Outstanding
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
[
bottom
]
FADE IN:
EXT. HILLSIDE - AFTERNOON
Thunder rumbles in heavy clouds. A band of furry travelers
with packs and walking sticks trudge down the hill--strangely
enough, wearing travelling clothes. JAMES, a tall, handsome
weasel, leads the way, plowing through branches and bramble.
Just behind, a head shorter, is his best friend: a black
footed ferret named CHRISTOPHER. Behind him is VECK, James'
brother--a swarthy and dissatisfied weasel. A thin old gray
squirrel named DESMOND zips ahead of them and up a bush. He
pulls spectacles from a pocket, puts them on, and peers
across the river. A large jagged rock looms on the other
side--higher than the hill they're on. Desmond calls down.
DESMOND
Not a creature stirring, as far as
I can see.
James pushes aside a low branch. Christopher passes James.
VECK
Leading us off the edge of the
earth, James?
James glances skyward and grins.
JAMES
Mom always said stormclouds
followed you.
CHRISTOPHER
Lighten up, Veck. Before you drown
us.
Desmond descends and catches up. Veck takes the branch from
James, goes past it, and releases it with a flourish.
Desmond ducks. Veck snaps his fingers.
VECK
Almost got you that time, Desmond.
DESMOND
I don't need any more sense knocked
out of me.
The thunder rumbles, closer. James stops and looks around.
JAMES
I'm sure I saw that smoke. No
humans around here. Could be one
of us--
DESMOND
Oh, just get going, or we'll get
soaked.
Veck shifts his pack and grumbles.
VECK
Old fool could catch his death of
cold.
Christopher descends, shaking his head. Veck follows,
kicking rocks and muttering. Desmond thumps the ground with
his walking stick and flicks his long, fluffy tail.
DESMOND
Veck and James. Different as night
and day.
EXT. RIVER
James trudges through the water, holding several packs high.
The water has a powerful current and reaches to James' neck-
it drags him off-course. At the other side of the river, he
flings his packs up the tall bank. Christopher jumps in and
paddles furiously. James meets him halfway across and helps
him to shore. Desmond tenses, springs into the water, plows
through it, and catches up with the others. He's up the
other side lickety-split. Desmond's getting on in years, but
he's still bouncy.
VECK
Really think we'll find anybody out
here?
JAMES
(gesturing to Christopher)
Find? We just about lost ferret
face here.
CHRISTOPHER
Oh, can it, Weasel Boy.
James makes as if to backhand Christopher, who shies away,
but both grin, knowing they're kidding around.
Veck grimaces at the water and starts down toward it.
Desmond rests with his feet dangling over the opposite bank.
DESMOND
What? Afraid of a little water?
EXT. ROCK FACE
James and Christopher scurry up the jagged rock. Halfway up,
they turn and look out over the river valley. A waterfall
trickles over a huge plunge down-river, and the land below is
hidden in mist. A thin plume of smoke rises.
CHRISTOPHER
Nice view.
(points)
Hey--there's your smoke!
James looks, but the rain begins and the smoke fades out.
James glances upriver--a silvery, flashing streak is
building.
CHRISTOPHER (CONT'D)
It's gonna flood!
JAMES
Oh, no! Hurry!
EXT. RIVER
Veck is halfway across the shallows.
JAMES AND CHRISTOPHER (O.S.)
Veck! Get out! Flood!
Veck scrambles. Desmond braces a rope against a small tree
and tosses it to him. James, Chris, and Desmond start to
pull him up, but the flood hits, making everyone slip.
DESMOND
Don't let yourself slide! Dig in!
CHRISTOPHER
Reach! Don't you give up on me!
Veck strains as a large log careens toward them. It smashes
into the bank, throwing the rescuers back and tearing Veck
away. Desmond slams against the tall rock and crumples,
breath heaving. James and Christopher stand and follow Veck
down-river.
DESMOND
Don't get yourselves killed!
Veck sputters water, battered but holding on tight. James
and Christopher reach a low, slick branch over the waterfall.
James lies down facing down-river. Christopher pins his
legs.
Veck's log tumbles. James leans out farther. Christopher
looks up-river.
CHRISTOPHER
Almost--it's under us!
JAMES
VECK! Give me your paw!
Veck does, but the log snags his leg. He screams as James
pulls. The branch cracks and drops, nearly flinging James
into the river. Christopher just barely snags James' arm and
digs in with his feet, straining. Veck grabs James' leg.
Christopher's the only thing keeping James and Veck from
going over the waterfall.
CHRISTOPHER
James, get out of there!
With a cry, James kicks free of Veck and struggles back to
the log. Veck makes a last desperate grab, gapes as
Christopher helps James up, then screams as he tips over.
Christopher cradles one arm and winces as he and James
collapse.
CHRISTOPHER (CONT'D)
I couldn't hold you both.
JAMES
Oh, Veck, I'm so sorry...
Veck and his log plummet into the mists below, and disappear.
EXT. VALLEY, RIVERSIDE
James pokes along the riverbank with his walking stick,
pushing aside vines and bramble and checking beneath.
Christopher ranges ahead, scanning the water. One of his
arms is in a cast.
DESMOND (O.S.)
Come quick! Have a look at this!
Christopher joins James as he leaves the riverside.
CHRISTOPHER
Ol' Acornbrain's had a lot of false
alarms this week.
JAMES
Well, our luck's due for a change.
EXT. SARAH'S HOME
Desmond bounces up a little hill with a half-circle window
and an ivy-covered door built into it. A rough chimney of
flat stones graces the top of the cozy dwelling.
DESMOND
A chimney! Intelligent life after
all!
Christopher looks up at the chimney, strains at a catch in
his neck, and pops it. The others wince and shudder. He
takes a step toward the house but trips on a tree root. He
falls on his cast and groans, but sees a glint of glass.
It's a window--half of the closed end of a pop bottle.
DESMOND (CONT'D)
Broken something else I'll have to
fix?
James begins to help Christopher up, but Christopher pulls
him down, pointing. They both gape.
CHRISTOPHER
Look! A window!
JAMES
You're looking at the window?
INT. SARAH'S HOME, BATHROOM
Just behind and below the window, a black-footed ferret (!!!)
named Sarah is taking a foamy bath in a metal tub, scrubbing
herself with a bit of sponge, humming contentedly. She looks
up, shrieks, and yanks the drapes closed.
CHRISTOPHER
So much for introductions.
A few feet away, the vine-hidden wooden door opens. Sarah,
wrapped in a towel, pops her head out and glares at the
travelers. She's shorter than Christopher, but feisty.
SARAH
Perverts!
JAMES
Now, hold on just a--
Sarah pops back inside and slams the door shut.
JAMES (CONT'D)
--second.
INT. SARAH'S HOME
Sarah bolts the door and stomps back to the bathroom,
throwing her paws up in disgust.
INT. SARAH'S HOME, BATHROOM
Sarah throws the towel off and sloshes back into her bath.
There's a tap at the window. She leaves the drapes closed.
DESMOND (O.S.)
Um, excuse me, miss--
SARAH
Go away!
EXT. SARAH'S HOME
James winks at Christopher. He speaks a bit too loudly.
JAMES
Darn, I guess we were wrong.
Nothing strange. Just because she
takes baths inside and uses fire
doesn't mean she's one of us.
CHRISTOPHER
(taking the hint)
Oh. Yeah, come on, let's go.
There's a frantic splash inside.
INT. SARAH'S HOME
Sarah scrambles out of the tub, tucking the towel around
herself.
EXT. SARAH'S HOME
The travelers turn as if to leave, but Sarah flings her door
open and steps out, reaching after them.
SARAH
Wait! What did you mean, "one of
us?"
CHRISTOPHER
You're getting your cute little
feet dirty.
INT. SARAH'S HOME
Sarah has a few rough but comfortable chairs. She's carved a
hearth in one wall;
a teapot hangs over it, lid rattling as the water boils.
Odds and ends are everywhere--a piece of mirror, a thimble, a
framed postage stamp of the Wright Brothers' airplane. The
travelers come in--it's a slight squeeze for James.
CHRISTOPHER
Cozy place you've got here, um--
SARAH
Sarah. Sorry about the mess, I
don't get visitors.
JAMES
They're missing out.
Sarah blushes and smiles. Desmond notices the stamp and
adjusts his spectacles, squinting.
DESMOND
Now that's an old stamp. Quite a
collector!
SARAH
Oh, that's too kind a word for what
I do.
Sarah retrieves the teapot and sets it on a little table made
from a few alphabet blocks.
SARAH (CONT'D)
Some of the miniatures, I just
plain stole.
Desmond turns to face her, but his fluffy tail sweeps bric-a
brac off a shelf above the fireplace. He clicks his tongue
and bends to pick up the mess. Sarah and the others help.
When they've restored some semblance of order, Desmond turns
around again.
DESMOND
Sorry, Sarah. This tail's forever
in the way.
He flicks his tail too close to the fireplace and the tip
leaps into flames.
CHRISTOPHER
Desmond, look out!
He shrieks and everyone backs away in surprise. He dives for
the table, rips off the lid of the teapot, and extinguishes
his tail. He breathes a sigh of relief, but screams again.
DESMOND
Hot! Hot!
He blows on his unfortunate tail. The others calm and glare.
DESMOND (CONT'D)
I think I saw some acorns outside--
Desmond ducks out. Christopher shrugs apologetically.
CHRISTOPHER
Squirrels. You know how they are.
JAMES
Flighty devils.
Sarah drags strands of wet, scorched squirrel fur out of the
teapot. She grimaces and sets the teapot aside.
SARAH
Now, mind telling me what's going
on? That nut that just ran out of
here, he had--
She makes loops around her eyes with her paws.
CHRISTOPHER
Eyeglasses?
SARAH
(nods)
You wear clothes, I wear clothes,
all this junk in my house. What's
the deal?
James and Christopher look at each other and gulp. Chris
gestures for James to start.
JAMES
Sarah, you were really sick once,
when you were young--
Sarah gasps and nods, wincing and holding her stomach. James
and Christopher pat her on her back as she sniffles.
SARAH
Yes, I was! I'd--I'd almost
forgotten--I tried so hard to--
CHRISTOPHER
Did you--lose anyone?
SARAH
My whole family--I miss them so
much--
She bows her head, tearful, and the others hug her close.
JAMES
Happened to us, too.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FIELD BY WEASEL DEN - AFTERNOON
YOUNG JAMES bounds around, batting at dandelions and chasing
grasshoppers. He's having the time of his life. He sneakily
circles a grasshopper, which buzzes its wings but does not
fly far. Young James leaps and catches the grasshopper with
both paws, cupping them.
YOUNG JAMES
Gotcha!
He pulls his paws apart cautiously, peering in. He looks
away sadly as he lets the lifeless, crushed insect fall.
YOUNG JAMES (CONT'D)
Why do I feel so bad when I do
that?
INT. WEASEL DEN
Young James cautiously pokes his head in, ears back.
YOUNG JAMES
M-mama? Sis?
JAMES (V.O.)
Everyone was sick. One morning, I
woke up and felt better. So did my
brother, Veck.
YOUNG VECK stumbles out of the dark, eyes haunted. Young
James starts down into the den, but Young Veck holds him
back.
JAMES (V.O.) (CONT'D)
The others didn't feel anything
ever again.
YOUNG VECK
James--you don't want to go in
there.
Young James pushes past and into the den beyond. He gasps
and cries, but we see nothing. Young Veck pulls him away.
YOUNG JAMES
Get me out, get me out, I can't
breathe--
Young James clutches his throat as Young Veck drags him
outside.
INT. SARAH'S HOME
James calms down, takes his paws away from his throat, grips
the table, and shivers. Sarah pats his arm. Christopher
shakes his head sadly, thumping his cast on the table.
CHRISTOPHER
No one should die like that.
JAMES
But Veck and I--we survived. We
were never the same, though. We
started to learn. And to keep an
eye out for others like us--
EXT. CITY STREET OUTSIDE PET STORE - EVENING
Young James and Young Veck dodge between garbage cans and old
boxes, out of the alley and in front of the pet store window.
In a pitifully tiny glass tank with a broken-down wheel,
YOUNG CHRISTOPHER stares glumly at passing cars. He hears a
knock at the window and looks down, startled by Young Veck
and Young James. Young Christopher breathes hard on the side
of his tank, fogs it, and traces the word "HELP", getting the
"E" backward. The others give him a thumbs up.
CHRISTOPHER (V.O.)
A certain pet store owner was
arrested the next day for trading
in endangered species--namely, me.
INT./EXT. PET STORE - EARLY MORNING
Christopher's glass cage is empty. The clumsily-scrawled
sign on his cage reads "Not For Sale".
CHRISTOPHER (V.O.)
But when Animal Control came to
clear out the store, we had
already--
INT. SARAH'S HOME
Christopher skips one paw off another in a slick move. Sarah
laughs, already taking a bit of a shine to this newcomer.
CHRISTOPHER
--cleared out.
James shakes his head, smiling thoughtfully.
JAMES
That sickness we all had--it
changed something in us that needed
changing. It woke us up--even
though it hurt.
Desmond pops back in, chomping an acorn.
SARAH
(a beat, then exasperated)
Oh, do be more careful, Desmond.
DESMOND
Sure, sure.
(to James and Christopher)
Been explaining things to her?
They nod. Desmond sighs.
DESMOND (CONT'D)
Usual order of business then. I
found a good tree. You two handle
the lessons this time.
Sarah frowns.
SARAH
Lessons?
INT. SARAH'S HOME, KITCHEN
Christopher draws a big 'A' on a piece of chalkboard propped
against the wall. Sarah nods uncertainly.
EXT. POND SHORE
James skips a rock out over the pond. It flashes along,
finally sputtering to a stop. Sarah throws a rock and it
sinks. She frowns. James guides her arm in an expert arc
and she tries it again. The rock skips out and across the
water as Sarah laughs.
Christopher watches from a distance, a little jealous.
INT. SARAH'S HOME, KITCHEN
Sarah stands at the chalkboard with a piece of chalk and
cautiously writes her name. She gets the 'S' backward.
James rubs it out and Sarah slaps her forehead. She puts the
'S' back in, correctly this time.
EXT. OUTSIDE BATHROOM WINDOW
Christopher folds a piece of paper, Sarah watching intently.
He holds up his finished paper airplane, and sends it
soaring. Sarah follows it with her wide eyes.
James watches from a distance, already scheming.
INT. SARAH'S HOME, KITCHEN
Christopher finishes scratching out a sentence on the board,
then points to each word with a stick. Sarah reads along.
SARAH
Sarah--is--a good--student. Why,
thank you, Christopher!
James sits to one side, gritting his teeth a little.
EXT. SKY
Fluffy white clouds drift lazily by. Suddenly a brown-paper
kite cuts across the sky, its long red-ribboned tail making
curlicues.
EXT. MEADOW
Sarah points up at the kite, shading her eyes. James
maneuvers the kite deftly, making it loop and swoop. He
holds the line out to Sarah, who waves him away, protesting.
He insists--she finally gives in and takes it. It nearly
pulls her off her feet. James catches her and guides her
paws, keeping the kite aloft. She gets the hang of it and
takes over, still holding onto James.
Christopher broods, perched on a nearby rock. He pops the
catch in his neck and glares at James. Sarah notices
SARAH
(shivering)
You'll throw your neck out doing
that someday.
EXT. DESMOND'S TREE
Desmond's dragging a collection of wires, springs, and gears
into a hollow near the base of a very big old tree nearby.
He 'hmm's thoughtfully and frowns as he watches the others.
DESMOND
I smell trouble.
INT. SARAH'S HOME, KITCHEN
James writes a sentence, and Sarah follows along easily.
SARAH
'Sarah--is very--pretty.' Oh, but
it isn't true, I'm so plain it's
painful--
James pats her shoulder, leaving a paw-print in chalk dust.
JAMES
No, it's true.
Christopher stomps out of the room.
INT. DESMOND'S TREE
The hollow is spacious. Desmond's assembled a few working
contraptions--they tick and whirl and swirl, most without
apparent purpose. Parts are strewn everywhere. A rickety
wooden staircase spirals up the hollow to a high exit where
sunlight streams in.
There's a sudden, hard knock at the door. Desmond sets his
soldering iron aside and answers the summons. He opens the
door and Christopher storms in, holding his cast up.
CHRISTOPHER
Take this damned thing off.
DESMOND
Well, aren't we just the slightest
bit testy?
Desmond begins to examine the cast.
EXT. LEAN-TO
Christopher (free of his cast) has built a large shelter
against a tree, out of bits of cloth and long sticks. It's a
substantial bit of work, lashed to the tree like a giant
butterfly chrysalis.
INT. LEAN-TO
Christopher whittles away at a long piece of wood. A many
colored bundle of cloth is by his side, as well as a spool of
thread with a needle stuck through it.
EXT. LEAN-TO
Sarah begins to lift up a flap of cloth covering the lean
to's entrance. Christopher quickly pops out and leads her
away, putting a finger to his lips.
EXT. ROCK FACE
Christopher pulls Sarah up to a ledge. The river valley
stretches out far below--this is where James and Christopher
stood when the flash flood began. Sarah beams.
SARAH
You can see forever! This is
beautiful!
Christopher gestures up the rock.
CHRISTOPHER
You haven't seen anything yet.
EXT. TOP OF THE ROCK
The rock flattens out up here. Christopher helps Sarah up
over the edge, and her jaw drops when she sees the hang
glider. It's a patchwork contraption, but quite solid.
SARAH
Is that what I hope it is?
EXT. MID-AIR
The glider cuts through the air. Christopher and Sarah hang
tight to the guide-bar, wind streaking their fur. Sarah yells
with delight, gaping at the river that winds below like a
ribbon of blue. She turns her head to look at Christopher-
sunlight streams through the fabric of the glider, dappling
the pair like a stained-glass window. Sarah shakes her head
in wonder, then kisses Christopher on the cheek. Christopher
grins wide and tips the hang-glider. Sarah slides closer to
him and gasps in astonishment.
EXT. MEADOW
James shades his eyes and looks up at the glider as it slowly
spirals in the sun. He sighs and looks at his feet. Desmond
approaches and taps him on the shoulder. James jumps a bit.
DESMOND
You'll forgive my saying so, James,
but Christopher would be better for
her.
James waves him off and stomps away, turning his back and
sitting down on a low log.
JAMES
No, I won't forgive you for that.
Desmond hops up on the log to sit beside James, who casts his
eyes up to look at the hang-glider again.
JAMES (CONT'D)
I could make her just as happy.
DESMOND
For a while. But you're a weasel
and she's a ferret. What if she
wants children?
James chuckles bitterly.
JAMES
There is that...
DESMOND
Christopher was lucky to find
another black-footed ferret at all.
They're endangered, for heaven's
sakes. Give Sarah up, let her be
happy.
JAMES
It's not that easy. I'm really
starting to love her.
DESMOND
Yes, but are she and Christopher
your friends?
The hang-glider sets down softly in the meadow. Christopher
and Sarah shake free of the glider and hug each other tight.
JAMES
My best friends ever.
DESMOND
Then give them time.
James smiles faintly and nods.
EXT. SARAH'S HOME
James has his walking stick and a full backpack--Desmond
helps him adjust it. Christopher fidgets, but Sarah steps
forward and hugs James. He pats her back.
SARAH
You taught me so much.
JAMES
It was a pleasure.
Sarah lets him go, wistfully. Christopher approaches.
JAMES (CONT'D)
I'll find Veck and give him a
decent burial.
Desmond twitches his whiskers thoughtfully.
DESMOND
It'll be the first time Veck's been
decent...
Christopher pulls James aside. Sarah frowns uncertainly.
CHRISTOPHER
Why now? Why are you going alone?
I could--
JAMES
(nodding toward Sarah)
--you could settle down.
Recognition dawns on Christopher's face.
CHRISTOPHER
This is just an excuse! You're out
of the game!
JAMES
I quit while we were still friends.
That means we all win.
A little teary, Christopher clasps James' arm thankfully.
James turns away and walks downhill toward the river.
Christopher returns to Sarah's side and puts an arm around
her. He squeezes her tight as they and Desmond wave goodbye.
Actually, he knocks the air out of her--she makes an 'oomph'
sound. She giggles shyly as their eyes meet.
SARAH
Took my breath away.
CHRISTOPHER
Let me give it back.
He kisses her on the lips. She doesn't mind one bit, and
kisses back. Desmond watches James, now far down-river.
DESMOND
Good show, James. Well done.
[
top
| next
]
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.