The Trip Sitter
The Trip Sitter
The Reluctant Spiritualist - Enlightenment by Osmosis - 2nd Hand Enlightenment
(It’s like Anger Management meets Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas)
(and I hate saying that)
Characters
Zach - (late 30s-late 40s) Ideally a Zach Galifianakis type. Recently divorced,
fallen mega-church pastor, and desperate for income, opens his desert home and
property to various groups on spiritual retreats in exchange for cash. These will
include groups that use Ayahuasca, Peyote, LSD, DMT, mushrooms, etc. Zach is a
man of God who’s motives may be altruistic but are unclear. The retreat members
are all there for a reason - to heal - and Zach and the shaman(s) often spar over the
path to healing in a comedic way; taking shots at the shortcomings in each other’s
philosophy. Zach will also have deep conversations with guests while they are in
the throes of psychedelia, and these conversations will reveal answers to problems
that are troubling Zach.
Pat - (late 30s - early 50s) Zach’s best friend and former mega-church treasurer.
Now a stressed and over-worked Uber driver who spends long hours driving
drunken millennials around town.
Kate - (mid 30s - mid 40s) Zach’s sexy neighbor who is a dog walker, with
different dogs each week. She and Zach have an undeniable chemistry.
Sam - (late 50s - early 70s) older man/woman who supplements a limited fixed
income by selling drugs. A former pharmaceutical rep who was shoved out of the
work force just before retirement age by younger competitors. He/She has an ax to
grind and sells street drugs to elder friends.
Charles - (mid - late 50s; “a decade away from retirement”) survived the recession
by doing the work of 2 men for salary of 1. Charles represents what happens to us
if we don’t change. He struggles to maintain a lifestyle of decades past, believing
that if he plays by life’s “rules”, he will be rewarded in the end. He is constantly
stressed, overworked and yet proclaims to be living his best life. He clings to
status symbols of the past.
Story Line
A young man, and former mega-church star pastor (Zach) decides to open his
desert home to groups of people who are on spiritual/psychedelic journeys.
Desperate for income, he works as a trip sitter, staying sober so his guests can feel
safe while they trip and reach for enlightenment. He is constantly surrounded by
people who are tripping and his conversations with them reveal deep truths about
life and human behavior. These insights often help bring resolutions to conflicts in
Zach’s own life. His proximity to these people and their experiences gives him an
enlightened outlook on life without ever having taken drugs himself. Yet he
remains hesitant to incorporate any wisdom gleaned from the use of psychedelics.
His home business will bring him into contact with users of LSD, Ayahuasca, DMT
and mushrooms. A special by-product of his job is true enlightenment by osmosis.
In the current economic climate, his friends (regulars) include
Uber driver (young man)
dog walker (young woman)
drug dealer (older person)
$uccessful but miserable (Representing economy of the past)
Affirmation cards will be used as chapter breaks or episode titles.
Each group/episode has a leader/shaman that is sometimes a local scam artist.
(guest stars, or possible recurring)
The groups are diverse and from all over the world which gives different takes on
spirituality. (guest stars and co stars)
Certain sitcom standards are observed - what they are, I’ve no idea.
stock (ish) characters
The central character (star) shares the audience POV.
He/She is surrounded by clowns.
The young man, young woman, outsider, older person, wild card, what have you.
Each episode will focus on a theme in the spirituality/self-help universe.
scams
addiction
depression/divorce
mid-life crisis
connection
extra dimensions
life goals
acceptance
competition
vomiting/diarrhea
