The Quest For 'Just Right'

Original screenplay by
Maz Kanchwala
INT. STORYBOOK

A storybook is on the table titled "Goldilocks and the Three

Smooloos" The book opens by itself. The first page shows an
illustration of Goldilocks finding the house along with text
roughly matching the narrator's words.

The NARRATOR has a motherly but authoritative voice.

NARRATOR (O.S)
Once upon a time there was a little
girl called Goldilocks. She was a very
adventurous girl and one day her
adventures brought her to a cottage in
the woods. A family of smooloos lived
here but it seemed they weren't home.

The page turns to show first double page spread. There is an

illustration of the different porridges. Then another
illustration of Goldilocks magic-ing the porridge. Behind her
is a family portrait of the smooloos. The text is the same as
the narrator's words.

NARRATOR (O.S)
Goldilocks saw that there was some
porridge on the table but it was all
wrong. One was too hot and one was too
cold! So she magic-ed them all to be
just right.

The page turns and on this double page spread is an image of

the beds being all wrong and then Goldilocks looking pleased
after fixing them. The text roughly matches the narrator's
words.

NARRATOR (O.S)
She wandered upstairs to find even
more of a disaster in the bedroom. The
biggest bed was all messy, the medium
sized bed had no pillow or blanket and
the smallest bed was far too little!
So Goldilocks magic-ed them to all be
just right.

The page turns to show the next two pages. The first page has
an illustrations of the happy smooloos with one pointing off
towards other houses. The second page shows the town's
growth. The text matches the narrator's words.

NARRATOR (O.S)
When the smooloos got home oh boy were

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 2.

they happy. They asked Goldilocks to

help their neighbors using her magic
so she skipped along gladly to make
everyone happy.

Years went by and the village grew.

More families moved in and everything
was perfect.

The page turns. The first page shows a dark fog creeping over
the town, then Goldilocks lifting a cloak hood in a doorway
heading outside. The second page shows the town becoming dull
and sad.

NARRATOR (O.S)
But in this time of peace and
prosperity an evil force was trying to
throw off the balance. Since
Goldilocks was the source of the magic
she was forced to disappear.

With the main beacon of power gone the

evil was no longer a threat and moved
on the the next magical land but the
village was never the same. The
'perfect' magic Goldilocks had been
emitting began to fade - no bed was
ever confortable, no food was ever the
right temperature. For decades the
people learned to cope with the ever
fading magic until exactly 100 years
after her disappearance Goldilocks'
home could no longer bare it.

The illustration in the book becomes the next scene (becomes

3D basically).

NARRATOR (O.S)
That brings us to the heroes of our
story. These two often wondered what
they could do to help their little
village...

INT. APARTMENT - MORNING

Very dull but not totally colourless town. In one window the
main characters are in their lounge. ZOOM into the room. SAMI
is a young man with dark blue hair and [enter costume
description]. BERNIE is a yellow smooloo of a rather small
stature. He's quite proper, often seen wearing a bow tie
[add/change description].

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Fade between these shots of Sami and Bernie sitting around

doing nothing much as the clock on the wall moves forward by
at least an hour each shot:

8:15 - Sami is sitting on the couch backrest on his phone,

Bernie is sitting normally reading a 'Magical Engineering
Weekly' magazine.

9:35 - Sami is lying on the couch still on his phone, Bernie

has moved to the floor and is now doing a rubix cube.

10:10 - They are both sitting on the opposite sides of the

couch watching TV as Sami uses the remote to flick through
channels.

NARRATOR (O.S)
(with heavy emphasis)
A-HUM! They want to help their
village...

Sami looks to the sky.

SAMI
GOD!!!!

BERNIE
(monotone)
No you daft lemon that's the narrator.

SAMI
(still talking to the sky)
oh... right.... ummm well miss
narrator we do want to help we just...
don't know how.

NARRATOR (O.S)
Ah I see. Well maybe I could give you
a hint. Remember the prophecy?

Sami and Bernie look at each other blankly.

BERNIE
(bluffing)
I mean of course we know about the
prophecy, right Sami?

SAMI
(unsure)
Um yeah, course

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BERNIE
Although maybe you could remind us...
for the audience's benefit of course!

NARRATOR (O.S)
Of course.

EXT. DRAWINGS

In the format of illustrations in the same style as the

opening storybook [or paper cut-outs] with only a few parts
moving along to the narrator's explanation:

The first section shows Goldilocks mysteriously cloaked

entering a cave. Then she puts magic into a mysterious object
(as you can tell this shot is all very mysterious).

NARRATOR (O.S)
We all know the legend of Goldilocks
and the three smooloos but what the
history book don't tell you is what
Goldilocks did when she disappeared.

She travelled to the Caves of No Hope

and put all her magic into a relic.

The next section is a close up of the relic with some

'shining light' beams coming out of it.

NARRATOR (O.S)
The prophecy states that if you were
to find the caves and bring the relic
back to the village, it has the power
to restore the magic to your home.

INT. APARTMENT - DAY

BERNIE
Well that all sounds very- SAMI! What
are you doing?

Sami is packing a suitcase with clothes, an alarm clock, a

rubber duck and a few other random items.

SAMI
I'm eating a sandwich. What does it
look like I'm doing Bernie? We've got
a quest to go on!

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EXT. BUS STOP - DAY

The bus drives past revealing Sami and Bernie going to sit
down on the bench having just got of the bus.

SAMI
I wish we knew where to go now.

Bernie is already turning round to go home.

BERNIE
Oh well guess we should go home.

Sami grabs Bernie's arm.

SAMI
Noooo. Don't give up!

Bernie rolls his eyes but begrudgingly moves back towards

Sami. He crosses his arms.

BERNIE
Well it would be a lot easier if we
had a map.

Sami strokes his chin pensively.

DRAMATIC ZOOM OUT to show a a shop behind them with a massive

sign saying 'Michelle's Maps For All Occasions'. ANGELIC
CHOIR SOUND plays as the shop is dramatically backlit.

BERNIE
Well that's convenient.

Sami looks at the sign on the door.

SAMI
Ooooh they've got a quest discount!

INT. MICHELLE'S MAPS FOR ALL OCCASIONS - DAY

Inside the shop is very chaotic, there's shelves upon shelves

of rolled up maps. There's a big globe in the corner and
various posters on the walls. The front desk has an old cash
register on it and a bookshelf behind. It's a very cluttered
space. DOTTY is sitting behind the front desk with her nose
in a book - 'Janis in Wonderland'. She has light blue curly
hair, tied up in two bunches with a headband on. Her clothes
are vibrant and baggy. There's a very earthy feel to the
shop.

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SHOPKEEPERS DOORBELL RINGS.

SAMI
Woah. Talk about cave of wonders.

Sami walks up to the front counter and waves to Dotty to get

her attention.

SAMI
(enthusiastically)
Umm, hello.

DOTTY
Oh, sorry love didn't see you there!
What can I do for you?

SAMI
Hi, yes. We're here for a map.

DOTTY
(friendly tone)
Anything specific? Or are you just
here to window shop?

BERNIE
We're trying to find the Caves of No
Hope.

Dotty scans the shelves behind her.

DOTTY
Oh gosh. You know there's a reason 'no
hope' is in the name right. There's
not been an expedition there in years.

She pulls out an old, weathered map from the shelf and places
it on the table.

BERNIE
Wow that is old.

Dotty unrolls the very small map

BERNIE
(disappointed)
And very small. How are we supposed to
find anything with that scrap of
paper.

Dotty starts using the cash register.

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DOTTY
Well that's all I've got here but I
can give you some train tickets to get
you started.

SAMI
Oh that would be fantastic!

Dotty hands over the tickets to Sami but Bernie snatches them
and puts them in a pocket. Then Sami picks up the map from
the desk and starts looking at it while it's upside-down.

BERNIE
(raising his eyebrow at Sami)
I think these are safer with me.

Sami is about to protest but Dotty interrupts before he can.

DOTTY
Alrighty, I think that's everything?

SAMI
Ooo! Do you have any snacks back there
too?

DOTTY LAUGHS as Bernie eye rolls. Train 'choo choos' (HORN

HONKS) as an audible transition to the next scene.

EXT. MAP

A paper cut-out style map with Goldilocks village at the top

and various fantasy locations across the rest of the map. A
little Sami and Bernie icon travel across the terrains via
various vehicles/means.

First they take a train across a wild west style desert.

Then they walk through some mountains, accidently going in a

circle round one as if they went the wrong way.

Then they go on a row boat across the ocean.

EXT. OCEAN - MIDDAY

Bernie is rowing. Sami is casually draped across the boat. He

plays the 'SHE WAS THE ONE' notes on a guitar.

BERNIE
Will you stop that! It's all I've
heard this whole trip! And where did
you even get that infernal guitar on

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this tiny boat?

SAMI
(sarcastically)
The magic of cinema. Anyway stopping
me is like stopping.. Mozart!

BERNIE
Okay Mozart see what happens if you
keep- DUCK!

Sami ducks down as Bernie point out to sea then double takes
to see Sami crouched down.

BERNIE
No you idiot look there's a duck.

Sami sits up and peers over the edge to see the DUCK QUACK.

BERNIE
Ducks don't go far out to sea, we must
be getting close to the island.

Or this is one brave duck.

SAMI
I hope we get there soon, I'm
starving.

Bernie looks out to sea.

BERNIE
I doubt it; there's nothing out there
for miles. Maybe we should just turn
around.

NARRATOR (O.S)
You're closer than you think boys...

As Sami is still looking at the duck when Bernie turns around

after the Narrator's prompt. He gawks at something in front
of them. He frantically taps Sami's arm to get his attention.
He turns around sharply to look out the front of the boat.

SAMI
What?!

Sami's jaw drops.

The island is comically close, towering in front of them.

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EXT. BEACH - DAY

Sami and Bernie are staring out at the island from the beach
with worried expressions. Bernie pulls out the map and starts
to inspect it.
Meanwhile, Sami has started to wander off towards the
mountains[change to hills? or windmill].

BERNIE
Hold on Sami, where are you going?

SAMI
Adventure calls Bernie!

BERNIE
Sure but maybe adventure could try
calling you in the right direction?

Close up on the map showing the red dotted line going through
a forest but the title is smudged off. All it shows is 'The
Forest Of D'.
Sami awkwardly turns around and starts heading off into a
bright coloured forest following Bernie.

NARRATOR (O.S)
Um boys... Wrong forest. That's the
Forest of Dreams; you want the Forest
of Despair.

The camera pans to show a series of signs pointing to the

Forest of Dreams and The Forest of Despair. The signs match
the vibes of each forest and under the Forest of Despair sign
it says enter if you dare.

EXT. FOREST OF DESPAIR ENTRANCE

The opening in the trees (aka the entrance) is dark and

spooky looking.

BERNIE
Oooh that doesn't look very-

Sami is striding into the trees.

BERNIE
Wait no- hold on- that looks like a
recipe for death.

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Sami does pleading puppy eyes trying to convince Bernie to

join him.

BERNIE
no, no don't give me that look. I am
not going.

He crosses his arms in protest.

SAMI
(in one breath like he's doing
something without permission)
ohwellguessI'lldiealonebyeeeeeeeee

He bounds off into the forest. Bernie is left standing there

for a few seconds while spooky noises play in the background.
He starts to look worried.

BERNIE
ugh I suppose I should go help him...

EXT. FOREST OF DESPAIR

The forest is thick with big towering trees covered in vines.

It's very dark and the boys are struggling to see as they
don't have a light. As they walk along there are turn back
signs in the background.

BERNIE
You packed a torch right?

Sami looks guilty. His eyes widen as he realises he doesn't

have one.

Bernie looks around nervously.

BERNIE
Right?..... SAMI!

SAMI
(teasingly)
You afraid of the dark?

BERNIE
(almost whispered)
Only when there's something in the
dark with us.

Sami's grin has faded. Scooby-Doo style creepy white/red eyes

blink in the darkness. The boys look at one another and gulp
in unison.

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They walk along slowly as a creature lurks by the trees,

following menacingly.

They walk along and Sami pushes a tree branch out the way
which flings back wacking the monster.

The SPOOKY MUSIC gets louder as the boys get further into the
forest when Sami takes a big step over a hole in the ground
and Bernie walks around it. The music reaches the climax Sami
suddenly stops.

SAMI
Hold on!

RECORD SCRATCH. Bernie bumps into sami and the monster in

turn comes to a halt but it's right above the hole. Like any
good cartoon it hovers in mid air and double takes to look
where it's stopped and then looks at the camera as it falls
into the hole. The music stops and cricket noises play
faintly in the background.

Sami check's behind him.

SAMI
Sorry, thought something was following
us.

BERNIE
Well since we aren't facing imminent
death maybe the music could fit the
mood.

CASUAL QUEST MUSIC plays as they reach a little clearing in

the thick trees near a rocky hillside. Bernie consults the
map as Sami looks over his shoulder.

SAMI
This looks promising.

Bernie has walked up to the rocks and is inspecting a little

patch.

BERNIE
Hmm, if I just-

He pushes a rock into the wall.

BOTH
(with amazement)
Woah!

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EXT. CAVES OF NO HOPE

The cave isn't that deep (to avoid the hassle of lighting
just a flame torch or something, it can just be reduced
daylight).

They see that it's a glowing gold porridge bowl.

BERNIE
Not subtle was she?

Sami picks up the bowl.

SAMI
It could be a life-size statue of the
woman for all I care! Now we can fix
the village.

A little brightly coloured snail had crawled up on a rock

nearby.

SNAIL
(slightly monotone)
Oh. come to steal the magic eh.

SAMI
No, no we don't want it for ourselves.

SNAIL
I don't care either way. Just take it.
100 years it's been sitting there
making all those whooshy noises. Not
one night of peace I tell ya. Useless.

She doesn't even wait for a response before crawling away.

BERNIE
Well you'd think being all powerful
was enough. Although I do wish it was
real porridge, I'm starving.

MAGICAL DING as two perfectly made sandwiches appear on a

rock near Bernie.

BERNIE
Wow, this thing really is magical.

He picks up a sandwich.

BERNIE
Aw nice! It's my favourite one too!

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Sami takes the other one.

SAMI
Mine too!

CROSS DISSOLVE [maybe a little ripple effect like it's water]

to the boys back their boat as Sami says:

SAMI (O.S)
(while chewing)
This really is my favourite magic.

EXT. OCEAN - MIDDAY/INT. STORYBOOK

The boys are sailing off towards the horizon.

NARRATOR (O.S)
Sami and Bernie sailed back home with
the relic, restoring the village to
its original glory. Fixing the magic
made everything just right.

This shot turns into an illustration in the storybook from

the opening.

The page turns to show the next double page. The first page
has a crowd celebrating the relic's return as Bernie is
holding it up while on Sami's shoulders. Underneath is text
that reads 'The heroes return, bringing magic back with
them'. The second page shows the resaturation of the town in
a sort of half transitioned drawing of the town with one half
having to original dull colours and the other bright and
vibrant. Below that image is an illustration of Sami
stretching as he wakes up with a big smile on his face. There
is some slightly illegible text with some words you can make
out including 'comfy', 'vibrant and happy', and 'perfect'.

The page turns showing a calligraphy 'THE END'. Then the book
closes.

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