A Day In The Life Of A Renter

This pilot is based on actual events.

Mere moments after we lived it.

The finale is yet to be known.

*

Setting: An Apartment on the outskirts of Syracuse, NY.

Cast: *23 year old grad student. *(exhausted)Middle aged mom and dad *Four - 20 something year old, friendly neighborhood squatters. *Dan, the apologetic property manager

Set Scene: Young grad school student moves across country to attend grad school. After a 12 hour road trip, towing a U-haul, a surprise awaits them, in the form of unexpected guests.

Scene starts: The parents and student arrive- at previously, online rented apartment, after 10 pm, on a warm summer night.

While attempting to gain access to the apartment, via passcode. They are unpleasantly surprised by a group of young men, squatting in her building, including her space.

As they are about to call the manager, one of the boys approaches, looking at the u-haul, he asks. “Uh…are you moving in here?” Before anyone can answer, he continues…”Well, we, we were told it was ok to stay here, his brother let us in. “

The frazzled Student, begins to text their friends, informing them of the situation.

The parents stand in shock, stammering, “WHO ARE YOU, and WHAT are you doing in this apartment?”

Young man hollers at his friends, “hey man, these guys are here to move in.”

Two of his friends excuse themselves, through a side window, as the third meanders out, cradling a cat and 3 kittens in his fanny pack.

He says to the mom, “sorry ma’am…”you didn’t call anyone on us did you?”

Mom, still in disbelief, answers, “uh, no?!”

Third boy, yells down the street for the others to come back, needing help to corral the kittens.

Dad says, “awww, cute kittens.” To which the student rolls her eyes, continuing to text, updating the story with her confidants.

After a few long moments pass, the first boy offers to come back and help move the student and their belongings into the now trashed apartment.

Declining the offer, the dad gives an ultimatum. He informs them that they be gone by 8, the following morning. When they intended to return to meet the property manager.

Climbing back in the over stuffed, “towing Time Machine”, they begin to wander the unfamiliar streets, searching for a hotel, to seek refuge.

Dad, trying to show dominance and regain control, slams the door of moms jeep. This in turn releases the “Mom” glare in the rear view, reminding them just why they are no longer married. Dad ignores glare, watching the light pass by, out of the window.

Two hotels, and an hour later, around midnight, they crash at a nearby Holiday Inn. Hoping to rest, while awaiting contact with the manager.

Around 7:15, said manager calls the students phone, waking them from a restless sleep. He apologizes profusely and assures them that he now has it all under control.

He has cleaners and locksmiths in route, to get everything cleaned, secured and straightened out.

He promises to call soon, letting them know when it was all clear to return to the “scene of the crime,” finally moving in.

As hotels go, check out is at 11.

Not having heard any news from the manager, needing to checkout, and no where to go.

They set out to make the trip back to the students apartment.

As they arrive, they are greeted by the crew, still sorting through the items left behind by the squatters.

They tell the weary travelers that, after they had left, the evening before, the men returned, relieving the apartment of its refrigerator.

And as a matter of fact, two of the men were still there, as they arrived.

After chasing them off, and threatening to have them arrested, they got back to work, changing the locks and cleaning up the place.

Another conversation, (this time, face to face), with the manager. He gives them a quick walkthrough of the situation, and assures them, that everything was going to be made right

He then escorts them to another location, a furnished apartment, as a temporary fix.

The swanky replacement is just enough to offset the tension and offers the shell shocked travelers a bit of respite.

As they settled in for a peaceful evening, preparing for the move and upcoming trip back home. The live band next door, begins to play.

Looking at one another, they begin to laugh, followed by tearful sobs.

*

Stay tuned for more exciting episodes with season two: Life after the experience.

Will the squatters get another chance to make a good impression? Will the property manager follow through, getting his business in order? Will the student ever get rid of their parents or be able to enjoy her new refrigerator?