Chapter 32 and our duo finally meet! Enjoy!
The scene transitions to the savanna at sunset. Ma pokes her head out of a hole in the ground and looks around. Timon sits on a rock atop a hill. Ma watches him for a moment before approaching.
MA:
*sighs* Oh. [Ma pauses next to Timon's rock.] Awww, sweetie.
Timon turns around.
"Somebody had a bad day." Ora taunted, getting whacked by Rafiki's staff.
TIMON:
I'm never gonna fit in here. [Timon slides to the ground.] Nobody even likes me.
Ma walks around the rock to Timon.
MA:
Sure they do, honey. Sure they do!
"Uh, no, they don't. They all gave him the stink-eye except for Ma." Baliyo pointed out.
Ma reaches for Timon.
TIMON:
Besides you, Ma.
Ma pauses and draws her paw back.
MA:
Uh, besides me? Um, there's, uh…
"I think it's just you." Kiburi stated.
TIMON:
I have to find my place, but it isn't here.
Timon starts to walk away, but Ma grabs him by the shoulders and forces him to sit.
MA:
Yes, it is. We just haven't found it yet. [Ma starts to comb Timon's hair.] But we will... Oh, here's an idea. You can run a trail–
"After what just happened, I don't think the other meerkats are going to let him do any jobs for a while. No offense, Timon." Tiifu reasoned. "None taken." He replied.
Timon ducks away from Ma and marches away.
TIMON:
Stop with the hair already. [Timon strides to the top of the hill, overlooking the open savanna.] My place is out there, Ma. Oh, I may not know exactly where or how far, but I gotta go!
Ma approaches Timon from behind, gesturing urgently.
MA:
No, wait, wait, wait. I know. If we just…
TIMON:
Ma.
Timon walks off. Ma watches him go sadly.
MA:
*sighs* Well, I hope you find what you're looking for, honey.
"It's hard letting your kids go out into the world. We knew Kion needed to go to the Tree of Life so he and Ono could be healed, but it was still tough saying goodbye. And when he chose to stay, we knew he'd be happy with Rani." Nala professed.
"I know, it's just that I was afraid to lose him. I've seen plenty of meerkats injured or lost in hyena attacks, including my mate when Timon was just a little pup. I wanted to keep him close, but it's a good thing I let him go." Ma admitted.
Timon's face lights up. He runs to Ma and embraces her.
MA:
Ooh. Ooh, I love you. Mmm!
TIMON:
I love you, Ma.
Ma hugs Timon so hard that he begins to slip until Ma is only hugging his head.
MA:
Oh, Timmy. My Timmy. [Ma hugs Timon so tightly that his back cracks.] Mmm-mmm…
"Pfft, Timmy?" Bunga laughed. "Ma would call me that when I was a kid." Timon blushed. "Don't worry, you're far from the only one here with an embarrassing nickname." Mufasa rumbled. "Isn't that right, Muffy?" Scar smirked at his brother, who reddened and grumbled something under his breath.
TIMON:
[strained] Mom…
MA:
Ooh.
TIMON:
[strained] Choking... Not breathing…
"Uh, you might want to let him go before you smother him." Beshte advised.
MA:
Ooh! Mmm, mmm, mmm!
TIMON:
And people wonder why I have issues. [Timon and Ma break their embrace. They clasp hands.] I'll be okay!
MA:
Oh, I know you will! You will. [Ma looks away. Slowly, Timon's hands pull away from hers. He smiles at her before marching off into the savanna. As he walks away, Ma calls after him.] Be careful!
Timon pauses.
TIMON:
I will!
'I hope she won't freak out at some of the stuff to follow.' Timon thought.
Timon continues walking.
MA:
Don't talk to strangers!
TIMON:
I know, Ma!
MA:
Remember, wash behind your ears!
Timon frowns, his gait slowing. He stops and looks back.
TIMON:
Ma, I'm not a kid anymore!
Everyone giggled at that, except the unreformed bad guys.
Timon continues walking.
MA:
Never go swimming without a buddy!
Timon rolls his eyes. He waves a hand dismissively.
TIMON:
Got it!
MA:
[barely audible] Send us a message!
Timon slows, his shoulders slumping in exasperation.
TIMON:
Oy. [shouting] What?!
"She said send them a message." Anga clarified.
MA:
[barely audible] I said, send us a message!
Timon squints uncertainly. He holds a hand to his ear.
TIMON:
[shouting] What?!
MA:
[barely audible] I said, send us a–
Timon waves a hand dismissively and continues walking.
TIMON:
Goodbye, Ma! [Timon keeps marching until he reaches an open grassy plain. He stops and stares in amazement. His voice is heard over footage of him marching across the plain.] And so, with high spirits, I boldly ventured off where no meerkat had dared to go before. I put my past behind me. Ha! And never looked back.
"I am on my way! I can go the distance! I don't care how far. Somehow I'll be strong. I know every mile will be worth my while. I would go most anywhere to find where I belong." Dusty sang.
The scene transitions to nighttime. Timon stops and bursts into tears.
*sobs* Mommy! Mommy! Ah! Ha, ha! [A wide shot shows that Timon is standing beneath Rafiki's tree.] What am I doing? [Timon falls onto his knees.] *sobs* Which way should I go?
"In my defense, I'd never been that far from home before and didn't know where I was going." Timon blushed bright red in embarrassment.
Rafiki hangs upside-down in front of Timon.
RAFIKI:
That depends on what you seek.
Timon rears backward.
Many animals yelped and jumped. "What is it with him randomly appearing and disappearing?" Azaad asked. "No idea. He's just like that." Fuli replied.
TIMON:
Ah! [In the theater, Timon clicks the remote, freezing the frame so that he is in mid-fall onscreen.] How convenient. Enter omniscient monkey, right on cue.
PUMBAA:
Well, you know what they say. When the student is ready, the teacher appears.
TIMON:
That's it. No more fortune cookies for you. [Timon clicks the remote, and the movie resumes. In the movie, Timon falls onto his back.] Hey, where'd you come from?
"Some fortune cookies can be really weird sometimes." Dusty stated. "I still remember that time you switched mine for a prank one you bought." Spirit shook her head.
RAFIKI:
*laughs* Oh, the better question is, where are you going?
TIMON:
Oh, someplace [Timon gestures dramatically.] wonderful, mister, where...where y... [Timon points at Rafiki.] You didn't happen to catch the song I sang a few minutes ago, did ya?
RAFIKI:
I didn't have the pleasure.
TIMON:
To recap: [Timon drums his fingers against one another.] I want to live in some beautiful place. Outside. [Timon clasps his hands.] A carefree place where I don't have to hide or worry.
"You could've come to the Tree Of Life if you wanted. It fits your description." Rani offered.
Rafiki drops onto the ground next to Timon, who backpedals a bit.
RAFIKI:
Whoo! Hoo, hoo, hoo! [Rafiki leans casually on his staff.] Life without worry. [Rafiki lounges against his staff like it's a chair.] You seek Hakuna Matata.
TIMON:
Harpoon a tomato?
RAFIKI:
Hakuna Matata. It means "no worries."
"For the rest of your days!" Dusty added.
TIMON:
Perfect! Mind taking that [Timon points at Rafiki's staff.] stick of yours and [Timon mimics drawing in the dirt.] drawing me a map, bub? [Rafiki hits Timon with his staff. He is now sitting on Timon's other side.] Ow! [Timon rubs his head.] Hey!
Rafiki sits in a position of meditation, his eyes closed.
RAFIKI:
To find it, you must look beyond what you see.
TIMON:
What the heck is that supposed to mean?
"My thoughts exactly." Kovu quipped.
From behind, Rafiki jabs Timon's head with a finger, turning it so he's poking Timon in the nose.
RAFIKI:
It means, [Rafiki gestures to the open savanna.] look beyond what you see!
Timon stares. He imitates Rafiki's voice.
TIMON:
Beyond what I see. Ha. Get a load of the monkey, gettin' all existential on me. Beyond what I see.
"Rafiki has always been cryptic. It's part of his personality." Sarabi noted.
Rafiki looks at a frog sitting on a rock.
FROG:
*croaks*
TIMON:
Hmm. [Timon looks farther, at a tree stump. The background music begins to swell.] Beyond what I see. [Timon looks farther, at a rockbed.] Beyond what I see.
Timon looks farther, at a tree on a hill.
It's kinda hard to think with all this music. Beyond...what I see... [Timon looks farther, to where Pride Rock is silhouetted against the moon.] Oh, wait a second. It's comin' to me. It's either that slug I ate, or I'm having an epiphany!
"I don't think it was the slug." Kion advised.
I'm going to the big pointy rock! [Timon points up at Rafiki's tree. Rafiki is gone.] Right? [Timon rubs his head.] Who was that strange monkey? Ah, well. Dream home, here I come.
Timon marches toward Pride Rock. He enters an area of tall grass. A snapping sound causes him to freeze in his tracks. He looks behind him at the waving grass. He backs away fearfully.
Ah. Oh. Hello? [Timon backs up onto a rock.] Strange but wise monkey?
BIRD:
[from offscreen] *caws*
A flock of birds takes to the air. Timon watches, his chest rising and falling visibly. From behind, something approaches through the grass.
"What was that?" Makini asked nervously. "You'll see." Timon knowingly smirked.
PUMBAA:
[from offscreen] *roars*
Timon wheels around.
TIMON:
*whimpers* [A bulky shape moves through the grass toward Timon.] Oh! [Timon falls backward off the rock.] Oh!
Timon flees into the grass. He looks fearfully over one shoulder. The unknown creature pursues him.
"Too small to be a lion or a leopard, too bulky to be a hyena, cheetah, or jackal, and too fast to be a croc. I'm not sure what this thing is." Ono tried to analyze the mystery creature, but with no luck.
PUMBAA:
*roars* [Timon keeps running until he runs straight into Pumbaa's snout.] *snorts*
TIMON:
*screams*
PUMBAA:
*screams*
Many animals laughed at the screaming. "Oh, it's only Pumbaa." Kiara giggled.
TIMON:
*screams*
PUMBAA:
*screams*
TIMON AND PUMBAA:
*scream*
From offscreen, the remote clicks, and the movie pauses.
PUMBAA:
[from offscreen] You know, first impressions are very important.
TIMON:
[from offscreen] Oh, I thought you were a scream.
"Wait a minute, this was how you met!" Bunga realized. "That's right!" Pumbaa confirmed.
From offscreen, the remote clicks, and the movie resumes.
TIMON AND PUMBAA:
*scream*
Timon and Pumbaa abruptly stop screaming. Timon falls onto his knees, clasping his hands.
TIMON:
Just eat me now! And please make it fast. I got a low threshold for pain.
PUMBAA:
Easy, easy there, [Pumbaa ducks down to Timon's level. Timon lies prostrate, dramatically holding one hand to his forehead.] little guy. I'm not gonna eat you.
"Yeah, he's not a predator. Well, except to bugs." Nirmala pointed out.
Timon looks up abruptly.
TIMON:
What? You're not? [Timon grabs Pumbaa's snout indignantly.] Then why were you stalking me?
Pumbaa straightens, causing Timon to let go of his snout.
PUMBAA:
Well, gee, I saw you go by, and I figured a little fella like you [Timon glares up at Pumbaa with his arms crossed.] shouldn't be out here all alone.
"Well, that was nice of you." Ma spoke up.
Timon walks in a circle.
TIMON:
Hey, what about you? You're all alone. [Timon looks around in sudden realization. He turns away from Pumbaa.] You are all alone, aren't you?
PUMBAA:
Yeah. Most animals give me a pretty wide berth.
"With good reason. His stench is atrocious!" Mama Binturong snarked.
Timon straightens, his eyes widening.
TIMON:
They do? Even the hungry ones?
PUMBAA:
Yeah, [Timon turns around and strides toward Pumbaa, cracking his fingers.] I drive almost everyone away. [Timon inspects one of Pumbaa's hooves.] People see me comin', and they run for cover. [Timon opens and closes Pumbaa's toes like they're a pair of scissors.] They can't get out of the way fast enough.
Some animals felt bad for the warthog, being unable to have friends before Timon came along.
Timon gingerly sets down Pumbaa's hoof.
TIMON:
You don't say. You don't say. Must be the gleam on those [Timon grabs Pumbaa's tusks.] vicious tusks, huh? Strikes fear into their hearts.
PUMBAA:
Actually, they say I wreck their appetite.
"I'll say. I thought I was going to be sick because it smelled so bad in the other room." Makucha complained.
TIMON:
Wow, it's like you have this...this... [Timon advances on Pumbaa, rubbing his hands together deviously.] special power.
Pumbaa backs away as Timon advances on him.
PUMBAA:
Special power? Well, i-it's pretty [Pumbaa glances at his rear.] powerful, all right.
"That's for sure." Madoa quipped.
Timon points at Pumbaa.
TIMON:
Perfect! You're hired.
PUMBAA:
[ecstatically] Great! [in confusion] For what?
Timon steers Pumbaa forward by one tusk.
TIMON:
To get me to a little worry-free haven out by that big pointy rock.
"You mean Pride Rock." Zazu corrected.
Pride Rock is seen silhouetted against the dawn sky.
PUMBAA:
And... [Pumbaa ducks down to Timon's level.] you want me to come with you?
TIMON:
*laughs* [Timon mimics looking around with a hand over his eyes.] Do you see any other big, lovable chunk of warthog here, who also happens to have [Timon leans on one of Pumbaa's tusks and raps it with his fingers.] razor-sharp tusks and the ability to repel predators?
"That would be Pumbaa." Kopa quipped.
Timon grins up at Pumbaa.
PUMBAA:
I'm your pig.
Timon climbs onto Pumbaa's snout.
TIMON:
You and me, I can tell... [Timon leans down toward one of Pumbaa's eyes.] We see eye to eye.
"Well yeah, he's standing on his snout." Cheezi piped up. "Not like that, fur-brain!" Janja barked.
PUMBAA:
You mean, [Pumbaa straightens.] like friends?
Timon backs up, holding up his hands.
TIMON:
Whoa, easy there, big fella. I'd say more like [Timon hops to the ground. He makes quotations with his fingers.] "acquaintances."
PUMBAA:
Oh. [brightening] Well, it's a start.
"The start of us becoming bestest best friends!" Pumbaa spoke happily.
Timon offers his hand to Pumbaa.
TIMON:
Put 'er there, acquaintance. [Timon and Pumbaa shake hands.] I'm Timon.
PUMBAA:
[emphatically] Pumbaa!
TIMON:
No, really. [Pumbaa grins at Timon, with cricket chirps in the background.] All right, then. [Timon walks off.] Let's hit the road.
PUMBAA:
You got it...acquaintance.
"And so, the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." Rafiki chuckled.
Pumbaa follows Timon, who walks backward toward Pride Rock.
TIMON:
So, clear up one thing for me. [Timon turns around and walks forward.] If you weren't gonna eat me, what kind of a wacky wild pig are you?
Pumbaa strides up to walk alongside Timon.
PUMBAA:
I'm an insectivore.
Timon pauses and puts his hands on his hips.
TIMON:
Oh-ho! A bug-eater! [Timon and Pumbaa continue walking.] Well, me too. I just never had a name for it. I'm kinda partial to the crawly critters myself. How about you, big boy?
PUMBAA:
I prefer the ones with wings.
TIMON:
Pumbaa, this could be the start of a beautiful...acquaintanceship.
"And that it was." Timon put his hand on Pumbaa's shoulder. "They're a couple of misfits, they're a couple of misfits. What's the matter with misfits? That's where they fit in!" Spirit and Dusty finished their song from earlier.
Well, that's it for this chapter! I really think that the song "We're a couple of Misfits" from Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer really fits Timon and Pumbaa. Both were outcasts- a meerkat who wasn't good at jobs in the colony and wanted to live aboveground and a warthog shunned for his gas- who found each other to fit in with. See you next time for the duo's arrival at the big pointy rock!