Chapter 31 and That's All I Need! This'll be a fun chapter. Enjoy!
The scene transitions to the open savanna. Timon and Uncle Max stand on a rock beneath a short tree. Uncle Max scurries along the ground, sniffs the air, then flinches.
UNCLE MAX:
Scurry, sniff, flinch! [Uncle Max repeats the demonstration. Timon stands on the ground nearby, leaning one-armed against the tree.] Scurry, sniff, flinch! [Timon rolls his eyes.] Scurry, sniff, flinch!
"Um, what is he doing?" Zuri asked. "I think he's showing Timon what to do." Tiifu responded.
Uncle Max tucks a stick under his arm like he's a drill sergeant.
Good. Now, [Uncle Max slides down the rock to the ground and walks side-by-side with Timon.] what do we do if we see a hyena?
"Run and hide?" Rani suggested. "Play dead?" Bunga added. "Send for the king?" Ullu queried.
TIMON:
Scream, "Mommy!"?
Timon and Uncle Max pause. Uncle Max points at Timon.
UNCLE MAX:
That's right, mister! Because [Uncle Max grabs Timon by the shoulder and points at the savanna.] the world out there is fraught with danger. [Uncle Max shakes Timon.] Fraught, I tell you!
TIMON:
Oh, boy. It's the fraught fest.
UNCLE MAX:
[in the background] Even all bloodthirsty hyenas are waiting to rip us limb from limb!
"Not all of them. I mean, Jasiri, Madoa, and their clan are good. So is Janja's clan since they joined together." Ono pointed out.
TIMON:
Bravo, Uncle Max. [Timon claps.] Way to sell it to the cheap seats.
Uncle Max seizes Timon by the wrists.
UNCLE MAX:
Applaud now, sonny boy. [severely] But try clapping when you don't have any hands!
Many animals gulped at the thought.
Uncle Max stalks offscreen. Timon stares at his hands.
TIMON:
*gulps* [Timon darts onto the rock. He scurries along the ground, sniffs the air, then flinches.] Scurry, sniff, flinch. [The savanna is peaceful and quiet. Timon looks back and forth. He repeats the exercise.] Scurry, sniff, flinch. [The savanna is peaceful and quiet. Music starts playing softly.] Huh. [Timon smiles.] I like the sound of that. [Timon repeats the exercise.] Scurry, sniff, flinch.
"Oh boy, here he goes again." Uncle Max groaned.
The savanna is peaceful and quiet. Timon continues to repeat the exercise. As he does so, he begins to dance, more and more flamboyantly.
Scurry, sniff, flinch. Scurry, sniff, flinch. Scurry, sniff, flinch! THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN PANIC AND BEIN' SOME OTHER GUY'S SNACK. [Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed emerge from behind a nearby rock.] Eugh!
"Look behind you!" Sarafina called. "I was too wrapped up in my song to notice them." Timon embarrassedly admitted, rubbing the back of his head.
Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed duck out of view.
I MAY BE DELICIOUS, ORGANIC, [Timon swings his fists at the air.] BUT THIS LITTLE ENTREE'S FIGHTIN' BACK!
"Nice try, pipsqueak, but you'll have to do better than that." Kiburi taunted.
Timon swings his fist so hard that he spins around several times. He begins strutting across the rock, then grabs onto the tree's trunk.
I'M GONNA PUT DIGGIN' TUNNELS BEHIND ME, AND LIVE AT A NEW ALTITUDE. [Timon climbs up onto a branch and throws an armful of leaves into the air.] I'M GONNA REACH FOR THE STARS TO REMIND ME THAT MEERKATS ARE NOT MERELY FOOD! [Timon steps onto a nearby cloud.] FOR ONCE I'LL BE [Timon surfs away on the cloud.] LOOKIN' OUT FOR ME. [The cloud drifts into an idyllic jungle paradise.] Yeah!
Many animals whoa-ed. "That's beautiful." Ananda marveled. "Reminds me of where Rafiki sang that Upendi song, or the jungle where Simba grew up." Nirmala added.
Timon dives off the cloud into a waterfall below.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I WANT. [Timon slides down the waterfall.] THIS CAT IS MOVIN' ON, [The momentum of Timon's fall throws him into the air.] WHERE HE'S A BON VIVANT [Timon dives into a pool below.] WHO'S MISSIN' OUT ON BON.
[Timon swims underwater.] I'D BE A BIGGER CHEESE FAR FROM THE DESERT SCENE. [Timon disappears into a school of fish, which turns into a pile of butterflies.] A LITTLE COOLING BREEZE. [The butterflies part one by one.] A LITTLE PATCH OF GREEN!
The butterflies part fully to reveal Timon holding a drink and lounging in a hammock by a waterfall. Two birds fan him with their tails.
"That looks like it would be really relaxing." Nuka commented.
AND I'LL BE SNOOZIN' IN MY HAMMOCK BY A RIPPLING STREAM, MANY MILES FROM ANY TUNNEL AND THE DIGGING TEAM.
A pile of grubs dominates the screen. The grubs partially morph into Timon's face.
LOOKING AFTER NUMBER ONE WILL BE MY ONLY CREED. THAT'S ALL I NEED. [Timon eats the grubs.] *slurps* [Timon lifts his hands into the air.] THAT'S ALL I NEED!
Pumbaa looks down. "And number two, of course." Timon put his hand on his shoulder. The warthog immediately perked up, wagging his tail. Ma cleared her throat. "And three." Uncle Max cleared his. "Four." Simba raised a paw. "Five." Bunga waved. "Six." Nala raised an eyebrow. "Seven." Kopa, Kiara, and Kion all raised their paws. "Eight, nine, ten." Kovu raised an eyebrow. "Eleven- you know what, forget the numbers." Timon conceded.
Timon dances the "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" atop a mound of grubs.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN GOOD AT RUNNIN' AWAY. [Timon switches directions and repeats the dance.] WELL, NOW, I'M GONNA RUN THE SHOW-OH!
The lights darken overhead, and the jungle backdrop slides offscreen, as if it's part of a theater production. Timon stands alone on his rock in the savanna.
"Yep, he's definitely a theater brat." Dusty snickered, causing Spirit to giggle.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SEEN AS THE ULTIMATE PREY, [Timon lifts his hands into the air.] BUT NOW, MAY STATUS AIN'T SO QUO! [Banzai and Ed emerge on either side of Timon.] A DREAM SUBLIME. [Shenzi emerges behind Timon, who lifts his hands into the air.] IT'S HYENA TIME! [Shenzi claps, startling Timon.] Oh!
"And this is why we pay what we're supposed to be doing." Zazu drawled.
SHENZI:
Oh, look. It's dinner and a show!
BANZAI:
*snickers* And I thought beans were the only musical food.
ED:
*laughs*
"Ooh, I remember this." Shenzi realized. "Yeah, that was a fun day." Banzai added. Ed laughed in agreement.
Timon stares at Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed in fear.
TIMON:
Hy... Hy... Hy…
SHENZI:
Well, [Shenzi waves.] hi to you too!
Timon braces himself. Shenzi smacks him off his rock, and he goes rolling into the dirt.
Many animals winced at the hit.
TIMON:
Gah!
Meanwhile, Uncle Max strolls past his fellow meerkats, who are still digging the tunnel. Timon rolls into him, and they fall together in a heap.
UNCLE MAX:
*yells*
TIMON:
Ow! Okay.
Uncle Max swats Timon off him.
UNCLE MAX:
This is no time for horseplay, Timon. [Uncle Max points at the savanna.] You're supposed to be up there lookin' out for…
"He tried to warn you guys, but was frozen with fear, plus Shenzi hit him off the rock." Kijana spoke up.
Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed stalk menacingly toward the colony.
SHENZI, BANZAI, AND ED:
*snicker*
Uncle Max stares at Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed in terror.
UNCLE MAX:
Hyenas!
MEERKATS:
*gasp* [The meerkats scatter in a panic, waving their hands in the air, while Uncle Max continues to stare at the oncoming hyenas.] *screams*
"Panic and run! Panic and run!" Vitani joked.
Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed stand over the colony, watching them.
BANZAI:
Whoa, look at 'em scramble.
Shenzi crouches.
SHENZI:
And that's just how I like 'em…
Uncle Max, who is running, pulls up short.
UNCLE MAX:
*screams*
Behind him, several meerkats crash into him, pushing him into Shenzi's snout.
"Uh oh, we've got a pile-up!" Spirit said.
MEERKATS:
*grunt*
SHENZI:
Scrambled…
Shenzi licks Uncle Max, lifting him into the air.
UNCLE MAX:
*screams*
Uncle Max shuddered as he remembered the gross feeling of Shenzi's tongue.
SHENZI:
And a little bit runny.
The colony runs around in a panic.
MEERKATS:
*scream* [Several meerkats race past Timon, who ducks, with his hands covering his head.] Hyenas!
Shenzi and Banzai race after the meerkats, ignoring Timon.
SHENZI AND BANZAI:
*laugh*
"Why did they just pass by you?" Shupavu wondered. "Beats me. I guess they didn't need to do anything to me since they'd already got me off the sentry rock and I didn't sound the alarm." Timon replied.
Ed races after Shenzi and Banzai, ignoring Timon.
ED:
*laughs*
After the hyenas pass, Timon lowers his hands and relaxes.
TIMON:
*sighs*
From behind, a hand grabs Timon and starts to drag him into a hole in the ground. He resists, but is eventually pulled underground. It is revealed that the hand belongs to Ma.
"Oh phew, it's just Ma." Pumbaa breathed. "Did you think the hyenas were attacking from underground or something?" Uncle Max asked.
MA:
Get in here! What are you, a [Ma shakes Timon.] meshugginah?
Several meerkats dive for cover in a hole in the ground, while Ed snaps at them.
MEERKATS:
*whimper* [Ed continually misses the meerkats, who slip by him to safety.] *screams* Whoa!
Uncle Max runs for the hole, but Ed covers it with both paws and grins evilly.
ED:
*laughs*
"Oh no!" Kiara gasped.
Uncle Max skids to a halt.
UNCLE MAX:
*gasps*
Ed grins down at Uncle Max, tongue lolling.
ED:
*laughs*
"Well, it looks like he's gonna be hyena chow." Mama Binturong grinned in anticipation.
Underground, the colony gathers in a tense huddle around Ma and Timon.
MA:
Stumpy?
STUMPY:
[from offscreen] Here!
MA:
Flinchy?
FLINCHY:
[from offscreen] Here!
MA:
Swifty?
SWIFTY:
[from offscreen] Here!
Ma rubs her forehead.
MA:
Oh, what a relief. Everybody's... *gasps* Where's Uncle Max?
"He's still up there with the hyenas!" Azaad said.
Uncle Max runs from Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed.
UNCLE MAX:
*screams*
SHENZI, BANZAI, AND ED:
*yip*
Several meerkats emerge from a hole in the ground and spot Uncle Max.
"Run for it, Max!" Binga cried.
MEERKATS:
*gasp*
Uncle Max dodges several attacks from Shenzi and Banzai.
MEERKAT:
Max! Run for your life!
MEERKAT:
[from offscreen] Play dead!
"I don't think that's going to help." Rafiki remarked.
MEERKAT:
[from offscreen] Ándale!
MEERKAT:
[from offscreen] Almost there!
Suddenly, the screen changes to the QVC shopping channel, where two women are selling a suede handbag.
"Uhh, what just happened?" Chungu asked. "I dunno." Cheezi replied.
WOMAN:
Suede is the look for this fall. [in the background] Of course, that is what's happening up in every magazine. What I like about it, other than you've got that long strap, which can clear your coat…
Timon and Pumbaa sit side-by-side in the theater.
"What are those things?" Dogo asked. "I think they're some kind of weird-looking baboons." Fuli guessed.
"I have seen many kinds of animals come through the Tree of Life, but nothing quite like that." Janna added. "At this point, I'm not going to question it." Anga shrugged.
TIMON:
Hey, what's goin' on? [Timon turns to Pumbaa.] Pumbaa, you're sitting on the remote.
Pumbaa looks back and forth.
PUMBAA:
Huh? Oh, sorry. [Pumbaa lifts the remote.] I thought it was a brownie.
Pumbaa clicks the remote, and the movie resumes, with Uncle Max fleeing the hyenas.
"And now we're back to your regularly scheduled program." Dusty joked.
UNCLE MAX:
*screams*
MEERKAT:
[from offscreen] You've got it, Max!
UNCLE MAX:
[from offscreen] *grunts*
"Ooh!" Many animals winced. "He's gonna feel that in the morning." Fuli hissed.
The meerkats flinch.
MEERKATS:
Awww!
SHENZI, BANZAI, AND ED:
[from offscreen] *chew*
"Did they eat him?" Goigoi wondered. "No, otherwise he would've come out the doorway, you flea-brain." Reirei shot back.
Below ground, the colony looks on sadly. Suddenly, Uncle Max falls into the tunnel, with the fur missing on his tail and backside.
UNCLE MAX:
*grunts*
The colony looks up in shock.
MEERKAT:
[from offscreen] Max!
"He's okay!" Makini cheered. "Well, you know. Most of him." Dusty added in a Gobber voice.
Uncle Max painfully eases himself up on both hands. The colony gathers around him expectantly. He lifts one paw.
UNCLE MAX:
I flinched when I should've scurried.
Uncle Max collapses.
MEERKATS:
[from offscreen] *mutter*
Meanwhile, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed saunter off into the sunset.
"There's something I don't get. Shouldn't Grandfather have come to chase them off?" Kion asked. "Well, our colony was on the outskirts of the Pride Lands, near the border. The hyenas could cross over and harass us then cross back before anyone could warn the king, so many stopped trying." Ma explained.
"Plus, I was occupied at the time since your grandmother was due to have your father any day. I stayed by her side since I didn't want to miss the birth of my son." Mufasa added.
BANZAI:
*laughs* Oh, man! It just never gets old, does it?
SHENZI:
Ooh, the classics never do, honey.
SHENZI, BANZAI, AND ED:
*guffaw*
"I wish we had been there to defend the meerkats." Bunga huffed. "None of us were even born yet." Anga pointed out.
Below ground, the meerkats gather around Uncle Max. Several hold up his arms, while one fans him.
MEERKATS:
*mutter*
TIMON:
[from offscreen] I, uh... [The colony looks up and glares at Timon.] I guess I owe everyone an apology. [Timon claps his hands awkwardly.] All right, so I made a teensy mistake. Like we all haven't broken into song on sentry duty before.
"I think it's only you." Janja quipped.
The meerkats file away unhappily.
*chuckles* Come on. [Timon raises one hand.] Let me have a show of hands. [Timon looks back and forth expectantly.] Okay... [The meerkats glare back at Timon. Ma looks at Timon with concern.] Maybe it's a little too soon, but I'm sure we're all gonna laugh about this someday. [Timon gestures to himself with both hands.] Trust me.
Uncle Max glowers at Timon.
UNCLE MAX:
I did trust you.
"Ouch." Beshte commented.
Uncle Max looks away. Timon's face falls.
TIMON:
But…
The meerkats file away. Timon watches them go sadly. Soon, only Ma is left. Timon turns his back on her.
"Oh, Timon…" Nala breathed ."It's okay, Nala. I've put it behind me." Timon reassured her.
TIMON:
*sighs*
Timon walks off. Ma holds out a hand, as if to stop him, then lowers it.
"Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nitwit. You can't fire me, I quit, since I don't fit in." Spirit sang.
I hope you enjoyed! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!