Sally & Norma

After capably thwarting would-be thieves and faced with the prospect of being cloistered in a retirement home by their doubting descendants - allegedly for their own good- two retired middle school teachers, armed with inflated confidence and a goal of proving their worth and justifying their independence, decide to whoop some ass and take on the societal ills of today.

Pilot: “Self Defense”

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

Next Day, Norma’s grandson Deputy District Attorney JAMES GARCIA(heartthrob 30s) and Sally Mae’s daughter, Private Investigator LINDA LOU CALLOWAY (F 40s) are furious and discuss the possibility of Sally and Norma moving in together where they can keep an eye on them.

Meanwhile, 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 wants to press charges. Down at the station DETECTIVE SOLOMON “Sol” de la PENA (M 40s to 50s) and Linda’s boss Lawyer 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 over whose fault it is. 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 is rather
exciting. Sally and Norma agree that life as an action figure is
more exciting than needlepoint and go on to become a force to be reconded with - at least sometimes

  • Suzanne Birrell
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Television Script
  • Number of Pages:
    35
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Santa Barbara Diverse Writers Outreach
    Santa Barbara, Ca
    January 15, 2024
    Award Winner
  • Creative Screenwriting TV Pilot Competition

    September 21, 2022
    semi finalist
  • Page Turner Screenplays

    March 31, 2020
    Quarter Finalist
Writer Biography - Suzanne Birrell

A Renaissance woman with a multi-ethnic background from small-town America (where the women are strong), Suzanne Birrell writes screenplays from a unique perspective. Suzanne teaches middle school (where children are wild and hormones rage), plays bass in a country band, and generally observes life as inspiration for her stories. All of her screenplays feature great roles for women of all ages and are based on real-life and actual events albeit with a bit of exaggeration. https://www.networkisa.org/profile/suzannebirrell

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Writer Statement

Sally and Norma are two opinionated women who came of age in the 60s and are still angry that the woman's Rights amendment did not pass. Roe vs. Wade got overturned. What is happening here? They decide it's time to go out and make some waves.