Chapter 13 is here, and I swear it's not unlucky. Enjoy!

SEQ. 15 (SIMBA AND NALA REUNITE)

EXT. EDGE OF THE JUNGLE - DAY

Timon and Pumbaa walk toward us, singing: (SONG: "THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT")

PUMBAA:

A WEEM, A WEP. A WEEM, A WEP.

TIMON:

IN THE JUNGLE, THE MIGHTY JUNGLE, THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT.

"I think I was actually asleep at the time." Simba chuckled.

PUMBAA:

A WEEM, A WEP. A WEEM, A WEP.

Pumbaa notices a fat, juicy bug and follows it out of frame.

"Always distracted by food." Zazu rolled his eyes.

TIMON:

IN THE JUNGLE, THE MIGHTY JUNGLE, THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT.

Timon doesn't hear Pumbaa's bass line. But he's lost in his own groove.

TIMON:

I can't hear ya, buddy.

a beat

Back me up.

"Uh, he isn't behind you anymore." Madoa spoke up.

singing

A-WHEEE-EEE-EEE-EEE-EEE A-PUMBAA-BUM-BUH WAY.

Once again, several animals wince at the high note.

realizing he's gone

A-Pumbaa? Pumbaa?

EXT. A TREE TRUNK - CONTINUOUS

Still HUMMING the "Ah-Whee-Muh-Way" tune, Pumbaa stalks the bug.

"Ooh, a dung beetle! Those are my favorite! Well, besides utamu." Bunga exclaimed.

PUMBAA:

humming

Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm.

It lands on a tree stump. Pumbaa quickly hides behind a tree. Then he cautiously stalks the bug and gets stuck over the stump. He hears a CRACK in the distance. He listens, then calls:

PUMBAA:

Timon?

There is no response, so he resumes his bug hunt. He comes eye to eye with the bug.

PUMBAA'S POV

Rack Focus to reveal:

A YOUNG LIONESS IN THE BRUSH

"Looks like someone's about to become lunch." Mama Binturong chuckled and rubbed her paws together.

REVERSE ANGLE - ON PUMBAA

Scared to death. The lioness leaps into frame. A chase ensues, Pumbaa SQUEALING in fear. They run toward the jungle.

"Oh man, did you guys see his face?" Shenzi cackled. "Yeah, we did! It was hilarious!" Banzai laughed along with Ed.

EXT. JUNGLE - CONTINUOUS

The lioness chases Pumbaa around a tree.

PUMBAA:

Squeeeeeal!

WITH TIMON who hears the squeal.

TIMON:

calling

Pumbaa? Pumbaa?

THE CHASE:

Pumbaa runs under an arched root. His butt is too big to get through, so he gets stuck. Timon runs into frame.

"Talk about being stuck in a bad situation." Kopa quipped.

TIMON:

to Pumbaa

Hey, what's goin' on?

PUMBAA:

She's gonna eat me!

TIMON:

Huh? Woah!

trying to free him

Jeez! Why do I always have to save your -

Timon SEES the Lioness leaping for them. He freezes, screaming:

TIMON:

Aaaaahhhhh!

Spirit and Dusty snickered at the hidden joke.

As the Lioness leaps, Simba jumps into frame and knocks her down. Timon takes a peek and sees the lions face off.

TIMON:

to Pumbaa

Don't worry, buddy. I'm here for you. Everything's gonna be okay.

PUMBAA:

Hey, what's happenin'?

Timon calls out:

TIMON:

He's got her. Oh no! She's got him. Wow! Check out that move. He's movin' like a champ. Get her! Bite her head!

"Fight, fight, fight!" Janja, Cheezi and Chungu chanted.

a beat

Oh, ow! That's gotta hurt. Go for the jugular. The jugular!

to Pumbaa

See, I told ya he'd come in handy.

With that, Nala flips Simba on his back and pins him to the ground, the same way she did as a cub. She holds Simba there a beat. Simba thinks he recognizes her.

"Pinned ya." Nala smirked.

SIMBA:

Nala?

Nala backs away in fear/shock.

Is it really you?

NALA:

Who are you?

"Oh you know, your cubhood best friend who was thought to be dead." Azaad said.

SIMBA:

It's me, Simba.

She steps back, unsure.

NALA:

Simba?

BOTH:

Whoah!

Simba and Nala run together and greet each other.

"And cue the happy reunion." Sarafina smiled.

NALA:

Well how did you.. Where did you come from.. It's great to see YOU!

SIMBA:

Aaah! How did you.. who.. wow.. This is cool.. It's great to see ya!

TIMON:

Hey! What's goin' on here?

SIMBA:

What are you doing here?

NALA:

What do you mean what am I doing here? What are you doing here?

Timon tries again.

TIMON:

HEY! WHAT'S GOIN' ON HERE?!

"Wow. For a tiny little meerkat, he's sure got a pair of lungs on him." Nirmala commented.

SIMBA:

Timon, this is Nala. She's my best friend.

TIMON:

Friend?!

SIMBA:

Yeah.

calling

Hey, Pumbaa!

Pumbaa extricates himself from the root with a POP!

SIMBA:

Come over here.

introducing

Nala, this is Pumbaa. Pumbaa, Nala.

PUMBAA:

Pleased to make your acquaintance!

NALA:

The pleasure's all mine.

TIMON:

Yeah, it's nice to m-

stopping himself

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Time out! Let me get this straight. You know her. She knows you. But she wants to eat him. And everybody's okay with this? Did I miss something?!

"Sorry, I was kind of hungry and my instincts kicked in when I saw him." Nala admitted.

SIMBA:

Relax, Timon.

There is a moment.

NALA:

Wait 'til everyone finds out you've been here all this time! And your mother! What will she think?

Simba looks panic-stricken.

"Mother, I'm-" Simba tried to apologize to his mother but was cut off when she put her paw to his lips. "I know. It wasn't your fault." Sarabi gave him another comforting lick.

SIMBA:

She doesn't have to know. Nobody has to know.

NALA:

Of course they do! Everyone thinks you're dead.

SIMBA:

They do?

NALA:

Yes. Scar told us about the stampede.

"Not everything about it." Kiburi commented.

SIMBA:

cagey/suspicious

What else did he tell you?

NALA:

What else matters? You're alive! And that means… you're the king.

Simba is taken aback. Timon leaps up:

TIMON:

"King?"

"oh, go on"

Pfffff! Lady, have you got your lions crossed!

"Nope, she's got the right lion." Ono spoke up.

NALA:

No, he is the rightful king.

Pumbaa believes and is in awe. He moves respectfully toward Simba.

PUMBAA:

The king! Your Majesty -

Pumbaa bows reverently and kisses Simba's paw.

SIMBA:

Stop it -

PUMBAA:

I gravel at your feet.

"You don't need to do that, you know." Scar pointed out.

TIMON:

It's not "gravel", it's grovel. And don't! He's not the king.

to Simba

Are ya?

SIMBA:

No.

NALA:

Simba!

SIMBA:

No, I'm not the king. Maybe I was gonna be - But that was a long time ago.

"No, son. That is forever." Mufasa rumbled.

TIMON:

Let me get this straight. You're the king and you never told us?

SIMBA:

Look, I'm still the same guy.

TIMON:

But with power!

NALA:

to Timon/Pumbaa

Could you guys excuse us for a few minutes?

TIMON:

Hey, whatever she has to say, she can say it in front of us. Right, Simba?

"Apparently not always." Chuluun said.

Simba gestures for them to leave.

SIMBA:

Maybe you better go.

Timon throws up his arms and stomps off with Pumbaa.

TIMON:

fuming to Pumbaa

Ya think ya know a guy.

WITH SIMBA AND NALA - CONTINUOUS

Simba looks at the duo exiting, commenting:

SIMBA:

Timon and Pumbaa - You'll learn to love 'em.

"Yeah, you get used to 'em." Anga agreed.

The reality of the situation finally hits Nala. She looks at Simba, and her eyes well up with tears. Simba has never dealt with anything like this; so he isn't sure of what to do.

SIMBA:

What? What is it?

NALA:

It's like you're back from the dead. You don't know how much this could mean to everyone - what it means to me.

Overcome with emotion, Nala turns-away, embarrassed by her tears. Now Simba is at even more of a loss.

SIMBA:

Hey, it's okay.

NALA:

then:

I've really missed you.

SIMBA:

I've missed you, too.

"Awww…" Everyone said except the unreformed villains.

There is a moment between them.

SEQ. 15.1 (CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT)

ANGLE - TIMON & PUMBAA

Spying on Simba and Nala from behind a fem.

TIMON:

I tell ya Pumbaa, this stinks.

PUMBAA:

Oh. Sorry.

"Not you, Pumbaa." Kion chuckled.

TIMON:

Not you. Them. Him; her; alooone.

PUMBAA:

What's wrong with that?

TIMON:

I CAN SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING

PUMBAA:

What?

TIMON:

AND THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE

PUMBAA:

Who?

"Looks like he doesn't have a clue either." Makucha taunted only to get whacked by Makini's staff.

TIMON:

THEY'LL FALL IN LOVE AND HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE: OUR TRIO'S DOWN TO TWO

PUMBAA:

Oh.

TIMON:

ZE SWEET CARESS OF TWILIGHT

THERE'S MAGIC EVERYWHERE

AND WITH ALL THIS ROMANTIC ATMOSPHERE

DISASTER'S IN THE AIR

The scene passes from Timon and Pumbaa to Simba and Nala in front of a waterfall.

CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT?

THE PEACE THE EVENING BRINGS?

THE WORLD FOR ONCE IN PERFECT HARMONY

WITH ALL ITS LIVING THINGS.

All the couples smiled and nuzzled each other as they remembered falling in love while the unreformed villains gagged.

After walking around each other, taking in each other's movements, they stop to drink at the water.

SIMBA: (thinking)

SO MANY THINGS TO TELL HER

BUT HOW TO MAKE HER SEE

THE TRUTH ABOUT MY PAST? IMPOSSIBLE!

SHE"D TURN AWAY FROM ME

Nala licked Simba's cheek to comfort him.

NALA: (thinking)

HE'S HOLDING BACK, HE'S HIDING

BUT WHAT? I CAN'T DECIDE

WHY WON'T HE BE THE KING I KNOW HE IS?

THE KING I SEE INSIDE?

Simba looks at Nala, smiles, and runs off stage. He runs back on stage, grabs a vine in his mouth and splashes into the middle of the pond. Nala looks out over the still water. Suddenly Simba lunges up under her and pulls her in the pond playfully. She immediately comes out dripping and miffed. When Simba comes out, she pushes him back in.

"Reminds me of that time I snuck up behind you and pulled you into the pool as a prank at that one family reunion." Dusty laughed. "Yeah, and I got my revenge by putting on a fake shark fin and swimming around while one of our cousins played the JAWS music on his phone. You totally freaked out and thought there was an actual shark in the pool!" Spirit giggled. "You better not blackmail me with the video!" He warned. "I can't make any promises, brother." She smirked.

CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT?

THE PEACE THE EVENING BRINGS?

THE WORLD FOR ONCE IN PERFECT HARMONY

WITH ALL ITS LIVING THINGS.

The scene switches to them tussling. They end up play fighting. After tumbling down a hillside, Simba ends up pinning Nala for a first. She gives him a tiny lick, resembling a kiss. Simba looks startled and stares at Nala. Close-up of Nala, as she stares back with a seductive smile. Close-up of Simba, whose expression changes from a surprised one to a comprehending one..

"Don't look, kids!" Reirei covered her pups' eyes.

CAN YOU FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT?

YOU NEEDN'T LOOK TOO FAR -

STEALING THROUGH THE NIGHT'S UNCERTAINTIES

LOVE IS WHERE THEY ARE

The two rub heads (a cat-style kiss) as the last lyrics are sung. Switch back to Timon and Pumbaa.

TIMON:

AND IF HE FALLS IN LOVE TONIGHT IT CAN BE ASSUMED

He tearfully hugs Pumbaa

PUMBAA:

HIS CAREFREE DAYS WITH US ARE HISTORY

BOTH:

IN SHORT OUR PAL IS DOOMED

They let loose crying full force.

"He's just falling in love, guys. You're not gonna lose him." Beshte reasoned. "I know, but we thought we were going to at the time." Pumbaa explained.

That's all for now! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!