1. INT SCHOOLROOM -- DAY
We open to Ms. Mole walking into the classroom after recess, wearing a big white fluffy white coat.
MS. Mole
Brrrr
! It’s so cold today! Let’s warm up with a nice cup of hot cocoa and a story!
We see a group of kids gather on the carpet around Ms Mole. Elinor is near the front.
Ms. Mole takes out a book from her coat.
ELINOR / OLIVE
/
ARI
Yay! /
I
love story time!
/ Oh yeah!
ELINOR
What’s today’s story, Ms. Mole?
MS. MOLE
Today’s story is all about staying warm! But our story starts in a very cold place…
Ms Mole opens the book, which reveals an icy, polar environment.
2. EXT POLAR -- DAY
An icy scene, with piles of snow and some water visible.
MS. MOLE
Way up in the north, it’s
verrrrry
cold, only a few animals can stay warm.
We see a polar bear enter.
MS. MOLE (CONT’D)
The polar bear has a very thick coat of fur to stay warm!
The polar bear preens a bit, looks proud of itself.
OLIVE
Hey! One of my
friends
is a polar bear! When
she
visit
s
,
she
do
es
n’t even
wear
a jacket outside!
MS. MOLE
That’s right!
We see the polar bear playing in the snow.
MS. MOLE (CONT’D)
Polar bears have thick coats of fur
on their skin
that let them stay warm on the ice.
We see the polar bear jump into the water.
MS. MOLE (CONT’D)
Or even when they swim in the freezing waters!
ELINOR
Ms Mole, why are polar bears always white?
The polar bear floats on its back, relaxing, like it’s a sunny day at the pool. It’s playing with its polar bear cubs.
Ms. MOLE
Good question! Polar bears
have
white
fur
so they can hide in the snow! It’s CAMOUFLAGE!
The polar bear doesn’t react.
Ms. MOLE (CONT’D)
I SAID:
so
they can hide in the snow!
The polar bear scrambles back onto the ice, hides in the snow.
ELINOR
You can hardly see him!
OLIVE/
ARI
Oooh
!
/Wow!
MS. MOLE
But that’s not even the most amazing thing about polar bears
!
The polar bear looks interested, pokes his own fur.
MS. MOLE (CONT’D)
Do you know what color a polar bear
’s skin
is underneath all that fur?
ARI / ELINOR /OLIVE
Is it white too? / I’m pink
under my fur
. / My skin is grey!
MS. MOLE
If you look closely, a polar bear’s skin is actually black underneath the fur!
The polar bear looks surprised. He uses a paw to push some hair out of the way, we see his skin is black. He looks surprised and impressed with himself.
Ms. MOLE (CONT’D)
The
thick
white fur
keeps them cozy
in the snow,
and
the black
skin
underneath helps
them
soak up the warm light from the sun.
3. INT SCHOOLROOM -- DAY
Ms. Mole closes the book. She is now wearing a polar bear
hoodie
over her head in addition to her furry coat.
MS. MOLE
It’s a good thin
g
polar bears
have such special fur and skin
!
You won’t find a mole like me swimming in freezing water
!
She tries to take a sip of tea, but the mask is blocking her.
ELINOR'S tOWN
103 INTERSTITIAL: Ms Mole Story time: Polar Bears
Written by
Jorge Cham and Daniel
Whiteson
Follows "The Science of Staying Warm"
Curriculum: The kids learn that Polar Bears have thick white fur and black skin to stay warm in the snow and ice
Learning Goals:
LS2
. Understand that animals have different body parts that are used in different ways to meet their needs – explore how different external features of an animal help it survive in its environment [ Polar Bear's thick fur and black skin help it stay warm]
FIRST DRAFT:
22-Jan-19
POLISH: 28 Jan 19
MS. Mole
KIDS
ELINOR
(V.O.)
(O.S.)
(O.C.)
(CONT'D)
(SUBTITLE)
INT
EXT
I/E
1
INT SCHOOLROOM -- DAY
DAY
NIGHT
AFTERNOON
MORNING
EVENING
LATER
MOMENTS LATER
CONTINUOUS
THE NEXT DAY
CUT TO:
FADE IN:
FADE OUT.
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MATCH CUT TO:
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FADE TO BLACK.
Order
Title
Location
MS. MOLE
MS. MOLE
120