Logline: The almost autobiographical tale of a boy named Freedom, who grew up as a bisexual autistic boy with a 143 IQ in the 70s and 80s in the South. After his drug dealer father disappears and his drug addict mother dies, he has to effectively raise himself to not only be able to survive in a world that hates him, but to learn to have friends and, maybe, just maybe, find love.
"There Goes My Hero" is the story of a bisexual boy on the autism spectrum named Freedom, named so by his hippie drug addict mother. Early in his life, his father disappears and his mother overdoses a few years later, leaving Freedom to raise himself after his erstwhile godfather abandons him.
Starting in the 1970s when he is in elementary school, the story goes through his college years in the 90s. The story is told in short, fast-paced vignettes that appeal to younger audiences and deeper themes that attract older audiences.
The story shows how the system abandons him. He is abused by other children and adults as well. He's also really bad at relationships. But his smarts and his ability to learn, however slowly, lead him to grow. As do his two imaginary friends. The first is the Weather Witch, an underground comix version of Storm, and indie singer Liz Phair.
A story that starts dark ends hopeful as Freedom graduates college, has almost figured out how to date people and might even have some real friends. Freedom is also bisexual and that develops throughout the story, where he dates women and also a transsexual woman in his quest for love and understanding.
It's not my own story exactly. It's the "Into the Spider-verse," Miles Morales alternate take on Peter Parker's life. So, close enough.
I think this is the type of story that viewers need to see. So few of the stories of people with different abilities and mentalities are written by us. And we are often ignored or hated. This story shows everyone what that kind of life is like and what the effects of their own words and actions have. And that larger lesson is one that any person who has ever been marginalized can identify with. And if you don't tear up at least once while reading this script, I'll refund your money.
This spec feature was written in 2020 and last updated in 2022.
Keywords: drama, biography, autobiographical, LGBTQ+, mental health, coming of age