Survival

SURVIVAL

Written by Alicia Pozsony

“Based on a true story.”

LOGLINE

In the turbulent 1980s, a courageous young girl defies all odds - prejudice, racism, love's complexities, loss, trauma, and her mother's schizophrenia, all while transcending circumstances of growing up. Audiences will be amazed as they watch her struggle with herself, the blurred lines of the relationship with her mother through the decades.  Will her ultimate freedom cost her mother’s love?  Will she find the strength to finally rise above, or will she remain yearning for connection in her mother's hell?

INTRODUCTION

‘Survival’ is a gripping and introspective narrative that delves into the consequences of abandonment, offering a powerful narrative of resilience and survival against overwhelming odds. As an American coming-of-the-age tale, it blends elements of a psychological thriller with a captivating character study as a 1980s dramedy . This television show confronts the lasting impact of childhood trauma head-on, compelling viewers to confront the haunting twists within its episodes. Alicia Pozsony, a successful professional and entrepreneur, courageously unveils her fiercely guarded past, revealing the harrowing hardships she endured. From trauma, hunger, and poverty to homelessness, truancy, and a turbulent upbringing in foster homes, Alicia's childhood was plagued by adversity. Her mother, grappling with her own inner demons, provided a distressing lack of medical care and subjected Alicia to unstable living conditions, including stays in psychiatric wards and periods of living on the streets. For years, Alicia concealed her tumultuous history, sharing it only with her husband. However, driven by her determination to break free from the generational curse, she embarked on a profound journey of self-discovery. Through revisiting her tortured past, Alicia reevaluates the significance of every aspect of her compromised childhood, seeking redemption and a new understanding of herself. From sleeping on makeshift beds in crowded apartments to finding shelter in the back seat of a car, Alicia's experiences were marked by instability and the constant fear of her unpredictable mother's embrace or harm. This television show serves as a poignant account of a troubled mother-daughter relationship while also exploring themes of resilience, transcendence, and ultimately, redemption. Alicia's quest to understand her past and reconcile with the mother she once hoped to heal offers a profound meditation on the power of resilience and the possibility of transformation.  Against all odds, she forges an independent path, illuminating the lives of those around her with love, laughter, happiness and resilience.

CORE MESSAGE & WRITER’S STATEMENT

By delving into individuals' inherent nostalgia and transporting them back to the 1980s, where intricate familial dynamics and unorthodox upbringing intertwine, I aim to ignite inspiration in others through my personal journey of surviving emotional abandonment and dysfunction caused by mental illness. I hope that people will be moved by my story and feel empowered to take action, utilizing their own abilities to embark on a healing journey or make a positive impact on others. Shedding light on the pressing issue of mental illness, particularly relevant in today's world, I aim to show fellow survivors that their trauma can make them stronger. Throughout my life, I have faced various challenges and adversities, but I refused to be a victim. Instead, I became self-aware and found the strength to rise above my circumstances, leading a healthy, fulfilled, and complete life. In these turbulent times, my experiences serve as a guide for individuals seeking to overcome their own obstacles. Moreover, those who haven't endured such trauma can gain a newfound awareness and understanding of mental illness, which can drive them to establish support systems within society for the underprivileged. This profound journey beckons to all, embracing those who yearn to reconnect with their cherished childhood, mend the bonds of family relationships, confront personal traumas, seek truth and healing, and ultimately, glean invaluable lessons about the significance of familial ties, the impact of childhood decisions, and the transformative power of love, care, and honesty in relationships. I aim to touch the core of every human being, where compassion resides, inspiring them to take action and care for others—the very essence our world desperately needs. Additionally, I intend to engage young adults, who are part of the educational system, by planting a seed of compassion and helping them understand life through my story. This will ignite something within them, enabling them to process their own experiences, grow, and eventually share their own stories in the future, thereby facilitating healing. Running parallel to my personal narrative is the exploration of how faith served as a stronghold throughout life's constant changes. I navigate personal traumas and disruptions from a healed adult perspective, demonstrating how I transcended the negative influence of my mother's behavior. Ultimately, I achieved remarkable success—despite being damaged—by living a life of wholeness, free from hyper instability and dysfunction's turbulent grip. The ultimate gift of peace, only attained through conquering one's battles, became my reality.

CHARACTERS

Alicia Pozsony:  Alicia's early life was marred by challenges and adversity. Born prematurely and abandoned by her father, she grew up in an urban environment in New Brunswick, constantly facing the difficulties of being a minority. She experienced a profound sense of being an outcast. Alicia faced countless hardships and lacked the stability that most take for granted. The absence of support led her to drop out of school and, tragically, she was subjected to the trauma of being raped by her half-brother. However, a turning point came after high school when she secured an office job. During this time, Alicia sought guidance from a counselor who provided her with a sense of normalcy, stability, and structure, transforming her outlook on life. In the midst of her struggles, Alicia met her husband, who came from a supportive and nurturing family. Although he was initially different from her, he showed her love and offered her a chance at a better life. However, as Alicia's problems and challenges affected her husband, he began to distance himself from her, creating a strain in their relationship. Alicia's character arc reaches its pinnacle as she finds herself in a position to help her mother. Despite her hardships, Alicia managed to find solace and stability in her life with her husband and children. While potty training her own child, her mother unexpectedly appeared at her doorstep drenched in filth, prompting Alicia to show tough love and establish boundaries. She does not give up on her mother and continues to help her until she admits her to a rehabilitation center. Ultimately, Alicia found peace and fulfillment as she embraced a healthier life with her husband and children, overcoming the adversities that once plagued her.

Roberta Palmer: Roberta's upbringing was marked by a profound absence of love and acceptance from her mother in their humble houses. Claire, Roberta's mother, made it clear that she despised her daughter, subjecting her to continuous emotional turmoil and making her life unbearable. However, Roberta's life took a tumultuous turn when she eloped with Marco after discovering she was pregnant. Their journey together was fraught with hardships and tragedy. Along the way, Roberta endured the unimaginable pain of experiencing rape, leaving her emotionally scarred. Ultimately, she and Marco returned home, unable to forge an independent and stable life for themselves in the face of their challenging circumstances. Their families forcefully separated them. Marco later enlists in the US Army, leading them to relocate to Germany. Upon Marco's return, he abandons Roberta and Alicia to pursue higher education alongside his father. Meanwhile, Roberta follows Marco, bringing their child with her. Suddenly, Marco disappears from her life, leaving her alone once again with Alicia at her disposal. She enters into a new relationship, gets married, and becomes a mother once again. Tragically, she faces a legal battle for custody of her child, resulting in her losing parental rights. Devastated, she finds solace in the companionship of another man, a police officer, but as his career was improvising and he became an undercover detective, her mental health begins to deteriorate. He was playing different roles to save lives and she was acting in different roles with no other choice. Roberta's life takes a downward spiral, leading to homelessness and a series of traumatic experiences over 15 years. Eventually, she finds herself in a group home as her circumstances worsen. In a desperate act during the onset of her cognitive decline, she steals an ambulance, believing she was “just going to the bank”, leading to her arrest and subsequent incarceration. Alicia, now living a stable life with a family of her own, leaves everything to travel 800 miles to rescue her from jail. Finally, Roberta receives the care she needs in a rehabilitation center. However, her journey takes another heartbreaking turn as she begins to experience further cognitive decline and is diagnosed with dementia, adding another layer of complexity and challenges to her life.

SYNOPSIS

An inspiring memoir-style narrative set in New Jersey during the tumultuous decades of the 70s and 80s, continuing into the present day. This story is based on the true story of Alicia Pozsony’s life, portraying the challenges she faced while growing up—a leaf tossed by the winds of change. She paints a vivid picture of the profound impact of her courageous journey, surviving the painful yet beautiful existence alongside a mentally ill mother who struggled to find stability. Amidst it all, hope and grace prevail.

This poignant tale follows an American girl's path through the perils of adolescence, navigating the treacherous waters of prejudice, racism, love, loss, rape, depression, anxiety, panic, her mother's schizophrenia, and the unknown. Trapped in her mother's personal hell, she wrestles with the desperate desire to make her mother happy while trying to strike a delicate balance with her own needs. Will she be able to save her mother or rise above her circumstances and break free from the profound loneliness that engulfs her?

As she tries to help her mother attain some comfort and serenity within, she also reminisces about the personal struggles of Roberta, her mother, and how she grew up in an extremely harsh environment lacking love, empathy, and support. She talks about her upbringing in a family where she was unwanted and treated like an outsider. Her mother deemed her existence as a mistake and always made her feel unwanted until she found a guy and ran away with him. It is with him, she conceived Alicia.

Running parallel to the primary narrative is the story of how she discovered solace in faith—a steadfast anchor guiding her through life's relentless changes. From the perspective of a healed adult, she recounts her journey of growth beyond the influence of her mother's struggles, ultimately achieving an extraordinary triumph as a damaged individual who found wholeness. By breaking free from the wind tunnel of dysfunction and escaping the labyrinth of survival, she attains the ultimate gift of peace that accompanies the victorious conquest of personal battles.

PILOT EPISODE

Officer Kenny from the Ocean Township Police Department encounters a disheveled elderly woman aimlessly wandering through the dense woods in the heart of the pine barrens. Curiosity piqued, he approaches her and learns that she is on a journey to visit her daughter residing in Hamilton. Intrigued by this revelation, Kenny searches within the police database, unveiling the woman's identity as Roberta Palmer, who had been reported missing by her daughter Alicia. As fate would have it, Alicia receives an unexpected phone call while preparing breakfast for her husband Chris, and their three-year-old son Nico, informing her of her mother's fortuitous discovery. Reacting swiftly, she promptly leaves for the nearby police station. During her drive, a wave of nostalgia washes over Alicia's thoughts, prompting her to reflect upon her mother's storied past.

In an aging farmhouse, Roberta resided alongside her mother Claire, father Franklin Sr., and her two siblings, Eleanor and Franklin Jr. Unfortunate circumstances befell the family when Roberta's younger brother, Timmy, tragically succumbed to pneumonia. However, Claire, harboring a deep resentment towards Roberta, unfairly placed the blame for Timmy's passing upon her. This unjust treatment reflected Claire's undeniable disdain for her own daughter, with Franklin Jr. and Eleanor being the sole recipients of her affection. Burdened with excessive household chores, Roberta endured her mother's callousness, even being denied the same sustenance as the rest of the family. Roberta's father, Franklin Sr., remained a kind-hearted man who cared for his family deeply. Yet, his fear of Claire's tyrannical presence prevented him from speaking up against the mistreatment of his daughter.

At the age of 17, Roberta's life takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Marco Palmer, a young man from an affluent town with aspirations of becoming a musician. Mutual attraction blossoms between them, leading to a burgeoning romance. However, Claire vehemently disapproves of Marco, denying Roberta the chance at happiness. Roberta finds solace and moments of joy in her relationship with Marco, attending parties and experiencing a newfound sense of happiness. Time passes, and Roberta discovers she is pregnant. Determined to build a life together, she and Marco decide to elope, with Marco surreptitiously acquiring funds from his own household. Amidst their hasty escape, Claire unleashes a torrent of scathing insults and warnings, proclaiming that Roberta will be incapable of caring for herself. Despite Claire's venomous words, the young couple, driven by love, pay no heed to her caustic remarks and embark on their journey together.

Marco and Roberta decide to seek help from Earl, Roberta's cousin who resides in Florida. However, their attempts to reach him by phone prove unsuccessful. Undeterred, they choose to travel to Florida by bus. During their journey, they realize they are running dangerously low on funds. Fortunately, they meet a couple on the bus who happens to own a diner in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Recognizing their dire situation, the couple kindly offers them a job and a place to stay. Grateful for the opportunity, Roberta and Marco accept and move into the living space above the diner.

Working diligently and with unwavering dedication, they spend several days at the diner, yet occasional doubts about their decision to leave home begin to creep into their minds. Despite their persistent attempts to contact Earl, he continues to elude them. Nevertheless, fueled by the hope of eventually connecting with Earl, they continue their journey toward Tennessee.

During a stop at a campground, Marco and Roberta enjoy a meal. Marco, drawn to a group of individuals playing house music, becomes involved with them. He starts singing and indulges in drug use, informing Roberta that he wants to spend time with the group. Though reluctant, Roberta eventually allows him to go. Hours pass, and Marco fails to return. Some members of the group, who had accompanied him, come back, but their return takes a sinister turn as they subject Roberta to a horrific act of assault within the confines of their tent.

Overwhelmed by the traumatic experience, Roberta remains at the campground for several days, repeatedly visiting the campground office in hopes of obtaining information about Marco's whereabouts. The following morning, with Marco still absent, she resolves to travel to Florida alone. She also reaches out to her brother, enlisting his help in locating Marco. Once she reaches Florida, her primary objective becomes visiting her cousin Earl.

Upon arriving at Earl's residence, a distressing sight unfolds before Roberta's eyes. Strange men under the influence of drugs litter the premises. As she enters the house, she discovers Earl high on drugs, engaging in intimate acts with another man. Filled with shock and horror, Roberta hastily leaves the house.

Roberta hitchhikes with a compassionate truck driver who offers her a ride. She locates a payphone booth and contacts her brother, who informs her that Marco has been found in Jacksonville, diligently searching for her. Upon reaching the bus station in Jacksonville, Roberta spots Marco patiently waiting for her at the bus stand. The couple mutually agrees to return to their respective homes and confront their parents, revealing the truth about their recent experiences.

During their journey back, they face harsh criticism from their families. Marco reassures Roberta that he will join the army, believing that it will provide stability and care for them both. However, the following day, their families convene and reach a decision that Roberta and Marco should be separated, as it is deemed to be in their best interest. Marco is instructed to prepare for school, while Roberta finds solace in her bedroom, tearfully processing the heartbreaking turn of events.

Alicia arrives at the police station and walks inside to meet her mother.

FRANCHISE POTENTIAL

The story of Alicia's life holds great potential as a captivating TV series. With each episode, the focus can be directed towards different aspects of Alicia's experiences, delving into the intricacies of her relationship with her mother, the blurred lines that occurred within their relationship and exploring the impact of her mother's past. As the series progresses, viewers can witness Alicia's personal growth and resilience, leading up to a climactic and satisfying conclusion that completes her transformative journey.