Hey guys! Sorry this took so long, but things have been hectic here, a birthday, then thanksgiving, and then working on my Link series over on Deviantart, and then focusing my attention on Chicken Smoothie but here is the next chapter!
SEQ. 1000 - NORTH'S WORKSHOP INT. TOY FACTORY - NORTH POLE - DAY
Jack and North ride an elevator, bearing the resemblance of a Christmas ornament, down to the factory floor.
Sophie clapped and giggled "Pretty!" she said excitedly, while North smiled slightly, and rubbed his beard in thought, he had not planned this far ahead, and he wanted to make extra sure that he paid attention to how he dealt with Jack
JACK It's nothing personal, North. What you all do, it's just, it's not my thing.
NORTH Man in Moon says it is your thing. We will see!
North storms through factory floor, Jack trying to keep up. An amazing place.
JACK Slow down, wouldja? I've been trying to bust in here for years, I want a good look.
North sat forward "Vhat are you talking about Jack?" he asked, slightly miffed "Bust in?"
Jack slumped down in his seat "I may or may not have tried to sneak in every now and then" he muttered, his cheeks blushing a sort of blueish color, Emma giggled, but quickly stopped before Jack could hear her
Jack sat up slightly, and added "But don't worry, I never got past the Yetis"
NORTH (peeved - still rushing) What do you mean, "bust in?"
JACK Oh, don't worry, I never got past the yetis.
Jack looks over his shoulder; an angry yeti pounds his fist into his palm.
"Hey, look!" Jack said "It's Phil!"
North shook his head, and rubbed the space between his eyes
YETI Rwwarrrrrr.
JACK Oh, hey Phil.
NORTH Keep up, Jack! Keep up!
North charges ahead. North's factory is bustling with activity: Yeti's are building toys, moving packages, while Elves are test piloting the various flying toys. As Jack walks behind North, surveying the factory, a duck toy suddenly flies over Jack's head. Jack ducks just in time and continues after North.
All the children (Sky included) ooed and ahed as they looked at all the toys being made by...wait...Yeties?
"I thought the Elves made the toys?" someone asked (it was unclear who)
North groaned and muttered "It would be a disaster if I let them make the toys"
JACK Whoa! (BEAT) I always thought the elves made the toys.
NORTH (WHISPERS) We just let them believe that.
Jack looks over to see a group of elves eating Christmas ornaments and another electrocuting himself with Christmas lights.
Several people chuckled at this sight
North smiles and calls to them.
NORTH Very nice! Keep up good work!
North continues through the factory floor. He passes a yeti putting the finishing touches on a blue toy robot.
NORTH (TO YETI) I don't like it. Paint it red.
The yeti reacts in dismay as we reveal hundreds of finished blue robots.
"Poor Yeti" Misty muttered
NORTH Step it up, everybody.
As North and Jack move to the opposite end of the chamber, we finally glimpse the orchestrated chaos of the entire workshop, in all it's magic and splendor.
INT. NORTH'S OFFICE - A MOMENT LATER
Jack follows North into his office. There are shelves filled with toys. Sketches and prototypes everywhere. North dusts his hands and turns to Jack. His sleeves are rolled. Jack notices that on one of North's forearms is tattooed the word NAUGHTY, and on the other, NICE. North grabs a plate from a nearby elf.
NORTH Fruit cake?
Sky gagged "those things are nasty" she said to herself
JACK Ah, no, thanks.
North hurls it - crash! A pause as North looks at Jack.
NORTH Now we get down to tacks of brass!
JACK (TO HIMSELF) Tacks of brass?
As North cracks his knuckles, Jack stands silent. The wind suddenly slams North's office door behind them. Jack looks to the door, it locks itself, and he turns back. North moves in close to Jack, backing him up against the door.
Mrs. Overland practically growled at the screen How dare he attack Jack like that she fumed
NORTH Who are you, Jack Frost? What is your center?
North pokes Jack in the chest.
JACK My center?
NORTH If Man in Moon chose you to be a Guardian, you must have something very special inside.
North stands up straight and begins to stroke his beard as he gives Jack a curious look.
NORTH Hmmmm?
North is standing in front of a shelf of Russian nesting dolls. One is carved to look like North himself.
"What are those?" Maximus asked, hating not knowing what something was
Sky opened her mouth to answer, but North beat her to it "those are my nesting dolls" he told the boy
NORTH (CONT'D) Here. This is how you see me, no? Very big, intimidating. But if you get to know me a little- (hands the doll to Jack) Well, go on.
Jack gives North a curious look, then sets down his staff. He twists the doll in half, and inside is another carved North doll, this one is a more typical Santa Claus - red cheeked and cheery.
JACK You are downright jolly.
NORTH Ah, but not just jolly...
the dolls get progressively smaller as he twists them open, all versions of North, but all slightly different.
NORTH (CONT'D) I am also mysterious. (twist - smaller doll) And fearless. (twist - smaller doll) And caring. And at my center... Twist.
As North approaches, Jack looks down and drops the final Russian doll into the palm of North's hand. It's the size of a jelly bean.
"There's a little baby?" Emma asked, thoroughly confused
JACK There's a tiny wooden baby?
Emma giggled slightly that she had said the same thing as Jack
NORTH Look closer. What do you see? Jack holds it up to examine it.
JACK You have big eyes?
NORTH Yes! Big eyes. Very big. Because they are full! Of wonder! That is my center. It is what I was born with. Eyes that have always seen the wonder in everything!
North raises his hands, and the toys on the shelves suddenly spring to life. Jack-in-the-boxes pop, toy trains speed around the room, soldiers march about, toy planes fly overhead. An elf gets carried aloft by a balloon. A flying toy plane glides by and we follow it as it makes its way around the room. A Christmas tree is ablaze with bright lights. Two double doors suddenly open as the flying car enters the factory floor.
Many "whoa"'s sounded throughout the room
NORTH Eyes that see lights in the trees, and magic in the air!
As it crosses the frame, dozens of other toys are now flying around the massive chamber. It's a truly magical moment. North now stands outside his office, with Jack at his side.
NORTH This wonder is what I put into the world, and what I protect in children.
NORTH (CONT'D) It is what makes me a Guardian. It is my center. What is yours?
JACK (BEAT) I don't know.
Poor child Mrs. Overland thought sadly, looking at the white haired teen, who was silently watching the screen
Emma looked sadly at her new friend, who had a sort of resigned look on his face, and she was determined to find a way to help him.
Well, that's the chapter