10. EXT. OZ GRAND LIBRARY
The group continues to skip down the sidewalk. JACQUES starts bragging about his improved walking skills. The left lion statue has its eyes moving in the direction of the people. ANDREWLANE is the first to notice this and comes to a halt.
ANDREWLANE
Guys, stop! Stop the music!
JODIE and JACQUES come to a stop and turn behind them.
JACQUES
What's wrong? Need oil again?
ANDREWLANE
No, not that. I'm talking about this beast over here. I think he's checking the three of us out.
JODIE
Andrewlane, it's just a statue. Statues don't move...or at least I don't think they do.
JACQUES
Even a dummy like me should know that...stuh stuh stone lions...cuh cuh can't chuh check puh people uh uh out.
ANDREWLANE uses his walking stick to tap on the statue. JODIE stays back as JACQUES goes to knock his knuckles against the lion's head.
SONG: I'm a Mean Ole Lion
SOUND: A humanlike roar.
The statue breaks apart, and POSSÉ jumps out of the rubble. JODIE ends up on the ground. ANDREWLANE runs behind the right library stair railing. JACQUES falls onto the sidewalk a few inches away from JODIE.
POSSÉ
Say, what you wanna but I'm here to stay
'Cause I'm a mean ole lion
You can go where you're gonna but don't get in my way
I'm a mean ole lion
You'll be standing in a draft
If you don't hear me laugh
And if you happen to come around
Well, you best not make me frown
For I just might knock you down
I'm a mean ole lion
You know, I'm ready to fight and turn your day into night
'Cause I'm a mean ole lion
If you're half bright, you'll detour to the right
From a mean ole lion
All you strangers better beware
This is the king of the jungle here
And if I happen to let you slide
Don't just stand here
Run and hide
You just caught my better side
I'm a mean ole lion
Look, you better beware
This is the king of the jungle here
And if I happen to let you slide
Don't stand here
Run and hide
You just caught my better side
I'm a mean ole lion
TOTO escapes from his master's arms.
JODIE
Toto! Get back here!
POSSÉ
I'm a mean ole lion
Chuckles and clears this throat.
SONG END
POSSÉ
(Demanding)
Who dares touch the physical property of a king?
(To JACQUES)
Was it you, you useless farm tool?
JACQUES
(Stammering)
Get behind me, Jodie. I'll be your shield.
ANDERWLANE tries to intervene.
POSSÉ
Don't come any closer, you clunky jukebox.
ANDREWLANE
Listen, buddy. I'm a black belt in tae kwon do, and I'm not afraid to use it!
POSSÉ
Oh, really now?
(Slowly approaches ANDREWLANE)
If you're as strong and witty as you say you are, I would love to challenge you to a duel of royals. How about one to the death for extra fun?
TOTO starts hissing, which causes POSSÉ to jump. He aims a kick at the cat, but TOTO bites him in the foot before impact. POSSÉ screams in pain.
JODIE
Toto!
POSSÉ ends up falling and checking his foot in the process.
POSSÉ
(Half whimpering)
He bit my paw!
POSSÉ lets out a loud cry of pain and starts sobbing. JACQUES can't believe what he's seeing. He turns to ANDREWLANE with his shoulders up and mouth dropped.
ANDREWLANE
Don't give me that look. I don't know.
All three companions surround POSSÉ.
JACQUES
King of the jungle?
ANDREWLANE
King of the cowards is the best way to put it.
JODIE
(Angrily)
You oughta be ashamed of yourself for scaring like that, you...you big scaredy cat!
POSSÉ
I'm sorry! I'm sorry. I really am. The truth is that I can't scare anything or anybody. Not even a scarecrow, tinman, or a cat for that matter.
JODIE and ANDREWLANE start walking away.
POSSÉ (cont.)
Oh, it's no wonder I was banished from the jungle. I.O.B.K!
JACQUES
I.O.B.K?
POSSÉ
Incapable of Being King.
JACQUES
Oh geez.
Walks away with the rest of the group
POSSÉ
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! I was completely exiled. I disgraced the whole pride...with my...terrible secret.
All eyes are on the lion.
POSSÉ (cont.)
I'm...I'm...a lion...without...courage!
Crawls away crying once again. JACQUES pulls out another slip of paper from under his clothes.
JACQUES
"Heavy is the head that wears a crown." Will Shakespeare.
Hands slip to JODIE to look at.
ANDREWLANE
Well, I'll be darned. I've never seen anything like it. A lion…without courage? That's just unthinkable.
JACQUES's eyes widen, and he whispers his idea into JODIE's ear.
JODIE
How can we trust him after he did to us?
JACQUES
Look at him, Jodie. He's harmless as a snail.
JODIE looks down at her cat; then, she stands.
JODIE
Mr. Lion?
The two of them approach POSSÉ, joining ANDREWLANE in the mix.
JODIE
Mr. Lion, sir? We were just thinking, and we want you to come with us to meet the Wizard of Oz.
ANDREWLANE
That's a great idea! You're geniuses. He's going to get me a heart.
JACQUES
And me some brains.
JODIE
He'll give you some courage if you asked.
POSSÉ
I...I'd love to...but I can't.
JODIE
What? Why not?
POSSÉ clears his throat and sniffs.
POSSÉ
Because I'm too scared to go!
SONG: Ease on Down The Road (Reprise 2)
JODIE comforts the lion by massaging his shoulder.
JODIE
Oh, there maybe times when you wish you wasn't born
JACQUES
And you wake one morning just to find that your courage's gone
ANDREWLANE
But just know that feeling only last a little while
JODIE, JACQUES, ANDREWLANE
You just stick with us
And we'll show you how to smile
ALL
Ease on down, ease on down the road
Come on, ease on down, ease down the road
Don't you carry nothin' that might be a load
Come on, ease on down, ease on down, down the road
SONG END