Christmas Day

(Setting = huddled around the floor next to Rafiki's tree)

Rafiki: Good day everyone – and what a wonderful day it is!

Timon: Christmas time. Oh Pumbaa, so much tradition . . .

Pumbaa: . . . so much love . . .

Timon: . . . so much family time . . .

Pumbaa: . . . so much fun . . .

Timon: . . . so much magic . . .

Pumbaa: . . . and so much . . .

Timon & Pumbaa: . . . presents!

Zazu: Well, look who's the most eager.

Simba: Sorry, what did you say Zazu?

Zazu: I said . . . WELL, LOOK WHO'S THE MOST EAGER!!!

Nala: Okay Zazu . . . thanks for that.

Zazu: And thank you for this loudspeaker Simba.

Simba: Wasn't too much of a bother. I just got that giant leaf, wrapped it up, trimmed it a little bit, made it so that you can hold it while you're flying, and now there you go! Should never have any trouble with anyone hearing you again.

Timon: Hey, Zazu's already got his present? What about ours?

Pumbaa: Eh Timon, you might want to look behind you.

Timon: I might want to look behind me? Why? All I see here is a giant Disney truck.

Zazu: Yes. It's for our next sequel, The Lion King One and a Half – you'll get to share your whole story with the world! You'll be famous!

Timon: Wahoo! You hear that Pumbaa, buddy, I'm gonna be a star!

Pumbaa: That's great Timon! I wish I could be that popular.

Sarafina: Well . . . um . . . Pumbaa. I—I know your friends have deserted you in your past and well—I know it may not be the best gift in the world but I thought that it would help you. I was able to gather up these ingredients and it emits this lovely fragrance, so if you wear it on you, no one should ever complain about your . . . um . . . gaseous problem again. And it should smell manly enough.

Pumbaa: Wow, gee, thanks Sarafina! It smells wonderful!

Sarafina: I'm glad you like it.

Timon: Hey, Sarafina, I want to go over and start my movie and be on the big screen – so I guess I'll give you your gift now.

Sarafina: Oh, thank you Timon! Aw, what a lovely . . . eh . . . what is it?

Timon: It's a coat . . . or a towel. Rafiki helped me find some waterproof, absorbent materials and I was able to weave them in and out of that savannah grass, and now it should keep you dry whenever you go out in rain again.

Sarafina: I'm sure it will help. You certainly went to a lot of effort. Thank you. And you too Rafiki.

Rafiki: It was my pleasure.

Simba: I think Rafiki all helped us out in some way or another. Who had the gift for him?

Nala: That would be me. Here Rafiki, I found these berries from some woods not too far from here. I believe they're the ones you make paint out of – I knew you'd been running low. I've already tipped them into these coconut shells so they should be ready to use.

Rafiki: Ah, dat is excellent Nala. Asante sana.

Nala: You're welcome.

Pumbaa: You may find this hard to believe Nala, but my gift for you in a coconut shell too.

Nala: Really? What is it?

Pumbaa: Go on. Drink it.

Nala: Alright.

Simba: So now that she's drinking it Pumbaa, what is it exactly?

Pumbaa: Bug stew.

Sarafina: Perhaps you shouldn't have told her that until she was done.

Nala: Well actually Mom, it tastes really good. Wow Pumbaa, that's one on the greatest tastes I've ever experienced! It's really a shame that it's all gone now.

Pumbaa: Well I knew you'd drink that one quick so I've prepared several more for you too.

Simba: Glad we finally got you to come over to our side Nala. I wouldn't mind some of it myself.

Nala: You can wait 'til next Christmas. Nah, just kidding. I'll share some of it with you. Hey, perhaps you got some yourself.

Simba: Yeah, who had my gift?

Sarabi: The one who got you a Christmas gift every time that you were a child.

Simba: That would be you?

Sarabi: Yes. I'm afraid it's not bug stew though.

Simba: That's okay. So what is it?

Sarabi: These. Hold them up to your eyes.

Simba: Whoa! What is this?

Sarabi: Turn it towards the open lands.

Simba: Oh, I see. It magnifies everything.

Sarabi: Exactly. I knew you weren't too fond of travelling all the time as King so I made you those binoculars. This way you can survey the entire Pridelands from a high point without really ever having to move.

Simba: Wow, that is quite convenient. Thanks Mom.

Sarabi: My pleasure.

Rafiki: Well I think dat it is time I present your present to you, my dear Sarabi.

Sarabi: Alright. Can't wait to see what it – it – it . . . oh my gosh.

Rafiki: De day before Mufasa left us, you and him were over by de waterhole drinking. I know dat dat was de last place you saw him and dat you did not wish to return to dat spot, but something was telling me dat it was de right decision to make dis mold of your two paw prints together. When Simba returned I decided dat you would be relieved of de pain and suffering you felt from Mufasa's loss, and dat you would be accepting to finally take and acknowledge dis lasting presence of him.

Sarabi: I – I recognize those paw prints like that. I tried to avert my eyes from it every time I went to get a drink after he was gone, but I couldn't. When the weather washed it away I thought I could finally accept that that was that, and that he was gone. It didn't work. Thank you for keeping this Rafiki. You were right not to give it to me before Simba returned. It would have just made me really upset again.

Simba: Well I guess everyone's got their gift now. Except for you.

Reader: Me?

Nala: Wait, did someone get them a gift?

Simba: Not really, but we were able to get in contact with some safari folk while we were calling the Disney studios, so you should be able to get home in time for your Christmas too.

Nala: Feel free to come back any time.

Pumbaa: And have a very merry Christmas.

Timon: Yeah, it's the best holiday.

Rafiki: And not to forget, a happy new year.

Zazu: Time to celebrate the completion of one, and improve your goals to move onto the other.

Sarabi: And spend time with family and friends. Basically, we hope you have a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Sarafina: The end.