1
. EXT. forEST --
DAY
A SERIES OF QUICK SHOTS: ELINOR, ARI and OLIVE
skip
through the forest
.
Ari begins to fidget and points at a random tree.
Ari
Are we
there
yet?
OlIVE
No.
ANGLE ON: The kids then climb over a boulder.
ARI
What about now?
OLIVE
Uh-uh
.
ANGLE ON: The kids now carefully step through a stream.
ARI
How about now?
ELINOR
(giggle)
Not yet, Ari. Olive will tell us when we
’
re
there
.
ARI
(sighs)
Why does it take so long?
Olive
We’re almost there, Ari. You’ll see
, it’s
the best
spot in the
whole
forest.
ARI
Whoa, cool! I just have one more question.
OLIVE
Sure! What is it?
ARI
Are we there yet?
Olive
Actually, y
es!
Ari
(surprised)
Really?! That’s never worked before.
OLIVE
It’s just over here
here
. Follow me!
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
(not too far from Animal Town, which we can see in the near-distance)
. The sun is shining right on the tree, giving it a majestic look that the kids marvel at.
<SFX:
WHOA WALLA>
Olive
Welcome to my tree!
ELINOR
Oh, Olive,
it’
s
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.
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.
THOUGHT BUBBLE shows Olive coming to the tree with her mom, which
crossfades
to Olive's mom when she was little playing around the tree.
ELINOR:
Wow...
this tree must be really old.
OLIVE
Yep, and it’s the best place in the world for playing, climbing, napping, picnicking...
Suddenly, Ari pops out from behind the tree.
ARI
Did I hear picnicking?
The kids
<SFX:
GIGGLE> as Ari smacks his lips and rubs his tummy.
ELINOR
W
hat
should
we do
first
, Olive
?
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
beginning to set
as Olive
write
s 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?
OLIVE
Drawing a picture of my special tree. I
draw
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!
ARI
Cool.
I wanna see!
Ari
does a loop-de-loop as he hops down to a lower branch, which shakes the tree, causing an acorn to
fall and
<SFX:
BOP>
Ari
on the head.
ARI
(CONT’D)
Yow
! I’m okay, but something hit me.
Elinor
It fell off the tree
.
ARI
Is
the
tree mad at me?
OLIVE
Noooo
. It’s just dropping a seed on the ground.
ari
Trees have seeds?
Ari picks up the acorn, he looks at it and shows it to Elinor.
Olive
Uh-huh. My Mom told me acorns
like this one
are oak tree seeds - and this is an oak tree.
ElINOR
Wow, Olive, you sure know a lot about trees.
OLIVE
Yeah. My Mom and I really love trees.
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.
OLIVE
(proud of her knowledge)
Nope, that’s what a tree looks like when it first
comes out of the seed
. 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
plant
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.
Ari
hops up on the tree again,
put
ting
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 checks on Ari, then looks up at where the branch used to be.
OLIVE
I wonder
what
happened to
the
branch
.
ARI
I don’t know. It just broke.
OLIVE
Aww
, poor tree.
Olive puts a comforting hand on the tree, but Elinor, in turn, puts a comforting hand on her.
ElINOR (O.S.)
It’ll be okay, Olive.
Your tree
has lots of branches.
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. I've been a little worried about the tree lately. The bark is getting crumbly and falling off in spots.
She points to a patch of brittle bark.
ELINOR
I’m sure it’s
ok
. We can come check the tree again some other day.
At that moment, the wind blows, Elinor crosses her arms with a
<BRRRR>
.
Ari
Brrr
...
it’s
getting windy. We should probably head home.
elinor
Yeah. I think it’s almost time for dinner.
Ari
Did you say dinner? Let’s go!
Elinor and Ari
<SFX:
GIGGLE> as they head off. Olive stays a little behind and puts a comforting hand on the tree.
OLIVE
Okay. See you later, tree!
As the kids walk away in the distance, the WIND suddenly kicks up, pushing the branches around with an
SFX:
HOWL.
We see a piece of the bark fall off.
Dissolve to:
3
. EXT. ANIMAL TOWN
--
NIGHT TO MORNING
W
e see the sun set over Animal Town
as the wind continues to blow overnight.
T
hen
the sun
rise
s
again - another
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.
Each of the kids picks up something off the ground: Olive grabs a branch, still full of leaves as Ari jumps over a whole group of branches. At the same time, Elinor thinks as she examines the jagged, broken end of a branch.
Elinor
Did the wind really
blow down all of this
, Mom?
RANGER RABBIT
It sure did. There were some very strong winds last night.
Ari
Strong enough to knock branches off of trees?
Ranger Rabbit nods
<SFX:
MM-HMM>.
ELINOR
Mom, can t
he wind blow over a whole tree?
RANGER RABBIT
Well, trees have roots that go into the ground, and that helps keep them from getting blown over. But...
If
the wind is
strong enough,
it
could
blow over a whole tree
.
At this, Olive looks to Elinor, concerned.
OlIVE
(gasp)
My
tree
!
ELINOR
(to Mom)
Mom, w
e have to go and check Olive’s tree.
The kids all excitedly run off
as Ranger Rabbit follows closely behind
.
4
. EXT. foREST CLEARING -- day
Elinor, Olive and Ari all head up the clearing.
Elinor
I
’m sure your tree is
ok
, 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
on its side
with
its roots exposed
, as if it
had been
pushed over.
ElINOR
Oh, no! Poor tree.
Olive
What happened?
It looks like
it just...
f
e
ll
.
ELINOR
It was the wind!
The wind
must have pushed
the tree
over
last night!
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
(
worried
)
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!
You’re j
ust in time! We have to put Olive’s tree back up.
Ranger Rabbit notices the tree
and realizes what happened
<SFX:
UH OH>.
Ranger Rabbit inspects the fallen tree, looking at the wood and the bark as the kids stand by, watching hopefully.
ELINOR
(CONT’D)
Can you fix it, Mom?
RaNGER RABBIT
I’m s
orry, kids,
it looks like
this tree was very old
.
It must have
got
ten
sick.
Olive
Trees get sick?
RANGER RABBIT
T
hey
do
, Olive.
Sometimes you can tell when a tree is sick.
ElINOR
Mom! Yesterday, one of the branches broke, and it looked really dark inside.
Ari
And the bark looked
kinda
funny in some spots.
OLIVE
Does that mean that the tree was sick?
RANGER RABBIT
Yes, it looks like it’s been sick for a while. See?
The kids look at the bottom of the tree and see that there is a big hole in the middle of the tree.
EliNOR
There’s a big hole in the tree.
Ranger Rabbit nods.
RANGER RABBIT
When
a
tree g
e
t
s
sick
like this
, it bec
o
me
s
weak
and can’t hold
itself
up very well. The
wind last night
must have
been strong enough to
just
push 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,
looking
sad
. 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.
Olive
takes out
her notebook
,
and
looks around longingly
as
she reads and points out certain locations around the tree as a thought bubble appears above her, showing what she describes.
OLIVE (O.S.)
(CONT’D)
One time, m
y Mom and
I counted the stars all night, then slept under our tree.
(then)
And one time
we spent all day raking up my tree’s leaves and then I jumped in the pile.
(then)
And this...
was the branch we used when
my mom taught me how to climb.
(sad)
But
now
the tree fell down and
we
won’t be able to
climb it again.
Olive
puts
her head in Ranger Rabbit’s shoulder and they share a hug.
Ari and Elinor also get in on this hug.
RANGER RABBIT
I know, Olive, and I understand why t
hat
would make you
sad.
ELINOR
Mom...
what happens to trees when they fall down?
RANGER RABBIT
That’s a g
ood question
, Elinor
. And I
think the answer
might
help
make you
all
feel a little better.
Olive looks
up
at Ranger Rabbit.
RANGER RABBIT (CONT’D)
Your special tree
will
still
be around for many more years. It’s going to be
come
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?
RANGER RABBIT
That’s right, Olive!
A
nd
becoming a wildlife tree is the very last step in a tree’s life cycle.
Come here, I’ll show you.
The kids follow Ranger Rabbit out as we
crossfade
to the next scene.
EXT. forest -- day
The
group arrives
at a decaying wildlife tree, covered in moss and already starting to break down.
ELINOR
So this is a wildlife tree?
RANGER RABBIT
It sure is, Elinor. This is a tree that fell down a long time ago, and now it's
a
very important part of the forest
.
Wildlife
trees are homes to
lots of
different types of creatures.
Ari
Look! A lizard!
Ari points to the tree and the kids turn to see a lizard crawling on the wildlife tree.
Olive
And look! A
bird made a nest in the tree.
The kids then observe a mama bird feeding her babies in a nest.
ELINOR
That’s
SO
interesting.
Ranger RABBIT
Yes. And as the tree gets even older, it’s going to break down and become part of the soil, helping new plants and trees grow in its place.
As Ranger Rabbit speaks, we see a
THOUGHT BUBBLE
that illustrates a tree breaking down and enriching the soil, which grows new, healthy plants.
Olive
Wow, so even if a tree falls down, it’s still a part of the forest
.
Ranger Rabbit nods
<SFX:
MM-HMM>. We take a last look at the wildlife tree, still full of life and at home in the forest. As
Olive thinks
about this
,
we
...
Dissolve to:
Ext. FOREST CLEARING -- DAY
B
ack with her
favorite
tree, Olive is still deep in thought.
Olive
I know that
my tree is going to help lots of plants and creatures
, but
...
I’m still gonna miss seeing it stand up big and tall.
Elinor
stands
beside her friend and puts her arm around her.
ELINOR
It was a really
nice
tree, Olive.
Maybe we can still come visit all the time.
Ari sits on the other side and puts his arm around Olive too.
ARI
Yeah,
think of all the new kinds of fun we can have with it now that it’s a wildlife tree
.
Maybe we’ll meet some new creatures.
OLIVE
(finally accepting)
I guess it will be pretty cool to see what kinds of
animals and plants
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>
As Olive finally cracks a smile, music rises. The kids sing a song while dancing around the wildlife tree.
Olive/Elinor/Ari
A tree
can grow both
big
and
small
No matter the size, we love them all!
We climb their branches
and
they
give us shade!
Trees are the best thing
s
ever made!
ELINOR: It starts with a seed planted in the ground
That becomes a sprout,
they’re all around
!
ARI
:
It grows bigger
, 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 to grow
And it’s a home to
animals we kn
ow!
ALL: A tree
can grow
both
big
and
small
No matter the size, we love them all!
We climb their branches and they give us shade!
Trees are the best thing
s
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 as Ari, Elinor and Ranger Rabbit walk over to her.
Elinor
How are you feeling now, Olive?
Olive
Better, thanks.
My mom’s
gonna
be sad that the
tree fell down, but I think she’ll be happy to know it’s still a part of the forest
.
Ari
And
Olive,
don’t forget
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!
ranger rabbit
Hmm,
there are no other trees around,
so t
his sprout
must be
from an acorn that fell off
your
tree
, Olive.
The kids
<SFX:
GASP/
AWW>
. Olive goes to pat the old wildlife tree.
OLIVE
D
on’t you worry one bit,
old
tree.
I’ll take care of
your sprout
so it grow
s
up big and tall, just like you.
Elinor peeks at the remaining pages in Olive’s notebook.
Elinor
I think
you’re gonna need another
notebook
, Olive.
As
everyone smiles and
<SFX:
LIGHT GIGGLES>
Olive takes a seat on the stump of her wildlife tree, we:
FADE OUT.
EWW 146 Olive's Tree Polish October 22, 2019
.
ELINOR WONDERS WHY
EP
146 Olive's Tree
By: Michael
Foulke
Elinor’s Question: Why did Olive's tree fall down?
Logline:
When Olive’s favorite tree falls over, she and her friends learn that the tree has just moved on to the next stage of its life cycle.
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
Polish Draft: October 22, 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
FOREST -- 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