Logline

Sarah Bellingham (50), an introverted artist out of step with technology, is content to let her husband handle everything. When she is suddenly widowed, she is forced to not only deal with the loss, but the digital world as well to hilarious effect, while her deceased husband, unbeknownst to her, tries to lead her to a new love she suspects is a serial flasher.

Synopsis

LIFE CAN CHANGE IN A FLASH--availlable in screenplay.

A multi-layer dram/rom-com with low-key comedy and a nod to the supernatural. Time is present-day in a moderate size college town in Massachusetts.

SARAH BELLINGHAM (50)--introverted, naive--resents the technological age. She doesn't like constant change and instruction, and, fearful of hackers, refuses to learn how to use a computer and cell phone. Her favorite movie is Casablanca. She identifies with the 40s and 50s--a much simpler, slower time--and is content to let her husband GERALD (a techie) handle everything. An artist, she just wants to paint.

When she suddenly finds herself a widow, she is forced out of her bubble to deal not only with her loss, but with the digital age as well--on-line banking, electronic bill notices, a complicated TV that requires the use of two remotes and a modem, the concept of streaming, etc. 

LAWRENCE GREENWAY (52)--old college acquaintance of Sarah and Gerald. Big-time developer, charming on the outside, narcisstic snake on the inside-- has never forgiven Sarah for choosing Gerald over him. Triggered by an article where Gerald was named Builder of the Year, he comes to town to set up a competing construction company; begins stealing bids, crippling Gerald's company.

When Gerald unexpectedly dies, Sarah learns that he had taken out a loan soon due, and she is forced to sell the company to Lawrence. She believes Gerald's heart attack was brought on by the stress of trying to save his company and feels responsible that Greenway exacted his revenge because of her. She feels added guilt for selling Gerald's company to him. 

While coping with guilt and grief of loss, Sarah works her way through the digital world, kicking and screaming. She makes laughable missteps, not without help from well-meaning friend TRACEY HILL, that ultimately lands her at a swinger's party and in a video that goes viral.

Enter bumbling cop CHARLIE HANSON and his rookie partner VERN CARMICHAEL in search of a serial flasher, creating comical moments. They mistakenly arrest a powerful city councilman as the flasher; he is later exposed as having leaked construction project bids to Greenway Construction. 

Working in the background, deceased Gerald (viewer knows he is present only by the dog's reaction) is trying to help Sarah move past her guilt and grief to find love again, with more comical moments. He tries to lead her to a new neighbor, whom she thinks is the flasher. To remedy this, Gerald leads bumbling cops to the real flasher, who turns out to be one of many (it's part of a fraternity initiation) hence no common agreement on description.

Recovering from the video fiasco, Sarah is fed up with the lack of control over her life. A flyer mysteriously finds it way to her stoop annoucing a program for seniors on understanding their electronics and the digital world. She attends a class; the instructor is her new neighbor.

There is chemistry between them, but Sarah holds back, feeling she is betraying Gerald's memory. Casablanca suddenly appears on her TV one night, fast forwarding to meaningful scenes and ending with the scene, "Here's looking at you, kid"--Gerald's last words to her before he died. Sarah tearfully realizes it's Gerald telling her he wants her to move on with her life. And she does.

On a final note, Greenway is arrested, the fraternity is suspended, and the two bumbling cops are nominated for Officers of the Year.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

90 Second Written Pitch

LIFE CAN CHANGE IN A FLASH is a dram/rom-com set in a moderate-size college town in Massachusetts.

Sarah (50) dislikes the digital age and is happy to let husband Gerald handle everything. She identifies with the 40s and 50s; her favorite movie is "Casablanca." When she is suddenly widowed, she must cope with the loss while navigating the digital age.

Seniors not tech savvy like Sarah fall into this trap. Software constantly changes to less intuitive versions, discouraging attempts, ability, or desire to keep up. I know Sarah well. She is me.

Lawrence Greenway (52)--developer, narcissist--hasn’t forgiven Sarah for choosing Gerald; sees an article Gerald named builder of the year; sets up a competing company, steals bids. After Gerald’s death, Sarah is forced to sell his company to Greenway, adding guilt to grief.

Over dinner and too much wine with her friend, Sarah's profile is inadvertently put on match site that turns out to be for swingers, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and a video that goes viral.

Gerald's spirit tries to lead Sarah to a new love--her new neighbor, whom she thinks is a serial flasher. Gerald helps bumbling cops apprehend real flasher.

Sarah sees flyer on program for seniors on understanding the digital age; attends, finds new neighbor is instructor. There's chemistry, but she feels she's betraying Gerald.

When "Casablanca" suddenly appears on Sarah's TV screen, fast forwarding to meaningful scenes, Sarah realizes Gerald is sending her a message and is able to move on.

DRAMA