The Croods Page #3

As Grug talks, he gestures at a rough sketch on the wall

of the cave.

GRUG (CONT’D)

A long time ago, this little bear was

alive. She was alive because she

listened to her father and lived her life

in routine and darkness and terror. So

she was happy. But Krispy had one,

terrible problem. She was filled with...

curiosity.

UGGA:

Grug!

Ugga covers Sandy’s ears.

The Croods 12.12.2012 14.

GRUG:

Yes. And one day, while she was in atree, the curious little bear wanted to

climb to the top.

THUNK:

Wha?

GRUG:

And no sooner than she climbed to the

top, she saw something new and died.

Grug SWATS the painting.

THUNK:

Just like that?

GRUG:

Yes! Her last moments of terror still

frozen on her face.

Grug holds out Krispy Bear. The family is terrified.

GRAN:

Oh, same ending as everyday.

THUNK:

(freaked out)

I get it, dad. I get it. I will never

do anything new or different.

GRUG:

Good man, Thunk.

Pan across the walls to reveal they are covered with

stories all seemingly with the same ending.

UGGA:

Alright, everyone sharpen your teeth and

let’s pile up.

All their worst fears confirmed, the Croods snuggle into

one big heap, warm and comfy. Grug casts a glance to

Eep’s ledge. She doesn’t budge.

FADE TO BLACK:

SEQ. 500 - FOLLOW THE LIGHT

The Croods 12.12.2012 15.

INT. CROOD CAVE - NIGHT

The Croods sleep peacefully in their pile. Except Eep,

who tosses restlessly on her LEDGE. Outside, we hear the

ROARS and HOWLS of prehistoric creatures fighting.

But then, SILENCE.

And then cutting through the primordial night is a

MUSICAL SOUND. Unsettling. Unearthly. Eep creeps

around her sleeping family and cautiously approaches the“door” to peer outside, when suddenly-

WHOOSH! A bright light blazes through the gaps around

the boulder door, bathing Eep in an OTHER-WORLDLY GLOW.

She chases the flash of light around the cave trying to

catch it in her hands.

Eep presses her face against the cold boulder, trying to

get a look at what is outside, but she can’t get more

than a blurred glimpse of the canyon beyond - and the

disappearing light.

Desperate to see more, Eep braces her back against the

cave and PUSHES the plug rock with her legs. Slowly, she

shifts the rock, careful not to wake her father. It takes

all of her strength, but she manages to move it justenough for her to BARELY SQUEEZE out.

EXT. CROOD CANYON - CONTINUOUS

Eep stands outside at night for the first time ever. Her

heart races. The hot night wind blows against her face

and through her hair. The forbidden sensation is

exhilarating.

The canyon beyond is quickly swallowing the light - it

will be gone in another few seconds. With one of her

hands pressed tightly to the cave ‘door’, she steels

herself.

Eep LETS GO and DASHES after the light, SCRAMBLING

through the SANDSTONE NARROWS, bounding from side to

side. As she disappears into the darkness of the canyon,

we...

CUT TO:

EXT. CANYON

The light ahead is growing brighter. Eep is closing onit. In her excitement, she missteps and SNAPS a stick

underfoot.

The Croods 12.12.2012 16.

It was barely audible. Eep instinctively FREEZES.

A huge SHADOW of a TUSKED CREATURE is cast on the wall

above her. Eep throws a rock at the shadow.

She POWERS STRAIGHT UP the stone wall with unexpected

speed.

The Creature RUNS. Eep tops the wall and...

CUT TO:

SEQ. 550 - CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

EXT. ROCK ARCH - NIGHT

Eep steps into a small clearing. Stuck in the ground, is

a TORCH. As far as Eep knows, this is the thing she wasfollowing. Eep crouches down and cautiously approaches.

REVERSE ANGLE - Eep can feel the heat from the fire on

the palms of her hands and her face. TENSE. EXCITING.

But camouflaged against the rock wall behind her,

something MOVES. A WARTHOG CREATURE stands upright and

creeps up behind her.

Eep reaches out to TOUCH the flame. The torch blows away

from her. The wind has changed direction. The breeze ather back, Eep smells the Creature behind her. On her

face, awe turns to determination as she wheels and grabs

the creature. She THROWS and FLIPS it over her shoulder.

It hits the torch, knocking it to the ground. Eep jumps

back, GRABBING a good-sized rock - she’s poised to bash

the Creature’s brains in.

CREATURE:

Nuh! Nuh!

The Creature defensively raises its arms, hands in front

of its face.

GUY:

No!

Hands? Eep GASPS, shocked to see HUMAN HANDS attached to

this monstrosity.

The Creature slowly puts his hands to the sides of hisgrotesque head, and RAISES its mask. It’s a boy... he’s

BEAUTIFUL! This is GUY.

The Croods 12.12.2012 17.

EEP:

Augh!

Eep LEAPS BACK a few paces, DROPPING the rock on Guy’s

foot.

GUY:

AAAAAAAUGHHHHHHHH!

EEP:

Shhh!

Eep moves swiftly to silence him. She POUNCES on him and

TWISTS his head sideways. Guy is SUFFOCATING. He feels

around for a stick and BASHES Eep in the side of the

head.

EEP (CONT’D)

Ow!

GUY:

(gasping)

Air.

EEP:

...You talk.

GUY:

I’m a person, like you.

Eep TOSSES the boulder aside and LIFTS Guy with one hand.

GUY (CONT’D)

Sort of... like you.

Eep OPENS Guy’s mouth and pokes around inside. She

SNIFFS at him. Turns him upside-down.

GUY (CONT’D)

Okay, could you not, hee hee hee, that

tickles. Hey!

Eep looks closely at BELT, a sloth wrapped around Guy’swaist. Belt’s eyes OPEN.

EEP:

Augh!

Eep DROPS Guy on his head.

GUY:

OW! Wow. --

Eep jams her foot over Guy’s mouth.

The Croods 12.12.2012 18.

EEP:

Quiet! I’m not supposed to be out here.

Guy BITES her foot.

EEP (CONT’D)

OW!

She KICKS Guy in the stomach. He ROLLS sideways. Guy is

getting the worst of this encounter. Eep kicks Guy off-

frame. We HEAR the fight continuing.

CUT TO:

INT. CROOD CAVE

Grug is awakened by wind coming from the cave opening.

He pushes the “sleep pile” off of him. Checks Eep’s

ledge... but she is gone.

GRUG:

(to Ugga)

Eep’s gone.

UGGA:

What? Grug!

GRUG:

Stay in the cave!

Grug stands outside the entrance to the cave. Peeringinto utter darkness. He steels himself... and then

releases his hand from the “door.”

CUT TO:

SEQ. 560 - CLOSE ENCOUNTERS (PART II)

EXT. ROCK ARCH

Guy is still on his knees.

GUY:

(in pain, defeated)

Wow. You’re really strong.

The flame DWINDLES. Guy MOVES toward it. Eep BLOCKS

him.

EEP:

No! It's mine. No, no. I caught it!

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No way Guy is getting past her.

GUY:

It's dying. I can fix it!

Eep doesn’t want to.

GUY (CONT’D)

Please. I hate the dark.

Eep sees a kindred spirit. She gets out of his way. GuyPICKS UP the torch and BLOWS. Eep scoots closer to Guy,

staying in the circle of light around him. As Guy brings

the fire back to life, the relief on his face is familiar

to Eep. This boy seems to have power over light itself.

Eep is smitten.

EEP:

It does what you tell it?

GUY:

Well, yeah, sort of.

EEP:

The sun?

GUY:

No, no. Fire.

EEP:

(to the flame)

Hi, fire.

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