This is good, Mike. It's shaping up and feels better than D1. Definitely a LOT of heart, and some touching moments. I think the top-most note is to find spots to add some curiosity and inquiry from the kids (without throwing the heart-felt story off-balance), and some storybeat changes to make it flow better. Specific notes below. Thanks! "Fabulous episode! This one really warmed our hearts. It's nice to have a story for Olive with so much emotional heft. The way the life cycle is presented is lovely -- it all makes sense, and it's optimistic and touching. We think kids will really dig into this story, and parents will appreciate it, too. Nicely done, Mike, and it looks like great feedback from the team on D1 helped shape it. One comment about the question and logline: seems like the heart of the inquiry is more about why Olive's tree fell down, rather than how they can get it to stand back up. The logline might want to allude to the kids learning about the life cycle of a tree. (These are Natalie's comments -- Anne didn't flag this, so wondering where Sara clocks in.)" 1 . EXT. forEST -- DAY Love the growth of this story! Agree that log line should focus on life cycles. A SERIES OF QUICK SHOTS: ELINOR, ARI and OLIVE skip through the forest . Ari begins to fidget and points at a random tree. I think opening with this came out cute. Ari Are we there yet? OlIVE No. "Line Count - 120 Elinor - 28 Olive - 44 Ari - 30 Ranger Rabbit - 18 ANGLE ON: The kids then climb over a boulder. ARI What about now? Mix it up: "Uh-uh" OLIVE No. ANGLE ON: The kids now carefully step through a stream. ARI How about now? … will tell us when we get there. OR … will tell us when we're there. ELINOR (giggle) Not yet, Ari. Olive will tell us when we are. ARI (sighs) Why does it take so long to get there? Agree-> . maybe response could indicate how long ago the tree was planted? Olive This doesn’t quite answer Ari’s question. Maybe just needs a bit of rephrasing to make sense. Because it’s awesome! It’s the biggest, bestest tree ever! ARI Whoa, cool! I just have one more question. OLIVE Sure! What is it? Funny. ARI Are we there yet? "I would split up this line, and insert line 13 in the middle. i.e. something like, OLIVE: Actually, yes! ARI: Really!? That never works! OLIVE: It's right up through here. Follow me! And they follow Olive." Olive We can take out "up" -- "It's right though here." Actually, y es! It’s right up through here. Follow me! In description below this line, let’s add that we're not too far from town or something. Something so it doesn't feel like the kids are out in the wilderness by themselves. Ari (surprised) Really?! That’s never worked before. The kids follow Olive OS. 2 . Ext. Forest clearing ON A HILL -- cONTINUOUS As the kids leave the forest, they enter a clearing, where they find one lone oak tree high up on a picturesque hill, all by itself. The sun is shining right on the tree, giving it a majestic look that the kids marvel at. <SFX: WHOA WALLA> "Feel like we need a line before this one to introduce the tree. Maybe add something like, OLIVE: Welcome to my special tree. (or This is my special tree or Meet my special tree, you get the idea). Then replace ""your tree"" from this line with ""it's""" ELINOR Oh, Olive, your tree is sooo beautiful! We then pan over to find Ari giving the tree a big bear hug. His hands don’t come close to making it all the way around. ARI (in awe) This is the biggest tree I’ve ever seen. "Let's insert line 29 from later here into this spot, before the current line 16. We should explain a little before they play why it's special. Something like: OLIVE: Yeah, it's pretty special. My mom and I come here all the time. And she used to come here when SHE was little, just like me. Then illustrate this with a thought bubble showing Olive coming with her mom, which crossfades to Olive's mom when she was little playing around the tree. Then add a line for Elinor, then continue with line 16 (but delete the ""and""): ELINOR: Wow... OLIVE: It's the best place in the world for playing... etc. (continue line)" OLIVE And it’s the best place in the world for playing, picnicking, climbing, napping... Suddenly, Ari pops out from behind the tree. This works perfectly the way it is now, but we thought Ari might perk up when he hears "picnicking" more than "napping." ARI Did I hear napping? ELINOR W hat should we do first ? Assuming the sun isn't really setting just yet -- maybe dusk colors are just starting to pop? Otherwise, it seems weird that Olive would start her sketching just as things are starting to get dark outside. OLIVE Anything we want! MONTAGE OF the kids having fun at Olive’s tree: They chase each other around, playing tag. Olive and Elinor go one way, Ari goes the other - <SFX: boo! > They (safely) climb the tree, using its many branches to brace themselves. Olive helps Elinor up, but Ari just flutters to a higher branch. Finally, Elinor is watching the sun going down as Olive draws in her notebook. Suddenly, Ari’s upside down head pops down from the top of frame. As he talks, we pull out to reveal he is hanging upside down from a branch. ARI Whatcha doing now, Olive? Better to say “I draw a new one…." OLIVE Drawing a picture of my special tree. I do a new one every time I come up here. I’ve been here so m any times I’ve almost filled up this whole book! I don't think he needs to fall. He can just hop down to a lower branch in a fun way (maybe with a loop de loop) and when he lands on the lower branch, it shakes the tree a little, which triggers some rustling overhead, which causes the acorn to fall on him. It feels more natural this way. ARI Cool. I wanna seeeeee ... Aah ! Ari falls off the branch, but flutters down safely to the ground and pops back up into frame. So delete this line ARI (CONT’D) I’m ok-- Suddenly, an acorn falls and <SFX: BOPS> him on the head. "Let's draw out this line into three lines, something like: ARI: I'm ok. Something hit me! ELINOR: It came from the tree. ARI: What? Is the tree mad at me?" ARI (CONT’D) Well, I’m kinda okay. Is your tree mad at me or something? OLIVE Noooo . It’s just dropping a seed on the ground. Give this line to Ari. ElINOR Trees have seeds? Ari picks up the acorn, he looks at it and shows it to Elinor. Maybe add “…acorns like this one” Olive Uh-huh. My Mom told me acorns are oak tree seeds - and this is an oak tree. ElINOR Wow, Olive, you sure know a lot about trees. Delete the third and fourth sentences (move them to line 16, as per the note on 16) OLIVE great-> Might be nice for someone to comment after this line “Wow! This tree must be really old” (a bit of foreshadowing) Yeah. My Mom and I really love trees. We come here all the time. And my Mom used to come here when she was little and HER mom too, when SHE was little. Now carrying the acorn, Ari goes to sit down next to Olive, but she stops him. Olive (CONT’D) Wait, Ari! Don’t sit there, you’ll shmush that tree! Olive points to a little sprout coming out of the ground as Ari and Elinor lean down to examine it. ARI Are you sure that’s a tree? It looks like a little weed to me. Change "pops out of the ground" to "comes out of the seed" OLIVE (proud of her knowledge) Nope, that’s what a tree looks like when it first pops out of the ground. Here, take a look. Olive pulls out Elinor’s magnifying glass. MAGNIFIED POV: as she and her friends get on the ground to look at the sprout. eLINOR So this little one is a baby tree? Olive Yep. My mom said trees start out as seeds, then they become little sprouts like this one and finally, big grown-up trees - like this! Olive gestures to her big tree! ari Wow, it’s so neat to think that this giant tree came from a tiny acorn. "I think we can do without this whole section about why the tree is alone in the hill. I don't think it's a mystery kids will find interesting, and it's a little TOO heartbreaking that the tree was planted by the grandma. I think we have enough heart already with it just being her special tree. Let's delete lines 36 through 46 (sorry!)" ELINOR Yeah, but if trees come from seeds, and seeds come from trees - how did this big, giant tree get all the way out here all by itself? There are no other big trees around. ARI Oh, I know! A THOUGHT BUBBLE above Ari’s head as he imagines how the tree began , which starts with a walking acorn. ARI (CONT’D) Maybe the acorn walked up to the top of the hill all by itself? OlIVE Acorns don’t have legs, Ari. Someone must have brought it up here. Ari now imagines pirates burying the acorn. ARI Riiight. Maybe pirates thought the acorns were treasure and buried them. The pirates turn to squirrels, but still dressed as pirates. ELINOR Or maybe one of Philbert’s squirrel-friends did. Squirrels love acorns. Olive It’s wasn’t a squirrel, it was my Grandma! The THOUGHT BUBBLE bursts. ArI Really? "...when she was a little kid -- like us -- and it grew into this tree!" OLIVE My Mom’s mom planted an acorn way up on this hill a really long time ago when she was a little kid - like us. ELINOR Wow, I can’t believe your Grandma planted this, Olive. What a special tree. Olive admires her beloved tree. "That's why" (instead of that's my) OLIVE That’s my I love it. And so does my Mom. As the wind blows, Elinor crosses her arms with a <BRRRR> . Let's move these two lines (47 and 48) and the description above them to AFTER line 53 (see notes below) Elinor Brrr , This wind is cold . Let’s head home . W e don’t want to be late for dinner. In the description below this line, continue the action from line 35, just have Ari hop up to climb the tree again after admiring it. Ari Dinner?! Wait, I’m coming! In his hurry, Ari puts his hands on a branch to pull himself up and we hear the SFX: CREAK of wood breaking as the branch snaps and falls to the ground with an SFX: THUD! Luckily, Ari flaps his wings and safely glides to the ground. Elinor Oh, no! Are you okay , Ari ? ARI Y eah. I’m fine. "Olive seems more concerned over the tree than about Ari. Let's dial back this concern, and make it a little more curiosity driven. Also, let's add another sign that the tree is sick, so we can pay it off later. I think we had the bark being a weird color before, can we bring that back in? So lines 51 through 55 should play out something like this: OLIVE: I'm glad you're ok, Ari. What happened to the branch? ARI: I don't know, it just broke. OLIVE: Aw, poor tree. ELINOR: It'll be okay, Olive. The tree has lots of branches. (continued in next note)" OLIVE But what about my tree ? I t broke its branch . Olive puts a comforting hand on the tree, but Elinor, in turn, puts a comforting hand on her. "(continued from previous note) OLIVE: Yeah, I guess you're right. This branch looks a little weird. I've been a little worried about the tree lately. The bark is also starting to look another color. (points to a patch that looks different, please fact check). ELINOR: I'm sure it's fine. We can come check the tree again some other day. At that moment, the winds start to pick up. Ari crosses his arms with a BRR. ARI: Brr, it's getting windy. We should probably go home. ELINOR: Yeah, I think it's almost time for dinner. ARI: Dinner!? Let's go!! OLIVE Waves goodbye to the tree: Okay, see you later, tree!" ElINOR (O.S.) It’ll be okay, Olive. It has lots of branches, so it won’t miss just one. Olive grimaces as she inspects the branch, whose wood is oddly dark on the inside. OLIVE Yeah, I guess you’re right. And this branch looks kinda weird anyway. ELINOR I’m sure it’s fine, but just to make double-sure, w e’ll come back to check on your tree tomorrow. Okay? Olive takes a satisfied <SIGH>. OLIVE Okay. See you later, tree! As the kids start walking back, Olive once again puts a comforting hand on her tree. As she walks away, we push in a bit on the tree as we see a piece of the bark fall off. As the kids walk away in the distance, the WIND suddenly kicks up, pushing the branches around with an SFX: HOWL. Dissolve to: 3 . EXT. ANIMAL TOWN -- NIGHT TO MORNING As the wind continues to blow furiously, w e see the sun set over Animal Town, then rise again - another beautiful , calm, sunny day! We push in on the PARK, where Elinor, Olive and Ari walk around, helping Ranger pick up the fallen branches that lay all over. Elinor Did the wind really make all this mess, Mom? RANGER RABBIT It sure did. There were some very strong winds last night. Let's add a little more after this line. Make more of the surveying. Add maybe three or four lines of them walking observing the effects, and make it interesting/curious and with some action. Elinor asks a curious question. Maybe Ari hups over some fallen branches. Not a gag, but just some interesting action/dialogue about the wind storm last night. Ari Strong enough to knock branches off of trees? This line is a bit on the nose. Maybe add something more subtle like, "tree have to be strong to not get pushed down by the wind" (not great, but something like that). RANGER RABBIT Yes, in fact, sometimes wind is so strong it can knock over a whole tree. At this, Olive looks to Elinor, concerned. Maybe here it'd be better for her to say, "Gasp! My tree" OlIVE A whole tree? ELINOR (to Mom) We have to go and check Olive’s tree. I think Ranger Rabbit should be right behind them, not off doing something else. Otherwise, it's weird that she just shows up later (how did she find them?). Just have the kids run off ahead of her, I think you can delete this line. RANGER RABBIT Okay, I have to do a forest patrol. I’ll meet you later. ELINOR Thanks, Mom. Let’s go! The kids all excitedly run off. 4 . EXT. foREST CLEARING -- day Elinor, Olive and Ari all happily head up the clearing, now carrying a picnic basket. Elinor I ’m sure your tree is fine, Olive. Ari Yeah , I can’t wait to climb-- Suddenly, Olive interrupts Ari, as she exclaims: Olive <GASP!> My tree! ARI Exactly! I can’t wait to climb your tree. OLIVE No, my tree! Look! The kids all look up to see that Olive’s tree has fallen down! They all quickly run to inspect the scene to find the tree has fallen over and it’s roots are exposed , as if it was pushed over. ElINOR Oh, no! Poor tree. Make it a little more observation based. Maybe "What happened? It looks like it just… fell" Olive What happened? Did it just...fall ? Elinor figures it out: "It's the wind! It must have pushed the tree over last night!" ELINOR All that wind last night must have pushed it over. Ari Okay, then let’s push it back up. I got this. I’ll just... <SFX: GRUNTING> Ari gives pushing it back into place a shot, but quickly realizes that’s not happening. ARI (CONT’D) Nope. Not happening. Meanwhile , Olive is very worried about her tree. Olive (despondent) But we have to do something! My tree can’t stay on the ground ! Suddenly, Ranger Rabbit comes through the clearing. RaNGER RABBIT What’s going on kids? ELINOR Mom! Just in time! We have to put Olive’s tree back up. Ranger Rabbit notices the tree. RANGER RABBIT Uh-oh. Ranger Rabbit inspects the fallen tree, looking at the wood and the bark as the kids stand by, watching hopefully. ELINOR Can you fix it, Mom? This is where we want to add a little bit of deduction from the kids, where they piece together that the signs they observerd earlier were signs that the tree was sick. Change this line to something like, "Sorry kids, but it looks like this tree was very old. It must have gotten sick." RaNGER RABBIT Sorry, kids, but it looks like this tree was very old and over time, it just got sick. Olive Trees get sick? "Change to: ""They do, Olive. Sometimes you can tell when a tree is sick."" Then add a few lines below this line (3-4 lines) of the kids piecing things together. Something like: E: Mom! Yesterday, one of the branches broke, and when we looked at it, it looked really dark inside the branch. A: And the bark looked kinda funny in some spots. O: Did that mean the tree was sick? RR: Yes, it looks like it's been sick for a little while. Then RR inspects the tree and points out the signs it was sick (add a line about this), then continue with line 82" RANGER RABBIT Maybe add "come apart and hollow out" to help with the meaning making For Sara: do we need to explain what it means to "hollow out," or will the accompanying visual offer enough support? T hey do , Olive. And it looks like this one has been sick for a while. The inside was starting to hollow out. See? The kids look at the bottom of the tree and see that there is a big hole in the middle of the tree. RANGER RABBIT (CONT’D) Once the tree got sick, it became too weak to support itself and all that wind last night just pushed it over. As Ranger Rabbit talks, this all begins to sink in for Olive. OLIVE So...we can’t put my tree back up... ever? RANGER RABBIT I’m afraid not, Olive. OLIVE (realizing) Oh... Olive sits down next to the tree, and is quite upset. Ranger Rabbit puts her arms around her. RANGER RABBIT I’m so sorry Olive. Elinor told me this was your special tree. It sounds like you had a lot of really fun times here. Olive Yeah, I did. Me and my Mom and my Grandma too. As Olive sits on the trunk of the fallen tree, she opens her sketch book and looks at her memories as Ranger Rabbit and the other kids gather around her. Not sure this moment is playing out. Stopping to look at each drawing slows things down a bit too much. Maybe she just flips through them and says some top level comment like "We did so many fun things here." Or, if you want to list them, it might be nicer if instead she walks around the tree pointing out the spots where the memories are based, and using thought bubbles to show the memories. OLIVE (O.S.) (CONT’D) This was the time my mom and I camped out right here. We counted the stars all night, then slept under our tree. (then) And this was the time we spent all day here raking up my tree’s leaves and then I jumped in the pile. (then) In the second memory, we can remove "here" -- "we spent all day raking up my tree's leaves..." And this... was the very first time my mom brought me here and taught me how to climb. As Olive says that, she gets a little sad. OLIVE (CONT’D) And now we’ll never climb it again. Olive buries her head in Ranger Rabbit’s shoulder and they share a hug. Ari and Elinor also get in on this hug. "This is another spot where we can add more inquiry. Delete the second sentence in this line, and add a line for Elinor: E: Mom, I wonder… what happens to trees after they fall down? Then mom can continue with rest of line 90: ""Well, can I tell you something that ...""" RANGER RABBIT I know, Olive, and I understand why t hat would make you sad. But, can I tell you something that might make you feel a little better ? Olive looks at Ranger Rabbit seriously. OLIVE Uh-huh. RANGER RABBIT Your special tree will be around for many more years. It’s going to be what we Park Rangers call a wildlife tree. OlIVE A wildlife tree? RANGER RABBIT Yes. A wildlife tree is the very last step in a tree’s life cycle . ElINOR What’s a life cycle, Mom? ARI I know. My mom has one of those in the garage. She loves to exercise. Ranger RABBIT (smiling) That’s a different kind of cycle, Ari. OlIVE Wait, I think I know. Is the life cycle like how this tree started as an acorn, then grew all the way up from a sprout to a big tree? "It's a bit talky at this point, let's change scenery and add some action. After this line, have Ranger Rabbit take the kids to go see a wildlife tree. Something like, ""…last step in a tree's life cycle. Here, I'll show you."" and they walk back into the forest. Change scene to a forest spot with a wildlife tree. Then while they are there, add about 4-6 lines of RR pointing out the wildlife tree, explaining that ""this is a tree that fell down a long time ago, and it's part of the forest. A wildlife tree is a very important step in the life cycle of a tree because they become home to many creatures in the forest."" Then they watch several animals that are living in the tree. Look! it's a lizard! And look! A bird made a nest here! (wonder and observation start to turn things around for Olive). They SEE the wonder that a wildlife tree is. Add catchphrase here: That's SO interesting! Then end this scene on Olive, thinking about what it all means. Then you crossfade to the kids coming up to Olive's tree back again. Then continue with line 100." RANGER RABBIT That’s right, Olive! A nd becoming a wildlife tree is the very last step in a tree’s life cycle. It’s also a very important step because wildlife trees are homes to many creatures in the forest. OLIVE So, my tree is going to become a home for lots of creatures...on the ground? the tree makes healty soil that can help new plants grow....(giving food to soil might bring images to kids minds that are very differnt than what we are talking about...of course the suggestion from PBS would help). RANGER RABBIT Let's consider adding a thought bubble to help illustrate what RR means when she talks about the tree breaking down and helping give food to the soil. Yes. And as your tree slowly breaks down over the years, it will give food to the soil, which will help new plants and trees grow in its place. Olive sits down on her tree. Olive I know that’s a good thing, but I’m still gonna miss seeing it stand up big and tall. Elinor sits beside her friend and puts her arm around her. ELINOR It was a really pretty tree, Olive. But just think of all the new kinds of fun we can have with it now that it’s a wildlife tree. Ari sits on the other side and puts his arm around Olive too. ARI Yeah, w e’ll still come visit all the time. Who knows what creature s might come and live here ? ElINOR It’ll be soooo interesting. And we’ll make LOTS of observations. OLIVE (finally accepting) I guess it will be pretty cool to see what kinds of creatures make my tree their home. Ranger rabbit I don’t think you’re going to have to wait very long to find out . Look! Ranger Rabbit points. The kids look over and see a salamander crawl up inside a hollowed out section of the tree’s trunk and curl for a nap. <SFX: WHOAA/AMAZING WALLA> Olive You ’ re right, Elinor. A wildlife tree might be kinda interesting after all . As Olive finally cracks a smile, music rises. The kids sing a song while dancing around the wildlife tree. "Nice song. In first set of verses, I think you can delete ""nature"" In fourth paragraph of song, the lines feel a little long. Try deleting ""and trees"" and change last line to something like, ""And becomes a home to animals we know.""" Olive/Elinor/Ari A tree can grow both big and small No matter the size, we love them all! They clean the air and give us shade! Trees are the best thing nature ever made! This might be okay, but we don't use the word "sapling" in the epiosde prior to the song -- we just talk about the sprout. Maybe there's a way to work it in earlier? We also don't talk about how trees "clean the air," so this is a new concept. Instead, perhaps we could list "we climb their branches and they give us shade" as some of the tree's positive attributes. ELINOR: It starts with a seed planted in the ground That becomes a sprout, they’re all around ! ARI : Next it’s a sapling, as big as me But real soon, it’s a full grown tree! OLIVE: Then one day, it’s a wildlife tree Just as important I hope you’ll see Because it helps new plants and trees to grow And it’s a home to lots of creatures we know! ALL: A tree can grow both big and small No matter the size, we love them all! They clean the air and give us shade! Trees are the best thing nature ever made! 5 . Ext. ForEST CLEARING -- Dusk After the song, as the sun sets in the distance again, Olive draws in her notebook, sitting on the ground with her back against the wildlife tree as Ari, Elinor and Ranger Rabbit walk over to her. Elinor How are you feeling now, Olive? Olive Better, thanks. But now I have to go and tell my Mom that our tree fell down . RANGER RABBIT Aww, I know your Mom loves this tree as much as you do. How about if we go and tell her what happened together ? OLIVE Thanks, Ranger Rabbit. She’s gonna be sad that there won’t be a big, tall tree here anymore! Ari But Olive, I think you’re forgetting about one thing... Ari then leads the kids over to the sprout they observed earlier. T he kids excitedly crowd around . Olive The sprout! You’re right, Ari. I forgot this tree sprout is going to grow into a big, big tree! ELINOR And there are no other trees around, which means... This is so sweet and heartwarming. Wonderful episode! OLIVE This sprout is from an acorn that fell off my tree! (Olive gets up and pats the wildlife tree.) D on’t you worry one bit, tree. I’ll come back every day to visit and take care of your sprout , so that one day it’ll grow up big and tall, just like you. Elinor Looks like you’re gonna need another sketchbook, Olive. As Olive smiles and takes a seat on the stump of her wildlife tree, we: FADE OUT.

EWW 146 Olive's Tree D2 September 20, 2019 .

.

ELINOR WONDERS WHY EP 146 Olive's Tree By: Michael Foulke Elinor’s Question: How do we fix Olive's favorite tree? Logline: When Olive’s favorite tree falls over, her friends try to figure out how to fix it for her, but the answer may be more complicated than they thought. Curriculum Goals: LS4 . Understand that all animals and plants have a life cycle, can reproduce, and change and grow over time. (Elinor and her friends trace the life cycle of an oak tree). ND4: Appreciate the way that elements in the natural world change, interact and are re-used.(Elinor and her friends observe the ways the apple tree was used in the past (for shade, for climbing – and the way it is used now that it’s fallen – as a home for forest creatures). SEP 1: Asking questions (science) c. Ask and/or identify cause and effect questions that can be answered by an investigation. (Elinor and her friends investigate why the tree fell.) SEP 6: Constructing explanations (science) a. Use back-ground knowledge experiences, and data to construct reasonable explanations and theories of natural phenom-ena (science) (Elinor and her friends conclude that the tree fell because it was old and diseased). SEP 7: Engaging in argument from evidence a. Engage in discussions before, during, and after investigations b. Support thinking and argue ideas with evidence (Elinor and her friends theorize as they examine the evidence around and including the fallen tree). MAINS: Elinor, Ari, Olive, Ranger Rabbit SECONDARY: None LOCATIONS: Forest, Forest clearing PROPS: Acorns, Picnic Basket, Picnic Blanket Outline: July 23, 2019 First Draft: August 28, 2019 Second Draft: September 20, 2019 Elinor Ari Olive Ranger rabbit ELINOR/ari/ranger rabbit Olive/elinor/ari Art O (V.O.) (O.S.) (O.C.) (CONT'D) (SUBTITLE) INT EXT I/E 7 FOREST FOREST CLEARING -- DUSK FOREST CLEARING -- DAY EXT. FOREST CLEARING -- DAY DAY NIGHT AFTERNOON MORNING EVENING LATER MOMENTS LATER CONTINUOUS THE NEXT DAY MAGIC HOUR DAWN DUSK SAME SAME TIME CUT TO: FADE IN: FADE OUT. FADE TO: DISSOLVE TO: BACK TO: MATCH CUT TO: JUMP CUT TO: FADE TO BLACK. SMASH CUT TO: CUT TO BLACK. TIME CUT: Order Title Location CHARACTER CHARACTER'S ARC