Will you go out with me?

Logline

Milly an agoraphobic bisexual romance novelist. She writes epic love stories but has never been on a date, in fact she has not left the house in five years.

Theme/stylings

The show is a slice of life comedy with an element of personal conflict. The comedy arises from strange relationships between characters, unfortunate but funny situations and the protagonist’s bizarrely loveable disposition. It embraces the themes of rejection, family bonds, and overcoming with plenty of ironic twists. It will be a vibrant show with colourful characters and will primarily be aimed at young adults, specifically within the LGBTQIA+ community.

Synopsis

The show will follow Milly on her venture to find love. Milly is a successful romance novelist currently writing her third book. She hasn’t left the house in five years and is ready to find the love of her life. She is determined to be able to use her own experiences to elevate her writing. Each episode will showcase Milly trying to find a date and failing hilariously, whilst learning life lessons along the way. It is a short series, with a hilarious romantic build up. As well as a romantic foundation, we witness epic character development, with Milly accomplishing new goals. She may not get a date straight away, but she does grow as a person.

In each episode months will pass; this will be shown via seasonal clues and Milly’s everchanging hairstyle/colour. This allows Milly time to psych herself up for the next challenge, each more substantial than the last.

Examples of Milly’s new feats each episode:

Episode 1 - The profile

Feat - Milly ventures outside of her fantasy world for the first time in years and puts herself out there via online dating. But it all goes wrong.

Episode 2 - The ice cream van

Feat - Milly leaves the house for the first time in five years. She takes a walk in her local park, there is a lovely looking ice cream van and the girl working in the van is even lovelier. But it all goes wrong.

Episode 3- The boy buying lemons

Feat - Milly goes to the supermarket. Once there she sees a cute boy buying lemons. She works up the courage to ask him out. But it all goes wrong.

Episode 4 - The Concert

Feat - Milly calls up an old friend and is invited to a concert, this is the biggest feat yet for Milly. As a bonus the friend is Milly’s childhood crush. But it all goes wrong.

Episode 5- The Date

Feat - The episode final, Milly accomplishes her ultimate dream, a date! Not only a date but a romantic candle lit dinner with her childhood crush. It all goes well.

Of course, the message of the show is impactful, but it wouldn’t be complete without some mini catastrophes. Such as obliviousness to a suggestive conversation, a fall into a fruit stand or wearing the wrong outfit to an event. The viewers will love the monumental but also amusingly simple changes in Milly’s day to day.

In addition to enjoying the adventurous spirit of Milly, viewers will feel comfort in knowing each episode features Milly and her grandmother. In each episode Grandmother Flora will help Milly turn her adventure into a saucy chapter of a romance novel. Thus shaping the failed or mundane into a steamy interaction in Milly’s fantasy world. This is a hobby for the dynamic duo. Milly and her grandmother are extremely close, and Flora is always here to help Milly with her writing, providing her at times with real life examples. Yes, that’s right! Grandmother Flora has lived a life full of romance and isn’t afraid to tell Milly all the lude/naughty details. This will be the way each episode wraps up.

To note:

Milly asks a new character on a date in every single episode apart from the last one where she is finally successful. Flora burns a casserole in every single episode, however, in the last one manages to make the perfect casserole for Milly and her date. I feel this ending perfectly encompasses the shows message; you can achieve your goals despite setbacks.

Characters

Main Characters-

Milly

Sexuality - Bisexual

Age - 25

Occupation - Writer

Goals - To become a top seller, find love and to explore.

Obstacles - Agoraphobia, anxiety, and lack of confidence.

Character overview - Milly whilst lacking confidence is proficient in language and literacy skills. She can write about things she’s never experienced and draw her readers in. She is compassionate, friendly, anxious, and timid. However, we see her come out of her shell a little more each episode. Milly is also sarcastic and hates injustice. She is proud to be queer and expresses it through a weird and wonderful fashion sense. She often takes inspiration from whimsy goth, cottage core and cyberpunk aesthetics.

Grandmother Flora

Age - 84

Sexuality - heterosexual

Previous occupation - Dancer

Goals - Helping Milly step out of her comfort zone and making the perfect casserole.

Obstacles - Milly’s fears and managing to burn every casserole she has ever made.

Character Overview - Flora is a bubbly and an extremely charismatic lady. When she was young, she was a talented dancer and travelled the world. She has had many an adventure and romantic escapade. She is outgoing and people either love or hate her, there is no in between. Flora’s biggest passion/motivation is her granddaughter, and this will be a huge theme from the outset. We often see Flora wearing minimalistic, chic and up to date fashions. Flora has always adored a trend.

Sidney (Milly’s childhood crush)

Age - 24

Sexuality - Lesbian

Occupation - Hotel receptionist

Goals - Become a successful musician, to find love and to travel.

Character overview - Sidney is a slight loner with a drive to become a successful guitarist. She is very knowledgeable about music, hence why inviting her crush Milly to a concert was apt. Of course, both Sidney and Milly are unaware of the reciprocated feelings, creating laugh out loud dramatic irony in the final few episodes. Sidney takes inspiration from the grunge aesthetic.

Minor characters

(These characters are brief romantic interests to our protagonist throughout the show)

Rachel (the girl running the ice cream van)

Age - 23

Sexuality - unknown

Occupation - Ice cream server

Goals - To make enough money for a car and to pass her university exams.

Obstacles - Low paying job and procrastination pattern

Character overview - Rachel is a hard worker, determined and overall, a friendly hothead. In fact, it was one of her headstrong moments that attracts our main character to her. Milly admires her unapologetic fieriness. We don’t really know her style as she is in her uniform, but we can see many piercings and finger tattoos.

Hayden (the boy buying lemons)

Age - 27

Sexuality - unlabeled

Occupation - Office worker

Goals - To read the full Lord of the Ring’s series (yeah that’s it)

Obstacles - Despises reading.

Character overview - Hayden is a somewhat scruffy gamer. He has a gentle soul but there isn’t much going on upstairs. He has a natural ditsy disposition and lives a peaceful life. Every week he buys lemons to put in his tea. One day he does so at the same time Milly goes to the supermarket. Here we see his chill vibe and Milly’s high-strung energy collide.

Pilot Episode

This is the first time we meet our staple characters Milly and Grandmother Flora. This is the only episode not showing Milly leave the house. In this episode we see Milly in her natural closed off environment. However, we see her taking a step towards her goal.

Beginning - Milly and Flora are in the kitchen having a cup of tea. Milly, writing an explicit scene for her next novel (the audience will catch a snippet of the scene) and Grandmother Flora smoking a Cuban cigar. This initial image gives the viewers an idea of their closeness. They see the two are not afraid to be themselves around each other which is important for the comedy to flourish in this story. After this scene we cut to Milly in her eccentric 70s style room, with her book series front and centre on a high shelf. She is browsing dating apps, suddenly, taking the plunge and clicking download. Milly is flooded with messages from rowdy men. Milly runs downstairs to show Flora. This leads to a scene of the pair mocking the attempts of Milly’s virtual suiters and picking out lines that could be used in the romance novel. This scene is extremely important as it is the first of many times, we see the two use experiences and turn them into dirty fiction.

Middle - It has been a week since Milly began online dating with no luck when she receives a message from Laura. A simple hello. Finally, not a suggestive pick-up line! However, as the conversation continues it is obvious that Laura is looking for a girl to join her, and her boyfriend Jack in the bedroom. Well, this is obvious to the viewers but not to Milly. Milly’s charming naivety is transparent with her missing every suggestion of a boyfriend in the mix. She thinks she’s planning a picnic date near the botanic gardens with strawberries and cream to enjoy, however Laura believes Milly is agreeing to an outside rendezvous. A rendezvous involving Milly, Laura and eating strawberries and cream from Jack’s sixpack. This misunderstanding occurring from Milly’s failure to read Laura’s profile. It is only when Milly shows the conversation to Flora who congenially reveals the truth. Flora lets Milly in on what she’s been unwittingly a part of. Although there is an initial sadness, Milly also finds the hilarity in the situation. Her grandma offers to make a casserole as she lights up a cigar (both a common occurrence throughout the series).

End - Grandmother Flora takes a burnt casserole from the oven as she and Milly have another brainstorming session for the upcoming novel. Grandmother Flora goes into intimate details about her experiences in a party of three. Milly takes inspiration from both her online experiences, and her grandma’s stories to begin writing her next chapter. The viewers hearing obscene commentary between the characters as Milly types furiously. This scene fades, and the pilot comes to an end.

Summary

To summarize this show will not only be 'laugh out loud' but will show blossoming queer romance, personal growth, supportive family, failure, overcoming failure and of course success. It will be a comfort show to many. It highlights that by taking small steps, we can accomplish greatness.