(Cut to a trailing shot of the NEMOS walking through the DESERT, heading back to CAMP after the CHALLENGE. DOT is very close to COURAGE, protecting him from conversing with the OTHERS.
NORBERT
(Smiling, walking up to COURAGE)
So…Courage. Coraggio. Those buoys..….slippery, eh?
COURAGE
(Quietly)
I...I have no comment, Norbert…
DOT
(Ushering COURAGE forward)
Less talking. More walking. Walk, walk, walk…
(Cut back to the CAMP, several minutes later. SONIC and NORBERT sit around the CAMPFIRE, tending to the flames, engaged in a deep conversation.
DOT and COURAGE are nowhere to be found.
WAKKO sits in the SHELTER, nursing a BRUISE on his arm from one of the CHALLENGES. TIMON crosses over and sits in the SHELTER beside him)
TIMON
(Forcing enthusiasm)
Ah, so you've got some battle wounds! Souvenir to show your brother!
WAKKO
(Smiling a little)
Yeah...well, I think he'd rather see the million dollars…
(Cut to TIMON in a confessional. Goofy, xylophone music starts playing)
TIMON
Yeah, yeah, I know everyone watching probably thinks I'm a moron. I've just been sitting back, twiddling my grubby little thumbs, but this is it: this is where I step up and do things and have cool catchphrases and stuff and make America like me. Okay, so I've had Dot and Wakko using me like their cute, little guinea pig. I wasn't going to argue with them. They're a pair. But now... looking forward...this "floating crap" isn't working for me. It's time for the Mighty Meerkat to set forth...
(Cut back to the scene)
TIMON
Wakko, can we talk...over there?
WAKKO
What about here?
TIMON
I mean...before your sister comes back. All right, Dot threw the challenge. You know that, right...?
WAKKO
Maybe. I mean, yes. I did. She did. But… it doesn't matter.
TIMON
Because...?
WAKKO
(Slowly)
Well...because if Courage is with us now...then we're safe. Right?
TIMON
(Rubbing his eyes)
Okay, so let me get this straight...you're okay that your sister threw a challenge without telling you?
WAKKO
It doesn't matter.
TIMON
Wak, Wak, Wak...you're killing me.
WAKKO
How?
TIMON
(Counting with his fingers)
Let me just give you a run-down…. Norbert wants Dot out. Sonic? He wants Dot out. I'm just being real with you: a lot of people in this game want your sister gone. She's not fun to live with.
WAKKO
That's new….
TIMON
(Solemnly)
And...I'm just telling you this...because—
WAKKO
No.
TIMON
Okay, but—
WAKKO
The answer is "No!"
TIMON
Okay, but just – hear me out—
WAKKO
(Trying to stay patient)
Dot is my sister! Do you really think—
TIMON
Okay! I was just...y'know, I wanted you to be, like, aware, man— that's all.
WAKKO
I am. Yes. But she's my sister. And I'm not voting her out—!
TIMON
Okay! Okay! I feel you, I feel you! I just wanted you to be aware. I wasn't talking about, like, voting Dot out or anything—um—
(WAKKO shakes his head, stepping away)
I...I have a sister! I think—
WAKKO
You think?
TIMON
Well, I don't really talk to my family. But – y'know, if I do have a sister, and she, um, exists, and she was here…yeah, I'd feel the same way.
WAKKO
(Cutting him off)
Well, I'm not mad at you. Just, like, be aware…there's lines you shouldn't cross...
TIMON
Okay! Well, case closed then! We're friends okay…
WAKKO
(After a moment)
So….how can I trust you now?
TIMON
(Putting out a hand)
Hey man, cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye. I swear on my mother. I swear on my uncle. My best friend. I swear on my...um…my sister, who may or not exist—You, Dot, and me – I'm your honorary brother out here. All right?
(WAKKO stares at TIMON's hand. No response)
WAKKO
Don't compare yourself to Yakko…
(WAKKO gets up and storms away. TIMON is left shocked, holding out his hand)
(Cut to WAKKO in a confessional. He's biting down hard on his tongue)
WAKKO
I'm not going to sit there, and smile like happy-go-lucky Wakko. I'm done….
(Cut to TIMON walking out of CAMP. For whatever reason, he looks very upset. He scans the horizon, apparently searching for someone)
(Cut to TIMON In a confessional)
TIMON
We're done. Case closed. Now, I do what I gotta do…
(Cut to a cluster of bushes on the outskirts of CAMP. SONIC and NORBERT are picking BERRIES, but they're mainly discussing strategy. TIMON wanders up beside them)
TIMON
(Rubbing his hands together)
Hey guys...so is this the "super-secret-let's-vote-out-Dot club?"
NORBERT
That's not a secret, Timon. If you think it is, you've got bigger problems…
TIMON
Well, I want Dot out too.
(SONIC and NORBERT look at each other. They start laughing at him)
What? What's so funny?
SONIC
(Laughing)
Yeah, there's no alliance here, Timon. Sorry. But you're welcome to pick some berries!
NORBERT
(Turning to face him)
No, no, tell us – what could you gain from voting Dot out?
TIMON
(Sitting down beside them)
Well, let me tell you….
(Cut to NORBERT in a confessional)
NORBERT
So, Timon comes over. He gives us this spiel about how he's on the bottom... feeling "used" by Dot and Wakko, wanting to, like, get off on a new foot I guess. And I'm like, "Um, am I being pranked?" Hello. This is amazzeeeeeing. I don't even have to start alliances anymore. They form themselves for me…
(Cut back to the BUSHES. TIMON is in the middle of a heated explanation)
TIMON
So we convince Courage to side with us. Four against two...and then Dot, out the door!
NORBERT
(Stroking his chin)
But what about roping in Courage? You think he'll listen?
TIMON
Well, Courage is terrified. It's not helping that Dot's watching over him like a hound. He might love to side with us. It'll give the kid his sanity back, y'know?
NORBERT
(Standing up)
So, do you think I should talk to him or—?
TIMON
(Smiling darkly)
Us three, Norb. We should all talk to him.
NORBERT
You're sharp...
(Cut back to the SHELTER at CAMP. DOT and COURAGE are laying inside, tired, lounging. COURAGE is visibly uncomfortable around DOT)
DOT
So when I first got here, when they weighed me on the scale, they were like, "Hmm...interesting, you're heavy for your height." And y'know, I just nod at them, whatever. But you should be extremely mindful when you're talking about a girl's weight though. I mean, not my weight, obviously – but—
COURAGE
I...I don't think you're fat
DOT
Thank you! You're not fat either!
COURAGE
So...can I please go to the bathroom now?
(Cut to COURAGE in a confessional)
COURAGE
Like, I don't know, I guess she thinks if I go away to pee, I'm going to change my vote. I mean, I'm voting with you. Calm down…please...
(Cut back to the SHELTER. WAKKO walks up to DOT and COURAGE, looking frightened)
DOT
(Waving him over)
There he is! My other half! Come join us! Courage and I were in the midst of a rousing discussion about obesity—
WAKKO
(Taking a deep breath)
Dot…
DOT
Yes brother of mine? How are you? How goes it?
WAKKO
Timon's...flipping…
DOT
SAY WHAT?
WAKKO
He's talking to Sonic and Norbert now—
DOT
WHEN?
WAKKO
He—
DOT
WHERE IS HE? That jungle rat. Oh, I should've known—
WAKKO
Dot—
DOT
(Throwing things into her knapsack)
...Measly, grub-faced traitor. Could've left him for dead, you know that? Could've voted him out at the first Council if we wanted to…but no, we took him in. We helped him – and this? This is what we get? Great. Great...well, I'll tell you what, we're going to hit those guys with everything we've got. Courage, what are our numbers?
COURAGE
Um...three.
DOT
And theirs?
COURAGE
Three.
WAKKO
(Impatiently)
That's the problem, Dot. We're tied. They want Courage's vote. There's three of us. Three of them, so—
DOT
(Annoyed)
Okay. So…then...what happens when there's a tie—?
WAKKO
The rules say…if you read the rules, you'd know that if there's a tie, we draw rocks. It's random. Whoever draws the purple rock gets voted out— so – here's what we're going to do: if we scare them into thinking we'll tie, we can—
DOT
(Raising her hand)
Nope.
WAKKO
What?
DOT
(Shielding WAKKO's face)
No pizz-azz. No shock factor. Not humiliating enough. Come on, Wakko. You know better than that. We have to make it funny. Like Yakko would have done. Any ideas, Courage?
COURAGE
(Rising)
...Yeah. Uh, actually—
WAKKO
(Swatting DOT's hand out of his face)
Okay, whatever you're thinking Dot, you're wrong. Being funny, goofing around, it isn't going to help us win this. It isn't going to redeem Yakko. I'm right. You're wrong. Case closed. Now, listen to me: you're going to sit there, and hear my plan for tonight, and—
DOT
(Ignoring WAKKO)
Any ideas, Courage?
WAKKO
Listen! C'mon!
COURAGE
(Disturbed)
...Um, guys listen , I'm not like, a family counselor or anything but I really think—
DOT
Forget Wakko. He's dumb. He's like that. That's who he is—
COURAGE
Um—
WAKKO
Hey Dot, guess what? They're voting you out!
(WAKKO storms out of the CAMP. DOT tries not to look at him. She stares at COURAGE, intent, trying her best not to cry)
DOT
So what was your plan, Courage….?
COURAGE
(Noticing her tears)
Umm…Dot….
DOT
(Wiping her face)
Oh no, no, I'm fine. Just...something in my eye. What's your plan, silly?
(No response. COURAGE is lost for words)
Nothing….? Okay then…don't worry. It's going to be fun. Lots and lots of fun... getting rid of Norby… A blast. So let me think…um, I'm trying to think of what Yakko would do. My other brother. Who doesn't suck. Yes. Yakko would...let's see, what would Yakko do here? If Yakko was here…
(Concerned for her, COURAGE reaches out and places a hand on DOT's shoulder. When he touches her, something breaks. DOT can't hold it together anymore. She bursts into tears, covering her face. COURAGE just stands beside her, lost for what to do)
COURAGE
Well, hey….um, I get Wakko was being rude..but maybe if we both…if we both talked to him—
DOT
(After a moment)
...It's this game, Courage. This game changed him. So much. Wakko….he's mean now. He can't laugh. He can't joke around with me anymore. It's just...this stupid game. I hate it...
(She pauses, sucking in her breath)
I want my brother back. I just want my brother back…
(Pause. She sits there, staring into space. COURAGE watches, struggling to think of what to say)
...Did...did Wakko say I'm going home tonight…?
COURAGE
Well, he did but—
DOT
(Cutting him off)
Well, then so be it….
(DOT gets up and storms off, leaving in the opposite direction to WAKKO. COURAGE stands there, watching, lost for words)
(Cut to COURAGE in a confessional)
COURAGE
I can't take this anymore. It's crazy. So Wakko and Dot are just going to leave the game hating each other? Over my dead body…
(Cut to COURAGE kneeling in the bushes. He holds a stone in his hand, rubbing it hard against the sand. He has also lain out fabric and rope on the ground. He tinkers with the materials, putting some kind of necklace together)
COURAGE
So my plan right now…my only plan actually...is to make a fake Idol. I'll give it to Sonic or Timon…make them think Dot has the Idol. They'll split their vote with me between her and Wakko...and I'll pretend I'm voting with them. Then, on the actual vote, I switch my vote to Norbert...and Norb goes home. Far-fetched, yeah...but a guy's got to dream…
(He inspects his fingers, bruised from scraping the rock)
...Ugh, the things I do for love…