Parity Pipeline

Genre

Synopsis

Emery drives down a deserted highway, passing abandoned vehicles strewn along the roadside. Her view of the drought-stricken terrain is interrupted by memories of time spent along the Colorado River with her aunt. She stops at Glen Canyon Dam, now a relic of a bygone era, its concrete structure marked with closed signs and graffiti. Despite the dystopian surroundings, Emery observes the Colorado River flowing through the canyon. She drives on to Lee’s Ferry, the boat launch for the Colorado River, where she meets two developers, Noah, geologist turned corporate hack and Floyd, land for extraction CEO from the Hydroelectric Company. Sent by the Bureau to monitor their progress, Emery joins them on a seven-day river trip. The expedition also includes Jordan, and Kendall, two river guides and river devotees. As they navigate the river into the canyon, Emery monitors the group while studying the ecosystem, particularly the invasive Tamarisk plant and its bio-agent, the Tamarisk Beetle. Tensions develop between Emery and Noah as their plans for new, smaller dam projects along the river start to take shape, and Emery’s research reveals crucial information about the river’s health. The sheer magnitude of the river and canyon becomes overwhelming to Floyd who abandons the trip, exiting with Kendall at Phantom Ranch. This leaves Emery with Jordan and Noah to continue downstream. Noah attempts to seduce Emery to persuade her to sign off on the project, despite their flawed methods. When Noah suddenly disappears, and Jordan sets out to find him, Emery is left alone in the canyon.