Frankie and Dino

A couple of pages out of a script written for a US kids' animation

EXT.DINOCAVE. DAY

DINO (pronounced Deeno) the young dinosaur is watching his

father (his hero), FRANKIE brushing his hair in the mirror.

Dad likes what he sees.

Next to the mirror is a photo of a dinosaur who resembles

Dean Martin.

FRANKIE

Did I ever tell you how your mom

and I came to name you, Dino?

DINO

(to himself)

Yes, dad it ...

FRANKIE

It was after that great dinosaur

singer, Dean Martinsaurus.

FRANKIE gives the photo a polish while he starts to SING.

DINO covers his ears.

FRANKIE (CONT’D)

“When the moon hits your eye like

a Jurassic sky, that’s

Dinosauria”

With the singing over, DINO takes his paws away from his

ears.

FRANKIE (CONT’D)

Ain’t you excited? Heck! I know I

am. Me and my son in our first

trek into...

(Frankie sings this bit)

“ta..ta. ta.ta..the Unknown

Forest”

FRANKIE looks at DINO.

FRANKIE (CONT’D)

Ain’t you even the slightest bit

excited?

DINO

Sure, dad but why do they call it

the Unknown Forest?

FRANKIE

It’s not the (Frankie uses rabbit

ears quotation marks with his

fingers) “Unknown Forest”. It’s

the

(Frankie starts to sing

this bit again)

“ta..ta. ta.ta..the Unknown

Forest”

DINO

But why, dad?

FRANKIE

Because, it’s unknown and it’s a

forest.

DINO

But fathers and sons go there

every year. Don’t they know it

even a little bit by now?

FRANKIE

Dino, it’s not good to ask too

many questions.

DINO

That’s not what my teacher says.

FRANKIE

She’s doesn’t know what she’s

talking about, she’s just a

Microraptor.

DINO

She’s smart.

FRANKIE

She’s small. Small raptor, small

brain.

DINO

She says you’re the smartest man

in Dinosauria.

FRANKIE

She said that?

DINO

Sure did, dad.

FRANKIE

You must introduce me next time.

FRANKIE looks back at the mirror and GROWLS at what he

sees.

FRANKIE (CONT’D)

You monster!

FRANKIE winks at his reflection.


INT.PATH ON THE WAY TO THE UNKNOWN FOREST

FRANKIE and DINO trudge on. 
 
DINO

Are we there yet?

FRANKIE

We’ve only just left.

DINO

So we’re not there yet?

FRANKIE

No. Patience, my son.

DINO

Are we there yet?

FRANKIE

Can’t you do something? What about Eye-Spy?

DINO

Dad, that is so last ice age.

FRANKIE

Well what about that thing you’re carrying?

DINO

Oh, okay dad.

DINO takes a large shell he’s been carrying and puts it to his ear. DINO seems pleased.

FRANKIE

So what is that thing?

DINO

It’s a SyPod, dad. You can hear the sea. All the kids have got one.

FRANKIE walks on totally amazed.

FRANKIE

What will they think of next? Jeez...

FRANKIE and DINO reach the edge of the Unknown Forest. 
There is a long QUEUE of DADS and KIDS.

As FRANKIE and DINO arrive at the back of the queue, the rest turn.

ALL
HI!  

DINO/FRANKIE 
Hi. 

HERBIE, the Unknown Forest guide, is walking down the queue selling stuff from a basket. 

HERBIE 
(to FRANKIE)
Map of the Unknown Forest? 

FRANKIE looks at DINO who is looking back at his hero. 

FRANKIE
No thank you sir, we don't need a map of the

(Frankie starts to sing

this bit again)

“ta..ta. ta.ta..the Unknown

Forest”

HERBIE

Whatever.

HERBIE starts to walk on, when DINO's back is turned. 

FRANKIE whispers.

FRANKIE 

(whispering)

Can I have a map, just in case?

HERBIE

Hey I ain't got all day, bud. 

FRANKIE hands over the money and HERBIE hands him the map. 

DINO turns around. 

DINO

What's that you got there, Dad?

FRANKIE hides the map behind his back.

FRANKIE

It's a surprise.  

The Queue moves 

DINO

Is it a free pass to all the rides in Dinosauria?

FRANKIE

Nope. Now looky here, the queue's moving. Let's walk.

DINO

Is it a lifetime supply of DinoCola? 

FRANKIE

Nope. Where do you get this stuff?

DINO sees it's just a map. 

DINO

It's just a map, Dad.

FRANKIE

It's not just a map. There's where you're wrong.It's a map 

to (Frankie starts to sing

this bit again)

“ta..ta. ta.ta..the Unknown

Forest”

DINO
If you say so. (to himself) It's not that unknown, then.

FRANKIE and DINO are now at the entrance to the Unknown Forest. AVOLONIA is there to greet and meet. 

AVOLONIA
Hi boys! Aren't you two cuties. 

FRANKIE
I like to think so. 

AVOLONIA
So welcome to the  

(She sings

this bit)

“ta..ta. ta.ta..the Unknown

Forest”


FRANKIE looks at DINO with 'I told you so' expression.  

AVOLONIA

If you two boys could just shuffle over to the Father/Son Welcome Area,

little old me would be real grateful.  

FRANKIE

Let's go son into the....

DINO

I know, Dad. 'Ta...ta...the unknown..'

 Excited FRANKIE is already way ahead.
 

bs
2014