Daniel Tiger and The Lion King

Chapter 3

[Horns and brass close theme in a stately manner with a decrescendo. Fade to black keeping the painting of the two cubs as a crossover to the fade in of Pride Rock in early morning]

{Simba is seen coming out on the rock. He runs back into the cave and leaps over several of the lionesses, accidentally jumping on a few.}

Simba: Dad, dad. Come on, Dad, we gotta go. Wake up.

Random Lioness: Oomph.

Simba: Sorry, oop.

{Simba starts to wake Mufasa}

Simba: Dad? Dad. Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad--

Sarabi: {Over Simba's endless noise of "Dad"s, sleepily and speaks formally} Your son is awake.

Mufasa: (Also sleepily and quietly) Before sunrise, he's your son.

Simba: Dad? Dad, Come on, Dad. {tugs at Mufasa's ear.} Daa-- Whoa.

{He loses his grip on Mufasa's ear, and slips and crashes into something off camera. He then comes running back on screen and butts Mufasa. Mufasa sleepily eyes his son.}

Simba: You promised.

Mufasa: {Seeing his son's impatience} Okay, okay. I'm up, I'm up.

Simba: Yeah.

{Mufasa yawns a well-recorded lion yawn. Mufasa and Sarabi follow Simba up to the top of Pride Rock. Simba rubs up against Sarabi; she nudges him ahead and stays behind. Departing shot of her, with a loving expression. The sunrise illuminates the summit (top) of Pride Rock impressively. Both Simba and Mufasa are on the point. Cue music.}

Mufasa: {Seeing his son's impatience} Okay, okay. I'm up, I'm up.

Simba: Yeah.

Mufasa: Look, Simba. Everything the light touches is our kingdom.

Simba: Wow.

{The camera revolves around them, during Mufasa's speech, from a reverse view to a frontal shot.}

Mufasa: A king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun. One day, Simba, the sun will set on my time here, and will rise with you as the new king.

Simba: And this will all be mine

Mufasa: Everything and you respect Daniel Tiger.

Simba: Dad Who Daniel Tiger?

Mufasa: He is Tiger Cub Simba.

Simba: Oh So why do I need to respect him?

Mufasa: Because for years Lion and Tiger respect each other have in the Pride Lands and Daniel Tiger family and our family touches the light

Simba: Everything the light touches. {Simba looks all around. He views the rip-rap canyon to the north} What about that shadowy place?

Mufasa: (efficiently) That's beyond our borders. You must never go there, Simba.

Simba: But I thought a king can do whatever he wants.

Mufasa: Oh, there's more to being king than getting your way all the time.

{Mufasa starts back down the rock}

Simba: {Awed} There's more?

Mufasa: {Chuckles} Simba.

{Camera switch. Mufasa and Simba are out walking on the savannah.}

Mufasa: Everything you see exists together, in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.