IN DARKNESS:
A Native African VOICE calls out in SONG.
FADE IN:
Dawn. The sun slowly rises over an African plain - full, brilliant.
"It's beautiful!" exclaimed Zuri.
Native African VOICES respond in SONG. The SOLO VOICE continues, joined by the group.
Naaaaaants ingoooonyamaaaaa bakithi baba
Sithi uhm ingonyama
"Um, who's singing?" asked Anga. "I don't know." replied Fuli.
CLOSE ON:
ANIMALS - alert to the sound: a RHINO, TOPEES, MEERKATS, a CHEETAH, several MARABOU STORKS. Another marabou stork enters the frame.
Naaaaaants ingoooonyamaaaaa bakithi baba
Sithi uhm ingonyama
Ingonyama
The storks take wing.
Siyo Nqoba
Ingonyama
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
(repeats x5)
EXT. VICTORIA FALLS
The rising sun lights the cascading water. The marabou storks fly across frame.
Everyone was enchanted by the breathtaking scenery.
EXT. PLAIN WITH KILIMANJARO IN B.G.
ELEPHANTSwalk along through the morning mist.
AERIAL SHOT - A RIVER
Flocks of airborne FLAMINGOS cast «shadows on the meandering waterway, below.
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala(Sitha ngqwa!)
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala(Eshe!)
Gazelles leap and run across a grassy plain.
EXT. A HILL
A MOTHER GIRAFFE crests the hill, followed by her baby, as the song lyric begins:
VOICE:
singing
From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking step into the sun there's more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done
The mother and child giraffes cross frame and reach a crest that overlooks a huge migration of animals. They lope down the hill to join them. We hold on:
"Where are all those animals going?" Baliyo wondered. Simba's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, no. This is going to be embarrassing."
"Why? What's so bad about this part?" Asked Jasiri.
"It's my presentation when I was a cub." Simba groaned.
"I don't see what's so bad about that. You were the cutest cub." Sarabi smiled at the memory.
"Mom!" Simba said, blushing. Everyone laughs.
A TREE BRANCH where ants carrying leaves march across. Rack focus to reveal:
ZEBRAS below, trotting in the same direction as the rest of the herds.
DOWN SHOT - GUINEA FOWL
waddle toward us, as dust reveals:
A HUGE ELEPHANT who crests an incline and lumbers toward us. The guinea fowl scamper ahead. One is almost stepped on by the elephant's huge hoof.
"Well, that was a close call." Said Bunga.
EXT. A STREAM
reflecting the morning sun. The reflection is shattered by ZEBRAS who leap into the water and cross, causing an explosion of shimmering droplets. In the b.g., AN ELEPHANT with birds perched on its head and tusks gives them safe passage across the stream. PAN to see the animals getting out of the stream and joining a SCREENFUL of animals, all walking in the same direction.
VOICE:
There's far too much to take in here more to find than can ever be found but the sun rolling high in the sapphire sky keeps great and small on the endless round
The light changes. PAN to REVEAL:
EXT. PRIDE ROCK - CONTINUOUS
"Whoa!" All the non-pridelanders say. "That is one big rock." Surak added.
"Just as I remember it." The other guard lion said.
"Oops! Almost forgot. This is Askari, the original lion guard leader." Dusty introduced him.
"Wow! Are you really that Askari?" Makini asked excitedly.
"Yes, that's me." Askari replied.
An impressive mountain: with many plateaus, levels and textures. It stands castle-like in the center of the Pride lands.
VOICE:
It's the circle of life and it moves us all through despair and hope through faith and love till we find our place on the path unwinding in the circle the circle of life.
AERIAL SHOT - CONTINUOUS
WE TRACK in with a horn bill (ZAZU) who flies over the gathered animals and ANGLES up, up, up to the promontory.
He lands and bows regally to an 0. S. character. He gestures with his wing, indicating that all is ready and reverently backs away.
ANGLE - MUFASA
The rising sun lights this regal, commanding lion (MUFASA) — who acknowledges Zazu with a warm nod.
Mufasa smiles and chuckles to himself as he remembered that day.
REVERSE ANGLE:
Below, the animals are collected in a natural amphitheater.
WITH MUFASA:
Surveying the situation.
WITH THE ANIMALS
Gourds and on the top of a walking stick make their way through the crowd. An old baboon (RAFIKI) who carries the walking stick, hobbles out from the crowd, toward Pride Rock. There is mystery and humor to this old fellow as he ambles forward and scales the cliff.
"How did he get up there?" Asked Ma. "Even though I'm old and wise, I am still very agile." Rafiki explained.
EXT. EDGE OF PLATEAU - ABOVE
Raflki's head pops up. He ambles to a standing position, goes right to Mufasa and gives him a hug. Mufasa beams. These guys obviously go way back. They turn and look at:
A LIONESS (SARABI) who has her newborn cub (SIMBA) nestled at her feet.
FULL SHOT:
Mufasa lovingly nuzzles Sarabi. Then he nuzzles the little cub.
MUSIC UNDER:
ANGLE - THE CUB
"Is that you, Dad?" Kiara asked.
"Yes." Simba replied, his face getting redder.
"Who knew the king of the pridelands was such an adorable little fluff ball?" Nala joked.
"Not helping, Nala." He grumbled.
Rafiki looks at him. He shakes the gourds on his walking stick over Simba and they RATTLE. He cracks a gourd open and smears some goo on the little-guy's forehead. He takes a handful of dirt and sprinkles it over Simba. Simba SNEEZES. Mufasa and Sarahi, doting parents, think this is adorable.
"AAAAWWW!" Everybody said. "Sooo Cute!" Added Beshte. Simba's face was as red as his mane at this point.
RAFIKI ever-so-carefully lifts Simba and carries him to the promontory of Pride Rock. He holds the cub up for all to see.
The animals react with glee: ELEPHANTS trumpet; MONKEYS applaud and do somersaults; ZEBRAS stomp.
THE SKY:
A shaft of sunlight shines down through the clouds on the future king.
THE ANIMALS bow and genuflect grandly.
SUMMIT OF PRIDE ROCK
Rafiki holds the cub high. Mufasa and Sarabi watch.
"It'sss a shame Rafiki didn't drop him. If he did, he would've made a good meal for a hungry predator." Ushari hissed. Sarabi angrily growled at him, and Rafiki hit him with his staff.
"Shut it, snake!" Spirit chewed him out.
VOICE:
It's the circle of life and it moves us all
Through despair and hope through faith and love
Till we find our place on the path unwinding
In the circle the circle of life
MUSIC OUT.
TITLE CREDIT:
"THE LION KING"
Everyone applauded once the song was done.
"That was un-Bunga-lievable!" Bunga whooped.
"And Bing-credible!" Added Binga.
"You can say that again!" Ullu cheered.