

Cut to: a flash of a margin call. A scream. Then silence.

Episode 4: “The Live Ammo Test”

Theme: When Trading Stops Being a Game

🎞️ [COLD OPEN – FLASH FORWARD MONTAGE]

CAMERA: A hand trembles over a “Buy” button. A red candle drops on screen. A contestant screams off-camera.

VOICEOVER (Michael Covel):

“Simulated pain is one thing. But what happens when a single click can cost you everything?”

📺 SCENE 1: THE REVEAL

[INT. TRADING FLOOR – MORNING]

CAMERA: Contestants gather around a black velvet curtain. Covel stands beside it.

MICHAEL COVEL:

“Up to now, it’s been theory. Virtual. Reversible.”

He pulls the curtain. Behind it: 10 terminals, each with a blinking trading platform.

“Today, you go live. You will each control a $100,000 simulated portfolio. Real market data. Real slippage. Real margin. But fake forgiveness? That’s gone.”

RICHARD DENNIS (stepping forward):

“The money’s not real. But the pressure is. Let’s see what cracks first—your system or your soul.”

🧪 SCENE 2: 15-MINUTE STRATEGY CLOCK

[INT. CANDIDATE STRATEGY ZONE – COUNTDOWN TIMER VISIBLE]

Each contestant rushes to sketch plans. Books are closed. No outside tools.

CANDIDATE 3 (voice trembling):

“Corn’s approaching breakout. Risk: 1.8%. ATR confirms. But... I’ve never traded live—even simulated—on futures.”

CANDIDATE 1 (calmly):

“Set order. Step away. Watch the breakout. Don’t chase.”

CAMERA ZOOM: Their sticky note reads “RULE #1: DON’T BLINK.”

🎯 SCENE 3: TRADING BEGINS

[INT. TRADING ROOM – 9:30AM OPENING BELL]

CAMERA: Screens light up. Market data flows fast. Everyone goes silent.

SFX: Tense string music creeps in.

CANDIDATE 7 (whispers):

“It’s real now.”

CANDIDATE 6 (narrating to camera):

“I’ve read the book five times. But now I feel the spreads, the ticks, the panic.”

📉 SCENE 4: THE FIRST LOSS

[INT. TRADING TERMINAL – 10:15AM]

Candidate 9’s trade hits stop-loss. $4,000 gone.

CANDIDATE 9 (frantic):

“That can’t be right. Re-entry? Or hold?”

Their hand hovers over the mouse. Hesitating.

Overhead CAMERA reveals: Covel and Dennis are watching silently from behind a one-way mirror.

DENNIS (grimly):

“She’s not following her plan. She’s reacting.”

COVEL:

“That’s the sound of losing twice. One on the screen. One in the head.”

🧘 SCENE 5: THE COMEBACK

[INT. CANDIDATE 2’S DESK – 11:00AM]

Camera glides across: handwritten rulebook beside the keyboard. Post-it reads: “Let winners run.”

CANDIDATE 2 (to camera):

“The market doesn’t care how I feel. So I don’t care how I feel either.”

She places a trailing stop and gets up. Her chart slowly climbs.

TEXT ON SCREEN: Unrealized Profit: +$6,230

⚖️ SCENE 6: MINDROOM CHECK-IN

[INT. PRIVATE COACHING ROOM – 2:00PM]

One by one, contestants are pulled for mindset check.

CANDIDATE 5 (voice shaking):

“I micromanaged. I kept staring at the P&L. Couldn’t look away.”

CANDIDATE 1 (grinning):

“I forgot I was on a show. I felt like... a trader.”

🎭 SCENE 7: THE BREAKDOWN

[INT. BATHROOM STALL – HIDDEN CAMERA ANGLE]

Candidate 7 is on the floor, breathing hard. Eyes wide.

CANDIDATE 7 (whispers):

“Why the hell did I click that?”

He pulls out his rules sheet—crumpled and sweat-stained.

⚡ SCENE 8: THE RESULTS

[INT. BOARDROOM – NIGHT]

Contestants are ranked based on profit, drawdown control, and rule adherence. Tension crackles.

COVEL:

“Candidate 2? You traded like a machine. You win today.”

DENNIS (nodding):

“You let your system speak louder than your voice. That’s rare.”

He turns to Candidate 7.

DENNIS:

“You didn’t lose because the trade failed. You lost because you forgot who you were.”

He points at the exit.

“You’re out.”

🧵 SCENE 9: POST-BOARDROOM REFLECTION

[EXT. ROOFTOP – CANDIDATE 2 & COVEL]

Skyline in background. Quiet night. Covel hands her a small gift—a printed quote:

“When in doubt, trade the plan.”

MICHAEL:

“You didn’t win because of the rules. You won because you respected them more than your fear.”

🚨 TEASER – NEXT EPISODE

Quick flashes:

• A challenge based on disinformation campaigns.
• Candidates arguing over contradicting signals.
• Richard slamming a chair down: “You forgot the trend! Not your damn feelings!”
• Someone exits yelling: “I’m not a robot!”

Episode 5: The Margin Zone

Cold Open
🎥 INT. TRADING LOFT – EARLY MORNING
The loft is unusually quiet. The camera pans across sleeping charts and dormant monitors. A subtitle fades in:

"Day 5: The Leverage Test"

Cue opening theme. Quick cuts of past blowups, winners, and Covel voiceover:

“You think you can handle the heat? Today, margin will test your soul.”

🎬 SCENE 1: Margin Morning

🎥 WIDE SHOT – TRAINING FLOOR

Michael Covel and Richard Dennis walk in slowly. All 10 candidates stand at attention. Dennis places a binder titled “5x Margin Trading Day” on the table.

COVEL (to camera):

“You’re about to be handed more rope than you’ve ever seen. Whether you climb with it or hang by it… is entirely up to you.”

📸 CAMERA ZOOMS in on nervous faces. Sweat forms. The air hums with tension.

🎬 SCENE 2: Overconfident Entry

🎥 INT. TRADING BAY – MID-MORNING

Candidate #5, slicked-back hair and expensive cufflinks, types in position sizes: 5x long soybeans, 5x long gold, 5x short Swiss franc.

📸 INSERT SHOT – "Order Submitted."
CANDIDATE 5 (confessional):

“You don’t make millions by being a coward.”

🎵 Undercut by a minor-key musical cue hinting impending doom.

🎬 SCENE 3: Ghosts of Leverage

🎥 BLACK & WHITE FLASHBACK – 1929 TRADING FLOOR

The room fills with cries: “Margin call!” “Liquidate!”

📸 SUPERIMPOSED TEXT:

“1929. 1987. 2008. Margin doesn’t forget.”

🎥 FADE BACK TO 2025 – MODERN SCREENS

Candidate #8 looks up from her monitor, visibly shaken.

🎬 SCENE 4: Systems vs. Instinct

🎥 SPLIT SCREEN

Candidate #3 enters a breakout in Japanese Yen per Turtle rules. Candidate #7 overrides the signal and shorts it.

📸 TIGHT SHOT – Covel and Dennis watching in silence.
DENNIS:

“Every deviation from the system… is a vote of no confidence in yourself.”

🎬 SCENE 5: The Warning Bell

🎥 EXTREME CLOSE-UP – TRADING CLOCK HITS 1:00 PM

Covel slams a brass bell. Red lights flash above monitors. Volatility has exploded. Soybeans gap down. Gold nosedives.

Candidate #2 stares as her P&L plummets.

📸 SLOW MOTION – Mouse hesitates over the “Close Position” button.

🎬 SCENE 6: Discipline Under Fire

🎥 INT. CANDIDATE #1’s STATION

Calmly, he exits all positions. His margin balance flickers but stabilizes.

📸 CONFESSIONAL CAM:
CANDIDATE 1:

“I wanted to hold. But the rules saved me. Again.”

Cut to Dennis nodding, arms crossed.

🎬 SCENE 7: Covel’s Breakdown

🎥 COVEL WALKS BETWEEN STATIONS

COVEL (to camera):

“Margin doesn’t kill traders. Ego does.”

📸 ZOOM IN – A whiteboard with a quote:

“Risk big, die big.”

🎬 SCENE 8: The Blow-Up

🎥 INT. TRADING STATION – CANDIDATE #5

He laughs—until the system margin call triggers. All positions closed. Balance: -$27,000.

📸 SLOW PAN – From his screen to his stunned face.

DENNIS:

“That’s what 5x leverage without humility looks like.”

🎬 SCENE 9: The Boardroom

🎥 INT. BOARDROOM SET – NIGHT

Top 3 candidates explain their adherence to rules. Candidate #5 argues he “almost had it.”

COVEL:

“This isn’t about ‘almost.’ You let your ego bet your future.”

📸 DRAMATIC PAUSE

COVEL:

“You’re out.”

🎵 STINGER MUSIC

🎬 SCENE 10: Closing Narration

🎥 COVEL WALKS ALONE THROUGH LOFT

COVEL (voiceover):

“Margin amplifies everything—your wins, your losses… and your character. And sometimes, the market doesn’t give second chances.”

📸 FADE TO BLACK

NEXT TIME ON TURTLETRADER: THE SERIES…

Episode 6: The System Isn’t Broken — You Are

Theme: Why traders blame the system when it's actually a test of them.

🎬 COLD OPEN

📍 INT. TRADING LOFT – NIGHT
One of the traders, Candidate #7, slams his laptop shut. Charts flash red. He mutters, “This system is outdated.”

🎥 CAMERA PANS TO WHITEBOARD:
“System Trading Doesn’t Fail — People Do.”

🎵 Cue intro music – fast-paced, urgent jazz-fusion blend

Narration (Covel): “Everyone blames the system. But in this business, the biggest glitch... is human.”

🧩 SCENE 1: The Setup

📍 INT. TRAINING FLOOR – MORNING

Michael Covel walks in, holding a dusty binder. Richard Dennis follows, smiling faintly.

COVEL:

“Today, we’re running the same breakout model used in 1983. Let’s see how you do—not the system.”

DENNIS:

“The rules haven’t changed. But people? They always do.”

📸 CAMERA: Wide shot of shocked faces. Candidate #4 whispers, “What, no AI?”

⚔️ SCENE 2: Enter Chaos

📍 INT. TRADING STATIONS – MIDDAY

Traders get real-time signals from the old Turtle model. Buy sugar. Sell silver. Cut wheat.

Candidate #2 hesitates. “Why are we selling wheat? The news says…”

🎥 CAMERA CLOSE-UP – She overrides the system. Orders canceled.

DENNIS (watching):

“That’s the first crack.”

👥 SCENE 3: Peer Confessionals

📍 INT. CONFESSIONAL ROOM

CANDIDATE #9:

“It’s tough trusting something older than me.”

CANDIDATE #1:

“When I followed the system, I made money. When I didn’t, I blew up. That’s not on the system.”

🎥 INTERCUT: Their trades on-screen. P&L graphs diverging.

🧨 SCENE 4: Market Shocker

📍 EXT. NEWS TICKER – 2:35 PM

Breaking: “Unexpected Fed Rate Hike Shocks Market”

📍 INT. TRADING FLOOR – ALARM BELLS

📸 CAMERA TRACKS Candidate #6, frantically checking Twitter, Bloomberg, Reddit

CANDIDATE #6:

“The system isn’t reacting fast enough. I need to improvise!”

DENNIS (to Covel):

“Improvisation is just ego in disguise.”

⚖️ SCENE 5: One Candle in the Chaos

📍 INT. STATION – CANDIDATE #3

While others panic, #3 calmly executes a short trade on cocoa as the system suggests.

📸 SCREEN: +$9,200 green

🎥 MONTAGE OF HER TRADING JOURNAL – “20-day breakout. 2% risk. Always obey.”

💀 SCENE 6: The Blame Game

📍 INT. LOUNGE AREA – 5:00 PM

Candidate #7 vents to others. “This model is ancient. It’s broken.”

📍 CUT TO – WHITEBOARD BEHIND HIM

Quote from Dennis:

“The system works... if you do.”

CANDIDATE #4:

“Then maybe it’s not the system that failed.”

🧵 SCENE 7: The Unraveling

📍 INT. BOARDROOM – NIGHT

Covel calls out 3 traders who ignored signals.

COVEL:

“You say the system is outdated, but one of your peers just made $9,000 with it today.”

📸 INSERT – shocked expressions. Candidate #3 lowers her eyes humbly.

DENNIS:

“The Turtle system didn’t fail today. But some of you did.”

🪓 SCENE 8: Elimination

COVEL:

“Candidate #7, you blamed the model all day. But the model doesn’t feel fear. You do.”

🎥 CUT TO: RED LIGHT turns on. Exit music fades in.

COVEL:

“You’re out.”

🧠 SCENE 9: Debrief

📍 INT. COVEL’S OFFICE – NIGHT

Covel flips through journals, highlighting flaws.

COVEL (to camera):

“Today’s markets are fast. But the human mind is still the slowest component. The moment you stop trusting the system… the system stops trusting you.”

✨ FINAL MONTAGE

📍 CANDIDATE #3 TRAINING LATE
📍 CANDIDATE #6 rewatching Dennis interviews
📍 CANDIDATE #1 reciting: “Obey the rules. Cut losses.”

🎵 Cue outro music – retro techno mix

Narration:

“Next time: The ego strikes back. Big wins, bigger temptations. Who breaks the rules... when the rules bring success?”

Episode 7: Winning Streaks and Losing Focus

Theme: The silent danger of success—it whispers lies louder than failure.

🎬 COLD OPEN

📍 INT. TRADING FLOOR – EARLY MORNING

Candidate #1 fist-pumps the air. His screen shows +$32,000.

📸 CAMERA SWOOPS in slow motion — traders nod with admiration.

🎥 CUT TO CONFESSIONAL
CANDIDATE #1 (grinning):

“I finally get it. I am the market now.”

🎵 Cue intro sting – rapid, overconfident jazz-electro hybrid

Narration (Covel): “Most traders lose when they’re losing. But the best? They lose after they’ve won.”

🎲 SCENE 1: The Hot Hand

📍 INT. TRAINING FLOOR – MIDDAY

Michael Covel posts a leaderboard. Candidate #1 is miles ahead.

COVEL:

“Let’s talk about the most dangerous time for a trader: when everything's working.”

DENNIS:

“Pride is louder than discipline.”

📸 CAMERA ZOOMS IN on #1 as he smirks and leans back.

🚨 SCENE 2: Rule Bending Begins

📍 INT. STATIONS – LATER

Candidate #1 increases his position size from 2% risk to 4%.

CANDIDATE #3 (watching):

“That’s not the system.”

CANDIDATE #1:

“That’s evolution.”

🎥 SCREEN FLASHES – temporary win: +$4,700. #1 smiles wider.

🧠 SCENE 3: The Psychology of Success

📍 INT. LECTURE ROOM – MICHAEL SPEAKS

COVEL (to all):

“Success isn't confirmation—it’s seduction. The minute you think you’ve mastered the market… it owns you.”

🎥 FLASHBACK: 1980s footage of Richard losing $10 million in 24 hours.

DENNIS:

“I created rules to protect myself—from myself.”

💣 SCENE 4: The Overreach

📍 INT. STATIONS – NEXT DAY

Candidate #1 ignores a sell signal. He believes the market will rebound.

📸 SCREEN: Live wheat prices crash

CANDIDATE #1:

“It’ll bounce. It always does when I—”

📉 Screen turns blood red: -$17,600

👀 SCENE 5: Observations and Whispers

📍 INT. LOUNGE

CANDIDATE #6:

“He’s good, but his ego’s getting louder.”

CANDIDATE #4:

“Dennis always said: the moment you trade from memory, not math—you’re done.”

🎥 CAMERA cuts to #1 journaling: “Trust gut.” The word “gut” is circled twice.

🔥 SCENE 6: The Blowup

📍 INT. TRADING FLOOR – 3:55 PM

#1 tries to double down after the loss. He violates max drawdown rules.

📉 Brokers flag the account

📸 CAMERA SLOWS DOWN: His face falls as the system locks him out.

🧵 SCENE 7: The Boardroom

📍 INT. DARK ROOM

COVEL:

“You were the top Turtle three days ago. What happened?”

CANDIDATE #1:

“I trusted my instincts.”

DENNIS:

“You had the system in your hands... and you dropped it.”

🎥 Candidate #3 watches silently, notebook open with a highlighted phrase: “Follow the math.”

⛔ SCENE 8: Elimination

COVEL:

“Discipline is the only edge. Not streaks. Not swagger.
Candidate #1—you're out.”

🎵 Somber outro beat as the red light flashes.

🎓 SCENE 9: Aftermath & Reflection

📍 INT. ROOFTOP NIGHT SHOT – TRADERS HUDDLED AROUND A WHITEBOARD

They rewrite “The Rules” together.

📸 CAMERA FADES OUT on one sentence in bold:
“Success is your next biggest threat.”

🚀 END MONTAGE

📍 Candidate #3 practices stop-loss automation
📍 Candidate #4 watches 1980s Turtle interview footage
📍 Covel whispers to Dennis: “Now they’re ready.”

🎵 Cue cliffhanger music

Narration:
“Next time: The Final 4 are tested with live capital—and one breaks everything for a shortcut…”

Episode 8: The Shortcut Trap

Theme: In trading, shortcuts feel smart—until they cost everything.

🎬 COLD OPEN

📍 INT. TRAINING FLOOR – NIGHT BEFORE NEXT TRIAL

A single desk lamp glows. Candidate #4 stares at an Excel sheet filled with entry points, indicators… and a hidden tab labeled “Auto-Override.”

🎥 CAMERA PUSHES IN on her eyes — calm, calculating… tempted.

🎵 Cue intro sting – mechanical rhythm overlayed with pulsing heartbeats

Covel (V.O.):
“Every system eventually meets the one thing it can’t control: human ambition.”

🔍 SCENE 1: The Live Capital Trial

📍 INT. TRADING FLOOR – MORNING

DENNIS (to the final 4):

“Today, you trade with live capital. $1 million. No resets. No coaching. One rule: trade like a Turtle.”

📸 CAMERA SWOOPS across the desks—nervous glances, deep breaths.

⚙️ SCENE 2: The Temptation

📍 INT. CANDIDATE #4’s STATION

She quietly opens the “Auto-Override” macro she built the night before. It’s a shortcut: a proprietary blend of trend rules + AI filters.

CANDIDATE #4 (to herself):

“It’s still trend-following… just better. Just faster.”

🎥 CAMERA FOLLOWS mouse as she hovers over the ‘Activate’ button… and clicks.

💰 SCENE 3: The Results… at First

📍 INT. LEADERBOARD SCREEN – NOON

#4’s performance soars. Up $70K in two hours. The others notice.

CANDIDATE #2:

“Her signals are beating mine by minutes. Something’s off.”

CANDIDATE #3:

“She’s either a genius—or she cheated the Turtle.”

🎥 Split-screen shows her glowing dashboard vs. others’ basic setups.

🧠 SCENE 4: Trading vs. Engineering

📍 INT. OBSERVATION ROOM – COVEL AND DENNIS WATCHING

COVEL:

“What she built is brilliant.”

DENNIS:

“But it’s not the experiment. She’s no longer being a Turtle—she’s trying to outgrow the shell.”

⚡ SCENE 5: The Short Circuit

📍 INT. TRADING FLOOR – 2:30 PM

The system encounters a spike in natural gas. Her override model doesn’t account for sudden volatility.

📉 Losses pile up—fast.

CANDIDATE #4 (whispers):

“It should’ve triggered the stop… why didn’t it—”

🎥 ALERTS FLASH RED. Account down $85,000 in 12 minutes.

🪞 SCENE 6: The Confession

📍 INT. EMPTY CONFERENCE ROOM – LATE AFTERNOON

Covel confronts #4 one-on-one.

COVEL:

“You didn’t follow the system.”

CANDIDATE #4:

“I followed its logic. I improved it.”

COVEL:

“No. You tried to shortcut uncertainty. That’s not evolution—it’s ego.”

🧑‍⚖️ SCENE 7: Boardroom Reckoning

📍 INT. BOARDROOM – NIGHT

DENNIS:

“Richard Dennis lost millions not because he didn’t have a system—but because he thought he’d outgrown it.”

CANDIDATE #4:

“So what—you want mindless robots?”

COVEL:

“No. We want disciplined artists. You skipped the canvas.”

🎥 CAMERA HOLDS on her blank stare… the realization sets in.

❌ SCENE 8: The Elimination

COVEL:

“Candidate #4… you’re out. Not for failing—but for deciding you knew better.”

🎵 Soft piano notes as the door closes.

🌌 SCENE 9: End Reflection

📍 INT. BALCONY – LATER THAT NIGHT

Remaining 3 candidates sit together.

CANDIDATE #3:

“She was ahead of us. And still…”

CANDIDATE #2:

“…the shortcut ended up longer.”

🎥 CAMERA PANS UP to stars, soft Turtle silhouette in the sky.

COVEL (V.O.):
“In Episode 9: Can the last three handle chaos when every model breaks?”

Episode 9: The Chaos Test

Theme: What happens when the system collides with the unpredictable?

🎬 COLD OPEN

📍 INT. CONTROL ROOM – 4:00 AM

Richard Dennis and Michael Covel monitor a wall of flashing alerts. Global markets spike as surprise inflation data hits.

🎥 CAMERA TRACKS their calm faces bathed in red and green glow.

COVEL (V.O.):
“Every system is perfect—until the world changes. Today, we see who can stay calm… when chaos writes the rules.”

🎵 Cue intro sting – now more chaotic, sirens mixed with screen beeps.

🔥 SCENE 1: The Setup – Surprise Shock Day

📍 INT. TRADING FLOOR – MORNING

Covel gathers the final 3.

COVEL:

“No prep. No warnings. Today, you're dropped into live global volatility. We want to know: can you think like a Turtle when the ground’s shaking?”

DENNIS:

“Welcome to the real test.”

🎥 CAMERA ZOOMS IN on whiteboard: “You’re not just managing risk. You’re managing yourself.”

🌪️ SCENE 2: Shockwave

📍 INT. INDIVIDUAL TRADING STATIONS – 9:15 AM to 11:00 AM

• Candidate #1: Sticks strictly to Turtle breakout rules. Stops out early. Capital preserved.

• Candidate #2: Hesitates. Doesn’t enter. Avoids losses—but gains nothing.

• Candidate #3: Makes a bold discretionary bet. Scores huge in gold futures… then gives most of it back.

🎥 CAMERA SPLITS SCREENS their real-time reactions—sweat, teeth clenched, frantically scribbling notes.

🎭 SCENE 3: The Mask Slips

📍 INT. OBSERVATION ROOM

DENNIS (to Covel):

“This is it. The moment the mask comes off. This is what we were really testing for.”

COVEL:

“They’re not fighting the market… they’re fighting themselves.”

🧨 SCENE 4: Emotional Overload

📍 INT. LUNCHROOM – SILENCE

Nobody talks.

Candidate #2 stares at their uneaten sandwich.

CANDIDATE #2 (muttering):

“If I just… if I’d followed my gut…”

🎥 CAMERA LINGERS as each trader sits alone—cut off by their own doubts.

📈 SCENE 5: The Bounceback

📍 INT. TRADING FLOOR – AFTERNOON

Candidate #1, calm and focused, reenters a trend trade that triggers cleanly. Slow gains, tight stops.

🎥 CAMERA FOLLOWS mouse: Click. Confirm. Breathe.

Meanwhile, Candidate #3 tries to recover from a failed discretionary trade. Eyes dart. Entry too soon. Whiplash.

🧑‍⚖️ SCENE 6: Boardroom – Chaos Debrief

📍 INT. BOARDROOM

COVEL:

“Candidate #2: You froze. Inaction is a decision. You didn’t lose money—but you lost trust.”

DENNIS:

“Candidate #3: You let chaos seduce you. The rules were the anchor—and you cut the rope.”

🎥 CAMERA CLOSE-UP on Candidate #1, quiet but steady.

❌ SCENE 7: The Cut

COVEL:

“Candidate #3… you’re out. Not for betting big—but for forgetting your foundation.”

🎵 Cue low cello as the door clicks shut.

✨ SCENE 8: A Moment of Clarity

📍 EXT. ROOFTOP – SUNSET

Candidate #1 and #2 stand side-by-side. They don’t speak. Just look out at the skyline.

🎥 DRONE SHOT circles them. A city in motion beneath their stillness.

COVEL (V.O.):
“One final episode. One last trade. One Turtle left standing.”

Episode 10: The Final Trade

Theme: Mastery is not about control—it’s about surrendering to the system with trust, under pressure, for real stakes.

🎬 COLD OPEN

📍 INT. TRADING FLOOR – DAWN

Lights flicker on. One chair. One monitor. One account.

🎥 CAMERA TRACKS Candidate #1’s footsteps echoing across the floor. A clipboard waits on the desk with one line:

“This is your account. You have 8 hours. Trade like a Turtle.”

🎵 Cue opening sequence – but this time, slowed and echoey. Finality hangs in the air.

🧭 SCENE 1: The Setup – One Day, One Shot

📍 INT. OBSERVATION ROOM

MICHAEL COVEL (to camera):

“For the first time, we’ve given a real account. Real money. Real market. No edits.”

RICHARD DENNIS:

“They’ve learned the rules. But now we’ll see if they’ve become the rule.”

🎥 SPLIT SCREEN: clock starts ticking, market feeds flicker to life.

🎯 SCENE 2: First Signal

📍 INT. TRADING DESK – 9:32 AM

Candidate #1 spots a breakout in soybean futures. No hesitation. Entry placed. Stop calculated. ATR used.

🎥 CLOSE-UP on mouse click. Fingernails tap once. Twice. Breathe in. No second-guessing.

COVEL (V.O.):
“The question isn’t whether the trade wins. It’s whether the trader sticks to the process.”

🔥 SCENE 3: Market Turns

📍 INT. TRADING FLOOR – 11:47 AM

News hits: surprise Fed announcement. Futures lurch.

The trade survives the stop… barely.

🎥 CAMERA SLOWS as price dips… reverses… then climbs.

Candidate #1 (whispers):

“Stay in. Stay in. Trust the rules.”

📉 SCENE 4: Second Trade – Temptation

📍 INT. TERMINAL WINDOW – 12:30 PM

AI stocks surge. Not part of the system. Tempting.

🎥 CLOSE-UP: mouse hovers over buy button… then drifts back.

No trade placed.

DENNIS (V.O.):
“That’s it. That moment. That’s when you know they’ve made it.”

🎲 SCENE 5: Endgame

📍 INT. TRADING FLOOR – 3:45 PM

The soybean position breaks out again. Gains double. Trailing stop moved methodically. Still by the book.

🎥 SPLIT SCREEN of Richard and Michael nodding silently.

🧑‍⚖️ SCENE 6: Final Boardroom

📍 INT. DARK WOOD BOARDROOM – EVENING

COVEL:

“You didn’t flinch. You didn’t chase. You executed.”

DENNIS:

“You’re not just a trader now. You’re a system.”

CANDIDATE #1 (smiling quietly):

“That’s all I ever wanted.”

🐢 SCENE 7: The Graduation

📍 EXT. OLD CHICAGO BUILDING – NIGHT

A door opens.

The original Turtles—now older—stand in shadowed silhouettes. One steps forward and hands Candidate #1 a printed card:

“Welcome to the Shell.”

🎵 Soft music rises. Slow clap builds. Turtle legacy lives on.

🎥 FINAL MONTAGE

📍 MIXED SCENES: ARCHIVAL + NEW

• 1983 classroom footage of Richard teaching.

• 2000s clips of past Turtles running hedge funds.

• Today: Candidate #1 launching their own fund.

• The final screen fades in:

“Discipline Wins.”

🎵 Fade out on soft piano version of the intro theme.

FINAL SERIES REFLECTION

(Scene: The trading floor is silent. Screens show the final profits. One trader remains seated. Others stand behind them. Cut to MARK BURNETT standing by a glowing podium.)

MARK BURNETT

Ten traders entered this experiment—some with skills, others with only a dream.

They faced chaos, discipline traps, market meltdowns… and themselves.

We didn’t just test strategies—we tested character.

The Turtle legacy isn’t about fast money. It’s about process, patience, and precision.

And tonight, one of you proved that in the fire of uncertainty… you stayed the course.

To the winner: welcome to the lineage.

To everyone watching: this challenge never ends.

The markets open again tomorrow.

What kind of trader will you become?

(Cue finale montage: flashbacks of each episode’s high stakes, fast decisions, emotional wins and losses. End on a quiet shot of the winner looking out over a skyline at dawn. Logo fades in: Turtle Traders: The Apprentice.)

Short Bios:

Richard Dennis

Legendary commodities trader and co-creator of the original Turtle experiment. In the 1980s, he famously turned $1,600 into over $200 million. Believing that trading could be taught, he selected and trained a group of novices—the Turtles—proving that discipline and a rules-based system could outperform instincts. In this series, Dennis serves as the show's ultimate authority and boardroom voice of final judgment.

Michael Covel

Author of The Complete TurtleTrader and trend-following evangelist. Covel documented the story of the original Turtle experiment and became one of the most prominent voices in systematic trading. In the series, he acts as narrator, mentor, and co-judge, providing context, pressure-testing decisions, and delivering insights on trading psychology and risk.

Emily (Fictional Finalist)

A methodical, data-driven quant trader with razor-sharp risk management. Emily emerged as one of the most disciplined participants, showing unwavering loyalty to Turtle rules. Known for her calm presence and technical fluency, she represented the modern, analytical side of trading under stress.

Marcus (Fictional Finalist & Winner)

A passionate, intuitive trader who learned to submit his instincts to the system. Marcus's journey was marked by personal growth—from overtrading and emotional bias to mastering position sizing and control. By the final episode, he embodied the heart of the Turtle system: consistency, humility, and precision.

William Eckhardt (Referenced)

Mathematician and co-creator of the Turtle experiment. Though not a direct participant in the show, Eckhardt’s scientific rigor and philosophical insights shaped the rules that guided all contestants. His legacy looms in every decision made throughout the competition.