"THE WILD ROBOT" (2024)

Blinding daylight, silent save for ocean ripples lapping at a soft stone beach. The sky and shoreline are distorted as if viewed through a wide lens. SLOW PULL-OUT reveals a rugged coast reflected on the rounded lens of a robot, ROZZUM 7134. WIDEN to reveal the Rozzum peers from a rupture in a mostly intact shipping crate.

Otters gather, investigating the curiosity. One POKES at the back of the robot’s head, accidentally ACTIVATING it.

Silence. ROZZUM 7134 blinks.

Rozzum 7134 is BLINDSIDED by a wave. Rolled under the brine, it is driven like a toy against a basalt wall.

The wave RECEDES, leaving 7134 to drain. Another wave LOOMS.

Rozzum 7134 attempts to climb to safety, SLIPS. Rozzum 7134 notes a crab scuttling up the rock wall.

She RECONFIGURES to match the crab’s stance. Rozzum 7134 successfully climbs clear.

The crab clambers into view, followed by Rozzum 7134.

ROZZUM VISION: “CUSTOMER LOCATED?”

The crab is SNATCHED away by a passing gull.

Rozzum 7134 FOCUSES on a wall of thick vegetation before it: deploys sound gathering arrays.

Rozzum 7134 COCKS its head, listening: animal and bird sounds drift through the curtain of greenery.

Rozzum 7134 pushes into the forest.

SQ0250 - THE FOREST

ON A RAVEN landing in the branches of a tree. He PAUSES, an unfamiliar sound approaching; MUSIC.

LOOKING DOWN he sees Rozzum 7134 making her way through the trees. Her upper body ROTATING cheerily.

A LYNX PEERS at the passing oddity.

Rozzum 7134 PASSES through the trees.

On Rozzum 7134 navigating a tilted log in an attempt to communicate with a BADGER.

The badger burrows away. 7134 spies a squirrel PEERING DOWN from its tree house.

7134 is PELTED with acorns.

Rozzum 7134 FLASHES the squirrel unexpectedly with a chest strobe, BLINDING it. A little WHIRRING sound as a sticker is dispensed from a small slit in 7134’s chest.

The squirrel RIPS UP the sticker.

ON A BEAVER, PADDLER, finishing a modest dam. He hears weird music. Spies 7134 WALKING PAST like Bigfoot. 7134 PAUSES, RUNS toward Paddler.

He’s PETRIFIED.

Rozzum 7134 PULLS a key branch. The entire dam collapses - is washed away.

FLASH! 7134 generates a sticker for Paddler, who disappears under the water.

ON A DEER BOUNDING through the meadow.

Rozzum 7134 RECONFIGURES TO EMULATE THE DEER’S LEAPS.

The deer VEERS. KICKS Rozzum 7134.

A BUTTERFLY FLITS past her lenses.

Rozzum 7134 APPROACHES a tree surfaced in butterflies.

ALL the insects FLY at once. Surrounded in a cloud of color and movement, Rozzum 7134 is disoriented.

A butterfly LANDS on her finger.

A RAVEN lands, CRUSHES the butterfly in its beak.

A Lynx LEAPS from cover, ATTACKING the raven on 7134’s hand. Rozzum 7134 EXTENDS her arm a bit, distancing her head from the savage battle at the end of her arm.

A wolverine GRABS the other half of the dead raven, a savage TUG-OF-WAR over its body.

The raven’s head POPS off and lands in 7134’s hand.

The fight is ESCALATING quickly. Dust OBSCURES the scene.

A skunk, DAISY, rumbles into the fray. The fight is instantly quenched, the aggressors FLEE. 7134 PICKS UP the skunk.

The skunk BERATES 7134 savagely.

7134 places the skunk back on the ground.

The skunk SPRAYS. The noxious cloud ENVELOPS 7134.

CLOSE ON 7134’S HEAD - she is sitting very still.

PULL BACK, revealing we are in TIME LAPSE. Nights and days pass, with a multitude of animals stopping by. Rain falls, leaves litter her. Rozzum 7134 never moves. A WEEK passes, leaves gathering on her exterior. Animals ignore her, go about their business. 7134’s processor GRINDS AWAY. DING!

ROZZUM VISION: TRANSLATION COMPLETE

Rozzum 7134 RISES, brushing debris off of herself.

A multitude of animals graze, forage, flit here and there. They all STOP. Rozzum 7134 strides out into the open.

A SUPER CUTE bunny baby HOPS UP.

Roz is RUN DOWN by a huge moose, BROADFOOT.

7134 RISES AGAIN, like a haunted marionette.

REELING IN her arms and legs: the sight is weird, unsettling.

The animals SCATTER. Rozzum 7134 is left alone.

Rozzum 7134 has a 360 degree view. ORBIT to describe an island: no other land or structures in sight. She’s TRAPPED on an ISLAND.

No responses.

From Rozzum 7134’s head, a greenish rod RISES - the TRANSMITTER.

A DOWNPOUR STRIKES. Rozzum 7134 POWERS UP the transmitter. It LIGHTS as the charge builds: red...yellow...GREEN!

BOOM! Rozzum 7134 is hit by lightning. She FALLS from the summit.

SQ0600 - THE ACCIDENT

ON ROZZUM 7134 lying motionless and dark.

ROZZUM VISION: OVER A BLACK SCREEN- “SYSTEM BOOTING. ACCESS PANEL BREACH. PANEL 10 OPEN. PANEL 28 OPEN. PANEL 11, 51, 32 OPEN.”

Rozzum 7134 POWERS UP. Her eye covers CLICK open to reveal--

She is missing an eye and a hand.

ON HER TORSO - a multitude of access panels flap open. PAN to find the ground is strewn with paper manuals, small tools. TILT UP to find raccoons making off with Rozzum 7134’s stuff.

Lightning FLASHES. Rozzum 7134 hurries to retrieve all her lost items. As quickly as she can gather them, other raccoons try and take them back.

In one tug-of-war, a raccoon accidentally UNPLUGS a black box. Its exposed contacts SIZZLE with power, and Rozzum 7134 is ZAPPED.

Understanding the power he yields, the raccoon GRINS and runs off with his new weapon.

Feeling overwhelmed, Rozzum 7134 tries DEPLOYING her transmitter again.

Attracted to the shiny transmitter, the raccoons SWARM Rozzum 7134 to get to it.

One raccoon manages to POP it out.

The raccoon heads STRAIGHT UP A PINE, CHASED by the raccoon hoard and Rozzum 7134.

They near the top - the tree BENDING under their weight. Arcing down, the top of the tree lands on a rocky ledge.

Rozzum 7134 STANDS and CHASES after the transmitter.

Releasing the tree top from her weight, the tree trunk SNAPS back upright, FLINGING a hundred raccoons into the night sky. They splash down in the ocean.

The raccoon with the transmitter DISAPPEARS into a cave. Moments later he RETREATS, WITHOUT the transmitter. Rozzum 7134 REACHES INTO the cave to retrieve it, but a huge grizzly, THORN, STEPS over it.

Thorn STRIKES Rozzum 7134 mid-chest. Claws dig deep grooves - SPARKS FLY from her seams.

Rozzum 7134 RETREATS, power intermittent. Thorn closes.

ROZZUM VISION: A confusion of trees punctuated by blinding lightning flashes.

Rozzum 7134 BUMPS into a tree. She SLIPS, TUMBLING CLEAR of Thorn, heading downhill, knocking small trees flat.

Rozzum 7134 lays still, tangled in branches, caked with mud. Dwindling rain PATS her metal body.

7134 OPENS her main panel. Inside are equivalents of bones, arteries, lungs, and a heart. Everything GLOWS with tracing energy save for the heart, which is dark. Rozzum 7134 TAPS it. A few PULSES, then nothing.

7134 CLOSES the panel, finds a feather stuck to the outside. Examining it, she sees a similar spray of feathers peeking through the debris beneath her. She gently grasps them, pulling a limp wing into view. Death is abstract to Rozzum 7134, she shows no emotion.

Letting go of the wing, she carefully wipes away the branches to reveal a group of SHATTERED EGG SHELLS.

7134 lifts shell fragments, pieces them together. Then something catches her gaze...Rozzum 7134 moves some leaves away to REVEAL... ONE INTACT EGG.

ROZZUM VISION: Infrared scan reveals a living bird within.

She lifts it, very carefully indeed.

SQ0700 - THE EGG AND THE FOX

Rozzum 7134 sits, considering the egg and her transmitter.

7134 GLANCES away, looks back to find the egg is GONE.

The dense foliage RUSTLES as something small makes their escape.

ROZZUM VISION: Switching to INFRARED Rozzum 7134 locates the creature, gives CHASE.

The egg is with a red fox, FINK. He is wily and slick. Even when 7134 gets him by the tail, he slithers free.

Fink shelters in a log. 7134 SPLITS IT with a SAW. She retrieves the egg, STASHES it in a storage compartment.

Fink PRIES OPEN a back panel, RECOVERS his EGG.

Fink rockets into a thicket, an EVIL GRIN on his face. Rozzum 7134 closes: the brush abruptly CLEARS and Rozzum 7134 FALLS off the edge of a cliff.

Fink strides out on a limb, satisfied: he drew Rozzum 7134 here deliberately. Rozzum 7134’s cabled hand SHOOTS UP and GRASPS the limb. Rozzum 7134 REELS IN her extended arm. VAULTING OVER Fink, she lands back on the cliff edge.

Surprised, cut off on the branch and out of options, Fink RELINQUISHES the egg.

As Rozzum 7134 reaches for the egg, Fink SWALLOWS it.

Rozzum 7134 GRABS Fink by the neck, SQUEEZES the egg out of him. The egg FLIES over Rozzum 7134’s head. Fink DASHES between her legs, LEAPS, CATCHES the egg mid-air, and then LANDS straight on top of a porcupine.

Fink DROPS the egg. Rozzum 7134 recovers it intact.

The porcupine RETREATS, leaving Fink to deal with a face- full of quills. He’s unable to dislodge even one.

To his surprise, Rozzum 7134 PICKS HIM UP, and quickly uses a tool to pluck the quills out.

She sets him back down.

Fink SNARLS and dashes for cover.

SQ0800 - THE EGG HATCHES

ON ROZZUM 7134, a RATTLING from her interior. She removes the egg. Examines it.

‘CRACK’ - the egg has a HAIRLINE RUPTURE.

Rozzum 7134 gently PINCHES the shell to close it up. More cracks form. Rozzum 7134 FRANTICALLY tries to hold it all together. For a moment, it works.

The egg EXPLODES. A tiny gosling sits in Rozzum 7134’s palm.

The new gosling LOOKS UP, into Rozzum 7134’s glowing blue eyes. Something wordlessly passes between them. The gosling places his forehead against Rozzum 7134. Her subsurface lights GLOW powerfully.

The magic moment is interrupted when 7134 callously PLUCKS UP the gosling, sets it back on the ground.

The gosling SCREAMS. FLASH. Rozzum 7134 STICKS a sticker to his chest.

Rozzum 7134 hands the gosling a sticker.

Rozzum 7134 attempts to activate her transmitter.

The transmitter BLINKS, unstable.

Rozzum 7134 STRIDES AWAY.

The gosling RACES after her. For every step Rozzum 7134 takes, the gosling must dash thirty or more.

Rozzum 7134 covers the gosling with a piece of wood. As she walks, the wood TRAILS behind 7134.

Rozzum 7134 STRIDES into the forest. The gosling HOPS onto her foot, riding along. Roz stops, a DING! Her center compartment opens.

She sets a travel pamphlet on the ground: FLORIDA - MORE SHORELINE THAN EVER - and continues on her way. The gosling FALLS DOWN A HOLE. Moments later, the gosling TODDLES out onto a branch beside Rozzum 7134, HOPPING ONTO her shoulder. The gosling SNUGGLES under Rozzum 7134’s chin.

Rozzum 7134’s transmitter lights up.

The gosling PECKS the transmitter. BREAKS it.

Rozzum 7134’s hand SETS the gosling on the back of Pinktail.

Pinktail STANDS, SPILLING the babies.

Pinktail is astonished to see her brood has grown by one.

Pinktail notices Roz PEERING at them.

Pinktail and the babies KEEL OVER.

Beat.

Pinktail parts the foliage to investigate. Roz has rolled away. The gosling scampers up and PERCHES on Rozzum 7134’s shoulder. The sight emboldens Pinktail to crawl up to investigate.

Pinktail PEERS into Rozzum 7134’s body cavity.

Rozzum 7134’s head partially emerges from her body.

Rozzum 7134 hands the gosling back to Pinktail.

Rozzum 7134 walks away.

Pinktail ambushes her, DROPPING down from a branch.

Pinktail said the magic word: TASK. A CHIME sounds. MUSIC PLAYS. Tracer lights activate:

As Pinktail talks, her babies BITE, CHEW, and FIGHT with each other. The mother opossum uses her prehensile tail to separate them, smack them, etc.

She picks up one of the babies.

The baby BARFS up a hairball.

The opossum babies all FEIGN GRISLY DEATH.

A CHEWED UP baby appears.

Babies CLIMB ONTO Pinktail’s back. Pinktail walks away.

SQ1100 - THE HUNGRY GOSLING

Rozzum 7134 PROJECTS images of people EATING, diagram of a person SWIMMING and a Jet aircraft FLYING.

Her gaze DRIFTS from the image to focus on the gosling on her shoulder.

FINK’S POV - watching Rozzum 7134 and the gosling.

Rozzum 7134 holds a pinecone in one hand, the gosling in the other.

She tries to plug the pinecone into the gosling’s mouth. It is FAR too big.

ON THE GOSLING still staring lovingly at Rozzum 7134, as she PUSHES him out into the pond afloat a pinecone.

The gosling TODDLES back to Rozzum 7134, FALLING from the pinecone and INSTANTLY SINKING.

Paddler SURFACES, the gosling on his tail.

He LAUNCHES the gosling back.

The gosling SNUGGLES back in its little spot under her chin.

The gosling stands in the center of 7134’s hand. Rozzum 7134 retracts her palm. As it gazes lovingly at her, she ACTIVATES it.

In a blink it is three hundred feet in the air. A passing falcon SNATCHES it.

ON THE SMILING GOSLING in 7134’s palm. She is FLUMMOXED how to proceed. CORRECT to find Fink, sitting right there.

Rozzum 7134 SNATCHES the gosling clear of Fink.

Rozzum 7134 IMMEDIATELY sets the gosling back where it was.

Fink’s eyes WIDEN.

Rozzum 7134 gives Fink a tablet. He scrolls through marvelous images of pools, houses, and GREAT FEASTS. Fink DIGS at the screen, trying to get at the food.

The fresh scallops are arranged around Brightbill. They collectively SNAP SHUT on him. Rozzum 7134 VACUUMS them off the gosling.

Roz gives the shellfish to Fink, who swallows them greedily.

ON A SWARM OF BEES

Rozzum 7134 imitates Thorn’s pose.

The Bees SWARM her head.

7134 LIFTS Fink up to the bees’ vacated hive.

Fink GORGES himself on the dripping honey then drops some down to the gosling.

The gosling just gets stuck.

KING SALMON STOLEN from Thorn.

ON ROZZUM 7134 RUNNING from a RAMPANT Thorn. Rozzum 7134 carries Fink, who is eating the salmon.

SQ1175 - THE RUNT

Rozzum 7134 uses a laser to STEAM clams.

Fink fishes out a clam, gobbling the steaming contents. He’s bloated, grotesque, stuffed to bursting.

Still laying on his back, Fink lazily SCRATCHES AWAY a surface of pebbles, exposing a swarm of grubs.

The gosling EATS. A chime inside Rozzum 7134 SOUNDS.

ROZZUM VISION: The first of the three gosling icons, the EATING ICON, is marked COMPLETED.

Rozzum 7134 RELAXES a little. SITS.

Rozzum 7134 OPENS her main hatch, exposing her dark power core.

Rozzum 7134 shows the broken unit to Fink.

ON A crab CHASING the gosling. Rozzum 7134 PLUCKS UP the crab, sends it on its way.

Fink BLOCKS the crab’s exit, DROPS it into the boiling water.

Fink watches the awkward gosling. Rozzum 7134 considers as well.

Fink claps his paws over the gosling’s ears.

Fink BOOTS the gosling out into the ocean. Roz REACHES to retrieve him.

He hops onto Rozzum 7134’s shoulder.

Rozzum 7134 CONSIDERS.

Fink POPS the gosling in his mouth. Rozzum 7134 REACHES down his throat to RETRIEVE it.

Rozzum 7134 SETS the gosling on her collar. Fink SNATCHES at it. 7134 ROTATES the ring, keeping the gosling clear of Fink’s anxious paws.

Rozzum 7134 drags Fink away. He BURPS.

SQ1200 - THE LODGE

Rozzum 7134, Fink and the Gosling pass nearby, a load of wood in Rozzum 7134’s arms. They walk past a BEAVER chewing a MASSIVE REDWOOD.

Roz scoops up Paddler’s lodge.

Rozzum 7134 PROJECTS a compact dome over the gosling.

7134 ENLARGES the dome substantially.

Roz PILES ROCKS. The gosling HOPS from rock to rock, making a game of it.

A group of squirrels LAUGH at Roz’ progress.

Fink BEANS them with a mouse.

Fink PULLS back a curtain of grass, lining up a rabbit.

A high-velocity pinecone TAKES OUT Fink.

Roz weaves branches at lightning speed.

Fink throws a squirrel.

The gosling RUNS OFF. He PICKS a little branch, runs back, TAPS on Roz’ foot.

The gosling walks away, sad.

Roz LIFTS the gosling, allows it to place its twig. The gosling BEAMS.

FOUR MORE shots of Roz letting the gosling place twigs.

They admire the finished lodge.

Roz, Fink, and the gosling search for wood on the beach.

Roz glows proudly.

BOOM. Thunder rumbles over the beach.

Roz, Fink, and the gosling huddle under a tree to escape the storm.

Roz OPENS a panel, PEERS inside.

Fink NOTES the strangeness.

Fink glares. Beans a laughing squirrel.

SQ1300 - THE BEDTIME STORY

Roz BURNS images onto a piece of wood.

Roz places it on the mantel. She stands back, revealing a series of silhouettes: an egg, Baby Brightbill, and Fink.

Roz examines her gosling. Light glints off his beak.

Brightbill PEEPS in delight and RUNS to Roz.

A LIGHT RAIN pats the lodge’s roof.

Fink SETTLES into his throne.

A LIGHTNING FLASH pulls his attention to the doorway.

Looking out through the doorway, a pair of eyes GLOWS back. Paddler.

Paddler vanishes in a FLASH of lightning.

Thunder. Brightbill RUNS to hide behind Roz’ foot.

Fink picks up a medium-sized rock above his head. Roz SNATCHES it away.

Roz is captivated. Fink lets out a LONG BREATH.

Roz is captivated, unsure if she has one.

Brightbill smiles, and falls asleep.

Fink HOPS down to the stream. LAPS.

Roz watches Fink, who looks uncomfortable.

Brightbill relocates to his favorite spot by Roz’ neck.

Roz SHUTS DOWN.

SQ1375 - THE ODD COUPLE

Fink PUSHES his head under Roz’ arm.

PAN across the mantle, where a series of ever-larger Brightbill silhouettes have joined the original.

Warm summer breezes comb the trees and grass. SERVO SOUNDS precede the PARTING of the grass revealing... BRIGHTBILL, walking/moving robotically.

He TURNS to a passing squirrel, snaking his neck in a mildly upsetting way.

The squirrel DASHES away.

ANOTHER RUSTLING and Roz BOUNDS into view on all fours.

Roz SITS and SCRATCHES her “ear” with her rear foot.

Roz TRANSFORMS. Bounds in a circle.

Roz STARES.

Roz TRANSFORMS, RUMBLING around like a little skunk.

Roz EMITS a horrid yellow smoke.

In a well-established movement, Roz EXTENDS her arm, Brightbill HOPS on, RIDES it’s spinning sections like an escalator, HOPS to her shoulder where he NESTLES onto her ROTATING collarbone, slowly spinning him into his favorite spot under her chin. There is a clear joy between them.

They arrive at the top of a steep hill. Pinktail and her babies are there.

ROZ VISION: BRIGHTBILL LOADS ONTO THE LAUNCH SLED.

Roz PROJECTS a diagram of a human swimming.

ROZ VISION: BRIGHTBILL LOADS ONTO THE LAUNCH SLED.

Looking down the hill, Brightbill hesitates.

Fink PUSHES Brightbill. He shoots down to the lake. He GLIDES on the water a moment, then SWIMS. He’s doing it wrong, like a human in a goose suit: using his wings like arms in an awkward display. There’s more splashing than swimming, and it looks at first like Brightbill might be in trouble.

ROZ VISION: Her HUD CHECKS OFF the second gosling icon.

Brightbill makes his way across the lake, looking like a flailing, injured creature.

Brightbill GLIDES further out.

Without Fink or Pinktail seeing, Roz DETACHES her hand, sends it swimming underwater after Brightbill like a mini submarine.

ON BRIGHTBILL SPLASHING through some reeds as Paddler builds a new dam.

The little hand SWIMS past. Paddler points after Brightbill.

The foliage parts to reveal...

SQ1500 - THE LAKE

Brightbill sees other geese for the first time. Hundreds glide back and forth on the lake.

Brightbill makes his way toward the other geese. Unable to see where he’s going, Brightbill BUMPS into another goose, SNOWDOWN.

Still unstable, Brightbill CAPSIZES. Snowdown is putting things together.

Behind Brightbill, the little hand surfaces. Deploys a camera like a periscope.

From around a bend drift three large males, HONKINGTON, PECK, FEATHER.

Feather PECKS at Brightbill.

Feather GRABS Brightbill’s wing.

Peck FLIPS Brightbill.

The geese LAUGH.

Honkington LEAPS on Brightbill, shoving him underwater. Brightbill SURFACES, GASPING.

The geese PLUCK at Brightbill’s feathers.

The commotion kicks up waves. The hand is swamped, losing the feed.

ON ROZ - concerned.

Roz clambers through nearby foliage.

Seeing Roz, the majority of geese SCATTER from the lake. Brightbill looks from the flying geese to his wings. Has a realization.

Brightbill is suddenly PULLED UNDER.

Brightbill SURFACES, GASPING.

Another SPLASH as Rockmouth SNAPS at the goose.

Roz LAUNCHES towards Brightbill, but then STOPS suddenly - her foot is trapped deep between two rocks. She PULLS on her leg to try and break free, but it’s no use; she is completely immobilized.

Roz searches the bottom, comes up with a rock.

Roz THROWS the rock. Brightbill VEERS left. The rock hits the spot Brightbill just cleared. Rockmouth VEERS.

Roz launches another stone right above Brightbill. Rockmouth DODGES, races back to strike - he won’t miss this time.

Roz is out of rocks.

Rockmouth swims up close, right on Brightbill’s tail. He OPENS WIDE.

Roz’s metal hand YANKS Rockmouth below the surface. Roz SCOOPS Brightbill up. It’s over.

Roz LIMPS toward shore, a little in shock, holding Brightbill. The other geese DRIFT IN.

Roz SETS Brightbill back in the water.

This hits Brightbill hard.

Fink LUNGES. Roz CATCHES him by the scruff.

Brightbill SWIMS away, humiliated. Roz exits the lake with Fink in hand.

As she clears the water, we see why she was limping: her leg is missing below the knee.

Paddler SURFACES, watches Roz depart.

SQ1600 - THE CONFESSION

The cozy dome is heavy with tension. Roz fiddles with her scavenged foot, unable to reattach it.

Roz hesitates, looks to Fink, who shakes his head slowly.

This cuts deep with Roz.

Brightbill KNOCKS Roz’ woven nest off its little base.

SQ1750 - THE ROBOT GRAVEYARD

Roz releases Brightbill’s nest into the ocean.

She notices a familiar box on the beach, now covered in seaweed.

Roz examines what remains of her shipping case. Her hand wipes away some algae. A scratched-up UNIVERSAL DYNAMICS logo shines back. She fishes a Rozzum manual from the crate. A glint from the tide pools catches Roz’s attention.

Roz fishes a robot hand from the anemones. Compares it to her own - a match. Roz finds a Rozzum torso. She anxiously OPENS the main panel. Water POURS out: the fusion heart is dead. Following a trail of parts, she is drawn into a wide cavern. A flat pooled floor reflects sunlight, turning the high arched walls blue: an Atlantean amphitheater.

Roz finds a head like her own.

EXAMINING IT, she accidentally OPENS the rear tray, revealing the spherical processor. Marveling at it, she CLOSES the tray.

The head BOOTS UP - PROJECTING a commercial for UNIVERSAL DYNAMICS and their new ROZZUM robots:

The UNIVERSAL DYNAMICS logo splashes across the rock wall. A futuristic lighter-than-air ship glides over camera. Diving below pink clouds, a glittering domed city is revealed below.

A portal on the dome OPENS, welcoming the ship. It arcs over a tidy metropolis. We see crisp neighborhoods, elevated roadways, sports stadiums, takes aim at an open atrium on the 100th floor of an iridescent building.

Landing gently, gangways open, disembarking attractive families. A boy is accompanied by a robotic dog. NOTE: no live animals are in evidence anywhere.

A child accidentally LOSES his balloon. Neither of parents are quick enough to catch it.

Then, a metal hand captures the elusive string.

WIDEN to see a gleaming, rounded robot: A ROZZUM UNIT. It steps forward to return the balloon.

Other Rozzums PLAY TENNIS with children, trim hedges.

A graphic appears onscreen.

The image SKIPS - we see glimpses of Rozzums doing exciting things: ironing clothes, preparing food, cleaning a pool, serving drinks in clubs.

The image FREEZES on a wide shot of a city, a Rozzum in the foreground.

Roz TOUCHES the image on the wall.

The video is on repeat, playing silently on the cave walls. PAN ACROSS THREE PARTIAL HEADS, A PILE OF FEET AND HANDS. CRANE-UP TO FIND A PARTIALLY RECONSTRUCTED ROZZUM seated across from Roz. It has a head, body, one arm and one leg. Roz fiddles with its processor tray, trading different cores.

She SHUTS the tray door, whacks it gently on the side of the head. Its eyes LIGHT UP and it sits up straight.

The Rozzum SPRAYS water into Roz’s face.

Roz points to her processor.

Roz GESTURES to her power core.

She realizes she has removed Rummage’s head.

Roz secures Rummage’s head back in place.

Roz ROTATES her head, bringing a data port into view. Rummage CABLES IN. Roz’ lights GLOW a little. Rummage UNCOUPLES as if he touched something hot. The suddenness is not lost on Roz.

Roz sits very close to Rummage, drops her voice.

Rummage deploys his transmitter.

Rummage powers down. Roz gazes at the frozen screen.

SQ1850 - THE CHOICE

Roz sits quietly, watching the clouds.

Fink saunters up.

He reaches the top.

Roz sets the transmitter on the grass between them.

Roz plugs the transmitter in.

Fink SITS next to Roz.

Fink looks away.

Roz touches the spot where Brightbill used to sit as a baby.

Honking sounds call their attention to adolescent goslings flying in a ‘V’ formation.

Roz WEIGHS it all. She STOWS her transmitter.

SQ1900 - THE DEAL

Roz LENGTHENS her legs and steps clean OVER Brightbill, dropping down in front of him.

Brightbill looks skeptically at Roz.

Everyone’s attention turns to passing geese.

Brightbill considers.

Roz ZOOMS IN on a goose, painting it with her scanners.

SQ2000 - THE FLIGHT MONTAGE

ON ROZ PROJECTING schematics of wings on a rock wall, the wing beats animated in a cycle - a model for Brightbill to follow.

Trying to mimic the animated sequence, Brightbill races across the forest floor, jumps... faceplants.

Roz reaches out. Brightbill backs away then reluctantly allows Roz to pick him up.

ON ROZ running through across the meadow, Brightbill on her shoulder. With the increased speed Brightbill feels lift. But Roz TRIPS on the uneven ground.

By the light of Roz’ headlights, she moves rocks.

A runway of rocks has been laid, 150 yards long. Straight and flat as can be. Now Roz can run faster. Admiring her work, she TURNS, surprised to see Paddler, standing next to a log he’s carefully shaped.

Roz DRILLS a guide hold for a bearing bolt. The leg is replaced.

ON ROZ RACING by on her new leg. Brightbill LIFTING OFF from her shoulder, a string held tight in his beak. Roz is flying Brightbill like a kite.

Roz cuts the tether. Brightbill GLIDES. Still shaky, he is nonetheless elated.

He soars over the edge of the cliff above the ocean.

A tree is dead-ahead. Brightbill has no idea how to turn. He SMACKS into a squirrel.

Roz RACES to catch Brightbill as he TUMBLES through the trees branches.

Roz lifts Brightbill up and exits. Brightbill and Fink note drops of greenish fluid left where Roz fell.

Brightbill looks at the projected shadow of his wing. Adjusts his distance from the fire to make it look bigger.

Roz’ head RISES into view - Fink sitting atop it.

REVERSE on a pair of eyes, bright in the shadows.

Brightbill sits on Roz’ shoulder.

Roz EXTENDS her opposite arm. A small bird BLURS past, TURNS, and lands. A FALCON.

Thunderbolt deploys a wing like a switchblade.

Thunderbolt touches Brightbill with a primary feather.

Startled, Brightbill deploys his wings.

Thunderbolt takes to the air.

Brightbill follows Thunderbolt.

WIDER: Thunderbolt takes Brightbill through large turns. Then tighter.

Roz watches, then plants a STAKE with a hoop of bark. DRIFT to reveal a trail of similar stakes.

DOWN-SHOT on the coast from a mile up. The falcon BLASTS past camera, DIVING with his wings tucked close. A split- second later Brightbill also shoots past camera.

They hold the dive, then OPEN their wings and PULL UP, leveling off just above the ground.

Thunderbolt leads Brightbill through the series of sticks and hoops.

Thunderbolt and Brightbill CLIMB.

SQ2100 - THE GREAT GOOSE

Roz watches Brightbill with Thunderbolt.

Roz turns. Longneck the goose stands behind her.

Roz considers.

Longneck flies away.

SQ2200 - THE FLIGHT MONTAGE PT 2

BRIGHTBILL standing, Roz placing rocks on his wings.

BRIGHTBILL straining, pulling Fink, Paddler, and Pinktail upstream on a log.

ROZ blasts Brightbill with air like a wind tunnel so he can practice airborne maneuvers. Brightbill is shaky.

ROZ WITH bowls of food, in the rain and hanging onto tree trunks, feeding Brightbill mid-air.

Roz and Fink watch Brightbill soaring. The pain in Brightbill’s wings is evident. He struggles, dipping and climbing, staying in the air and off the ground through sheer force of will. Pinktail arrives.

The sun is inches from setting. Brightbill falters, sinking toward Roz and Fink. He dangerously close to the ground.

Brightbill’s demeanor shifts. Still hovering, he snatches up one of the weight stones. He climbs: an act of defiance to his pain and exhaustion. Brightbill glides up, finding the last light in the sky.

ON FINK AND ROZ looking at Pinktail with surprise.

ON LONGNECK turning his head to see a tiny goose lit brightly against the dark clouds. He SMILES.

The sun SETS. Brightbill is still in the air, soaring. He drops the stone, dives down to a foggy field, now dark.

Two powerful lights cut through the muck... closer... closer... closer... a runway comes into view... Brightbill LANDS at Roz’s feet: the lights were her eyes. Roz turns, illuminating the trees. An assortment of animals were watching.

END MONTAGE

SQ2300 - THE MIGRATION

Hundreds of geese are gathered, milling and honking. Roz, Brightbill, and Fink wade into the crowd. The geese give them a wide berth.

Longneck notices Roz and Brightbill.

Longneck opens one gigantic wing to clarify. He senses the tension between Brightbill and Roz.

Longneck departs.

Suddenly, geese rise into the air around them. Although they knew it would happen, it still catches Roz and Brightbill by surprise. Both suddenly feel the need to say something, but time has run out. The sky is filling with flapping wings, and the meadow is already looking empty.

Brightbill has much more to say, but Roz interjects.

Time has run out. Brightbill needs connection. Something.

Roz knows he does not.

Filled with a sudden, unexpected joy, she lifts Brightbill to her shoulder, where he sat as a baby. Where he first took to the air. Creaking with wear, Roz does her best to look new.

As geese swirl around them, Roz RUNS. Faster than she ever has before. Brightbill OPENS his wings.

Brightbill LIFTS OFF. Roz stops at the edge of the meadow. Watches Brightbill disappear over the treetops. Roz is suddenly all alone. Fink catches up.

Roz is frozen. Thoughts racing.

Roz suddenly BOLTS away. Unconcerned with damage, she CRASHES through the forest, scraping and denting her exterior.

Reaching the highest point on the coastline doesn’t seem far enough. Roz GRASPS the trunk of a lone pine for support, LEANS out over the ocean, SEARCHING the air.

High above, she finds him. A tiny speck, growing smaller with every passing second.

Brightbill finds his place in the formation.

ON LONGNECK turning his head to see Roz behind and below. A smile crosses his beak.

Roz sees Brightbill’s formation break away from the others. It descends, rolls to port. Roz realizes they are circling back, for her.

Longneck does a fly-by, close, low, and fast. For one precious moment, Roz and Brightbill’s eyes meet.

Another instant, they are gone. Climbing away.

SQ2350 - THE SIGNAL

Fink finds Roz sitting at the edge of the cliff. He approaches.

A BEAT. A cold breeze BLOWS a loose panel open on Roz.

Roz NODS.

Another BEAT.

Roz TURNS, anxious. Fink is GONE.

Roz carves one more silhouette on the growth chart: a flying goose.

Roz makes her way across the mountain.

Fink clears the opening, crawls inside.

Fink settles into his bed of moss and leaves.

Roz drifts past Chitchat and other animals making final preparations for their winter slumber.

Thorn is too busy closing his cave to bother chasing Roz.

Roz reaches the island summit. As the cold wind strengthens, Roz deploys her transmitter.

PULL BACK into the thickening storm. A GREEN LIGHT BLINKS

SQ2375 - THE JOURNEY

Banks of glowing screens draw the attention of humans and robots alike, as they orchestrate the high-tech dance of the modern city we saw in the cave projection.

A foreground screen flashes a message.

The geese arc over the water, a patchy cloud layer below them.

Longneck notices Brightbill gazing off to the side.

The geese struggle to maintain their formation in the midst of a gale. He calls to his wing.

Gliding downwards, a warm glow appears before the flock.

Longneck CLOSES on a massive dome. Its transparent surface displays a warm oasis within.

Longneck angles towards a huge vent on one side. He THREADS his way through it, past huge fan blades, and into a serene corn field within. As the geese touch down, Longneck urges them to cover.

Brightbill approaches a few geese. They reject his company.

Brightbill forages alone. Then something familiar catches his eye - a metallic gold foot striding past.

Brightbill cautiously approaches, and spies what looks like Roz! Brightbill BREAKS COVER and FOLLOWS the robot.

He takes a chance...

Another Rozzum arrives. Brightbill realizes his error.

On screen, BRIGHTBILL earnestly SQUAWKS at the ROZZUM.

A HUMAN notices. Activates an emergency response protocol.

ON BRIGHTBILL realizing something is amiss. He takes a step back - too late. The Rozzum’s eyes blink RED. Across the fields, more Rozzums move in, eyes glowing red.

IN THE FIELDS - Rozzums chase the geese, snatching and grabbing at them.

The geese SCATTER into the air.

The Rozzum GRABS at Brightbill, who flees.

ON LONGNECK gazing helplessly at the tangle of birds in the air.

Longneck spies Brightbill, waddling, unfazed by the noise as Rozzums race by attempting to corral the geese.

Longneck indicates the chaotic cloud of geese.

Longneck takes to the air, followed by Brightbill. They climb into the cloud of birds.

The geese swarm past an airship piloted by Rozzums.

As the situation escalates, a different sort of robot emerges - a RECO.

The large robot is not humanoid. Rather, it looks more military in its size, shape and stance. It brandishes a weapon, takes aim at the flock. FIRES.

The geese fall into formation behind Brightbill.

Brightbill focuses on the gun-wielding Reco.

Brightbill pulls up, hard. The flock follows his lead. The shot goes low.

Longneck PEELS away from the main flock.

Longneck yields his position to Brightbill, who pushes the flock through a series of tight climbs, dives and turns, frustrating the Reco’s aim.

Brightbill FOLDS his wings, PLUMMETS. The geese follow.

One shot is wide, knocking a dome panel loose.

ON THE RECO - taking aim at the twisting flock. Longneck DIVES in, hovers in front of the gun, blocking its next shot.

ON BRIGHTBILL grazing the wall of the dome.

Turning fast, Brightbill aims the flock at the open panel.

A SHOT RINGS OUT

SQ2400 - THE WINTER STORM

ROZ SITS UP as though awaking a nightmare. All is silent, dark.

Fink’s startled face comes into focus.

Roz LIGHTS a fire in the hearth. Fink is glad to see Roz.

Roz SHRUGS.

Fink SMILES - this means the world to him.

Roz glances out, studying the savage wind.

Fink reflects. Suddenly decides he has somewhere else to be.

Fink BOLTS. Roz grabs him. Fink is resigned.

Roz and Fink make their way through the deep snow and powerful winds.

Roz follows Fink, who is SNIFFING the ground.

Fink SNIFFS. DIVES into the snow face-first. Pops up.

Roz DIGS with her hands. Finds a BADGER, GRUMBLE.

Roz sets GRUMBLE by the fire. He shakes off the ice and starts to defrost.

Roz saws a circle through the ice. She pulls the block up and attached to it is ROCKMOUTH. Roz uses a torch to defrost him. Rockmouth escapes back into the water.

Roz reaches into a log for a shivering WOLVERINE.

Roz peers inside to see Pinktail shivering with her babies.

Roz cuts down a tree to rescue a frozen Chitchat.

Fink uncovers a frozen animal.

He tries to rebury it, but Roz pulls it free.

The group of animals by the fire increases in number.

Roz’s hand grabs hold of a rock as she propels herself down a cliff. She lands in front of an opening where THUNDERBOLT huddles.

Roz grabs PADDLER, frozen mid-bite.

ON ROZ AND FINK peering into a den. Fink shakes his head sadly as Roz reverently covers the hole back up.

A RAFT OF OTTERS clings to a kelp bed, rising and falling, lost in fog.

Roz’s powerful light beams cut through the fog like dual lighthouses. The otters PADDLE towards them.

The lodge is stuffed to capacity with animals sheltering from the killing cold. Roz guides more animals inside.

Roz turns back towards the storm.

Roz PUSHES a rock to the side and peers in.

SQ2500 - THE TRUCE

Roz is approaching, DRAGGING something large. A DIN can be heard from a distance.

Mayhem - a bar fight with animals.

FAST CUTS of animals arguing, screaming, fighting.

A deer looks over to see a WOLVERINE with its mouth attached to its backside. The deer BUCKS off the wolverine, sending it FLYING into the air.

CUT WIDE: The scurrying mice cause all the animals big and small to start SCREAMING and LEAPING.

Fink races around trying to keep his precious lodge intact, like a kid whose party got out of hand.

Hey! Those are Brightbill’s baby pictures. Put that down! What the... No, no, no, no, no! Knock it off! You think those grow on trees?

Fink zeroes in on something across the lodge, rushes forward.

He SHOVES an adorable BABY OTTER off of his throne and takes up his seat. A skunk falls into his lap. GASSES him.

ON PINKTAIL, ducking the mayhem, looking for her kids.

Behind her, an OWL at the mercy of her children flies by.

Everyone looks over to see that Roz has brought Thorn into the lodge. He lays still: half-frozen.

Panic spreads.

Strength ebbing, Roz SLUMPS against the wall.

Fink holds up a crab.

A seagull snatches the crab.

He jumps up on the edge of the hearth and tries to get the animals’ attention.

No response. The baby otter takes the stage.

The room settles.

The animals MURMUR in agreement.

Fink turns to look at Roz. The animals gaze at her limp form.

Fink climbs up on Roz’ knee.

The animals begin to nod along.

The animals eye one-another.

The crowd TURNS.

Thorn PULLS a marmot to him, who is unsure at first, then SNUGGLES into him. Smaller animals burrow into Thorn’s warm fur. Following his lead, more animals calm. Peace descends.

A porcupine and skunk open their arms in invitation. Paddler RECOILS from both.

A baby opossum climbs up on Roz’ chest.

Roz’ lights FLICKER.

Pinktail DRAWS her baby close.

As Roz fades, she racks focus to the multitude of faces gazing back.

And with that, Roz sleeps.

PULL OUT:

From the warm, crowded room below, we pull up towards the ceiling revealing the unforgiving blizzard outside.

SQ2600 - THE FLOCK RETURNS

FADE IN: CLOSE ON THE LODGE CEILING

A woodpecker, TRUNKTAP, peeks in. We follow a sunbeam to Roz. The lodge is empty save for the sleeping robot.

The sound of honking geese filters in, TRIGGERS something in Roz. She BOOTS UP.

Roz dashes through the trees, glancing skyward.

PUSH with Roz as the trees open to the great meadow. She WADES into masses of landing geese. More arrive every second.

Roz PAUSES at the tree line. She scans the field, already packed with returning geese. More land by the second, sometimes colliding with geese already on the ground.

There in the sky is a ‘V’ formation - ZOOM IN to a small goose in the point position where Longneck used to be.

Sure enough, the ‘V’ arcs left, leveling off and touching down. Brightbill is about to be SWARMED by bigger geese.

Roz STRAIGHTENS, ready to run to her gosling. But she HOLDS herself in place - something has changed.

In the field, Brightbill is SWARMED by his fellow geese.

ON ROZ WATCHING from the tree line.

Fink RUSHES out to Brightbill.

Fink grabs Brightbill’s neck with his mouth. SHAKES him.

The flock REACTS in terror, SCATTERING.

Brightbill sadly SHAKES his head.

Brightbill FLIES IN. Finds it EMPTY.

SQ2800 - THE SHIP ARRIVES

Roz walks down the center line of her old runway, lost in thought. She TOUCHES the old obstacles she built to help Brightbill fly.

Roz’ EMERGENCY TRANSMITTER DEPLOYS by itself. Startled, Roz SHUTS IT OFF again.

Roz is SPLASHED WITH LIGHT. A huge silver ship glides to a stop a few yards from Roz, its belly twenty feet above the ground. A gangway opens.

A smallish robot floats out, glistening silver tentacles hanging below, a VONTRA unit.

Roz STEPS FORWARD. The ship’s lights illuminate her shockingly worn form.

Vontra drifts down to Roz, examining her as she speaks.

A levitating disc DROPS from the ship.

Roz HESITATES, looks back towards the dark tree line.

Roz STEPS onto the levitating disc. It RISES towards a waiting hatch.

Fink comes into view. Though still a distance away, he calls in alarm.

Roz is almost inside the waiting hatch. Vontra studies Roz: seemingly distracted by some screeching animals.

Roz TURNS to Vontra.

Roz HOPS OFF the platform.

Roz RUNS AWAY with the Fox. Vontra SQUINTS.

The RECOS SCAN: TARGET ACQUIRED.

The Recos LAUNCH themselves into the dark.

The recovery ship FIRES FLARES.

ON ROZ STUMBLING into a river. She is LIT UP by the flares arcing overhead - their simmering tails SEAR the forest below in a penetrating yellow glare. CRAWLING forward, Roz STALLS against a deadfall. A SNORT catches her attention: THORN RISES, RAMPANT and ROARING in fury.

THORN CHARGES. ROZ BRACES for a MAULING.

Thorn CENTER-PUNCHES the deadfall, CLEARING Roz’ path.

He EXTENDS his paw.

TWO LASER BLASTS narrowly miss Roz.

ON ROZ RUNNING LIKE A DEER. Forest creatures join, protecting Roz by encircling her. Roz glances right and left, animals tiny, huge, feathered or furred are moving in a powerful convoy to the meadow.

Breaking into the clearing, we ORBIT the gathering animals AVENGERS-STYLE. Roz STANDS full height.

Brightbill LANDS on Roz’ shoulder.

ON THE RECOS BREAKING THROUGH to the clearing like so many tanks breaching a hedgerow.

The rest of the animals agree. Brightbill and Fink SMILE BACK. Roz GLOWS a little.

Roz STRAIGHTENS. Fink and Brightbill sit on her shoulders. Thunderbolt lands on her head.

The Reco POINTS his cannon at it.

BROADFOOT RAMS Reco 1 from behind, knocking him CLEAR.

Reco 1 FLIES OVER Roz, LANDING near Reco 2. Reco 1 is BESET by the wolverine, badger, and lynx.

R2 CHARGES Roz.

He is met by Thorn, who GRABS HIS ARM and SWINGS HIM AROUND. Reco 2 is TOSSED past Roz, STRIKING R3. R3 reaches Roz, GRABS at her. Roz DIGS into the ground like a gopher, leaving R3 empty handed. A deer LEAPS onto R3, POUNDING him into the softened ground. A series of deer follow, PILE-DRIVING R3 out of sight. A retreating deer pulls us to Roz, emerging from the ground. R4 STRIKES Roz, KNOCKING her down. Roz GASSES him like a skunk. Roz LEAPS CLEAR of the stink cloud, BOUNDING FAST like a deer. R5 PACES her, going for a capture, when BROADFOOT delivers a generous heap of raccoons onto its back. The raccoons IMMEDIATELY DISMANTLE the Reco.

Lost parts and panels litter the ground behind it.

ON A SCREEN with the Reco falling apart.

R5 is gone. He is nothing but parts now.

Roz DODGES a passing deer - is GRABBED by R6. Its grip is unshakable.

ON TWO BABY OPOSSUMS perched on Roz’ shoulder.

Roz suddenly GOES LIMP. Reco 6 SHAKES her.

BLAM. A blaster shot PUNCHES A HOLE in R6. It LOOSES its grip on Roz, FALLS BACKWARDS.

Roz STANDS - PAN to Fink, who is standing on the primary cannon from dismantled R5.

R5’s head deploys its rescue beacon, POWERS IT UP.

A little raccoon takes off with it. The head goes dark.

SQ2900 - THE AIR ASSAULT

The animals CELEBRATE. Brightbill flies to Roz.

The downed RECOS EXPLODE in quick succession. Animals SCATTER. FLAMING debris TOUCH OFF dried grasses. Flames SPREAD.

One of Vontra’s tentacles destructs each Reco.

ON BRIGHTBILL staggering through the smoke.

A BLAST OF wind CLEARS the smoke. Brightbill LOOKS UP to see the silver ship overhead. Rising in a column of light is Roz, limp as a rag doll.

Roz DISAPPEARS inside the hatch.

Vontra floats by the tractor beam switch.

The ship TURNS.

As the ship glides up a ridge, animals give chase below. An exercise in futility, they stall at the top of the ridge, the ship gliding out of reach.

A collective WAIL RISES from the heartbroken beasts.

Then, Brightbill SWOOPS past, a thousand birds, great and small, in tow.

Thorn SNIFFS the air, TURNS.

Fink turns to see what Thorn is seeing. A FIRE has spread.

Roz, groggy, is secured in a repair stand. Vontra is plugging a cable into her head. Roz takes in her surroundings. She notes the heap of salvaged Rozzums, including Rummage.

The flock tracks the ship.

Vontra THROWS a switch. Roz’ lights PULSE.

The ship LURCHES, YAWS. ALARMS sound.

Brightbill and Thunderbolt DIVE on the ship. The flock SWEEPS the bridge in a close pass. The ship REACTS.

ON A BULKHEAD DOOR SLIDING OPEN

Vontra RUSHES to the controls. Outside the windscreen a hurricane of birds blanket the view.

Geese STRIKE the windscreen, CRACKING it.

A LASER CANNON SWIVELS, FIRING at the swarm of birds around it.

Roz’ panels open and close on their own.

Brightbill BREAKS formation, CLIMBS like a rocket, FOLDS his wings, DIVES. Taking aim at the windscreen, he PUNCHES through. Lands in a heap of shattered plexi.

Brightbill FLOPS to the floor: he won’t be flying again anytime soon. He limps forward. Vontra pays him no mind, to her, a random goose just damaged her windscreen.

Brightbill makes his way into the corridors.

He STOPS when he sees Roz, SLUMPED in a maintenance stand.

Her lights are out. Processor drawer laying open. Processor dark.

Brightbill CLIMBS up to Roz’ clavicle. He looks into her eyes - gone dark.

...nothing.

Brightbill SLIDES back into his old familiar spot under Roz’ chin.

ON ROZ - LIGHTING UP, the tracer lights traveling to her eyes, which LIGHT UP.

Brightbill LOOKS UP. Roz is AGLOW again, like the first time they touched. Only this time MUCH BRIGHTER.

She rests her forehead against Brightbill’s.

Vontra is frantically punching panels. An alarm calls her attention.

Vontra calls up a screen. Sure enough Roz is hurrying down a hall. Vontra PUNCHES a panel.

The fire has SPREAD. Towering pines are fully involved, creating a titanic curtain of flame.

ON PADDLER working away. SENSING something, he STOPS. TURNS. To his shock, every animal on the island seems to be looking back at him, urgency in their eyes.

Fink stares at Paddler, pained.

The gun continues to FIRE on the flock. Thunderbolt swoops in, redirects the gun UPWARD.

The next blast RIPS A HOLE THROUGH THE SHIP.

Roz outruns explosions as the ship’s systems meltdown.

Roz arrives at the tractor beam chamber. A SHOT from off- screen HITS Roz in the knee. She GOES DOWN. Vontra is there, hovering above the sealed escape hatch.

Vontra’s laser sight drifts from Roz’ chest to Brightbill.

Vontra POWERS UP.

Roz HOLDS UP her hands. One is MISSING. Vontra GLANCES to the tractor control panel, where the detached hand stands, WAVING. It SWITCHES the handle to 50%.

Vontra is SUCKED against the beam plate. She LOSES her gun.

The lone hand NUDGES the control to 100%. Vontra is SQUISHED. Roz’ hand scurries back to her wrist.

Roz STEPS to the hatch, TEARS it open. She stands at the lip. The forest below BURNS.

With that, Roz STEPS into the ether. FREEFALLS.

In the sky above, the ship DETONATES. Its debris SPLASHES DOWN into the ocean.

Roz looks at Brightbill. Remembers him as a baby.

She OPENS her main panel. REMOVES her dead power core.

Roz places Brightbill inside her, in the location he occupied in the bedtime story. Roz CLOSES her hatch.

The swelling power SEARS OFF the moss and mildew. Roz PULLS INTO a ball, SMASHES her way through the burning forest.

ON THE REDWOOD ABOVE the FOREST FIRE -

Paddler stands atop a moose’s antlers, ear to the trunk, LISTENING. He CHISELS an ‘X’ into the tree’s bark.

The tree CRACKS.

The tree TOPPLES.

The tree LANDS across the upper river, CRESTING its banks. A cataract of water RUSHES DOWNHILL, QUENCHING the flames.

WIDE on the lake. Roz IMPACTS. A HUGE CONE of water punches toward the sky. Then SETTLES.

SQ3100 - THE FAREWELL

Broadfoot, Paddler, and Fink race to the shore. Rockmouth surfaces next to Roz’ orb form.

Roz drags herself to the shore. Opens her chest panels, pulls Brightbill out - safe.

The animals CHEER, BELLOW, HOWL. They CROWD around Roz.

Roz sees the smoking lodge, and the charred mountainside.

A BEAT - Roz takes stock of the damaged forest.

Roz turns to her close group of friends.

Wherever that is, that’s where I keep me. And I promise, they’ll never, ever find it.

Roz KNEELS.

A HUGE PAW rests gently on Fink’s shoulder.

Roz uses her long arms to pull in everyone. They hold each other.

WIDER on Roz’ embrace.

Brightbill places the final stick in the rebuilt lodge.

Roz mounts a picture of herself surrounded by her animal friends on the new mantle.

Roz stands, alone, her TRANSMITTER blinking away. A ship, identical to the first, is closing in.

The ship CLOSES IN, JETWASH KICKS UP DUST, SWIRLING in the ship’s lights. WHITE-OUT.

The silver ship RISES into the sky. Just as Brightbill rose into the light as he departed the morning of migration, so now the ship rises into a blush of light flagging the start of a new day.

Fink SITS at the cliff top, watching the ship depart. Thorn joins him.

Fink just leans his head on the mighty bear.

The stars have all faded in the pink sky save for the North Star, which the ship seems to be steering for.

ON BRIGHTBILL flying alongside the ship, staying next to it as long as he can, till he is compelled to let it slip away.

SQ3200 - THE EPILOGUE

ON FINK making his way through the deep snow, leaving tracks behind.

Fink comes inside. SHAKES snow off. PAN to reveal it is filled with animals, sleeping in great peaceful heaps, lit by a fire.

Paddler is putting the finishing touches on a set of detailed carvings. There is a little Fink, Pinktail, Paddler, Thorn, and of course, Roz and Brightbill.

In one spot, a group of animal babies watch a projection running on a loop from one of the salvaged Rozzum heads.

Pinktail SHUTS IT OFF.

The babies SETTLE IN with Fink. Fink OPENS one of Roz’ paper technical manual, uses the diagrams to tell a story...

We soar above a great dome. The warm yellow interior just visible in the midst of a blizzard.

PAN across an orange orchard. Warm and inviting. As we push through the perfectly rounded trees we see Rozzum robots tending the plants.

PUSH to find one that is especially well tended: the Rozzum fussing over it is shiny and new. A human worker in a jumpsuit pauses, admires it.

The worker nods, goes about her day. The sound of honking pulls Roz’ attention to the dome. Outside, a great flock of geese fly by. A RUSTLING from behind, and Brightbill waddles into view. He picks out a very subtle cue on Roz’ exterior: a little worn place under the Rozzum’s chin. Roz TURNS. Pulls Brightbill into a hug.

SQ4000 - CREDITS BUTTON

A pair of beaver paws gently tamp down soil around a delicate sapling.

WIDEN to show Paddler and Fink. They nod and walk away.

A squirrel approaches the small tree. LAUGHS. A pinecone KNOCKS it backwards.