Read the Screenplay for ‘Swarm’ Episode 1
From co-creators and executive producers Janine Nabers and Donald Glover, Swarm, set between 2016-2018, follows Dre (Dominique Fishback), an obsessed fan of the world’s biggest pop star who sets off on an unexpected cross-country journey.
Starring Dominique Fishback, the series also features guest stars Chlöe Bailey as Dre’s sister, Marissa and Damson Idris as Marissa’s boyfriend, Khalid. Additional guest stars include Billie Eilish, Rickey Thompson, Paris Jackson, Rory Culkin, Kiersey Clemons, and Byron Bowers.
Janine Nabers serves as showrunner for the series and Donald Glover directed the pilot. Stephen Glover, Fam Udeorji, Steven Prinz, and Michael Schaefer serve as executive producers. Dominique Fishback also serves as a producer. Swarm comes from Amazon Studios and Gilga.
Written by Janine Nabers, the first episode of Swarm, titled ‘Stung,’ perfectly sets the scene for the rest of the show. Set in 2016, it tells the story of Andrea “Dre” Greene, who lives with her sister Marissa in Houston. While Marissa’s interest in pop star Ni’Jah has waned with age, Dre is as obsessed with her as ever. Tensions come to a head as Marissa reveals that she plans on leaving Dre to go and move in with her boyfriend, Khalid.
While Swarm examines everything from co-dependent relationships to “stan” culture, the core relationship between Dre and her sister Marissa is by far the heart and soul of the show. Episode 1 perfectly sets the stage for the rest of the series by perfectly capturing the essence of their sisterhood, and just how that relationship impacts the rest of Dre’s life as she tries to navigate life without her beloved sister. Read the script below: