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