DANIEL LION'S LAND OF IMAGINATION Written by Greg Tindale

[email protected] GregTindale.com 301.755.4672 WGA Registration #1878412

FADE IN TEASER EXT. BALTIMORE SUBURBS - DAY Establishing shot of brick rowhomes in a modest community. We pan in closer as the theme song begins. SONG It’s a beautiful day in this community. EXT. FRONT PORCH - DAY - CONTINUOUS The red, FRONT DOOR, is open. We enter. SONG A beautiful day for a friend. INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS A modest room.

The bookshelf hosts:

An old photo of a young, smiling FRED ROBERTS on the set of his TV show surrounded by the hand puppets of ADAM LION, Z THE CROW and HARPER THE SQUIRREL. A framed TIME magazine cover from 1986 that reads “The Parenting Issue - Fred Roberts, the man you want raising your children.” In the bottom corner of the cover it reads “Bill Cosby - what America’s TV Dad can teach your daughters” A crystal, TV Hall of Fame award. SONG Would you be mine? mine?

Could you be

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS On the kitchen table stacks of fan mail are unopened. paper lays open with a cover story reading: Mourning City Hosts Funeral For Beloved TV Icon SONG It’s a friendly day in this community. A friendly day for a friend.

A news

2. INT. BASEMENT - CONTINUOUS The basement is set up to look like the TV set from the earlier photo. A model train track runs along the edge of the room. A banner reads: Anything is possible in the Land of Imagination. SONG Would you be mine? mine?

Could you be

We hear FURNITURE being moved around and pan across a wall of photos including: A young Fred Roberts with his WIFE at the altar getting married. Fred Roberts holds an Adam Lion puppet up and Wife holds an EVE LION puppet up. The puppets are kissing, obscuring the face of the PRIEST behind them. SONG (CONT’D) I have always wanted to have a friend just like you. Photo 1: A young Fred Roberts and his now PREGNANT wife sit on a life sized TRAIN CAR with a banner that reads: Special Delivery! SONG (CONT’D) I’ve always wanted to live in a community with you. Photo 2: A more stern looking Fred Roberts with a newborn baby. The mother is nowhere to be seen. SONG (CONT’D) So, let’s make the most of this beautiful day. Photo 3: Fred Roberts sewing together the hand puppet of KING JANUARY, with his eight year old son, GORDON ROBERTS in the background. SONG (CONT’D) Since we’re together we might as well say... Photo 4: A more stern looking Fred Roberts with Gordon at his high school graduation. Gordon wears a pair of beat up Converses with his graduation gown open to a T shirt from the band Nirvana. Gordon’s long hair and angst contradict his buttoned up father.

3. SONG (CONT’D) Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my friend? We hold on the last photo for a beat before... From above, a PAIR OF CONVERSES SLAM into frame. The shoes dangle off the ground. We pan up to see a grown up Gordon Roberts (35) HANGING himself with a belt tied around a PIPE on the ceiling. Gordon doesn’t put up a fight as he hangs until... Laying on the floor, his CELL PHONE BUZZES. A text message reads: I was wrong... Gordon sees the message and furrows his brow. Another text reads: Come back. Gordon’s eyes go wide. He grabs at the belt around his neck trying to loosen it. The pipe wobbles. Another text reads: I want you back. Gordon’s legs kick wildly towards the wall, searching for a foothold. The toy train track is just out of reach. The pipe wobbles even more like it might give from it’s bracket on the wall. TRAINY, a TOY TRAIN rolls out along the track from inside a toy mountain towards Gordon. Gordon watches the train as it gets closer. leaving his body.

The life is

The train stops right by Gordon’s feet. TRAINY DING! DING! Gordon swings and kicks with all his might. The tip of his shoe catches the top of Trainy. Gordon gets a little breathing room. Trainy rolls a little farther. Gordon’s eyes bulge in disbelief as he begins to choke again.

4. With all of his might he pushes off Trainy. The pipe is ALMOST ready to pull off the wall. SONG Won’t you please? Won’t you please? Please, won’t you be my friend? A smile comes across Gordon’s face as his EYES CLOSE. The screen goes BLACK. GORDON’S POV His eyes flutter open. The colors of his vision are much more vibrant than the confines of the basement he was just in. EXT. THE LAND OF IMAGINATION - DAY Gordon lies on his back looking up at a CARTOON sky. He sits up and looks at his HANDS which are also a cartoon. He looks to his side and sees a life sized version of a cartoon Trainy. The entire world is an ANIMATED CARTOON. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON What the fuck? END TEASER

5. ACT I EXT. THE LAND OF IMAGINATION - CONTINUOUS Gordon checks his pulse. His heart is beating. He rubs his neck. He looks at his reflection in Trainy’s metal wheelhouse. There are no marks where the belt was tied. GORDON I wasn’t trying to kill myself. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON I don’t care what it looked like. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON You’re a fucking liar! Jesus, I’m a crazy person talking to a cartoon train. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON No shit this is a weird place. My Dad invented it. (sarcastically) Anything is possible in the Land of Imagination. Gordon stands up. GORDON (CONT’D) I gotta be in a dream. Gordon looks around and sees a bright blue sky. Fluffy white clouds. Bright green grass. Am I dead? Hell?

GORDON (CONT’D) Is this my own personal

TRAINY DING! DING!

6. GORDON What kind of answer is You’re a real piece of Trainy. Are there any people here I can talk figure out how to wake

‘Maybe’? shit, actual to and up?

TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON Mr. McFelty? That goody two shoes always skeeved me out. Going through everyone’s packages like some pervert. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON Fine. Take me into town. Gordon steps on to Trainy and sits down. GORDON (CONT’D) And don’t tell anybody about what you saw in the basement. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON Fuck you. I’m not going to put my seat belt on. I’m probably dead. Trainy starts rolling, then slams on the breaks. Gordon jerks forward hitting his face on the seat in front of him. He winces in pain and rubs his nose. GORDON (CONT’D) A real piece of shit... Gordon buckles his seat belt.

Trainy rolls down the road.

EXT. TRAINY - MOVING Gordon watches as the cartoon town passes by. He sees a TREE HOUSE with a life sized CROW, Z THE CROW wearing a bow tie and reading glasses, who is sweeping the floor. A life sized SQUIRREL, HARPER THE SQUIRREL wears a dress with a bow in her hair. She arranges a flower box and smiles at the crow.

7. GORDON The puppets. They’re all alive. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON I’m more alive than you are. (under his breath) I think. They pass a giant CASTLE, a home with a front door shaped like a GUITAR, a building shaped like a GRANDFATHER CLOCK, a SCHOOL HOUSE, a building with a roof the shape of a MUFFIN. EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS - GORDON’S POV DANIEL LION, 4 a child sized lion stands next to PRINCE February, 16 a human wearing a regal outfit with a crown, who is yelling at Daniel. Prince February pushes Daniel and he falls on his butt. EXT. TRAINY - MOVING GORDON No fucking way. Gordon hops off Trainy. EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS Gordon rushes over and pushes Prince February to the ground. GORDON What’s your problem you little ahole? PRINCE FEBRUARY How dare you put your hands on royalty! GORDON I don’t care if you are the God damn Burger King and the kid just stole your Whopper, you don’t push around kids smaller than you. Prince February stands up and gets right in Gordon’s face.

8. PRINCE FEBRUARY You just made a mistake you’re going to regret for the rest of your tiny life. Gordon leans in even further into Prince February’s face. GORDON I’m the wrong person to threaten about having a short life. PRINCE FEBRUARY Who the hell do you think you are? MCFELTY (O.C.) He’s my nephew. MR. MCFELTY, 50s human, wears glasses and a postman’s uniform and stands next to Trainy. PRINCE FEBRUARY I never heard that you had a nephew. Gordon looks confused. MCFELTY Yup, he’s visiting from three towns over. PRINCE FEBRUARY Well you better educate him on who is in charge in the Land of Imagination. Prince February adjusts his crown and stares at Gordon. PRINCE FEBRUARY (CONT’D) We don’t like outsiders here. Prince February walks off. MCFELTY Are you okay, Daniel? DANIEL I sure am Mr. McFelty. (to Gordon) Hi friend! I sure am excited to meet Mr. McFelty’s nephew. Thank you for helping me. GORDON No problem.

9. DANIEL I just had one question... Sure.

GORDON

DANIEL You said you shouldn’t ever pick on kids who are littler than you... but Prince February is a kid and he’s littler than you, and you pushed him. Gordon kneels down next to Daniel. GORDON Sometimes when there is a problem, you gotta push someone around to teach them a lesson. Daniel processes this information. MCFELTY Why don’t we get you home, Daniel. TRAINY DING! DING! DANIEL I love riding on Trainy! Daniel and Mr. McFelty climb on Trainy. GORDON Yeah, he’s the best. Gordon kicks Trainy’s metal wheelhouse hard before stepping on. Trainy rides away. EXT. TRAINY - MOVING Gordon and Mr. McFelty sit a row back from Daniel, out of earshot. MCFELTY How did you get here, Gordon? GORDON How do you know my name? MCFELTY I know your father. He hasn’t visited for a long time.

10. GORDON Well Dad’s dead if you haven’t heard. Mr. McFelty sits deep in thought with the news. MCFELTY That’s too bad. He was a good man. GORDON What the fuck is going on here? Am I dead? MCFELTY Not exactly. When your father created the Land of Imagination he tapped into an energy he did not understand. We’re in a... middle place. GORDON You said my father visited, so there has to be a way to get back to the real world. Mr. McFelty goes silent for a moment. Pondering on his options. MCFELTY I can help you. Your father kept a safe deposit box at the post office. There will be information inside to point us in the right direction. GORDON Whatever it takes. I just want to get out of this twisted cartoon. Trainy pulls up in front of Daniel Lion’s house. DANIEL Thanks Trainy! TRAINY DING! DING! Daniel hops off Trainy and walks to the front door. Mr. McFelty and Gordon hop off and follow Daniel to the door. MCFELTY It’s imperative that you lay low while you are here. (MORE)

11. MCFELTY (CONT'D) We don’t want it to seem like anything is out of the ordinary. GORDON How am I supposed to do that? MCFELTY You’re going to stay with your brother. GORDON My brother? The front door swings open. ADAM LION, 35 a life sized lion wears the exact same blue hooded sweatshirt as Gordon. Aside from being a lion, he looks exactly like Gordon. Gordon is shocked. Fuck me.

GORDON (CONT’D) END ACT I

12. ACT II EXT. DANIEL LION’S HOME - CONTINUOUS ADAM Where is my big, strong lion? Here I am!

DANIEL

Daniel runs and jumps into Adam’s arms. They hug. Gordon is still in shock. GORDON You’ve gotta be kidding me. ADAM Hello Mr. McFelty.

Hello friend.

MCFELTY This is my nephew, Gordon. (to Gordon) This is Adam lion. ADAM Any family of Mr. McFelty is welcome in our home. Come on in. INT. DANIEL LION’S HOME - CONTINUOUS Gordon and Mr. McFelty enter the home. DANIEL Daddy lion, will you play jungle explorer with me? ADAM I sure will. (to Gordon and Mr. McFelty) I’ll be right back. Daniel and Adam lion run off. GORDON So my Dad fucked a lion? MCFELTY That’s not really how it works. Just stay here until I get back. (MORE)

13. MCFELTY (CONT'D) Too many people have seen you already. Mr. McFelty heads to the door. GORDON You’re just going to leave me here? I need some answers! Mr. McFelty exits. EVE (O.S.) Adam have you seen my razor? EVE LION 35 a life sized lion, walks out of the bathroom wearing only a towel. She sees Gordon and jumps back startled. Oh my! Holy shit.

EVE (CONT’D) GORDON

Gordon can’t help but stare.

Adam rushes in.

ADAM Eve, meet Gordon, Mr. McFelty’s nephew. EVE (to Gordon) Nice to meet you. (to Adam) Can I talk to you for a second? Adam and Eve go into the next room. Daniel walks back in with a stack of pillows. He starts throwing the pillows on the ground. DANIEL I’m going to pretend that I’m a jungle explorer and these pillows are rocks in a river. GORDON (distracted) Sure rocks in a river... INT. BEDROOM DANIEL LION’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS Eve is up in Adam’s face.

14. EVE Why are you inviting people into our home without telling me? ADAM I’m sorry, they were just at the front door and... INT. LIVING ROOM DANIEL LION’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS Gordon tries to casually watch the fight through the doorway. Gordon’s back is to Daniel. EVE (O.S.) I was in a towel in front of some random stranger. What if I had a nip slip? ADAM (O.S.) I’m sure no one saw your nip slip... GORDON (to Daniel over his shoulder) Did you see a nip slip? A what?

DANIEL

GORDON Never mind. Daniel looks directly to camera, breaking the fourth wall with Gordon in the background. DANIEL Hi Friend! Do you want to imagine that we are having a river adventure? GORDON (over his shoulder) What did you say kid? Daniel waits as if he is getting a response from viewers at home. DANIEL I thought you would. Let’s pretend!

15. INT. BEDROOM DANIEL LION’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS Eve pulls a dress over her body. Adam sulks. EVE The nip slip isn’t the issue. seems like everyday something falling through the cracks. I know where your head has been last few months. Eve, I...

It is don’t the

ADAM

EVE Harper the Squirrel and Katherine are on their way over for a play date with Daniel. Get out of the house for a little to clear your head. Try and pull yourself together before you come home. INT. LIVING ROOM DANIEL LION’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS Adam enters sheepishly.

Gordon stands awkwardly.

GORDON I didn’t see a single nipple. ADAM It’s fine, friend. I need to go over to Instrument Earl’s to pick up a trombone. GORDON Can I stay here? Adam looks back to see Eve glaring. ADAM I don’t think so friend. Why don’t you come with me. Adam walks out the front door. Gordon looks back to Eve. GORDON (awkwardly) You have a lovely home. I’m supposed to wait for... EVE Thanks for stopping by.

16. Eve waives good bye. Gordon turns and exits. EXT. TRAINY - MOVING Adam and Gordon sit on Trainy. ADAM I think my wife is going to leave me. Gordon looks around uncomfortably. Excuse me?

GORDON

ADAM My wife. She doesn’t respect me anymore. She’s going to leave me. GORDON I don’t think I should get involved. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON Very clever, Trainy. Yes I will be hanging around for a bit. But that doesn’t mean I should intrude in everyone’s lives. ADAM I lent Baker Shaker a bunch of money and he hasn’t paid me back yet. I can’t stop thinking about it. Now Eve and I fight all the time. Jesus

GORDON

ADAM I just want my wife to be proud of me. To look at me like she did when we first met. GORDON Why are you telling me this? ADAM I don’t know... I guess you just have a face I can trust.

17. Gordon stays silent as he ponders on his options. ADAM (CONT’D) Have you ever had a woman you knew you couldn’t live without? Gordon gives in. GORDON Fuck it. Let’s go get your money. Right now?

ADAM

GORDON Trainy we’re changing our destination. Take us to Baker Shaker’s Bakery. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON That’s right. We have some business to attend to. INT. DANIEL LION’S LIVING ROOM - DAY Eve and Harper the Squirrel sit on the couch. Daniel and KATHERINE the Squirrel, 4 a child sized squirrel wearing a pink tutu, play rambunctiously. EVE He’s not the same lion he used to be. He’s a great dad but that spark isn’t there anymore. HARPER I hear you girl. It sounds like you need a little side action. EVE I’m not going to cheat on Adam. HARPER Why not? You have needs. Go get your satisfaction. EVE I couldn’t live with myself.

18. HARPER Well I’m a single mother who has to live with herself. I also live with Z the Crow. And I live with Baker Shaker. And you know I live with King January. And he’s always a good live. lion please, you know King January has the hots for you. Daniel runs up to the women. DANIEL Mom, will you help me pretend that I’m an astronaut? EVE Of course, Daniel. HARPER (to Daniel) You’re Mom could use a good blast off. Eve gives a stern look to Harper. DANIEL OK! I’ll go get a cardboard box and we can pretend it’s a spaceship. Daniel runs off with Eve following. Eve looks back at Harper who makes an explosion motion with her hands and mouth. INT. BAKER SHAKER’S BAKERY - DAY Gordon and Adam enter. Adam paces nervously. ADAM I’m just not good at confrontation. GORDON You’ll be fine. This jackhole will roll right over with the money. BAKER SHAKER, 40s wearing a French baker’s outfit manically pops through the front of the store. He has white powder under his nose. BAKER SHAKER Hello Adam! Can I get you an espresso? Maybe a donut hole? Baker Shaker wipes the powder off his nose.

19. GORDON I see what is going on here... ADAM Baker Shaker, you said that you would pay me back the money I lent you in a month and it’s been three. Grown ups honor their word. BAKER SHAKER But of course! I would love to pay back your money. I simply don’t have it. Gordon taps his own nose. GORDON It looks like you have enough money to go skiing. Baker Shaker smiles.

A cooking timer DINGS.

BAKER SHAKER Viola! Why don’t you take your wife some banana bread. I know it is her favorite. KING JANUARY (O.C.) Eve does love banana bread. Gordon and Adam look over to see wearing a regal outfit and crown entered the Bakery. A regal horn Gordon looks around to see where can’t find it.

KING JANUARY, 50s human, and Prince February have announces their entry. the sound came from but

KING JANUARY (CONT’D) How is the lovely Eve doing, Adam Lion? ADAM (begrudgingly) Eve is fine. PRINCE FEBRUARY Dad! That’s the jerk off that pushed me! GORDON I’m not a jerk off! off! You jerk off!

You’re a jerk

KING JANUARY Don’t talk to my son like that.

20. GORDON You better get Prince Joffrey on a leash or I’m going to start my own Game of Thrones. KING JANUARY Who is this Prince Joffrey? GORDON He’s a little nightmare of a shit where I’m from. PRINCE FEBRUARY Eat a dick, bitch boy. GORDON You little fuck. Adam holds Gordon back. KING JANUARY Baker Shaker I would love a loaf of bread. Baker Shaker slides a loaf of banana bread across the counter. KING JANUARY (CONT’D) I’m having a party tonight. Eve is welcome to come... if she wants my banana bread. GORDON (to King January) Being a sick fuck must run in your family. Gordon lunges for King January and Adam restrains him. GORDON (CONT’D) I’m not going to let this hard-on with a crown talk shit. ADAM Come on Gordon.

Let’s go.

Gordon shakes off Adam’s grip. GORDON Fuck this. Enjoy your “powdered sugar” nose candy party. Gordon storms out.

21. KING JANUARY Tell Eve I said, “Hello”. Adam hangs his head and walks out the front door. EXT. BAKER SHAKER’S BAKERY - CONTINUOUS Gordon stomps next to Trainy. Adam enters. ADAM You shouldn’t have lost your temper back there. GORDON Are you fucking kidding me? ADAM Grown-ups resolve their problems with words. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON Exactly! Trainy and I finally agree on something. You do sound like a pussy. ADAM I’m not sure how they do things where you’re from but here in the Land of Imagination... GORDON In the Land of Imagination you are still a fucking lion! Do you know what a lion would do where I’m from if he was disrespected? He would whip his claws out and maul a mother fucker to death! TRAINY DING! DING! ADAM King January and Baker Shaker weren’t disrespecting me... GORDON Not disrespecting you? Baker Shaker is taking your money and blowing it straight up his nose. (MORE)

22. GORDON (CONT'D) And banana bread is code word for everyone trying to fuck your wife! TRAINY DING! DING! Adam explodes with a ROAR and pushes Gordon to the ground. Enough!

ADAM

Adam settles himself back down. ADAM (CONT’D) I think it’s a bad idea for you to be in our home. I’m going for a walk. Please don’t be there when I get back. Adam turns to leave. GORDON Adam wait... Adam walks away. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON I fucked that up? You’re the one who called him a pussy. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON Wrong. Telling someone they sound like a pussy and that they are a pussy is the same thing. Mr. McFelty rides up on his bicycle. MCFELTY I thought I told you to stay out of trouble. GORDON What can I tell you? I’m a regular Dorothy from Kansas dropping houses on witches.

23. MCFELTY I’ve found a way to get you back to your world. TRAINY DING! DING! GORDON We’re all ears. MCFELTY There is a being in the Land of Imagination who has the capacity and ethereal space to create a gateway between your world and ours. A guru more powerful than our minds can understand. GORDON Awesome. Let’s go meet this fucking guru. MCFELTY You’ve already met him. SMASH CUT INT. DANIEL LION’S BATHROOM - SIMULTANEOUS Daniel Lion sits on the toilet. He rips a loud FART. DANIEL Mom! I did it! I pooped in the potty. CUT BACK: Gordon has a look of disbelief on his face. GORDON The kid? This keeps getting better and fucking better. END ACT II

24. ACT III INT. POST OFFICE - DAY Mr. McFelty and Gordon stand next to a wall of safety deposit boxes. One box sits open on the table. Inside there is a JOURNAL. GORDON Great. Dad kept a diary. MCFELTY This is more than just a diary, Gordon. Your father was studying the relationship between life, death and the Land of Imagination. Gordon flips through the journal. GORDON Be straight with me McFelty. Am I going to have to kill this kid? What? No! that?

MCFELTY Why would you think

GORDON I don’t know. Like as a sacrifice or something. I don’t want to do that. McFelty looks at Gordon sternly. GORDON (CONT’D) But I will. McFelty shakes his head. MCFELTY It says that during a full moon, through the power of imagination a young lion can open a door to your world. Gordon listens intently. MCFELTY (CONT’D) Tonight is a full moon. Gordon nods his head and picks up a PAPER WEIGHT.

25. MCFELTY (CONT’D) Are you taking that paperweight in case you need to bash Daniel lion over the head to kill him? Gordon smiles and sets the paper weight back down gently. McFelty grabs the paper weight and journal from Gordon and puts them in his mail bag. INT. DANIEL LION’S HOME - EVENING Eve looks in a mirror and applies lipstick. ominous in the reflection behind her. Going out?

Adam looks

ADAM

Eve startles. EVE Yes. We’re having book club at Harper’s home tonight. Adam doesn’t believe her. EVE (CONT’D) Can you make sure Daniel tries a bite of everything on his dinner plate? ADAM Will there be any banana bread there? EVE I’m not sure who is in charge of snacks tonight. Eve starts to leave the room.

Adam grabs her arm tightly.

EVE (CONT’D) Oww! You’re hurting me. Adam lets her arm go. They look deeply into each other’s eyes. ADAM (intensely) I love you. Eve gives Adam a peck on the cheek.

26. EVE (empty) I love you too. Eve walks to the front door as Adam follows. Adam stares intently as his wife opens the door and shuts it, never looking back. Daniel Lion walks into the room. DANIEL Hi Daddy Lion! Is everything OK? Adam stares at the door for a beat, then turns to Daniel. ADAM It’s not OK. DANIEL Neighbor Gordon said that sometimes when there is a problem you gotta push someone around to teach them a lesson. Adam takes this message to heart. EXT. DANIEL LION’S HOME - EVENING Gordon stands slightly behind Mr. McFelty. GORDON There is no chance he’s going to let us do some fucking ritual with his kid. We’ll see.

MCFELTY

Adam opens the door. GORDON Listen, I know you said to not come back to your house but I wanted to apologize... ADAM It’s alright Gordon. Something you told Daniel struck a chord with me. Can the two of you watch my son while I attend to something? MCFELTY Of course, Adam.

27. Adam walks out the front door and jogs down the path. Gordon looks at Mr. McFelty. GORDON That was easy. Let’s get me home. INT. DANIEL LION’S HOME - EVENING Gordon walks in the front door. Mr. McFelty sits on the couch with Daniel Lion. DANIEL Mr. McFelty. I miss my Mom and Dad. MCFELTY Your Mom and Dad had to go talk to some of your neighbors. But don’t worry, (singing) Grown ups come back. DANIEL I know that song! Mom and Dad Lion sing it with me. (singing) Grown ups come back. MCFELTY (to Daniel) Do you want to imagine singing the song with your parents and then Gordon can tell you what to imagine next? OK!

DANIEL

McFelty nods at Gordon. MCFELTY (singing) Even when we go away. Grown ups come back. INT. BAKER SHAKER’S BAKERY - SIMULTANEOUS A TRASH CAN CRASHES through the front glass door. Baker Shaker runs to the front of the store. He has more white powder under his nose.

28. DANIEL (V.O.) (singing) Will you come back from work at the end of the day? Adam Lion walks through the broken glass door. His eyes are ferocious. ADAM (V.O.) Yup, I’ll come home cause then we can play. Baker Shaker throws his arms out and gets in Adam’s face. With one swift motion, Adam SLAMS Baker Shaker’s head through the glass pastry display case. Adam pulls Baker Shaker’s head out of the case and throws him on the floor. Baker Shaker writhes in pain. Adam hits the cash register. It pops open. Adam takes all the money out. Baker Shaker is still on the floor in pain. ADAM Sorry about the door and your display case. Adam drops a few bills on top of Baker Shaker and walks out of the shop. ADAM AND DANIEL (V.O.) Grown ups come back! EXT. KING JANUARY’S CASTLE - CONTINUOUS Eve Lion and Harper the Squirrel wait at the gate. uncomfortable.

Eve is

DANIEL (V.O.) Will you pick me up after I play with friends? The gates open. Harper walks in. Eve stands paralyzed. Harper looks back imploring her to come with her. EVE (V.O.) Yup, cause at home the fun never ends. Eve shakes her head No. I can’t. Eve runs off.

EVE

29. HARPER Don’t think that’s going to stop me from getting on King January’s rocket ship! Harper continues into the castle as the gates close behind her. EVE AND DANIEL (V.O.) Grown ups come back! EXT. TOWN SQUARE - CONTINUOUS Adam Lion walks up the block. Eve Lion walks up the other side of the block. They turn the corner and see each other. DANIEL (V.O.) What about when Mom and Dad go out on a date? Adam’s eyes are still completely wild. Eve looks at him like she is seeing a new person for the first time. ADAM AND EVE (V.O.) We’ll tell you good night and be there when you awake. Adam grabs Eve and they kiss passionately. Their hands grab at each other pulling each other’s clothing off. Adam picks up Eve and walks her to the street where we see... Trainy. Adam sets Eve and himself down on Trainy out of view. DANIEL, ADAM, EVE (V.O.) Grown ups come back! Trainy starts rocking back and forth, side to side to the rhythms of passionate love making. TRAINY DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING! INT. DANIEL LION’S HOME - CONTINUOUS Daniel, Gordon and McFelty sit in a circle on the floor. DANIEL What a great song! MCFELTY OK, Daniel. Now it’s time to imagine with Friend Gordon.

30. DANIEL Sure! What are we going to imagine? GORDON Here we go. Gordon take a deep breath. GORDON (CONT’D) I want you to imagine a magical world called Baltimore. EXT. BALTIMORE SUBURBS - DAY The same shot of brick rowhomes from the Teaser. Star bursts fill out the corners of the screen. We pan in closer as Gordon talks. GORDON (V.O.) There is one brick rowhome in particular. It has a red door. EXT. FRONT PORCH - DAY - CONTINUOUS Two figures stand on the front porch. GORDON (V.O.) No, this isn’t right. You went back too far. As we get closer the figures come into focus. Gordon and DEBBIE, 30s working class and pregnant, argue passionately. DEBBIE How long can you keep lying to yourself? GORDON I’m just supposed to believe that I’m the father? DEBBIE That’s the fucking problem. You should want to be the father. Debbie turns to leave. Debbie...

GORDON

Debbie looks back at Gordon. can’t.

Gordon tries to find words but

31. GORDON (V.O.) Just say something. Debbie shakes her head. DEBBIE That’s what I thought. Don’t ever call me again. Debbie gets into a dented Honda Civic and drives away. Gordon watches, paralyzed. The front door of the rowhome opens. Mr. Roberts walks on to the porch. MR. ROBERTS She’s a good girl, Gordon. You need to make things right. GORDON You need to go jump off a bridge, Dad. This doesn’t have anything to do with you. MR. ROBERTS I didn’t raise my son to... GORDON That’s right Dad, you didn’t raise your son! You raised everyone else but not me. So excuse me if I’m not ready for a fucking lesson right now. Gordon gets into a small pick up truck. MR. ROBERTS Gordon. Gordon! The pick up truck tears away down the street. Mr. Roberts watches in frustration. Suddenly, a wince of pain crosses his face. He rubs his arm, then chest. He leans heavily on the door frame and hobbles back into the home. INT. DANIEL LION’S HOME - CONTINUOUS DANIEL Is everything OK Friend Gordon? Gordon wipes a tear from his eye.

32. GORDON It’s fine. That’s just a week earlier than I need. DANIEL I can try again. Thank you.

GORDON

EXT. FRONT PORCH - DAY - CONTINUOUS The red front door is open. We enter. GORDON (V.O.) Yes, that’s right. Through the living room and kitchen there is a door to the basement. INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS We go through the living room just as we did in the opening scene. INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS We go through the kitchen to the basement door just as we did in the opening scene. INT. DANIEL LION’S HOME - CONTINUOUS Daniel and Gordon sit next to each other. There are still star bursts around the corners of the screen. DANIEL I can see it Neighbor Gordon! I can see it! Around Gordon’s neck the bruise marks from the belt he tried to hang himself with start to materialize. GORDON We’re almost there. INT. BASEMENT - CONTINUOUS We go down the basement steps and find Gordon lying on the ground breathing shallowly. The belt is still around his neck. The pipe he was hanging from is broken off the wall.

33. GORDON (V.O.) Yes! I’m still fucking alive! Fuck you death! Debbie I’m coming back! INT. DANIEL LION’S HOME - CONTINUOUS Half of the screen is Daniel Lion’s home. The other half is Gordon’s basement. Starbursts are around the whole screen. Daniel Lion and Gordon look at Gordon’s body. MCFELTY (O.S.) I’m sorry Gordon. McFelty SLAMS the paper weight against Gordon’s head. hits the ground hard. Daniel is stunned.

Gordon

MCFELTY (CONT’D) I have to go back. McFelty drops the paperweight and his mail carrier bag next to Gordon’s body. Mr. Roberts’ journal slides out the side of the bag. On each half of the screen there is a knocked out Gordon. McFelty rolls his sleeves up to reveal SUICIDE SCARS on each of his wrists. He walks into the basement. MCFELTY (CONT’D) It’s time to wake up Daniel. Be a good neighbor and help Gordon. As Daniel runs to Gordon, the star bursts around the screen dissipate and close around Mr. McFelty as he walks up the basement stairs. Back in Daniel lion’s home, Daniel shakes Gordon to wake him. DANIEL Mr. Gordon! Mr. Gordon! Are you dead? GORDON (groggily) I’m coming back. Grown ups come back. END ACT III

34. TAG INT. KING JANUARY’S DUNGEON - LATER King January walks through the dim, stone corridor. He hums the tune to the “Grown ups come back” song. He stops in front of a cell. KING JANUARY Hello my royal servant. You missed a real doozy of a party last night. Silence. KING JANUARY (CONT’D) Not in the mood to talk? That’s fine. I just thought you might like to know there’s a new postman in town. Stirring in the cell. KING JANUARY (CONT’D) It seems Mr. McFelty was able to find a way back to the real world. I’m sure you are wondering who could be the new postman. Hands wrap tightly around the prison bars. KING JANUARY (CONT’D) It’s your son. We spin to reveal Mr. Roberts locked up in the cell. MR. ROBERTS You pompous piece of fuck-scum. If you lay a hand on Gordon, I swear to God I will rip your head off and shove it so far up your ass, you’ll be burping crown for months. FADE OUT