Manimal

Manimal: Scene 1: Africa

*The movie begins with a cold-open in rural Africa. The captain reads "Tibet, Africa, 1967." The scene then peers to an older, 50-year-old gray-haired man with his 15-year-old brunette, bespectacled son. The camera peers up at the son, who looks up at his father in excited astonishment.*

BOY:

I must say, this has been a rather fun vacation!

WALTER CHASE:

Oh, Jonathan, it delights me that I have taught you so much. However, there's one last thing I would like to show you.

BOY:

What is it, father dear?

WALTER:

You'll see.

*He takes his son to see a shaman in the distance. The shaman is an African, seemingly young, fit man wearing tribal face paint.*

SHAMAN:

Yes, Walter?

WALTER:

We've had a solid relationship, and you've taught me everything I need to know. However, I still have one last request for my young son. Can you please show me one spell?

SHAMAN:

Which one are you referring to?

WALTER:

My great-grandfather had a dual-personality issue- one was good, the other was horrible. So horrible, in fact, that it eventually claimed his own life. My grandfather had the issue as a young man, and tried numerous remedies to rid himself of his condition. Until he met you, feared that he may have passed the condition to my own father. However, after I learned what you had done to cure him of his terrible condition, as well as to his descendants himself, I am no longer concerned.

SHAMAN:

I see, sir.

WALTER:

In fact, on the contrary, you gave me a fantastic opportunity to give my family amazing abilities, to channel the animal inside of ourselves. *turns to Jonathan* What do you say, Johnny? Would you like to follow the family tradition?

JONATHAN:

Okay then. *gets concerned, then turns to his father* I'm scared. What if I die?

WALTER:

*reassuring tone* Don't worry, Jonathan, you'll be fine.

*Jonathan follows the Shaman to his private room to get himself dosed with holy water, tainted with animal blood. As he applied the blood onto Jonathan, the Shaman makes the sign of the cross when giving Jonathan his procedure.*

SHAMAN:

If you should die before you wake, pray the lord your soul to take, for if you wake before you die, may it not be in the animal you choose to be.

Film cuts to another shaman sitting next to him.

ACCOMPANYING SHAMAN:

Mmmmmoohhhhmmmmmbbbaayyahhh....

The accompanying shaman starts whispering in the young boy's ear in inaudible dialogue.

*After his procedure, the film follows Jonathan coming out of the hut, refreshed and seemingly energized.*

JONATHAN:

Well, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was. In fact, I feel absolutely wonderful-*emotion changes from confidence to concern when he realizes his father is not there*- wait, Dad, where are you?

*Film cuts to Jonathan looking for his father. Suddenly, Jonathan witnesses his father strapped to the ground, about to be executed for discovering their secret. He cries in horror.*

JONATHAN: *To dark wizard who is about to execute his father.* What's going on here?

WIZARD: Young man, we're terrified of your father sharing his knowledge with the rest of the world. For he has learned things that mortal men is not meant to-

JONATHAN: Boll to that! He's my-

WIZARD: There's nothing you can do, young man. Your father is dead.

JONATHAN: *clearly upset* Oh god no! Father, please! I still need you! Please father no! Please no! Please father, no!

WALTER: My son, you must have faith in me. This is not the end; this is the beginning.

*Suddenly, Walter morphs into a bird and flies away. Jonathan looks up in fascination.*

JONATHAN: Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

Film cuts to Jonathan making a memorial gravestone for his father. He's shown writing in the dirt.

JONATHAN: Full fathom five thy father lies....those were pearls that were his eyes. *sobbing in anger* It's not fair! It's notttt fairrrrrr!

Jonathan starts sobbing in fury, then leaves to morph into a black panther in the hut, then leaves the hut as a panther. The opening credits end to reveal the title ¨Manimal.¨