“Kamala Koala”
By Kristin Grady
Genre: Animated Kid’s TV Show
Logline: Kamala the Koala is an immigrant from Australia, just trying to get to her job at the pickle store on time, with the help of her pet kiwi Roscoe.
Approx. Run Time: 11-14 mins.
FADE IN:
INT. KAMALA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Kamala Koala yawns and stretches, gets into bed, sets her old-timey bell alarm clock. Her pet kiwi Roscoe hops up onto the bedpost. Kamala scratches Roscoe behind the ear, Roscoe’s leg thumps against the bedpost like a dog.
KAMALA
G’night Roscoe.
Roscoe fetches a squeaky carrot, squeaks it twice.
KAMALA
Not tonight, lil’ buddy. Mr. Grunty said if I’m late punchin’ in again, I’m gonna get sacked! Now let’s hit the sack!
Roscoe squeaks a rubber duck.
KAMALA
I said sack, not quack! Come on, ya little poddy-dodger, up ya go!
Kamala shoos Roscoe up into his treehouse above the bed. Kamala clicks off the light.
KAMALA
Sleep tight, Roscoe.
Roscoe squeaks the toy.
FADE TO:
EXT. KAMALA STRESS DREAM SEQUENCE – CONTINUOUS- MORNING
Slow-motion: Kamala races down the sidewalk, her beating heart drowning out all other sounds.
She hurdles over a construction sawhorse, dodges a book cart, and leaps out of the way of a barking dog.
Kamala reaches the pickle store where she works, races inside, she’s about to reach for the timeclock when Mr. Grunty appears and hands her a pink slip.
CUT TO:
INT. KAMALA’S BEDROOM – MORNING
Kamala’s alarm goes off, she wakes up with a yelp. Roscoe hops down onto the old-timey bell alarm clock and shuts it off.
KAMALA
Whew! Well, that was a rough night!
Kamala sits up in bed, stretches.
KAMALA
It’s gonna be a good day, Roscoe!
She hops down from the bed, there’s a “squish” sound. Kamala is grossed-out.
KAMALA
Oof! Well, I guess that means you don’t need to go for walkies then, mate?
Roscoe jumps up on Kamala’s shoulder, nuzzles her ear. Kamala scratches Roscoe’s head.
KAMALA
You’re lucky you’re cute. But, I can’t be late today, no sir-ee!
Kamala hops out the bedroom door one-legged.
CUT TO:
INT. KAMALA’S BATHROOM – MORNING
Kamala is silhouetted behind a rubber-duck print shower curtain in a claw-foot bathtub. Kamala sings to the tune of “Take Your Canvas Bags” by Tim Minchin.
KAMALA
(sings)
Koalas are not bears, Koalas are not bears…
Kamala turns off the shower and pulls back the curtain. She’s wearing a pink shower cap, wrapped in a yellow towel, and singing into a back-scrubber. She jumps up onto the edge of the tub, singing.
KAMALA
(sings)
Koalas are not bears, we’re marsupials! Thank you, Sydney!
She does a spin flourish and slips off the edge of the tub, lands on the floor with a thud.
CUT TO:
On the floor, Kamala hallucinates pink slips tweeting in a circle around her head.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. – PICKLE STORE – KAMALA’S BLACKOUT DREAM – CONTINUOUS
Mr. Grunty, a warthog, stands at a podium next to the time clock, holding a trophy of a gold checkmark. He beams at Kamala, who stands proudly awaiting her award while her koala parents tearfully cheer her on and take pictures.
MR. GRUNTY
After years of chronic lateness, you, Kamala, have done the impossible! You have proven me wrong and shown up for work on time for a full week!
Mr. Grunty is about to hand Kamala the award, snatches it back to continue his speech
MR. GRUNTY
I hand this award to you not only as a colleague but as my best friend and the daughter I never had… Because my real daughter is a wild pig! Hahaha!
Kamala’s parents look at each other and hug, overwhelmed with pride. Mr. Grunty laughs at his own joke, almost hands Kamala the award again, snatches it back.
MR. GRUNTY
So, Kamala, I give you this award in acknowledgment of this monumental achievement in the hopes that you will continue this path of punctuality. Here’s to another week!
Mr. Grunty hands Kamala the golden check mark award, shakes Kamala’s hand, and gives her a hug. The hug lasts a little too long, Kamala is confused. Mr. Grunty starts nuzzling her ear.
CUT TO:
INT. KAMALA’S BATHROOM – MORNING
Kamala wakes up to Roscoe nuzzling her ear. Her expression goes from shocked to relieved.
KAMALA
Whew! Am I glad to see you! Who’s a good kiwi? Yus you are!
Kamala scratches Roscoe behind the ear.
CUT TO:
INT. KAMALA’S KITCHEN – MORNING
Kamala slides down the banister backward, Roscoe hops down the stairs behind her.
Kamala goes to the fridge and takes out a branch of eucalyptus, starts munching on her breakfast. She takes a can of “kiwi chow” out of the cupboard.
Kamala tries to open it with the electric can opener one-handed while she eats the branch.
The can spins, doesn’t open.
Kamala is disgruntled, puts the branch in her mouth, still chewing, tries again with two hands.
The can spins, doesn’t open.
Kamala is incensed, grits her teeth with the branch between them, tries one more time to get the can opener to work. Roscoe hops up on the counter to watch.
The can spins, doesn’t open. Kamala spits out the branch, shakes her fist at the can opener.
KAMALA
I have not flown halfway around the world just to work in a pickle store and get beaten by a kitchen appliance whose only function is to feed my weird pet!
Kamala punches the can opener, only hurts her hand.
KAMALA
Ye-ouch!
Kamala dances around, holding her hurt knuckle. Roscoe jumps on the switch on the front of the can opener, it spins and opens the can.
KAMALA
Roscoe, my boy, you are a genius!
Kamala scoops the kiwi chow into a dish for Roscoe, sees on her Australia-shaped clock that it’s 8:55 am. Kamala panics. Roscoe gobbles up his food.
Kamala pours a cup of coffee from the pot, drinks it too hot, breathes out steam while waving at her mouth and trying to button his shirt.
She pets Roscoe on the head and dashes out the door.
CUT TO:
INT. KAMALA’S GARAGE – MORNING
Kamala skids into the garage, in a rush.
She gets on his blue moped scooter, puts on her matching helmet, tries to start the scooter, sees it’s out of power.
Kamala makes a frustrated noise and follows the charger cord to the wall, where it’s unplugged.
She follows the cord plugged in its place to the arcade-style video game machine. The game is “Little Bunny Foo Foo”.
KAMALA
What the?
CUT TO:
INT. KAMALA’S GARAGE – THE NIGHT BEFORE
Game POV: Kamala playing “Little Bunny Foo Foo” with her friend Henderson, a moose, over her shoulder. Roscoe sits on Kamala’s other shoulder, bouncing in excitement.
HENDERSON
(Canadian accent)
Bop ‘em, eh! Bop that one!
Kamala’s POV: Her koala paws hit the controls for a Duck Hunt-style game involving a bunny and field mice. A good fairy floats down from the top of the screen.
Game POV: Kamala is frustrated.
HENDERSON
Aw! Not again, eh! Up! You’re already a goon… Too bad, buddy.
Henderson shrugs and sips a can of maple soda.
CUT TO:
INT. KAMALA’S GARAGE – MORNING
KAMALA
Oh right…
Kamala sees the smaller, non-motorized scooter leaning against the wall, shrugs.
CUT TO:
EXT. SIDEWALK – KAMALA RACING TO WORK- CONTINUOUS – MORNING
Kamala races through foot traffic on a push-scooter. She pants and dodges a guy pushing a cart full of watermelons.
She zips around a lady pushing a baby carriage.
She almost rolls over an old lady leaning on a cane. The old lady shakes her cane at Kamala.
A pretty gazelle in a red dress walks right in front of Kamala, making her swerve and crash into a parking meter. She falls on the ground, bruised.
KAMALA
Oi! Today’s not my lucky day.
Kamala puts the scooter upright, pulls herself up by the handlebars, breathes heavy as she pushes the scooter forward, wincing on every step.
Kamala (CONT’D)
I… will… not… be… late…
A block away from the pickle store, Kamala limps along with the front wheel of the scooter off-kilter, squeaking. Henderson’s mom, Molly (a grizzly bear), steps out from a ham store, waving to the shopkeeper.
MOLLY
You too, Gustav! I’ll make sure to cook them medium rare! Oh, hi, Kamala!
Kamala winces a smile at Molly, who stands between her and the pickle store, holding paper bags full of ham.
KAMALA
Hi Mrs. Canuck, I don’t really have time to…
MOLLY
You know, Kamala, you haven’t been over for dinner since Henderson’s birthday karaoke jam. When’s the last time ya had a good ham steak, huh? You know, Wendy’s back from Bear College and she would just be delighted to see you…
KAMALA
Molly, I’m a vegetarian and I have 48 seconds to keep my job. I don’t wanna be rude, but…
MOLLY
I was talking to Gustav about the differences between the Black Forest and regular ham and he said that the Black Forest ham isn’t even from the Black Forest, it’s from Tennessee! Can you believe that, Kamala?
Molly laughs to herself as Kamala limps away. Molly continues to talk to herself.
MOLLY (CONT’D)
You know, I went to Tennessee once when I was in that country band… Not as much ham as you’d think…
CUT TO:
INT. PICKLE STORE – MORNING
Kamala limps through the door, out of breath, throws her helmet down. Her scooter falls to the ground. She pants as she reaches for her time card, the clock is five seconds to 9:00 am. Kamala punches in just in time, falls to the ground, exhausted. Mr. Grunty walks over, looks down at her, snorts.
MR.GRUNTY
I’m not paying ya to lie around, Kamala.
Kamala jumps up and puts on her apron, grabs a broom.
KAMALA
Right away, Mr. Grunty! At least I made it in on time today, huh?
MR. GRUNTY
What do you want, an award? Get back to work!
KAMALA
Yes, sir!
Kamala smiles as she sweeps.
CUT TO:
INT. KAMALA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Kamala gets in bed, Roscoe sets the alarm.
KAMALA
Thanks, lil’ buddy! I’m gonna get there on time again tomorrow, no worries!
Roscoe appears skeptical, picks up the alarm clock and shakes it, just to be sure it’s working. He jumps on Kamala’s shoulder and nuzzles her ear. Kamala scratches Roscoe behind his ear.
KAMALA
G’night Roscoe!
Roscoe clicks off the light and hops up into his treehouse above Kamala’s bed. Kamala closes her eyes, smiling.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. KAMALA’S DREAM PICKLE STORE – DAY
Establishing shot: storefront, the sign reads “Kamala’s Pickle Store”.
CUT TO:
INT. KAMALA’S DREAM PICKLE STORE – DAY
Kamala stands behind the counter, counting out the tips from a jar. The sign on the jar reads “Tip your pickler”. Sheila, a young girl bunny, wears an apron and sweeps. Chauncey, a young boy turtle, cleans jars with a rag.
KAMALA
Gather round, kids, time to collect ya winnins!
Sheila hops up to the counter, Chauncy shuffles up slowly.
SHELIA
Gee whiz, thanks Ms. Koala!
KAMALA
Don’t thank me, Shelia! You kids put in a good day’s work. Oh, and thanks for being on time again!
CHAUNCEY
You thank us for that every day, but we just love working here so much if ya didn’t close, we’d never leave!
KAMALA
Thanks, Chauncey. That’s good to hear.
SHEILA
(looking out the window)
Uh oh, he’s back again…
CUT TO:
EXT. KAMALA’S DREAM PICKLE STORE – DAY
Mr. Grunty stands outside in rags, protesting. His sign reads “Kamala’s Pickles Will Make You Sick!”. He stares out at traffic, determined. Kamala opens the door, leans against the door frame, chews a eucalyptus branch.
KAMALA
Hi, Mr. Grunty. How are things?
MR. GRUNTY
(staring ahead)
Couldn’t be better.
KAMALA
Seems like it.
MR. GRUNTY
Yep.
Kamala
Hey, you want a job?
Mr. Grunty takes a long, drawn-out inhale.
MR. GRUNTY
…yes.
Kamala
Come on in…
Kamala goes inside, Mr. Grunty drops his sign and follows Kamala inside quickly.
CUT TO:
INT. KAMALA’S BEDROOM – MORNING
Kamala’s alarm goes off, she wakes up with a start, turns it off. Roscoe hops down from his treehouse. Kamala stretches and yawns.
Kamala
Here we go again!
Kamala jumps down from the bed with a squish, sighs.
CUT TO BLACK.
Imagination for sale 