An American Tail: Fievel's New York Tails Volume 1

Episode 1: Curiosity Lured The Mouse

SCENE 1

We fade in on the New York City harbor. As the sun rises in the morning sky, we see a tugboat passing by the Statue of Liberty while pulling a barge.

We cut to a freight train depot where we see a 2-6-0 B&O R.R. mogul locomotive, #86. It stands in front of a train consisting of a brown boxcar, an open hopper carrying coal, a flatcar with logs, another with large crates, a silver tank car, another hopper car carrying sand, two more boxcars, and a bright red caboose. Three workers help load the first boxcar, after the last of the cargo has been loaded, the workers slam the boxcar door shut. The brakeman leans from the caboose and waves his flag. The engineer blows the whistle and the fireman shovels the coal into the firebox. Then #86, hissing steam, pulls the freight train out of the yard, passing a 0-4-0 H.K. Porter tank engine slowly pulling some empty boxcars on the other track.

We cut now to a busy street in Manhattan, where people tend to their houses and storefronts and the children play on the sidewalk. We then focus on a horse-driven trolley with the words NEW YORK & HARLEM R.R. painted on the side, following it down the street before reaching an alley on the left side of a corner store, where we zoom in to see a row of mouse-sized buildings.

There in the neighborhood of mouse-sized buildings, the mice are busy with their shops and the mice children are playing a game of chase. Then, we focus on a mouse-sized house with a sign next to the door, which reads "Mousekewitz Violins".

We then go to the interior of the Mousekewitz house where Mama is serving buckwheat porridge, or Kasha, for breakfast on the dinner table, and her daughter Tanya is sitting in her chair at the dinner table, eating her breakfast. Baby sister Yasha sits in her high chair, playing with her doll.

TANYA: This is absolutely the best Kasha porridge, Mama.

MAMA: Thank you, Tanya. Fievel! Breakfast is ready! Fievel!

Fievel, in his blue floppy hat, oversized red sweater, and blue baggy pants playfully runs out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.

FIEVEL: Here I am, Mama! (Giggles)

MAMA: (chuckles) Come and eat your breakfast, dear.

FIEVEL: Yes, Mama. (sits down at the table and eats a bite of porridge) Mmm...

TANYA: Morning, Fievel. How are you feeling?

FIEVEL: I'm fine, Tanya. But, um...

Papa walks in, stretching and yawning.

PAPA: Good morning, everyone. (looks at Fievel) What's wrong?

FIEVEL: Well, It's been a month since I got separated from you, and I have a fear that I might lose you again.

PAPA: (giving his son a hug) Don't worry, Fievel. You're a brave mouse. No matter what happens, we'll always be there.

FIEVEL: Thanks, Papa.

PAPA: Oh, and I have wonderful news that'll cheer you up, my son.

FIEVEL: What's that, Papa?

PAPA: Today, we're going to Utica for the New York State Fair, where there's going to be a special competition for who holds the best cheese.

FIEVEL: The state fair? Wow! (claps excitedly) We can ride the pleasure wheel there! I can imagine myself being on top of the world!

TANYA: And the carousel too! (clasps her hands) I just love the happy music it plays.

MAMA: (nods) Mm-hm. This will be a day to remember. (chuckles) Now let's have our breakfast.

Cut to a rusty pocket watch hung outside an upper mouse tenement, its time is 12:00 exactly. Pan down, the Mousekewitz Family exits their house, they check that they are all accounted for, then hurriedly walk toward the street beyond the alley. Reaching the street, they run to the corner, where the horse-driven trolley stands, the last passenger boarding from the rear balcony. The mice quickly climb onto the balcony step as the bell rings and the tram starts off.