Troop Zero

Christmas Flint sits on her deck in Wiggly, Georgia, looking at the stars and signaling into space, believing she is reaching out to aliens. She reflects on her mother’s death and her loneliness, feeling a deep connection to the cosmos. This act symbolizes her hope for connection beyond her isolated community.

Christmas visits the local library to check out books about outer space, showing her fascination with the universe. Despite her friendly nature, she remains an outcast in her town, using space analogies to describe her life and the people around her. Her curiosity highlights her desire to explore beyond her circumstances.

Christmas befriends Joseph, an effeminate boy who is being forced into sports, and they bond through singing and escaping bullies. Hell-No Price, a bully, begins stealing lunches, and Christmas faces teasing for being perceived as weird. These interactions emphasize her social struggles and her longing for acceptance.

Christmas and Joseph decide to join the Birdie Scouts, a local girls’ troop, hoping to participate in the national talent show that transmits voices into space. Despite opposition from bullies like Piper, they push to become part of the troop and pursue their dreams of space transmission.

Christmas enlists Miss Rayleen as their troop mother, but she ends up forming her own troop with the local outcasts after Principal Massey dismisses her. Rayleen’s troop is assigned the troop number zero, symbolizing their outsider status in Georgia’s scouting scene. The girls begin their journey of self-discovery and friendship.

Troop Zero starts their training, earning badges in activities like caring for babies, styling hair, and trust falls. Despite their rough start, they grow closer, and each girl begins to find her confidence and talents, even amidst setbacks like food fights and suspensions.

The girls go on a wilderness overnight camping trip, where they face fears, bond more deeply, and enjoy the stars. Rayleen leaves them briefly but later returns to give Christmas her badge, symbolizing acceptance and support. The experience marks a moment of growth and bravery for the troop.

Principal Massey reveals Troop Zero’s illegitimacy due to Rayleen’s past, causing disappointment and chaos. Ramsey steps in to lead the troop, defying tradition by volunteering as their troop leader, showing his support for Christmas and her friends in a gesture of family unity.

The troop boards an old bus and travels across Georgia to attend the national Jamboree. They face logistical hurdles, collect the entry fee from neighbors, and prepare to perform, driven by their hope to send their voices into space and prove themselves.

At the Jamboree, Troop Zero performs a heartfelt rendition of 'Space Oddity' with creative costumes and enthusiasm. Despite fears and a mishap where Christmas wets her pants, the girls continue singing and dancing, demonstrating resilience and friendship to the audience.

The judges award the winning troop, but Troop Zero’s broadcast into space, including their voices, is a heartfelt achievement. Principal Massey and Rayleen exchange encouraging words, recognizing the girls’ courage and growth.

Following the competition, Christmas, her father Ramsey, and Rayleen dance beneath the stars, watching a meteor shower. They share hopes and dreams, with Christmas expressing her desire to keep her mom safe and feel connected to her through space.

In a moving culmination, the troop records their voices wishing well to whoever may be listening in space. Christmas tearfully hopes her mother is among the listeners and that she will be kept safe, ending her journey with hope and love.