It's all about the plot.

I have to write an outline of the story that I will use for the rest of my screenwriting course. Which one of these do you think has the most promise?

1. The Jewel Thief (a mystery)
Marcie meets an insurance fraud investigator in Paris and falls in love. She discovers that Brad is pursuing Julie whom he believes is the international jewel thief costing his company millions of dollars. When Brad disappears, Marcie thinks Julie murdered him and begins to stalk her to get revenge. One day they meet accidentally in a book store and become "friends". Julie doesn't realize that Marcie is plotting her murder. Marcie becomes confused when she discovers that Brad isn't dead and decides that Brad and Julie have teamed up to destroy her so she vows to get them first. There is a surprise ending, but I can't tell you because then it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?

2. The Dog Walker (a comedy)
Bill sees a gorgeous neighbor walking her dog and plots to meet her. The dog helps by having an affinity for Bill (or his lawn). Bill is so flustered when he first meets the knock-out neighbor that he says something stupid and spends the rest of the movie trying to find her and prove he's not as gauche as he acts, but since he really is, a lot of silly action takes place before he catches the woman of his dreams – the girl next door. (I just gave away the surprise ending, but you figured it out all ready anyway, didn't you? FYI: The story is based on a true event, but the characters aren't based on real people.)

3. Herbert Smiley (a made for TV-movie)
Herb Smiley is a used car salesman who dreams of bigger things. He's in love with the receptionist but they can't get married because Herb doesn't make enough money. When the nasty, greedy owner of the car lot has a stroke, Herb takes him home where his mother (a nurse) cares for the man as if he were a rich relative. Herb then takes over the business with help from the girlfriend and becomes the Used Car King of Minneapolis while his mother falls in love with her patient. The old man has amnesia from the stroke and thinks he is Herb’s dad until he sees a commercial featuring old pictures of the car lot and he remembers who he is and realizes that Herb stole his business. However, the old man thinks he’s better off with a wife to care for him and a son to do all the work at the car lot so he doesn’t tell anybody that he knows. He has been estranged from his family for years, but his less-than-dutiful, recently-fired son comes home for Christmas to find his father is missing and Herb in charge of the car lot. He takes over, but allows Herb to return to his job as salesman. Eventually he accuses Herb of murder as well as stealing the business and the old man has to come forth and save the day. The story ends when the old man marries Mrs. Smiley and gives Herb the business so Herb and the receptionist can get married and everybody lives happily ever after - except for the nasty, greedy son who is following in his father's footsteps in another town. Has this one already been done? I keep seeing John Candy and Chevy Chase.