The Corner Pet Shop
“Pilot”
by Tucker Costello
Episode #1 – Third Draft
Scene 1
We're in a pet shop. In the camera shot we see animal cages stacked in a row. There is a closeup of one of the cages and we see an animal moving about. The camera then proceeds to pan across many of the cages and more animals are seen moving around. The camera stops at the cage of the Hedgehog, Parker. The light on Parker's cage is a dim morning light We see parker look up and around. Parker goes to the front of his cage and looks around. He then proceeds to swing open the door and walk out of the cage. He walks over to the edge of the set and a light pull lowers down in front of him.
PARKER
Yells to everyone
Wake up! Lets get this day started.
Parker pulls the light switch and the light goes on. Parker turns and begins to walk back the other way. The Birds T,U, and V come onto the scene wheeling in Conrad the bat on a perch
CONRAD
Hey Parker!
PARKER
Hi Conrad. T, U, V, how are you?
T
Great!
U
Good!
V
Never better!
PARKER
Glad to hear it.
We see Sabrina the hermit crab cross the scene
SABRINA
Hi everyone!
She stops by the group
PARKER, CONRAD, T,U, V
Hi Sabrina!
SABRINA
Parker, have you seen the new pet?
PARKER
No I thought she would be awake by now.
SABRINA
As she leaves
Maybe she likes to sleep, I know I do.
Manuel the frog emerges onto the scene along with Iris, Jake, and Herbert
PARKER
Hey everyone.
MANUEL
Manuel, Iris, Jake, and Herbert
PARKER
I was just about to go meet the new pet.
MANUEL
Thats a great idea Parker, she's in that cage over there.
points off screen
PARKER
Has anyone else gone to see her?
MANUEL
I don't think so.
PARKER
Well then she must be lonely. I better go now. See you all later.
parker moves out of frame
T, U, V, MANUEL, IRIS, JAKE, HERBERT
“Bye,” “See ya,” “later” etc.
Scene 2
Parker moves toward a closed cage we can see a snake inside seemingly sleeping on a log
PARKER
Hello?
Kate makes no motions
PARKER (CONT'D)
Psssst... Psssst...
Kate moves slightly
PARKER (CONT'T)
Hey You!
Kate wakes up, and looks around
PARKER (CONT'D)
Hey, come here.
Kate looks at Parker, slithers down from her log, and moves toward the front of her cage
KATE
Um...Hi? Who are you?
apprehensively
PARKER
I'm Parker, who are you?
KATE
My name's Kate.
PARKER
Pleased to meet you Kate. This might sound a little funny but... what are you?
KATE
I'm a snake. What are you?
PARKER
I'm a hedgehog.
KATE
What's a hedge... a hedge...
PARKER
Hedgehog.
KATE
Yea, what's a hedgehog?
PARKER
Well hedgehogs are mammals, that means that when I was born I looked just like I do now, only a little smaller and with less quills. What did you look like when you were little Kate? Did you hatch from an egg or did you start out like a little snake?
KATE
I don't really know. Actually, I don't really know that much about myself.
PARKER
Thats okay. Well just ask T, U, and V.
KATE
Who are they?
PARKER
Oh, T, U, and V are birds. They're really smart. We can have them tell everyone about you.
KATE
Everyone?
PARKER
You, me, T, U, and V, and all the other animals. They'll be so exited to meet you!
Parker unlocks Kate's cage and the door swings open
PARKER (CONT'D)
Come on, follow me!
Kate follows Parker as they move out of the camera shot
Scene 3
We can see Parker and Kate walking by cages.
PARKER
What's your favorite food Kate? Do you eat mice?
KATE
No, I usually like to eat eat grasshoppers or crickets. I wouldn't be able to eat a mouse even if I wanted to.
PARKER
Good, Iris and Jake will be happy to hear that.
KATE
Who are they?
PARKER
Iris and Jake are mice. They're best friends.
KATE
What's your favorite food Parker?
PARKER
I eat all kids of things like plants and insects but I love melon. Whenever I get near melon I turn into a Glutton.
KATE
What's a glutton?
T comes into view
T
A glutton is someone who eats or drinks more than they should.
U comes into view
U
Used in a sentence?
V comes into view
V
My grandpa was such a glutton, he ate 300 worms in a single meal.
KATE
(whispering to Parker)
Who are they?
PARKER
Oh, I apologize Kate, these are the birds I was telling you about. Kate meet T, U, and V, our resident geniuses. T, U, V, this is Kate, she's new.
T
The pleasure's all mine.
U
No, it's mine.
V
Actually the pleasure is mine. Welcome to The Corner Pet shop Kate.
KATE
Thank you, and nice to meet you.
PARKER
T... U... V... I need you to do something for me, would you follow me?
T, U, V, and Parker begin to move out of the shot.
PARKER
(Looking back at Kate)
I want you to come too Kate, come on.
The animals leave the shot
Scene 4
Parker, T, U, V, and Kate enter onto a scene of animals hustling and bustling around. A few of the animals begin to notice Kate, and they start to stare. we can see a bat hanging upside down on a rolling bar. He speaks to Parker.
CONRAD
Hey!
Noticing Kate
Who's that?
PARKER
Conrad
(motions for Kate to move forward)
PARKER (CONT'D)
I'd like you to meet Kate the Snake.
CONRAD
Oh, she's the new pet? (Beat) What is she?
PARKER
Kate is a snake, and yes she's new so I want to be sure that we all make her feel welcome.
CONRAD
She looks funny.
PARKER
Conrad, that isn't very nice.
CONRAD
Well it's the truth.
PARKER
(To Kate)
I'm sorry Kate, he can be a little grouchy.
KATE
That's okay, I do look a little funny.
PARKER
I think you look fine, even if we don't know what snakes are.
T
We do!
Motioning to himself, U, and V
U
Attention Everyone!
All the animals in shot look up at the birds
V
We have an announcement!
Animals start to come closer
T
This is Kate
Motions toward Kate, who looks embarrassed
U
She's new, and we want to tell you a little bit about her.
T
(The birds wheel in a chalkboard with a picture of a snake on it)
Kate is a snake, snakes are limbless.
U
This means she has no arms or legs.
V
Snakes have scales.
T
Scales are what Kate has on her body, just like we have feathers and Parker has fur and quills.
U
When snakes move they make a wiggling motion.
V
This is the snakes way of walking, it's called slithering.
T
Snakes are found all over the world.
U
They also eat all kinds of food.
V
We are all lucky that we have a snake here in the pet shop.
T, U, and V
Any questions?
JAQUELYN
Why does she look so strange?
HERBERT
I heard snakes eat small animals.
ZEKE
Does she have sharp fangs.
CONRAD
I don't like her.
PARKER
Hold On. Why are you all being so mean, what has Kate done to you?
SABRINA
I bet she's slimy.
MANUEL
I heard that if we touch her we'll explode.
PARKER
No, you will not explode, and why does that matter, Kate is a very nice snake, and she's my friend. Everyone here knows what it's like to be new to the pet shop, leave her alone.
The animals begin to leave the scene. Parker moves over towards Kate
PARKER
Don't listen to them Kate, they're just curious about you, they'll all warm up in no time.
KATE
Okay.
Parker walks away and Kate is left alone, in the middle of the scene She flops down and sighs
Scene 5
We can see Kate moving towards her Cage when a frantic Iris the mouse comes onto the scene
IRIS
Help! Somebody Help!
KATE
What? What's wrong?
IRIS
I can't find Jake! He's Missing! He's my best friend and he's not in our cage anymore.
KATE
Jake is a mouse too right?
IRIS
Yea, he's just like me.
KATE
Well he must be around here somewhere.
Has a realization
KATE (CONT'D)
Follow me, I have an idea.
Kate and iris leave the scene
Scene 6
Kate and Iris walk up to parkers cage, parker is inside laying on his bed
KATE
Parker, we have a problem.
PARKER
What, whats wrong, are you okay.
KATE
I'm fine, but Iris can't find Jake. I think that we should get everyone to search for him.
PARKER
Thats a great idea Kate, I'll gather everyone up.
T, U, and V emerge onto scene
T
Parker
U
Kate
V
Iris
T
Come quick.
U
It's Urgent.
V
Sabrina Just found Jake stuck in the wall.
T, U, and V rush away
PARKER
I guess we don't need a search party.
Parker, Kate, and Iris leave parkers cage
Scene 7
We can see all the animals crowding around a part of the wall. When Parker, Kate, and Iris get closer all the animals part and back away. We can see that Jake is stuck in a hole in the wall. Iris screams and runs to him
IRIS
Jake are you okay? What happened? Why are you stuck in the wall?
JAKE
Iris I'm fine, I went through this hole in the wall to raid the food pantry but when I tried to get back through I just didn't fit. I guess I'm a glutton.
SABRINA
Whats a glutton?
T
A glutton is someone who eats or drinks more than they should.
U
Used in a sentence?
V
My Cousin was such a Glutton she ate a whole bag of birdseed in an hour.
SABRINA
Oh.
IRIS
How are we going to get Jake out?
PARKER
I'm not sure.
PARKER
(Talking to everyone) Does anyone have an idea?
KATE
I might.
PARKER
Really Kate? What do you think?
KATE
Well, if I squeeze through the crack that Jake is stuck in I could get behind him and push him out while you pull him this way.
PARKER
That's a great idea Kate.
CONRAD
I don't know parker, it's probably not such a great idea. We still don't know if she's going to eat one of us.
PARKER
Conrad, Kate won't eat us, she could hardly fit your ear in her mouth.
KATE
Thats right, I won't eat any of you, I only eat insects. besides, I wouldn't want to be a Glutton.
T
A glutton is someone who eats or drinks more than they should.
SABRINA
We know!
JAKE
Um... excuse me everyone, but could I please just get some help.
IRIS
Could someone just help Jake already?
PARKER
Right. Kate? you think that you can make it through that hole?
KATE
No problem.
Kate moves over to the hole and squeezes through. There is a brief pause and then Kate can be heard from the other side
KATE (CONT'D)
Ready?
Parker and Iris move over and each grab one of Jake's hands
KATE (CONT'D)
One...Two...Three...Pull!
Jake pops out of the hole and Kate tumbles out behind him
IRIS
Yes! Oh Jake I'm so glad your okay!
PARKER
Great job Kate. Without you Jake may have been stuck in that wall for a long time.
All the animals then say some form of “good job” “nice going” “hurray” “whoo” “yay for Kate”
PARKER
Would you look at the time. back to your cages everyone, Joe will be here any minute.
KATE
Who's Joe?
PARKER
Joe's the owner of this shop. We don't want to let him to see us out of our cages.
KATE
We better get into our cages then.
Scene 8
we can see all of the animals going back to their cages. We can see Parker by the light switch.
PARKER
Good luck today everybody!
He flicks the switch, lights go out. Parker goes back to his cage. Then we see Kate making her way to parkers cage
KATE
Um... Parker?
PARKER
Yes Kate?
KATE
I just wanted to say thanks. You stood up for me today and you made me feel welcome. That's all, I just thought you might like to know.
Kate begins to move away
PARKER
Kate?
She stops and looks back at Parker
KATE
Yea Parker?
PARKER
Welcome to the Pet Shop.