Derin Çelik, Creator, Writer 

Sloan Grant(s) Received: 2024, Columbia University, Screenwriting Award

Project Type: Pilot

Genre: Drama

Length: 60 minutes

Field of Science: Material Science, Engineering

Stage: Development 

Synopsis:
In a Turkish mining facility plagued by wildfires, DEFNE (30s, material scientist) spots an exhausted TRUCK DRIVER who recently lost his family in a fire. Before she can send him home, LAUREN and HILLARY arrive – executives from Z, the California tech company that acquired their operation.
As Defne tours them through the facility with colleague SERCAN (50s), Lauren is stunned by their remarkable 98% boron extraction rate. After a zoom with Z’s founder RYAN BIANCO, Lauren reveals their true purpose: they want Defne to lead their struggling lithium mining team in California. Defne begins to decline, citing family obligations, but hesitates when shown a staggering salary offer. Ryan gently asks her to simply consider it.
Defne drives south through smoke-choked roads to her coastal hometown, Kuşadası, where her father OSMAN runs a seaside restaurant with help from her teenage cousin LEYLA. Over dinner, Osman teases Defne about being unmarried, and she retorts she’ll marry when he remarries – a poignant reminder of Defne’s mother who passed years ago.When Defne mentions the job offer, Osman maintains careful neutrality, refusing to influence her decision. The evening ends as strong winds drive customers home and the family closes up.That night, Defne jolts awake coughing, dreaming of fire. Her father’s panicked voice cuts through real smoke – the town is burning. The winds have pushed wildfires through their coastal haven overnight, completely out of control. As they frantically gather belongings, Defne embraces her father, suddenly seeing her path forward with clarity. Lauren’s offer isn’t just an opportunity anymore – it’s their only chance at a new life.
The airport teems with evacuees as Defne bids farewell to Osman, promising swift visa arrangements. He embraces her, pressing dried fruits and nuts into her hands – a father’s simple act of love. Lauren waits awkwardly nearby as they’re whisked through the executive lounge, their privilege a stark contrast to the desperation outside. On the plane, Defne marks fire calculations on the window. Lauren observes, “You’re weird – but we like weird. Ryan’s going to love you.”
At Salton Sea, a self-driving car transports them to billionaire Liam Peterson’s ostentatious mansion. Inside, Defne loses Lauren in the crowd. Electronic music pulses as Silicon Valley elites inhale ketamine between hors d’oeuvres. Finding refuge with Dario, a kind waiter, their connection is interrupted when Lauren introduces Defne to Ryan, whose interest is evident despite his inscrutable demeanor. The evening’s centerpiece unfolds: a pitching competition. Mars, Defne’s uninvited co-head of the lithium project, storms off after learning of her role. When Ryan nominates Defne to pitch, she hesitantly accepts offered ketamine before presenting her vision of converting seawater into sodium batteries. The crowd erupts in approval. Later, sharing a cigarette with Ryan, their conversation takes on flirtatious undertones. The evening’s warmth shatters when a self-driving Z mining truck plows through the crowd, killing Dario. As police arrive, Lauren hurries Defne away, insisting they’ll “handle it.” Questions plague Defne: How did a Z truck malfunction so catastrophically, and what has she gotten herself into?
Defne arrives at work the next day, trying to find Lauren to discuss visa concerns regarding her father, but Lauren dodges her, claiming she’s literally on her way to another meeting. Defne asks Mars about what happened to Dario, but he ignores her, clearly still despising her. Ryan, however, expresses great concern for both her visa situation and assures her an investigation into Dario’s accident is underway.
Later, Defne is taken with the team to the mining facilities, where she realizes the team is far behind their projected goals, and much of the lithium purification process from the brine hasn’t been actualized. She returns disappointed and notices police officers now stationed at the facility. Ryan introduces Defne to one of the officers, attempting to prove they’re taking the situation seriously.
Finally, Lauren agrees to meet with Defne, only to disappointingly inform her that her father’s visa won’t be immediate but will take much longer than expected. Defne is devastated.
That night, she goes alone to a nearby bar called the Ski Inn to process everything that happened. She tries calling her father with the news but is unable to reach him. At the bar, Defne notices something shocking: Dario, in the flesh, drinking alone at the very same establishment.