The Secret Daughter

Chapter 1

An ocean. Birds are flying and porpoises are swimming happily. From the fog, a ship appears crashing through the waves.

Sailors:

"I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue

And it's hey to the starboard, heave-ho

Look out, lad, a mermaid be waitin' for you

In mysterious fathoms below."

Eric: "Isn't this great? The salty sea air, the wind blowing in your face a perfect day to be at sea!" Grimsby leaning over the side. Grimsby: "Oh yes... delightful." Sailor 1: "A fine strong wind and a following sea. King Triton must be in a friendly-type mood." Eric: "King Triton?" Sailor 2: "Why, ruler of the merpeople, lad. Thought every good sailor knew about him." Grimsby: "Merpeople! Eric, pay no attention to this nautical nonsense." Eric: I wonder when the girls are gonna appear. Sailor 2: "But it ain't nonsense, it's the truth! I'm tellin' you, down in the depths o' the ocean they live." He gestures wildly, Fish in his hand flops away and lands back in the ocean, relieved. Sailors: "Heave. ho. Heave, ho. In mysterious fathoms below." Fish sighs and swims away. Rivers head pops up. Y/n: *Whispering* "Psst." Eric: "Huh?" River: *Whispering* "Eric!" Eric: *Whispering* "Hi, Y/n! Hi, River." Y/n: "Happy birthday." River: "Happy Birthday." Eric: "Thanks." River: "Shoot. We've gotta get going." Y/n: "Yeah, father will be upset if he doesn't see us at the song." River: "Don't forget. Presentation is everything. Bye." Y/n: "Bye!" Eric: "Bye."

~Titles~ 

Various fish swimming. Merpeople converge on a great undersea palace, filling a concert hall inside. Fanfare ensues. Y/n and River make it just in time. Storm: "Just in time ladies. The king is just about to be-" Seahorse: "Ahem . . . His royal highness, King Triton!" Triton enters dramatically to wild cheering. Seahorse: "And presenting the distinguished court composer, Horatio Thelonious Ignatius Crustaceous Sebastian!" Sebastion enters to mild applause. Triton: "I'm really looking forward to this performance, Sebastian." Sebastian: "Oh, Your Majesty, this will be the finest concert I have ever conducted. Your daughters - they will be spectacular!" Triton: "Yes, and especially my little Ariel." Y/n: *Whispering* "I'd like to be recognized for once." Lola: "Who cares. We love you." Diana: "Yeah. Besides being the youngest princess, being invisible gives you more time to explore." Sebastian: "Yes, yes, she has the most beautiful voice... [softly] If only she'd show up for rehearsals once in a while..." He proceeds to the podium and begins to direct the orchestra. Triton's daughters:

"Ah, we are the daughters of Triton. Great father who loves us and named us well:

Aquata, Andrina, Arista, Atina, Adella, Allana.

And then there is the youngest in her musical debut,

Our seventh little sister, we're presenting her to you,

To sing a song Sebastian wrote, her voice is like a bell,

She's our sister, Ar-i..."

The shell opens to reveal that Ariel is absent. Triton: (Very angry.) "Ariel!!" Y/n: "Ugh. It's like I don't exist." Taylor: "You exist to us." River: "We love you."

 ~Cut to Ariel looking at a sunken ship~

Flounder: (From a distance.) "Ariel, wait for me..." Ariel: "Flounder, hurry up!" Flounder: (Catching up.) "You know I can't swim that fast." Ariel: "There it is. Isn't it fantastic?" Flounder: "Yeah . . . sure . . . it - it's great. Now let's get outta here." Ariel: "You're not getting cold fins now, are you?" Flounder: "Who, me? No way. It's just, it, err . . . it looks - damp in there. Yeah. And I think I may be coming down with something. Yeah, I got this cough." Flounder coughs unconvincingly. Ariel: "All right. I'm going inside. You can just stay here and - watch for sharks." She goes inside. Flounder: "O.K. Yeah - you go. I'll stay and - what? Sharks! Ariel!" He tries to fit through a porthole. Flounder: "Ariel . . . I can't . . . I mean- Ariel help!" Ariel: (Laughs) "Oh, Flounder."