Diff'rent Strokes - Pilot Outline

NOTE: Different Strokes pilot had a trump card to its conflict the entire time. “Momma wanted us here so it’s wrong to her if we don’t live here.” Nothing about THE PLOT convinced the boys to stay. It was that one fact. A fact that was true the entire time, but they held it in their back pocket and deployed it at the exact right moment. THAT is amazing and elegant, and THAT is heart and THAT is the kind of organic moment in a pilot that we should be looking for.

Written by Bernie Kukoff & Jeff Harris

ACT 1 OUT: Willis launches secret plan to leave in the morning.
ACT 2 OUT: They say they’ll stay.
 
ACT ONE
 

• Dad preps maid for two boys joining them
  • Boys – Willis and Arnold – arrive
  • They meet dad. They meet sister Kimberly.
  • The dad tells them they’re gonna have a good life. Offers to show them the hot tub.    
• Dad shows the kids a hot  tub
• Dad shows kids their room
• Once the dad leaves, big bro tells little that they won’t be here for long

 
ACT TWO
 

• Arnold wants to stay but Willis wants to leave. The dad invites them to knicks game etc. but they are cold to him.
• Maid tells dad they should have some family fun to keep the kids from running away.
• After Dinner: dad gets the kids toys and a pony.
• The boys argue about leaving, but then younger points out that momma wanted them there and the older bro isn’t being fair to her.
• Last scene: willis tells the guy that they’re gonna stay.