"It's getting there! It's a nice breakdown of the story. Some overall notes to simplify the story and message: - Let's add a bit more to the beginning to set the characters and situation a little better. - Tweaks to the interactions with Mr. Raccoon and Mrs. Gorilla - Let's eliminate the scenes with the banana peel, ball and log. - Edits to the song - Punch up the dialogue to make it livelier and more fun and more efficient Detailed notes below." int. School classroom - DAY cute story - some areas need some clarification and I also suggested a few places we can cut to bring the page count down OPEN ON CU OLIVE'S SATCHEL as she puts her pencil case inside. PULL BACK - OLIVE is packing up as school ends. ELINOR and ARI talk to Ms. Mole as she packs up her backpack. "Lines 1-14: This section here could be livelier and more fun, with more thought put to introducing the characters and situation. Change scenes 1 and 2 (lines 1-14) to: INT. SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY It's a clear day in the forest, and class time has just ended at Elinor's school. Kids are walking off with their backpacks and saying goodbye to their teacher, MS. MOLE. KIDS: Bye, Ms. Mole!/Good Bye! MS. MOLE: Goodbye, kids! See you tomorrow! CU OLIVE'S SATCHEL as she puts her things away. PULL BACK - OLIVE is packing, with ELINOR and ARI standing by with their backpacks. ARI: Today was the best day ever! We got to play hopscotch AND had milk for snack! ELINOR: But Ari, we play hopscotch and have milk every day. ARI: And that's why every day is the best day ever, Elinor! Elinor: <GIGGLES>. OLIVE: Ok, I'm ready! The kids are the last to leave the classroom and stop to talk to Ms. Mole as she packs up her bag. Elinor looks on curiously. ELINOR: What do you do after school is finished, Ms. Mole? Ms. Mole smiles as she closes her bag. MS. MOLE: Oh, I do lots of things, Elinor. Today, I'm doing some shopping. ARI: (pushing his hands out) Whoa! Wait a minute... you mean teachers do things outside of school?? MS. MOLE: (amused) It's true! We teachers are just like everybody else, Ari. OLIVE: What are you going to buy, Ms. Mole? Ms. Mole takes off her glasses, blows on them, and begins to clean them with a soft cloth. MS. MOLE: Well, Olive, first I'm going to get some fresh bread from Mr. Raccoon's bakery. ARI: Oooh, I love fresh bread, it smells soooo yummy. ELINOR/HAZEL: I think we better go get Ari a snack, Ms. Mole. Bye, see you tomorrow! MS. MOLE: (Giving her glasses another puff and wiping them) Goodbye, kids! The kids walk outside and head towards the forest. After a few paces, we see Ms. Mole (from the back) in the background, closing the door and heading in the direction of town. EXT. SCHOOL - DAY - CONTINUOUS ARI: (Still in amazement) I didn't know teachers did things outside of school. I thought they lived IN the school! ELINOR: <GIGGLES> Ari, if Ms. Mole lived IN the school, where would she sleep? ARI: You mean teachers SLEEP too?? Suddenly, Olive stops in her tracks, clutching her backpack. OLIVE: <GASP!!> Wait, I forgot my notebook! She slaps her pocket with her trunk. Frowns. No notebook. She suddenly claps her trunk to her head, remembering: OLIVE (CONT'D): I must have left it on my chair. ELINOR: Let's go back and get it. They head back to the school. " ElinoR You have a backpack, Ms. Mole? Ms. Mole smiles as she <SFX: ZIPS> her backpack. There maybe an opportunity to hint at the learning goal of "doing things to lessen human impact on the environment" if she comments on carrying a bag when she shops to put what she buys in. Ms. MOLE I sure do! I need it because I'm going to do some shopping this afternoon. Ms. Mole cleans her glasses with a soft cloth as Elinor and Ari digest this new and shocking information. outside of school' sounds a bit too old Ari (to Elinor) Maybe Ari comments about not knowing she leaves school at all. or maybe you don't need this because they have the conversation in line 9 & 10 I never knew teachers did things outside school. maybe make the words so they reflect that teachers have needs like everyone else...eating, sleeping and she doesn't do them all in school. MS. MOLE (amused) It's true! We teachers are just like everybody else, Ari. Olive So what are you going to buy, Ms. Mole? As Ms. Mole leads the way out the door, HOLD ON MS. MOLE'S DESK - the glasses are still sitting on the desk unnoticed. Ext. School - day - coNTINUOUS Ms. Mole exits with Olive, Elinor and Ari. maybe add "well, I have a few errands but first......" rest as you have it Ms. MOLE Well, first I have to get some fresh bread from the bakery. Ari That sounds yummy. MS. MOLE And it smells good too! I'll see you tomorrow! Ms. Mole waves as she turns down the street, in the opposite direction of the kids. As the kids walk toward the forest: maybe Elinor talked about Ms.Mole’s backpack instead - how cool it was to see her with one. Ari can agree and say something to the fact that she goes out after school And has a cool backpack, who knew!? - Olive can continue as is about wanting to write it into her notebook. Or instead since they spoke of her cool backpack, maybe Olive wants to draw it in her notebook. (Feels more kid like than writing a note down that their teacher goes out after school) ElinOR Ms. Mole goes places after school? Ari That's something we didn't know! I agree that writing that down seems like a stretch. Olive You're right, Ari. I'd better write that down in my notebook. She slaps her pocket with her trunk. Frowns. No notebook. Olive (CONT'D) Has anyone seen my notebook? Uh oh-- She suddenly claps her trunk to her head, remembering: Olive (CONT'D) I must have left it on my desk. ElINOR We'd better go back and get it. They head back to the school. INT. CLASSROOM - DAY As Elinor and Ari wait in the open doorway, Olive enters, and instantly finds her notebook on her chair. Olive (calling to others) Here's my notebook! this line makes it sem like they arent suppose to be there and they're making a quick get-a-way ElinOR Great! Let's go! Olive walks to the door, hugging her notebook to her chest. Design of classroom - Ms.Mole’s desk is at the opposite end of the door - with their desks in the middle of the room. Therefor Olive would have her back to the desk once she starts walking to the door. We’ll need her to reach down to get her book ‘here it is!” Then as she stands up, the glasses on the desk catches her eye. Olive <Phew!> Now, I feel better. What if we saw something interesting and I didn't have my note... As she walks past Ms. Mole's desk, Olive does a double-take. "Lines 18-26: This interaction could be better/more efficient at explaning what the kids are thinking. Change to: OLIVE (CONT'D): (gasps) Look! It's Ms. Mole's glasses! She picks them up carefully then runs to show Elinor and Ari. OLIVE (CONT'D): She left them on her desk! ARI: Uh-oh. ELINOR: She was cleaning them before. She must have forgotten to put them back on! OLIVE: Do you think she needs them? ARI:(making eyeglasses with his fingers on his face) My dad uses glasses. He says he can't see anything without them. OLIVE: Oh no, what should we do? ELINOR: (After a beat) Let's find Ms. Mole and give her back her glasses! ARI: Yeah, good idea! OLIVE: (remembering) She said she was going to the bakery first. ELINOR: Then let's go to the bakery! C'mon! The kids run out the door. CROSSFADE TO: EXT. ANIMAL TOWN SQUARE - DAY (delete scene 4 and continue to Scene 5 from here)" OliVE (CONT'D) (gasps) Uh-oh, Ms. Mole glasses! She picks them up carefully then runs to show Elinor and Ari. It’s repeating line 18 - instead “ she left them on her desk” - a continous thought/line as she picks them up showing them to the others Olive (CONT'D) Ms. Mole left her glasses on her desk! Ari How did that happen? She wears them all the time. elinoR But...she took them off to clean them - remember? olive Right. She must have forgotten to put them back on. ARI What should we do? we dont need this line - ms.mole will return tomorrow so they wouldnt have to give them to her - they could just leave them there. so we either have Ari say "what should we do? leave them here?" or After Aris ays "what should we do?" Olive can say "Ms.Mole needs her glasses!" EliNOR Give them back tomorrow? olive But Ms. Mole NEEDS her glasses! ELINOR You're right, Olive, we'd better give them back to her right away. Come on! EXT. ANIMAL TOWN SIDE STREET - DAY Elinor, Olive and Ari are walking down a small side street towards town. after line 27 description - we havent desinged our world to have streets and sidewalks - its more organic and natural - so they'd be walking down a path or clearing Here is the problem statement. It might be good to model clearly identifing the problem. "the problem is we need to get her glasses to her but we don't know how to find her". Maybe less clunky Olive So all we have to do is find Ms. Mole. (she looks around) Wherever she is. They look both ways down the sidewalk, not seeing her. ELINOR Wait! She said she was going to the bakery! ArI Right! Let's go! Ext. Animal town square - day The kids approach the center of Animal Town, (like a very small Main Street, with friendly adults and families walking around and no traffic.) "Scene 5 (lines 30-33): Let's use the ""meanwhile…"" shots of Ms. Mole to show that the kids are just a few paces behind her. Let's start here and add a shot of Ms. Mole leaving the bakery. Also, let's trim the kids' dialogue. Change scene 5 to: It's the center of Animal Town, (like a very small Main Street, with friendly adults and families walking around and no traffic). We hear typical town hubbub, including a small ding as we see Ms. Mole exits the bakery waving the store owner goodbye. MS. MOLE (barely audible) Goodbye, Mr. Raccoon! MR. RACCOON (barely audible) Goodbye! From the door, Ms. Mole walks off in one direction and the camera pans in the opposite direction, down the sidewalk and to the corner, where the three kids are just coming around. ELINOR Let's find Ms. Mole. The bakery is this way! As they head up the block, Ari picks up his nose and sniffs. <DESIGN NOTE: Do we want animated ""smell waves""?> ARI (sniff, sniff) Mmmm... something sure smells good around here! INT. MR. RACCOON'S BAKERY - DAY (continue with scene 6) " olive I think smell waves might help to make the point. I feel like Olive's comment feels too formal. Maybe just "Which way to the bakery?" I don't remember exactly where the bakery is. As they keep walking, Ari picks up his nose and sniffs. <DESIGN NOTE: Do we want animated "smell waves"?> ari is always talking about eating and being hungry - we can add that to this line to give it context. So its more about how he’s hungry and smelling something good which leads them to the realization that its coming from the bakery - Ari “Me either, but thinking about it is making me hungry and... (sniff, sniff) ...something sure smells good around here!” Ari Me either, but... (sniff, sniff) ...something sure smells good around here! Olive lifts her trunk and sniffs OLIVE (sniff, sniff) Smells like bread to me! Elinor lifts up her nose and sniffs: ElinOR And it's coming from that way! She points and they all head down the block. Int. Mr. Raccoon's bakery - day As Elinor, Olive and Ari enter the bakery, MR. RACCOON, in white apron and hat, gives them a friendly greeting. Change to: "Well, hello Elinor, Olive and Ari!" Mr. Raccoon Hello Elinor, Olive and Ari! Can I help you find anything special today? Change to: "Hi, Mr. Raccoon!" ELINOR Yes! Ms. Mole! "Change to: ""It smells SO good here."" Add a description below this line: ""Olive sniffs the air with her trunk.""" ArI She's VERY special. Delete this line Olive Is she here? Change this line to: "Why thank you, Ari. Now how can I help you?" MR. RACCOON Not now, but she was here a little while ago. Why are you looking for her? "Add to this line to: ""Mr. Raccoon, we're looking for Ms. Mole. Olive found her glasses in the classroom, and we want to give them back to her."" " Elinor Olive found her glasses in the classroom, and we want to give them back to her so she can see better. "Change this line to: ""Ah, how nice of you. But you just missed her, she was here a minute ago!"" Then add two more lines below line 40: ELINOR Awww... MR. RACCOON Hm. I did notice Ms. Mole wasn't wearing her glasses, but... she had no trouble picking out a nice loaf of pumpernickel bread. " Mr. RACCOON How nice. I noticed Ms. Mole wasn't wearing her glasses, but she had no trouble picking out a nice loaf of pumpernickel bread. The kids eye the various baskets of different breads. Give this line to Olive. Ari I think we can remove line 41 - it feels like he’s a few steps ahead asking because of the point elinor is about to make in line 43. Did you tell her what kinds of breads you had and where they were? We can then rearrange these next two lines - have Elinor’s line 43 ‘ I wonder... how did Ms. Mole pick out pumpernickel bread without her glasses?’ before Line 42 - so Elinor expressing her curiosity and Mr.Racoon says ‘She knew exactly where it was and didn't need to ask me” MR. RACCOON Nope. She knew exactly where it was and didn't need to ask me. Elinor, Ari and Olive look surprised as they glance from where they're standing in front of the counter back to the shelves of bread lining the wall behind it. "Add ""THE pumpernickel…"" Then change the description below this line to: ""Olive scratches her head with her trunk. Meanwhile, Ari runs over to the pumpernickel bread."" Then add these two lines next: ARI Here is the pumpernickel bread. (smelling) Oohh, it smells so good. (then, sniffing another loaf nearby) Ooh, and here is sourdough, mmm... ELINOR (lightbulb going off) That's it! She must have smelled the bread!" ElINOR I wonder... how did Ms. Mole pick out pumpernickel bread without her glasses? Olives lifts up her trunk again. "Change to: ""(sniff, sniff with her trunk) I think you're right!""" OLIVE Maybe she... (sniff, sniff) Smelled it? Delete this line. ARI ( biiig inhale) It sure does smell good in here. Mr. Raccoon smiles, gestures to indicate all the breads. Mr. RACCOON (proudly) Some say I make the best-smelling breads in town. (beat) Which is definitely true since I'm the only baker in town! ELINOR/OLIVE/ARI (laugh) MR. RACCOON And all my different breads smell different. "Split this line. First, trim this to just: ""Really?"" Then add a line below it: MR. RACCOON Yes, just close our eyes and see if you can smell the difference. " ElinoR Really? Let's close our eyes and see if we can smell the difference. Ari closes his eyes and concentrates, sniffing: "Change to: ""(sniff sniffsniff over to one of the loafs) I smell... rye bread.""" Ari (sniff sniff ) I smell... rye bread. Elinor closes her eyes and twitches her nose. "Change to: ""(sniffsniff over to another loaf) I think I smell sourdough.""" ELINOR (sniff) I think I smell sourdough. Olive closes her eyes and sniffs with her trunk in the air. Olive ( biiig sniff) YUUUUM !! That's definitely banana bread! My favorite! They open their eyes to see Mr. Raccoon slicing bread. i suggest he slices only one slice from each loaf - giving them the one they each smelt - otherwise it'll take a ot of time for him to cut three slices from each loaf and hand them to the three of them - OR suggest possibly cutting it Mr. RACCOON You're all right - here's a sample of each kind! Mr. Raccoon hands them bread slices. As they chew happily: olive Mm, yummy. Thanks Mr. Raccoon. "Change to: ""(to Mr. Raccoon) Wait, we still need to find Ms. Mole. Did she say where she was going, Mr. Raccoon?""" ElinoR (to Mr. Raccoon) We still need to find Ms. Mole. Did she say where she was going next? Why yes. She said she was going to the fruit stand near the park. Maybe you can find her there. Mr. RACCOON She said she was stopping at the fruit stand near the park. Maybe you can find her there. The kids rush out the door. "Give this line to Elinor and tweak it: ELINOR Thanks, Mr. Raccoon!" Ari Thanks again, Mr. Raccoon! Ext. OUTSIDE THE Park - day- MEANWHILE Ms. Mole walks along the park periphery carrying a picnic basket. "Change scene 7 to: EXT. OUTSIDE THE PARK - DAY- MEANWHILE Ms. Mole walks along the park periphery with her bag and a loaf of bread in it. MS. MOLE (whistling to herself) Hmm... And now to get some fruit! She makes her way, happy and confident, and we see her walking towards a fruit stand ahead of her. " Ms. Mole (whistling to herself) top of seq 7 - reads that she's carrying a picnic basket - but she didnt have one when she left the school - only her backpack Hmm... where's the perfect spot in the park for a picnic? She makes her way into the park, happy and confident. EXT. fruit stand OUTSIDE PARK - DAY- MEANWHILE Elinor, Olive and Ari are approaching the fruit stand near the park. "Scene 8 (Lines 59-88): Let's streamline this section. Change it to: EXT. OUTSIDE PARK - DAY- A LITTLE LATER Elinor, Olive and Ari are walking near the park. ARI (munching on his piece of bread) Mr. Raccoon is the best! ELINOR I guess Ms. Mole didn't need her glasses to pick out the bread. OLIVE (sniffing her piece with her trunk) She just used her nose! ELINOR There's Mrs. Gorilla's fruit stand! The kids run up to the fruit stand, where friendly MRS. GORILLA waits at the register. ELINOR (CONT'D) Hi, Mrs. Gorilla! MRS. GORILLA Hello, kids! Ooh, is that bread that you're eating? Smells good! What can I help you with today? ELINOR We're looking for our teacher, Ms. Mole, Mrs. Gorilla. MRS. GORILLA Oh, you kids just missed her. She was here a minute ago! The kids exchange glances. ELINOR Aw. We found her glasses and we're trying to return them to her. MRS. GORILLA Oh, how nice of you. I did notice she wasn't wearing her glasses, but she had no trouble picking out the fruits she wanted. She got three apples, two oranges and some grapes. ARI Do you think she used her super-smelling powers again? OLIVE Maybe. Should we try? The kids close their eyes and sniff the air (as they did at the bakery.) ARI I can't really smell which fruits are which. ELINOR Me neither. MRS. GORILLA If you kids are hungry, help yourselves to some fruit. They open their eyes. Elinor picks up an apple and holds it. ELINOR This apple looks good. Ooh, feel how smooth it is. Olive picks up an orange. OLIVE And feel this orange - it's got little bumps! Ari picks up a bunch of grapes. ARI And these grapes are small and round. (he squeezes one, it pops, he laughs) And squishy if I squeeze too hard! OLIVE The fruits all feel different. ELINOR That's it! Ms. Mole must have used her hands to tell which fruit was which! MRS. GORILLA That's right, Elinor. Different fruit feel different when you hold them in your hand. Mrs. Gorilla cuts up a fresh apple and offers it to them. MRS. GORILLA (CONT'D) Here, try some apple! They all help themselves. ELINOR Thanks for the fruit, Mrs. Gorilla! Do you know where Ms. Mole was going next? MRS. GORILLA Hmm, she said she was heading to the park with her bag of food. OLIVE She has bread and fruit... Maybe she's going to have a picnic! ELINOR Let's go and find her! CUT TO: EXT. PARK - DAY - MEANWHILE (continue to Scene 9)" ari So, Ms. Mole didn't even need her glasses to find the bread she wanted. olive She used her super-smelling power! i think she should say "Thats so interesting. Come on. We need more observations!" - connecting the observations to them continuing to figure out where Ms.Mole is and how she's going around without her glasses ElinOR That's so interesting! We need more observations! The kids approach the fruit stand, where friendly MS. GORILLA waits at the register. ElinOR (CONT'D) Hi, Ms. Gorilla. Ms. Gorilla Hello, kids, what can I help you with today? Kiwi, oranges, pineapple? We've got it all. ELINOR We're looking for our teacher, Ms. Mole. Olive (hopeful) And some bananas? Suggest - “Ah! Well I do have bananas!” - otherwise it reads like them finding ms.mole isnt important when she puts ‘bananas’ first MS. GORILLA Of course! First, the bananas. She shows them a beautifully laid-out tray of bananas. Olive is delighted, and selects one. OLIVE Thank you! Ari And Ms. Mole? Ms. GORILLA You kids just missed her. She came in and bought three apples, two oranges and one cluster of grapes. She knew JUST what she wanted. The kids exchange impressed glances. i agree with Sara's note about not being able to smell fruit - I think we can avoid it. When Elinor says this line, she can be picking up the apple in curiosity - ‘-hmm, this apple is smooth and this orange is bumpy’ ElinOR Hmmm . I wonder how she found exactly the fruit she wanted. Cut lines 71-76 - to avoid smell concern Ari Do you think she used her super-smelling powers again? Olive Maybe. Should we try? The kids close their eyes and sniff the air (as they did at the bakery.) Still a little concerned we are saying the fruits don't smell diffferent. Even young children who go to the grocery store with their parents might see people sniffing fruit. I wonder if you choose three fruits that one you could smell and the other two have VERY different textures...like a soft fuzy peach and hard apple or a spiky pineapple. Ari I can't really smell which fruits are which. ElinOR Me neither. I feel like the tast and texture here are introduced too quick. Consider letting the characters work through which fruits are which by texture and then seperately (after they know how Miss Mole knew) they could taste?--our could taste come in somewhere else. Ms. GorilLA If you kids are hungry, help yourselves to fruit. They open their eyes. Elinor picks up an apple and holds it. ElINOR This apple looks good. Ooh , feel how smooth it is. Olive picks up an orange. give this line to elinor as noted above - as she's thinking about texture being the key OliVE And feel this orange - bumpy! Ari picks up a bunch of grapes. Ari And these grapes are small and round. (he squeezes on, it pops, he laughs) And squishy if I squeeze too hard! OLIVE The fruits all feel different. elinoR Ooh - I wonder if Ms. Mole can tell which fruits she wants by touching them. Ms. Gorilla cuts up a fresh apple and offers it to them on a tray, along with grapes and banana slices. Ms. GorILLA Here's the fruits you chose. Try a little! They all help themselves. As Ari chews on a grape: Ari (mouth full) Maybe she also used taste! The fruits all taste different. The kids munch the fruit, thoughtful. Olive Banana tastes the best! ARI We knew you'd say that! EliNOR Thanks for the fruit, Ms. Gorilla. Do you know where Ms. Mole was going next? correction - "She was heading to the park with her backpack full of food." MS. GORILLA She was heading to the park with her basket of food. Olive Maybe she's going to have a picnic! EliNOR Let's go and find her. Cut to: Ext. PARK - day - moments lATER The kids enter arrive at the park, and look around for Ms. Mole. WIDE: There are many people out there enjoying the pleasant day, making it hard for the kids to spot Ms. Mole. Maybe the kids are up on a small rise by the side of the park, to get a good view. "Scene 9 (lines 89-108): Let's add another Ms. Mole beat here, and let's add the bit where Ms. Mole finds the kids because Ari was shouting. Change Scene 9, lines 89-108 to: EXT. PARK - DAY - MEANWHILE It's a mildly busy day at the park, and there are a few families and kids playing. In one corner, we see Ms. Mole as she sets down her bag near a big tree with <SFX: SINGING BIRDS>. She lays out her blanket and picnic food items. <WHISTLING TO HERSELF> she starts to take out the bread and some fruit. In the background, behind her and behind the tree, we see the three kids walking into the park. ELINOR Now where is Ms. Mole..? They walk a few paces, looking around. Suddenly Ari spots something. ARI Look! There's Koa! HEY, KOA!!! Ari waves over to Koa, who's kicking a ball around. Koa doesn't seem to hear Ari. ARI (CONT'D) KOAAAA!! OVER HERE!!! IT'S ME, ARI!! I'M HERE WITH ELINOR AND OLIVE!! HAVE YOU SEEN MS. MOLE!?? Koa seems to take notice, but doesn't seem to understand Ari. ARI (CONT'D) I SAID, HAVE YOU SEEN MS. MOLE?? Suddenly, Ms. Mole pops up from among them. MS. MOLE Boo! Is somebody looking for me? ELINOR/OLIVE/ARI (surprised laugh) OLIVE Ms. Mole! We've been looking all over for you! How did you find us? MS. MOLE (laughs) Oh, it was easy. I could hear you! We Moles have great hearing, especially for loud things, like little bats. She glances affectionately at Ari. (Continue with line 109)" Olive There are so many people here. ArI But I don't see Ms. Mole. Elinor keeps scanning the park, looking for Ms. Mole. ELINOR There she is! She points into the distance. ElinOR (CONT'D) Over there! As all the kids turn to look, their POV-- ANGLE ON: Ms. Mole is ambling along. A LITTLE KID walking in front of her is eating a banana, and accidentally drops it on the sidewalk, right where Ms. Mole is about to step! NOTE: she is too far away to hear them. I think we should cut this line - the audience will assume ms.mole heard them to avoid the banana peel. ELINOR (CONT'D) Oh, no! Watch out Ms. Mole! BACK ON: Suddenly Ms. Mole stops stop. CU MS. MOLE'S NOSE - lifted into the air and twitching to pick up a scent. also - description after 93 has the word 'stop' twice in a row Ms. MOLE (sniff, sniff) WIDEN: Ms. Mole side-steps the banana peel, then picks it up and puts it in a nearby trash can. BACK ON: the kids, watching. I think it would be important for her to hold her hands to her ears to point out she is using sound. Elinor (interested) Ooooooh . OlIVE <PHEW!> That was close. BACK ON PARK WIDE: A kid kicks a soccer ball hard <SFX: BAM> it flies towards Ms. Mole. CU ON: Ms. Mole hears the kick <NB: Moles have good hearing, but their ears are not visible. Maybe she holds up her had to the side of her hears?> ON: The kids. ArI Uh-oh! That ball's heading straight for... BACK ON the ball comes flying OS towards Ms. Mole. At just the right moment, and <BAM> KICKS the ball back toward the soccer field. BACK ON: The kids! ElinoR (interested) Hmmmmmm . ARI Yay! Ms. Mole! Should Ms. Mole have a texture experience instead of one smell and two sounds? OlIVE Come on! Let's bring her her glasses. WIDE: The kids are running to Ms. Mole sets up her picnic near a big tree with <SFX: SINGING BIRDS>. She lays out her blanket and picnic food items. Nearby, a YOUNG COUPLE is talking and one of them has his foot on a log. Suddenly, his foot slips and the log rolls over toward Ms. Mole, making <SFX: RUMBLING SOUND>. ON MS. MOLE - as the log rolls closer to her, Ms. Mole stops it with her foot, then sits on it in perfect timing. ON THE KIDS - they see this and are amazed. OLIVE (CONT'D) How did she do that? Elinor That's so interesting! Ms. Mole must have HEARD the log rumbling over to her. OLIVE Like she heard the soccer ball! Ari (excited, lous ) So she has super smell, super-touch, super-taste AND super- hearing. (cheering) Ms. Mole is AMAZE...! (realizing) Wait, where did she go? Just then, Ms. Mole pops up right next to them, startling them. Eliminate the second ‘boo’ Ms. Mole Boo! Don't forget my super sense of humor! Boo! ELINOR/OLIVE/ARI (laugh) maybe instead 'Ms.Mole, how did you know we were here?' Olive Ms. Mole! We've been looking all over for you! How did you find us? MS. MOLE (laughs) It was easy. I could hear you! We Moles have great hearing, especially for loud things. She glances affectionately at Ari. ARI Like me! Olive You left your glasses in the classroom, so we wanted to bring them to you! Ms. MOLE Thank you! That's very kind of you to track me all the way to the park! Olive hands her the glasses. She wipes them and puts them on. MS. MOLE'S POV - things are still a bit fuzzy - not perfect. Ms. MOLE (CONT'D) Ah, that's a bit better. Change "perfectly" to "really well" Olive Can you see perfectly now, Ms. Mole? MS. MOLE No, my glasses help me see much better, but not perfectly. And that's okay. Do you know why? Ari Why? Change to "Moles like me don't need strong eyes. We also use our noses, and our ears, and our hands to get around." MS. MOLE I like the explanation of the dark tunnels. The word 'see' does imply eyes and I don't think preschoolers are ready to consider "seeing" beyond that. Instead I would be more literal "Aren't the only way I find my way around" Moles like me don't need strong eyes - we live in dark tunnels. So... my eyes aren't the only way I can see. "Change this line to: ""Ooh - I know! You used your nose to pick out the loaf of bread, and you used your hands to tell the fruit apart!"" Then add a line for Olive below: OLIVE And you used your ears to find us in the park!" ElINOR A preschool learning goal is to learn your five senses, which body part helps each sense. This metafor for "saw" is not developmentally appropriate and might mix up their knewly constructed ideas. Ooh - now I know! You "saw" with smell when you picked the bread, and with touch when you felt the fruits, and with hearing when you found us in the park! MS. MOLE Very good! Glad you understand. Ms. Mole sings a ditty (over which we see clips of her getting around the park earlier - kicking the ball, picking up the banana peel, etc.) "Change the description above this line and the song ditty to: Ms. Mole sings a ditty, over which we see clips of her getting around and doing her errands. MS. MOLE (CONT'D) (singing) When I need to know Where I should go Sometimes I use Only my nose! When I need to tell Best that I can Sometimes I use Only my hands! When I need to find Things that are near Sometimes I use Only my ears! In this great big world, There is so much to know, So much to hear, and smell and see, what do you know! BACK TO SCENE. The kids and Ms. Mole are now back at her picnic blanket. " Ms. MOLE (CONT'D) (singing) In this great big world, I use more than just my eyes, To find what I need, Other senses help me guide. The song really helps clarify the take away message! When I need to know, where the bread goes, I find the bakery, with just my nose. When I want to be, near something I hear, I find those birds, with just my ears! In this great big world, I use more than just my eyes, To find what I need, Other senses help me guide. BACK TO SCENE Change to: "And now let's have a picnic!" Ms. MOLE (CONT'D) Ms.Mole already found a picnic spot and set up her poinice laying out the food. yet here she's repeating it and once again they set up the blanket and food. We can eliminate this line and she can say - now who wants to join me for a picnic. - as they approach where she‘s already set up, Ari can still ask how she found the perfect spot, - and this would have been before she had her glasses And now let's find a good picnic spot! Delete this line and the description above this line. She walks along the fence as the kids follow. As we hear BIRDS CHIRPING, Ms. Mole stops under the tree. Olive How did you choose this spot, Ms. Mole? It's perfect. Delete this line. Ms. MOLE I heard birds singing, so I know there's a big, shady tree nearby. The kids help Ms. Mole spread out the picnic blanket, and she sets the food items out. "Line 123 to 126, change these lines to: ARI Oooh, I loove a picnic. While Ms. Mole has her back turned towards the bag, Ari sits and reaches for some of the fruit in the blanket. MS. MOLE Ah-ah, Ari! Let's wait for everyone to sit down first. ARI Eep! ELINOR Ms. Mole, you couldn't see, smell or hear Ari. How did you know he was doing that? MS. MOLE Oh, kids. I don't need my eyes, nose or ears to know that Ari is always hungry! I just use my head! Ms. Mole taps her temple. They all laugh as they begin the picnic. " Ari Oooh , I loove a picnic. He reaches for some fruit, but Ms. Mole turns to him. MS. MOLE Ah-ah, Ari, let's wait for everyone to sit down first. Maybe somewhere in here it could be pointed out that "taste is Ari's favorite sense to use" elinOR How did you know Ari was taking fruit? Did you see, smell or hear? Ms. MOLE I don't need my eyes, nose or ears to know Ari is always hungry! Just my brain! They all laugh as they begin the picnic. iris out: The enD

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ELINOR WONDERS WHY EP 116 Ms. Mole's Glasses By: Rachel Lipman Elinor’s Question: How can Ms. Mole get around without her glasses? Logline: When Ms. Mole leaves her glasses behind at school, Elinor, Olive and Ari track her down to return them, and discover that Ms. Mole relies on other senses to get around. Curriculum Goals: SEP 6 - Constructing explanations a. Use background knowledge, experiences and data to construct reasonable explanations and theories of natural phenomena b. Look for and describe patterns and relationships in natural phenomena. c. Use and apply productive science discourse to support an explanation. d. Use evidence to support a theory or solution to a problem. LS2 - Understand that animals have different body parts that are used in different ways to meet their needs, and that plants have different parts that help them survive and grow. A. Identify body parts of animals and their function. ND- None in this one. Main Characters: Elinor, Olive, Ari, Ms. Mole Secondary Characters: Mr. Raccoon, Ms. Gorilla Incidental Characters: BG populating street, park Backgrounds: Top of the hill, Inside the Clubhouse, bottom of the hill Props: Olive's satchel, Ms. Mole's backpack, Ms. Mole's glasses, Olive's notebook, three breads (rye, sourdough, banana), an apple, orange, banana, grapes, banana peel, rolling log. OUTLINE: 21 January 2019 FIRST DRAFT: 05 February 2019 SECOND DRAFT: Elinor/hazel elinor Ari Hazel Sally Mr. Dog ELINOR/HAZEL/ARI Ms. Mole Olive Mr. Raccoon ElinoR/olive/ari Ms. Gorilla Oliev (V.O.) (O.S.) (O.C.) (CONT'D) (SUBTITLE) Int Ext I/E BATS' CAVE (ARI'S HOUSE) BATS' CAVE - ARI'S ROOM - DAY ARI'S ROOM ARI'S KITCHEN BATS' CAVE (ARI'S HOUSE)- YARD - DAY BATS' CAVE (ARI'S HOUSE) - KITCHEN - DAY BATS' CAVE (ARI'S HOUSE) - BACK OF HOUSE MR. DOG'S YARD - DAY ARI'S ROOM - DAY ARI'S YARD - DAY SCHOOL - DAY CLASSROOM ANIMAL TOWN SQUARE MR. RACCOON'S BAKERY PARK STREET ON THE WAY TO THE PARK FRUIT STAND STREET ON THE WAY TO THE PARK - DAY PARK - DAY ANIMAL TOWN Day Night Afternoon Morning Evening Later Moments Later Continuous The Next Day DAY DAY- MEANWHILE Cut To: Fade In: Fade Out. Fade To: Dissolve To: Back To: Match Cut To: Jump Cut To: Fade To Black.