Mayanka Goel, Writer 

Sloan Grant(s) Received: 2023, NYU, Production Award / 2024, Film Independent, Episodic Award

Project Type: Pilot

Genre: History

Length: 30 minutes

Field of Science: Biology

Stage: Sales and Distribution

Synopsis: 

Washington DC in 1960: the US is reeling from the crash of Eastern Airline Flight 375, its most devastating aviation incident to date…and Sophie Dworkin (25) has just been dumped. With no husband and no goals, she is left by herself in the company of her overbearing mother and countless regrets. Desperate, Sophie seeks refuge at the one place she loved going to as a child – the Smithsonian Museum. She signs up for the Bird Conservation class, taught by a Professor Laybourne. Sophie shows up for the class, still distraught over her breakup. She’s tired of having her life dictated to her, and for once, she would like to see something different. And that’s when she comes across her professor – Roxie Collie Laybourne, a 50-year-old woman, completely invested in her work, and looking satisfied while she does it. Roxie also happens to drive a bangin’ sports car.
Sophie is intrigued by Roxie’s life and wants to know more. While Roxie dodges Sophie’s questions, a parcel arrives for her. Roxie is asked to sign off on a statement for an unusual case by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – the case of Eastern Airline Flight 375. Roxie doesn’t agree with their conclusion that a vulture caused the plane to crash, but they aren’t here to argue with her. Roxie is left with no option but to comply, or so she thinks. Sophie convinces Roxie to go rogue (and to take her on as an assistant) and here begins their partnership.
Determined to not sign off on a theory she doesn’t believe is true, Roxie starts the investigation with Sophie. Several obstacles come their way – opposition from the museum, as well as lack of proper equipment, but they keep going. Sophie worries about ending up alone, and asks Roxie more questions about her life, being invasive yet again. Roxie is annoyed, but then it hits her – the culprit that took down a 200,000-pound aircraft. It’s the small yet powerfully invasive species, the tiny European Starling, a bird that flies in flocks of 20,000.
She submits her research, and the FAA releases its statement, confirming Roxie’s findings. The statement also includes the launch of a program that will have Roxie working with plane mechanics from all over the country. Moreover, the FBI wants to get in touch with the feather expert on criminal cases that involve feathers as evidence. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is in line too, and they want Roxie to go undercover to find some endangered species. The first person to ever devise a way to identify a bird through a piece of a feather, Roxie now has her work cut out for her, and Sophie is excited to learn more.
In the end, when Sophie’s ex-boyfriend shows up to make up to her, Sophie is able to turn away from him for good, with her work to look forward to. Meanwhile, Roxie goes back to her family to celebrate.