ASK THE THREE ELEPHANTS!

ASK THE THREE ELEPHANTS!

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EXT. JUNGLE – DAY

Searching for the THREE ELEPHANTS who hold up the Earth, the FOREST ANIMALS emerge from the dense jungle into a clearing.

An INDIAN ELEPHANT sits there, absorbed in a game of chess.

BEAR
Good afternoon!

The Elephant doesn’t look up from the chessboard.

ELEPHANT
Just a moment. D7 to D5.

Bear turns to the other animals.

BEAR
Does anyone know where seven is? Or five?

BOAR
We can’t even find three — if we’re talking about elephants. What seven? What five?

The Elephant scratches his head, studying the board.

ELEPHANT
I’d move the knight here...

WOLF
That’s all right! A pawn works for us too!

ELEPHANT
Can’t use the pawn... The elephants are in the way.

Moose’s eyes light up.

MOOSE
Elephants?! There are elephants here?!

He rushes closer.

MOOSE (CONT'D)
Three elephants?!

The Elephant finally looks up from the chessboard and peers at them over his glasses.

ELEPHANT
What three elephants?! Where have you ever seen three elephants in chess?!

He looks the strange group over.

ELEPHANT (CONT'D)
Where did you lot come from?

MOOSE
Africa. Your African brother sent us. You know him?

The Elephant immediately softens.

ELEPHANT
Ahhh! Why didn’t you say so?

He smiles.

ELEPHANT (CONT'D)
Of course I know him! That sleepyhead. But we haven’t spoken since India broke away from Africa.

BEAR
He said your great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers broke away with you. They’re the ones we’re looking for! But your brother doesn’t know anything about them.

The Elephant scratches behind his ears with his trunk.

ELEPHANT
I don’t think they’ve been around for a very long time.

(beat)

They’re in a better place now. In paradise.

BOAR
That’s exactly where we need to go!

The Elephant looks at them with concern.

ELEPHANT
I wouldn’t be in such a hurry.

MOOSE
We really need to get there. But don’t worry, they’re alive!

(beat)

Nobody knows where they’re alive, that’s all.

The Elephant thinks for a moment.

ELEPHANT
I’ll tell you what. Find the mammoths, and you’ll find my great-great-greats. They’re all somewhere out there together.

He points with his trunk toward MOUNT EVEREST in the distance.

ELEPHANT (CONT'D)
See that mountain?

The Animals look.

ELEPHANT (CONT'D)
That’s the highest place on Earth. Go up there, and from the very top you’ll be able to see everyone in the sky — the mammoths, all the other ancestors...

(beat)

Even paradise.

Fox perks up.

FOX
Paradise too?! Great idea!

The Forest Animals set off once again.