{rafiki and mufasa embrace.}
in the circle
the circle of life
{decrescendo in bs. fs drops out. pan flute takes simple lead.}
{mufasa leads rafiki over to sarabi, who is holding simba}
{rafiki puts the juice and sand he collects on simba's brow-- a ceremonial crown. he then picks simba up and ascends to the point of pride rock. mufasa and sarabi follow. with a crescendo in the music and a restatement of the refrain, rafiki holds simba up for the crowd to view.}
fs: it's the circle of life
{the crowd starts howling, stamping, etc... }
and it moves us all
through despair and hope
through faith and love
{the clouds part and a sunbeam highlights rafiki and simba on pride rock.}
till we find our place
{the crowd bows down, one by one.}
on the path unwinding
{camera slowly zooms out to a striking panoramic view of the presentation.}
in the circle
the circle of life
{bass drum hit (fff) and immediate switch to black screen with title 'the lion king' in blood-red caps.}
[mouse / challenge scene]
{cue mouse sounds}
{visual fade into mouse in cave}
{mouse comes out and starts preening in the light. begins sniffing. becomes frightened. suddenly a large lion paw swoops down and catches him.}
{cue the scar theme (dissonant, slow, reed theme). fade in slowly and up full during speech}
{camera switch to scar holding the squeaking and struggling mouse in his paw. he talks to it while playing with it}
scar: life's not fair, is it? you see i -- well, i... shall never be king. {exhale lightly} and you... shall never see the light of another day. {closed-mouth laughter. starts to place the mouse on his extended tongue} ... adieu... {quiet laugh}
zazu : {interrupting} didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?
scar: {light sigh. the mouse is under his paw.} what do you want?
zazu: i'm here to announce that king mufasa is on his way. {bows} ...so you'd better have a good excuse for missing the ceremony this morning.
{the mouse runs away from scar}
scar: oh now look, zazu; you've made me lose my lunch.
zazu: hah! you'll lose more than that when the king gets through with you. he's as mad as a hippo with a hernia.
scar: oooh... i quiver with fear.
{on 'fear' scar crouches down and is baring his teeth at zazu.}
zazu: {very concerned} now scar, don't look at me that way... help!
{scar quickly pounces on the bird, catching him in his mouth.}
mufasa: {almost immediately and off-camera} scar! ...
scar: {mouth full} mm-hmm?
mufasa: drop him.
zazu: {speaking from scar's mouth} impeccable timing, your majesty.
{scar spits the bird out, covered with saliva}
zazu: {slimed} eyyccch.
scar: {sarcastically overjoyed} why! if it isn't my big brother descending from on high to mingle with the commoners.
mufasa: sarabi and i didn't see you at the presentation of simba.
scar: {faking astonishment} that was today? oh, i feel simply awful.
{he turns and start scraping his claws on the rock wall. zazu cringes at the sound.}
scar: {admiring his claws} ...must have slipped my mind.
zazu: yes, well, as slippery as your mind is, as the king's brother, you should have been first in line!
{scar clicks his teeth at zazu, who has flown near his face. zazu takes cover behind mufasa's foreleg. scar bends down to speak to him.}
scar: well, i was first in line... until the little hairball was born.
mufasa: {lowering his head and meeting scar eye to eye} that 'hairball' is my son... and your future king.
scar: ohh, i shall practice my curtsy.
{scar turns away and starts to exit}
mufasa: {warning} don't turn your back on me, scar.
scar: {looking back} oh, no, mufasa. perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on me.
mufasa: {roars and literally jumps in front of scar, baring his teeth for the first time} is that a challenge?
scar: temper, temper. i wouldn't dream of challenging you.
zazu: pity! why not?
scar: {looking at zazu} well, as far as brains go, i got the lion's share. but, when it comes to brute strength {looking at mufasa} ...i'm afraid i'm at the shallow end of the gene pool.
{exit scar}
zazu: {deep sigh} there's one in every family, sire... two in mine, actually. {perches on mufasa's shoulder} and they always manage to ruin special occasions.
mufasa: what am i going to do with him?
zazu: he'd make a very handsome throw rug.
mufasa: {chiding} zazu!
zazu: and just think! whenever he gets dirty, you could take him out and beat him.
{they exit, chuckling. pan out into open savannah.}
[painting scene]
{rise in music-- 'this land' track-- with theme stated in african flute, it broadens eventually with chorus and full orchestra. we see a rainstorm gently crossing the savannah. multiplane camera approach to rafiki's baobab tree. camera switch to inside the tree. rafiki is doing hand paintings on the wall. we see he is completing a lion cub.}
rafiki: {mutters to himself, in which the word 'simba' can be heard} hmmm... ah heh heh heh heh heh... {completing the ceremonial crown in the painting} simba.
{horns and brass close theme in a stately manner with a decrescendo. fade to black keeping the painting of the cub as a crossover to the fade in of pride rock in early morning}
[the sunrise / pouncing scene]
{simba is seen coming out on the rock. he runs back into the cave and leaps over several of the lionesses, accidentally jumping on a few.}
simba: dad! daad! come on, dad, we gotta go. wake up!
random lioness: oomph!
simba: sorry! ...oop.
{simba starts to wake mufasa}
simba: dad? daad. dad, dad, dad, dad, dad, dad, dad, dad--
sarabi: {over simba's endless noise of 'dad's, sleepily} your son... is awake...
mufasa: {also sleepily} before sunrise, he's your son.
simba: dad? daad! come on, dad! {tugs at mufasa's ear.} daa-- whoa!
{he loses his grip on mufasa's ear, and slips and crashes into something off camera. he then comes running back on screen and butts mufasa. mufasa sleepily eyes his son.}
simba: you promised!
