ACT I
FADE IN:
INT. IDEA WAREHOUSE—THINK TANK—DAY
We see the IMAGINATION MOVERS usher another satisfied customer out the front door.
CUSTOMER
Thanks again, Movers!
EVERYBODY
You're welcome!
The moment that the customer is gone, the Movers collapse exhausted on the various couches and chairs in the living area.
SCOTT
Who knew Giraffes were such a handful?
RICH
I know, right?
DAVE
I'm beat!
RICH
Business has been booming lately!
SCOTT
Yeah!
DAVE
It's gotten so that I don't even have time to work on my inventions anymore!
SCOTT
What we need is a vacation!
RICH
But what about all those people out there with problems? If we're taking time off, who's going to help them?
SCOTT
Oh yeah…
SMITTY
Guys, what we need is some help!
Enter WAREHOUSE MOUSE popping up.
WAREHOUSE MOUSE
'mitty! 'mitty! 'mitty!
SMITTY
What's up, little buddy?
WAREHOUSE MOUSE
I'll 'elp!
SMITTY
(to Movers)
Warehouse Mouse says he'll help.
DAVE
Thanks, Warehouse Mouse. But you already help. What we need is another Mover.
SCOTT
But how do we find a new Mover?
RICH
That's a problem.
SMITTY
It's not just a problem. It's an—
EVERYBODY
Idea Emergency!
Cue sirens and the 'Mover Lineup'.
RICH
We need to find another Mover.
DAVE
So we can help more people.
SCOTT
And still have time to ourselves.
SMITTY
And that means we need some good ideas.
EVERYBODY
Let's brainstorm!
CUT TO:
BRAINSTORM MUSICAL MONTAGE
End of Montage
CUT TO:
INT. IDEA WAREHOUSE—THINK TANK-DAY
RICH
So, what do we want in a Mover?
SMITTY
(smoothing his hat)
They have to have a sense of style.
DAVE
And aren't afraid of hard work.
SCOTT
But still know how to have fun!
RICH
And friendly. They've got to be friendly!
The front doors' doorbell rings, and the doors open to reveal NINA.
EVERYBODY
Nina!
NINA
Hi, guys. What's up?
RICH
The time has come for us to expand our operations.
SMITTY
We need to find another Mover to help us out around here.
NINA
(hopeful)
You do?
DAVE
And the perfect candidate has been here the whole time!
NINA
(more hopeful)
They have?
DAVE rushes out and just as quickly gets back. Only, now he has a mechanical contraption with him that looks like a sci-fi robot, with a color scheme matching that of the uniforms worn by the Movers.
DAVE
Da-da-da-da-da-da-da!
SMITTY
What is it, Dave?
DAVE
(proudly)
It's a Robotic Operational Droid. Or, Rod for short. I built it to help me out with my experiments, but it can be programmed to help us all out!
The other Movers look cautiously optimistic, while Nina looks crestfallen.
SCOTT
How does it work?
DAVE
It's simple. You just tell Rod what you want done.
Dave leans into a speaker that's placed in the robot's chest.
DAVE
Rod, go get that glass of water.
Pointing, Dave indicates a glass of water on the counter in the warehouse's kitchen area.
Rod shambles stiff legged over to the counter, causing Warehouse Mouse to dodge out of the machine's way. Rod grabs the glass and lumbers back over.
Everyone is impressed—except for Warehouse Mouse and Nina.
RICH
Hey, that's great! What else can Rod do?
DAVE
It can solve problems.
SCOTT
That's what we do!
DAVE
Exactly.
(to Rod)
Rod, what's six times eight?
ROD
Six times eight is forty-eight.
The Movers express their pleasure at the successful test. Nina looks less than thrilled.
SMITTY
That's great, Dave. But can it help solve an Idea Emergency?
DAVE
(dismissively)
Sure, no problem.
(to Rod)
Rod, how would you solve this Idea Emergency?
ROD
This situation needs a little imagination.
The Movers are encouraged by this answer. But as seconds of silence drag by, they become less so.
RICH
Is that it?
DAVE
I'm sure it's just thinking—right Rod?
ROD
This situation needs a little imagination. This situation needs a little imagination. This situation needs a little imagination…
Rod just keeps repeating itself—obviously something is wrong.
NINA
What's going on?
DAVE
Its logic circuits must have locked up. Since it's a robot, it doesn't understand what imagination is!
RICH
Well, shut it off!
SCOTT
Yeah!
DAVE
I'm trying…
Dave presses a big red button on Rod's back, shutting the unit down. Dave looks disappointed while everyone else looks relieved. None more so than Nina.
SMITTY
That was a good try, Dave. But I think we need an Imagination Mover who has, you know, an imagination.
DAVE
Yeah…
RICH
So… Who else has an idea?
NINA
When I need help at the café I advertise. But—
SMITTY
(interrupting)
That's a great idea, Nina! We can advertise that we're looking for a new Mover!
DAVE
We could film a commercial.
Dave is suddenly holding a camcorder.
SCOTT
Or we could rent a giant balloon in the shape of a burro, saying 'Help Wanted—Imagination Movers'.
Scott has a small balloon in the shape of a burro.
SMITTY
Or we can let my little buddy here post it on the Internet.
We see Warehouse Mouse on the computer, advertising the job opening on some Craig's List type of site.
SCOTTY
That'll work too.
CUT TO:
MUSICAL MONTAGE to the strains of "Calling All Movers".
We are privy to the interview process for prospective Movers. We see various people of various walks of life auditioning for the job. Jugglers, mimes, magicians, pirates, jockeys; an eclectic bunch, each showing off their particular set of skills in hopes of landing the gig, American Idol style.
End of Montage
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT I
