Moon Unit (Narrative Podcast)
Developed with Lachlan Woods
Format: 6x15 minute episodes
Logline:
Four squabbling astronauts, two snide A.I. systems and one shifty alien set out to save Earth - before they drive each other nuts.
Synopsis:
STEVEN WEST (31), the narcissistic golden boy of Australian astronautics, is en-route to Moon Unit Daedelus when a wormhole opens near Mars and ejects a massive asteroid - headed straight for Earth.
With typical aplomb the pedantic Swiss commander of the Daedelus, HELEN LANDENBERGER (37), orders Steven to redirect his Lunar Shuttle, ram the asteroid and blow it up. He is humanity’s only hope!
But Steven demurs - it’s not really his fate to be a kamikaze pilot, is it?…
With Earth now in ruins Steven must adapt to life in the Daedelus.
Along with a very angry Helen, he is joined by GUSTAV PAPP (56), (erratic Hungarian Maintenance Officer), and MARLA CUSTER (28) - an insecure American geologist who thinks he’s out to steal her job. Collectively, they rely on LES, the obnoxious AI system of the Daedelus who in turn harbours a deep and irrational hatred for ROXY - the snippy AI system on Steven’s Lunar Shuttle.
Fair to say, things are tense.
But then AZACOUGH, an all-powerful cosmic entity, bestows the Daedelus with an alien servant named BOGUSROLEX.
Bogusrolex is a duplicitous Eckneetarian of poor reputation - but he holds the key to inter-dimensional space travel! If they play their cards right they could rewind for a “do-over” and save Earth for real. And they really really want to do that, just to get away from each other…
What could possibly go wrong?!
Faster than you can say Rick and Morty meets Blackadder here comes…Moon Unit!
GOD HELP US ALL.
Target audience:
Genre fans; 25-34 & 35-44; Skewing strongly male
Comps:
Rick and Morty, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Blackadder.
Project history:
Shortlisted 2011 Edward Albee International Playwriting Residency (New York) (Earlier theatre concept, has since evolved into a narrative podcast)
Stage of development:
Pilot episode (Second Draft) + Series Bible.
Request a pitch-deck, and/or read the script.