Heart of Lion Script

HEART OF A LION

LION: [Roars] It is time to gather for a meeting. . . I am announcing the arrival of a new citizen in our jungle! You are to treat him with the same respect you show each other!

[All wildcats speak at once]
LYNX: A new feline, huh?
PANTHER: Another?
CHEETAH: Is he striped or spotted?
JAGUAR: The jungle's getting pretty crowded. . .
LEOPARD: How can there be yet another new species?

TIGER: [Steps forth] Present yourself, newcomer!
CAT: Mew?

[Momemtary silence]

[All wildcats speak at once]
ALL: MYAHAHAHAHA!
CHEETAH: What a pipsqueak!
LYNX: How ugly!
JAGUAR: Ew, it smells like human!
PANTHER: Must be a baby!
TIGER: You call that thing a jungle cat?! Hah!

LION: Silence!!!  See, I found this fellow near humans and rescued him. I will raise him as one of us. His name. . . is Cat.



[Start music]
[Practicing pouncing]
LION: No, no. You pounce like this.
CAT: Urrmph!

[Tasting a mouse]
LION: How does it taste, Cat?
CAT: Delicious! Like nothing I've ever tasted before!

[Practicing running]
LION: You're doing great, Cat!

[Practicing fighting]

[Spring changes to Summer]

[Cat approaches CHEETAH and LYNX]
CAT: Hello!
CHEETAH: Bug off!
LYNX: Heh! Yeah, pipsqueak!!
[Music stops, and CAT walks sadly away.]



CAT: [thinking] I have to do something to earn their respect. . . But what?
CAT: . . . Hey! Lion is respected by all the jungle! I don't know what it is, but. . . but maybe if I try to be just like him, they'll like me, too!

CAT: [thinking] I should start with the mane. [Rolls in twigs]
CAT: Mrrrr. . . MrrRRawr!

[Summer changes to Autumn]

[CAT looks at self in puddle]
CAT: [Nods] I'm ready. [Runs off]


LION: [Roars] I have called us together to discuss -
[CAT leaps on the rock, by LION's side. The wildcats all gasp.]
LION: What are you doing, young Cat?
CAT: My name is no longer Cat. . . I am LION! Hear me roar!!!
LION: [sighs] Don't do this, Cat. I am Lion. You are a cat, and that's that.
CAT: NO! I -
LION: Please, just listen to me. Look at you. Calling yourself a lion? We were made the way we are on purpose. The world made me a lion, and you a cat. Don't you see? You're meant to be that way. Please, stop this foolishness.
CAT: Oh, you're right, Lion. . . Will you ever forgive me?
LION: Of course. I already have.
[All wildcats cheer. CAT leaps off the rock.]
LION: Ahem. I have called us together to discuss the coming season of snow. You all know it is the jungle's hardest time, but I believe we can conquer it if we just work together. I will need everyone to start hunting.

[Autumn changes to Winter, to Spring.]

[CAT is grooming mane out of fur. CHEETAH,  LYNX, and PANTHER approach him.]
CHEETAH, LYNX, and PANTHER: Hi, cat.
CAT: Hello, Lynx. Hi, Panther. Hey, Cheetah.
PANTHER: You've been pretty brave, Cat.
CHEETAH: You're a one-of-a-kind!
LYNX: Want to hunt sometime?


[CAT stares at reflection in puddle.]
CAT: Cat. . . My name is Cat. [thinking] And I wouldn't want it to be anything else.


THE END