1. EXT FOREST -- DAY It’s a typical clear morning in the forest. We open on some BIRDS chirping and hopping from branch to branch in the treetops. They are singing to each other cheerfully when, suddenly, they hear a faint whistling coming from the distance. The birds get curious and look over to see what is making that sound. Coming up the path is ARI THE BAT, who is walking on his way to school, wearing a KNITTED CAP CAP and a COLORFUL JACKET . He is happy and whistling to himself. The birds look at each other . <SFX: HAPPY AD LIB WHISTLING> As Ari walks, he spots a low branch and jumps up, doing a loop-de-loop around the branch and then launching himself up into the air. He flaps a few times and glides down . ARI <AD LIB HAPPY WHISTLING> As Ari walks, he spots a low branch and jumps up, doing a loop-de-loop around the branch and then launching himself up into the air. He flaps a few times and glides down. ARI (CONT’D) Woo-hooo ! (ad lib <WHISTLING> and singing) Flying is so fun... Suddenly, Ari hears a rustling up in the tree overhead. <SFX: Rustling leaves/branches>. He freezes. ARI (CONT’D) Huh? He looks up to see what’s there. At first, we don’t see anything, but then something flutters away in the branches and out into the sky. We sky and we get a good glimpse of the bird, more than Ari does bird wings . ANGLE ON: A feather flutters down. Ari tracks it as it floats down and lands right on his cap! He takes the feather and looks at it. ARI (CONT’D) Oh cool! A bird feather! He looks at the feather more closely. He blows on it and it flutters up – he watches it drift down and catches it on his palm. ARI (CONT’D) That’s so neat. He plays with it, striking a few funny poses: he fans himself with it; he tickles himself, <GIGGLING> a bit; he points at the trees with it. ARI (CONT’D) <GIGGLES> You’re my new lucky feather! He sticks the feather in his cap, thinking it’s pretty awesome. ARI (CONT’D) I can’t wait to show Elinor and Olive! He walks the rest of the way to school with a happy swagger. 2. EXT PLAYGROUND – DAY Open on Elinor playing in the sandbox with Olive. They are building a sand castle together. School hasn’t started and kids are playing in the playground. ELINOR is wearing a RAINCOAT. OLIVE is wearing a COZY JACKET. Elinor pats down the last little bit of sand unto the center tower of their sand castle as Olive leans back and brushes off her hands. ELINOR There! OLIVE Nice! They both stand up and take a step back to admire their work. ELINOR What do you think, Olive? OLIVE I think our sand castle came out pretty well good , Elinor. ELINOR Yeah! Hmm, although... it doesn’t look quite done yet. OLIVE Really? At that moment, we see Ari enter the playground in the background. We switch to his perspective as he scans the playground. He spots Elinor and Olive and gets excited. ARI There they are! He runs over to the sandbox. BACK ON: Elinor and Olive discussing their castle. OLIVE What do you think it needs? Elinor I don’t know... I just feel like it’s missing something. Ari comes up to within a few paces of the sandbox, then stops so he can make a proper entrance. He checks the feather and adjusts his hat just so, then strolls nonchalantly in front of Elinor and Olive’s view. Olive What if we add a tower? ELINOR Mmm, I don’t think we need another one. Ari makes it to the other side, but Elinor and Olive don’t seem to notice him. He seems a bit disappointed but then rallies to try again. This time, he walks with his head tilted towards them, and as he takes big waltzing steps, sweeping his arms back and forth. Elinor (CONT’D) Maybe we could add more windows? OliVE Hmmm... Still nothing. Ari makes it to the other side and puts his hands on his hips. BACK ON: Olive and Elinor. ELINOR Or maybe we need a flag? OLIVE That would be nice! Something bright and colorful? Suddenly, Ari runs back in frame, and uses a flap of his wings to make a dramatic TA DA! Landing right in front of them. He shakes his head in their direction, pointing at his hat with his fingers. ARI AHEM! ELINOR Oh, hi Ari! OLIVE When did you get here? ARI I.. . . <beat> Nevermind. Hi, Elinor! Hi, Olive! Notice anything extra cool about me today? ELINOR Is that a new shirt? I like your jacket! DESIGN NOTE: It’s NOT a new shirt. OLIVE It’s It is a nice color. bit of a chilly day! ARI No, you guys! Look! On my hat! ELINOR Whoa... Is that a feather? OLIVE Cool! It’s so bright and colorful. Where did you get it? ARI Well, let me tell you! Ari recreates the earlier scene, with dramatic flair. Ari (CONT’D) I was walking in the forest, when suddenly, I heard hear something moving up in the trees! And THEN, this feather came floating down, and it landed right on my head! olive Wow, how lucky ! A bird feather ! ARI It IS lucky! I call it my lucky feather! Elinor Can I see try it? Elinor puts it between her ears, holding it there by pinching her ears together and doing a twirl. She <GIGGLES>. OLIVE Ooh, my turn! Olive holds it with her trunk and pretends to write with it. The kids <LAUGH>. ELINOR It’s really pretty. Olive blows the feather up in the air with her trunk and it settles in Elinor’s hands. SCIENCE CU MOMENT: We zoom into the feather and see its intricate structure and shape and colors. elinor (CONT’D) Wow, it looks like it has it’s made out of lots of little hairs when I brush it with my finger hairs ! She runs her finger along the edge of the feather, and we see the different hairs part. Ari I didn’t notice that thought it was just flat ! ELINOR That is SO INTERESTING! OLIVE And the colors there are so beautiful many colors ! Ari takes a closer look at his own fur. [SCIENCE CU?] Ari It would be cool if I wonder why WE had don’t have feathers . ? Olive and Elinor look at their skin/fur too. ELINOR I wonder Yeah , why DO birds have feathers? Olive takes the feather to get a closer look. OLIVE Good question, Elinor. Hmmm... The kids ponder for a second. OlIVE (CONT’D) I know! Maybe birds use their feathers like to tickle each other? A THOUGHT BUBBLE forms next to Olive, and we see a bird tickling another bird with their wing feather. The bubble pops and Olive uses Elinor gives the feather to Olive, who uses it to tickle Elinor gently. Elinor <GIGGLES>. ARI Wait! My parents have pillows with feathers in them. Olive gives the feather to Ari. A THOUGHT BUBBLE appears next to Ari. We see a bird tucked in bed, using its wings as a pillow to sleep on. Ari (CONT’D) Maybe birds have feathers to sleep on them? ElinOR Hmmmm. The kids think Maybe. Feathers could be for a beat tickling OR sleeping, but we won’t know for sure until we see for ourselves . OLIVE You’re right, Elinor. It’s a mystery. Why do birds have feathers? ELINOR I have an idea know ! Let’s go look for some birds and see if we can figure it out! OLIVE Yes! I’ll get my notepad! ELINOR We need... MORE OBSERVATIONS! Elinor and Olive run off. Ari looks at the feather and tucks it just right back on his hat. He strolls off confidently strutting it. 3. EXT FOREST – DAY The kids go look for birds in the nearby trees. We can see the playground in the background. We can hear indistinct <BIRD CHIRPING> from different directions. olive There sure are lots of birds around here! ELINOR Let’s watch and observe them! We hear the beginning of a song. During the song let's show song, we see the kids around, searching here watching birds and there. Ari could be looking up in singing a song: (TWO ALT VERSIONS: repeating the branches, song from the kids could be camping out under pilot or a bush. You can show a little bit of discord, where new one) Elinor/OLIVE/ari ALT 1. We want to solve the kids mystery Of why birds are running around independently so feathery. We’re gonna find them here, And there, And everywhere! When I have a question I don’t know, I look for the answers high and criss-crossing each other, since later they will be coming low! We’re gonna look up with different hypotheses. high, Inside! To find out why! Into the woods and under the trees, We follow our curiosity! ELINOR/OLIVE/ ARI ARI ALT 2. Why do birds have feathers? Let’s find out together! We’ll find some birds, and take a look We’ll draw what we notice the answers In our book! Why do birds have feathers? Let’s find out together! Flying high, and singing loud! We’ll We find answers all around! Why do birds have feathers? Let’s find out together! Oh, oh yeah. As the song wraps up, we see each kid going off in a different direction (but they are within eyeshot of each other and the playground). END SONG. 4. Ext. Forest - ari’s corner of the woods, continuous Ari walks around, looking around for birds. He sees a bird on a branch of a nearby tree. He runs and flaps his wings to fly up to the branch on the opposite side of the tree. ARI Hey, little birdie! We’re trying to figure out what your feathers are for. Can you tell me? The bird chirps at him <SFX: Bird chirping> and flies away to the next tree. Ari follows. ARI (CONT’D) Hold up! The bird chirp again and opens its wings to fly away again. Ari opens his wings to fly also then stops, realizing something. He looks closer at the bird’s wing and see that it is made out of feathers. ARI (CONT’D) Hmm, you have wings just like I do. But yours are made out of feathers. (he He gets excited . ARI (CONT’D ) I think I figured it out! Birds have feathers to help them so they can fly! ( He flaps his wings and hovers a little . ARI (CONT’D ) I can’t wait to tell Elinor and Olive! 5. Ext forest - olive’s corner, continuous Cut to Olive, who is standing under a tree watching two Bluejays. The ribbon on her head is a bit untied . The birds are preening themselves, arranging their feathers . Olive You two birds are really colorful! The birds are preening themselves, arranging their feathers. OLIVE (CONT’D) I wonder if you like being blue. It’s MY favorite color. She notices that the ribbon on her head has come undone a bit, so she ties it back up with her trunk up . OLIVE (CONT’D) Oops, there we go. That looks better. ( She looks back up at the blue jays . OLIVE (CONT’D ) You wear blue on your head too! Olive looks like she’s had an idea, and doodles in her notebook. OLIVE (CONT’D) I think I figured it out! Feathers are for being colorful - just like my bow colorful ! I can’t wait to tell Ari and Elinor. 6. Ext FOREST - elinor’s corner, continuous Cut to Elinor: who is watching some ducks coming out of next to a small pond. ElINOR Ooh, pretty ducks! She gets closer and sees that there are duck parents and duck babies. ELINOR (CONT’D) It’s a whole duck family! She crouches down near the ducks. ELINOR (CONT’D) Hello, duck family! Can you tell me why birds have feathers? A baby duck waddles over closer to Elinor. We see that the babies have cozy soft feathers. The parents have shiny colorful feathers above and cozy feathers underneath. ELINOR (CONT’D) That water must be cold, but you all The babies have different feathers. They look so nice all snuggled up and warm with those soft and cozy feathers warm. She looks like she’s made a realization . ELINOR ( realizing CONT’D ) I think I figured it out! Birds use feathers to stay warm! I can’t wait to tell Ari and Olive! 7 4 . EXT PLAYGROUND – DAY Open on the playground with different kids in the background and MZ MS . MOLE to one side. Elinor, Ari and Olive all run into the scene and at the same time. ARI/ELINOR/OLIVE Hey guys, I figured it out! They all pause in surprise and then say: ARI/ELINOR/OLIVE (CONT’D) Feathers are for flying / Feathers are for staying warm/ Feathers are for color! ELINOR Wait guys, one at a time! Mz Ms . Mole walks closer so that she can listen. ARI Ok, I’ll go first. I think birds figured it out! Birds need feathers to help them so they can fly! Their wings are made of feathers! ELINOR / OLIVE Yeah. Yeah / That makes sense. Mz Ms . Mole is listening closely. OLIVE But wait. I have a different idea figured it out, too . I saw birds that had bright blue feathers. I think birds use feathers so they can be colorful. She points with her trunk to the ribbon on her head. ELINOR / ARI Right / Mmmm hmmmm. Mz Ms . Mole nods to herself. ELINOR But I have a different idea, too! also figured it out. I saw a duck family coming out of the water, and their feathers were like a snuggly coat. I think birds use feathers to stay warm . ! OLIVE / ARI Ok / That also makes sense. Mz Ms . Mole smiles at that. ARI But definitely flying is the MOST important. That MUST be why birds have feathers. OLIVE But if birds didn’t have colorful feathers they would all look the same! I think birds have feathers to have color. ELINOR I don’t know. If they didn’t have feathers, they would get so cold! So I think feathers are to stay warm. ARI We have three good ideas answers ! OLIVE Which one is the real reason why birds have feathers reason ? ELINOR Hmm... How can we figure it out? At that moment, Mz Ms . Mole chimes in. MS MOLE Do you little scientists mind if I ask you a few questions? ELINOR Sure, Ms Mole! MS MOLE Ari , that’s a nice hat jacket . Why did you pick that one today? He looks a bit confused by the change in topic but is happy to brag about his hat jacket . ARI Um .... Thanks! It’s my favorite I like the color a lot, and it keeps me warm matches my hat ! MS MOLE So you chose your hat to keep you warm it for its color ? ARI Yeah. Also, it has a secret pocket cool pockets for snacks! He pulls a small fruit banana out of a hidden pocket. MS MOLE Olive, what about you? Why How did you choose that shirt and that skirt your jacket ? Olive looks down at snuggles herself into her blue outfit jacket . OLIVE Well, blue is my favorite color it was a bit chilly this morning , of course! and this jacket is warm and soft. MS MOLE So you chose your clothes because of the color jacket to keep you warm ? OLIVE Mmm-hmm . I love blue It’s fluffy and cozy ! MS MOLE And what about you Elinor? Why How did you choose that your jacket? ELINOR It looked like it might rain was a bit wet this morning, so I picked chose this raincoat. MS MOLE So you chose it your jacket to stay dry? ELINOR That’s right, Ms Mole. MS MOLE Good. Now tell me So , what’s the reason we then, why do you wear any clothes at all your jackets ? ELINOR To stay dry! ARI OLIVE To stay warm! OLIVE ARI To show colors For the color ! MS MOLE So, which is it? Is there just one reason answer ? The kids look like they understand. ARI / ELINOR / OLIVE They are ALL good reasons the right answer ! MS MOLE That’s right! Sometimes there’s more than one reason for something! Your clothes help you in many ways, just like feathers help birds in many ways. right answer! ELINOR I get it ! ! There is more than one reason why we wear jackets. OLIVE There’s And more than one reason why birds have feathers! ARI Yeah Oh , right ! Birds have feathers to fly AND to be colorful AND to stay warm. ELINOR We were ALL figured it out right ! Ms MOLE Alright , alright , alright ! The kids are excited and dance dancing around to celebrate their moment of understanding. As Ari dances, the The feather flies out of his Ari’s cap and lands on his hands. Suddenly, he realizes something. Ari Wait, I thought of one more thing feathers are good for. He runs off screen, and Olive and Elinor follow him. We cut to a close up of Elinor and Olive’s sand castle, and zoom out to see Ari putting the feather right smack on the top of the center tower. It looks great! Ari (CONT’D) They’re also good for finishing Finishing sand castles! The kids and Mz Ms . Mole all have a good <LAUGH> as we pull out and pan up to see some birds flying by as we... Fade out. THE END.

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(Name of Project) by (Name of First Writer) (Based on, If Any) Revisions by (Names of Subsequent Writers, in Order of Work Performed) Current Revisions by (Current Writer, date) Name Address Phone (V.O.) (O.S.) (O.C.) (CONT'D) (SUBTITLE) Int Ext I/E Day Night Afternoon Morning Evening Later Moments Later Continuous The Next Day Cut To: Fade In: Fade Out. Fade To: Dissolve To: Back To: Match Cut To: Jump Cut To: Fade To Black.