Donald Schwartz, a senior captain for TWA in the 1950-1960's, seems to have everything he could ever want, but after a life changing accident, his family is left with the choice to face their emotions head on or erase the past and go on “Autopilot.”
On her first flight as a new flight attendant for TWA in the 1950's, Betty Milstead meets the love of her life Donald Schwartz. After jet-setting across the world, Betty and Don settle down to start a family of their own. But soon, their lives are changed forever after a freak accident in the air, and Betty is left with the question of how to move on.
As their sons, Adam and Scott, grow up, they must come to terms with all they have lost over the course of their lives because of Betty’s choices. How would they have been different if Betty chose to process her emotions head on instead of burying them?
Autopilot is a story about complex family dynamics, including challenging themes of mental health, antisemitism, grief, and accountability. At it’s core, this is a story of hope that begs the questions: “How should we deal with the past? How do the ways in which we process our feelings impact the people around us? What happens when we make the choice to face the truth?”
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