1. ext. elinor’s yard - DAY ESTABLISHING. Under the shelter of a beautiful LEAFY TREE, ELINOR, ARI and OLIVE are happily spinning a tale together... ELINOR (EXCITED) Then, suppose the dragon chases the three heroes through the forest... CLOSER - Elinor and Olive sit on the ground, surrounded by CRAYONS and the COLOURFUL DRAWINGS they’ve made to illustrate their story. Ari hangs upside-down from a low tree branch. ELINOR (CONT’D) ...toasting all the trees with his fiery breath! ARI I love it! Ari flips/glides down from the tree and grabs a sheet of paper from a PILE OF PLAIN DRAWING PAPER. aRI (CONT’D) And then the heroes get away... He flops down on the ground and gets busy drawing. OLIVE And they hide in a cave so they’re safe - and so are the trees! ELINOR Good idea! I’ll draw that part. Elinor grabs a fresh piece of paper and starts a new drawing. ARI Or they could jump into a lake? elinor That’s even better! Dragons can’t toast water. Elinor tosses her barely-begun ‘cave’ picture into a RECYCLING BIN and reaches for a fresh sheet of paper - but there isn’t any more. They’ve used it all up. eLINOR (CONT’D) Oops! Out of paper. I’ll go get some more... Elinor gets up and heads inside the house. 2. INT. KITCHEN - DAY RANGER RABBIT is doing some work at the kitchen table. She looks up as Elinor enters. ELINOR Hi Mom. We need more paper. Her Mom gestures to the usual shelf - but it’s empty. ranger RABBIT Okay Elinor, it’s right - oh! I guess we’re all out. CUT TO Ari and Olive, now leaning in through the doorway. OLIVE Out of paper? ARI But we’re in the middle of making the best story ever. ELINOR It’s about three heroes who protect a forest from dragons. RANGER RABBIT (interested) Wow! Great story! Forests need protecting. I guess we’d better get you some more paper. ANGLE ON Elinor, suddenly thoughtful. ELINOR Where does paper come from, anyway? Before Ranger Rabbit can respond, Olive pipes up. OLIVE I know where. From the store. Ranger Rabbit hands Elinor a COIN PURSE. rANGER RABBIT That’s right, Olive. This should be enough money to buy a new pack of paper. ELINOR (grateful) Thanks, Mom. We’ll be back soon! Elinor waves, and she heads back OS with her friends. DISSOLVE TO: 3. EXT. MAIN STREET - MR. HIPPO’S STORE ESTABLISH Mr. Hippo’s store, as the three kids hurry through the main door. A bell <JINGLES> to announce their arrival. 4. INT. MR. HIPPO’S STORE Friendly MR. HIPPO is sweeping the aisle when they enter. ELINOR Hi Mr. Hippo. Mr. Hippo (chipper) Elinor, Ari and Olive! What can I do for you? ELINOR We’re making a storybook, but we ran out of paper. MR. HIPPO Ah, paper! Aisle two. Top shelf. The kids eagerly hurry down an aisle - but their faces fall. POV - there’s an empty shelf in front of them. ARI But there’s none here! Mr. Hippo approaches. He reacts with mild surprise. MR. HIPPO Oh I’m sorry. I must have sold out. OLIVE How can a store run out of paper? This is where paper comes from! Mr. HIPPO (chuckles) Actually, I get it from Mr. Beaver. The kids share a look of realization. Ah, now they get it! elinor Oh! So paper doesn’t just come from the store. ARI (nods) It comes from Mr. Beaver. ELINOR Then we’d better go see Mr. Beaver. Mr. HIPPO If he has paper on hand, would you mind bringing some back for the store? eLINOR No problem, Mr. Hippo. See you later. The three kids rally out of the store. The door <JINGLES>. DISSOLVE TO: 5. Ext. Mr. beaver’s workshop The three kids approach Mr. Beaver’s workshop. (This could be a separate outbuilding, or at the back of the Beavers’ home.) CLOSER - a ‘PAPER’ THEMED PICTOGRAM SIGN by the door confirms that this is the place. Elinor <KNOCKS> on the door. Mr. Beaver (os) Come in! The kids push open the door. CUT TO: 6. Int. Mr. Beaver’s workshop INSIDE - the kids find MR. BEAVER, amid a strange assortment of low-tech, MANUAL PAPER-MAKING EQUIPMENT. MR. BEAVER Well, hello there! What brings you to my workshop this fine morning? ELINOR Paper, Mr. Beaver. We were making a storybook, but we ran out of paper. OLIVE And the store is sold out. ARI But Mr. Hippo says paper comes from you. So here we are! Mr. BEAVER Well, you came to the right place! olive Great. So... where’s the paper? Mr. BEAVER I haven’t made it yet. CUT TO Elinor, as she absorbs this. ELINOR Made it? You have to make paper? That’s SO interesting! Mr. Beaver smiles, pleased that she’s curious about it. Mr. BEAVER I’m glad you think so. ELINOR But we need more observations. How do you make it? Mr. BEAVER I’ll show you... He beckons, and they follow him. Mr. Beaver’s first stop is a BIN, from which he takes a SMALL LENGTH OF CUT WOOD. Mr. bEAVER (CONT’D) It all starts with this. elINOR A piece of wood? What does that have to do with paper? Mr. BEAVER Everything. Wood is the main ingredient in paper! CUT TO Elinor, Ari and Olive, who are quite amazed. <SFX: AMAZED/WOW/REALLY? WALLA> Mr. BEAVER (CONT’D) But first, we need to grind up the wood into little pieces. Mr. Beaver takes the log to a HOMEMADE, HAND-CRANKED WOOD-GRINDING MACHINE. He feeds the log into one end, like an oversized pencil sharpener. Mr. BEAVER (CONT’D) Olive, can you crank the handle for me? Olive obligingly takes hold of the handle, and cranks it. This moves the log through the grinder... Ari (laugh) It looks like you’re sharpening a pencil. ...until WOOD SHAVINGS shower out the other end, into a box. Mr. BEAVER (sniff) Ah, I love the smell of wood chips in the morning. Mr. Beaver takes the box of wood shavings, and dumps this into a big TROUGH, of STEAMING HOT WATER. Mr. BEAVER (CONT’D) Next, we mix the wood chips with water... and cook it. He grabs a VERY LONG HANDLED LADLE and starts stirring. Elinor watches with astonishment. eLINOR Cook it? Like... wood porridge? Mr. BEAVER (chuckles) Pretty much! But it’s not to eat. We cook it to make the wood soft and pasty. ARI That doesn’t look like paper. When does it get flat? Mr. BEAVER (AMUSED) Right now. Once it’s all soft and pasty, I pour it onto this screen. Mr. Beaver takes back the spoon, and ladles the watery wood pulp over a FRAMED SCREEN, which sits flat over a basin. Elinor crouches for a better look. ELINOR The water’s draining off, but the wood stuff is staying on top. Mr. Beaver takes the screen full of wood pulp aside onto a mat and lays a big flat board over it. He presses on this - Mr. BEAVER (with effort) Now, I squish it flat, to squeeze out most of the water, and... - then lifts it up to REVEAL a damp sheet of homemade paper. He peels this carefully off the screen, and holds it up. Mr. BEAVER (CONT’D) TA-DA! One piece of slightly wet handmade paper, just for you. The kids are appreciative - but they still have concerns. ELINOR (awkward) Thanks Mr. Beaver. But um, we actually need more than one sheet of paper to finish our book. Mr. Beaver shrugs agreeably. Mr. BEAVER Then I’ll just have to make more. Elinor, Ari and Olive look excited. Finally! But Mr. Beaver suddenly hesitates. Mr. BEAVER (CONT’D) Only thing is - that was my last piece of wood. The kids deflate. ARI I knew there’d be a catch. Mr. BEAVER I’d better head over and get some more wood, from Farmer Bear. Elinor is very curious. elinor Wood comes from a farm? I wonder what that looks like... IMAGINATION BUBBLE - Elinor imagines Farmer Bear watering a line of crops with a watering can. Only the ‘crop’ is a whole furrow full of CUT WOOD PLANKS, growing like corn. BACK TO SCENE - Elinor looks excited. ELINOR (CONT’D) Can we come with you? Mr. Beaver shrugs agreeably. Mr. BEAVER Sure! Grab that wheelbarrow, and let’s get going. We have paper to make! Elinor trots over to get the empty wheelbarrow he indicated - <SFX: YEAH/WHOO-HOO WALLA> - and Mr. Beaver leads the excited kids OS. DISSOLVE TO: 7. EXT. FARMER BEAR’S TREE FARM - MINUTES LATER FARMER BEAR pulls a wagon full of supplies (AN AXE, SOME SHOVELS, TREE SEEDLINGS) up to a row of trees. She stops to put a measuring tape around a (safe-sized, NOT huge) Tree to check its girth. FARMER BEAR (happy humming) MR. BEAVER (os) ‘Morning, Farmer Bear. Farmer Bear looks up to see Mr. Beaver approaching, pushing the empty wheelbarrow and with Elinor, Ari and Olive in tow. FARMER BEAR (cheerful) Mr. Beaver! I wasn’t expecting you today. And you brought friends. Mr. BEAVER Yes, I ran out of wood a little early this week, but I have a very important paper order to complete. He smiles fondly at the kids, who nod eagerly. ARI We need paper to finish our book. OLIVE But paper’s made from wood - ELINOR - and we wanted to see where the wood comes from. Farmer Bear smiles and spreads her arms. FARMER BEAR And here it is! ELINOR (confused) Here? But - this is a forest. FARMER BEAR Not exactly. Do you notice anything unusual about these trees? POV - as the kids take another, more careful look. ELINOR They’re all in rows. FARMER BEAR That’s because it’s not a natural forest. I planted these trees, for their wood! The Farmer pats the trunk of the big tree she just measured. CUT TO Elinor as it finally ‘clicks’. ELINOR (astonished) Wood comes from TREES? FARMER BEAR You bet! People use this wood to make all sorts of things, like houses, furniture - Ari points to the WOODEN-HANDLED SHOVEL in the WAGON. aRI - and tools? OLIVE (brainstorming) Violins. Toothpicks. Baseball bats. Elinor - and paper. Farmer Bear takes an axe from her wagon. FARMER BEAR Okay, folks. Stand back, and get ready to yell ‘timber’! Mr. Beaver and the kids step back to a safe distance, and Farmer Bear starts to <CHOP> a notch in the trunk of the (NOT very big) tree she just measured. Soon, we hear a <CRACKLING> sound... ARI / OLIVE / MR. BEAVER TIMBER!!! ELINOR Oh, no! The TREE! ...and the tree <CRASHES> down. Elinor watches, wide-eyed. As the Farmer lowers her axe, she sees Elinor looking solemn. FARMER BEAR You okay, Elinor? ELINOR (glum) Welllll, I know we need wood to make things... but I wish we didn’t have to cut down trees to do it. ArI Yeah, we’re supposed to PROTECT the forest. OlIVE Forests need protection, that’s what Ranger Rabbit said. Farmer Bear nods kindly. FARMER BEAR Well, Ranger Rabbit is right. That’s why, for every tree I cut down, I plant TWO new ones. Farmer Bear gestures to her supply wagon. ON THE WAGON - it holds a bunch of healthy TREE SEEDLINGS in small pots. The farmer gently picks one up. FARMER BEAR (CONT’D) Want to help me plant some baby trees, before you go? Elinor smiles, somewhat cheered. ELINOR Yes, please! Olive and Ari nod too. Farmer Bear starts handing out seedlings and trowels. Elinor looks at the seedling in her hands with a new understanding. ELINOR (to hERSELF) (CONT’D) So this is where paper comes from. As Elinor, Ari and Olive get busy helping Farmer Bear dig holes and plant seedlings, the kids launch into a - SONG moment - "The Paper Trail" (MONTAGE) ELINOR / OLIVE / ARI (sing) We're on the trail of paper And this is what we found It started when a tiny tree Was planted in the ground DISSOLVE TO LATER: They wave goodbye to Farmer Bear as Mr. Beaver wheels his wheelbarrow back to his workshop, now laden with small logs. The kids stride alongside him. The tree grew tall and mighty The farmer cut it down And then the wood that came from it Is taken into town DISSOLVE TO QUICK CUTS as they sing, in Mr. Beaver’s Workshop, to recap the papermaking process. - a log is being ground up by Ari - Mr. Beaver ‘cooks’ the wood shavings - Olive peels wet paper off a screen - Elinor takes paper from a drying rack and holds it up. The wood goes to a factory To grind and mix and blend Whoever knew that paper would Come out the other end? DISSOLVE TO LATER: The kids march proudly into Mr. Hippo’s store, each carrying a finished package of paper to place on Mr. Hippo’s shelf. The paper travels to a store, From there you take it home. Elinor keeps one pack. She carries it to the check-out desk. Oh, every piece of paper has A story of its own! We END SONG, as Elinor places the package on the counter and takes out her change purse. ARI (jubilant) Finally , we’ll have paper to finish making our book. Suddenly - Elinor hesitates. oLIVE What’s wrong, Elinor? ELINOR I was just thinking. I'm not sure we need to buy more paper yet. ANGLE ON Ari and Olive, looking surprised. OLIVE What? But how else can we finish our book? Elinor closes her change purse. ELINOR I think I know another way... Off Olive and Ari’s puzzled looks, we DISSOLVE TO: 11. EXT. ELINOR’S HOUSE WIDE ON the yard, with its <CHIRPING> birds, and shady tree. The crayons and recycling bin are right where they left them. CLOSER as Elinor leads Olive and Ari to the recycling bin, and leans down to take a piece of paper out of it. ELINOR Look, we still have LOTS of paper in the recycling bin. Ari points out the half-drawn dragon on it. ARI But it’s used. ELINOR Only on one side. The other side is still good. She turns the paper around to show the fresh reverse side. ELINOR (CONT’D) Now that we know paper comes from trees... maybe we could use a little less of it? CUT TO Ari and Olive. They look up at the big, friendly tree overhead - and share a smile. OLIVE We can do that. Elinor grins, and raids the recycling bin, handing out a few sheets to each of her friends. They settle in under the tree. aRI So... where were we? eLINOR (grins) Protecting the forest. OLIVE (laughing) Oh yeah! As they pick up the thread of their storybook adventure, we slowly TILT UP to the canopy of the tree above them... ELINOR (part os) So the heroes get the dragon to dive into the lake. ARI And that puts out his dragon fire... OLIVE And the tree are SAVED! <SFX: COOL, AWESOME WALLA> ...and we FADE OUT.

EWW126 "The Paper Trail - FIRST DRAFT - 25-Apr-19

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ELINOR WONDERS WHY EP.126 “The Paper Trail” By: Karen Moonah Elinor's Question: Where does paper come from? Logline: When Elinor and her friends run out of drawing paper, they follow the 'paper trail' backwards, from the store, to the mill, to a forest - and learn where paper really comes from. ES 3a ) Ask questions about and discuss examples of how humans use Earth's resources (including soil and water) to meet their needs. ES 3c ) Participate in simple activities to care for the environment. (Elinor and her friends discover that we use trees to make paper, and help to plant trees to replace the ones they've cut down.) ND 4 ( RTL Crosscutting concept 'Flows, Cycles and Conservation') Appreciate the way that elements in the natural world change, interact and are re-used, and how we can organize our designed world to better fit and care for the environment. (Elinor and her friends come to understand the importance of replacing the trees we use, and of recycling paper, and protecting the forest) Mains - Elinor, Ari, Olive, Mr. Beaver, Farmer Bear Secondary: Ranger Rabbit, Mr. Hippo Locations: Elinor's House, General Store, Paper Workshop, Tree Farm Props: crayons, paper, recycling bin, papermaking equipment, wheelbarrow, axe, wagon, shovels, tree seedlings. OUTLINE: March 29, 2019 FIRST DRAFT: April 25, 2019 Ari Ari / Olive / elinor Crowd elinor Elinor / Olive ELINOR / Olive / ari ELINOR / Olive / ARI / farmer bear / lambs Elinor / Olive / ari / others eLINOR / Olive /a FARMER BEAR G L Lamb 1, 2, 3 / beaver LamB 1, 2, 3 / BEAVER / farmer bear / Olive / ari / elinor Mrs. Mrs. Gorilla Ms. Mole Olive Olive / ARI Olive / elinor Olive. Other students ROLLIE ROLLIE’S SISTER Sr Students Tomato mascot VARIOUS STUDENTS All kids ELINOR/ari MRS. Gorilla/elinor/olive/ari Mz. Mole Ranger rabbit Mr. Hippo Mr. Beaver ARI / OLIVE / MR. BEAVER (V.O.) (O.S.) (O.C.) (CONT'D) (SUBTITLE) (to herself) (muffled) (os) (thoughtful) (grins) (sings) (CALLS) (SHEEPISH) (cheery) INT EXT I/E 6. EXT 1 2 A SOUVENIR STAND DROP LADDER BEAVERS' PRACTICE AREA SCHOOLYARD CLASSROOM MRS. GORILLA'S JUICE CART INT. CLASSROOM ANIMAL TOWN EXT. ELINOR'S HOUSE INT. ELINOR'S HOUSE MR. HIPPO'S STORE MR. BEAVER'S WORKSHOP FARMER BEAR'S TREE FARM ELINOR'S HOUSE DAY NIGHT AFTERNOON MORNING EVENING LATER MOMENTS LATER CONTINUOUS THE NEXT DAY MINUTES LATER ESTABLISHING KITCHEN CUT TO: FADE IN: FADE OUT. FADE TO: DISSOLVE TO: BACK TO: MATCH CUT TO: JUMP CUT TO: FADE TO BLACK. ‘fluff’ wipe to: