Selar, mid-twenties, attractive ne'er-do-well, surviving by her wits in New York City. She and her best friend Adamha attempt to orchestrate a scalping scam in front of a matinee. But the cops and one intended victim are on to it, and Selar leads a wild chase through the sidewalks of Broadway. Ducking into an alley, she hides in a dumpster ("Al A. Din's Bins"), where a bottle drops into her pocket.
Climbing out, she rubs it and out pops Genie, an old curmudgeon in a ill-fitting, Goodwill suit. He explains how it works: you get your wish but have to give up something in return. Three wishes? No, that's just a myth. Unlimited wishes, but only if you relinquish something of equal value. A few parameters, though. He's solid with wishes for material things, but he can't change anyone's basic nature. And love wishes are out. "Love is a stand alone thing, with nothing of equal value."
After a few small glitches, Selar settles into the arrangement. She's even able to position Adamha into a meet and greet with her love-at-first-sight hunk, Trey, the scion of Charles Sultan, founder of Baghdad Capital. He's smitten. But that threatens the plans of Frieda, our mid-thirties, ruthlessly ambitious shark in designer threads. Trey and Baghdad are to be hers. She even finagles Charles's permission to marry Trey.
Turns out, Genie is all too familiar with Frieda, the previous master of the bottle. She lost the bottle, but retained Solomon's ring, which permits the holder unlimited wishes with nothing in return. No problem for Selar, she'll just steal the ring. Selar and Adamha break into Frieda's office, but are caught and arrested. Genie helps Selar get released, but not before Trey has disappeared. Frieda kidnaps Adamha to have her help find Trey.
Finding them should be easy with Genie's help, but Selar has already given up just about anything she has of value. So she has to consult the all-seeing eye: the CBS building, of course. Successfully battling the forces within, Selar locates Adamha, on a yacht off the coast. Better move fast, though, as Frieda has drugged Trey during dinner at the Blue Rose Cafe, making him open to her suggestions.
Selar reaches Adamha, but must trade her own safety for Adamha's freedom. Tossed overboard, she is rescued by a mysterious old man in a fishing trawler. He has been waiting for her for many years. He offers to make her his successor. But Selar opts to help Adamha instead.
And Adamha needs her help. Frieda, after losing Trey, concocts a scheme to implicate Trey and Adamha in computer theft from Baghdad Capital. Arrested, doomed to prison. That is, until Selar arrives to obtain their release. The three return to FRIEDA's office, along with the police. But you can't believe them, this nonsense about a genie. On cue, GENIE appears, this time in a genie outfit, looking much younger. Frieda flees, only to be captured when Selar employs a tool to combat injustice, given to her by the old fisherman.
Trey, now engaged to Adamha, offers Selar a coveted job. But she wants adventure, along with her new traveling companion. SELAR heads out with GENE E. (sewn into his polo shirt). "Ever been to the cave of wonders?"
Finalist, Spring 2021 ISA Virtual Pitch Challenge