Joey & the Little Blue Bike TM


An original screenplay by Verne Andru

Download PDF version -- 37KB

[fade out]
                                                           FADE IN:

       EXT. SNOWY TOBOGGAN HILL - DAY

       Establish on a busy toboggan hill at the top of the snow 
       capped MOUNT SEYMOUR. TRUCK OUT and TRACK OVER to include 
       the snowless CITY OF VANCOUVER. FADE-UP CHRISTMAS CAROLS 
       as we TRACK ACROSS the city and begin TRUCKING IN on a 
       busy shopping mall.

                                                       DISSOLVE TO:

       INT. DEPARTMENT STORE - DAY

       Lots of happy shoppers mill about. As we TRACK over to 
       the TOY DEPARTMENT a tiny voice can be heard among the 
       drone of MUZAK and SHOPPING SOUNDS.

                           LITTLE GIRL WITH DOLL(O.S.)
                 ...you are just the best in the whole 
                 wide world...

       ANGLE ON

       A LITTLE GIRL sits in a TOY DEPARTMENT AISLE cradling a 
       RAGGEDY ANNE doll in her arms.

                           LITTLE GIRL WITH DOLL (cont'd)
                 ...I'll always take good care of you 
                 and make sure you have lots and lots 
                 of warm milk...

       INCLUDE MR. JONES

       A kind, elf-ish looking man approaches.

                           MR. JONES
                     (to the doll)
                 Well hello. I see you've found a 
                 friend.

                           LITTLE GIRL WITH DOLL
                 Yes I have. Say hello to Esmerelda.

                           MR. JONES
                 Why hello Esmerelda. (To the girl.) 
                 I'm Mr. Jones. 
                 I'm the manager of this toy 
                 department. Is this what you're asking 
                 Santa for this Christmas?

       The girl gives the doll a squeeze, then holds it out with 
       both hands. Mr. Jones takes the doll as the girl rushes 
       off.

                           LITTLE GIRL WITH DOLL
                 Yes. Mommy and I are going to go see 
                 Santa and I'm going to ask him for an 
                 Esmerelda dolly just like this one. 
                 (Looking O.S.) Oops, have to go now, 
                 bye.

       Mr. Jones snickers as he puts the doll on a shelf before 
       returning to the check-out counter.

                           MR. JONES
                     (to himself)
                 ...Esmerelda...

       ANGLE ON RAGGEDY ANNE DOLL

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                 Yuck! I hate warm milk!

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX (O.S.)
                 (snicker) ...Esmerelda? I thought your 
                 name was Raggedy Anne? (snicker)

       ANGLE ON

       a little BLUE BIKE sitting in the middle of the cluttered 
       toy department.

                           RAGGEDY ANNE (O.S.)
                     (angrily)
                 My name IS RAGGEDY ANNE! And if it 
                 wasn't for that meddling Mr. Jones, 
                 I'd be on my way out of this dump.

       VARIOUS ANGLES ON BIKE, RAGGEDY ANNE AND JACK-IN-THE-BOX

       The Blue Bike watches the persnickety Raggedy Anne doll 
       sniping at a nearby JACK-IN-THE-BOX.

                           BLUE BIKE
                     (conciliatory)
                 Come on you two, we've got to work 
                 together to make children happy this 
                 Christmas.

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                     (sneering at the bike)
                 Listen handle-bar-breath, the only 
                 thing that'll make me happy is for you 
                 to mind your own business!

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX
                 Hey, give the kid a break.

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                 Break? I'd love to give him a break! 
                 That way he'll get shipped back to the 
                 manufacturer and far away from me.

                           BLUE BIKE
                 Manufacturer? What's a manufacturer?

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                 It's a big ugly monster that crunches 
                 useless toys like you into eensy-
                 weensy little pieces.

                           BLUE BIKE
                     (distraught)
                 (ad lib GULP) Oh, my...

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX
                 No, no, it's a troll. It takes broken 
                 toys and buries them in deep dark 
                 holes where they're never seen again.

       A frightened Blue Bike looks between the Jack-in-the-box 
       and Raggedy Anne.

                           BLUE BIKE
                 (gulp) Well, if we all work together 
                 at being the best presents we can, 
                 none of us will have to go to any 
                 silly old manufacturer...

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                 You? A best present? Hah! Everyone 
                 knows you can't cuddle a bicycle. 
                 Besides, little girls like me best. 
                 I'm the best present in the world.

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX
                 In your curls! I've been the favorite 
                 toy long before you were even made.

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                 We'll just see about that. Here comes 
                 a kid now. Let's see who she chooses.

       Jack-In-The-Box quickly scoots inside his box, closing 
       the lid behind him. All the toys become absolutely still.

       WIDER ANGLE

       A GIRL IN A PINK DRESS wanders dreamily down the aisle. 
       She picks up the Jack-In-The-Box and slowly turns its 
       handle, delighting in the music. Suddenly the box top 
       flips open and out pops Jack! The shrieking girl drops 
       the toy and runs off screaming.

                           SFX
                 (JACK-IN-THE-BOX MUSIC) SPROIINGGG!

                           GIRL IN PINK DRESS
                 (ad lib SCARED SHRIEKING)

       ANGLE ON

       A gleeful Raggedy Anne snipes from her perch as Jack-In-
       The-Box struggles to push himself upright.

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                 Favorite toy, my curls!

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX
                 Now, that wasn't my fault…

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                 Was so!

       Jack-In-The-Box straightens up then gives himself a 
       visual once-over.

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX
                 (to himself) Good, no scratches. (then 
                 to Raggedy Anne) Was not!

       FADE DOWN ad lib of the TOYS ARGUING.

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                 Look buddy, you'd better lock your lid 
                 before I come over and do it for you.

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX
                     (taunting)
                 Oh yeah, Esmerelda...

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                 That does it! You're...

                                                       DISSOLVE TO:

       EXT. JOEY'S APARTMENT BUILDING - EVENING

       ESTABLISH on a typical VANCOUVER 3-STOREY WOOD-FRAME WALK-
       UP in Kitsilano, then TRUCK IN to the living-room window. 

                                                       DISSOLVE TO:

       INT. JOEY'S APARTMENT KITCHEN - EVENING

       The apartment is comfortable but shows JOEY and his DAD 
       are of limited means. JOEY, age 5, sits at the KITCHEN 
       TABLE deep in concentration. He's carefully printing a 
       LIST for Santa with a FAT CRAYON. In the background is 
       the POPPING of the last few kernels of popcorn. Joey's 
       DAD, age 35, takes the POT from the stove and pours the 
       steaming popcorn into a BOWL.

                           DAD
                     (paying attention to the hot 
                      pot)
                 Hey Joey, ready for popcorn?

                           JOEY
                 Just a minute. (beat) 
                 There...finished.

       ANGLE ON JOEY

       as he looks up and reads from his list.

                           JOEY
                 When I see Santa tomorrow I'm going to 
                 ask for a Super Dude video game, 
                 roller blades, BlazerMan trading 
                 cards, a remote control truck and one 
                 of those super-racer bikes.

       ANGLE ON DAD

       He pauses, rummages in his pocket a bit, pulls out his 
       hand and, careful Joey doesn't notice, counts the few 
       loose coins he's retrieved. 

                           DAD
                     (worried)
                 Wow. What're you going to do with all 
                 those toys?

                           JOEY
                     (happily)
                 Play with them, silly.

       Dad puts the money back in his pocket before carrying the 
       steaming bowl to the table.

       NEW ANGLE

       Dad sits, takes a handful of popcorn, pops a few in his 
       mouth then starts stringing the kernels together. Joey 
       stuffs a handful of popcorn in his mouth.

                           DAD
                 Do you think such a big list is fair 
                 to Santa?

                           JOEY
                     (with popcorn in his mouth)
                 What do you mean?

                           DAD
                 Well, he's only got so many elves and 
                 his sleigh can only carry so many 
                 toys. 
                 If all the children asked for that 
                 many presents, I'm not sure there 
                 would be enough room.

                           JOEY
                     (thinking)
                 Hmmm, maybe you're right.

       CU. ON JOEY'S LIST

       He scribbles a line through "remote control truck."

                           JOEY (O.S.)
                 Then I'll only ask for the Super Dude 
                 video game, roller blades, BlazerMan 
                 cards and the super racer bike.

       VARIOUS ANGLES ON DAD AND JOEY

                           DAD
                 Maybe you should decide on the one 
                 that's most important. Isn't it better 
                 to get something you really want than 
                 risk getting nothing at all?

       As Joey thinks about that, Dad holds up the finished 
       string of popcorn.

                           DAD (cont'd)
                 There, help me put this on the tree?

       They walk over to a small Christmas tree colorfully 
       decorated with twinkling lights and multi-colored sea-
       shells. They place the string around the tree then stand 
       back admiring their handywork.

                           JOEY
                 What do you want for Christmas, Dad?

                           DAD
                 Just knowing you're happy is good 
                 enough for me.

                           JOEY
                 Is that all?

                           DAD
                 That's more than enough.

                                                 TIME DISSOLVE TO:

       INT. DEPARTMENT STORE TOY DEPARTMENT - NEXT MORNING

       TRUCK IN on Toy Department aisles. 

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX (O.S.)
                 How many times do I have to tell you, 
                 it wasn't my fault?

       ANGLES ON RAGGEDY ANNE, BLUE BIKE AND JACK-IN-THE-BOX

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                 You can say it as many times as you 
                 like, it doesn't change a thing.

                           BLUE BIKE
                 Come on you two, you've been at it all 
                 night. Why don't you kiss and make up?

       The Blue Bike grimmices as a bunch of toys, thrown by 
       Raggedy Anne and Jack-in-the-box, fly at him.

                           RAGGEDY ANNE AND JACK-IN-THE-BOX
                 YUCKK! That's totally sick!

                           BLUE BIKE
                     (dodging items)
                 Stop it! If I get scratched, I'll get 
                 sent to the manufacturer, remember?

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX
                 Sounds like a great idea to me, Mr. 
                 "kiss-and-make-up." (looking O.S.) 
                 Ooops, shoppers at 10 o'clock.

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                     (under her breath to Jack)
                 Was so your fault!

       ANGLE ON

       TWIN girls enter the toy department. The first grabs 
       Raggedy Anne while the other looks through a picture 
       book. Noticing the first twin with the doll, the second 
       drops her book, runs to her sister and grabs one of 
       Anne's dangling arms. A tug-of-war ensures as Anne is 
       pulled back and forth.

       CU. ON RAGGEDY ANNE

                           TWIN 1 (O.S.)
                 I saw it first.

                           TWIN 2 (O.S.)
                 I don't care. I want it!

                           TWIN 1 (O.S.)
                     (shouting)
                 Mom, JUDY's taking my toy!

                           TWINS MOTHER
                 Now stop that you two. Put that down 
                 and get over here! NOW!

       The girls simultaneously let go of the doll and run off. 
       Anne drops to the floor, landing on her back in a 
       crumpled mess. Starting to push herself up she hears the 
       taunting Jack-In-The-Box, then drops back in 
       exasperation.

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX (O.S.)
                 (SNICKER) Was not. (SNICKER)

       ANGLE ON

       a 5 year old BOY and his PARENTS enter the department.

                           BOY
                 Hey, what a neat bike!

                           BOY'S MOM
                 It does look nice. Why don't you try 
                 it out while we look over here?

                           BOY'S DAD
                 And stay where we can see you.

       The boy saintly waits until his parents walk O.S.

                           BOY'S MOM (O.S.)
                 What do you think of this dear? 
                 Doesn't it look just perfect for 
                 Thelma?

       VARIOUS ANGLES ON BOY AND THE BIKE

       The boy jumps excitedly on the bike seat.

                           BOY
                 Hot ziggidy! A new racer! Let's see 
                 how fast it can go.

       The boy pedals as fast as his legs allow. Down one aisle, 
       around a corner and up another. On one corner he swings 
       out too wide sending a NEARBY SHOPPER reeling.

       CU. ON BLUE BIKE

                           BLUE BIKE (V.O.)
                     (horrified)
                 Someone might get hurt...and it'll 
                 probably be me!

       VARIOUS ANGLES ON BOY AND THE BIKE

       They scream around the next corner way too fast. Losing 
       his balance, the boy falls head over heals as the bike 
       crashes into a display. Shaken, the boy glares at the 
       bike lying in a mess of shirts. Collecting himself, he 
       jumps up and gives the bike an angry kick.

                           BOY
                 It's all your fault!

       INCLUDE BOY'S PARENTS

       as they hurry towards the disaster, grab the boy by both 
       arms and lead him hastily away. 

                           BOY'S DAD
                 Didn't we tell you to stay where we 
                 could see you?

                           BOY
                     (sheepishly)
                 But I saw this bike someone dropped 
                 and I came over to pick it up...

       ANGLE ON

       The Blue Bike lays in a daze in the middle of the aisle. 
       Mr. Jones rushes to check out the commotion.

                           MR. JONES
                 Oh my. (Beat) Oh dear!

       MOVING SHOT

       We TRACK with Mr. Jones carrying the Bike back to the toy 
       department then TRUCK IN on Joey and Dad riding down the 
       escalator deep in conversation.

                           JOEY
                     (glumly)
                 ...so Santa said he couldn't promise 
                 me a bike and that I should be happy 
                 with whatever he brought.

                           DAD
                 Tsk, cheer up Joey. I'm sure he'll 
                 bring something you'll be happy with, 
                 he always does. Look, the toy 
                 department. Maybe we can find 
                 something for your friend Peter.

       ANGLE ON

       Joey walks wide-eyed through the rows of toys. His gaze 
       fixates on the bike Mr. Jones places with the other toys.

                           JOEY
                     (excitedly)
                 That's it! That's the bike I asked 
                 Santa for Christmas! 

       VARIOUS ANGLES ON DAD, JOEY AND THE BLUE BIKE

       As Mr. Jones bends to pick up Raggedy Anne, Joey runs 
       over and jumps excitedly on the bike. 
       Carefully riding around the aisle, he stops beside his 
       Dad to demonstrate the secret gas tank compartment.

                           JOEY
                 It's great Dad. Look, it even has a 
                 gas tank that opens for my rocks and 
                 treasures and stuff.

                           BLUE BIKE (V.O.)
                 What a perfect little boy. He's going 
                 to take me home. I just know he is.

                           DAD
                 Hmmm, looks like it's got a bit of a 
                 scratch on it.

                           BLUE BIKE (V.O.)
                     (panicked)
                 Scratch? Scratch!

       Dad goes down on his haunches pointing to the scratch 
       left from Tommy's kick.

                           BLUE BIKE (V.O.)
                 Oh no!

                           JOEY
                     (pleading)
                 But it's just a little one Dad. We can 
                 fix it with a little paint, I know we 
                 can.

                           DAD
                 Now Joey, remember your talk with 
                 Santa?

                           JOEY
                 But I love this one. It's what I've 
                 always wanted.

       CU. ON DAD AND JOEY

                           DAD
                     (empathetically)
                 Come on Joey. We're supposed to be 
                 looking for a something for your 
                 friend, remember? 
                 Besides, shouldn't you at least wait 
                 to see what Santa brings?

       Joey pauses, takes a deep breath then sadly dismounts.

       BIRDS-EYE ON TOY DEPARTMENT AND ESCALATOR

       The Bike looks on in the background as Joey and Dad ride 
       up an ESCALATOR towards the camera. As he nears the top, 
       Joey looks around as though he hears someone calling.

                           BLUE BIKE (V.O.)
                 No, no, don't leave me.

       CU. ON JOEY

                           JOEY
                     (turning back)
                 That's silly, toys can't talk.

       WORMS-EYE ON BLUE BIKE - INCLUDE JOEY AND DAD

       as they disappear at the top of the escalator.

                           BLUE BIKE
                 No, no, don't leave. Take me with you!

       ANGLE ON

       Blue Bike drops his eyes in total dejection.

                           BLUE BIKE (cont'd)
                 That's it, I'm doomed! My one chance 
                 to get out of here is gone. With this 
                 scratch, nobody'll want me now.

       ANGLE ON

       Raggedy Anne sits on a nearby shelf, still disheveled, 
       hands on hips chiding the Blue Bike.

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                 You got that right spoke-teeth. On 
                 Christmas I'm going to be cuddling 
                 some little girl while you're going 
                 back to the manufacturer.

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX (O.S.)
                 'fraid she's got a point there.

       ON JACK-IN-THE-BOX

       cleaning his finger-nails.

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX (CONT.)
                 Last year a dump truck, Franky was his 
                 name, got roughed up a bit by some 
                 kids. When Mr. Jones found out, he zip-
                 zammed poor Franky into this big box 
                 and sent him off to the manufacturer 
                 before he could even drop his load.

       ANGLE ON

                           BLUE BIKE
                     (looking at his scratch)
                 (ad lib GULP) Oh, my...

                                                    FADE TO BLACK:

                                                            CUT TO:

       INT. TOY DEPARTMENT - CHRISTMAS EVE

       Shoppers are scrambling to make their last minute 
       purchases while anxious employees are readying to close 
       for the holiday. At the check-out counter Mr. Jones wraps 
       Raggedy Anne as a MOTHER waits. Blue Bike sits sadly with 
       Jack-in-the-box among almost empty store shelves.

                           STORE INTERCOMM
                 Attention shoppers. The store will be 
                 closing in 5 minutes. We would like to 
                 thank you for shopping with us and 
                 wish and your families a very merry 
                 Christmas.

                           RAGGEDY ANNE
                     (giggling)
                 See, told you nobody wants a scratched 
                 up old bike.

       Thinking he hears something, Mr. Jones looks curiously at 
       the doll before he finishes wrapping it.

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX
                     (to Blue Bike)
                 (snicker) Don't mind her, she'll get 
                 her's alright. Know where she's going?

                           BLUE BIKE
                     (dejectedly)
                 Yah, she's going to be a special 
                 present for some nice little girl.

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX
                     (snickering)
                 Nice little girl my crank. Remember 
                 those twins that almost tore her in 
                 half? That's their mother!

       As the mother leaves with the package the TELEPHONE 
       RINGS. Mr. Jones answers.

                           MR. JONES
                 Merry Christmas.
                     (beat)
                 Yes sir, it's still here. 
                     (beat)

       ANGLE ON

       Blue Bike looks nervously in Mr. Jones direction.

                           MR. JONES (O.S.)
                 It's a little damaged.
                     (beat)
                 A bit of touch-up maybe...
                     (beat)
                 Yes sir, I'll drop it off as soon as I 
                 close up.

       ANGLE ON

       Mr. Jones enters the store-room whistling to himself.

       REVERSE ANGLE ON

       Blue Bike nervously looking from side to side.

                           BLUE BIKE
                 Do what? Drop what where?

       REVERSE ANGLE ON

       Mr. Jones emerges carrying a big cardboard box.

       FAVOURING CARDBOARD BOX

       The words 'Manufacturer Number 23-654' are printed 
       clearly on the side.

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX (O.S.)
                 Hmmm, says man-you-fact-er-er, 
                 manufacturer! Oh my, this doesn't look 
                 good.

       ANGLE ON

       Mr. Jones places the box on the floor, picks up the bike 
       and puts it gently inside.

                           MR. JONES
                 There you go little fellow.

                           JACK-IN-THE-BOX (O.S.)
                 Be sure to say hi to Franky for me.

       BLUE BIKES POV INSIDE BOX

       Everything goes dark as the top closes shut.

       VARIOUS ANGLES INSIDE BOX

       It's very dark. The Bike hears strange sounds of PAPER 
       FOLDING, TAPE BEING PULLED OFF A DISPENSER and other 
       WRAPPING SOUNDS. He's knocked around from side to side. 
       As someone walks with the box, the Bike bounces up and 
       down.

                           BLUE BIKE
                     (ad lib OUCHES AND OOHS)

                           SFX
                 MUFFLED NOISES OF SLEIGH BELLS, 
                 REINDEER, ELF CHATTER and BOOMING HO-
                 HO-HO's.

                           BLUE BIKE
                     (scared to death)
                 Oh no, the manufacturer! It has to be. 
                 What else could make such a horrible 
                 noises? I guess Raggedy Anne and Jack-
                 in-the-box were right.

                                                    FADE TO BLACK:

                                                            CUT TO:

       CU. ON STARTLED BLUE BIKE'S FACE

       as he gets shaken awake. As the box shakes around again, 
       he shuts his eyes tight, cringing in scared anticipation. 
       The noises get louder and louder. 

                           BLUE BIKE
                     (cringing)
                 Oh no, this is it! I'm doomed!

       Suddenly the box is flooded with light.

                           JOEY (O.S.)
                     (shouting very excitedly)
                 Hey Dad, look!

       Still on the Bike, it opens one eye and looks up into 
       camera.

                                                            CUT TO:

       INT. JOEY'S LIVINGROOM - CHRISTMAS MORNING

       From the Bikes POV we see the Joey's beaming face.

                           JOEY (cont'd)
                 It's one of those racing bikes Dad. 
                 Santa remembered me after all.

       ANGLE ON

       Dad pulls the bike from the box and sets it on the floor.

                           DAD
                     (to himself)
                 How on earth did this get here?

       NEW ANGLE

       Joey jumps on the bike and starts riding it around. Dad 
       picks up a small package from under the tree.

                           DAD
                 Look, there's something else here.

       Joey stops, takes the small package and unwraps it.

                           JOEY
                 I wonder what it could be? (Puzzled.) 
                 Paint and a brush?

                           DAD
                 It look's like the same color as that 
                 bike. I bet it's to fix up that 
                 scratch.

       Joey and Dad open the bottle of paint and happily start 
       applying it over the Bikes scratch.

                           JOEY
                 But, where's your present Dad?

                           DAD
                     (looking at Joey's beaming 
                      face)
                 I'm looking at it.

       Joey gives his Dad a huge hug.

                           BLUE BIKE (V.O.)
                 Gee, that Santa thinks of everything.

                                                          FADE OUT:
       THE END
[fade in]


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