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SCRIPT
(A Political Satire/ Cartoon for Children of All Ages)
The Real Chicken Little
6 pages
| Characters: | 1 cute, young female chick | ||||
| 2 roosters | |||||
| 1 mother hen | |||||
| 1 cross-eyed hen | |||||
| 1 old hen |
Extras: Assorted hens and other barnyard animals
| Setting: | Barnyard | ||
| Henhouse Exterior | |||
| Henhouse Interior | |||
FADE IN:
ON SCREEN: BROWN
Pulling away to reveal an acorn. Bird's eye view of barnyard.
EXT. BARNYARD - MORNING
TWO ROOSTERS lean on a fence overseeing their domain. SOCKEYE
SAM, a big, shrewd, battle scarred rooster is the lord of
the roost. He leans over to whisper to his sidekick, SLICK
CAL, a bald, cigar chewing, banty with a furrowed brow.
SLICK CAL
... Great opportunity. Lot of money
to be made there...
SOCKEYE SAM
Perhaps... Definitely a valuable
piece of information.
The two nod in agreement. A PIERCING SHRIEK.
SOURCE OF SHRIEK.
CHICKEN LITTLE, a fluffy chick with gigantic wide blue eyes
holds her head and stares up into the sky.
CHICKEN LITTLE
(Screaming)
The sky is falling. The sky is
falling. SCREAM
She runs toward the chicken house with the other terrified
CACKLING chickens. At the door, a big breasted MOTHER HEN
swoops her wing around Chicken Little and hustles her inside.
SLICK CAL
Best get over there and check that
out.
SOCKEYE SAM
No need to rush. Give 'em a minute
to settle down.
The two roosters survey the barnyard where other animals
move about unconcerned by the frenzy in the henhouse.
SOCKEYE SAM (CONT'D)
Hard to deal with hysterical women.
As the roosters amble toward the chicken house the SHRIEKS
subside into a mix of FRIGHTENED CLUCKS and WORDS.
INT. HENHOUSE - MORNING CONT
FRAIDY CHICKEN
The sky. Big piece. Fell on her.
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2.
CROSS-EYED DORA
I saw it. Big blue chunk.
CHICKEN LITTLE
(Crying)
The sky hit me on the head.
MOTHER HEN
There there, Darling.
Mother Hen draws her chick to her bosom and rubs her head.
MOTHER HEN (CONT'D)
It was probably just an acorn.
CHICKEN LITTLE (crying)
I didn't see an acorn.
MOTHER HEN
You know how those big old acorns
fall into the barnyard sometimes.
CHICKEN LITTLE
Mama! I know what acorns look like.
FRAIDY CHICKEN
Not an acorn. Had to be the sky.
CROSS-EYED DORA
Big blue chunk. Saw it myself.
EXT. BARNYARD - MORNING CONT
Sockeye Sam and Quick Cal saunter across the barnyard. As
they approach the henhouse, Sam kicks a large acorn aside.
SOCKEYE SAM
Ladies. Ladies. It appears we have
a disaster. How can I be of service?
Slick Cal rolls his eyes and bites down hard on his cigar.
The hens rush outside and huddle in the safety of their porch.
.
SOCKEYE SAM (CONT'D)
Where's that precious Chicken Little?
SNIFFLING Chicken Little shyly approaches Sam.
SOCKEYE SAM (CONT'D)
Tell Old Sam what happened, Darlin'.
CHICKEN LITTLE
I was walking across the yard to get
some corn for breakfast and something
real real big fell down out of the
sky and hit me right on the head.
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3.
SLICK CAL
Honey, that was just an acorn...
SOCKEYE SAM
Let the child speak, Cal.
Cal retreats under his furrowed brows and chomps on his cigar.
Sam draws the cute little chick close to him.
SOCKEYE SAM (CONT'D)
So what happened then, Sweetheart?
CHICKEN LITTLE
So I looked up to see what it was.
And all I could see was blue.
SOCKEYE SAM
Just the sky.
CHICKEN LITTLE
(nodding)
There was nothin' up there but sky.
And right away I knew...
The chick looks earnestly into Sam's eyes and clings to him.
SOCKEYE SAM
You're sure the sky is falling?
CHICKEN LITTLE (nodding)
I'm sure.
SOCKEYE SAM
Well, we'll have to do something
about that, won't we.
Sam gives the chick a hug and sends her back to her mother.
SOCKEYE SAM (CONT'D)
Ladies, I suggest you all stay here
in the shelter of your porch. Don't
take any unnecessary risks. Be
vigilant and alert while I assess
the situation and consider our options
in the face of such danger.
The hens cluck and nod in agreement as Sam and Cal walk away.
SLICK CAL
What danger? It was an acorn and
you know it!
SOCKEYE SAM
Terrified hens don't lay many eggs.
Gotta make the girls feel safe again.
CUT TO:
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4.
EXT. HENHOUSE - MORNING - THE FOLLOWING DAY
SOCKEYE SAM (O.S.)
Come on out, Ladies. No need to
worry about falling sky any more.
BRIGHT BLUE PEDDLER'S CART
Curious and wary, the hens gather around the cart.
SLICK CAL
Get your falling sky protection here.
Sam proudly holds up a bicycle helmet covered in cotton puffs.
SOCKEYE SAM
From now on, our flock will be safe.
These are falling sky helmets!
The hens try on helmets and admire themselves. Nobody notices
price tags hanging off each of the helmets.
SOCKEYE SAM (CONT'D)
Where's my precious Chicken Little?
With a huge helmet hiding her head, she stumbles up.
Sam replaces her ugly helmet with a very fancy tiny one.
SOCKEYE SAM (CONT'D)
Custom made, just for you.
Sam lifts her up, sets her on the counter for all to admire.
CROSS-EYED DORA
I want a helmet like Chicken Little's.
SLICK CAL
That one's top of the line. Can't
get that for just one nest egg.
FRAIDY CHICKEN
You mean we have to pay for these?
The hens read price tags, shake their heads, and CLUCK.
SOCKEYE SAM
Ladies, we are running a business
here. This is called overhead.
Cal almost bites the end off his cigar to stifle his laugh.
SLICK CAL (V.O.)
I'll say it's over their heads.
There's nothing in their heads.
SOCKEYE SAM
This is a deductible business expense.
Sam holds up samples of each of the helmet styles.
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5.
SOCKEYE SAM (CONT'D)
The basic helmet will keep you
adequately covered and is priced to
fit even the most modest budget.
SLICK CAL
At just one small nest egg, you get
the standard model at our cost.
FRAIDY CHICKEN
I like this one with the ribbons,
but it's two and a half nest eggs.
Where am I supposed to get that?
SLICK CAL
You're working girls. Go pull some
loot out from under your mattress.
SOCKEYE SAM
Consider this like insurance. You're
protecting your equity.
CROSS-EYED DORA
I want one like Chicken Little got.
CHICKEN LITTLE'S HELMET and hens lusting for it.
SOCKEYE SAM
If that is the helmet of your dreams,
we can work out a finance plan.
SLICK CAL
Just come up with the down payment
and you can get anything you want.
The hens dash off to the henhouse then flock around the helmet
stand with their nest eggs and assorted trinkets.
CUT TO:
EXT. BARNYARD - MORNING - THE FOLLOWING DAY
Sam and Cal pull up in fancy new golf cart. Sporting fine
new clothes and smoking expensive cigars, they survey their
peaceful domain.
All the chickens are wearing their falling sky helmets,
contentedly scratching around in the barnyard.
Sam and Cal smile and nod their heads.
SOCKEYE SAM
Nothing like a contented work force.
FADE TO BLACK