The Magic of Belle Isle Page #6

---

I'm so gonna hear

from the parents on this one.

The Amazing Ted,

or Mr. Clown?

Which do you prefer

on your tombstone?

Oh, tombstones?

Why's he talking about tombstones?

If you wanna continue

your useless existence,

I strongly urge a sincere apology

to Miss Finnegan O'Neil.

Okay. Okay.

I'm sorry.

I'm really, really sorry.

apology accepted.

Now, git!

Oh!

Well, birthday cake, anyone?

Me!

Did you have fun today?

I liked it

when Monte shot my clown.

Oh, well, baby,

Mr. Wildhorn didn't

really shoot your clown.

He just, well,

wanted to get his attention.

Can you read me

the elephant story?

I don't see why not. You ready?

Ready.

Okay.

"Once upon a time,

"inside a finely-tuned piano

in an old house

"there lived a family of mice.

"They had everything mice

could possibly want in the world

"because this mouse family

had wisely invested

in The Cheesecake Factory."

"Mrs. Mouse made sure their home

was always filled with music

"by jumping up and down

on the keyboard.

"The only problem they had

was the cat that lived

in the house with them."

Is the cat gonna eat the mouses?

Oh, well, let's hope Mr. Wildhorn

isn't taking the story in that direction.

Oh, well, bless you, sweetheart.

Thank you.

"One day, on the brightest

of summer mornings,

the littlest mouse heard

a knock at the front door."

Who's there?

"She opened the door,

"and there standing before her

was the grandest elephant

"ever seen by a little mouse,

"or any mouse for that matter.

"'I'm pleased to meet you.

My name is Tony.

"'I heard the beautiful music

and wanted to see where

it was coming from."'

"Tony, a traveling magician by day

"and an opera singer by night,

"cast a magic spell

"so the mice would be

invisible to the cat.

"This made

the mouse family feel very safe

"and everyone was very happy.

"Mrs. Mouse was so happy

"that when it was time

for Tony to leave,

"she scampered

all the way up his trunk

"and gave him

a kiss on the cheek.

Tony promptly fainted."

I think this elephant likes me.

Well, I suppose I could smear

the ball with peanut butter,

but that would be

beneath your dignity...

and mine.

Well, this isn't

your first raft, Mrs. O'Neil.

Finn did most of the work,

with a little help from Diego Santana.

Ah.

Where is everybody?

Karen took them into town

for some ice cream.

You didn't get to go?

It was a plot.

So I could finish the raft.

She's had her heart set

on sailing to the island this summer...

and school starts in three weeks.

I see.

Flora greatly appreciated

"The Elephant Who Stays Forever."

I was hoping she'd like it.

She made me read it to her

several times,

and she asked me

if you would write more Tony stories.

Well... I wouldn't

want to disappoint her.

Hi, it's Dave.

That's me on drums.

Leave a message.

Monte, it's Joe again.

It's really important

you call me back.

Important for who?

- Willow...

- No, thanks.

Come on, Willow. This is gonna

be the adventure of a lifetime.

Of a lifetime.

Finnegan is not going to that island

without her big sister.

Fine.

A swing.

Will you push me, Willow?

Sure, Carl. Hop on.

Whee-hee!

Whoo!

Higher. Whee-hee.

Hang on!

Push harder.

- Fun?

- Yeah!

Oh!

I think I'm drowning!

Carl! Carl, it's shallow.

Just stand up.

Help me!

Carl, it's shallow.

You're not drowning.

That was close.

Whoa.

What is it, Finn?

It's a lunchbox.

I found it on the island.

What's inside?

I haven't opened it yet.

Why not?

Because there might

not be anything good in it.

This way, I can think there's

something good even if there's not.

Do you know how stupid

that sounds?

No. It's like what Monte says,

seeing what's not there.

I'll open it.

I wanna see what is there.

Maybe it's money.

Might be a chopped off hand,

Willow Tree.

Don't open it!

Wow... Look at all this stuff.

Look, it's a diary.

"Property of Charlotte Reilly,

Seventh Grade."

- Who's that?

- That's Mama!

Probably everything

we wanna know about her

when she was a kid is in here.

What do we wanna know about her?

We should probably

give it back to her.

I think she'd want it back.

We should make her a sandwich.

Lovely day, Mr. Wildhorn.

Yes, ma'am. It's shaping up to be

a considerably lovely day.

More Tony?

Yes, ma'am.

I'm sure Flora will be delighted,

and I will read this to her

tonight at bedtime.

Good.

Thank you.

Spot, that lady has a way

of making me sit taller in the saddle.

Flora, look

what Mr. Wildhorn gave me.

Tony the Elephant?

Who's Tony the Elephant?

Mr. Wildhorn wrote a story

for Flora's birthday.

He did what?

Read Tony, Mommy.

- Let me see that!

- No, no. We'll read it tonight.

Today, I want all of you girls to go outside

and play in the fresh air.

Come on.

We can ride into town.

Monte! Monte!

Monte! I'm calling you out!

You gave up Jubal McLaws

for an elephant?

You told me Jubal saved your life!

Then you shoot him in the back!

Oh, now, hold on.

I don't call writing about an elephant

shooting Jubal in the back.

Jubal hasn't come calling in years.

I can't write what's not there.

You tell me to see what's not there.

Why can't you write what's not there?

You're a no-good drunk and a liar!

Finnegan!

He's a damn bamboozler, Willow!

Mr. Wild horn?

My sister believes

you're something special.

Are you something special?

Can't say that I ever

thought of myself like that.

Well, you'd better be.

'Cause otherwise,

you don't deserve Finnegan.

I really hope you two make up,

because I'd hate to see you

lose a friend like her.

"Sometimes,

talking to people wasn't easy for Tony.

"So he kept writing letters

to Mrs. Mouse,

"faithfully delivered

by the tree toad.

"Then a really amazing elephant

thing happened.

"When elephants find

they're too nervous to speak,

"they begin to dance.

"Tony loved to waltz.

"And before he even realized it,

"he found himself waltzing

with Mrs. Mouse

under the warm moonlight."

"'8 Open!

Hello, Joe. Been expecting you.

You might want to return a phone call

every once in a while,

especially to someone

you've known so long.

How's the book business, Joe?

Nobody reads unless

they can download.

Why wouldn't you

want to hold a book?

You've got a dog!

Yeah, I'm dog-sitting

for the summer.

You seem different.

You're not, uh... yourself.

Sober, you mean?

Well, I've stopped before.

And I'll probably start up again.

But right now, I'm seeing things

with a clear eye.

And quite frankly, I like the view.

What can I do for you, Joe?

I've come here today

to change your life.

You'll collect

your usual commission for that?

I certainly do.

I brought Luke Ford with me.

He's waiting outside.

The Luke Ford?

The Luke Ford.

You mind if I invite him in?

Be impolite not to.

That's what I was thinking. Luke?

Luke, why don't you join us?

Come meet

the great Monte Wildhorn.

Sorry, for just showing up like this,

but Joe said it was the only way

I might get to meet you.

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes