Script

“HOW WE GOT HERE” 


Fade in.

Scene opens on one of the Galapagos island’s, it's small and dry with a few tortoises
surrounding the shore, eating the foliage from the trees that line it.

Camera zooms onto the shore, panning again over the tortoises until it lands on a Finch
that can be seen on a raised platform, observing something below in annoyance, as the
camera pulls in the Finch suddenly pulls its gaze up in shock and starts talking to the
camera.

FINCH
Oh hello. I didn’t see you there, I was just observing the wonders of Evolution in all its glory.

The Finch then turns around to point at heard of tortoises lining the shore, the camera
pans around them as they eat before pulling back to the Finch.

FINCH
These are the giant Galapagos Tortoises, they were first discovered by Charles Darwin, you
know that old guy in all your biology text books in 1835.

A tortoise walks past, bumping into whatever the Finch is standing on causing it to shake
slightly. The finch then turns around to address the tortoise.

FINCH.
Hey watch where you’re going! Cant you see Im busy trying to explain Evolution and
Charles Darwin.

The tortoise turns around and snorts angrily at the Finch before walking away. The Finch
then sighs and turns back to face the camera.

FINCH
He also tried to ride one of them. Isn’t that just embarrassing?

Camera then pulls out to reveal the Finch standing on top of one of the Tortoises on the
shore, the tortoise turns its face to look up at the Finch before getting up and walking
further into the island, towards the trees lined with low growing leaves.

FINCH
Woah! Here we go. They came to this island around a million years ago and are descended
from a much smaller sub species called the Chaco Tortoise *shows an image of the two
species side by side, the Chaco obviously a lot smaller compared to the Galapagos beside it*
I know, who would have though it.

The tortoise then turns its head and looks up annoyed at the Finch while still walking, the
Finch then turns its head to address the walking tortoise.

FINCH
What? It’s true! And thats because their change in size and shape was due to a process
Darwin called Evolution. Don’t know what that is? Evolution is where different types of
organisms, are believed to of have developed from earlier forms, gradually over time.
Camera cuts to a view of the tortoise stopping as it reaches a tree causing the Finch to
wobble a bit before recovering itself, the tortoise then stretches its neck out and begins to
eat the foliage. Other tortoises behind it can be seen struggling in the background.

FINCH
*under its breath* finally, were here. I’m starving * suddenly turns back to face the
camera* um- so take these tortoises for example, they Evolved from their cousin's Chaco
tortoise that lives in Africa over hundreds of years through breeding and feeding on this
island. From the litter of babies they had, they would all appear the same, but would be
slightly different in some way and depending on their environment would either thrive or
die depending on if their difference would benefit them. The babies would then would grow
to then have their own babies and carry the same difference on to them, that would help
them survive on the island. It's basically how these tortoises ended up with this.

The camera then cuts down to the ridge on the back of the tortoise, in the shot we can see
the tortious still eating the leaves from the tree.

FINCH
The one I’m standing on right now, is what you would call a Saddle Back, because of the
ridge on their shell thats allowing them to eat. They have this through evolution and their
species developed it gradually over time as their decedents also had this ridge, which gave
them the advantage to reach these plants and eat them. But other species unfortunately
struggle to survive on this island because they haven’t yet evolved to suit its environment,
like this Dome shaped tortoise over here-

The finch turns around and the camera cuts to one of the dome shaped tortoises struggling
to reach the branches in the background, the camera then pulls back and we can see the
Finches judgmental expression.

FINCH
That one is struggling to reach that branch there because their shell isn’t fit for this harsh
environment, it’s actually more suited for a wetter environment, where the ground has
more grass and plants that they can reach, isn’t that right?

Camera cuts back to the Dome shaped tortoise who has stopped eating and is looking at the
Finch in embarrassment.

FINCH
So because they are struggling to adapt to this environment, unfortunately there aren’t
very many of them left on this island, because the lack of food means that a lot of their
species are not surviving to reproduce and pass on their genetics; this is what Darwin
called Survival of the Fittest. So in a hundred years their might not be anymore Dome
shaped tortoises on this island, which I think is a complete travesty. On the other hand, this
one down here, *camera pans down to the Saddle Back* there are loads of them. And I
mean loads.

As the Finch is talking, it reaches over to the tree the tortoise is feeding from and picks a
leaf off the branch, but as it moves it into its mouth and into the frame, the tortoise then
leans over and snatches the leaf from the Finch and eats it, causing the Finch to look over
and address the tortoise.

FINCH
Hey! I have to eat too you know. You’re not the only one who has to eat and reproduce.

The Finch then pulls back to face the camera again.

 FINCH

Now I’v talked about their ridge, but on the other hand, their massive sizes are in fact due
to the lack of water and food. Their shells are able to store large amounts of it during
droughts, so they can go days without eating or drinking, unlike smaller animals like their
cousins the Chaco’s who’s smaller shells haven’t evolved to do that. Luckily for me I don't
have to deal with that, because Im a bird, not a giant tortoise. So when I want food I just fly
off to another island and steal their food instead, which is exact what I’m gonna do right
now.

The Finch then cuts its gaze away from the camera, opens its wings and takes off from the
Saddle backs shell. The camera turns as it flies, watching as the Finch sores towards one of
the other island, with more vegetation and plants.

THE END