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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