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Sally 'n Norma

In a Nancy Drew meets Thelma & Louise buddy comedy series... Two retired middle school teachers, not ready to hang up their hats, self-righteously confront societal ills from crime to manners & more. Meanwhile... Family & friends inhibit, applaud, and/ or aid the ladies in their quests and attempt to keep them out of harm's way and out of jail.

 Pilot 

When a late-night stranger tries to slice his way into a rural country farmhouse, elderly friends NORMA GARCIA and SALLY MAE PATTERSON take action. Sally Mae shoots him with her 12 gauge pump shotgun.

Norma’s grandson DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JAMES GARCIA, a heart throb 30s, and Sally Mae’s daughter, Private Investigator LINDA LOU CALLOWAY, 40s, are furious and discuss the possibility of Sally and Norma moving in together where they can keep an eye on them.

Later, back home in the bad part of town, Norma stands up against a teenage thug with bear spray and a sack of flour. The boy want to press charges. Down at the station DETECTIVE SOLOMON “Sol” de la PENA, 40s to 50s, and Linda’s boss LESLIE LEE SINGLETON, Trans F 40s, review the YouTube evidence.

Sally shows up claiming she heard about it on the news and if Norma’s going to jail, she’s going with her. James and Sally get into an argument. Sally takes a swing at James. Sol attempts to hold Sally back, but Norma sticks out her foot. A snap is heard as Sol tumbles in pain, breaking his arm.

Feeling empowered, Sally and Norma wait the night in jail. Norma’s never been in jail before and thinks the new adventure rather exciting. 

Meanwhile James and Linda try to convince Linda's daughter KATY CALLOWAY,  a martial arts expert in a dress who idolizes her grandmother that she and OBADIAH ZABIELSKI, 40s-60s, a taciturn fried former motorcycle gang drug user who lives in Norma’s garage, are the ones to convince Sally and Norma that it's time to retire to a home.  Katy swears she didn't teach her Grandma Sally and Ms. Norma any martial arts moves.  We don't believe her.

Inspired by the exciting lives of their children, encouraged by Katy and Leslie, protected by Obadiah, and given surreptitious assignments by Detective Solomon, these ladies come to stand as a questionable force against a corrupt society. Roaming the countryside in Sally’s old Lincoln - they take on rudeness, theft, corruption and… Sometimes the ladies get it right, and other times... Well let’s just say, it doesn’t always turn out the way they intended.

Series logline:

Two retired teachers not ready to hang up their hats, self-righteously confront societal ills from crime to manners and more.  Meanwhile, family & friends inhibit, applaud, and/ or aid the ladies in their quests while attempting to keep them out of harm's way and out of jail.

Written by:
Format:
TV Pilot
Genres:
Budget:
Low
Posted:
03/23/2023
Updated:
04/06/2024
Author Bio:
Award-winning Screenwriter Suzanne Birrell likes good mysteries, satirical comedies, and tear-jerking dramas. She writes with passion. Her stories have depth. Her focus is on character pieces for ensemble casts. She has written numerous features, TV scripts, and short staged proof of concepts. She continually enjoys repeated success in screenplay contests.

Coming from small-town America and a multi-ethnic background [2nd gen. Sicilian, 2nd gen.

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Contest Results:
Santa Barbara International (Finalist, Santa Barbara Diverse writer's) [2024]
Outstanding TV Pilot (Quarterfinalist) [2024]
Filmmatic Short (Quarterfinalist) [2022]
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