Strike
[the scene opens with an overhead shot of the harbor. Oliver is seen pulling in with a train of ballast with his breakvan Toad at the back. It then cuts to the port where people are walking up and down the businesses by the sea, Hokey and Ding-a-Ling are looking at a stand of fresh fish, Applejack and Apple Bloom have recently purchased an ice cream cone each, Aisha and Musa are having drinks outside one of the cafes, and Bandit and Chili are walking along the railing with the latter donning a bonnet. In the background, Top Hat is seen hauling the railway barges; Frank and Eddie while Zebedee is several yards away with a barge of coal. The scene cuts to Baloo standing near the beginning of a dock]
Baloo: Back it up…back it up…a little more…
[Bagheera walks up to Baloo]
Bagheera: What's going on here?
Baloo: Ah, Baggy, you're just in time to witness the new and improved Sea Duck.
[the scene zooms over to the aircraft, decked out in new paintwork and wings that shine in the sunlight, being pushed into towed into port by Ten Cents and Sunshine]
Bagheera: Dare I ask how much this cost you?
Baloo: Ah, it wasn't anything too bad, just a two grande refurbishment.
Bagheera: Two grande?! What did you spend all that on?
Baloo: Premium seating, new inferior design, and got us a juice bar installed, now Louie can serve me up on the spot whenever we go out.
Bagheera: I would have just installed a new air conditioning and new seats, isn't this a little excessive?
Baloo: Hardly, I thought this baby needed a new leash on life, and so I did, now she'll be the talk of the town.
Bagheera: That's one way to put it, another way is money down the drain.
Baloo: Aaaaah, c'mon, Bags, lighten up a little, I'm sure you'll change your tune when you get a look of the inside. [spins the keys on his finger] Let's take it out for a spin.
Bagheera: Alright then, but this better be worth the cost.
[Baloo opens the door to the aircraft and the two get a view of the inferior. New crimson cushion seats, twilight painted cargo hold, and a brown counter with seats, even having fruits, blender, and other assortments already pre-stored]
Baloo: Now this is an aircraft, almost like a mini apartment.
Bagheera: It is…nice, I will admit, but don't go overboard, we're not in Las Vegas.
Baloo: Don't worry about that, I know how to control my finances.
[the scene cuts to Spencer dropping off passengers at Elm Station, from the first class coaches step out Baloo and Bagheera]
Bagheera: You know, Baloo, I'm a little concerned about your spending as of late.
Baloo: What's there to be concerned about, we just got treated to one of the finest meals railway has to offer.
Bagheera: You mean by sampling everything on the menu?
Baloo: I wanted to make sure that I was getting the premium quality for premium service. Those sleeper units though, hmm…
Bagheera: I enjoy comfort as much as the next person, but the way you've been blowing through cash is not a good sign.
Baloo: You worry too much, Baggy. We both have high-paying jobs, so we should enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Bagheera: You bought out an entire coach for a trip that's only twenty miles.
Baloo: With the best seating and beds for our comfort. With the financial aid we've got from Khan Corporations, we can't go wrong.
Bagheera: Translation: I'm going to spend as much until I go bust.
Baloo: That's not what you said when they gave you a free pedicure.
Bagheera: [splutters] I was too…humored to say anything at that time.
Baloo: Hmmm, I'm sure you were.
[the scene cuts to Pine Station where Duck is dropping off passengers to board Mike's train]
Krypto: Did you hear about the recent news regarding Khan Corps?
Streaky: Oh, yeah, somethin' about a labor shortage, or a union.
Ace: Can't say I'm surprised, it was a matter of time before people stopped serving a pompous jackass.
Streaky: You're lucky he didn't hear you say that, Shere Khan's all kinds a' scary when you say something he doesn't like.
Ace: A brooding posh twit doesn't intimidate me, I've got my ways of dealing with corporate scum.
Krypto: Regardless, I just feel bad for the people working there, they're gonna get one nasty wakeup call.
[the shot cuts to Mike overhearing the conversation and carries the word down to Rex pushing ballast hoppers onto the shoot]
Mike: Say, Rex, did you hear, Khan Corps is going under.
Rex: You mean, Khan Corps, as in, Khan Corporations, by the Shere Khan?
Mike: Of course, what else would I be referring to?
Bert: [pulls up next to Mike] What's all this about corporations?
Rex: Oooooh, nothin' much, just the latest gossip.
Mike: Just wait till everyone hears about this.
[Mike whistles and sets off as a buffer transition cuts to Edward taking on coal at the hopper as Duck passes him]
Duck: Khan Corps is going under.
[Duck's last coach transitions to Edward meeting Emily stopped at a signal]
Edward: Khan Corps is going under.
Emily: [to Rebecca at Maple Station] Khan Corps is going under.
Sylvester: [having heard the conversation to Daffy] Khan Corps is going under.
Daffy: Khan Corps is going under.
Alice: Khan Corps is going under.
Usagi: Khan Corps is going under.
Cat: Khan Corps is going under.
Dog: Khan Corps is going under.
Cat: That's what I just said.
Lola: Under going is Corps Khan.
[the shot pans out to reveal Lola upside down next to a confused Tina]
Tina: Um…what?
Lola: Oh, I was just saying Khan Corps is going under backwards cuz I was upside down, ya' know, lil effect there.
Tina: [shrugs] Whateva' works fa' you.
[the scene transitions to the outside of Khan Corporations]
Baloo: [off-screen] Are you kidding?!
[scene cuts to inside the building]
Akela: Afraid not, and you know I don't lie about those sorts of things.
Baloo: They can't do this! Not now…
Akela: Well, the pilots have gone on strike because they're unsatisfied with their wages, and Shere Khan's yet to say anything on the matter. Afraid this is going to affect us all financially.
Baloo: Oh, God, Bagheera's never gonna let me forget this.
Louie: I doubt anyone's gonna forget this, we're in the middle of a financial crisis, have you heard from the banks?
Baloo: No, why?
Louie: Well, the investors that were hesitant of pulling away've got their clamps on the tiger's mouth, no amount of being Mr. Stoic British Man's gonna shift 'em.
Baloo: [facepalms] I am so screwed…
[the scene cuts to the meeting room where Baloo, Bagheera, Akela, Hathi, Kaa, and Louie have gathered]
Louie: Who wants to bet that Stripes is secretly sweating bullets at the news?
Hathi: Now, look here, this is no laughing matter! We're all in a crux due to uncooperative staff and investors pulling out on their deals, we are in serious hot water.
Kaa: I reckon a bit of persuasion should change the tiger's tune if things get a little heated…
[Baloo has his paw covering his face as he tries to avoid the expectant expression on Bagheera's face]
Bagheera: Let me be the first to say; I told you so.
Baloo: Please don't rub it in…
[at that moment, Shere Khan is seen standing in the entrance with his usual stoic demeanor, the atmosphere of the room becomes all the more tense as he walks to the chairmen's seat]
Shere Khan: Right then, I would like to give my gratitude for all you coming on such short notice.
Louie: You said if we didn't, we'd be sacked.
Shere Khan: Shut up or you're fired. Now, as you all know, we're currently in the middle of a labor crisis which has affected our finances. The pilots refuse to work because they are unsatisfied with their wages, and as such, we are losing contracts to both the railway and the ships.
Baloo: Gee, I wonder who's fault that is.
Shere Khan: Let me remind you that we are twenty stories above the ground and I will not hesitate to throw the next person that interrupts me out the window…now then, in our current situation, we will need to find alternative options on dealing with income, the railway has said they will lend us some of their funds if we can come to an agreement in terms of exporting material. Does anyone have any further options? [looks toward Akela] Akela?
Akela: Why not just increase the wages for the pilots, that's the reason this whole mess started in the first place.
Shere Khan: Their wages were satisfactory by my standards, more than a thousand pounds should be enough to cover their undoubtedly meaningless expenses.
Hathi: I say, I'm all for discipline, but even I have to concede that their outbursts aren't for naught, surely you can spare a few extra expenses for the work force.
Shere Khan: My income shall be utilized how I say it will be, if they can't deal with it, it's their loss if I make certain "cuts."
Bagheera: That won't solve the problem, if anything, we'd be losing more income.
Kaa: No workers means no income, no income means no business, no business means the rumors are true.
Shere Khan: What rumors?
Kaa: Oh, dear, you've been out of the loop, let'ssssss just say that word has been spread about Khan Corporations going under…
Shere Khan: We will NOT go under, not even if I have to skin the person who started such slanderous claims…[realizes his composure and straightens up]...anyway, for now, we will have to split our services to both rail and sea until we're revitialized our air unit.
Louie: That's an awful lot of work to do for a simple solution.
Shere Khan: It'll be doubletime for you if I hear another snarky comment from that mouth of yours.
Louie: Okay, okay, fine, have it your way, just know that I'll be there to say "I told you so" once you've come to your senses.
Baloo: [groans as he plants his face on the desk] Don't remind me…
Hathi: Hooooo, lord, this is ridiculous…
[the scene cuts to Baloo and Bagheera walking out of the building]
Baloo: With our funding shortened, I'll have barely enough to pay for rent at this rate.
Bagheera: Hmm, I wonder where that came from, something about a little excessive spending?
Baloo: Hoooo, c'mon, Baggy, be a dear and spare me some help, I'm gonna need it if we'll get through this crisis.
Bagheera: Perhaps I could, so long as you make sure to keep your purchases in check.
Baloo: Oh, that's a guarantee, only on essentials…[sighs]...if this gets my plane revoked once again, I don't know what I'll do.
Bagheera: Suppose it's lucky that you have me around to keep you afloat, we work on this together and we both benefit from it, or at least until Shere Khan sees sense.
Baloo: Hooooooo, what I wouldn't give to show that stuck up son of a…never mind, I just need a drink, my head hurts.
Bagheera: Admittedly, I think I could do with one myself, I need something to get away from all this tension.
Baloo: "The Olden Days"?
Bagheera: Why not, it's convenient.
[as the grey bear and black panther set off down the street, the scene cuts to Shere Khan looking out the window. The Bengal tiger's ear flicks upon the door being opened]
Shere Khan: Who is it?
Kaa: Why, Shere Khan, it'ssssss me.
Shere Khan: Kaa…care to explain what you're doing in here?
Kaa: I couldn't help but notice you left one option off the table.
Shere Khan: And just what would that be?
Kaa: Oh, you know…
[Kaa's eyes turn to spirals as the scene fades to black]
To Be Continued…