Parity Pipeline

Genre

Synopsis

We enter the world of THE WAVES as SYDNEY and her best friend since childhood CORY spend their final day in Los Angeles where Sydney obtains end-of-life meds.

At the airport the next day, Sydney’s ALS cause her legs to fail as she takes a fall.

Back at her family’s midwestern lake house, a party crowd gathers to celebrate Sydney’s final night on earth. Syd takes in each person’s face, eyes, and smile for the last time ever.

When the guests leave, despite Cory’s last ditch plea, Sydney retires to her room to watch the sun come up before taking her lethal dose jello, beating ALS to the punch.

To support her, Cory stands outside with a boombox raised above her head playing “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel-- a nod to their shared favorite movie -- so that Sydney leaves life with a smile.

Syd’s final wish is that her college friends will reunite for a weekend she posthumously planned for them.

SYDNEY (V.O.)

Just come! Cory will work out the details. And please know that each of you

were a part of the last smile on my face. I love you forever, Sydney.

The friends arrive, quickly falling into the sibling roles. SIMONE, the Creole Princess who has secretly tanked her family’s real estate business. MIA, the kickass sports reporter. And REENIE, the college professor still living a mostly closeted life. Sydney's death has opened old wounds and deepened new personal turmoil each for all of them. After first refusing to come, ALEX, the brash, New Yorker/record exec, arrives late and drunk and blows chow all over the dinner table. This sets the tone for the emotional exorcism that is their weekend.

On Saturday morning, Cory and Reenie head off to the farmer's market where they run into Reenie's old lover. Cory encourages Reenie to embrace her queerness.

Throughout the weekend, Sydney's ghost arrives to connect with each woman, sometimes giving encouragement, other times gently taking them to task for the BS.

During the “reverse scavenger hunt” to sprinkle Syd’s ashes around the old college campus, the women learn that each location is connected to their friendship with Syd. Long-held secrets are revealed. Flirtations with boys happen. And ashes are sent flying during a party. The women all struggle with the loss that brought them back together, and friendships are tested.

Before they leave, Cory gives the women Sydney’s final gift — check enabling each of them to follow their dreams. They realize Syd loved them more than they had maybe ever learned to love themselves.

Alex finally cracks open emotionally. But following Sydney’s final ghostly visit advice, she turns to the friends who are still there, and settles into the fold to finally begin to heal her many wounds.

Our friends, how seldom visited, how little known—it is true; and yet, when I meet an unknown person, and try to break off, here at this table, what I call ‘my life,’ it is not one life that I look back upon; I am not one person; I am many people; I do not altogether know who I am...or how to distinguish my life from theirs.

-- The Waves, Virginia Woolf