The Lion King Page #2

ZAZU:

Yes, well as slippery as your mind is, as the king's brother, you should have been first in line.

Scar nips at Zazu, who evades him.

SCAR:

I was first in line until the little hairball was born.

MUFASA:

That hairball is my son and your future king.

SCAR:

I shall practice my curtsy.

Scar abruptly turns to walk away. Mufasa calls after him:

MUFASA:

Don't turn your back on me, Scar!

Scar reels back around.

SCAR:

Oh, no, Mufasa. Perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on me.

MUFASA:

Is that a challenge?

Zazu ducks behind a rock.

SCAR:

pointed

Temper-temper.

butter wouldn't melt

A challenge? Oh, I wouldn't dream of it.

Zazu hops forward.

ZAZU:

Pity.

a beat

Why not?

SCAR:

Well, as far as brains go, I got the lion's share. But when it cones to brute strength, I'в afraid I'm in the shallow end of the gene pool.

Scar slinks away. Zazu and Mufasa watch him leave.

ZAZU:

There's one in every family, sire. Two in nine, actually. And they always manage to ruin special occasions.

As they walk off:

MUFASA:

What an I going to do with him?

ZAZU:

He'd mаkе a very handsome throw rug.

MUFASA:

good idea

Zazu!

ZAZU:

And just think. Whenever he gets dirty, you can take him out and beat him.

TIME DISSOLVE TO:

SEQ. 3:
(DAY WITH DAD)

TIME PASSAGE MONTAGE

EXT. AN ACACIA TREE - DAY

Glimmering in the sunlight then darkening as the sky clouds over. It starts to rain.

A FLAT PLAIN rain drenches the land. LIGHTNING FLASHES.

DISTANT MOUNTAINS the storm moves over the hills and plains, casting shadows.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. PRIDE ROCK - PRE-DAWN - MONTHS LATER

In the distance, Pride Rock in its pre-dawn splendor. Simba, now a full-grown cub, trots into:

INT. ROYAL CAVE — CONTINUOUS

SFX:
SNORING

Simba, barely able to contain his excitement, bounds over to his sleeping parents, bumping affectionately against his father.

SIMBA:

Hey, Dad. Wake up! Dad!

Mufasa doesn't respond. Simba presses on, nudging his Dad. He tugs on Mufasa's ear and falls off, landing with an "Ooff!"

SIMBA:

Dad-Dad-Dad-Dad-Dad-Dad-Dad --

SARABI:

Your son is awake.

MUFASA:

Before sunrise, he's your son.

Simba pulls on Mufasa's tail and gets gently swatted out of frame. He runs in and head butts Mufasa:

SIMBA:

You promised!

Mufasa pops open one eye.

MUFASA:

Okay, okay. I'm up. I'm up.

SIMBA:

All-right!

Simba trots off. Mufasa immediate,!у EXHALES into sleep. Sarabi CLEARS HER THROAT and nudges Mufasa.

SARABI:

Hon-ey --

She nudges him HARD. His eyes pop open.

MUFASA:

Okay! Okay!

PRIDE ROCK LONG SHOT - MINUTES LATER

Simba exits the cave, followed by his parents. He trots ahead then runs back to his mother. Sarabi gently nuzzles him and gives him a little push on his way.

Sarabi watches proudly as Mufasa and Simba head up Pride Rock.

EXT. PRIDE ROCK - CONTINUOUS

Mufasa and Simba look out over the Pride lands as the sun crests the far horizon, shooting yellow beams across the vast expanse.

MUFASA:

Simba, look:
Everything the light touches is our kingdom.

Simba's eyes follow the horizon and grow wide.

SIMBA:

Wow.

As Simba moves around the plateau to survey his kingdom, we see the vistas he sees.

MUFASA (V.O)

A king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day the sun will set on my time here and will rise with you as the new king.

SIMBA:

And this will all be mine?

MUFASA:

Everything.

SIMBA:

in awe

Everything the light touches,

scanning horizon

What about that shadowy place?

MUFASA:

That's beyond our borders. You must never go there, Simba.

SIMBA:

But I thought a king can do whatever he wants.

MUFASA:

There's a lot mоrе to being king than getting your way all the tine.

Mufasa exits the shot. Simba follows.

SIMBA:

wide-eyed

There's more?

MUFASA:

cautionary

Well, Simba --

PRIDE ROCK - VISTA SHOTS

Mufasa and Simba are dots on the horizon. They look out at the land in harmony. Antelope leap and move along.

WITH SIMBA AND MUFASA

Simba is amazed and impressed by all that he sees around him.

MUFASA (V.O.)

Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures -- from the crawling ant, to the leaping antelope.

SIMBA:

But, Dad, don't we eat the antelope?

MUFASA:

Yes, Simba. But let me explain.

MUFASA:

then:

When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we're all connected in the great Circle of Life.

Simba considers this. Zazu flaps in and lands on a nearby rock.

SEQ. 3.1 (POUNCING)

ZAZU:

Good morning, Sire!

MUFASA:

Good morning, Zazu.

ZAZU:

Checking in with the morning report.

MUFASA:

Fire away!

Mufasa nods to Zazu to begin. Simba couldn't care less; he eyes a passing butterfly and lopes after it.

ZAZU:

The buzz from the bees is that, well -- the leopards are in a bit of a spot --

Simba pounces toward the butterfly and misses. Mufasa notices, but Zazu drones on.

MUFASA:

to Zazu

Oh, really?

ZAZU (O.S.)

The baboons are going ape. Of course.

Mufasa notices Simba's leap for the insect and miss.

MUFASA:

whispering

What are you doing, son?

SIMBA:

Pouncing.

MUFASA:

Let an old pro show you how it's done.

ZAZU (O.S.)

The tick birds were picking on the elephants. I told the elephants to forget it, but they can't.

MUFASA:

Zazu, would you turn around?

ZAZU:

turning around

Yes, Sire.

pressing on

The cheetahs are hard up, but as I always say --

MUFASA:

whispering, to Simba

Stay low to the ground.

ZAZU:

-- Cheetahs never prosper.

SIMBA:

to himself

Okay, stay low to the ground. Right, yeah.

ZAZU:

Uh -- What's going on?

MUFASA:

A pouncing lesson.

ZAZU:

auto pilot

Oh. Very good. Pouncing!

realizing

Pouncing? Oh, no, Sire. You can't be serious!

Mufasa gestures to Zazu to turn back around. While Zazu prattles on, Mufasa instructs his son:

ZAZU:

grumbling

This is so humiliating.

MUFASA:

whispering to Simba

Try not to make a sound.

Simba makes his way stealthily toward Zazu.

ZAZU:

What are you telling him, Mufasa? Mufasa? -- Simba?

Simba flies through the air and hits his target.

ZAZU:

Aaaaaakkk!

Mufasa laughs. Zazu dusts himself off.

MUFASA:

Ha-ha-ha That's very good!

A HOLE pops up from a hole in the ground.

MOLE:

Zazu!

ZAZU:

Yes?

MOLE:

News from the underground!

He whispers "BZZZ-BZZZ-BZZZ" in Zazu's ear.

MUFASA:

to Simba

Now next time --

ZAZU:

to Mufasa!

Sire, Hyenas! In the Pride lands!

MUFASA:

exiting

Zazu, take Simba home.

SIMBA:

Aw, Dad, can't I come?

MUFASA:

No, son.

Mufasa runs off.

WITH SIMBA AND ZAZU

SIMBA:

I never get to go anywhere.

ZAZU:

Oh, Young Master, one day you will be king. Then you can do whatever you want.

SIMBA:

That's not what my dad told me.

ZAZU:

Well, let old Zazu set you straight. You're going to have it all. You'll be -- Head Honcho! Top Banana! The Grahhhhnd Fromage --

SIMBA:

pumped up

All-right!

SEQ. 4 (SIMBA/SCAR)

EXT. SCAR'S SUNNING AREA - MINUTES LATER

Scar walks along a cliff's edge. He kicks a small rock off.

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