FADE IN:
INT. CAVE - DAY.
We see lots of different cave paintings, some of hunters hunting animals like bison, mammoths and zebras. We then see a pride of cheetahs running across the walls, and then the paintings change into humanoid cheetahs, the males wearing loincloths and the females wearing loincloths around their chests and groins. It then stops at a huge handprint with a scar embedded in the middle of it.
OPENING TITLE: “WHERE TRUE HAPPINESS LIES”
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
EXT. FOREST - COTTAGE. AFTERNOON.
It is still and quiet, save for the twittering of birds in the background. This is a lovely little cottage in the woods, with honeysuckle and red roses growing all round the door. There is complete silence for a minute…then, the door opens. Out of the door pokes the head of a curious, shy little girl wearing a cheetah onesie and carrying a teddy with her. Her name is Sophie. She is unsure of her surroundings at the moment…and then steps out, closing the door behind her. She looks around, then makes her way to the gate, opening it and stepping out. She sets off into the forest to begin her long excursion.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FOREST. SUNDOWN.
Sophie continues walking along the forest. She steps on a twig, making her jump a little. She looks around, fearing for the worst…but nothing happens. She sighs, and continues on her way, clutching her teddy in case of fear.
We have a MONTAGE of Sophie walking across the forest, still clutching her beloved toy in case of any danger.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FOREST. NIGHT.
Sophie comes to two paths. She is unsure which one to take. She looks at one path, then the other. One, then the other. One, then the other. She is confused. She looks up, and sees a signpost. One sign states: ‘Meadow Wood’. The other says, ‘Dead End’. She thinks for a moment. Then, she decides at last - Meadow Wood! She marches off into meadow wood, swinging her teddy around with her.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. DARK WOOD. DAY.
Sophie wanders across the wood in fear, clutching her teddy in her arms. A myriad of creepy noises fill the air - owls hooting, birds screeching and what have you. Suddenly, a HOWL fills the air! Sophie freezes dead in her tracks and looks around quickly again. She is now frozen on the spot, shivering in fear. She cuddles her teddy, whimpering in distress.
A PAIR OF RED EYES
Open from the darkness of the bush.
Sophie spins around and looks at the red eyes staring at her in the bushes. She cowers in fear and backs further away…further…and further…until at last, a large grey wolf jumps out! It roars, and Sophie SCREAMS!
SOPHIE
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Sophie runs away into the forest as the wolf gives chase, gnashing at her tail with every time she slows down. But Sophie isn’t about to give up yet, she keeps running, with the wolf running after her, gnashing and scratching at her but just missing. Suddenly, Sophie trips over a rock, dropping her teddy behind her! Sophie gets up shakily, and sees the wolf following behind. She runs for it, and notices a ditch nearby. She jumps in - SPLAT! Into the mud.
THE WOLF
Sees the teddy left behind and rips it to shreds.
WITH SOPHIE
She peers out the ditch to see this terrible sight.
SOPHIE
Teddy!
The wolf walks off into the distance, carrying Sophie’s teddy’s severed head in its mouth. Sophie just buries her face in her knees, her cheetah onesie covered in mud, and begins to sob. Teddy’s gone…forever.
DISSOLVE:
EXT. FOREST. NIGHT.
Sophie sadly walks across the forest, scratches on her hand and her cheetah onesie covered in mud, and sits by the tree, all alone. There is silence for a minute. Then, she says grumpily to herself:
SOPHIE
My teddy’s gone. Everyone’s always making up rules for me - my mum, that wolf, everyone! I wish I could lead my own tribe, then I could seek a perfect revenge. That’s what tribes do, seek revenge.
(excitedly)
Yes! I shall have my own tribe! I shall be the leader!
Suddenly, tribal drum beats sound in the distance. Sophie looks around slowly, curious. She slowly creeps over to another tree, crouching down low, and then rises up and peers round to see a strange warm glow in the distance. Sophie begins to follow the glow.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. CHEETAH TRIBE VILLAGE. NIGHT.
A group of four cheetahs - two males named Heat and Turbo, and two females named Fighter and Flawless - are banging on tribal drums. So that’s who’s making that tribal drum music!
FRONT FOCUS - SOPHIE’S FOOT
Stepping into frame.
SOPHIE
Watches in curiosity.
WITH THE CHEETAH TRIBE
Banging on wooden drums as another, younger male cheetah brings forth a furry sacrifice - it looks familiar. It’s the wolf from earlier. At the front of the group is a 4,000 year old teenage Egyptian mummy, Zura. The wimpy, scruffy-furred young male cheetah, named Pup, drops the sacrifice in front of Zura.
ZURA
Silence!
On command, silence falls. Zura examines the dead body of the wolf carefully.
ZURA
Hmmmm…good catch, Pup. Your uselessness may come in useful someday.
PUP
I don’t want to be called Pup. I want to be called by my real name, Shotgun.
Heat and Turbo giggle. Flawless facepalms.
ZURA
I will name you by your given name, huntsman. You will be named Pup, and that’s final.
Zura takes out a huge carving dagger and holds it over her head, aiming it at the wolf’s stomach.
ZURA
Now, let us witness what the wolf had eaten!
Zura cuts open the wolf’s dead body, revealing intestines, fluff and parts of a teddy bear.
WITH SOPHIE
The young girl gasps. It’s…it’s…it’s…HER OWN TEDDY!
FLASH OF WHITE TO:
FLASHBACK:
Sophie runs away from the wolf.
FLASH OF WHITE.
The wolf rips up Sophie’s teddy bear.
SOPHIE
(O.S.)
Teddy!
FLASH OF WHITE TO:
EXT. CHEETAH TRIBE VILLAGE. NIGHT.
END FLASHBACK.
Sophie realises it’s her bear, and races into the village, waving her arms wildly.
SOPHIE
STOP! That’s my bear!
The entire tribe looks around to see the unique outsider in their ranks. Sophie steps up, not afraid to face the human cheetahs.
SOPHIE
(calmer)
Allow me to talk to your leader.
TURBO
What on earth is she doing here?
FLAWLESS
I don’t know. But she’s of flesh, not of bandages and fur like us and our leader.
PUP
Ooh! Ooh! Can we be friends?
Heat, the strongest male cheetah, bonks his younger brother on the head. Stars begin to float around Pup’s head.
PUP
Baa-baa-boo-boo…
HEAT
We have to trust them first.
(to his tribe)
If two members of the tribe will speak for Sophie, she may stay!
(to Sophie)
Now, Sophie, feel free to talk with our leader.
Sophie walks up to Zura and nervously bows low. She nervously glances at the leader, then at the rest of the cheetah tribe. She peers into the corpse of the wolf, and sees her teddy’s remains.
SOPHIE
That’s my bear!
PUP
(calling)
You said that!
It’s Fighter’s turn to bonk Pup on the head, and he comically falls over. Sophie asks Zura:
SOPHIE
Did you really save my life when you killed that wolf for your tribe?
ZURA
I sent one of the tribe to kill it for you. You should be grateful we called for your help. When I asked Pup to kill him for you, we looked at the label swallowed up by the wolf. It had your name written on it in black ink. It’s a little run down now because of the bodily liquid used to make the wolf run and jump and everything, but I thought you might like to see it.
Zura reaches into the corpse and pulls out a part of the teddy bear which has Sophie’s name written on the label - and it’s covered with bile and gore. Yuck! Sophie screams, and the cheetahs gross out. Turbo gets out a bucket from out of nowhere and vomits into it.
SOPHIE
(calmer)
So…er…this label has my name on it? I forgot.
ZURA
We were just about to examine it when you showed up, outsider. We will punish anyone who comes into our territory with death and exile, but on this occasion, I officially say, no.
HEAT/TURBO/FLAWLESS/FIGHTER/PUP
(excited for Sophie)
Yeah!/Yippee!/Heh-hey!/Welcome, Sophie!
Sophie leaps off the podium as the tribe gathers around her, shaking her hand and high-fiving her. Suddenly, silence falls again as Fighter, the youngest cheetah, states:
FIGHTER
Woah woah woah, hold up, hold up. We haven’t introduced ourselves yet.
TURBO
Yeah, we need an introduction, or else this outsider won’t know who we are!
The cheetahs laugh. Sophie laughs too, although her laughter fades out when she nervously looks at the cheetahs, who all look fierce.
HEAT
I’m Heat, the strongest cheetah in the tribe. Gotta love my muscles, they’re as ace as my flexibility. Seen the amount of protein shakes in my cabin?
SOPHIE
(giggles)
Protein shakes.
TURBO
And I’m Turbo, I can run as fast as a hare. Up to 101 miles, I presume.
SOPHIE
Do you run really fast?
TURBO
Us cheetahs are gifted with the power of speed. We run really fast. As fast as the wind.
SOPHIE
Wow!
PUP
And I’m Pup. I’m a little lanky because of how I look, but I’m still a teenager, right?
SOPHIE
Of course, I can care for you.
PUP
You are so going to be my friend.
FLAWLESS
And I’m Flawless, the sassy one. Predators don’t stand a chance against me. It should’ve been me who hunted that wolf and saved your bear, but luckily someone brought that lanky little Pup to get it for you. His spears aren’t even strong!
PUP
Are too!
FLAWLESS
Are not!
FIGHTER
Cut it out!
(to Sophie)
I’m Fighter. Don’t mind me, I’m just a loner looking for attention, that’s all. I’m also the voice of responsibility in this tribe, but you are to be it too.
SOPHIE
(shocked)
WHAT?!
TURBO
Well, since you’re here with us, you look like the certain queen you’re looking for!
ZURA
I’m afraid, yes. By the way, did I forget to mention who I am? I’m Zura, the young leader of this cheetah tribe. For years, we’ve wandered the forest searching for a queen, and you look like just the right one to be our leader.
PUP
You can’t step down as our leader, not now!
ZURA
Not me, I think Sophie here is going to be our queen!
HEAT/TURBO/FLAWLESS/FIGHTER/PUP
(realising)
Oh!/I get it!/Yeah.
Sophie steps up onto the podium and addresses everyone, who spins around and looks up. Sophie announces:
SOPHIE
Cheetahs like you will go extinct in a lifetime! If we work together not as friends, not as a team, but as a family, we will hold onto each other and stand up for what’s right until the very end!
ZURA
Time for me to step down, I presume.
SOPHIE
So anyone who wants to join me in this remarkable revolution, lend me your voices!
Heat and the other cheetahs begin roaring loudly. Zura roars too, though her roars are stronger than the other cheetahs. Sophie leaps down from the podium and beats her chest, yelling loudly. She screams:
SOPHIE
We’re going to set this forest on fire!
Sophie, Zura and the cheetahs race out into the forest to play.
BEGIN MONTAGE:
EXT. FOREST - DAWN.
A). Sophie, Zura and the cheetahs roll down a muddy hill, Sophie’s cheetah onesie getting a lot more dirty than before. Heat grabs Sophie in his arms and hugs her as they roll in the mud.
B). Sophie plays hide and seek with the tribe. All the tribe hides while Sophie counts. Once she reaches 10, she goes in search of the tribe. While walking past a bush, Zura and her tribe leap out and land on top of her, laughing. Sophie laughs as Zura playfully hugs her.
C). Sophie and her cheetah tribe swing through the trees like monkeys, yelling like howler monkeys. Zura swings using her bandages, but she accidentally ties up Pup in her linen, causing him to hang upside down. Everyone yells:
SOPHIE/HEAT/TURBO/FLAWLESS/FIGHTER
Zura!
D). Sophie and her friends race to the top of a cliff and roar to the heavens as the sun rises. Everyone hugs Sophie playfully, and Zura grabs her, placing her on her shoulders.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. FOREST. MORNING.
END MONTAGE.
Zura carries Sophie all around the forest as the tribe does all the things a cheetah would do - laze about in the sun, eat scraps of raw meat or use trees as scratching posts.
SOPHIE
So…your tribe doesn’t obey any rules?
ZURA
Yep, no rules, no fuss. Now that you’re our leader, we can all agree that you would make a great one.
PUP
(O.S.)
I still, have, FLEAS!
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