Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie Page #13

Season #2 Episode #1

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The City Official looks up to the king, who ponders.

KinG TWISTOMER

You may speak.

The sword is lowered. Jonah relaxes a bit.

JoNAH

Well... As I understand it, the snacks in question were right out in the open... In a large bowl!!

(pleading to crowd)

I think we'll all agree this was somewhat misleading...

(looks for support)

Don't you think?

The city official glances to the king. The king ponders... softening... nodding... then looks down to the city official.

KinG TWISTOMER

Slap them.

Again the sword flashes high in the air. Jonah panics! The Pirates start whimpering loudly. Jonah no desperately appeals directly to the City Official.

JoNAH

No! You don't understand! I'm not REALLY with them... I mean... How could I be? While they were taking the tour, I was in the belly of a whale!!

The City Official freezes - the sword jerking in his hand. The crowd around them hushes down some. The Official looks up to Jonah quizzically.

CiTY OFFICIAL

What... did you... say?

JoNAH

(not really noticing the reaction)

I said while they were on the tour... I was in the belly of a whale!!

The crowd GASPS. The Official steps back - clearly shaken.

CiTY OFFICIAL

(shocked)

But... You are not dead!

JoNAH

No! That's just it! I was in the whale for 3 days and nights! Then I prayed to my God, and the great monster spit me up onto the shore... So that I could bring you all a message.

The official is shaken... The crowd whispers among themselves. The king's eyes widen - then narrow. He approaches the edge of the balcony.

King TWISTOMER

Hmm... Asparagus... Here in Nineveh we bow to the Great Fish... We celebrate the Great Fish in our art...

Jonah looks around at the whale images on buildings and the large metal fish hanging over his head.

JoNAH

Yes, I noticed...

King TWISTOMER

If what you are saying is true...

The King ponders for a moment. The Official steps up and responds...

CiTY OFFICIAL

Yes... How do we know if he is telling the truth, sire?

King TWISTOMER

(to Official)

Smell him.

CiTY OFFICIAL

(confused)

Y-your highness?

King TWISTOMER

Smell him.

The Official awkwardly approaches Jonah, and takes a big whiff. Jonah smells TERRIBLE. He stagers back, reeling... Barely able to stay on his feet.

JoNAH

(apologetic)

I'm... terribly sorry... I've been meaning to shower...

The King's eyes widen.

King TWISTOMER

He has been in the Great Fish. We must hear the message.

This is so unexpected that Jonah isn't sure what to do next.

JoNAH

What? Oh...the message... Yes...

Jonah thinks - but it has been so long he has a hard time remembering what he was supposed to say. As he stammers, Khalil shakes his head in disbelief.

JoNAH (cont'd)

...the message... What was the message?

KhALIL

Com'on!

JoNAH

(to King)

It's been so long... I...

(to himself)

Oh! Yes Ahem...

(collects himself)

Stop it!!

The crowd gasps and recoils. The King's eyes widen.

JoNAH

Stop cheating! Stop lying! And especially, stop slapping people with fishes!! Or this entire city will be destroyed!!

Jonah looks around dramatically. The crowd shudders... The King looks concerned. Back to Jonah who is smiling contentedly.

JoNAH (cont'd)

A message from the Lord!

Pa nARRATOR

Well, the King was very upset! He had no idea they weren't suppose to do that stuff! No one had ever told him that before!

A decree is handed to the city official.

CiTY OFFICIAL

A decree from the King! Let everyone call urgently to God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Perhaps the God that brought this man out of the Great Fish, will give us... a second chance!

Score swells... Crowd erupts... Everyone smiles. Jonah looks around, tugging against his ropes.

King TWISTOMER

And let the asparagus and his friends go free!

They are all untied and congratulated by the crowd. Happy, happy.

EXTERIOR - DAY. NINEVEH

Wide shot of NINEVEH. The clouds have completely moved away and it's a perfectly sunny day. SCORE is triumphant. Birds sing. Flower bouquets fly like graduation caps.

pa nARRATOR

So the king and the people of Nineveh said they were sorry, stopped the fish-slapping and started being nice to people...

cut to:

Interior night - seafood restaurant

laura

Wow! That's great!

junior

Yeah! Everyone musta been really happy, right?

pa NARRATOR

Well, almost everyone.

dissOLVE TO:

ext. day - NINEVEH

Jonah and worm are being warmly thanked by Ninevites. Worm is eating it up, but Jonah is just nodding along. Several Ninevite kids run happily away from Jonah and the worm, clutching Jonah plush toys to their chests.

JoNAH

(ad lib)

Yes, thank you! Farewell! Goodbye, thank you!

KhALIL

(ad lib)

Goodbye all you lovely people!

pa NARRATOR

You see, Jonah figured God wouldn't really forgive the Ninevites. I mean, they had done some terrible stuff. No! He figured God had something else in mind.

JoNAH

Sigh...

Jonah sits in the sand, silently, staring at Nineveh. The worm is a bit confused.

KHALIL:

What are we doing?

jonah

Oh, it's time to watch the fun!

KHALIL:

Aaaand what fun would that be?

jonah

Well, I did what I was supposed to do... I warned them that they were going to get in big trouble! So now that they've had their warning, it's time to watch God wipe them off the face of the Earth! Aha!

Worm looks at Jonah quizzically. Jonah doesn't notice.

jONAH (cont'd)

I picked a safe distance so we won't get singed.

Jonah sits back to watch the destruction. The worm looks at Jonah, then looks at Nineveh.

Time goes by. The hot sun beats down. Nothing happens. Jonah is sweating, but still smiling.

joNAH (cont'd)

This is going to be great! The bad guys! Finally getting what they deserve!

More time goes by. The sun is intense. Jonah is wilting.

pa narrator

So Jonah waited for God to destroy Nineveh. Even now, God was compassionate towards Jonah and caused a plant to grow that shaded him from the hot sun.

Jonah looks up and sees large weed hanging overhead like an umbrella.

joNAH

Hmm? Oh! Yes! Very nice! Thank you! Very nice!

He settles in to watch some more. The worm looks back and forth between Jonah and Nineveh. Then he notices the weed and looks - suddenly - hungry.

pa narrator

Jonah kept waiting. But it didn't seem like anything was happening! He wondered if maybe God was forgetting something.

Jonah stands and looks up toward heaven, then back to Nineveh.

jonah

Alright! I did my job! So... fire! Brimstone! Whatever! You pick! Right over there!

(pause)

I'll just... sit here under my weed... and wait.

Jonah sits back down and forces a smile, leaning up against the weed. Without warning, the weed and Jonah crash to the ground. Jonah sits up quickly and looks around.

jONAH (cont'd)

What? - What happened?

Jonah spies worm, happily munching a mouthful of weed, and sees the partially chewed weed stump.

jONAH (cont'd)

What? How could you?!?

KHALIL:

(surprised)

Hmm? All your whining made me hungry! It was just a weed...

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