Ecco the Dolphin
The Motion Picture
External-Crystal Bay-Dawn
The sun's rays open the darkened sky, the horizon brimming with red and orange light on the clouds and on a small island blocking half the sun. Three pelicans fly and chirp quickly past a few swaying palm trees that become visible.
EXT-Crystal Bay-Dawn
Begin Opening Title(s)
The sun's rays shine down on the moving waves of the ocean, heading straight at a beach. The water changes from a dark blue to a lightened turquoise and blue-green color. The light continues to move, but slowly passes a sleeping dolphin on the beach.
End Opening Title(s)
EXT-Crystal Bay-Dawn
A close up view of the cetacean shows it is Kiplar, a common dolphin, who is old-looking, and is male. His eyes slowly open as he yawns quietly.
Kiplar:
(Sleepily)
Another day…
(Yawns)
…another song to teach.
He slowly nudges backwards with his flippers and tail, kicking dirt all around him without care. He soon falls into the warm ocean and charges off into a bay. He leaps out of the water and dives back in, showing only his dorsal fin at the surface.
EXT-Crystal Bay-Dawn
Begin Opening Credits
Kiplar swims above the surface making small leaps over the water. More birds fly past him, visible on the water's reflection. The rays of light from the sun begin to turn from red to orange, to yellow and bright white. Kiplar takes a few smaller leaps in and out. He finally takes one big leap and dives deep into the ocean.
EXT-Crystal Bay-Mid-Dawn
[Side angle] Kiplar swims at a steady pace, while passing through small piles of rocks and a few patches of coral and moss. As he is moving [and the opening credits are going], the darkened blue sea becomes lighter to a bluish-greenish color as with the change of the surface. Kiplar sighs and charges off out of view.
EXT-Crystal Bay-Morning
[Front view of Kiplar] Kiplar passes more rocks and the patches of coral begin to grow in quantity. Shadows of other cetaceans begin to follow from behind, becoming visible. After a little more in time has passed, about a dozen young adolescent dolphins trail the old fin from behind.
EXT-Crystal Bay-Morning
The group of dolphins lead by Kiplar reach a nearby beach which includes a boulder that provides shading. They all reach their beaks and heads out of the surface and squeak and click to each other in greeting. Kiplar grabs the attention of the dozen with a loud chirp. They all stop and listen. A massive comet swoops from the remaining darkened sky.
Kiplar:
(Sigh with a smile)
Let's begin our daily lesson, shall we?
End Opening Credits
EXT-Crystal Bay-Afternoon
The group of dolphins look bored and tiresome at their teacher. One fights to stay awake, another blows small bubbles from his blowhole, another is seen dumbstruck, and the rest begin to lose their interest due to boredom. Kiplar finishes his clicking on his lecture and lets out a loud chirp, startling everyone.
Kiplar:
(Looking at the group sternly)
Class dismissed…
The group scatters before he finishes.
Kiplar:
(Stunned)
…see you tomorrow.
EXT-Crystal Bay-Afternoon
Two of the dolphins, one a female tainted black dolphin with sparkling purple eyes [Tara], the other a male tainted blue bottlenose with five glowing stars on his brow [Ecco], swim and play together, laughing about the day.
Tara:
(Rolls)
I'm so glad we're out of there!
Ecco:
Yeah, me too. It's the same lesson every day.
Tara:
(Imitates Kiplar)
Respect your elders, don't eat too much fish, and brush your teeth with the sea-anemone…
Ecco:
(Interrupting)
Blah blah blah… I'm just it's over.
Tara:
Me too, Ecco.
Tara:
(She swims very close to Ecco's beak)
By the way…
Tara smacks Ecco's head with a fin. He quickly rubs it and stares at her sternly.
Tara:
(Laughs and charges off screen)
You're it! Can't catch me bottlenose breath!
Ecco smirks.
Ecco:
(Chuckles lightly)
Yeah, you better swim! You're so dead when I catch you!
Ecco charges off screen as well, air bubbles thrown everywhere from his tailfin.
EXT-Crystal Bay-Afternoon
Ecco and Tara swim from the left and begin to play a rough game of tag. Ecco is "it" and chases Tara around a few rock pillars, under an arch, through a small fish lighted cave, and is finally tackled hard on the soft sand by Ecco's fins and beak. They continue to laugh.
Ecco:
(Rolling on the sand laughing)
Your turn.
Tara:
(Getting up, laughing)
I think
(Pause)
I'm done for today Ecco.
Ecco:
(Stops rolling, getting up)
Suit yourself then.
They both swim up to the surface to refuel on air. Both smile and take a deep breath. They watch a dozen seagulls fly under the bright sun. Soon the sun's rays glow brightly.
EXT-Crystal Bay-Afternoon
The two swim near the bottom of the ocean, looking at the fauna and the small crabs finding a shell. One has an argument with another of who should own it.
Crab #1:
(Tugs on the shell)
This fits me! Mitts off!
Crab #2:
(Tugs on it back)
You're too fat to wear this one! It's mine!
Crab #1:
(Tugs on shell)
Ugly shrimp!
Crab #2:
(Tugs on shell)
Overweight crawdad!
The shell breaks in half. They stare at each other and tackle one another off the rock.
EXT-Crystal Bay-Afternoon
Ecco and Tara make it to a reef. They swim under an arch and look at the surroundings. A pod of dolphins is scattered here. Some dolphins are dozing off, some are playing tag, others are swimming past the two with little baby dolphins.
Ecco:
(Turns his beak and faces Tara)
Are you hungry, Tara?
Tara:
(Stomach Growls. Blushes)
I guess I'm a little famished.
Ecco:
(Slaps Tara's beak with tailfin)
Then I guess you're strong enough to…
race to the feeding grounds!
Tara:
(Grits teeth. Charges off screen)
You little star-browed fish! Just wait till I get my jaws on your tail!
EXT-Crystal Bay Feeding Grounds-Afternoon
The feeding grounds is an algae free, smooth sanded, fish filled paradise with several kinds of fish swimming around. A current is shown from the distance, making it impossible for sharks and other unwanted beasts in their home. Five other dolphins are leaping out of the surface. They get laughed at by one very dark-grey dolphin. Ecco makes it to the grounds. A second later, he is rammed harshly by Tara. Dust spreads.
Tara:
(Dances, laughing)
How does that feel?
Ecco bites Tara on her beak.
Tara:
(Rubs beak)
OW! What was that for?!
Ecco:
(Rolls eyes)
C'mon the gang's already here! Let's eat!
Tara:
(Sighs)
Fine.
EXT-Crystal Bay Feeding Grounds-Afternoon
Ecco and Tara meet with three other dolphins, a tainted beige female bottlenose Sepia, a tainted blue and black striped male common dolphin Noki, and male and female spinners Tai and Lai. They all stop playing and watch the two come closer.
Noki:
(Faces Ecco and Tara)
Hey you two, what's happening?
Ecco:
(Faces Noki)
Oh nothing much. Just having some lunch… you guys?
Tai:
(Points fin at surface)
We're seeing if one can jump the highest!
Lai:
(Nods up and down)
Yeah yeah! How high in the sky can you two fly?
Ecco:
(Swivels head)
Eight feet…tops.
Sepia:
(Grabs Noki by a fin)
Ha! That's nothing! C'mon Noki we'll show them some flying!
Noki:
(Eyes looking at group)
Awwwww…. Sepia do I have to show off now?
Sepia:
(Rubs Noki's stomach)
Why? Are you afraid to jump? Does your tummy hurt?
Noki:
(Shakes Sepia's fin away)
Fine I'll jump! The weather just scares me today okay?
Tara:
(Cocks head at Noki)
Why do you say that Noki?
Noki:
(Looks up)
I just have a bad feeling…
The rest look up. The surface of the ocean is shown underneath in their perspective with the sun almost being blocked off by a darkened cloud.
Noki:
(Nervously)
I changed my mind sorry.
They all look back normally.
Sepia:
(Glares at Ecco close up)
So, since Noki is too afraid to leap…
Sepia:
(Backs off smiling)
…Why not you and Tara try?
Ecco and Tara smile. They nod at each other and swim past the threesome. Both begin to accelerate. Ecco and Tara swim around a rock pillar and begin to accelerate faster. Both soon begin to pant.
Ecco:
(Panting)
Good timing…I need some air!
Tara:
(Panting)
Just make this look good…you know how she gets if she sees us crash.
Ecco:
(Nods)
Ditto, on the count to three…jump.
Tara:
(Nods)
Got it!
Ecco:
(Panting)
One…
Tara:
(Panting)
…Two…
Ecco and Tara:
(Panting)
…Three!
Ecco and Tara leap out of the surface, higher than any dolphin can. Time slows down as they reach the climax of their height. At that moment they reach the end of their height, a massive vortex swiftly swoops from the darkened cloud. Both watch in awe as the vortex drains the ocean of life forms. Clicks and squeals of confusion and sorrow burst slowly. The vortex vanishes vertically and time is quickly restored. Ecco and Tara splash back into the surface. Noki, Lai, Tai and Sepia are missing. Both begin to panic.
Tara:
(Recoils)
What was that?!
Ecco:
(Looks at surface)
I don't know! It…It just happened so fast!
Tara:
(Looks around)
Where is everyone? Even the sharks on the other side are gone!
Tara charges out of the feeding bay quickly. She returns behind some fauna and begins to shiver in fear. She even cries a little.
Ecco:
(Swims to Tara)
What's wrong?
Tara:
(Partially crying)
They're…they're…they're all gone. The entire pod is gone!
Ecco furiously looks around firing his sonar. Little or no response has been made.
Tara:
(Nudges Ecco's side)
I'm scared Ecco.
Ecco:
(Wraps fin around her nervously)
Me too… I just wish we could do something.