The Estate: A Television Pilot

By Stephanie A. Wilder

Patience Murphy inherits the billion-dollar estate of the ex-husband she despises with the stipulation that she right his long list of wrongs before she receives a dime. Buckle up for a wild ride.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stephanie A. Wilder
• Release date: Nov 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223109921

Stephanie A. Wilder

Stephanie's love for reading began at an early age. She has always loved to read a good story. Stephanie's love for reading transitioned to a love for writing and storytelling in her early twenties. Although Stephanie has written several stories, the Briarfield Lane Series is her first published book. She is thankful and excited that you are taking this journey with her. When she is not writing, Stephanie loves to hang out with her family. She is currently working toward completing her MFA in Script & Screenwriting.

Book preview

The Estate: A Television Pilot

Stephanie A. Wilder

Published by Stephanie A. Wilder, 2023.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

THE ESTATE: A TELEVISION PILOT

First edition. November 27, 2023.

Copyright © 2023 Stephanie A. Wilder.

ISBN: 979-8223109921

Written by Stephanie A. Wilder.

Also by Stephanie A. Wilder

Briarfield Lane Series

Coming Home

A Place to Land

Standalone

The Estate: A Television Pilot

Contents

The Estate: A Television Pilot

FADE IN:

TEASER

EXT. MIDDLE-CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD – DAY

PATIENCE MURPHY (40), AFRICAN AMERICAN, jogs down a sidewalk of a residential neighborhood.

PATIENCE (V.O.)

No one ever thinks about patience.

Patience looks both ways before jogging across the street. A car comes BARRELING around the corner and almost hits her. The DRIVER throws up his hands.

PATIENCE (V.O.)

Until they have to.

Patience RUNS down the sidewalk. A NEIGHBOR’S DOG CHASES her. She picks up speed.

PATIENCE (V.O.)

If I recall, patience means to suffer without getting angry or upset.

Patience makes a face. She RUNS across the street.

AN ELDERLY WOMAN (75), walking with a cane, stands at her front lawn in a bathrobe. She waves Patience down. Patience looks the other way, then jogs up to the woman.

She runs in place as the woman rattles on and on.

PATIENCE (V.O.)

Not getting angry. What kind of foolishness is that?

Patience waves goodbye to her neighbor. She runs over to the small house beside her neighbor. She stands on the porch, out of breath.

Patience looks directly at the camera.

PATIENCE

My patience, as per ushe, is being severely tested.

MONTAGE - PATIENCE INTRODUCES THE RAY CHILDREN

-- INT. ALBERTSON LAW OFFICES - DAY - Patience holds the one-year-old, SCREAMING CONNER RAY, at arm’s length.

PATIENCE (V.O.)

This little guy, Conner, is one in a set of three. We’ll call them my...inheritance.

-- INT. BRADLEY ESTATES - DAY - Patience looms large over an innocent-eyed BAILEY RAY (7). The cat, MR. SNUGGLES, lays on his side with a kid’s rain boot parked near his tummy. Bailey shrugs. Patience fumes.

PATIENCE (V.O.)

Meet his sister, Bailey. And yes, she absolutely kicked the cat.

-- EXT. BRADLEY ESTATES - NIGHT - Patience sits on the porch steps. She spots TASHA RAY (15) scaling a second-floor trellis. Mid-way down the trellis, Tasha CRASH lands on her back.

PATIENCE (V.O.)

And the genius on the trellis is their sister, Tasha. She should have used the front door.

BACK TO SCENE

PATIENCE

Patience is...overrated.

Patience walks into her house. She SLAMS the door.

END OF TEASER

ACT I

INT. MURPHY MEDIA – DAY

Patience rushes into MURPHY MEDIA with a forced upbeat attitude, carrying coffee and donuts. The small office is lively. It has a minimalist - modern vibe. STAFF sit at their desks TALKING on phones or WORKING on laptops.

TRAVIS SMITH (Early 40s) waves at Patience from his desk.

TRAVIS

Morning, boss. Ooh, coffee and donuts. I like.

Patience waves a hand.

PATIENCE

I knew you would.

Patience continues to walk.

PATIENCE

Tell everyone to meet me at