The Life Cycle of A Mushroom

By
Saskya Olsen

Version 1
EXT. TRAIN TRACKS ON FOREST CLEARING – DAY
Camera watches the clearing, train tracks run horizontally
across the screen.

FADE IN text
We see:
“The Life Cycle of a Mushroom”.
FADE OUT text

SONG “24” plays as a full-speed train whips past the screen.

The FOREST RANGER is revealed on the other side of the
clearing and walks across the tracks towards the camera.

EXT. FOREST UNDERSTORY – DAY

The FOREST RANGER approaches the camera, unveiling his face
from under tree shadows.
The FOREST RANGER removes an AEROSOL can from his BACKPACK and
sprays a coloured liquid onto the TREE in front of him.
The Camera watches the dripping “X” mark on the TREE, falling
out of shot as the TREE falls to the forest floor.

Onomatopoeia flashes onto the screen

We see:
“CRASH!”

The Camera slowly zooms onto a small MUSHROOM sitting atop the
fallen TREE.
We gradually pan down the TREE trunk and into a crack opening.

INT. TREE TRUNK – DAY

The underside of the small MUSHROOM grows HYPHAE.
Text ANIMATES onto screen
We see:
“HYPHAE”

The HYPHAE meet, connect, and continue to grow. MYCELIUM

emerges.
We see:
“MYCELIUM”

The camera draws away from the action, emerging out of the
TREE TRUNK via an opening.

EXT. FOREST UNDERSTORY – DAY

We observe the previous small MUSHROOM sitting on the TREE
TRUNK.
We see:
“BUTTON STAGE”

The MUSHROOM begins to grow and develop. We travel from the

base of the MUSHROOM to the top as characteristics are
annotated.
We see:
“VOVOLA” “STIPE” “ANNULUS” “GILLS” “CAP”

The camera zooms into the MUSHROOM’S gills.

INT. MUSHROOM GILLS – DAY

BASIDIUM squirm around.
We see:
“BASIDIUM”

The BASIDIUM undergo nuclei fusion, which merge on the tips of

the sporangium.
We see:
“NUCLEI FUSION”

SPORES develop atop the BASIDIUM

We see:
“MEIOSIS!” “DEVELOPING SPORES…”

The SPORES detach from the BASIDIUM.

EXT. FOREST UNDERSTORY – DAY

SPORES are released from the underside of the MUSHROOM and are
thrown in all directions.
We see:
“POOF!”

The camera focuses on the SPORES as they are flung through the
air and away from the MUSHROOM, catching on the wind.
We see:
“RELEASED SPORES”

EXT. TRAIN TRACKS ON FOREST CLEARING – DAY

A SPORE makes impact with a grassy surface.
The camera zooms out from the SPORE, revealing the TRAIN
TRACKS around it.
The MUSHROOM begins to grow as an approaching train sounds its
horn.
We see:
“HOOOORN!” “TO BE CONTINUED…”

Screen cuts to CREDITS

SONG ENDS
END