Chapter 15! Enjoy!
SEQ. 15.3 (SIMBA & NALA ARGUE)
EXT. JUNGLEWITHSIMBAANDNALA - CONTINUOUS
SIMBA:
very "up"
Isn't this a great place?
NALA:
It is beautiful –
"You're not wrong there." Ma agrees.
a beat
But I don't understand something. You've been alive all this time. Why didn't you come back to Pride Rock?
SIMBA:
very casual
Well, I just needed to get out on my own - live my own life. And I did! And it's great!
"Not a very good excuse." Surak commented.
NALA:
We've reallyneeded you at home.
SIMBA:
No one needs me.
"But they do." Nirmala spoke.
NALA:
Yes we do. You're the king.
SIMBA:
Nala, we've been through this. I'm not the king. Scar is.
"(buzzer noise), wrong. You are." Dusty corrected.
NALA:
Simba, he let the hyenas take over the Pride Lands.
SIMBA:
genuine
What?
NALA:
Everything's destroyed. There's no food, no water. Simba, if you don't do something soon, everyone will starve.
Everyone(except the unreformed bad guys)felt for the Pridelanders' plight.
SIMBA:
I can't go back.
Simba starts to exit. Nala goes to him.
NALA:
Why?
SIMBA:
You wouldn't understand.
"Now I do." Nala gave her mate a nuzzle.
NALA:
What wouldn't I understand?
SIMBA:
No, no, no - It doesn't matter. Hakuna Matata.
"What a wonderful-" Pumbaa began to sing before Timon cut him off. 'Now's not the time for a musical number!" The meerkat shushed him. "Oh. Sorry." The warthog looked sheepish.
NALA:
What?
SIMBA:
Hakuna Matata. It's what I learned out here. Sometimes bad things happen.
NALA:
interrupting
Simba -
SIMBA:
driving on
and there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry?
Simba turns away from Nala.
NALA:
Because it's your responsibility!
He turns to her:
SIMBA:
What about you? You left.
"She left to find help for the pridelands." Fuli interjected.
NALA:
I left to find help. And I found you! Don't you understand? You're our only hope.
"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're our only hope." Spirit quoted. "You just had to say that." Dusty chuckled.
SIMBA:
Sorry.
NALA:
What's happened to you? You're not the Simba I remember.
"Trauma will do that to you." Kopa said.
SIMBA:
You're right. I'm not. Now are you satisfied?
NALA:
No. Just disappointed.
"Ouch." Nuka winced.
SIMBA:
You know, you're starting to sound like my father.
NALA:
Good. At least one of us does.
SIMBA:
Listen! You think you can just show up and tell me how to live my life? You don't even know what I've been through.
"Oohoo, lovers' spat." Banzai taunted to Ed's amusement.
NALA:
I would if you'd just tell me!
SIMBA:
Forget it!
NALA:
Fine!
Simba walks off and paces in a field.
SIMBA:
She's wrong. I can't go back. What would it prove, anyway? It won't change anything. You can't change the past.
He looks up at the stars.
SIMBA:
You said you'd always be there for me! But you're not. And it's because of me. It's my fault. It's my fault.
"Oh, my little one…" Sarabi breathed and comforted him.
He bows his head and chokes back tears. He is interrupted by an odd little tune.
RAFIKI'S VOICE
singing
ASANTE SANA. SQUASH BANANA. WEWE NUGU. MIMI AРАNА.
Up in a nearby tree, he sees the silhouette of a figure - whoseanglesmatchthose of the gnarled branches. Simba calls up.
"It's Rafiki!" Makini cheers.
SIMBA:
Come on! Will ya cut it out?
Simba walks away again. Rafiki follows.
RAFIKI:
Can't cut it out. It'll grow right back!
Several animals snickered at that.
SIMBA:
Creepy little monkey. Would you stop following me?
Rafiki continues to shadow him.
SIMBA:
Who are you?
Rafiki comes right up to Simba.
RAFIKI:
The question is: who are you?
I am Simba, son of Mufasa and Sarabi, king of the Pride lands." Simba stated.
Simba thinks for a moment.
SIMBA:
a sigh, then:
I thought I knew. Now I'm not so sure.
RAFIKI:
I know who you are. Shhh - Come here. It's a secret.
Simba leans his ear toward Rafiki.
RAFIKI:
singing
ASANTE SANA. SQUASH BANANA. WEWE NUGU. MIMI АРАNА.
"Umm, okay, did Rafiki eat one too many fermented gourds that night or something?" Bunga asked.
While Rafikicontinues singing:
SIMBA:
Enough already!
a beat
What is that supposed to mean, anyway?
RAFIKI:
It means you're a baboon, and I'm not!
laughing
Hee-hee-hee.
"Is that really what it means?" Ono inquired. "No, I was just messing with him." Rafiki replied.
SIMBA:
I think you're a little confused.
Simba begins to exit. Rafiki's fingerpokesSimba in the nose.
RAFIKI:
Wrong! I'm not the one who's confused. You don't even know who you are.
SIMBA:
And I suppose you know?
RAFIKI:
Sure do. You're Mufasa's boy. Bye.
Simba is in shock. Rafikiscoots away. Simbachasesafter him.
"Kinda weird to just run off after telling him something like that." Shupavu noted.
SIMBA:
Hey! Wait!
LONG SHOT - PLAINS
Simba's silhouetted form races up the hill.
EXT. HILLTOP - LATER
Rafiki sits calmly, guru-style on the top of a hill. Huffing and puffing, Simbafinishes his climb up to Rafiki.
SIMBA:
You knew my father?
RAFIKI:
Correction. I know your father.
SIMBA:
I hate to tell you this, but he died. A long time ago.
"No one's ever really gone." Dusty spoke. "Okay, now we're even with the Star Wars references." Spirit laughed.
RAFIKI:
Nope. Wrong again.
Rafiki walkstowardthickjungle underbrush, calling back to Simba,
RAFIKI:
He's alive! I'll show him to you. You follow old Rafiki. He knows the way.
"How is that even possible? We clearly saw him die in the stampede, plus he came out of the doorway with the other deceased." Mzingo deliberated.
Rafiki disappearsthrough a smallopening of a bower. Simba goes over and looks in. He considers a moment, then disappears inside.
INT. JUNGLE - NIGHT
Dark, dense foliage. Simbatries to keep up with agile, fast-moving Rafiki who calls back:
RAFIKI:
Don't dawdle! Hurry up!
Rafiki dashesthrough the trees, hangingbranches and vines. Simba has a hard time following.
"It's kind of hard for him to hurry when he's bigger than you and less agile." Vitani observed.
SIMBA:
Hey! Whoa! Wait! Wait a second! Would you slow down!
RAFIKI:
Come on-come on!
SIMBA:
Wait. Will you wait? Wait a second.
Rafiki seems to be gone. Simbapresses on through the thick underbrush. He looks up and sees Rafiki in a tree. Then Rafiki is gone. Baffled, Simbacontinues on until:
Rafiki's hand pushes up in Simba's face.
RAFIKI:
Stop!
Everyone was startled when he did that. "Does the monkey WANT to give us all heart attacks?" Mama Binturong complained.
Rafiki approaches a curtain of tall reeds. He parts them, directing Simba:
RAFIKI:
Shhhh - Look down there.
EXT. REFLECTINGPOOL - NIGHT
Simba anxiously, cautiouslylooks in a pool of water. He sees the REFLECTIONOF A LION.
SIMBA:
That's not my father. It's just my reflection.
Dusty opened his mouth. "No Mulan references." Spirit warned. He promptly shut it.
RAFIKI:
No -
Rafiki directs Simba's line of vision.
RAFIKI:
Look harder -
ANGLE - REFLECTING POOL
The lion reflection changes to a reflection of Mufasa's image. Simba gasps. A deep rumbling noise is heard.
RAFIKI:
You see - He lives in you.
"He lives in me. He watches over everything we see. Into the water, into the truth. In your reflection, he lives in you." Spirit sang. Dusty raised an eyebrow. "What? I had to finish it." She shrugged.
MUFASA:
Simba -
Simba looks up to see where the Voice is coming from. He knows it belongs to his dad. Somethingmagicalstarts to happen: The image of Mufasabegins to build itself in the clouds. He appears to be walking from the stars.
"Aaahh! Ghost!" Cheezi and Chungu yelped and leaped on Janja. Everyone else was in awe.
SIMBA:
Father?
MUFASA:
Simba, you have forgotten me.
"I would never, ever, forget you." Simba proclaimed.
SIMBA:
No! How could I?
The ghost's presencestarts to become the atmosphere - big, colorful, full of magic light.
"Whoa.." Everyone said. "And they say I'm the dramatic one." Scar spoke. His brother just chuckled.
MUFASA:
You have forgotten who you are, and so, have forgotten me.
The visionbecomes more warm and loving.
MUFASA:
Look inside yourself, Simba. You are more than what you have become. You must take your place in the Circle of Life.
We are now comfortable with the image.
SIMBA:
How can I go back? I'm not who I used to be.
MUFASA:
Remember who you are - You are my son and the one true king.
"I know. I-It's just that I'd blamed myself for your death those years that I was away and I didn't know how I could go back." Simba admitted. "I understand. It was never your fault, son. You've grown into a great king." The older lion said. "Thank you, father. I've missed you." the younger replied. "I've missed you, too." Father and son rubbed heads.
The visionstarts to fade.
MUFASA:
Remember who you are -
SIMBA:
No! Please! Don't leave me!
MUFASA:
Remember -
SIMBA:
Father!
MUFASA:
Remember -
SIMBA:
Don't leave me.
"I never left you. And I never will." Mufasa added.
MUFASA:
Remember -
The vision is gone.
PULL BACK to show Simbaunder a huge field of stars. Rafiki approaches.
RAFIKI:
What was THAT? The weather - - Pbbbah! Very peculiar. Don't you think?
SIMBA:
Yeah. Looks like the winds are changing.
RAFIKI:
Ahhh. Change is good.
SIMBA:
Yeah, but it's not easy. I know what I have to do. But going back means I'll have to face my past. I've been running from it for so long.
Rafiki whacks Simba on the head with his staff.
Everyone winces. "That had to hurt." Beshte hissed. "No kidding." Jasiri agreed.
SIMBA:
Oww! Jeez, what was that for?!
RAFIKI:
It doesn't matter; it's in the past! (laughs)
SIMBA:
rubbing head
Yeah, but it still hurts.
RAFIKI:
Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.
"Wise words." Askari complimented.
He swings at Simba with his staff again, but he ducks.
RAFIKI:
Hah, you see! So what are you going to do?
SIMBA:
First, I'm gonna take your stick.
He tosses Rafiki's stick to the side.
RAFIKI:
No, no, no, no! Not the stick!
"Oh no, not the stick!" Zuri joked. Tiifu and Kiara giggled.
As Rafiki picks up his staff, Simba starts running off.
RAFIKI:
Hey, where are you going?
SIMBA:
I'm going back!
RAFIKI:
Good! Go on! Get out of here! Laughs, hoots, and hollers
As he holds his staff above his head, a few shooting stars zing across the sky.
"He's going back! Now he can kick Scar's-" Baliyo cheered. "Baliyo, language!' Ananda chided. "Wow. I never thought I'd miss getting scolded by Mom." he realized. "Yeah, I know." Rani concurred. Ananda nuzzled both her cubs.
SEQ. 17 (WHO'S THE MONKEY?)
EXT. JUNGLEGLADE - LATERTHAT NIGHT
We hear:
SNORING.
ANGLE - TIMONAND PUMBAA
SNORING continues. Timonrises and falls from frameWIDENTO REVEAL: Timon is curled up on Pumbaa's tummy and rises and falls with each of Pumbaa's SNORES.
"Aww, you look so cute when you're asleep." Ma smiled. "Ma!" Timon blushed.
FULL SHOT:
Nala entersframe and nudges Timon. Timon smiles.
NALA:
Psst - Wake up.
Timon opens his eyes drowsily and sees:
A HUGELIONESSFACElooming over him.
"I wouldn't want to wake up to that." Smun shuddered.
FULL SHOT:
Timon leaps out of frame. He SCREAMS in fear:
TIMON:
Aaaaa!
Pumbaa awakens and catches Timon's panic and SCREAMS with Timon:
PUMBAA & TIMON (TOGETHER)
Aaaaaa!
Nala tries to calm them.
NALA.
It's okay. It's okay. It's me.
"You sure gave them a fright." Tiifu commented.
They stop screaming.
TIMON:
Don't ever do that again.
under breath
Carnivores. Oy!
NALA:
Have you guys seen Simba?
TIMON:
I thought he was with you.
NALA:
He was. But now I can't find him. Where is he?
PUMBAA:
I don't know.
TIMON:
He's gotta be someplace.
From up in a nearby tree, comes Rafiki's LAUGH.
"How does he just appear like that?" Sahasi asked. Everyone looked at the mjuzi, who just gave them a 'I have no idea what you're talking about' look.
RAFIKI:
Ha, ha. Ha, ha.
then
You won't find him here. The king has returned.
"Well, it's about time he did." Sarafina quipped.
NALA:
amazed/excited
I can't believe it. He's really gone back.
TIMON:
Gone back? What do you mean?
to Rafiki
Hey!
But Rafiki is gone.
TIMON:
What's goin' on here? Who's the monkey?
"I am a mandrill!" Rafiki corrected.
NALA:
Simba's gone back to challenge Scar.
TIMON:
Who?
"That would be me." Scar said.
NALA:
Scar.
PUMBAA:
Who's got a scar?
"I do." Kion spoke. "So do I." Rani added. "I've got several." Kopa chimed in. "And Scar and I." Zira finished. "You have a scar?" Janja asked. "My ear." She gestured to the hole in her ear. "Oh." He said, embarrassed at his brainfart.
NALA:
No-no-no - It's his uncle.
TIMON:
The monkey's his uncle?
"No..." Multiple animals face-pawed/winged/etc.
NALA:
No. Simba's gone back to challenge his uncle to take his place as king.
TIMON AND PUMBAA/TOGETHER
dawning
Ohh-hhh -
"Now you two get it." Kovu said. "We were kind of confused there for a minute." Pumbaa explained. "That's all right, Pumbaa." Kiara smiled.
Thanks for reading and sorry it's a month late! I hope you enjoyed it!