“Underbrush”

By: Harry Jonathan Chong

FADE IN:

INT. TREASURE ROOM – NIGHT

A flask filled with coloured liquid sits on an opulent pedestal. A

boy’s hand cautiously reaches for the flask and grabs it. We see the
boy’s hand holding the flask bottom up as the liquid drains. Then the
flask drops to the ground.

SFX: The ROAR of a bear

FADE OUT:

INT. LUMBER FACTORY - DAY

The lumber factory is going full speed. Logs of all shapes and sizes
flow into the factory via stream. Elaborate machinery takes the logs up
and turns them into lumber. Workers gather the finished wood and store
them away, using lift trucks.

In another part of the factory, Mr. Wood, the owner of the factory, is
giving investors a tour. They follow him around and he enthusiastically
shows them all the neat little things. While he is giving the tour his
youngest son Adrian runs up to him in an urgent fashion and interrupts
his speech.

ADRIAN
Dad!

MR. WOOD
Ah this is my son Adrian. Say hello Adrian.

ADRIAN
Hi.
(Turning to his father)
Dad are you gonna to take us to the amusement park today or not?

MR. WOOD
Another day Adrian.

ADRIAN
But you promised!

The noise from the factory increases.

MR. WOOD
What?!

The two try earnestly to speak over the noise of the factory. Adrian
cups his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice.

ADRIAN
You promised to take us to the new amusement park today!
 MR. WOOD
What?!

ADRIAN
The grand opening of the amusement park! Today!

MR. WOOD
Ask your mom to take you!

ADRIAN
I want you to come!

MR. WOOD
I can’t!

ADRIAN
But you promised!

MR. WOOD
You know I’m busy Adrian. Now run along like a good little boy.

ADRIAN
But ---

Mr. Wood scoots his son off and Adrian walks away with a low head. He
heads outside to the factory while his father continues the tour.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE LUMBER FACTORY – THE PARKING LOT

Adrian hangs his head low, grumbles and kicks his feet while walking to
his family’s minivan; when Adrian gets there his older brother Cody
(whom is sitting in the middle beside his younger sister Carol) slides
open the backdoor to speak to him.

CODY
Adrian where’s dad?

ADRIAN
He’s not coming.

CODY
What do you mean he’s not coming?

ADRIAN
(Angrily)
He’s not coming.

CODY
What do you mean he’s not coming?

ADRIAN
He’s not coming. He’s not going. What else should I say?

CODY
The amusement park’s not gonna be fun without dad.

Cody sees his mom, Mrs. Wood, glaring angrily in the rear view mirror.
 CODY
(Bashfully)
Of course it wouldn’t be fun without mom either!

ADRIAN
Dad never wants to do anything.

CODY
Gee don’t have a hissy fit. Are you coming or not?

ADRIAN
Yeah I’m coming.

Adrian gets into the very backseat of the minivan. The view becomes
bird-eye and the car takes off for the amusement park.

EXT. HIGHWAY

The highway which is alongside the forest is jammed with vehicles. The
line barely moves at all. Conversely the other side of the highway is
moving along freely. Mrs. Wood grows impatient as she sits in the
minivan with Carol and Cody playing punch buggy.

Cody sees a red buggy and turns around to punch Adrian in the arm.

CODY
Punch buggy red!

ADRIAN
Ow! I’m not playing!

Adrian rubs his arm. Another buggy car passes by on the other side of
the highway, this time it is blue.

CAROL
Punch buggy blue!

Carol punches Adrian twice in the arm.

ADRIAN
You can’t hit me twice!

CODY
She can hit you twice.

ADRIAN
No she can’t that’s against the rules!

CAROL
That is the rule dummy. Punch buggy blue is a double punch. Pay
attention dummy.

ADRIAN
I’m not a dummy and I don’t want to play.

CAROL
 You have to.

ADRIAN
Who says?

CAROL
Me.

A yellow buggy passes by.

CAROL
Punch buggy yellow!

ADRIAN
Ow! Mom!

Mrs. Wood loses her cool. She turns around and yells.

MRS. WOOD
(Angrily)
Will you kids knock it off!

The car becomes quiet. Traffic begins to move; suddenly Mrs. Wood’s mood
changes.

MRS. WOOD
(Happily)
Ooh traffic’s moving again.

Cody, Carol, and Adrian look bemused.

EXT. AMUSEMENT PARK PARKING LOT

The kids get out of the minivan. When Mrs. Wood opens her door and gets
out she mutters to herself.

MRS. WOOD
(Softly)
Finally no more lines…

But when she looks up there’s a humongous line to get into the amusement
park. She pulls her hair in frustration. But the kids don’t seem too
bothered; they run to the back of the line and Mrs. Wood begrudgingly
follows them.

The Wood family waits patiently in line. In front of them is another

interesting looking family. Mrs. Wood strikes up a conversation with one
of the other moms.

MRS. WOOD
Long line huh?

OTHER MOM
Oh yeah, oh yeah. It’s terrible. We’ve been waiting here since 7am.
While the moms continue their conversation, Carol and Cody thumb
wrestle, they ignore Adrian who is confronted by the kid of the other
mom. The kid makes a funny face at Adrian. Adrian returns fire.
MONTAGE – FUNNY FACES

They make funny faces at each other with such ferocity. The two are so
busy they don’t notice the line moving. By the time they are done Mrs.
Wood is finished purchasing her tickets.

She grabs Adrian by the arm and drags him along. The other kid makes one
last face at Adrian. The family finally gets into the park.

EXT. AMUSEMENT PARK

The amusement park is ordinary. It’s just like any other amusement park.
But to the children it is an exciting place.

Carol and Cody eat up the atmosphere of the park, but Adrian is not in
the mood. As he holds his mom’s hand he looks at all the “complete”
families walking by; mom, dad, and kids.

There are so many happy kids running around. You see them smiling and
laughing (and crying) on the roller coasters and going on all the
different type of rides.

As the Wood family continues to tour through the park, Adrian notices
more of its delightful “merriments”. We see a little girl crying her
eyes out holding a teddy bear while her father tries to console her with
an ice cream cone.

The Wood family comes to a stop. They stand in front of the infamous Jet
Coaster. The landmark of the amusement park, the jet shaped coaster
spins around in a full circle, dozens of feet in the air. Cody and Carol
want to go on, but Adrian is of course disinterested.

CODY
Awesome! Mom can we go on that!?

MRS. WOOD
I dunno. It looks kind of scary. Are you sure you guys can handle it?

CODY
(Enthusiastically)
Of course I can handle it!

Cody poses bravely with two arms on his waist and a puffed up chest.

MRS. WOOD
Well okay if that’s what you want…

CODY
Woohoo! Come on Carol!

Cody grabs Carol by the arm and they run to get in line for the ride. As
the two wait to get on, other people come off the ride and throw up onto
the ground.
 MRS. WOOD
Aren’t you gonna follow your brother and sister?

Adrian shakes his head, no.

MRS. WOOD
You’re a funny kid you know that?

Mrs. Wood playfully rubs the top of Adrian’s head.

In the meanwhile Cody and Carol wait patiently in line to get on the Jet
Coaster. Finally their turn comes up and they rush in with glee.

Close away from the ride Mrs. Wood and Adrian sit on a bench waiting.
Mrs. Wood reads a magazine. On the front of the cover is her husband Mr.
Wood. Adrian sits down kicking his feet in the air to pass the time.

While he hums happily to himself a female blue jay lands on his

shoulder. Adrian does not notice the jay, even when it talks to him.

BLUE JAY
(Referring to the Jet Coaster)
Boy that’s one big bird.

Adrian looks left and right but sees nobody.

BLUE JAY
What’re you looking at?

Adrian gets up from his seat and looks around. Bewildered Adrian sits
back down.

BLUE JAY
Over here kid!

The Blue Jay pecks at Adrian’s ear to get his attention. He finally
notices the bird to his right shoulder and lets out a sharp yelp in
surprise.

ADRIAN
Ah!

BLUE JAY
So as I was saying ---

ADRIAN
You, you can talk!

BLUE JAY
So can you but you don’t see me chirpin’ about it.

ADRIAN
Leave me alone!

BLUE JAY
Relax kid. I’m not gonna hurt yah, just tryin’ to make small talk here.
 ADRIAN
Whaddya want?

BLUE JAY
Didn’t you just hear what I said two seconds ago? I’m trying to make
small talk.

The Blue Jay pauses for a moment and then bursts into hysterical
laughter.

BLUE JAY
Ha! Ha! Ha! I’m just messin’ with yah! No seriously I need your help.

ADRIAN
...For what?

BLUE JAY
Follow me please.

The Blue Jay hops off Adrian’s shoulder and into the air.

ADRIAN
Mom I’m gonna go somewhere. I’ll be back okay?

MRS. WOOD
(Inattentively)
Sure thing honey!

As Adrian and the jay leave, his brother and sister come off the ride,
throw up and all.

EXT. AMUSEMENT PARK – BLUE JAY’S TREE

The jay continues to lead Adrian. Adrian follows the jay to a large
tree. She lands on a branch.

BLUE JAY
Okay we’re here!

ADRIAN
Now what?

BLUE JAY
See that nest of eggs in front of your feet?

Adrian looks down at his feet and sees the nest.

ADRIAN
Yeah?

BLUE JAY
I want you to smash them up!

ADRIAN
What?!

BLUE JAY
 Ha! Ha! Ha! I’m just kiddin’ yah. Seriously, can you bring ‘em up here
and put ‘em back into the tree?

Adrian bends down and picks up the nest. He stretches upward to try and
place them back up. But he is too short. The tree is too tall for him to
reach.

ADRIAN
I can’t reach it! I’m too short!

BLUE JAY
Come on, you’re way taller than me. You have to be at least, ten times
taller. And you’re tellin’ me you can’t reach up here?

ADRIAN
No!

BLUE JAY
No as in “No you can’t reach up here” or no as in “No I can reach up
here”?

ADRIAN
Um, the first one…

BLUE JAY
I thought you humans were smart. You’re telling me you can’t get up this
measly tree?

Adrian puts down the nest and turns his back to walk away.

BLUE JAY
Hey! Where you going?

ADRIAN
I’ll be back.

BLUE JAY
Knockin’ this tree down with your car won’t solve my problem!

As Adrian runs off the blue jay flies down to tend her eggs.

EXT. AMUSEMENT PARK – BETWEEN JET COASTER LOCATION AND BLUE JAY’S TREE

Adrian finds his family. Cody and Carol appear sick; they hold their
mom’s hands.

ADRIAN
Mom! Mom! Guess what!

MRS. WOOD
What?

ADRIAN
(Exuberantly)
A bird came and talked to me. And it was blue and stuff. And it asked me
to put its eggs back into its tree. And ---
 MRS. WOOD
Don’t be silly. Birds don’t talk. That’s silly. You’re silly. Stop being
silly.

ADRIAN
No really it happened!

MRS. WOOD
Really?

ADRIAN
Uh-huh, uh-huh. Can yah help me out? Can yah help me put its eggs back
into its tree?

MRS. WOOD
I think your brother and sister wanna go on another ride.

Cody and Carol hold their stomachs and shake their heads, no.

MRS. WOOD
Well…alright. But if there are no eggs, and you’re lying, you’re
grounded for a month mister.

They get to the tree and low and behold, Adrian is telling the truth.
Mrs. Wood looks up.

MRS. WOOD
(To herself)
Darn I really wanted to ground him.

BLUE JAY
(To Adrian)
You’re back!

ADRIAN
Don’t worry Mrs. Blue Jay we’ll have your eggs back up in no time!

BLUE JAY
You can call me Janice.

Mrs. Wood looks confusingly at Adrian as he speaks to the jay.

ADRIAN
Cody, Carol, I’ll need your help.

BLUE JAY
They look kinda sick. Are you sure they can help?

ADRIAN
They’re fine. Guys can yah help me get this nest back up into the tree?

He picks up the nest with two hands. Cody and Carol let go of their
mom’s hands. Carol follows behind Cody as walks menacingly toward
Adrian.

CODY
You expect me to help you and a stupid bird ---
 BLUE JAY
Hey!

CODY
(Continued)
Up a stupid tree?!

Adrian looks and gives Cody a nervous smile.

ADRIAN
Yup!

CODY
(Smiling)
Okay then!

Carol and Cody form a human ladder against the tree, with Cody on the
bottom and Carol on top. They wobble as Adrian climbs up them with the
bird nest in one hand. He gets to the top and places it safely back into
the tree.

A photographer appears in the background and takes a picture of the

three kids.

BLUE JAY
Thanks kid. I owe yah one.

Adrian smiles at her. The smile
Cody begins to lose his footing
tree. The three wobble back and
pair of stilts for Adrian. Cody
teeters back and forth.
on his face is quickly wiped off when
below and Adrian is taken away from the
forth. Cody and Carol has now become a
tries to balance Carol and Adrian. He

BLUE JAY
Look out below!

The human tower falls. Mrs. Wood makes an inflamed face when the kids
fall to the ground with a loud thud.

INT. WOOD RESIDENCE – ADRIAN’S ROOM - DAY (MORNING)

Janice the Blue Jay returns. She sits outside Adrian’s windowsill along
with her babies and a newspaper underneath her. Adrian sleeps soundly,
sprawled out on his bed.

Janice chirps to try and wake him up. When this doesn’t work she pecks
madly on the glass. Adrian wakes up.

Still half asleep Adrian reluctantly gets up. He rubs his eyes and walks
toward the window. Tiredly Adrian opens the window.

BLUE JAY
Mornin’ sunshine!

ADRIAN
Mrs. Blue Jay…?
 BLUE JAY
Call me Janice.
ADRIAN
Okay, Janice?

BLUE JAY
I was just flying around the neighbourhood and I thought I’d stop by to
say hello. So hello!

BABY BIRDS
(In Unison)
Hello!

ADRIAN
Mm yes hello.

BLUE JAY
Ooh I almost forgot. I brought you a gift.

The blue jays hop off the newspaper.

BLUE JAY
Go ahead pick it up. We found it outside your house.

Adrian grabs the newspaper. The blue jays hop forward.

On the front page of the newspaper are Cody, Carol, and Adrian from the
day earlier at the amusement park. It is a photograph of the three
putting the blue jay’s nest back into the tree. Adrian is clearly
excited to see his picture in the paper.

ADRIAN
Wow!

He runs out of his room with the newspaper in hand. The blue jays
continue to stand on the windowsill and wait.

BLUE JAY
You’re welcome!

INT. WOOD RESIDENCE – KITCHEN AREA

Adrian storms into the kitchen with excitement. He shows off the
newspaper. Mrs. Wood continues to cook breakfast, bacon and eggs.

ADRIAN
Check it out!

Adrian holds up the newspaper proudly. Cody grabs the paper.

ADRIAN
Hey!

Carol peers over Cody’s shoulder as he looks at the front page.

CAROL
 Well whaddya know! There I am!

CODY
I think I look fat. Do I look fat in this picture? I think I look fat.

CAROL
You look fine.

ADRIAN
Um…can I have the paper back now?

Carol and Cody ignore him.

MRS. WOOD
Cody, give the paper back to your brother.

CODY
Bah, it’s not that exciting anyways.

Cody tosses his brother the paper. Adrian fumbles with it but manages to
catch it. He takes it and runs out the door. Mrs. Wood finishes cooking
Adrian’s breakfast; she turns around to see him missing.

MRS. WOOD
Okay here’s your --- Adrian?

INT. LUMBER FACTOR – OFFICE AREA

Mr. Wood seated at his desk which is messy and scattered with papers. He
is punching away on his calculator and writing things down. Mr. Wood
mumbles to himself in frustration.

MR. WOOD
(Mumbling)
This is no good; this is no good at all.

Adrian peaks into his father’s office.

ADRIAN
Dad!

Mr. Wood becomes startled.

MR. WOOD
Ah!

He flails his arms and papers fly from his desk.

MR. WOOD
Who’s there!?

Adrian walks into his father’s office.

ADRIAN
Dad it’s me.

Mr. Wood glances at briefly at Adrian.

 MR. WOOD
Oh.

Mr. Wood goes back to work. Adrian appears in front of his desk. He
waves his hand slowly.

ADRIAN
Hellooooo!

Adrian is becoming frustrated with his preoccupied father. He bangs his

fists on the desk and barks loudly.

ADRIAN
Dad!

Mr. Wood snaps out of his mode and finally turns his attention to his
son.

MR. WOOD
Oh hi son! I didn’t notice yah there. What can I do for you?

ADRIAN
Look!

Adrian tosses the newspaper onto his father’s desk. Mr. Wood looks at
the newspaper.

MR. WOOD
What’s this?

ADRIAN
Read it!

Mr. Wood mumbles to himself as he skims through the article. He pauses

for a moment. Adrian looks anxiously at his dad for a reaction. And the
reaction isn’t very good.

Mr. WOOD
Ah!

ADRIAN
Ah?

MR. WOOD
Adrian! How can you do such dangerous things!? You’re just a little kid!
You shouldn’t be climbin’ up trees! You shouldn’t be chasin’ bees! You
shouldn’t be scrapin’ knees! You should be in spellin’ bees!

ADRIAN
Dad it’s no big deal.

MR. WOOD
What if you fell?

ADRIAN
I did fall.
 MR. WOOD
What! You fell?! Oh my gourd! Oh my gourd! Oh my gourd!

ADRIAN
Dad...I think you’re overreacting a little.

MR. WOOD
Who do you think you are? Evel Knievel!? First you’re climbing up trees,
then the next day you’re skateboarding over alligators, then you’re
bicycling over a canyon filled with snakes, then you’re driving your hot
wheels over freaking Space Mountain! No! No! I will not have that! Not
in my house!

ADRIAN
Please. I’m not going to skateboard over alligators. I’m not going to
ride my bike over a canyon filled with snakes and I AM NOT going to
drive my hot wheels over Space Mountain!

Mr. Wood seems relieved, he sits back down.

MR. WOOD
Oh thank goodness.

ADRIAN
You know I may be a little kid but I’m a lot smarter than you think.

MR. WOOD
I don’t think you’re dumb Adrian. I think, no, I know you’re smart. And
that’s the problem. Smart kids like to do smart-alecky things. And
smart-alecky things are often dangerous. So if anything I think you’re a
little too smart…

Mr. Wood folds his hands together and glares, making him appear shifty.

ADRIAN
Uh-huh…

MR. WOOD
Anyways I have a lot of work to do. So you go and enjoy your summer
vacation Adrian and I’ll catch up on some paperwork.

ADRIAN
But dad!

MR. WOOD
Not another word Adrian! Go out and enjoy your youth, while you still
can!

Adrian tries to speak up but he finds himself speechless. Though still

discontent he leaves anyways. Mr. Wood continues his work.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE FACTOR – ALONG THE SIDEWALK

Adrian walks down the sidewalk with his hands woefully in his pockets
and his shoulders slumped over. While walking Adrian nearly steps on a
frog. Luckily he stops his foot in time. It hangs in the air as the poor
creature pleads for his life.
FROG
(Speaking with heavy English accent)
Ah! I beg of you! Please don’t crush me! I am but an innocent frog!
Spare me big foot and I will do anything for you! I will even dress up
in a top hat and dance around with a cane!

Adrian moves his foot away from the frog and onto the ground.

ADRIAN
I’m not big foot.

FROG
(Nervously)
Yes of course how rude of me, terribly sorry.

ADRIAN
Considering how tiny you are, theoretically I suppose you could call me
big foot.

FROG
Yes, yes, quite right, quite right.

ADRIAN
You don’t have to keep agreeing with me. I’m not going to hurt you.

FROG
Of course, of course! How silly of me!

ADRIAN
So…where’re you headed?

FROG
Do you know where Clark Young forest is?

ADRIAN
Yes in fact I do. It’s over there.

Adrian points.

FROG
Of course how silly of me! Anyways I must be going now. Thank you for
your directions and thanks again for not squishing me.

ADRIAN
You’re welcome.

FROG
Well off to the forest I go then. Cheerio!

Adrian watches the frog leap away and he gazes into the forest.

ADRIAN
(To himself)
The forest…
EXT. MADISON MALL – PARKING LOT - DAY

From a bird’s eye view outside we can see the busyness of the mall. The
parking lot is full and people flow in and out.

INT. INSIDE MALL

The mall is an eventful place. There are many different types of people:
babies, kids, moms, dads, teens, couples, and even senior citizens. The
kids are especially noticeable as they run around to and fro like little
monkeys.

INT. INSIDE MALL – TOY STORE

The entire Wood family is at the mall, except of course Mr. Wood. As the
family enters the toy store Mrs. Wood screams and reels backward as a
child on a bike narrowly misses her, and a store clerk chases after him
outside the store.

The store inside is chaotic. It is filled with rude little children and
inattentive adults.

MONTAGE

1) In one of the aisles are two children bouncing on hop balls.

2) In another aisle there is a child riding a big wheel.

3) In another aisle there are two kids fighting with light sabres.

The two children clash sabres, one with a red sabre and one with a green
sabre. The child with the red sabre is darkly dressed. He hits his
lightly dressed brother (the one with the green sabre) in the hand,
causing him to drop it and yell in pain.

GREEN SABRE
Ah!

The darkly dressed brother takes his red light sabre and presses it
against his lightly dressed brother’s neck. The brother with the red
sabre breathes deeply.

RED SABRE
Duke, I am your brother.

GREEN SABRE
No!!! My name is not Duke!

END OF MONTAGE

In another part of the toy store the three Wood children stand in and
browse the action figure aisle. Outside the aisle mom waits patiently
for her children, with her hands folded quietly.

In the action figure aisle Adrian picks up a Woody toy from Toy Story,
and Carol and Cody look at some other miscellaneous generic toys.
 ADRIAN
I wonder if these toys could talk. What would they say?

CODY
You watch too many movies.

Mrs. Wood goes into the aisle to check in on her children. Carol happily
waves to her.

MRS. WOOD
Are you guys done yet?

CODY
Yup we’re done. We’re done right?

CAROL
Yup!

Carol, Cody, and Mrs. Wood look eagerly at Adrian.

ADRIAN
…Yah.

CAROL
No you’re supposed to say yup!

Adrian rolls his eyes and sighs heavily.

ADRIAN
…Yup.

INT. INSIDE MALL –OUTSIDE ALONG STORES

The Wood family continues to browse around the mall. Carol is holding a
dolly with her and Cody is playing with a toy plane. Adrian is not
holding anything.

The family passes by several stores and eventually stops in front of an

outdoors store. Adrian presses his face against the glass and he pleads
with his mother to go inside.

ADRIAN
Mom! Mom! Can we go inside?! Can we visit?! Can we? Can we? Can we?

MRS. WOOD
(Sighs)
Do I have a choice?

The kids run in with glee, and mom still feeling lethargic, walks inside
begrudgingly. The store is large big box establishment. The ceiling
reaches up two floors and there are numerous elaborate displays.

There are stuffed animals, tents on a faux campground, an artificial

pond with fish, and even a rocking climbing wall.

Carol and Cody run around the store, looking sporadically, while Adrian
shops fastidiously.
One thing in particular that catches Adrian’s attention is all the
animal heads up on the wall. He walks slowly, looking at each animal
head on the wooden plaques. Adrian is in a contemplative mood.

As he is walking, Adrian walks accidentally bumps into a large grizzly

on display.

ADRIAN
Ah!

Adrian scares himself and falls onto his bottom. Feeling foolish he
quickly gets to his feet. He looks at the mighty grizzly display in awe.
Adrian pokes the bear in the eye. A store worker comes by.

ADRIAN
Excuse me mister can I ask you a question?

STORE WORKER
Two things kid…first of all it’s “May I ask you a question?” Second of
all you already asked me a question. So instead of asking me if you can
ask me a question why don’t you just ask me the question?

ADRIAN
Um ---

STORE WORKER
Okay what’s your question?

ADRIAN
Are these animals real?

STORE WORKER
Yes and no.

ADRIAN
I don’t get it.

STORE WORKER
You see before these animals were killed and filled with polyester, yes
they were living breathing creatures. But now that they’re dead and
stuffed, they’re just pieces of skin really. So in a sense no they’re
not real animals. I mean you don’t consider a leather jacket a cow do
you?

ADRIAN
I guess not.

STORE WORKER
Uh hold on one second.

The store worker turns his head and eyes a child riding a stuffed moose
like a cowboy, twirling his arm in the air and shouting “Yee haw!”

STORE WORKER
(To the kid on the moose)
That’s not a horse!
The child looks at the store worker but ignores him and continues his
antics. The store worker leaves Adrian to attend this urgent matter.

Adrian leaves the stuffed animals area and continues to wander around.
While wandering around we see Carol and Cody in the background.

After disappearing into the aisles, Adrian returns with a handful of

things. Adrian travels to the checkout plunks them onto the counter. At
the checkout is a longhaired boy.

CLERK
(Sarcastically)
Will that be all?

Adrian salutes the clerk proudly.

ADRIAN
Yes ma’am!

CLERK
I’m not a chick.

ADRIAN
I didn’t say anything about chickens. All I did was, call you ma’am.

CLERK
Ugh. I’m not a woman!

ADRIAN
What’s with the long hair then?

CLERK
Dude I’m a rocker.

ADRIAN
Really? You know I wouldn’t go as far to say that I myself am a rocker
but I have to admit my grandma’s rocking chair is quite enjoyable.

CLERK
(To himself)
I gotta stop talking to kids.

The clerk rings the items up on the cash register.

CLERK
And the grand total comes to…Ooh that’s a lot of money. Are sure you
have enough money kid?

ADRIAN
Will monopoly money be alright?

CLERK
Uh you can’t pay in monopoly m ---

ADRIAN
I’m just pullin’ your leg! I stole my dad’s credit card.
 CLERK
Alright then!

Adrian swipes his dad’s credit card. It fails to work.

CLERK
Problem dude your card is maxed out.

ADRIAN
Maxed out? That’s a good thing right?

CLERK
‘fraid not dude.

Adrian takes out another card.

CLERK
Is this another stolen credit card?

ADRIAN
No. None of these are stolen credit cards. They’re just credit cards my
dad lent me and he forgot to take back.

CLERK
Whatever you say dude!

Adrian swipes the credit card. It works fine.

CLERK
It looks like we have a winner!

The clerk bags the items and hands them to Adrian. Adrian grabs bags and
walks out the store with a smile. As he leaves the clerk waves to
goodbye him.

CLERK
Enjoy your stuff little dude!

Adrian is joined by his family outside.

CAROL
Well aren’t you the little material boy?

ADRIAN
Sorry I am not yet old enough to understand your grown-up illusions
[sic].

Carol rolls her eyes.

CAROL
Kids…

INT. WOOD RESIDENCE – ADRIAN’S ROOM - NIGHT

It has now become night and Adrian packs his things from the outdoors
store into his backpack. It is nearly stuffed to the brim. The last item
he has is a pair of walkie-talkies. He puts one in backpack and he
carries the other to his brother’s bedroom.

INT. WOOD RESIDENCE – CODY’S ROOM

Cody is fast asleep and he snores obnoxiously. Adrian takes a walkie-

talkie and slips it under his brother’s bed and tiptoes out the room.
Before he closes the door behind him he whispers to his brother.

ADRIAN
Sweet dreams big brother, sweet dreams.

INT. WOOD RESIDENCE – ADRIAN’S ROOM - DAY

Adrian wakes up excitedly. He hops out of bed and looks at his calendar.
We see on the calendar a big red circle around a date (any date) and
within the circle it reads “My B-day!”

Adrian runs into the hallway and down the stairs. He holds onto the
banister with one arm out. Adrian gets to the kitchen where Mrs. Wood is
cooking breakfast. He tugs on his mom’s apron and with arms wide opens
shouts enthusiastically.

ADRIAN
Guess what today is mom!

Mrs. Wood plays dumb. Little does Adrian know that the family actually
has a surprise party planned for, him.

MRS. WOOD
Boy you have a sharp memory Adrian! Thanks for reminding me. I almost
forgot today is garbage day.

ADRIAN
But!

MRS. WOOD
None of your yackety-yak; just take out the papers and the trash or
don’t come back. Now get going.

Before Adrian can say anything more Mrs. Wood shuffles him off and
ignores him by continuing to cook.

EXT. JUST OUTSIDE WOOD RESIDENCE

Adrian is outside. He lugs a big green garbage bag down the driveway
until he gets to the curb.

We see the garbage truck off in the nearby distance. Over the garbage
truck are two seagulls circling around it, one male, and one female.
They seem to be having some sort of conversation.

Seagull 1
Is this a fancy dinner or what Sally?

Seagull 2
It’s no garbage island but it’ll have to do.
The garbage truck arrives at the curb of Adrian’s home and the garbage
man hops off the truck to pick up the green bag.

Adrian watches silently. The garbage man smiles at him and tips his
grungy hat. Adrian gives him a shy wave.

The garbage man picks up the green bag and tosses into the back of the
truck.

He hops back on and disappears on a sharp turn at the end of the street.

After the truck is gone Adrian travels up his driveway. He enters the
garage.

Adrian flips the light switch and the incandescent bulb above flickers
as it turns on.

From an outside view we see the garage door opening.

When it is fully open Adrian is revealed heroically, sitting on a shiny

new red bike ready to ride.

Adrian looks up into the sky and the sun shines onto his face; he
squints from the bright light.

Adrian looks forward and puts his foot on the pedal. Then he’s off like
a rocket. He speeds down the driveway.

The sun light glistens off his reflectors and the wheel spins rapidly.

Adrian drifts off the driveway. His bike screeches and dust is kicked
into the air.

The wind blows in Adrian’s hair as he peddles his bike down the street.
He rides rapidly and in not time at all, finds himself down town.

EXT. DOWNTOWN

Adrian is at an intersection waiting for the light to turn green. One

foot on the peddle one foot on the ground.

Behind him appears a gang of four children.

They don’t appear much older than Adrian but they are significantly
larger.

They surround him, two on each side. Adrian is afraid but he tries to
maintain his composure with a stern face. He doesn’t turn his head but
he glances left and right with his eyes.

A drop of sweat drips down from his forehead. He is full of anxiety

waiting for the light to change.

The light turns green and Adrian dashes off. The kids follow behind him.
Adrian rides as fast as possible but it seems he can’t outride them.
The leader of the “bike gang” is directly behind Adrian.

He rides his bike closely to Adrian’s, scraping his front tire with
Adrian’s back tire.

Adrian looks behind.

The children are in hot pursuit. They ride dangerously dodging in and
out between traffic.

The leader of the gang hangs onto the tailgate of a pickup truck to gain
speed.

The gang leader holds on until he is side by side with Adrian.

The driver in the pickup truck screams out the window and shakes his
fist.

DRIVER
Watch it yah crazy kid!

The rest of the gang lags behind.

The gang leader tries swatting at Adrian but he dodges the goon’s blows.

The children (as well as Adrian) are so preoccupied with their bullying
that they fail to notice the steep decline in the road ahead.

A speed bump in the road precedes them. When their bikes go over the
bump it causes them to be catapulted into the air.

Everything seems to be moving in slow motion.

Somehow the children of the bike gang land upright. While Adrian
clumsily falls onto the ground with his bike and scrapes his elbows.

The gang puts up the kick stands of their bikes and come off their
“rides”. Adrian turns around to face the bullies and crawls backward
with fear.

ADRIAN
W-what do you guys want from me?!

LEADER
Everything...

The gang advances toward Adrian.

Just as hope seems lost a tiger comes out of the forest. It leaps onto
the road. It sees the bike gang and snarls at them. They are doubly
afraid.

LEADER
Run!

GANG MEMBER
What about the bikes!?
 LEADER
Forget the bikes! We’ll get some more at Wal-mart!

The bike gang runs away. The tiger greets Adrian. He extends his hand
for a paw shake.

TIGER
Hi I’m Timmy.

Adrian shakes the tiger’s paw.

ADRIAN
Hi…I’m Adrian.

Adrian gets up and dusts himself off.

TIGER
You look really familiar do I know you from somewhere?

ADRIAN
No I don’t think --- hey you’re a tiger!

TIGER
Thank you, thank you.

ADRIAN
Wait a minute! Tigers aren’t native to North America!

TIGER
What am I?

ADRIAN
…Uh a tiger?

TIGER
So you’re not blind! Just ignorant!

ADRIAN
Yeah…hey thanks for saving me and getting me all these shiny new bikes.
I really appreciate it.

TIGER
You’re gonna to have to return these.

ADRIAN
You’re not very fun for a tiger.

TIGER
I’m fun! I’m fun!

The tiger does a silly dance.

TIGER
Look at me! I’m fun!

The tiger stops dancing. Adrian shakes his head in disapproval.

 TIGER
Okay I’m not fun but man, am I hungry!

Adrian steps back nervously.

TIGER
I am insulted! I don’t eat children! I’m a humanitarian. I only eat
adults.

Adrian gasps.

TIGER
I’m just joking. I’m a vegetarian.

ADRIAN
*Phew*

The tiger lifts his wrist and looks at it as if he is wearing a watch.

TIGER
Oh my, gosh! Would yah look at the time! I have to go now but if you
ever need me all yah have to do is call my name out three times and I
will come. Less than three times…I probably won’t hear yah.

ADRIAN
What’s your name again?

TIGER
Timmy. Timmy to go!

The tiger leaps into the forest and disappears. Adrian hops onto his
bike and rides away.

INT. WOOD RESIDENCE – FOYER

Cody, Carol and Mrs. Wood wait for Adrian to return home in the foyer.
They can hardly wait to give him his surprise birthday party.

A clatter is heard outside. Somebody is at the door.

The family stands still in anticipation. The door swings open. They
shout at the top of their lungs.

FAMILY
Happy birthday!

But it’s only Mr. Wood. He enters the house and shuts the door behind
him.

MR. WOOD
Why thank you but I think you guys are a little early.

CAROL
Where’s Adrian?

MR. WOOD
He’s dead ---
The family gasps in horror.

MR. WOOD
--- ly at martial arts!

Mr. Wood sings and dances.

MR. WOOD
(Singing)
Because he can chop trees up and he can chop trees down! It’s an ancient
Chinese art and everybody knew their ---

MRS. WOOD
Harold!

MR. WOOD
Sorry honey what were you saying?

MRS. WOOD
Where’s Adrian?! We want to give him his gift!

MR. WOOD
I don’t know where Adrian is but I do know where Waldo is. So if you’re
lookin’ for Waldo I can find him.

MRS. WOOD
(Angrily)
Harold!

MR. WOOD
Don’t worry he’ll be back. What’s the rush anyways? It’s not like you
got him a gun…did you?

MRS. WOOD
No we didn’t get him a gun!

MR. WOOD
Good because those things are dangerous…so what did you get him Sheila?

Cody holds up a wrapped box.

CODY
The new game station!

Mr. Wood sputters.

MR. WOOD
The new --- the new --- the new game station! Do you know how much that
costs!? We can’t afford that!

MRS. WOOD
Oh don’t be such a scrooge it’s his birthday!

Mr. and Mrs. Wood begin bickering, a lot of it nonsense.

Adrian arrives home. He stops at the door when he hears his parents
arguing and listens in.

MR. WOOD
Sheila! We don’t have that kind of money! All my credit cards are maxed
out! Bills are pourin’ in like water! Money is burning like wood! You
can’t just go shopping and spend money frivolously!

MRS. WOOD
It’s not frivolous Harold! It’s called living!

MR. WOOD
Money doesn’t grow on trees you know!

MRS. WOOD
Oh shush!

MR. WOOD
Don’t tell me to shush! I will not be shushed! You shush! Shush the
shushi!

The children try to ignore their parents’ arguing.

Carol covers her ears and sways her head left and right babbling
“La, la, la, la, la!” to drown the noise out.

Cody has his arms folded and stares up at the ceiling indifferently.

MRS. WOOD
Look! I know we’re having a bit of money problems but you can’t go on
living like this.

MR. WOOD
Yes I can!

MRS. WOOD
No you can’t!

MR. WOOD
Yes I can!

MRS. WOOD
No you can’t!

MR. WOOD
Yes I can!

MRS. WOOD
Yes you can!

MR. WOOD
No I can’t! Ah you tricked me! You tricker treater!

CODY
(To self)
When is this gonna be over?
Adrian lifts his ear from the door but the bickering between Mr. and
Mrs. Wood continues. Feeling guilty from going to the mall, Adrian
becomes despondent and leaves.

EXT. OUTSIDE CLARA’S PLACE - NIGHT

The sky grows dark and we find Adrian at the door of another house. He
rings the door bell. Light steps are from inside the house. Somebody
answers the door. And that somebody is Clara Wong, Adrian’s best female
friend.

CLARA
Adrian what a pleasant surprise!

Clara hugs Adrian making him uneasy.

ADRIAN
Clara.

Clara lets go of Adrian after winding him.

CLARA
I missed you Adrian.

ADRIAN
(Insincerely)
Of course I missed you too.

CLARA
No I mean I literally missed you, at the mall.

ADRIAN
Oh.

CLARA
So! Are you gonna come in?

The charming young Clara, gestures for Adrian to enter her home. She
shuts the door behind him after he steps in.

INT. CLARA’S HOUSE – (EARLY) NIGHT

Clara leads Adrian into the living room. In it is a fireplace and on top
of the mantel are some family photos. Adrian is taken by the fireplace
where one photo in particular catches his eye. It is a photo of Clara’s
grandfather.

ADRIAN
Who’s that?

CLARA
That funny looking character is my grandfather.

ADRIAN
Does he live with you?

CLARA
 No, he passed away recently. My dad said he fell asleep at the wheel.

ADRIAN
That’s horrible! I dunno what I would do if I lost my grandfather in car
accident.

CLARA
Car accident, who said anything about a car accident? He fell asleep in
Vegas at the roulette wheel.

ADRIAN
Well it’s still a shame he had to go so young.

CLARA
Young, he was 110 years old.

ADRIAN
I see…

CLARA
Speaking of seeing, wanna see my bedroom?

Adrian gulps air.

ADRIAN
…Your b-bedroom?

CLARA
No my gift wrapping room…of course my bedroom!

ADRIAN
Let me think about it for a second. No.

CLARA
You are so silly! Come on let’s go!

Clara grabs Adrian by the hand and takes him upstairs to her bedroom,
which is actually an attic.

INT. CLARA’S HOUSE – THE ATTIC (CLARA’S BEDROOM)

ADRIAN
Your bedroom is in the attic?

Clara
Yeah it’s super cool! Nobody bothers me up here! I get all the privacy I
want! I can party all night! I can drink all the Coca-cola I want!
I can do whatever I want! And I mean whatever! You know what I’m sayin’!
You know what I’m sayin’!

Clara extends her hand out for Adrian to slap her some “skin” but Adrian
leaves “hangin’” like Mr. Cooper.

ADRIAN
I wish I did Clara I really wish I did.

There is a pause of awkward silence.

 CLARA
So! Wanna see my spider?

ADRIAN
No thanks.

CLARA
Come on take a look!

Clara picks up a clear plastic terrarium from her dresser. In it is a

tarantula. She brings it close to Adrian’s face, giving him a fright.

Inside the terrarium we can a lining of newspaper and a dish of water in

the corner.

ADRIAN
Eek! I don’t like spiders Clara! Get it away from me!

SPIDER
(Female voice)
How rude!

ADRIAN
Excuse me?

SPIDER
How rude of you to judge me, like that! You barely even know me!

ADRIAN
I’m sorry, I ---

CLARA
Sorry for what?

ADRIAN
No not you. I was talking to the spider.

CLARA
You were talking to my spider? And here I was thinking I was the weird
one.

ADRIAN
No really I was! Scouts honour!

CLARA
You’re not a boy scout.

ADRIAN
Have you ever read the book Dr. Doolittle?

CLARA
Are you telling me…you can read?!

Adrian glares at Clara.

CLARA
 Oh you can talk to animals! Sure…can’t we all.

ADRIAN
Believe me Clara. I can talk to animals. Would I lie to you?

CLARA
One second.

Adrian nods his head. Clara places her spider back on her dresser. She
walks over to Adrian with a stern face and puts her hands on his
shoulder. She pauses…and then bursts into laughter.

Clara
Ah ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Clara drops to the floor and rolls around. She can barely contain
herself.

ADRIAN
(Frustratingly)
Clara, stop it! Stop laughing at me!

Clara gets up. She tries to subdue her laughter.

CLARA
I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. Now what were you saying?

ADRIAN
I was saying ---

CLARA
Come on Adrian you can’t talk to animals! Nobody can! ...except for Dr.
Doolittle. But he’s not real. Or is he?

ADRIAN
You have to believe me Clara! I’m not lying to you!

CLARA
Alright if you can really talk to animals, talk to my spider.

Clara and Adrian walk over to the terrarium. Adrian bends over to speak
to the spider. He waves hello with his hand.

ADRIAN
Uh, hello there! Nice to meet you!

SPIDER
Is somebody talking to me?

CLARA
Ask him to weave a web.

SPIDER
How dare you! Do I look like a man?!

The spider shakes her “fist” at Clara.

 ADRIAN
Actually Clara he is a she.
(Whispering to the Spider)
Give her a break she only has two eyes.

The spider blinks all eight eyes.

SPIDER
Eh forgiven.

CLARA
Well is she gonna weave a web or not? Or is this some kind of scam?
Because I’m not buyin’ it!

ADRIAN
Just gimme a second here.

Adrian clears his throat.

ADRIAN
Please make a web!

SPIDER
Who do I look like Spiderman? I can’t just make webs on demand!

ADRIAN
Please!

SPIDER
Fine, I’ll do it. But you have to do something for me.

ADRIAN
Anything!

SPIDER
Release me!

ADRIAN
(Whispering)
I can’t do that! You’re not my spider.

SPIDER
I’m not anybody’s spider. If you won’t release me I won’t make your web.
Then your girlfriend over here is gonna think you’re crazy. So it’s your
choice buddy. Not mine!

The spider turns her back to Adrian.

Adrian
(Whispering)
Okay, okay I’ll do it!
But we have to make it look like an accident.

CLARA
What’re you guys talking about?

ADRIAN
 Oh nothing, nothing, nothing, just the weather.
(To the spider)
Okay make a web.

The spider weaves an intricate web in seconds. She climbs onto it and
presents it with open arms.

SPIDER
Tada!

CLARA
Wow you really can talk to animals! Hey do you think you could ---

The ring of a phone interrupts Clara in mid-sentence.

CLARA
I’ll just be a second.

Clara leaves the attic to go and answer the phone. As soon as she leaves
Adrian lifts the top of the spider’s terrarium. The spider crawls out,
off the dresser and onto the bed.

Clara is downstairs talking on the phone.

INT. CLARA’S HOUSE - KITCHEN

CLARA
Yup, Adrian’s here. No Mrs. Wood. Mm hmm, okay. Sure no problem. Bye
then!

Clara hangs up the phone. She heads back upstairs to her bedroom. When
Clara enters the attic she spots her spider climbing toward the open
window.

CLARA
No! Come back!

ADRIAN
(Insincerely)
Stop!

The spider gets onto the window ledge and stops briefly. It looks back,
and then bounds out the window with a parachute made of web.

Clara runs to the window but it’s too late. She can only watch the
spider as it floats down to freedom. Clara returns from the window
angry.

CLARA
How could you Adrian! How could you! You let her out on purpose, didn’t
you!?

ADRIAN
Clara. You fed her freeze-dried flies and kept in her a plastic box with
a square foot of space. What did you expect her to do?

Clara suddenly becomes remorseful.

 CLARA
I know, I know. I’m a bad person.

ADRIAN
Yeah! I mean, no! You’re not a bad person. You just didn’t know.

CLARA
Do you think she’ll ever come back?

ADRIAN
If you love something you’ll let it go and if it loves you back it’ll
return, no matter what.

CLARA
I’m not taking anymore chances.

Clara leans forward and gives Adrian a seductive hug.

CLARA
I’ll never let you go.

ADRIAN
Cooties!

Clara lets go.

CLARA
Oh yeah I forgot to tell you. Your mom said you could stay the night if
you wanted to. Do you want to?

Adrian thinks for a moment and reluctantly agrees.

ADRIAN
Eh! I have nothing better to do.

The night sky is clear with the stars out and the moon. The light shines
softly onto Clara’s bed where both Adrian and Clara sleep soundly.
Adrian sleeps on his back while Clara is on her side huddled over
Adrian.

The morning arrives and Adrian is nowhere to be found. Clara wakes up

and finds a prosaic sticky note on her forehead which reads,
“Went home –Adrian”

Clara clutches the note to her chest and closes her eyes.

INT. WOOD RESIDENCE – MASTER BEDROOM – DAY (MORNING)

Mr. and Mrs. Wood are fast asleep. Mr. Wood is lying on his back with
one arm off the bed, snoring loudly. Mrs. Wood is sleeping on her side.

The phone rings. Mrs. Wood wakes up and reaches onto her nightstand to
pick it up.

MRS. WOOD
(Tiredly)
 Hello?

Clara is on the other side of the phone.

CLARA
Hi! Is Adrian there?

Mr. Wood’s snoring increases.

MRS. WOOD
You’ll have to speak up! I can barely hear you!

We see Clara on the other side in her bedroom trying to speak loudly
into her cordless phone.

CLARA
(Loud Voice)
May I speak to Adrian please!

MRS. WOOD
Hold on sweetie.

Mrs. Wood elbows Mr. Wood sharply in the ribs. Mr. Wood gags and flails,
then falls back asleep immediately, without snoring.

MRS. WOOD
Now you were saying?

CLARA
May I speak to Adrian please?

MRS. WOOD
Clara, right…? Isn’t he at your place?

CLARA
No he left.

MRS. WOOD
I’ll go get him.
(Yelling)
Cody!

Cody arrives quickly; he opens the door to the master bedroom and tilts
in with his head.

CODY
Yes mom?

MRS. WOOD
Where is your little brother?

CODY
His room…?

MRS. WOOD
Go and check.
Cody runs to Adrian’s bedroom. He tries turning the doorknob but the
room is locked. Cody looks through the keyhole.

He sees a bodily shape underneath the blankets on Adrian’s bed and

assumes it’s his brother. In Adrian’s bedroom we see his backpack is
missing and the window is open. You can also see a piece rope leading
outside the window.

Cody knocks on the door.

CODY
Adrian, are you in there? Adrian!
(Yelling)
ADRIAN!

Cody dashes back to the master bedroom. He tilts his head in again.

MRS. WOOD
Well?

CODY
He’s asleep.

MRS. WOOD
Wake him up.

CODY
You can’t wake up a guy when he’s sleeping. He might be having a good
dream or something…a really, really good dream.

Mr. Wood is on his side, holding and rubbing his pillow, smiling.

Mrs. Wood plugs Mr. Wood’s nose by pinching it with her two fingers.
Mr. Wood flails around. Mrs. Wood removes her fingers and gets back to
the phone. Mr. Wood falls back asleep as normal.

MRS. WOOD
Sorry Clara Adrian’s asleep right now. Would you like me to tell him to
call you back later?

We see Clara on the other side of the phone.

CLARA
No that’s okay Mrs. Wood. Thanks anyways. I have to go now. Bye!

Clara hangs up the phone.

CLARA
Wait a minute Adrian’s a morning person. I smell something fishy here!
Ooh breakfast!

Clara runs downstairs.

EXT. DOWNTOWN

Adrian heads to the forest. He rides his bike leisurely carrying his
backpack on. The sky begins to turn dark and it starts to rain. Adrian
has a difficult time riding through the storm. He turns on his bicycle
light.

EXT. CLARK YOUNG FOREST

Adrian arrives at the edge of the forest. He locks his bike up to a tree
and slowly he creeps inside. The forest is dark and musky.

Adrian looks up into the sky, the trees so tall, the lights shimmering;
it truly is a majestic sight.

As Adrian blissfully admires the forest he does not take notice to a

tree root sticking up from the ground. He snares his foot on the root
and tumbles down the sharp hill, rolling around like a sock in a dryer.
Adrian’s backpack falls off.

The screen becomes black. Adrian is unconscious.

A short while passes and Adrian begins to come around. His eyes slowly
open. It is no longer raining and the sky is clear.

From Adrian’s point of view we see a (black) bear paw knocking on his
forehead. It sounds similar to a person knocking on a TV screen.

BLACKIE
(The black bear)
Hello, anybody home?

ADRIAN
(Frightened)
Uh!

Adrian scrambles to his feet.

ADRIAN
Stay back! I know karate!

Adrian poses with a silly martial arts stance.

BLACKIE
Whoa. I just wanna return your knapsack.

Blackie picks up Adrian’s backpack from the ground. He cautiously walks

toward Adrian and hands him his backpack. Adrian carefully takes it and
puts it on his back.

ADRIAN
Thanks.

BLACKIE
What’re you doing in these, neck of the woods anyways? Are you like a
lost boy scout or something?

ADRIAN
No I ran away from home.

BLACKIE
 You ran away from home. How quaint.

ADRIAN
I have to go now.

Adrian walks away but Blackie follows him.

BLACKIE
Where you going?

ADRIAN
If I knew I wouldn’t be talking to you then. Now would I?

BLACKIE
Very funny, but the forest can be a very dangerous place. You probably
don’t even have a place to stay seeing as this is your first time in the
forest.

ADRIAN
I’ll find a place.

BLACKIE
Don’t you want any help?

ADRIAN
I don’t need; I don’t want your help.

BLACKIE
Why not?

ADRIAN
I just don’t.

Blackie stops in front of Adrian.

BLACKIE
What’s your problem kid? I’m trying to help.

ADRIAN
You sure ask a lot of questions don’t you?

BLACKIE
No I don’t. Do I?

ADRIAN
You’re a nice bear and all but please understand I don’t want to be with
you. I came to the forest --- to be a man.

BLACKIE
Man my butt! Why would you want to be a man? Men are the most evil
destructive creatures in the world!

Adrian sighs.

ADRIAN
Why do you wanna help me so much anyways?
Blackie stands on two feet to speak.

BLACKIE
As a black bear, and as an individual, I feel it is my obligation to
properly represent my peeps and help out all creatures big and small.

Blackie gets back down on all fours.

ADRIAN
Okay you can help me out, but no funny business.

BLACKIE
Then if you will please follow me!

Adrian follows Blackie through the forest. They pass by a waterfall,

wherein the basin/reservoir they see a young nude couple getting busy.

BLACKIE
(In English accent)
Well ‘ello, ‘ello, ‘ello!

The both embarrassed and petrified couple face Adrian and Blackie
screaming. To them Blackie’s greeting sounds like a loud roar.

The couple submerge underwater to hide. Adrian and Blackie continue on

their way. After a few minutes of walking they stop before a cave.

BLACKIE
We’re here!

Blackie runs in front of it, faces Adrian, and stands on all twos with
his arms spread wide open with pride.

BLACKIE
Welcome to my humble abode!

Adrian walks closer to the cave to look in it.

ADRIAN
This is a very nice, uh, cave you have here; must have set you back a
couple of good pinecones.

Blackie gets down on all fours and runs into the cave.

ADRIAN
Wait up!

INT. BLACKIE’S CAVE

Adrian runs in after him. The cave is dimly lit; illuminated only by
flaming torches along the wall. The cave is also very long. There are
numerous paintings on the walls depicting different things yet with the
same theme; that is man and animal.

On the wall is a particularly peculiar painting which catches Adrian’s

attention. On it there is a drawing of a man wearing a bear skin over
his head. In his hand he is holding some type of flask.
Adrian glances at the rest of the paintings and follows Blackie running
down the cave.

Adrian and Blackie reach Mid-way into the cave and stop. Ahead of Adrian
is Blackie’s family. There are three bears sitting around in a circle in
front of a warm fire.

WHINY
Who’s the human?

BLACKIE
Uh ---

ADRIAN
Adrian. Adrian Wood.

SCHNOOKY
That’s a funny name because heh-heh-heh we’re in the woods!

BLACKIE
Schnooky please!

Yogurt gets up and shakes Adrian’s hand.

YOGURT
Hey there! I’m Yogurt.

ADRIAN
Mm Yogurt…

YOGURT
My brothers are kind of numbskulls so if you need anything you should
probably ask me.

Schnooky gets up.

SCHNOOKY
You think you’re so smart!

YOGURT
Well I am smarter than the average bear.

WHINY
He’s got us there. After all he did make this fire.

Schnooky sits back down.

BLACKIE
Right… we’ll just be going now… so ---

WHINY
Where’re you going?

BLACKIE
Not that it’s any of your business but we’re going to look for food.
Blackie turns his back and begins walking out the cave. Adrian follows
behind.

SCHNOOKY
Bring me back something nice!

EXT. THE FOREST – OUTSIDE BLACKIE’S CAVE

ADRIAN
Where pray tell are we going to find food?

BLACKIE
Food is all around you just have to look.

Blackie bends down to pick up a pinecone.

BLACKIE
This pinecone for example…

Blackie bites into the pinecone and spits it out immediately.

BLACKIE
Blah! Yuck! Let’s go look somewhere else.

Blackie and Adrian set out to explore the forest. They end up in a quiet
area abundant with berry growing bushes.

EXT. CAMPGROUND VICINITY

While Adrian is preoccupied with picking berries, Blackie is looking

elsewhere for food. Adrian eats a berry; he seems to enjoy the taste.
Blackie goes over to Adrian to see what he’s doing.

BLACKIE
Why are you eating berries?

ADRIAN
I thought we were looking for food?

BLACKIE
We are looking for food, over here.

Blackie brings Adrian behind a bush and they stare through a hole. There
is see a family of happy campers: Mom, dad, and baby.

BLACKIE
(Whispering)
Get ready on the count of three. One, two ---

ADRIAN
(Whispering)
Wait!

BLACKIE
What?

ADRIAN
 You can’t just go around scaring campers out of their food. It’s
immoral!

BLACKIE
Either you’re with me or you’re against me…or you’re neutral. So hurry
up and pick!

ADRIAN
Fine! I’ll join the dark side.

BLACKIE
Okay jump out on the count of three…three!

Blackie and Adrian jump out from behind the bushes. Blackie roars
ferociously. The mom screams hysterically. The baby remains calm. And
the dad screams as well, but stops for a moment to rationalize the
situation.

CAMPER DAD
Why just a cotton pickin’ minute here! Black bears don’t eat humans!

Mom stops screaming. The dad points ferociously toward Blackie.

CAMPER DAD
I’m not scared of you mister! I know kung-fu!

The dad gets into martial arts pose.

BLACKIE
(To self)
Again with the kung-fu!

MOM
(Squints)
Is that a kid?

Blackie roars again and pretends to bite Adrian’s arm. Adrian plays
along.

ADRIAN
Ah! He’s trying to eat me! Run! Run! Run!

Mom and dad scream their heads off and run away. They forget baby, but
the mom comes back and quickly grabs her. Then they run for their
supposed lives.

Adrian and Blackie walk into the campgrounds. Blackie picks up the
picnic basket and gets on two legs. He rubs his tummy with delight.

BLACKIE
Mm pic-i-nic baskets, my favourite!

ADRIAN
You know I think I have some food in my knapsack.

BLACKIE
There’s no use cryin’ over spilt milk now. Come on that’s crazy.
Blackie tosses the picnic basket to Adrian.

BLACKIE
I would hold the basket myself but I prefer walking on all fours. It’s
just so natural.

The sun is begins going down. Blackie looks up.

BLACKIE
Ooh it’s getting dark we better get going. Wolves, yah know.

SFX: The HOWLING of wolves

SFX: The HOOT of owls

BLACKIE
…And owls. I can’t stand owls. Hoot! Hoot! Get a new line already!

INT. BLACKIE’S CAVE - NIGHT

Blackie and the rest of the bears are sound asleep. Adrian is curled up
in front of Blackie and using his arm like a furry pillow.

INT. BLACKIE’S CAVE – DAY (MORNING)

The sunlight shines calmly on Adrian’s face gently waking him up. He
opens his eyes and finds that the bears are gone. He gets up.

ADRIAN
Where is everybody?

Arian looks around. Seeing that nobody is present (other than himself),
Adrian leaves the cave with his backpack.

EXT. HILL WITH TREE

Adrian explores the forest alone. He follows a conspicuous trail which

leads upward.

Adrian gets to the top. He looks around and decides to climb a tree for
better viewing. The tree is tall but Adrian manages to climb it.

He takes out his binoculars and scans the area with. Adrian sees a
couple of things.

MONTAGE

1) First Adrian sees a wood pecker. The wood pecker pecks away at a
tree. It turns its head toward Adrian with a maniacal laughter.
2) Adrian moves his binoculars to another area and sees a cowardly moose
whom is reluctant to go into the water. It dips its hoof in and pulls it
back quickly, shivering from the coldness of the water.

3) His binoculars move to another area but the wings of a seagull are
blocking his view. Adrian shoos the perched seagull away with his hand.
What he sees now is a police officer talking to a scruffy looking man.
END OF MONTAGE

EXT. RURAL ROAD

We come out of the binocular view and see an uptight looking police
officer wearing sunglasses talking to a scruffy looking man dressed in a
plaid shirt, grungy jeans, and a “flap” hat.

POLICE OFFICER
Did you see a little boy around here, brunette, brown eyes, about yay
high?

The police officer gestures how tall the boy is with his hands. The
scruffy man, who has been drinking, has a slurred speech and a feisty
attitude.

SCRUFFY MAN
You want the truth!? You want the truth!? You got it! Well it all
started Sunday morning while I was walking my pure bred Afghanistan and
I happened to notice ---

POLICE OFFICER
(Angrily)
Stop you liar! You’re a liar! Liar!

The police officer tackles the scruffy man and they tumble around.

INT. HILL WITH TREE – TREE TOP

Adrian continues to watch the police officer and the scruffy man through
his binoculars. The two are now on their feet and each in fighting
stances. The scruffy man tries to hit the officer but he is too
sluggish. The police officer winds up for a punch, but before Adrian can
see it connect his binoculars accidentally fall to the ground when a
strong gust of wind blows them down.

Adrian looks down. Along with his binoculars he sees four Cougars
gathered around the tree. They look curiously at the binoculars. One of
the cougars suddenly perks up.

COUGAR 1
Do you smell that?

COUGAR 2
Wasn’t me I swear!

COUGAR 1
No! Smell!

The other cougars smell the air.

COUGAR 3
I smell it! I smell it!

COUGAR 2
Is it a wabbit?
 COUGAR 1
…Tastier.

Cougar 3 looks up and sees Adrian sitting atop the tree.

COUGAR 3
I see something.

The rest of the cougars look up.

COUGAR 4
Ooh a human!

Cougar 1 calls out to Adrian.

COUGAR 1
Hey little boy wanna come down and meet my friends?

Adrian finds a stone in his pocket and throws it down; hitting Cougar 1
squarely in the head. Cougar 1 snarls.

COUGAR 1
That’s it you’re goin’ down kid!

The other cougars form a ladder with their bodies against the tree.
Cougar 1 climbs on top. He is close to Adrian but can’t reach him by a
couple of inches.

Cougar 1 swipes at Adrian but he pulls his feet up to avoid being

grabbed.

COUGAR 1
I’m going to get you eventually! If you just came down it would make
this a lot easier!

Adrian kicks Cougar 1 in the face. The other cougars snicker below.

From seemingly out of nowhere a bee dressed in a cape lands on Adrian’s

nose. He stands erect and puts his hands on his hips.

BEE
Never fear! Super bee is here!

The bee dives down and circles Cougar 1’s head. Cougar 1 swipes at the
bee but misses.

COUGAR 1
Hey! Stop that! You’re making me dizzy! Shoo!
The bee finally stops and settles on Cougar 1’s nose. Cougar 1 detracts
his claws. He swipes at the bee but the bee swiftly flies off his nose.
The cougar accidentally cuts his own nose. He yowls in pain.

COUGAR 1
Yow!
Cougar 1 loses his balance causing a domino effect and the cougars all
come tumbling down.

The bee flies down and manoeuvres in and out through the cougars. They
angrily try to bat the bee away but find he is too swift.

The bee flies up into the air. The cougars watch from below.

The bee does a flamboyant dance. The cougars don’t know that he is
actually communicating. The bee finishes his dance and a huge swarm of
bees appear from the sky. They stop briefly to listen to the command of
the bee.

BEE
Attack!

The cougars run from the swarm of bees chasing after them. The bees
sting them mercilessly. The cougars and the swarm of bees vanish into
the forest. Only the caped bee remains behind. He hovers proudly.

BEE
It looks like my work is done here…Up, up, and away!

The bee zooms off into the sky.

Adrian climbs down from the tree and picks up his binoculars. He places
them away in his backpack. Adrian puts his bag on.

The four bears return.

BLACKIE
We saw everything! Are you alright?

ADRIAN
You saw everything and you didn’t come to help?

YOGURT
What? You mean those weren’t Jehovah’s witnesses?

ADRIAN
Never mind. Where were guys anyways?

SCHNOOKY
We went to pick some berries for your breakfast.

WHINY
Guess what we saw! That’s right…a man!

ADRIAN
And?

BLACKIE
And?! Men are dangerous!

ADRIAN
I’m not dangerous.
 BLACKIE
He said man, not boy. You’re a kid.

ADRIAN
Why does everyone keep calling me that? I’m not a kid.

YOGURT
Have yah had your bar mitzvah yet?

ADRIAN
No, but I’m not ---

YOGURT
Then you are not yet a man.

ADRIAN
But I’m not Jewish!

SCHNOOKY
Excuse, excuses, excuses.

WHINY
I’m hungry! Are we going fishing or not?!

BLACKIE
Patience is a virtue.

WHINY
But I wanna go now! Now! Now! Now!

BLACKIE
Alright! We’re going! Sheesh!

WHINY
Don’t sheesh me! I will not be sheeshed!

BLACKIE
I’ll sheesh when I want, how I want.
(In Beethoven-esque Tone)
Sheesh, sheesh, sheesh, sheesh!

WHINY
I knew I should have kept my mouth shut.

EXT. THE LAKE

The bears arrive at the lake. They wade in to fish but Adrian stays
behind. Blackie looks back.

BLACKIE
Over here Adrian!

Blackie waves for Adrian to join them but he continues to watch from
afar. Blackie wades out of the lake to speak to Adrian.

BLACKIE
Why are you standing there? Aren’t you gonna join us? Is there something
wrong? Are you afraid of the yucky water? The water’s not that yucky you
know. It’s clean I swear! Look you can drink it! See!

Blackie scoops up some lake water and puts it into his mouth.

BLACKIE
…blah!

Blackie spits out the water.

BLACKIE
I stand corrected…but hey you can still swim in the lake! The lake is
still swim-able!

ADRIAN
I can’t.

BLACKIE
Why not?

YOGURT
Leave him alone Blackie!

BLACKIE
Shut up Yogurt!

YOGURT
(Muttering)
Grizzly…

BLACKIE
I heard that!
(To Adrian)
Come on Adrian! The water is fine! Why won’t you come in? It’s really
fun!

Blackie splashes around in the water. Adrian replies in a shamed voice.

ADRIAN
I can’t swim.

BLACKIE
Run that by me again!

ADRIAN
I can’t swim.

BLACKIE
Come again?

ADRIAN
I can’t swim!

BLACKIE
Well today’s your lucky day! Because we’re gonna to teach yah how tah
swim!
 SCHNOOKY
We are?

BLACKIE
Yes we are!

CUT TO:

The bears are teaching Adrian how to swim. He stays near the shallow end
where he leans his back against the edge of the lake. The four bears
stand in front of him, eager to show him the fine art of swimming. He
watches carefully.

BLACKIE
Before you learn how to swim you need to learn to blow bubbles. Watch!

Blackie blows bubbles into the water. The other bears follow along.
Blackie stops blowing bubbles and looks intently at Adrian for him to do
the same. Adrian blows bubbles into the water.

BLACKIE
Come on now, that’s it. That’s the spirit! Keep blowin’ those bubbles!

As silly as blowing bubbles into the water seems, Adrian does it

anyways. Blackie claps for Adrian when he finishes.

BLACKIE
Excellent! Excellent! You were nothing short of a pro! Now onto the next
lesson, floating! Watch me!

Blackie floats on his back and does a backstroke. He squirts water out
his mouth like a fountain. Adrian watches in astonishment.

BLACKIE
Didn’t think a black bear could swim like this huh? Well! You ain’t seen
nothin’ yet!

CUT TO:

Mellow music plays and the bears synchronize swim.

MONTAGE

1) The bears are lined up by the lakeside. They fall gracefully into the
water one at a time like a set of dominoes.

2) We see the bears float underwater in an anterior view.

3) The bears lift their rights arms in the air and twirls around.

4) Adrian watches enthusiastically.

5) The bears dive down and cock their legs in the air and bend them back
and forth.
6) On their backs the bears twirl around in a circle on. Fish jumps in
and out of the middle like a fountain.

7) Schnooky is carrying Yogurt over his head and Whiny is carrying

Blackie over his head. At first it seems easy but the bears are too
heavy and they fall. The music stops.

END OF MONTAGE

Water splashes on Adrian. He spits it out and wipes his face. The bears
are mortified. They look at each other for reassurance. It seems like it
went badly, but Adrian claps enthusiastically.

ADRIAN
Bravo! Bravo!

The bears bow. Though they finished their routine with a crash Adrian is
still enthralled about swimming. Something inside him begins to change.
Adrian overcomes his fears and is now adamant on swimming. His face
becomes sombre with determination. Adrian kicks himself off into the
lake to swim. Blackie is afraid he can’t do it.

BLACKIE
No! You ---

Adrian swims like a fish.

BLACKIE
Can swim?

The bears beam with pride. They clap proudly.

BLACKIE
Bravo kid! Bravo! You’re a regular Greg Louganis!

Adrian backstrokes along the lake and squirts water from his mouth.

INT. LUMBER FACTORY BOARDROOM

Mr. Wood is sitting at the head of the boardroom table. The directors
sit quietly as they wait for Mr. Wood to begin the meeting. Mr. Wood
stands up.

MR. WOOD
As you may already know this company is in financial trouble and this
last quarter definitely has not been the greatest. So as a sign of faith
I myself have taken it upon myself to take a steep, steep pay cut. I
advise you to do the same.

The room becomes silent, then an outburst of laughter.

MR. WOOD
This is no laughing matter! I’m being serious here. Quiet down now!
Quiet down!

The boardroom quiets down.

Mr. Wood gets up from his seat and walks over to the easel with the
chart on it. The chart is a red line graph with a descending pattern.
Mr. Wood points to the chart with his laser pointer.

MR. WOOD
As you can see our sales are steadily declining. We desperately need to
do something about it or we risk facing bankruptcy.

DIRECTOR
What should we do about it?

MR. WOOD
Either we find a way to increase our factory output or we start cutting
costs.

DIRECTOR
And how would we go about doing that?

MR. WOOD
I’m glad you asked. Do you believe in a concept called, sacrifice for
the greater good?

All the directors, the yes men, agree with Mr. Wood.

MR. WOOD
I am glad you all agree.

DIRECTOR
So what’re we going to do, fire a bunch of workers?

MR. WOOD
Something along those lines…

Mr. Wood points the laser pointer at the director’s forehead.

MR. WOOD
Somebody here is going to be fired. And by somebody I mean a few of you.

DIRECTOR
You can’t fire us! You need us!

MR. WOOD
Do I?

The directors become riled up.

Mr. Wood takes a metre stick and taps it on the table to get their
attention.

MR. WOOD
Now, now settle down.
They continue. Mr. Wood taps his stick on the table again.

MR. WOOD
Settle down!
(Angrily)
I said settle down!
Mr. Wood loses his temper and hits the metre stick hard on the table. It
breaks and shatters. The other half piece goes flying up in the air and
in between the legs of a director; narrowly missing his you know what.

The director is dazed. He pulls the stick from his chair cushion and
tosses it away. Mr. Wood now has everyone’s attention.

MR. WOOD
I’m sorry! But some of you are going to have to resign! We can’t afford
to keep you here. (Combined) You guys make at least a quarter the salary
of every worker on the floor! Isn’t that a little high?

DIRECTOR
Excuse me but weren’t you the one who hired us?

MR. WOOD
Yes but that was during the good times! Now we’re being squeezed at the
neck! Foreign competitors are coming out the wazoo and I don’t know what
to do!

Mr. Wood breathes heavily. Sweat drips from his forehead. He rests his
knuckles on the table. Mr. Wood is clearly frustrated. He stops leaning
on the table and points to the board of directors.

MR. WOOD
You guys are bunch of ---

Mr. Wood’s beeper goes off. He looks at. The message appears to be
urgent.

MR. WOOD
Excuse me a moment.

Mr. Wood leaves the boardroom. There is a woman waiting outside.

WOMAN
Mr. Wood, prepare to pour your heart out…for your son!

The woman steps aside and reveals a child from behind her. Mr. Wood is
taken aback somewhat, mainly in the foolishness of the woman. The “boy”
is really a girl.

MR. WOOD
That’s not my son. My son is a boy!

The woman looks at the girl.

WOMAN
Are you sure now your son’s not a girl?

MR. WOOD
I’m pretty sure I know my own son’s gender.

The woman and the little girl leave embarrassed. Mr. Wood hits his
forehead in frustration.
EXT. OUTSIDE WOOD RESIDENCE

Mrs. Wood walks outside to check the mailbox. She looks somewhat
despondent. As she is looking at the mail a noise catches her curiosity.

Mrs. Wood perks up. She hears a revving noise. Then suddenly out bursts
the minivan from the garage door. Mrs. Wood dives out of the way and the
mail spills on the ground. The minivan smashes into the mailbox and
slides onto the road.

Mrs. Wood with frizzled hair watches in disbelief. Smoke shoots from the
tires and skid marks are left on the road, by the minivan, which hastily
exits the street.

EXT. DOWNTOWN

Mr. Wood is downtown driving around looking for his son. He is stopped
at a red light.

Down the road Adrian and his bear buddies are crossing the street. They
see his dad the light.

ADRIAN
Eep! It’s my dad! Quick hide me!

The bears stand together and hide Adrian.

Mr. Wood squints and looks down the road. It’s a peculiar sight. Not
sure what to think, Mr. Wood makes a right turn and leaves. Adrian comes
out from hiding.

ADRIAN
Phew! That was close!

BLACKIE
Now let’s hit the town!

EXT. DOWNTOWN – HEART OF DOWNTOWN - NIGHT

Sunset begins. Adrian and the bears explore the heart of downtown
following him around on two legs each. Soon they reach the upper class
district. It has a quaint feel to it.

Adrian and the bears travel through the upper class district. They cause
hysteria to the people who see them.

People on the street become hysterical from seeing them. Many of them
run away. Though, Adrian and the bears seem oblivious to this fact. The
bears continue and walk ahead.
Behind Adrian and the bears are a child and her mother. The mother holds
tries to pull her away but the little girl is insistent on seeing the
“teddy bears”. She jumps up and down with excitement.

LITTLE GIRL
Teddy bear! Teddy bear! Teddy bear!
The child escapes from her mother and runs behind Schnooky. She tugs on
his tiny tail. The mother is petrified and can barely move. Yogurt turns
around with a menacing face. It quickly melts away when he sees it’s
only little girl. He lifts the girl up.

SCHNOOKY
Ooh what a cute little girl!

Schnooky gives her an Eskimo kiss.

SCHNOOKY
You are just precious!

Schnooky holds her in one arm and tickles her with his paw. She giggles.
The mother watches in horror. Adrian and the rest of the bears watch in
“horror” as well.

SCHNOOKY
You’re just a little sweetie aren’t you? Aren’t you? Aren’t you? Who’s
the little sweetie? Who’s the little sweetie?

Schnooky stops tickling her. He holds her in both arms and kisses her on
the cheek.

SCHNOOKY
I could just eat you up!

Schnooky playfully tosses the girl into the air and catches her.

The mother musters up the courage to confront Schnooky. Still shaking in

her boots, the mother approaches Schnooky. She raises her finger and
tries to speak up but find herself speechless.

Schnooky is oblivious and doesn’t realize what’s going on. He keeps

tossing the little girl in the air. Yogurt kicks Schnooky in the bottom.
He stops playing “catch” with the little girl.

SCHNOOKY
Ow!

Schnooky turns his head.

SCHNOOKY
What was that for?!

Yogurt steps in front of Schnooky and hammers him on the head with his
fist.

SCHNOOKY
Ow!
YOGURT
Will you give that woman back her child?

Schnooky smiles weakly.

SCHNOOKY
Oh! Sorry!
Schnooky hands the mother back her child. The woman takes her child and
backs away slowly. Then she spins around and scuttles away.

Yogurt gets back in line. Schnooky turns around. Adrian and the rest of
the bears face forward and continue to walk.

EXT. FANCY RESTAURANT

They stop in front of a fancy looking restaurant. Adrian and the bears
look in.

WHINY
Ooh fancy!

The bears drool and press their faces against the window. Most people do
not notice them, but one old couple does. They become distracted. The
old man tries to ignore them but the old lady cannot.

OLD LADY
James I can’t eat.

OLD MAN
Just ignore them.

OLD LADY
I can’t take it anymore!

The old lady stands up.

OLD MAN
Geraldine! Don’t be obscene. They’re not actually going to come into the
restaurant. That’s not what they want. And if they do, what’s the big
deal? We’ll get a free meal! If they come in we’ll just scream and run
out like a football team. Without paying for our bill! It’ll be a real
thrill. Don’t be irate. Permit me to demonstrate!

The old man screams and gesticulates wildly. The patrons of the
restaurant look at them. Embarrassed, the old lady sits back down.

OLD MAN
Atta-girl!

The bears finish looking and walk into the restaurant.

INT. FANCY RESTAURANT

The patrons of the restaurant scream and dash out. The restaurant is now
empty.

The old man and lady remain calm; they finish their food. Then they get
up and slowly back out of the restaurant. The old man gives a half
hearted fake bawl before leaving.

OLD MAN
Ooh! Ah!
(Unenthusiastically)
 …Ah.

The old man exits calmly. Then the old couple is gone. The restaurant is
completely vacant.

Adrian and the bears sit down at a circular table. Food is already there
from the previous patrons. Adrian sits shyly as the bears enjoy
themselves. Yogurt finds a green hate with a black stripe around it and
puts it on his head.

YOGURT
How do I look?

Yogurt grins. Blackie knocks the hat of Yogurt’s head. Yogurt lowers his
head in shame.

BLACKIE
Sorry but you have to stop your tomfoolery. We’re not in the forest
anymore. We’re in a fancy two star restaurant here.

The bears gladly eat the things already on their plates, like salmon,
steak, veggies, and even spaghetti.

Adrian doesn’t eat. He just drinks a glass of water. The bears enjoy
themselves. Whiny turns to Adrian.

WHINY
Hey you gonna eat that?

Adrian slides his plate over to Whiny. Whiny eats the food. Soon the
bears are done their meals.

A ruckus is heard outside. Blackie turns his head to look. It’s animal
control.

BLACKIE
Uh oh it looks like we got trouble.

The other bears turn to look as well.

SCHNOOKY
Maybe if we ignore them they’ll go away.

BLACKIE
They’re not bullies Schnooky. They’re animal control. And we’re animals!

Animal control sends somebody inside the restaurant. He enters, armed

only with a cheap uniform and a cheesy tranquilizer gun. The animal
control man (AC Man) shakes uncontrollably.
He moves slowly toward to their table. The AC Man takes aim with his
tranquilizer gun. It rattles in his hands as his knees buckle.

The bears get up from their seats and surround the AC Man. They roar at
him all at once. The AC Man drops his gun and runs out the restaurant.
A rock with a note on it comes hurdling through the window. Adrian and
the bears get down on the floor. Blackie picks up the rock and looks at
the note. He reads it out loud.

BLACKIE
Get out.

ADRIAN
How? How are we gonna get out of here? There are too many of them. We’re
clearly outnumbered!

WHINY
The boy’s right! We’re finished! Let’s get out of here! Ah!

Whiny gets up to run outside but Yogurt grabs him by the foot; causing
him to fall back down.

YOGURT
I just got an idea.

EXT. OUTSIDE FANCY RESTAURANT

Animal control continues to waits outside, contemplating an evasive plan

of action.

As they do five “waiters” (Adrian and the bears) exit the building,
wearing black vests and moustaches. The group walks away casually in a
straight line.

At the end of the line is Whiny who waves bye to one of the animal
control people. As he does his moustache falls off. Whiny grins
anxiously.

AC MAN
Get ‘em!

The bears hop on all fours and dash toward the forest. The waiter suits
burst off the bears.

Animal control chases after them. Adrian hops on top of Blackie to

escape.

The animal control vehicles chase them as well. A man hanging on the
back of the AC vehicle tries to capture the bears by using what appears
to be a butterfly net. He swings at the bears but manages only to
capture a stray butterfly. The AC man tries to shake it out with the net
held right side up. The butterfly struggles and screams in horror.

BUTTERFLY
Ah! Help me I’m stuck! Get me out of here! I don’t wanna live in a
mayonnaise jar! Help me! Help! Help! Mama no!
Adrian hears the cries of the butterfly and shouts back.

ADRIAN
Fly up!
The butterfly flies up and out of the net. It flies into the animal
control vehicle and flutters in the driver’s face.

BUTTERFLY
Go away bad guy!

The driver lets go of the wheel to try and bat the butterfly away. The
vehicle slides out”. Adrian and the bears make it to the forest.

EXT. THE FOREST – GRASS KNOLL - Night

Adrian and the bears lie down on a grassy knoll and look up into the
night sky, contemplating the meaning of life. The group is well relaxed,
hands behind their heads, leisurely gazing up on their backs.

BLACKIE
Do you ever wonder what life is about? Why are we here? Who made us? And
why do hotdogs come in packs of ten while buns come in packs of eight?

ADRIAN
Life is like a box chocolates. You never know what kind you’re going to
get as a last minute present.

SCHNOOKY
Life is a really strange thing. I don’t think we’ll ever find out why
we’re here as long as we are here. But what I want to know is where do
we go when we die?

WHINY
I believe the afterlife is a place limited only by our imaginations and
whatever we think is what we are given.

YOGURT
That’s the…stupidest thing I’ve ever heard of!

A shooting star appears in the sky.

ADRIAN
Look everybody a shooting star! Make a wish!

Adrian and the bears each make a wish. We hear each character make a
wish in their head.

BLACKIE
I wish I had infinite wishes.

WHINY
(In Whiny Voice)
I wish I were home.

YOGURT
I wish I had a cat.

SCHNOOKY
I wish I was a cat.

ADRIAN
 I wish I were big. Nah I’d rather have a million dollars.

The bears continue to blissfully watch the stars. It truly is a

magnificent sight. The stars sparkle in the sky and the moon shines
brightly.

INT. BLACKIE’S CAVE

Adrian is having a nightmare. We see the struggle on his face and we are
taken into his dream…

The dream is hazy. Sound is faint.

EXT. DREAM - MEADOW

Adrian is runs through a meadow filled with bright flowers. He runs in

slow motion. Adrian runs until the meadow ends in a cliff. He nearly
falls off. Adrian lifts his head up. Suddenly it has become night.

Adrian looks down and turns back to run away but the meadow begins
rolling forward and the earth pushes him off the cliff. We hear a
muzzled scream. He falls down but is saved by landing on a big orange
object (top of a hat).

The giant hat belongs to a giant hunter wearing sunglasses. We do not

see the hunter’s face yet, but we see Adrian being lifted up as the
hunter rises up from the rancid cliff, with his hat.

Adrian is bewildered. The hunter takes his hat off. Adrian falls back
into the meadow. The hunter puts his hat back on. Adrian runs away. The
hunter takes aim with his gun and shoots at Adrian.

SFX: We hear the SHOT of a gun.

Instead of bullets, there are piranhas. The Piranhas snap their mouths
and latch on to Adrian’s body. Panicky, he tries to shake them off.
Suddenly the meadow begins to crumble. Adrian falls through the ground.

EXT. DREAM - LAKE

Adrian lands and finds himself in a dark lake. He splashes around. The
hunter returns. His hat rises from the water and we see his sunglasses.
Adrian tries to swim away but the hunter opens his mouth and proceeds to
swallow him. Adrian wakes up.

Sweat is dripping from Adrian’s face. He breathes heavily from fear. He

gets up, takes his backpack and leaves the cave.

INT. BLACKIE’S CAVE – DAY

The morning has come. Blackie wakes up and finds Adrian is missing. He
gets up and wakes the other bears in alarm.

BLACKIE
Guys wake up!

The bears are still half asleep. Blackie shakes Yogurt.

 BLACKIE
Wake up! Adrian’s missing!

YOGURT
Calm down. He probably just went for a walk.

SCHNOOKY
Yeah go back to sleep.

Blackie looks around the cave.

BLACKIE
His knapsack’s missing too!

YOGURT
…So?

BLACKIE
He probably ran away!

WHINY
I’m trying to sleep here!

YOGURT
Excuse me but didn’t he run away from his home and come here? If he runs
away from here he’s not really running away now is he?

BLACKIE
I know! But if you haven’t noticed the forest is a big, big, big place!
(Fearfully)
I bet he’s lost and stuck up in a tree with a cat! Oh no that’ll be
horrible!

Yogurt falls back asleep and snores.

BLACKIE
That’s it I’m gonna look for him! You guys stay here!

SCHNOOKY
That’s a good idea…

Schnooky snores. Blackie hastily exits the cave.

EXT. THE FOREST – BY THE RIVER

Adrian is taking a stroll down the river. He walks holding the straps of
his backpack. Adrian stops by the river to look at his reflection in the
water. A fish pops up from the water, a minnow. Adrian is taken aback.
MINNOW
Hi there stranger!

ADRIAN
Uh, hi…

MINNOW
I’m kind of lost. Do you know where I am?
 ADRIAN
Yeah you’re in the river.

MINNOW
Of course! That’s what I thought.

ADRIAN
Don’t you think it’s a wee dangerous for such a little fish like
yourself to be travelling all alone downstream?

MINNOW
I know, but I really wanna to find my dad.

ADRIAN
You ran away from home?

MINNOW
No I got lost. It’s just that these rivers are so hard to navigate
through. Upstream, downstream, it’s all so confusing!

ADRIAN
Okay then…So! Are you the only one in the family?

MINNOW
Well except for my parents I only have a couple hundred brothers and
sisters. But besides them, yah I’m pretty much the only one.

ADRIAN
How do you cope with so many brothers and sisters? You know I only have
one brother and sister and they pretty much drive me nuts. Boy if I had
a nickel for every time they drove me nuts I’d have at least a dollar.

MINNOW
I hear yah but we’re a family. We work together. We love and care for
each other and that’s all that matters.

Minnow spots a bull-shark lurking behind him.

MINNOW
Welp! Gotta go!

The Minnow swims off with the bull-shark chasing behind.

ADRIAN
Wait what’s your name?

The minnow stops briefly.

MINNOW
Minnow!

The minnow submerges and vanishes into the water as the bull-shark
chases him. Adrian continues his walk by the river.

Suddenly a wolf appears, giving Adrian a scare.

 ADRIAN
Gasp!

WOLF
You!

ADRIAN
Who me?

WOLF
Yeah you! Did yah see a little girl come by here?

ADRIAN
No.

WOLF
Are yah sure? She was wearing all red and she was carrying a basket.
Are yah sure you haven’t seen anybody here around like that?

ADRIAN
I am 100% sure.

WOLF
Well I guess I’ll just have to eat you then.

Adrian steps back. The wolf advances toward him. Timmy the tiger appears
behind Adrian.

TIGER
I don’t think that’s a very good idea.

WOLF
Back off Timmy this one’s mine!

ADRIAN
Please don’t eat me! I taste bad! Eat my brother and sister! They’re
much tastier!

WOLF
Sorry kid I’m hungry. Nothing personal but I’m a carnivore.

TIGER
(To Wolf)
Leave him alone.

WOLF
(To Tiger)
No you leave him alone!

The tiger and the wolf face each other face to face.

TIGER
No you!

WOLF
No you!
 TIGER
No you!

WOLF
No you!

TIGER
No you!

WOLF
Fine! Since we can’t solve this situation with words, we must battle for
his flesh!

Adrian gasps with anxiety.

TIGER
You’re goin’ down buddy!

WOLF
No you’re goin’ down!

TIGER
No y --- let’s just fight already!

The wolf and tiger circle each other, snarling. The battle begins. The
wolf lunges toward the tiger and jumps on his back. He rides him like a
cowboy and the tiger bucks around like a bronco.

WOLF
Yee haw!

TIGER
Get off me!

The tiger tires himself out trying to get the wolf off his back. He
drops to the ground. The wolf comes off the tiger and moves menacingly
toward Adrian. Adrian reels back in fear and his back hits a tree. The
wolf snarls sinisterly.

SFX: A feminine Tarzan JUNGLE SCREAM is heard

A girl dressed in a red cape with a picnic basket appears. She swings
down from a rope and kicks the wolf in the head before he can attack
Adrian. The wolf falls down. The girl picks up a lump of mud and throws
it in the wolf’s face. He runs away from shock. The girl drops her
basket and takes her red cape off to reveal Adrian’s pal Clara.

CLARA
Yeah! Keep running you big bad wolf!
Clara shakes her fist angrily.

ADRIAN
Clara! What’re you doing here?!

CLARA
I came to rescue you!
 TIGER
(Sarcastically)
Yah don’t worry about me! I don’t need help! I’m just fine!

Clara and Adrian run to Timmy’s side and kneel down.

ADRIAN
What happened? All he did was ride you like a bull.

TIGER
I have a limited amount of energy; you know I am a vegetarian.

Clara and Adrian help the tiger up.

TIGER
Ooh…my back. I think I threw my back out.

ADRIAN
I don’t mean to be insensitive here but how is it that a mighty tiger
like yourself lose to a puny wolf like that?

TIGER
Well this isn’t exactly my natural habitat you know! Ooh, ah! My back! I
think I threw my back out!

CLARA
I think he threw his back out.

ADRIAN
I heard him the first --- wait a minute you can speak to animals too?! …
But how?

CLARA
Just woke up one day and there it was. You know you’re not the only one
who can speak to animals.

TIGER
I prefer the term feline.

ADRIAN
Sorry Clara. Do you need any help Timmy?

TIGER
I’m a tiger kid I go solo. Plus I have a really good chiropractor. Well
see yah!

Timmy roars and limps off into the forest. We hear his fading voice.

TIGER
Ooh, ah, ah!

Timmy is out of sight. Clara and Adrian are now alone.

CLARA
It looks like it’s just you and me.

Clara blushes. She latches onto Adrian’s arm.

 ADRIAN
Yeah about that Clara ---

CLARA
Yeah?

ADRIAN
How do I say this gently? Go home Clara.

Adrian pulls away from Clara.

CLARA
But, but! We’re best buddies!

ADRIAN
I’m sorry Clara I came here to be alone. And ---

Clara begins to sniffle.

CLARA
Fine! Just go! I don’t wanna be with you anyways!

Clara cries full fledge. She weeps stooped on the ground with her head
in between her knees.

ADRIAN
No it’s not that I --- Clara there’s no need to cry.

Adrian crouches in front Clara. He puts his hand on her shoulder and
tries to console her.

ADRIAN
The forest is a dangerous place. I just don’t want you to get hurt. I
want you to be here but it’s not a safe place.

Clara’s weeping begins to subdue.

CLARA
…Really?

ADRIAN
Yeah.

Clara wipes her eyes and stops crying. Adrian helps Clara stand up. She
hugs Adrian tightly, causing him to wheeze.

ADRIAN
I can’t breathe!
INT. THE FOREST – BY BEAR GATES’ CAVE

Traversing through the forest, Clara and Adrian find themselves at

another bear cave. In front of the cave is a nerdy looking Grizzly bear
with glasses and messy fur, he’s very frumpy looking. Bear Gates is
sitting down. He stares into the forest with a smug smile. Adrian and
Clara stop to ask the grizzly for directions. Adrian still carries his
backpack and Clara her basket.
 ADRIAN
Excuse me, hi!

BEAR GATES
Hi!

ADRIAN
Sorry to bother you but my friend and I are kind of lost. And we were
wondering if you could give us directions.

BEAR GATES
Okay. Where to?

ADRIAN
We’re not exactly sure where IT is. But we do know the place is in
between two trees.

BEAR GATES
You’re gonna have to be a little more specific than that.

ADRIAN
Um…do you know who Blackie is?

BEAR GATES
Blackie? Blackie? Is he a black bear by any chance?

ADRIAN
You know him?

BEAR GATES
Yeah he works for me down in the south side of the forest. He’s a, uh,
honey miner.

ADRIAN
A honey miner?

BEAR GATES
Mm hmm, mm hmm, he mines honey for me in the bee hives.

ADRIAN
Are you like his boss or something?

BEAR GATES
Oh yeah I run the entire honey industry in this forest. Have you ever
heard of a company called Micro-honey?

ADRIAN
Oh! Yeah I’ve heard of you. Yeah, Blackie told me about you. Your name’s
---

BEAR GATES
Bear Gates! That’s right I’m Bear Gates. The richest bear in the forest!

CLARA
Wow you must be a real bear magnet then.
 BEAR GATES
Not really.

CLARA
Why not? You seem like a pretty nice bear.

Adrian steps in front of Clara.

ADRIAN
I’m sorry. My friend doesn’t understand the mating rituals around here.
(To Clara)
Clara, female bears don’t want nice male bears.

Adrian gesticulates, flexing his arms and posing.

ADRIAN
They want rough, tough, mean looking bears. They want a bear with a nose
you could sand a piece of wood on!

CLARA
Don’t listen to my friend he’s crazy. We’ll help fix you up, okay?

BEAR GATES
I’ll have to go with the girl.

MONTAGE

Upbeat music plays while Clara and Adrian help Bear Gates fix him self
up.

1) Bear Gates is sitting in a salon chair. Clara styles his hair in

front of a mirror. Clara’s hands move super quick and we barely see
what’s going on. She tries an array of hair styles. Adrian is on the
side giving his approval. After going through a few hair styles Adrian
gives a thumbs up on the last one, which is Bear Gates’ original
hair/fur style.

2) Adrian is walks carefully with a book on his head. After Adrian

finishes demonstrating to Bear Gates how to walk, Bear Gates gives it a
try. He does well at first and Adrian gives him a thumb up and a smile.
Bear Gates smiles back and looks at Adrian but this causes him to become
distracted and fall.

3) Bear Gates is sitting at a table with Adrian and Clara doing a

practice dinner, using the cutlery and food from her basket. Adrian and
Clara watch Bear Gates with much intent. He picks up a spoon and holds
it up, and smiles. Then he throws the spoon aside and picks up the bowl
of soup and chugs it down. Bear Gates becomes ravenous and he eats
everything on the table. He finishes and sits back down. Adrian and
Clara look at each other. They get up and leave.

END OF MONTAGE

EXT. THE FOREST – ANOTHER AREA

In another area of the forest, stands a lonely female grizzly. She stays
under a tree with her hands folded in front of her. Adrian, Clara, and
Bear Gates look from a distance.

BEAR GATES
There stands the most beautiful grizzly in the world.

CLARA
Pfft I’ve seen better.

ADRIAN
Less gawk more talk.

BEAR GATES
(Quiet Voice)
I can’t go there. She’s all alone.

ADRIAN
Exactly! Making it perfect time to go talk to her. There will be no
interruptions.

BEAR GATES
But I’m so nervous.

CLARA
Don’t worry, just stick to the plan.

Clara picks some flowers from the ground and hands them to Bear Gates.

CLARA
Here take these.

Adrian and Clara push him. Bear Gates heads toward the female grizzly.
Clara and Adrian quietly follow him and hide behind a bush. Bear Gates
is now beside the female grizzly. She gazes forward into nothingness.
Bear Gates clears his throat to get her attention.

BEAR GATES
Ahem.
(Louder)
Ahem!

The female grizzly turns her head. Clara and Adrian watch.

BEAR GATES
Hi! I’m…I’m…I’m…

Adrian talks to Bear Gates from behind the bush.

ADRIAN
(Whispering)
Bear Gates!

BEAR GATES
Bear Gates! My name is Bear Gates.

FEMALE GRIZZLY
 Pleasure to meet you Mr. Gates!
(She shakes his hand)
I’m Melanie.

BEAR GATES
Oh these are for you.
(Hands her the flowers)
I hope you like them.

FEMALE GRIZZLY
(Sniffs flowers)
How romantic. I haven’t gotten flowers since…last week. But these are
extra special!
(Sniffs flowers again)

BEAR GATES
So do you like to, do you like to, to ---

CLARA
(Whispering)
Dance!

BEAR GATES
Dance! Do you like to dance?

FEMALE GRIZZLY
I enjoy the occasional dance around the maypole tree.

CLARA
Ask her if she would like to dance.

BEAR GATES
Um, would you like to dance?

FEMALE GRIZZLY
I would be delighted.

ADRIAN
(To Clara)
Did we teach him howda dance yet?

CLARA
Uh oh…

Bear Gates steps back and begins to break dance. He does the robot. He
does the moon walk. He does the wave, he pops and locks. He even does
head spinning and windmills. Then he finishes off with a chair. He gets
up and spreads his arms wide with enthusiasm. The girl grizzly pauses
for a moment not sure what to think, then bursts out into laughter. Bear
Gates is bewildered.

FEMALE GRIZZLY
Ah Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

BEAR GATES
You didn’t like it?
 FEMALE GRIZZLY
Boy you are one funny bear.
(Seductively)
I like funny.

The female grizzly leans in toward Bear Gates and circles his chest with
her finger.

FEMALE GRIZZLY
So whaddya wanna do now?

BEAR GATES
I guess I’ve already given you a show, so, dinner?

FEMALE GRIZZLY
You read my mind.

The female grizzly grabs Adrian and Clara from behind the bushes. They
both give a short scream.

FEMALE GRIZZLY
One for your ---

The female grizzly throws Bear Gates, Clara, and he catches her.

FEMALE
And one for me!

We hear the voice of Blackie in the nearby distance.

BLACKIE (OS)
Stop! Put those kids down!

Blackie, Schnooky, Yogurt and Whiny appear in frame and come to the
kids’ rescue.

BLACKIE
You can’t eat those --- hey boss!

BEAR GATES
(Waves lightly)
Hello!

BLACKIE
What’re you guys doing? You can’t eat these kids! That’s just evil man!

BEAR GATES
Wasn’t me!
Bear Gates points to the female grizzly (AKA Melanie).

FEMALE GRIZZLY
Oh please honey I saw the way you were looking at those kids! Fine you
want ‘em? Take ‘em! I’ll just eat at McDonald’s.

The female grizzly lets go of Adrian and Clara hops out from Bear Gates’
arms. The two huddle together.
 BLACKIE
Adrian! How many times have I told you? You can’t hang around grizzlies!
They’re dangerous! They eat meat! Why do you think people use the word
grizzly [sic] to describe something gruesome?! Because they are
gruesome!
(To Bear Gates)
No offence.

BEAR GATES
None taken.

YOGURT
Hey who’s your friend?

ADRIAN
Oh this is Clara.
(Introduces Clara)
Clara, Yogurt. Yogurt, Clara.

Clara smiles timidly.

CLARA
Hi!

BLACKIE
(To Bear Gates)
And you! You!
(Wags his finger)

BEAR GATES
Who me?

BLACKIE
You should know better!
(To Adrian)
And you! There’ll be no ice cream for you mister!

ADRIAN
Huh?

BLACKIE
I don’t know! Just be careful next time! The forest is a nice place but
it’s also full of dangerous things. Have you ever heard of a guy named
Arnold Schwarzenegger?

SFX: Loud GUN SHOT is heard

Birds flutter into the air. A hunter comes out from the forest along
with his two dogs who bark ferociously.

BLACKIE
HUNTER!

Bear Gates and the female grizzly (Melanie) go their own way while
Adrian, Clara and the four bears run together.
Adrian and Clara try to keep pace but they are slower than the bears.
They get left behind. Yogurt and Blackie stop. Schnooky and Whiny, who
are slightly ahead, wait as well. The hunter draws closer.

BLACKIE
Go on without us!

Schnooky and Whiny hesitantly run off. Yogurt and Blackie wait behind
for Clara and Adrian. The two catch up, out of breath. The hunter is
drawing nearer. The sounds of the dogs are getting louder.

BLACKIE
Get on!

Clara hops on Blackie’s back and Adrian on Yogurt. The hunter is now
behind them. He aims his gun carefully. Blackie and Yogurt dash off. The
hunter misses.

The hunter takes his time. He walks slowly but the dogs do not. They
chase after the two bears, Clara, and Adrian. The dogs are extremely
close. The bloodhounds nip at their heels.

Yogurt and Blackie run with great vigour. But no matter how fast they
run it seems the hunter is always close behind.

The two bloodhounds jump on top of Yogurt and Blackie but the two bears
continue to run. Adrian and Clara spin around to face the dogs. They
(the dogs) growl at them.

ADRIAN
Get off my bear!

Adrian punches the bloodhound in the face. The bloodhound shakes his
head. Adrian lets loose some more wild punches. They seem to have no
effect.

Clara, meanwhile, deals with the other bloodhound. She screams in

terror. Clara grabs a branch from a tree and starts whipping him with
it. The bloodhound covers his face to protect himself.

YOGURT
What’s going on up there?

ADRIAN
Nothing much! Just a little fisticuff!

Adrian and the bloodhound continue to box fervently with each other.

On top of Blackie, Clara fights with the other bloodhound. Clara

continues hitting him but the bloodhound stops her and grabs the branch
in his mouth. The dog grins widely. Clara grabs another branch and beats
him with that.
Up ahead a large tree is falling. It crashes into the ground and the
gang rams right into it.

SFX: BOWLING PINS being knocked down

The gang scatters onto the ground. They get up, dizzy and slightly
dazed. On one side (the one closer to the tree) you have Adrian, Clara
and the two bears, and on the opposing side you have the two
bloodhounds. They advance toward our heroes.

BLOODHOUND 1
Ride’s over punks.

ADRIAN
Wait! Stop! Drop! Shut ‘em down, open up shop!

BLOODHOUD 2
What the?

ADRIAN
(Begging)
Please don’t eat us! I’ll do anything, anything! Except eat at Arby’s.
But other than that I’ll pretty much do anything.

BLOODHOUND 1
You’re ruining the moment man. Get up!

ADRIAN
(Gets up)
Why are you two terrorizing us? What did we ever do to you? Don’t you
remember the saying, “A dog is a man’s best friend.”?

BLOODHOUND 1
First of all, none of you are men. And second of all, I’m just tryin’ to
do my job alright. So please step aside so we can get to the bears.

The hunter appears in the nearby distance. He blows a dog whistle.

BLOODHOUND 1
Ah! I hate that darn whistle!

The hunter continues to blow his whistle.

BLOODHOUND 1
Ah! You know what, I quit. I quit! I quit! I quit! Trust us to do our
job for one second man geez! Roy you can do what you want. I’m out of
here.

Bloodhound 1 runs off into the forest.

BLOODHOUND 2
Wait up!

The dogs vanish into the forest.

A loud gun shot is heard and a bullet pierces the fallen tree, narrowly
missing the group. Startled, they run away. The hunter takes his time to
follow them.

The chase soon ends. The hunter traps the gang by a cliff. The hunter
smiles sinisterly as he takes aim. His fingers ready to pull the
trigger. As he is about to shoot an Eagle comes from the sky. It swoops
down with its talons and attacks the hunter.

The hunter drops his gun and struggles to fight off this mighty bird.
He retreats to the forest. Clara, Adrian, and the bears, jump for joy.
The hunter has been defeated?

No. The hunter wearily is hiding
his face. With his last ounce of
and aims it. The hunter squeezes
chamber in slow motion. It heads
shoulder.
behind a rock. There are claw marks on
strength he takes out a small hand gun
the trigger and a bullet flies out the
toward Yogurt and nails him in the

The force causes Yogurt to reel backward. Adrian who is behind him gets
knocked back as well. And the two fall off the cliff. The hunter runs
away. Clara and Blackie look over the Cliffside. Adrian and Yogurt are
still alive. Yogurt hangs onto a branch and Adrian hangs onto his torso.
YOGURT
(Struggling)
I can’t hang on much longer.

CLARA
Hang on!

Clara gets on her stomach and reaches over the cliff.

CLARA
(To Blackie)
Hold my legs!

Blackie holds Clara’s legs. She reaches down for Yogurt and Adrian.

CLARA
Quick grab my arms!

YOGURT
I can’t!

CLARA
Yes you can!

YOGURT
No really I can’t! I’m too heavy! Adrian you climb up first you’re
lighter.
ADRIAN
What about you?

YOGURT
I’ll come up after. Ugh! Now go!
Adrian nods his head and climbs over Yogurt. He grabs Clara’s arms and
is brought back up. Adrian gets to his feet, relieved to be back on the
safe ground.

ADRIAN
Let’s go get Yogurt!

Adrian spins around and looks over the cliff but he is flabbergasted
when he sees he is missing.

ADRIAN
…Yogurt?!

Clara looks over the cliff as well.

CLARA
W-where is he?

Blackie looks down as well. The three stare in disbelief.

BLACKIE
He’s gone.

ADRIAN
No he can’t be! He can’t be! Nooooo!

Yogurt is dead.

EXT. A BEARY SAD GRAVE SIGHT – NIGHT

Clara, Adrian, and the bears stand around Yogurt’s crude grave sight. It
is marked with a cross made of branches. They each have a flower which
they throw on his grave one by one and step back. Blackie commences the
eulogy.

BLACKIE
I will never forget you. You were one of the best darn black bears I
ever known. Nobody can replace you. You will always be in my heart and
you will always be with me. I will never forget you. We all miss you
Yogurt. I promise you I will get revenge.

SCHNOOKY
Blackie no! No! That’s not what Yogurt would want! He’d want us to be
happy for him because he’s in a better place now.

BLACKIE
(Angrily)
Oh and how do you know that?!

SCHNOOKY
I’m just saying! You shouldn’t bring your hateful feelings around
Yogurt’s final resting place.

BLACKIE
I can feel however the heck I want! And you can’t tell me how to feel!
You’re not me!
 WHINY
Blackie please!

BLACKIE
That’s it I can’t stay here. You guys are traitors. I’m gonna find that
hunter and I’m gonna to take him down. Good night!

Blackie walks away angrily. Adrian proceeds follow but Clara stops him.
She grabs his hand and shakes her head, no.

EXT. Offbeat TRAIL

Blackie angrily walks alone on an offbeat trail in the forest.

BLACKIE
They can’t tell me what to do. They can’t tell me how to feel! I’m a
grown a bear darn it!
(Growls)

Blackie continues to fume as walks. So preoccupied with his anger that

he does not notice what is going on around him. There is a suspicious
looking man behind him with black hair, dressed in a black and white
tiger striped tuxedo. He rings a bell and calls out to Blackie.

TUXEDO 1
Yoo-hoo! Mr. Black Bear!

Blackie turns around to face the unfeminine character ringing his little
bell.

BLACKIE
Grrr! Humans! I hate humans!

Blackie full of rage rushes toward Tuxedo 1. Blackie is about to lunge

at him when a WHOOSH sound from the air is heard. A dart hits Blackie in
the behind. He falls down and passes out. Revealed behind Blackie is
another man in a black and white tiger tuxedo, except he is a blond. He
is holding a tranquilizer rifle. Tuxedo 2 (the blond) pumps his rifle.

INT. THE CIRCUS – ANIMAL CAGES - DAY

Blackie begins to wake up. We see from his point of view as he begins to
come around. Blackie is confused. He sits up and looks around. Blackie
finds himself in a rectangular cage. The sides are walled, whereas the
front and back is barred.

BLACKIE
Where am I?

Blackie gets a response from another cage adjacent to his. We see the
ghost tiger in the other cage. He has a thick Indian accent.

GHOST TIGER
Hello neighbour!

BLACKIE
Who said that?
 GHOST TIGER
Me.

BLACKIE
Me who?

GHOST TIGER
Me who who who!

BLACKIE
Who are you? Where am I?

GHOST TIGER
I am Terry and you my friend are in the circus.

BLACKIE
Oh no! Oh no!

GHOST TIGER
Oh yeah! You’re in the circus and there’s no use fighting it. I’ve been
here for over three years. Not tiger years, human years.

Blackie runs to the front of the cage. He grasps the bars and rattles
them in desperation.

BLACKIE
Let me out! Let me out!

GHOST TIGER
What are you doing?

BLACKIE
(Hysterically)
Panicking! It’s called panicking! I’m panicking, I’m panicking; I’m
panicking!

GHOST TIGER
Relax it’s not so bad. You get three square meals a day, and if you do a
good show, maybe a little rub down.

BLACKIE
I don’t want a rub down! I want to go home!

GHOST TIGER
Look sunny, I mean sonny. I’ll be straight with you. I’ve been here for
a long time. And if you don’t do what they say, they’ll beat your arse.
And if you don’t do what they say after they beat you arse, they’ll –-

BLACKIE
They’ll what?

GHOST TIGER
They’ll kill you.

BLACKIE
 Kill us? Kill us? They can’t kill us! What kind of place is this
anyways?!

GHOST TIGER
We’re not as lucky as fish, this isn’t “catch and release” baby. We’re
here forever.

BLACKIE
I-I’m feeling woozy. I can’t stand up, I’m becoming weak.

Blackie reels back and slumps down on the cage wall. He puts his hand
over his, trying to make sense of the situation.

BLACKIE
Boy I’m a big dummy. The only reason I’m here is because I got angry at
my brothers. I wish I could tell them I’m sorry.

GHOST TIGER
I had a family once back in India. But we became separated when the two
men in white tuxedos captured me. I didn’t even get to say goodbye. The
sad thing is I just had a son. I never got to know him. I never got to
hold him. To me he was the most beautiful tiger in the world. Well aside
from my wife. She was pretty hot. But the thing between me and my son is
strictly platonic.

BLACKIE
I know how you feel. I lost somebody too, my brother. Boy I screwed up.
I shouldn’t have got angry and ran away. Now I lost my other brothers as
well. And I have nothing. All because I forgot about the things I
already had.

GHOST TIGER
Life is like that. We often forget about the things we already have. We
take them for granted. We push them away. Then we never see them again.

An animal trainer wearing sunglasses, khaki coloured clothing, with a

button up shirt and shorts, appears in front of Blackie’s cage. He takes
his sunglasses off and shouts enthusiastically.

ANIMAL TRAINER
Show time!

INT. THE CIRCUS – THE RING

The circus is crowded. The ringmaster shouts from the circus ring,
dressed in bright red and black suit, enthusing the audience with all
the merriments of the “Greatest Show on Earth”.

RINGMASTER
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, senior citizens and parents, teens
and tweens, toddlers and babies, soccer moms and hockey dads ---

An angry overweight man holding a bag of popcorn loses his patience and
shouts from the stands. Popcorn spills from his bag.

OVERWEIGHT MAN
Will you just get on with the show!
 RINGMASTER
Sorry! It is my pleasure to present you with THE GREATEST SHOW ON
EARTH!

Music plays, confetti bursts into the air, animals and circus performers
come out. The opening of the show begins. The crowd claps and cheers.
The ringmaster sings a song.

MONTAGE

1) The ringmaster dances on the spot, marching his feet.

Hurray! Hurray! Today’s a wonderful day! What can I say? What can I
say? Come on, come on, come on and look this way!

2) The ringmaster is in between the two “tuxedos” with their ghost

tiger. He has his arms around them. The ghost tiger looks embarrassed.

Here we have a tiger! No he’s not a liger! Can’t you see, oh can’t you
see? He is a ghost tiger!

3) The ringmaster is now by the half woman half man.

Chick or dude!? I’m not being rude! Tell me now, chick or dude?

4) The ringmaster is now by the juggler. The juggler looks at the

ringmaster.

Look at him juggle! He doesn’t even struggle! Because he likes to do

his darn juggle!

5) The ringmaster jumps on top of Blackie. Blackie has a mortified look

on his face.

And here is a bear, a black, black bear! Did you here? Yes he’s a very
black bear!

6) The ringmaster stands on top of the unicyclist’s head and sings.

And last but not least, look at my friend cycle! Want to know his name?
His name is Michael!

7) The ringmaster jumps back into the centre or the ring and continues
dancing on the spot.

Join along in the fun! I don’t want you to walk I want you to run! Come
one, come all, you’ll have a ball! Whether you’re big or small, short
or tall! Because I’m the ringmaster! I like red and black, not the
colour alabaster. Because I’m the ringmaster!

END OF MONTAGE

The song ends and the ringmaster stops singing. The opening of the show
ends and all the animals and performers leave the ring for the next act.
Blackie enters the ring with the two tuxedos. In the middle of the ring
is a large ball (also in the ring is a tricycle). The tuxedos want him
to get on the ball. The crowd watches in anticipation. Blackie
hesitates.

TUXEDO 2
(To Blackie)
Get on the ball!

BLACKIE
No way!

TUXEDO 2
(To Tuxedo 1)
Why isn’t he getting on the ball?

TUXEDO 1
(To Tuxedo 2)
Whip him!

Blackie gasps in fear. He jumps on the ball with two legs and balances
the best he can but it’s proving difficult. He can barely balance.
Tuxedo 1 cracks his whip and instructs Blackie to get on the tricycle.

TUXEDO
Get on the tricycle!

Blackie proceeds to get on the tricycle. Before he gets on, Tuxedo 1

places a beanie cap with a propeller on his head. Blackie begrudgingly
gets on the tricycle. Tuxedo 1 slaps him in the back and tells him to
go.

TUEXEDO 1
Get going!

Blackie is humiliated but rides around the ring anyway. The audience
laughs. Blackie rides slowly. Tuxedo 1 whips him and tells him to go
faster.

TUXEDO 1
Faster!

Tuxedo 1 whips Blackie again.

TUXEDO 1
Faster!!

Blackie rides faster. Tuxedo 1 whips him again.

TUXEDO 1
Fast ---

Before Tuxedo 1 can tell Blackie to go faster, he jumps off his tricycle
and jumps on top of him. Blackie roars with all his might.

TUXEDO 1
Ah!
He grabs Tuxedo 1 by the collar.

BLACKIE
(Angrily)
Whip me again and you’re lunch!

Tuxedo 2 jumps on top of Blackie and wraps his arms around his neck.
Blackie comes off Tuxedo 1 and stands up. He spins around trying to
shake Tuxedo 2 off his back.

Tuxedo 1 sits up and shakes his head in disbelief, still in shock from
his harrowing “bear attack”. The audience shrieks in horror.

TUXEDO 2
Help me!

Tuxedo 1 runs away.

A man with a tranquilizer rifle appears in the ring and aims his gun at
Blackie. But he finds it difficult to aim as Blackie is moving around a
lot. When Blackie notices the man he throws Tuxedo 2 off his back.
Tuxedo 2 lies on the ground dazed and confused.

The man with the tranquilizer rifle lets off a shot but misses. Blackie
gets back down on all four and runs around the ring trying to avoid the
oncoming darts. None of them yet hit him.

Blackie heads for the audience area. The crowd screams and disperses.
Blackie runs up the steps but the man with the tranquilizer rifle
manages to hit him in the butt with a dart. Blackie looks behind.

Blackie
(Muttering)
Not again.

Blackie passes out and everything goes dark.

FADE OUT:

INT. BLACKIE’S CAGE – NIGHT

Blackie wakes up and finds himself back in his cage. He sits up.

BLACKIE
(Clutching his head)
Ooh my head!

GHOST TIGER
I told you not to give trouble. And what do you do? You give trouble!
What do you not understand about not giving trouble?

BLACKIE
You never said that.

GHOST TIGER
Shut up!
 BLACKIE
There’s no need for profanity. I was just ---

GHOST TIGER
No shut up somebody’s coming.

SFX: We hear the FOOT STEPS of a person walking. (OS)

Blackie and the ghost tiger pretend to be asleep and snore. A small dark
figure approaches the cage. It puts its hands around the bars. It puts
its face forward between the bars and we see it’s really Adrian.

ADRIAN
(Whispering)
Blackie…
(Shouting)
BLACKIE!

Blackie gets up abruptly, acting dazed and confused. He jerks his head
side to side.

BLACKIE
Uh?! I’m awake, I’m awake!

Blackie turns and sees Adrian.

BLACKIE
Adrian!

Blackie runs over to him.

BLACKIE
What’re you doing here? Y-you have to go! It’s not safe!

ADRIAN
I’m not leaving with out you!

BLACKIE
Do you wanna be locked in a cage and do dumb tricks like an animal?!

ADRIAN
I’m a human.

BLACKIE
Oh right! Where are the others?

ADRIAN
I came alone.

BLACKIE
You came alone?

ADRIAN
Yeah and I’m going to get you out.

BLACKIE
 How?

ADRIAN
You have a key right?

BLACKIE
Oh great! You came all the way here and you don’t even have a plan!?

GHOST TIGER
I suggest you don’t bite the hand that frees you.

BLACKIE
Not now Terry.

GHOST TIGER
Whatever!

BLACKIE
Forget about me Adrian. Go home. I’m finished. This is my life now.
Circus Bear...

ADRIAN
I can get you out okay. I can get all of you out. Stay here.

Adrian runs off. Blackie waits and stares out his cage. A couple of
seconds pass. A loud stomping noise is heard. Adrian returns riding atop
an elephant.

ADRIAN
Stand back!

Blackie stands back. The elephant grabs one of the bars and place two of
its legs on the other bars for leverage. The elephant pulls three bars
off the cage, one at a time. The elephant steps back. Blackie slips out
the cage.

The elephant grabs Blackie and lifts him up.

BLACKIE
Whoa!

He throws him on his back behind Adrian. Adrian glances back and smiles.
The elephant turns around.

GHOST TIGER
What about the rest of us?!

ADRIAN
We shall return!

We are taken to an outside view of the circus tent.

SFX: We hear RUMBLING, the noise of ELEPHANTS, and bars of cages

SNAPPING.
The tent shakes. Then all at once every animal rushes out the tent:
horses, monkeys, tigers, lions, bears, elephants, all types of circus
animals.

EXT. CIRCUS OUTSKIRTS

On the outskirts of the circus area a lithe looking fellow is going for
a midnight jog. He is wearing a “Richard Simmons” like outfit and
gleefully listening to his fantastic Ipod MP3 player. A squirrel jumps
in front of him startling the jogger.

JOGGER
Ah!

The squirrel stares inquisitively.

JOGGER
Oh it’s just a squirrel.

The jogger tries to continue his jog but the squirrel keeps stepping in
his way.

JOGGER
Excuse me you’re in my way!

The squirrel chatters its teeth. It continues to block the jogger’s

path. The jogger gets frustrated and picks up a stone.

JOGGER
I said move it!

He hurls the stone at the squirrel but misses. The squirrel runs away.

A rumbling noise is heard from behind and the jogger turns around. The
stampede of animals from the circus runs in his direction. The petrified
jogger cannot move.

JOGGER
Jumanji!

The animals trample the jogger. Dust from the road is kicked up and all
we see is a dark cloud. The dust settles and the stampede is gone. The
jogger lays on his stomach the ground. He lifts his head.

The squirrel from before stands in front of him, it stares

inquisitively. It chatters its teeth and runs away. The jogger’s face
drops into the ground from exhaustion.

EXT. THE FOREST – AROUND A CAMP FIRE

Adrian and Blackie are reunited with Clara and the rest of the bears.
Blackie stands in front of a roaring camp fire regaling everybody with
stories from the circus. They sit on a log and listen attentively.
Blackie gestures wildly and exaggerates but is still truthful
nonetheless. He is already partway through his spiel.

BLACKIE
 So there I was in the ring…

We see Blackie’s flashback.

INT. SURREAL CIRCUS RING

Blackie is in the middle of a circus ring. The background is pitch-

black. Spotlights hang from the nonexistent ceilings, illuminating the
ring. Blackie is wearing a “Karate Kid” headband. He is surrounded by a
dozen men (continued).

BLACKIE (VO)
Surrounded by a dozen! No a hundred men! Coming at me from all
directions!

(Continued) The number of men suddenly increases to a hundred. They all

look alike, stout Europeans dressed in ringmaster costumes with
handlebar moustaches.

CLARA (VO)
Then what happened?

BLACKIE (VO)
They came rushing at me all at once!

The ringmasters rush toward Blackie.

BLACKIE (VO)
Then they all jumped on me!

The ringmasters pile on top of Blackie covering him from head to toe.

BLACKIE (VO)
So I got really mad! And I was all like “ARGH!”

Blackie bursts up with rage and the ringmasters fly off Blackie and into
the stratosphere.

We return back to reality.

BLACKIE
And that’s how I single handily won the war.

ADRIAN
What war?

BLACKIE
…The war of the, worlds?

Adrian raises his eyebrows in disbelief.

WHINY
That’s a lie!

SCHNOOKY
Yeah! Who’s ever heard of this circus thing?

Whiny and Schnooky get up and begin to walk away.

 BLACKIE
No wait! The circus part was real! Come back!

Adrian looks at Clara and shrugs. Meanwhile…

INT. WOOD RESIDENCE – CODY’S ROOM

The room is dimly lit. The only light in the room emanates from a small
desk lamp and a computer monitor.

Cody is on his iMac surfing the internet when he hears his name being
called out, “Bzzzt, Cody!”

Cody stops typing and turns his head back briefly. Hearing nothing He
turns back and continues surfing the net. Cody hears the same noise
again and turns his head once more. Seeing that nobody is there he
continues to surf the internet. He hears the noise again, but this time
he jumps up from his chair excitedly and spins around with hostility.

CODY
Who’s there!?

Cody pulls out a rubber band gun from his pants pocket. We hear his name
being called out from under the bed again, which is of course, actually
coming from the walkie-talkie Adrian left under the bed earlier.

Cody points his rubber band gun forward.

CODY
Alright come out with your hands up and nobody gets hurt!

Cody creeps toward the emanation of the noise, which is from underneath
his bed. He holds his gun by his side and gets on his knees to peek
under the bed. We see Cody’s face from underneath the bed, his eyes
bulging with curiosity.

The walkie-talkie goes off again, “Bzzzt, Cody!”

Cody looks with surprise. He reaches under the bed and grabs the device.
It goes off again. Cody answers the signal.

CODY
Hello?

ADRIAN
(On Walkie-talkie)
Cody is that you?

CODY
Adrian!?

ADRIAN
Shhh! Not so loud!

CODY
(Whispering)
Where are you?
 ADRIAN
What?

CODY
(Screaming)
WHERE ARE YOU?!

Mrs. Wood, still upset from the loss of her little boy, rumbles at Cody
from outside his room as she passes by.

MRS. WOOD (OS)

WILL YOU KEEP IT DOWN IN THERE!

ADRIAN
What was that?

CODY
Mom…you want to speak to her?

ADRIAN
No I’d prefer to keep my hearing. Anyways I don’t want anybody to know
I’m here.

CODY
And where might here be?

ADRIAN
I’m in Clark Young forest.

CODY
What’re you doing in Clark Young forest?

ADRIAN
If you must know I’m on a quest.

CODY
What kind of quest?

ADRIAN
A quest, quest…

CODY
…A vision quest?

ADRIAN
Yeah sure why not…Anyways, I just called to say ---

CODY
To say you love me?

ADRIAN
No…
(Continued)

Cody frowns momentarily.

 ADRIAN
(Continued)
Yeah okay I do love you.
(Continued)

Cody gives a light smile.

ADRIAN
(Continued)
But I also called to say, I’m okay. So there’s no need to worry big bro.

CODY
What do I do about the rest of the family? They’re worried sick about
you.

ADRIAN
Don’t worry I’ll be back. Just don’t tell anyone I’m here okay.

CODY
What should I do ‘till you return?

ADRIAN
Pray.

Cody pauses for a moment.

CODY
Pray for what?

ADRIAN
I have no idea. But the kids at school are always telling me to say my
prayers. And for good reason, because I always seem to get beat up right
after they say that.

CODY
Anything else you wanna tell me?

ADRIAN
I guess that’s pretty much it. Oh and I’m living with some bears and
Clara’s with me.

SFX: We hear the loud ROAR of a bear in the background of the walkie-
talkie transmission.

Cody becomes startled and drops the walkie-talkie, breaking it.

INT. BLACKIE’S CAVE – NIGHT

Adrian, Clara, Blackie, Schnooky, and Whiny are all sitting around a
table playing poker. The atmosphere is tense. There are several
pinecones on the line and other miscellaneous items. We see a close up
shot of each of their faces, all with somewhat different but obdurate
expressions. The pile of goods sits in the middle of the table. They
hold their cards tightly and glare at each other. Finally the silence is
broken.

Blackie throws his cards on the table with a royal flush hand.
 BLACKIE
Read ‘em and weep, boys! Royal flush!

The bears throw down their cards and groan. Blackie grabs the goods from
the centre of the table and draws them toward him.

BLACKIE
Come to papa bear!

WHINY
You always win.

BLACKIE
Hey I can’t help it if I’m good.

Whiny sighs and leans his face on his hand.

WHINY
I’m bored! Let’s do something else.

ADRIAN
I know why don’t we go exploring?

BLACKIE
Exploring? Where?

ADRIAN
Here!

BLACKIE
Here?

ADRIAN
Yah! Haven’t you guys like only gone half way down your cave?

SCHNOOKY
Oh you don’t want to go exploring. That’s boring.

WHINY
Yeah that’s boring. You don’t want to go exploring.

ADRIAN
Sure I do.

Blackie
There’s nothing down the cave I assure you.

ADRIAN
There has to be something.

BLACKIE
There’s nothing there!

ADRIAN
If there’s nothing there then it wouldn’t hurt to look then would it?
 BLACKIE
I don’t know what’s down there. All I know is it’s dangerous. So stay
away! Stay here and stay alive.

ADRIAN
Please let me look!

BLACKIE
You don’t wanna go down there. It’s dark and it’s wet and it’s smelly.

SCHNOOKY
Are you familiar with wet dog smell?

ADRIAN
You guys are weird.

WHINY
(Points)
We’re not weird. You’re weird!

ADRIAN
Please!

BLACKIE
Do me a favour. Don’t go down there. I don’t remember why. But you just
shouldn’t. You have to trust me on this one.

ADRIAN
(Yawns)
Alright it’s getting late anyways. I guess we should all hit the hay.
You guys go ahead and Clara and I will clean up.

The bears leave the table and walk away. Clara cleans up while Adrian
sits down.

CLARA
Well aren’t yah gonna help clean up?

ADRIAN
Nope.

CLARA
Why not?

ADRIAN
Clara we didn’t stay behind to clean up. We stayed behind to see what’s
in the back of the cave.

CLARA
(Stops cleaning)
But Blackie said it was dangerous. There could be rats down there! Rats!

ADRIAN
If there are rats we’ll just have to reason with them. We can’t let a
few little rats stop us.

CLARA
 I dunno!

ADRIAN
Come on let’s go.

Adrian runs off. Clara hesitantly follows him.

Adrian and Clara are now in the area where the bears sleep. They rest
peacefully on the cave ground.

ADRIAN
(Whispering to Clara)
Stay here.

Clara stands by while Adrian looks for his backpack. He sees Whiny
sleeping on his side, using it as a pillow for his head.

ADRIAN
Aw chimney!

Adrian tugs at his backpack to try and get it but Whiny is too heavy.

ADRIAN
A little help!

Clara goes to help Adrian pulls his backpack from underneath Whiny. It
is proving difficult. The two stop to catch their breath.

ADRIAN
On the count of three I want you to pull. One, two, THREE!

The two yank the backpack from out underneath Whiny. Surprisingly
Whiny’s head does not drop, it merely continues to float. Clara and
Adrian dash off.

INT. BLACKIE’S CAVE – PAST MID-WAY (NIGHT)

With his backpack on Adrian and Clara explore the cave past mid-way.
They walk cautiously and hold their flaming torches tightly. As they
explore they see even more unusual paintings on the cave walls than
before. They depict strange things. A lot of it has to do with animals
and humans.

Finally they reach the end of the cave and stop. There is a large
painting on the wall of a man in bear skin. It appears to be the same
man as depicted from earlier before in the cave. Adrian looks up at it.

ADRIAN
That’s it? What’s so dangerous about this?

Adrian stares at the painting and Clara wanders around aimlessly.

ADRIAN
Whaddya think it means?

Clara continues to wander around as Adrian fathoms the meaning of the

painting. While wandering Clara accidentally steps on a flat round stone
which sinks into the ground. A loud rumbling noise is heard and the
floor begins to tremble. Clara is taken aback. She quickly steps off the
stone.

CLARA
Oops.

ADRIAN
What the!

The rumbling and the trembling increase. Adrian and Clara try to
maintain their balance. The rumbling and the trembling stop. Adrian and
Clara stand still.

ADRIAN
I think it stopped.

Then suddenly they fall through the ground. The two yelp as they
descend.

INT. THE MYSTERIOUS CAVERN

The two find themselves going down at great speeds on a gigantic slide.
Their torches (which they dropped) slide down ahead of them and zoom out
of sight.

Adrian is frightened but Clara seems to be enjoying herself. She spins

around on her bottom and expresses her glee.

CLARA
Whee!

The slide soon comes to an end. The two fall off and land on their
stomachs with an “oof!”

Shortly ahead of them are their two torches. One is lit and one is not.

Adrian and Clara lift their heads up to view the magnificent sight. They
are in a giant cavern which is mysteriously lit by strange glowing orbs
with fireflies in them, some on pedestals and some attached along the
walls.

Ahead In the cavern is a large staircase which leads to a large double

door with two large ring handles. The area over the door is large and
elaborately decorated with an arched overhead. The place appears
ancient. There is a monastic and East Asian style to it.

INT. MYSTERIOUS CAVERN – AREA NUMBER ONE

Clara and Adrian get off their stomachs and onto their feet. They look
around.

CLARA
Where are we?

ADRIAN
I can tell you one thing. We’re definitely not in Clark Young forest.
Adrian takes his backpack off and places it on the ground. He zips it
open and takes out his camera. Adrian looks into the view finder. We see
him take the first picture of the cavern through his point of view.

Adrian presses the shutter button again and takes more pictures. While
he is doing that Clara drifts off and goes to get the torches they
dropped earlier. Clara arrives by the torches. She bends down to pick
one of them up when a large insect scurries by.

CLARA
Ah!

Adrian stops taking pictures to see what all the commotion is about.

ADRIAN
Clara? …You alright?

CLARA
Yah, yah, just saw a huge insect is all.

Clara picks the torches up one by one. She returns to Adrian who is done
taking photographs. He is now on his feet with his backpack back on.

CLARA
I found the torches.

Clara uses the lit torch to try and light the other torch but it doesn’t
work, causing her some frustration.

CLARA
Argh!

ADRIAN
I don’t need a torch. You keep the lit one.

Clara tosses the unlit torch aside and keeps the lit torch, holding it
in her left hand. Adrian takes Clara by the hand and leads her up the
stairs.

ADRIAN
Come on.

They walk up the full flight of stairs and they proceed toward the door.
Adrian grabs the ringed door handles and tries to pull them open to no
avail. The doors are shut tight.

ADRIAN
Ugh! It’s stuck!

Adrian stops tugging the handles.

ADRIAN
Alright everybody stand back!

Adrian paces backward and readies to ram the doors down like a
linebacker. Adrian bolts forward, but just as he is about to bash the
doors down Clara gets one of them open. Adrian flies through the door
and falls onto the floor.

INT. MYSTERIOUS CAVERN – AREA NUMBER TWO

Clara steps inside while Adrian lies flat on his face. She looks down at
him uneasily and titters.

CLARA
Heh, heh…you were only supposed to open one door at a time.

Adrian lifts himself off the ground and onto his feet. Adrian and Clara
stand momentarily taking in the ambience of the room. Inside is plain;
just floor, ceiling and walls. The two walls left and right have
numerous holes in them.

The only decoration in the room is a sliding puzzle on the single door
across. The puzzle is a broken up picture of a crane.

Clara stands with Adrian until she hears a creaking noise. Clara looks
behind her only to see the door swinging close.

CLARA
(Gasps)
The door!

Clara runs toward the door but it’s too late. The door is firmly shut.
Clara pushes against it in a desperate attempt to open it. She bangs
loudly on the door with her fist.

CLARA
We’re trapped!

ADRIAN
Calm down Clara. It’s just a room!

A scraping noise is heard, like two rocks being rubbed together, and the
walls left and right begin to move in toward the middle. Adrian jerks
his head left and right.

ADRIAN
Uh oh…

Adrian turns back to the double doors and hastily pushes toward it. It
remains shut.

ADRIAN
Ugh! Dagnabbit it!

Clara runs to the other door with the puzzle on it. She gestures to
Adrian.

CLARA
Over here!
Adrian runs to her side.

ADRIAN
 What is this?

As the walls begin to close in, spikes pop out.

CLARA
It’s a puzzle. I think we have it solve to get out. Are you any good at
puzzles?

ADRIAN
I’ll try!

Clara holds the torch closer to the puzzle so Adrian can see it better.
Adrian slides the puzzle pieces around hastily. The walls close in
faster and faster.

CLARA
Hurry!

ADRIAN
I’m going as fast as I can!

As the spikes are about to close in on the two, Adrian gets the last
piece in place. The door slides open. Adrian grabs Clara by the hand and
they run out. The door behind them closes.

INT. MYSTERIOUS CAVERN – AREA NUMBER THREE

Clara and Adrian find themselves on a high up ledge. The two nearly lose
their balance and fall off the ledge from running so fast. They step
back.

Adrian looks down below; there is nothing but blackness. He gazes down
below and he lets go of Clara’s hand. Adrian digs into his pocket and
pulls out a coin. He flips the coin off the ledge and it disappears
below.

ADRIAN
(In Awe)
Whoa.

The ledge that Clara and Adrian are on wraps around in a forward
rectangular shape which leads to a cliff at the very end. Attached to
the cliff is a suspension bridge. Across the suspension bridge is a
platform with a jagged wall and a mousy looking hole.

The left side of the rectangular ledge is assembled in rectangular

pieces with crescent moons etched into each block of stone. The right
side is also assembled in rectangular pieces but with suns etched into
them.

ADRIAN
Come on.

Adrian grabs Clara by the hand and he hastily proceeds toward the ledge
on the right with the sun-like etchings. As he is about to step on the
stone Clara lets go of his hand. Adrian pauses.
 CLARA
I have a bad feeling about this.

ADRIAN
What’s the worst that could happen?

Clara waits behind. Adrian puts one foot on the stone. As he does it
breaks off. He loses his footing but Clara saves him. She drops her
torch in the blink of an eye and grabs Adrian by his backpack with two
hands. Adrian half dangles on one foot. Clara pulls him back to the main
ledge.

ADRIAN
How ‘bout we try the other side?

Adrian and Clara are now by the left ledge with the moon etched stones.
Adrian finds a fist sized rock on the ground. He kneels down and throws
it on the first stone of the ledge. As expected the stone block falls
into the pit. Adrian gets off his knees.

CLARA
Oh no we’re trapped! Trapped I tells yah!

Adrian bends down and picks up two more rocks. He gets up and gives one
to Clara.

ADRIAN
Stay here.

Adrian is now opposite to Clara. Adrian shouts to from across.

ADRIAN
Here’s what I want you to do! On the count of three, I want you to throw
your rock onto the nearest block on your ledge! Okay?

CLARA
Okay!

We see a split screen of Clara and Adrian while they ready to throw
their rocks.

ADRIAN
One! Two! THREE!

Adrian and Clara toss the rocks onto each of their stone blocks. The
rocks land on top. Split screen ends.

ADRIAN
Yes it worked!

CLARA
What worked? What’re you talking about?

ADRIAN
Don’t you see? We have to step on the blocks at the same time! Otherwise
---
 CLARA
They’ll fall. I get it!

ADRIAN
Okay! On the count of three we jump!

CLARA
I’m scared!

ADRIAN
Trust me! I know what I’m doing! On the count of three! One! Two! THREE!

Clara and Adrian jump on at the same time. The blocks as expected do not
fall. They walk together in synchronization until they make it safely
across. The two reunite. They proceed carefully to the suspension bridge
attached to the cliff.

INT. MYSTERIOUS CAVERN – AREA NUMBER FOUR – SUSPENSION BRIDGE AREA

CLARA
Not again.

Adrian hops onto the suspension bridge and Clara follows behind. The two
walk across with caution. It swings gently as they move across. They
each hold onto the sides of the bridge with their hands. Slowly they get
across. Nothing terrible happens. The two have made it to the other side
unharmed.

ADRIAN
See that wasn’t so bad.

The bridge behind them collapses. The two look back briefly. They walk
toward the small around hole. They get down on their knees and hands to
look inside.

CLARA
I can’t see a thing.

ADRIAN
Wait I have a flashlight in my knapsack.

Adrian gets up on bended knee and takes out a flashlight from his
backpack. He gets back down on all fours and shines the flashlight into
the hole.

We see Clara and Adrian looking in from the hole’s point of view. As
they look in dozens of bats fly out. They come out so fast the two don’t
even have time to move their faces, they simply close their eyes. When
the bats are gone they open their eyes.

ADRIAN
Ladies first!

Clara says nothing and simply glares.

ADRIAN
Alright hold my flashlight.
Adrian hands Clara his flashlight and she shines it into the hole.
Adrian takes his backpack off and shoves it through the hole; then he
himself goes through. It’s a very tight fit. When he’s in Clara calls
out to him.

CLARA
Adrian?

INT. MYSTERIOUS CAVERN – AREA NUMBER FIVE

Clara crawls through the hole. As she peeks her head through Adrian pops
his head up and startles her.

ADRIAN
Boo!

CLARA
Ah!

ADRIAN
Ha! Ha!

Clara comes out the hole.

CLARA
Ha, ha, very funny.

She punches Adrian in the arm.

ADRIAN
Ow!

Adrian rubs his arm. Clara shines the flashlight. There are three
entrances ahead. Adrian decides to choose the entrance using the
counting rhyme, “Eeny meeny miny moe.”

ADRIAN
(Mumbling)
Eeny, meeny, mine moe, catch a tiger by the ---

CLARA
What’re you doing?

ADRIAN
I’m choosing an entrance.

CLARA
Using a nursery rhyme?

ADRIAN
It’s not a nursery rhyme. Now where was I? Oh yeah. Toe! If he hollers
let him go, eeny, meeny, miny, moe! Follow me!

Adrian runs into the third entrance, on the right. He comes back out
screaming with insects all over him.
 ADRIAN
Ah! Get ‘em off! Get ‘em off! Get ‘em off!

CLARA
Stop drop and roll!

Adrian drops on the ground and rolls around.

SFX: CRUNCHING of bugs

ADRIAN
(Gets up, no bugs on him)
I think I’ll let you pick this time.

Clara walks into the first entrance on the left. Adrian follows her in.

INT. MYSTERIOUS CAVERN – AREA NUMBER SIX

The two find themselves in a room with vertical passage way. There is a
large green rope leading down from the middle (actually a snake). Up
above hangs a snake with its jaws clamped around a thick wooden dowel
across the ceiling. The passage way continues past the snake’s head
toward the right.

Clara shines the flashlight which lights up the room, but it still
remains somewhat dim. The two do not know that the rope is actually a
snake.

Adrian looks up.

ADRIAN
I think we have to climb up this rope.

Adrian tugs on the snake to check how strong it is.

ADRIAN
I don’t think it can hold the both of us. I’ll go up first.

Clara shines the flashlight and Adrian climbs up the snake. He steadily
gets to the top. Adrian looks down the passageway.

CLARA
What is it?

ADRIAN
I can’t see. Toss me the flashlight!

Clara tosses Adrian the flashlight and he catches it with his left hand.
Adrian shines the flashlight down the passageway toward the right (the
tunnel). He looks at it for a moment.

The snake begins to wriggle. Adrian shines the flashlight on the snake’s
head and it opens its eyes. This startles Adrian. He drops the
flashlight (which Clara catches) and he loses his grip. Adrian falls to
the ground. Clara helps him up.

ADRIAN
 (Rubbing his behind)
Ooh! My butt! I think I hurt my butt!

The snake drops down and apologizes to Adrian.

SNAKE
Sorry there didn’t mean to give yah a scare. It’s just that you were
ticklin’ me and I woke up.

ADRIAN
Yeah well I already fell. Who are you anyways?

SNAKE
The name’s Blake. I’ve been living here for many, many years. And if I
know anything about anything you guys are trying to find the treasure
aren’t you?

ADRIAN
What treasure?

SNAKE
You don’t know about the treasure?! There’s a humongous treasure!

CLARA
We don’t care about treasure we just wanna go home.

SNAKE
Oh? That’s a new one. Well to tell you the truth I’ve been trying to get
out of here too. I know the place pretty well but I haven’t been able to
solve the last puzzle. Ah this place is full of puzzles.

ADRIAN
So whaddya you want from us?

SNAKE
Absolutely nothing, I just wanna come along with you guys so I can get
out. Is that too much to ask?

ADRIAN
What if we don’t get out?

SNAKE
If I’m your guide you’ll definitely get out as long as you can solve the
last puzzle.

ADRIAN
(To Clara)
Whaddya think Clara? Is this guy legit?

CLARA
(To Adrian)
I think we should let him come along.

ADRIAN
(To Snake)
Okay Blake you may come along.
 SNAKE
Alright!

The snake shoots up and clamps his jaw around the wooden dowel. Adrian
and Clara hesitate to climb up. The snake waits and wonders what’s
taking so long.

SNAKE
(Muffled)
Climb up!

…Down below.

ADRIAN
What?!

SNAKE
(Muffled)
Climb up!

ADRIAN
What?!

The snake opens his mouth to speak.

SNAKE
Climb u ---

Accidentally letting go of the dowel and he plummets to the ground. The

snake gets up and faces Clara and Adrian.

SNAKE
(Annoyed)
I told you to climb up!

INT. MYSTERIOUS CAVERN – AREA NUMBER SEVEN

The snake shoots himself back up and makes himself into a rope. Clara
and Adrian climb up together. They get to the top and climb into the
passage. The snake swings off the dowel and follows behind. They crawl
through. In the tunnel are small protruding nodules along the wall with
holes in them.

Clara is holding the flashlight behind Adrian. The passageway is dark.

The flashlight does not illuminate it well enough.

ADRIAN
(Stops crawling)
Wait! Wait! Hold on! If I’m gonna lead I’m gonna need some illumination.
Hand me the flashlight.

SNAKE
You don’t need a flashlight.

ADRIAN
Then how am I going to see?
 SNAKE
Do you have a pack of matches or a lighter?

ADRIAN
Yeah…why?

SNAKE
Take ‘em out.

Adrian reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pack of matches. He
tosses it backward to the snake. The snake pushes the pack toward Clara.

SNAKE
Pick ‘em up.

Clara puts down the flashlight and picks up the matches.

SNAKE
See those nodules over there?
(Points with head)
I want you to strike a match and hold it over one of them. That’ll give
us some light.

Clara takes the pack of matches and strikes a match of the nodule. As
she does the nodule becomes lit, as do the rest of them. The place is
now viewable.

SNAKE
Hallelujah! I see the light!

The snake dashes ahead of Clara and Adrian. He looks behind.

SNAKE
This way!

The snake turns his head back and bolts forward, taking a sharp turn.
The kids follow him.

The trio soon finds an end to the passageway which is closed by a golden
grate. Light shines through.

Note: Clara has already put the flashlight away.

INT. MYSTERIOUS CAVERN – AREA NUMBER EIGHT

Adrian and Clara look through the grate. Light shines through. There is
a large square room with high ceilings and below is a huge pool of
water. The ceiling above has several circular holes in them which form a
circle. They are filled with spiked traps and only one is an escape. In
each corner of the room is a spout.

Adrian pushes the grate and it falls into the water below. Adrian and
Clara look down.

ADRIAN
Whoa. That’s heavy man.
 SNAKE
Well? What’re you waiting for? Jump in!

ADRIAN
…Uh.

SNAKE
You guys can swim right?

ADRIAN
Well yeah but ---

The snake whips Adrian in the butt with his tail and startles him,
causing him to fall down in the water. Splash!

SNAKE
(Gestures)
Clara.

Clara jumps down. She and Adrian tread in the water. The snake jumps
down. He floats up in between them.

SNAKE
Is everyone alright?

Adrian
(Sputters water)
Just fine!

SNAKE
Okay here’s what I need you to do! See those holes on top? That’s how we
get out of here. But only one of them is the way out! I’ll show you when
we fill this place up.

CLARA
With what?

SNAKE
Water! Down below are three levers! You’ll need to figure out the
combination to flood this room. Then we can float our way to the top!

CLARA
What’s the combination?

SNAKE
I don’t know it always resets itself. You’re gonna have to figure this
one out on your own! Now get swimming!

Clara and Adrian dive down. They pull the levers and try different
combinations. The snake looks up.

SFX: A loud CLINK noise is heard

Adrian and Clara have found the combination. Water starts pouring
rapidly from the spouts. Adrian and Clara rise to the surface.

SNAKE
 Alright now! Good job you guys! Stick closely to me and I’ll show you
where to go.

The water rises quickly. The entire place is flooded and they are all
under water. The snake goes into one of the holes. Adrian and Clara
follow him.

We see a shot of them swimming up the hole. Then we cut to the next
scene, the area above the water.

INT. MYSTERIOUS CAVERN – AREA NUMBER NINE

Adrian and the snake have successfully managed to escape and get through
the hole, but Clara is nowhere to be found. Adrian panics.

ADRIAN
We made it Clara! Clara?
(Looks around)
Oh my gourd! Where’s Clara?! She’s still down there!

Adrian plunges his head into the water. He blows bubbles as he cries
out.
ADRIAN
Clara!

Clara appears behind Adrian. He doesn’t notice her. Adrian lifts his
head gasping for air.

ADRIAN
She’s not there! I’m goin’ back!

Clara grabs Adrian by his bag. He turns around.

CLARA
Boo!

ADRIAN
Ah! You’re alive! You’re alive!

Adrian hugs Clara tightly.

CLARA
You’re hurting me.

ADRIAN
(He lets go)
Sorry! Sorry!

SNAKE
Come on we aren’t done yet!

The snake gets out of the water. Adrian and Clara get out as well. They
emerge into a large square room which is lined with dozens of small
mysterious doors. The three take a minute to rest.

CLARA
I just thought of something. If we just came out of the water. Won’t the
stuff in your backpack be ruined?

ADRIAN
No way! This is the latest backpack. It’s completely waterproof. I
should know I bought it on Ebay.

SNAKE
Stop chatting! We have to get out of here!
(Melodramatically)
Otherwise this place will crumble on the full moon!

The snake crawls forward. Adrian and Clara follow him. They get to a
wall lined with tiny, tiny doors.

The Snake knocks on the door with his tail. It opens, and out comes a
mouse.

MOUSE
Hello!

SNAKE
Hi we need to pass through.

MOUSE
Nobody passes through! Not you! Not nobody!

SNAKE
But ---

The mouse slams the door. The snake turns his head back in dismay. The
door opens again.

MOUSE
Unless you can pass the test!

The other doors open in synchronization and the mice shout in a musical
rhythm “Pass the test! Pass the test!” The doors shut.

SNAKE
And what if we don’t pass the test?

MOUSE
You must past the test!

The doors open again and the mice shout in a musical rhythm “Pass the
test! Pass the test! You must pass the test!” The doors shut.

MOUSE
Will you guys knock it off! I’m trying to talk here. As I was saying you
must pass the test…

The mouse jerks his head left and right, paranoid of the other mice. He
turns his head forward and looks to the snake.

MOUSE
As I was saying you must pass the test.
The mice come out of their doors again, “Pass the test! Pass the test!”
They shut the doors. The mouse shakes his fist in anger and annoyance.

MOUSE
Will you guys knock it off! I’m trying to work here! If you come out one
more time I swear I’m gonna feed you to this snake!

The mouse calms down.

MOUSE
Now as I was saying. If you wish to pass through you must solve the four
ancient riddles!

CLARA
Excuse me but don’t ancient riddles traditionally come in threes?

MOUSE
That’s just a guideline. Now do you wanna get in or not?

ADRIAN
Yes, yes we wanna get in.

MOUSE
Very well, let us begin.

The mouse takes out a scroll and unrolls it. He clears his throat.

MOUSE
Question number one. If snakes have no ears why is it that the one
standing in front of me can hear me?

SNAKE
If you must know I can read lips alright.

MOUSE
Okay then on to the real questions. Real, question number one.

SNAKE
Don’t you mean riddle?

MOUSE
No! Now be quiet! As I was saying...question number one. What has a face
but no head?

CLARA
Is it a clock?

MOUSE
Incorrect! The correct answer is a clock.

CLARA
I said clock.

MOUSE
She said clock?
 Snake
She said clock.

Mouse
She said clock?

Adrian
She said clock.

MOUSE
Fine she said clock! Next question! How much wood could a wood chuck,
chuck, if a wood chuck could chuck wood?

SNAKE
That’s not a riddle.

MOUSE
Are you the sphinx? Are you the sphinx? Because if you aren’t I don’t
want you telling me about riddles. If you can’t answer you can’t answer.
And if you can’t answer you can’t get through! So what’s the answer?!

CLARA
Is the answer, a lot?

MOUSE
Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! You are wrong! You are wrong! You are wrong, wrong!
Good day!

The mouse turns around and begins to walk away. The snake blocks him
with his head.

SNAKE
Wait a minute! What’s the answer?

The mouse steps back and falls on the floor. The snake presses closer to
the mouse.

MOUSE
24?

SNAKE
(Glares)
You don’t know the answer, do you?

MOUSE
Yes I do! 24!

SNAKE
Liar…

The snake rises as he becomes angrier. The mouse shakes in fear as the
snake looks down below at him ominously. Then suddenly the snake comes
down and snaps the mouse up into his mouth. Adrian and Clara are in
shock.

ADRIAN
What are you doing!?
The snake (Blake) tries his best to speak with the mouse in his mouth.
His words are muffled but still understandable.

SNAKE
Don’t worry I haven’t swallowed yet. I’m just trying to get us out of
here.
(To the mouse)
If you want to live let us through.

MOUSE
Open the gates!

The wall turns and a passageway is revealed. The snake lowers his head
to the ground and opens his mouth. The mouse runs out and leaves through
the small door.

INT. MYSTERIOUS CAVERN – AREA NUMBER TEN

The trio enters the passageway and the wall closes behind them. Ahead of
them is another area with a large gap. Past the gap is a giant snake
head (with mouth closed) which leads into a cave-like area. To the right
of the snake head is a mini basin attached to the wall.

ADRIAN
What is this? It’s a dead end.

SNAKE
Hmm, this seems to be the area I can never get past.

CLARA
If you ask me this isn’t much of a puzzle, it’s more like a tease.

ADRIAN
I guess we should turn back.

SNAKE
Man you give up easily.

Adrian takes his backpack off.

CLARA
Adrian? What’re you doing?

Adrian throws his backpack into the middle of the gap. It doesn’t fall.
It sits there. Adrian jumps out and runs to the middle to get his
backpack. He puts it on and stands to face Clara and the snake. Adrian
spreads his arms wide and gestures with confidence.

ADRIAN
The floor’s made out of glass! Cool huh?

Clara and the snake reluctantly walk on to the glass floor. Their fears
are soon allayed. They strut confidently across the gap. The three are
beheld with wonderment and mystery in front of the snake cavern. Next to
the snake head is a little basin with a hole in it.
 ADRIAN
How do we get in?

SNAKE
I don’t know.

ADRIAN
You don’t know?

SNAKE
I don’t know!

ADRIAN
You do know!

SNAKE
Alright I know! I know…you need snake’s blood. See that basin over
there?

Adrian and Clara look over at the basin.

SNAKE
You have to put snake’s blood in it. Only then will the mouth of the
giant snake open.

ADRIAN
And where are we going to find snake’s blood?

The snake raps on Adrian’s head with his tale.

SNAKE
Hello! Is anybody in there? I’m a snake!

CLARA
We couldn’t ask you to do that.

SNAKE
(Sighs)
A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.

CLARA
You’re not a man you’re a snake.

Snake
(Hisses)
I’m trying to have a moment here.

The snake crawls toward the basin. He bites into his tail and lifts it
over the basin and drips blood into it. The blood swirls into the hole.

The giant snake head opens up. The snake goes into the cavern and the
two follow behind him.

INT. MYSTERIOUS CAVERN – AREA NUMBER ELEVEN

The three get in the cavern and the giant snake head closes behind them.
They are beheld with a majestic sight. The entire room is filled with
all different types of treasure. The treasure room (the cavern) is big
and long. It is lit by firefly orbs.

At the very end of the treasure room is an exit. It is a large opening

which leads down to a twisting slide. The exit has the capacity to close
itself with an equally large wall on top, which would come down in the
case of an event. This ability is not yet evident to the three.

The east side of the treasure room, not yet shown, leads to a luxurious
staircase with a King’s throne atop. Beside the King’s throne are two
pedestals, one on the left and one on the right. The pedestal on the
left has an arrow placed vertically in it, held in place by a slot. The
pedestal on the right has a glass flask on it with a coloured liquid.

ADRIAN
Wow.

Adrian runs off excitedly to explore the treasure room. He forgets about
Clara and the snake. We follow Adrian as he romps around.

Adrian jumps into a pile of gold coins and swims around. He backstrokes
and spits up coins like water.

ADRIAN
Look at me I’m King Midas!

Clara and the snake are utterly embarrassed. They exhale loudly in
disapproval.

Adrian gets off the pile of gold coins and carries himself toward a
treasure chest. He stoops down with awe. Adrian gets a golden staff and
knocks the lock off the chest and opens it up. In it are precious stones
of all kinds. There are a variety of gems, and diamonds, lots of
diamonds. Pretty much anything you can imagine. It’s all there.
Adrian empties his backpack and fills it with jewellery to the brim.
It’s very heavy; he can barely carry it. Regardless of its weight Adrian
puts it on his back.

He joins Clara and the snake who patiently wait for him.

ADRIAN
Ugh, I think it’s about time we leave.

SNAKE
(Sarcastically)
Are you sure you don’t have enough jewels?

ADRIAN
Yeah I’m ---
(Falls to the floor)

SNAKE
You okay?

ADRIAN
Uh ---
Adrian becomes distracted by a gleam from the east side of the treasure
room. His eyes gaze toward the throne. Adrian takes his backpack off and
gets up.

ADRIAN
I’ll be back in a second.

Adrian runs off toward the east side of the treasure room. He is beheld
with the magnificence of the throne. It beckons him. Adrian walks up the
stairs and to the throne ever so slowly.

He gets to the top and sits down on the throne.

ADRIAN
Now this is luxury! But something doesn’t feel right.

Adrian looks over his shoulder to the left. The flask with the coloured
liquid catches his attention.

ADRIAN
…Hmm…

Adrian gets up from the throne and approaches the pedestal with the
flask. He hesitates to grab it. But his curiosity gets the better of
him. Adrian takes the flask from the stand. As he does the cavern begins
to rumble. Adrian gasps in horror. With the flask in his hand he runs
back to Clara and the snake.

ADRIAN
Come on let’s go!

The place is really trembling. Rubble is falling from the ceiling; the
floor is shaking; the treasure room is coming apart.

The three make for the exit. Time is running out, the door rumbles down;
it is about to close. The three get to the exit but Adrian turns back to
get his backpack.

CLARA
Come back!

Adrian
(Pauses)
Hold onto this!

Adrian tosses Clara the flask and runs to get his backpack.

SNAKE
This place is coming down we have to go!

With the flask Clara and the snake jump down the twisting slide to
escape. Meanwhile Adrian dashes for his backpack. As he is about to
reach it an enormous speleothem falls from the cavern roof and blocks
his way. Adrian forgets about his backpack and runs back toward the
exit.
It almost closes in on him but Adrian manages to slide under. He is now
on the twisting slide going down on his belly.

INT. MYSTERIOUS CAVERN – AREA NUMBER TWELVE – TWISTING SLIDE

Adrian catches up to Clara and the snake. They travel down the slide at
rapid speeds.

CLARA
Where’s your backpack?!

ADRIAN
I left it behind.

A loud noise is head from behind. The snake bends his head backwards and
looks behind upside down. There is a huge wheel following the three.

SNAKES
Heads up!

The wheel nips at the snake’s tail. It’s getting close. But the twisting
slide comes to an end and the three slide out. They cut through the
waterfall (which the slide leads to) and they splash into the basin.
Clara drops the flask as they splash down.

EXT. WATERFALLS – DAY (MORNING)

The nude couple from earlier screams in shock as the three emerge from
underneath the water. Clara grabs the flask. The trio breathes heavily
from the chase. The nude couple tries to cover themselves up as Adrian,
Clara and the snake walk away from the waterfalls and onto dry land.

When the three get into the forest they stop to say their adieus. The
snake faces Adrian and Clara.

SNAKE
Of all the people I’ve seen of all the people I’ve met, you two have
made the most difference. And for that I thank you. But I must bid you
farewell. For my life lays in the woods, away from prying eyes and city
lies. This is where I belong; this is where I must stay. Off into the
wilderness I go to make up for lost days…Welp see yah!

Adrian and Clara wave goodbye to the snake as he vanishes into the
thicket of the forest.

ADRIAN & CLARA

Bye!

Blackie, Schnooky, and Whiny arrive.

BLACKIE
Where were you guys? We’ve been looking all over for you!

ADRIAN
You know how you told us not to go past the middle of the cave?

BLACKIE
 You didn’t!

ADRIAN
I’m sorry I lied to you. It’s just that my curiosity got the better of
me. But hey! We brought back a gift!

Clara holds up the flask for everyone to see.

BLACKIE
So you got a bottle of coke! Was that worth risking your life for? You
are darn lucky you’re not a cat.

ADRIAN
Huh?

BLACKIE
You know that saying! Curiosity killed that cat.

Adrian is unresponsive.

BLACKIE
Whatever! The lumberjacks are cutting down the forest! We have to get
out of here!

ADRIAN
And where’re you gonna go?

BLACKIE
Anywhere but here!

ADRIAN
No! It’s time you stop running away from your problems and start acting
like a man!

BLACKIE
I’m not a man!

ADRIAN
We have to do something! We have to stand up! We have to fight!

WHINY
We can’t they’re too strong!

ADRIAN
Never give up! Never give in! Never say, never!

SCHNOOKY
I dunno which part of that sentence to correct.

ADRIAN
Come on I got a plan!

EXT. MIDDLE OF FOREST

All the animals of the forest are gathered around. They listen to Adrian
speak and describe his plan of action. He stands in front of a large
tree with a branch as a pointer. On the tree is a woodpecker. Clara and
the three bears stand at the very front of the crowd.

ADRIAN
(Walking and talking)
Alright animals! Here’s the game plan! From what I hear the lumberjacks
are beginning from the front of the forest on the north side. We need an
evasive plan, comprised of workable tactics and perfect strategy. That
is the only way we can win.
(Taps head with branch)
These humans are smart and they’re not going to give us any mercy
whatsoever. We need to hit ‘em where it hurts.

BLUE JAY
…Their homes?

ADRIAN
Exactly! No wait. Woody, draw me up a map.

WOODPECKER
The name’s Napoleon.

ADRIAN
Alright Napoleon, draw me up a map.

WOODPECKER
I don’t draw I carve.

BLACKIE
Will you just make the map!

The woodpecker carves a map into the tree at lightning speed. It’s done
in less than a few seconds. The map is simplistic; it has an “X” to
depict the animals and an “O” to depict the humans.

ADRIAN
(Points to X)
This is us.
(Points to O)
And these are the lumberjacks. We need to attack them from every angle.
We need to attack from the top, we need to attack from the bottom, we
need to attack from the front…anywhere we can hit them. Who is with me?

The animals cheer and they run off.

ADRIAN
Wait! I didn’t finish yet!

EXT. NORTH SIDE OF THE FOREST

The animals prepare to attack the lumberjacks and drive them out of the
forest.

A triangular fleet of birds soar above the sky. We see the lumberjacks
from their point of view. Then we come out of that view.

MOTHER EAGLE
 Eagle to Jay, Eagle to Jay we have confirmation. Target is directly
below.

SPARROW
(Antsy)
When are we gonna attack!? When are we gonna attack!?

MOTHER EAGLE
Do not attack until the signal is given.

Janice the Blue Jay whom is wearing aviator goggles pops up into the sky
and gives the signal.

BLUE JAY
Attack!

Janice dives down and disappears.

The lumberjacks stop and look up into the sky. The birds move in slow
motion. Orchestra war music plays.

Each bird barrel rolls and breaks off from the triangle one at a time in
succession.

SFX: WW1 AIRPLANE noises

They dive down and together they form a Red Baron airplane. The Red
Baron airplane of birds passes over the lumberjacks who stare in awe.
Then it passes over them again. When it returns back the third time the
birds break up and attack.

The birds rile the lumberjacks; they peck and claw at them. The
lumberjacks scream and drop their chainsaws. They run around trying to
get the birds off of them. The birds leave. The lumberjacks think it’s
over.
Adrian signals a herd of deer to attack. The elk, moose, caribou,
reindeer etc, stampede ahead. The lumberjacks dive and run out of the
way to avoid the stampede; some even try to climb up trees.

One lumberjack climbs up a tree but falls down when he clumsily lets go
when a woodpecker pecks on his head.

The lumberjacks stumble around with panic. They fall into the gopher
holes and they bump clumsily into each other. It is utter chaos. All the
animals are attacking all at once (except for the carnivores).

Some lumberjacks leave and others who wish to run away are told by the
head lumberjack to stay.

HEAD LUMBERJACK
Where are you going?! They’re just animals!

The head lumberjack picks up his chainsaw and revs it up.

HEAD LUMBERJACK
Come on!
The lumberjacks follow his lead. They march forward menacingly with
their chainsaws.

The carnivorous animals, the bears, the cougars, the tiger, the snakes
etc (Blackie is not present) come out. They quickly surround the
lumberjacks. The lumberjacks stop and quiver with fear. They drop their
chainsaws. The animals viciously encroach on their space. The
lumberjacks press against each others’ backs. Clara and Adrian make
themselves present.

Meanwhile Blackie is serving as reconnaissance up in a tree. We see the

view from his “binoculars” which are really his hands. Below the tree
the hunter appears. He has returned. Blackie is not paying attention and
does not see him.

The hunter aims upward. A rabbit passes by and makes a crumpling noise
from the leaves on the ground. This gets Blackie’s attention. He looks
down and sees the hunter. The hunter shoots but misses Blackie. Blackie
falls down onto the hunter.

Blackie gets up and makes a run for it. The hunter chases him on foot.
He is surprisingly fast.

The two are running through the forest. It is a matter of life and
death. The hunter is adamant; he runs and shoots. Luckily Blackie is not
an easy target to hit.

EXT. TOP OF WATERFALLS

The chase comes to an end when Blackie and the hunter reach the area
atop the waterfalls. The hunter has Blackie cornered. He is being pushed
to the edge of the waterfall height. Blackie is filled with fear as the
hunter draws toward him.

The hunter takes aim and is about to squeeze the trigger. Mother eagle
dives down from the sky and attacks him, making him to drop his gun.
Mother eagle’s attacks cause him to fall into the flowing stream of
water. The hunter is washed down the stream.

Blackie dives to grab the hunter to keep him from falling off the
waterfall. The hunter is being held by his legs. He struggles as the
rapid water engulfs him. Blackie’s claws dig into the hunter’s pants.

The current is too strong to pull him in. Mother eagle tries to help.
She grabs onto the back of the hunter’s clothes and flaps forward. Still
the current is too strong, and it seems to be getting stronger.

With a mighty a struggle the two seem to be making some headway. The
begin pulling the hunter in but a sudden torrent travels down the stream
of water. Blackie loses his grip and Mother Eagle tumbles forward from
the momentum and onto the ground.

The hunter is swept away and is taken down the waterfalls. Mother Eagle
takes to the skies to see what happened and Blackie runs to the edge.
The hunter is gone. It seems he has vanished. Blackie backs looks down
and slowly backs away. He looks at Mother Eagle in disbelief.
EXT. NORTH SIDE OF THE FOREST

Back on the north side of the forest the animals have the lumberjacks on
the run. The animals run them out to the outer edge of the forest. As
the lumberjacks are about to enter the road, Mr. Wood arrives. He steps
out of his minivan. Inside is the rest of the wood family.

MR. WOOD
Stop!
(Puts his hand out, everyone stops)
What is going on here!?

HEAD LUMBERJACK
The, the animals…they were attacking us!

MR. WOOD
That’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of! Animals do not
attack humans! They’re friendly peace loving creatures!

Head Lumberjack
But boss!

In the nearby distance behind the army of men and animals, stand Clara
and Adrian. They hear cannot see Mr. Wood.

MR. WOOD (OS)

And another thing ---

ADRIAN
Dad?

Adrian grabs Clara’s hand and they come out from behind the animals and
men.

ADRIAN
Dad!

MR. WOOD
Adrian!

The rest of the Wood family hops out of the car to see their estranged
relative. They gather around Mr. Wood.

ADRIAN
Mom! Cody! Carol!

Adrian lets go of Clara’s hand and runs toward his family. He gives them
all a big hug.

ADRIAN
(He lets go)
So! How’s everyone doing?

MRS. WOOD
You are in big trouble mister! And is that Clara?! You brought her along
with you?!
 ADRIAN
No, no. She ran away by herself.

CLARA
Actually my parents know where I am. I told them I went camping.

MR. WOOD
Well at least somebody here is responsible! Get in the van Adrian we’re
going home.

ADRIAN
But ---

MR. WOOD
No buts Adrian! The lumberjacks need to get back to work. Now please get
in the van!

ADRIAN
You can’t chop down the forest! My friends are here!

MR. WOOD
I know that. We’re gonna give Clara a ride home too.

ADRIAN
No! My friends! My animal friends! They all live in the forest! You
can’t tear this place down!

MR. WOOD
We’re not tearing we’re sawing.

Blackie appears beside Clara.

BLACKIE
What’s going on here?

CLARA
Family reunion…

Blackie looks at the Head Lumberjack. He moves behind him and taps him
on the shoulder. The Head Lumberjack turns around.

BLACKIE
(Points)
You look familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?

The Head Lumberjack is taken aback. He puts his hands in front of him in
fear.

BLACKIE
Hey, hey, I’m not gonna hurt yah. There’s no need to be hostile.

Clara goes over to Blackie (she still has the flask in her hand).

CLARA
(Puts hand on Blackie’s shoulder)
They don’t understand you.
 BLACKIE
(Disheartened)
Oh…

Clara drops the flask on the ground and the liquid spills on the ground.
Blackie bends down to pick up the flask. The vapours from the liquid
enter his nose.

Blackie floats in the air. Cheesy music plays. Light emanates from his
orifices and Blackie magically transforms into a human boy. He lands
back on the ground.

HEAD LUMBERJACK
Barry!

BLACKIE
Dad!

Blackie (Barry) hugs the Head Lumberjack.

HEAD LUMBERJACK
I can’t believe this! You were missing for over two years! We thought
you were gone forever! What happened?

BLACKIE
I remember. I was mad and I ran away from home, to the forest and I went
into a cave. Then I fell down a slide. And I went into this room and I
drank this strange liquid. Then the next thing I know I’m a bear!

The Head Lumberjack puts his hands on his son’s shoulders.

HEAD LUMBERJACK
From now on I will never take my eyes off you again.

BLACKIE
(Mumbling)
Oh great how am I gonna sneak out of the house then?

ADRIAN
Dad you can’t destroy the forest.

MR. WOOD
What’re we gonna to do for money? We don’t have any money. Do you really
wanna put all of these workers out of a job?

SFX: A loud exploding noise is heard and then a WHISTLING

Adrian’s bag drops from the sky. Jewels spill out in front of them.

ADRIAN
Is this enough?

MR. WOOD
I think we can make due.

FADE OUT
EXT. CLARK YOUNG FOREST – PICNIC AREA

Clara, Adrian, and Blackie’s (Barry’s) family are having a picnic in the
forest. They sit with each other at a long picnic table (Clara is an
only child). They laugh and have fun and eat. Adrian is sitting at the
end of the picnic table across from Clara. They play footsies with each
other. Schnooky and Whiny are also eating at the table.

We zoom up into the sky to two birds flying overhead.

BIRD
How’d yah think they’ll do?

BIRD TWO
I think they’ll do just fine.

The two birds fly off into a cloud shaped like Yogurt the bear.

THE END

ROLL CREDITS

EPILOGUE

EXT. STREETS OF INDIA - NIGHT

The ghost tiger is walking down the streets of India.

GHOST TIGER
(Sighs)
I have returned to my home but a family cannot be complete without its
son.

Timmy the tiger is walking down the street and bumps into his dad, the
ghost tiger.

TIGER (TIMMY)
Excuse me. Have you seen a white tiger around here? He’s middle aged
about 3 feet tall.

GHOST TIGER
Sorry I have not seen anybody around here like that.

TIGER
Thanks for you help anyways. I’ll be on my way now.

Timmy backs up and looks at the ghost tiger again.

TIGER
Pa!

GHOST TIGER
Yes I have a paw.

TIGER
No! It’s me Timmy!
 GHOST TIGER
Timmy! My beloved son! How did you find me?!

TIGER
I Googled it!

GHOST TIGER
You are one smart tiger. Come on I’ll take you home.

TIGER
I have so much to tell you.

GHOST TIGER
I have a lot to tell you too like how to…RUN!

TIGER
Dad I know howda run.

GHOST TIGER
No! Run! Run!

TIGER
(Looks behind)
Yikes!

The tigers run together. The villagers chase them full speed. They get
to a rickety suspension bridge. The tigers get to the end. When the
villagers are on it they chomp the ropes. The villagers fall into the
water. Timmy and the Ghost Tiger (Terry) look at each other. In unison
they shout “Yes!” They jump up and give each other a high five. Freeze
frame and fade out.