TV Pilot Script: Long Distance Friendship

Logline: Two lifelong best friends face the challenge of maintaining their bond when one family's relocation threatens to tear them apart.

Genre: Coming-of-Age Drama

Characters:

• Flint: 16, thoughtful, loyal, struggling with change.
• Leo: 16, outgoing, optimistic, resourceful.
• Flint's Dad: Supportive but firm, focused on family.
• Leo's Mom: Understanding, empathetic, offers practical advice.

Scene 1:

INT. FLINT'S BEDROOM - DAY

Flint and Leo are sprawled on the floor, surrounded by video game controllers and empty pizza boxes. The room is cluttered but comfortable, reflecting their shared history. Flint stares blankly at the ceiling.

LEO (Sighs) So… that’s it, huh? No more Friday night pizza and video game marathons? No more sneaking out to that abandoned lot to build forts?

Flint kicks at a stray sock.

FLINT (Muttering) No more anything.

LEO Hey, don’t be like that. It’s not the end of the world. It’s just… a really long distance.

Flint sits up, his eyes welling.

FLINT It’s not “just” a long distance, Leo. It’s… everything. We’ve been together since kindergarten. We did everything together. Remember that time we tried to build a treehouse and ended up stuck in the branches for hours?

Leo laughs, a bittersweet sound.

LEO Yeah, and Mrs. Gable had to call the fire department. Good times.

FLINT (Voice cracking) It’s not going to be the same. It’s just… not going to be the same.

Leo reaches out and puts a hand on Flint’s shoulder.

LEO I know, man. It sucks. But we’ll figure something out. We always do.

Scene 2:

INT. LEO'S KITCHEN - DAY

Leo's mom is making sandwiches. Leo sits at the kitchen table, looking dejected.

LEO'S MOM (Softly) He’s taking it hard, isn’t he?

LEO Yeah. It’s like losing a limb. We’ve been inseparable since… well, forever.

LEO'S MOM (Nods understandingly) Long-distance friendships are tough, but not impossible. You guys have a strong bond. You’ll find a way to keep it alive. Think about all the ways you can stay connected.

LEO (Thoughtful) Video calls, texting… maybe we could even plan visits during school breaks?

LEO'S MOM Exactly. And don't forget the power of letters. Sometimes, a handwritten letter can mean more than a thousand texts.

Scene 3:

MONTAGE

A montage of Flint and Leo maintaining their friendship despite the distance: video calls filled with laughter and shared inside jokes, text messages exchanged throughout the day, occasional weekend visits filled with catching up and shared activities. They explore new ways to connect, using online gaming and collaborative projects to bridge the gap.

Scene 4:

INT. FLINT'S NEW BEDROOM - NIGHT

Flint is on a video call with Leo. They're both older, a year or two has passed. They're laughing at something on Leo's screen.

FLINT (Smiling) Remember that time we…

LEO (Interrupting, laughing) …tried to make a volcano out of baking soda and vinegar and ended up with a sticky mess all over Mrs. Gable's garden?

FLINT (Laughing) Never forget.

They both fall silent for a moment, a comfortable silence.

FLINT It’s… different, but… it’s okay.

LEO Yeah. It’s different, but good different. We found a way.

They both smile, a genuine, heartfelt smile. The distance is still there, but their friendship remains strong, adapted and resilient. The camera focuses on their faces, highlighting the enduring bond between them. The pilot ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that even the greatest distances cannot truly break a true friendship.