PILOT | snowbirds

Pilot Episode

Summary

In this pilot we find Stan and Erma Bloom having a tough time in the blustery north. The winter is creating havoc and they dream of a simple, retired life. At the same time their son Milo gets laid off from his job and their daughter Brenda discovers another man with her husband. Stan and Erma reminisce about the good old days with their long-time friends from the 50’s and realize they’ve all moved south after retiring. After a family meeting they decide to “try it for the winter” and given Milo and Brenda’s situations, they decide they’d like to go too.

They embark on a hilarious car & train ride south. The family arrives at their condo and start to see the real life they’ve signed up for. They meet the neighbors who take an immediate dislike to them. They tour the grounds and see the some humorous sights of a retirement community. They meet up with their friends Marv & Shelly as they show the family around. Stan & Erma realize they may like it there if they can put up with their kids, their retirement community and their new environment.

Scene 1

Erma in house surrounded by snow. Stan driving his car while talking to Erma

Erma talking through a shopping list for Stan, but as he’s trying to listen, his car is sliding from side to side. Stan gets more frustrated as his car slides into a market.

Scene 2

Stan arrives home. He and Erma reminisce about the good old days complete with flashbacks

Stan remembers his youth singing on a street corner. Flashback to the do-wop group. Erma remembers they weren’t quite as good as Stan thinks. Stan calls his old buddy Marv down south and Marv plays it up to a glamourous world of beautiful women and cocktails by the pool. Stan gets excited but when they hang up the reality isn't quite so glamorous.

Scene 3

Office where Milo Bloom works

Scene 4

Brenda Bloom arriving home with her son Brendan

Glass building - Stan’s son Milo busy working away when he gets a notice from upper management about an “emergency meeting”. During the meeting the company president is cuffed and hauled out by police (insider trading). Everyone is fired.

Stan’s bombshell daughter Brenda arrives home one evening with her scheming son Brendan. They uncover the mystery as why there’s another car in the driveway: they eventually find another guy barely dressed and with her husband Barry. She yells she wants a divorce.

Scene 5

Family meeting at Stan & Erma's home

Scene 6

The Auto Train to the south

Stan and Erma discuss the "fresh start" they'd have as they review a retirement community brochure from Century Gardens, the community where their friends Marv and Shelly live. The brochure shows a beautiful Century Gardens, where the “trees are 100 years old”. They agree to try it out for the winter. Milo, Brendan and Brenda invite themselves along.

Stan talks to train attendant who assures him how safe the car will be secured in the rear. As the train pulls out the car is seen sliding from one side to the other and banging against other cars. The family is cramped in the cabin and slide back and forth as the train moves. As the train goes over a bridge, some cars fall off the back.

After they arrive cars are coming off the train dented and they now have to drive another 100 miles to their town.

Scene 7

Family in dented car, on highway headed to retirement village

Scene 8

At Century Gardens, outside the condo building

They see people driving crazy and some end up in ditches on the side of the road. Stan and Erma look shocked but Brendan is enjoying the sights.

They are in back of a large old car with no apparent driver. You only see hands on the wheel. Stan thinks it’s a self-driving car but as they pass it they see it’s only an old lady sitting low and driving with her hands barely on the wheel.

They pull up to an old rundown building and see peeled paint, broken windows and Iguana’s dashing into bushes. They take a slow moving lift to the 2nd floor. As they enter their condo, we see another elderly couple looking out at the family. They look concerned & angry.

Scene 9

Inside the “new” condo

Scene 10

Tour of the retirement complex

The family inspects their new place. As they go out to the screened in balcony they can see a small lake pretty close. We see two alligator eyes pop up above the surface.

The elderly neighbors, Agnes and Walt Kroupas pay a visit. Once they hear the family are snowbirds they become angry and vow to get them thrown out of the community. The phone rings and its Marv and Shelly who want to give them a tour of the pool & clubhouse.

We see people with canes, walkers, wheelchairs and some are in winter clothes. The family meets up with Marv & Shelly for their tour. One old guy on lounge chair has his eyes bug out after seeing Brenda.

Next, the group visits the community gym. People are barely lifting a small dumbbell. You hear groaning as they lift the light weights.

Scene 11

Evening show at the Clubhouse

Scene 12

In Stan & Erma’s Condo

Stan and Erma are excited to see their first show at the community clubhouse. They are all dressed up and seated in the auditorium next to Marv and Shelly.

The crowd applauds the show but a woman behind Stan is clapping louder than everyone, right near Stan’s ears. She rises, whistling and yelling too. Stan gets very annoyed.

The woman claps and laughs right behind Stan again. She stomps her feet causing her oxygen tank to start knocking against Stan’s seat. Stan turns to give her a stare.

Stan and Erma run out of clubhouse being chased by the woman.

Stan and Erma are telling the kids what happened at the show while Agnes and Walt Kroupas are listening in with stethoscopes on the adjacent wall.

Walt and Agnes hear about the clubhouse fight. Walt tells Agnes “maybe the condo board should hear about this!”

Brendan sees an iguana squeeze under the front door and asks if he can keep him.

Stan replies “why not. I Guana make everyone happy!” The family laughs and Stan gives a big smile. "I think we're going to like it here.

Seitech Media