Theme: It s the thought that counts, not how much you spend. Lesson: Ask before you borrow things. LIL' IGUANA. "A Thoughtful Gift" (Pilot) Written by

Transcription

1 LIL' IGUANA "A Thoughtful Gift" (Pilot) Written by Jeffrey Scott Theme: It s the thought that counts, not how much you spend. Lesson: Ask before you borrow things. 1st Draft: August 4, nd Draft: August 29, 2017 FINAL DRAFT: November 12, 2018

2 INT. UANA S BEDROOM - DAY CLOSE ON DUST RUFFLE as it suddenly is pulled up and S nose pokes under the bed, scans about with concern. WIDER IN BEDROOM as Lil Ig desperately rushes to his dresser, yanks open drawers, searches under his clothes. He doesn t find what he s looking for. Oh! (frustrated) CUT TO BLACK: Then Lil Ig yanks open his closet door. He goes through his coat pockets. He feels something, smiles with anticipation, then pulls out a button. (more frustrated) Aw, man! This is a disaster! (shouts)! As he rushes out of the room cut-- INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS is cleaning up after breakfast as Lil Ig rushes in. (dread) You know what today is?! Of course I do, dear. It s your twin sisters birthday. Lil Ig holds up his hands to reveal a bunch of loose change. No! It s the day they realize I m a terrible big brother because I don t have enough money to buy them each a birthday present. You don t have to spend a lot. C.K. told me there s a leak in her basketball. Maybe you could buy her a new one.

3 2. He drops his change on the kitchen table. A new one?! I barely have enough to put air in her old one. I know Alli would like a science book. Lil Ig takes out his cell phone, snaps a flash. How about a picture of a science book? Lil Ig plops his butt into a chair at the breakfast table, drops his chin into his hands. I m the worst brother in the world. He makes a sad face and snaps a selfie. Maybe you should have saved your money for their birthday present instead of that video game you bought last week. What am I going to do, Mom? Well, you could make them something. Make them something?! Then they ll know I didn t bother saving any money to buy them nice gifts. Mom puts her hand on Lil Ig s shoulders sympathetically. Oh, Lil Ig, it s not how much you spend that makes a good gift, it s how much thought and love you put into it. Are you sure?

4 3. Trust me. If you give a gift from your heart your sisters will love it. (brightens) Maybe I could bake them something with your help. That s a wonderful idea. What do you think they d like? They both love apple pie. Perfect! Now all we need is a dozen apples. (enthusiastic) Preheat the oven, Mom! I ll be back in 20 minutes! He runs out. She smiles. WIPE TO: EXT. S HOUSE - DAY stands before and, wearing a top hat and holding a wand in one hand, an egg in the other. There is a small magician s table before him. Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, and watch as the Great Arturo turns this egg into a live dove. Arturo takes off his hat, places it upside down on the table. Then he breaks the egg, drops the yoke and albumen into his hat. I ll just break the egg, like so-- He places his wand into the hat and stirs.

5 4. --stir it, like so. Then Prestochange-o! A dove! He reaches into his hat and withdraws a handful of goopy egg. The others LAUGH. (embarrassed) Aw. I m a terrible magician. Look on the bright side, Arturo. You re really good at making scrambled eggs. (brightens) Yeah! I am, aren t I? Arturo smiles, then puts his hat back on. Oops! He realizes his mistake as the yoke drools down over his face. And you re good at making them easy over, too. The others LAUGH again. Lil Iguana rushes in. Guys! I got this great idea for a birthday present for C.K. and Alli. Oh, no! I forgot today s their birthday party! Me, too. (embarrassed) I spent all my money on my magic hat and wand. Don t worry. We don t need money. I m baking their favorite apple pies. If you help me gather apples the pies will be from all of us.

6 5. Awesome! & Count me in! Last one to the orchard is a turtle. Jags runs off. The others follow, with Kelvin in the rear. Hey! No fair! I m a turtle whether I come in last or not. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. THE ORCHARD - DAY Lil Ig, Jags and Arturo run in, stop beside an apple tree full of bright red apples. Kelvin enters last, huffing and puffing. Mmmm! Those apples look delicious! Arturo takes off his top hat. We can put them in my hat. After you clean out the eggs. Ha, ha, ha. Well, what are we waiting for? Let s start picking. Jags jumps up, tries to reach an apple on a low branch. She misses it. I can t reach. I m the tallest. Let me try. (groans and he jumps) But he can t reach either.

7 6. They re too high. We need a ladder. Roose will have one. C mon! The four of them run off. EXT. FRONT OF S BARN - DAY Lil Ig and the gang arrive. There is no one there. (shouts)? ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BARN is asleep in his hammock. His head is turned sideways so that as he snores he propels the hammock back and forth. (comical snoring) Zzzzz-cluck-cluck-cluck. Zzzzzcluck-cluck-cluck.? (O.S.) BACK TO THE KIDS Let s go look for him. Wait! We don t have enough time to find Roose, get the apples, get home and bake the pies before the party starts. Kelvin s right. There must be a ladder around here somewhere. I think I know where it is. Jags and Arturo run into the barn.

8 7. INT. S BARN - CONTINUOUS They look about. Jags spots a ladder leaning against the wall. What did I tell you? I m sure Roose won t mind if we borrow it. Jags and Arturo grab the ladder. EXT. FRONT OF S BARN - CONTINUOUS They emerge from the barn. Got it. Let s go. CLOSE ON UANA He knits his brow with alarm. The spines on his head glow. My Harm Alarm! (V.O.) (his thoughts) When I wonder if it s wrong, I must remember to be strong. As Jags and Kelvin are about to head off, Lil Ig steps before them. Wait! We ve got to find a Wisdom Keeper and ask if this is okay. What s to ask? It s just a ladder. Lil Ig is right. Let s call a Wisdom Keeper! (giving in) Oh, all right. Jags and Kelvin put the ladder down. The four of them move in unison and:

9 8. --Cup their ears as if to indicate to listen, first the left ear then the right... --They put their fingers over their eyes raccoon style, first left then right. --Next they point at each other, each pointing at a different kid. --And finally they spin around once and clasp hands in a group handshake. And while doing this they all say: & FRIENDS Listen with your ears, Look with your eyes. Then ask for help, From someone who s wise. WISDOM TREE (O.S.) Well, hello, Lil Ig. The kids turn and see-- A BIG OAK TREE with smiling face on the trunk. Hello, Wisdom Tree. WISDOM TREE What seems to be the problem? (excited, rapid) We need to pick apples for my sisters birthday pies but we can t reach them so we need a ladder but we can t find Roose to ask him if we can borrow his. What do we do? WISDOM TREE It s always a good idea to ask permission before borrowing anything. (complaining) It s just a ladder. I m sure Roose would let us use it. We can put it right back and he wouldn t even know it was ever gone.

10 9. But the Wisdom Tree said we should ask first. Aw, he s not a Wisdom Tree. He s a Worry Tree. WISDOM TREE (to Jags) Remember how upset you got when Kelvin borrowed your bike without asking? (surprised) Hey! How did you know that?! Because he s a Wisdom Tree. We should always remember to seek out wisdom from those who know more than we do. And now we know what we ve got to do. C mon! Lil Ig runs off. The others follow. IN A SHORT MONTAGE: Lil Ig and his friends search for Roose, dancing and singing a new song titled, My Mission is to Get Permission! WIPE TO: EXT. REAR OF S BARN - DAY Roose is snoring away in his hammock. Zzzzz-cluck-cluck-cluck. Zzzzzcluck-cluck-cluck. Lil Ig and the gang arrive, spot Roose. There he is! They approach Roose. (softly) Roose?

11 10. He doesn t respond. (louder)! Roose is startled from his sleep. He comically falls out of his hammock with a THUD. Feathers fly up. Ooof! Arturo is afraid Roose might get mad and hides behind Lil Ig, his ears comically shaking. (scared) I didn t do it. Lil Ig woke you. Roose gets up, ruffles his feathers, dusts himself off. Thanks, Lil Ig. I overslept. Gotta get back to my chores. We were wondering if we could borrow your ladder. No problemo. Mi ladder es su ladder. Follow me. Roose heads off. Jags nods knowingly at Lil Ig. Told you it was okay. EXT. FRONT OF S BARN - SAME The kids follow Roose into shot. Help me with the ladder, Arturo. When they grab the ladder Roose s eyes widen in alarm. No, no, no! Not that ladder. It s broken! Roose stands the ladder up and opens it. It wobbles, then falls over.

12 11. The kids all raise their eyebrows and exchange a We almost got in trouble look. I fell off it this morning. (rubs his thigh) Hurt my thigh. That s why I took a nap. (contrite) Whoa! I guess the Wisdom Tree was wise after all. Yeah. If we didn t ask we might have gotten hurt. Wait here! He rushes into the barn, comes out a moment later with another ladder. Use this one. Thanks, Roose. They rush off with the ladder. WIPE TO: EXT. THE ORCHARD - DAY Lil Ig is at the top of the ladder. He picks an apple, drops it. Look out below! catches it in her baseball mitt. Got it! She tosses it to-- who shines it on his chest. Looks delicious!

13 12. He under-hands it to-- who catches it in his magic hat which is about to overflow. Arturo holds up his wand. Hey, guys -- wanna see me turn these apples into applesauce? NO! / / (O.S.) DISSOLVE TO: INT. S KITCHEN - DAY CLOSE ON THE OVEN as Mom removes two steaming hot apple pies. WIDEN to include Lil Ig and his pals looking on with delight. They all raise their noses and sniff the wafting aroma. THE KIDS Mmmmmmmmmmm! INT. S DINING ROOM - DAY There is a HAPPY BIRTHDAY C.K. & ALLI banner above the dining table which is set up with party plates, etc. Dad is at the head of the table with Alli and C.K. on either side. Mom opens the door to the kitchen and out marches Lil Ig and Jags, holding apple pies, followed by Arturo and Kelvin. The pies have birthday candles on them. AND HIS PALS (shout) HAPPY BIRTHDAY C.K. AND ALLI! They place the pies before C.K. and Alli who clap with delight. ALLIE Apple pie! C.K. My favorite! ALLIE OUR favorite. ALLIE & C.K. (laugh)

14 13. Kelvin, Arturo and Jags helped me pick the apples. After we asked Roose if we could borrow his ladder. Then we baked them into pies just for you. Mom cuts the pies and dishes out slices to everyone. The gang watches with anticipation as Alli and C.K. dig in, filling their mouths with pie. Mmmmm. ALLI C.K. Super dee-licious! ALLI & C.K. Thanks, everyone! -- BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER! And Kelvin, Arturo and Jags give Lil Ig a thumbs up we-- FADE OUT.