The Adventures Of Toby & Doby

INT. BASEMENT - TOP OF STAIRS - DAY CLICK.

SUZY, 4, stands on the top step, her hand rests on the light switch. An orange glow pulsates below. Suzy sits. Step by step she creeps down the stairs on her bottom.

Shadows dance around the room. Suzy's eyes are wide open, she shivers. THUMP. THUMP. She places one hand on her chest.

A strange, squeaky noise reaches her ears.

Suzy jumps, scurries up the stairs, pushes open the door, SLAMMING it shut behind her.

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Suzy stands, eyes closed, her back against the door, trembling.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

SUPER: “A FEW DAYS LATER.”

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

Suzy takes a deep breath and puffs out her chest. Slow and steady, she moves about the basement. Her eyes searching here and there. She freezes.

MICE (O.S.)

Squeak, squeak, squeak

Suzy stretches as tall as she can, grits her teeth, clenches her fists, and moves toward the sound. Getting down on her knees behind some wood Suzy peeks over the top and smiles.

Two little mice fight over a piece of cheese. Suddenly, one grabs it and runs, the other pounces, stealing it away.

SUZY (LAUGHING)

The mice scurry into a nearby hole.

INT. MOUSE HOLE - DAY

TOBY MOUSE, 15, looks as tough as a teenage mouse can who had just been frightened by a human.

DOBY MOUSE, 7, goofy and adorable, crouches beside him, trembling.

INT. BASEMENT - OUTSIDE OF MOUSE HOLE - DAY

Suzy crawls over, bends down, puts her eye up to the opening, and peers into the hole.

INT. MOUSE HOLE - DAY

The mice, arms around each other, stumble back into the dark shadows as a large eye zooms in blocking the opening.

SUZY

Little mice, little mice, I’m

sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Please come out.

The mice don’t show. Suzy begins to cry.

INT. MOUSE HOLE - DAY

A strange sound.

SUZY (CONT’D) (SOBBING) )

The mice look at each other, then ease toward the hole. Toby Mouse stays in front of Doby, his hand pressed against his chest holding him back. They peek out.

INT. BASEMENT - OUTSIDE MOUSE HOLE - DAY

Suzy sits on her knees; her tiny feet poke out beneath her dress. Her face is buried in her hands.

The mice step out from the safety of their hole. In small hops, they approach Suzy and look up at her.

MICE

Squeak, squeak.

Suzy peeks out between her fingers. Tears run down her cheeks. Wiping away her tears, Suzy looks at the mice and smiles.

SUZY

Hello.

MICE

Squeak.

SUZY

I didn’t mean to frighten you.

MICE

Squeak, squeak.

SUZY

You looked so funny fighting over that yucky old cheese. I just had to laugh.

Toby and Doby look at each other. Then, both fall back onto the floor, their tiny paws holding their bellies and laugh.

MICE

Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak.

Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak.

Suzy starts to laugh. Soon, all three are rolling on the floor laughing.

WOMAN’S VOICE (O.S.)

What’s going on down there?

SUZY

Nothing.

The mice jump and run back to their hole. Suzy crawls over, presses her eye up to the opening, and whispers.

SUZY (CONT’D)

It’s okay. You can come out. That was just my mommy.

Two wriggling noses poke back out from the hole.

DOBY

Mommy? Humans have mommies, too?

TOBY

I guess so.

Suzy falls back, surprised.

SUZY

You can talk.

DOBY

Of course, we can talk. We talk all the ---

Toby reaches out and pokes Doby in the ribs.

TOBY

Hey, she can understand us.

DOBY

How’d that happen?

TOBY

I don’t know.

SUZY

You don’t squeak anymore. You talk like me.

DOBY

It must be magic.

TOBY (scratches his head)

Magic, yeah, that’s it. Magic.

The three jump up and down. Suzy claps her hands and sings.

SUZY

You can talk, you can talk. It must be magic. It must be.

The three sit in a circle and talk.

SUZY (CONT’D)

My name is Suzy. What’s yours?

TOBY

My name’s Toby. This here’s my kid brother Doby.

Doby pokes his head out from behind Toby.

TOBY (CONT’D)

He’s not usually this shy. Then again, you are our first human.

SUZY (Chuckles.)

And you’re my first mice.

WOMAN’S VOICE (O.S.)

Lunch, Suzy.

DOBY

What’s lunch?

SUZY

What’s lunch? Don’t you know what lunch is?

The mice shake their heads.

SUZY (CONT’D)

Lunch is when you sit at the table and eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a cookie, and drink a glass of milk before taking your nap.

Suzy nods with pride.

SUZY (CONT’D)

That’s lunch!

The two mice scratch their heads.

MICE Ohhhhhhh.

SUZY

I’ll save you some and bring it down after my nap.

Suzy dashes up the stairs and SLAMS the door behind her.

TOBY

Lunch, what an interesting idea. I think I understand.

DOBY

Me too! But, what’s nap, sandwich, milk?

Toby shrugs his shoulders.

DOBY (CONT’D)

What’s a cookie?

TOBY

I guess we’ll find out when Suzy comes back.

DOBY

How long do you think nap is?

TOBY (Shrugging.)

I don’t know little brother.

The two mice curl up on the floor outside their hole and close their eyes.

FADE OUT

FADE IN

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Suzy bursts into the kitchen and scrambles up to the table. Lunch is prepared and ready.

MOMMY (Chuckling)

Didn’t you forget something?

Suzy jumps down, goes to the sink, and washes her hands.

SUZY

Sorry, Mommy. I am so excited. I completely forgot.

MOMMY

Excited? About what?

SUZY

My new friends.

MOMMY

Your new friends?

SUZY

Oh, Mommy, they are the cutest little mice, and they talk, too. They are brothers and they are so funny. They make me laugh and laugh.

Mommy listens to Suzy, smiling. Suzy finishes her lunch and helps Mommy clear the table.

SUZY (CONT’D)

I promised I would bring them some lunch after my nap.

MOMMY

Yes, dear, we’ll fix them right up.

Chuckling, Mommy scoops Suzy up in her arms and carries her up the stairs to her room.

INT. SUZY’S BEDROOM - DAY

Mommy lies Suzy down, covers her up to her chin with the blanket, and kisses her on the forehead.

MOMMY

Off to bed with you my precious Angel. I love you.

SUZY

I love you, too, Mommy.

MOMMY

Sweet dreams, baby.

Mommy closes the door, smiles, and shakes her head.

MOMMY (CONT’D)

What an imagination?

INT. KITCHEN - DAY

Suzy skips into the kitchen. Mommy sits at the table reading the newspaper.

SUZY

Is Toby and Doby’s lunch ready?

Mommy folds the paper and puts it down on the table.

MOMMY

What do you think they would like?

SUZY

Ummm, peanut butter and jelly, milk, and a giant chocolate chip cookie, please.

MOMMY

Are you sure they will be able to eat all that?

Suzy nods her head, pulls a chair over to the counter, and takes out the bread.

SUZY

Let me do it, Mommy.

Mommy smiles, places the peanut butter on the counter, hands Suzy a knife, and walks over to the fridge to get out the jelly and milk.

When the food is ready Suzy hops down off the chair. Mommy hands her the plate with the food and a cup of milk. Mommy walks to the basement door and opens it.

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

Suzy makes her way down the stairs.

SUZY (CONT’D) Toby and Doby, I’m back.

The two mice sit up and stretch.

SUZY (Giggling)

Looks like you two took a nap, too.

DOBY

We did?

Suzy puts the plate and cup on the floor and sits down next to them. Toby and Doby sniff the air and scurry over.

TOBY

Wow, this sure smells good Suzy. Is this lunch?

SUZY

Yup! I brought you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My favorite! A glass of milk and a chocolate chip cookie.

DOBY

Sounds yummy.

Toby and Doby dig in. Soon the food is gone and both mice sit holding their bellies.

TOBY (Moaning)

I think I ate too much.

DOBY

Me, too. But it sure was good.

SUZY

I knew you would like it. I will

bring you some lunch every day.

Toby and Doby sit up, big smiles on their faces.

TOBY AND DOBY

Really? You will?

Before Suzy can answer a voice calls out from the hole.

VOICE (O.S.)

Toby and Doby where are you? Time to come in. Supper’s ready.

Toby and Doby jump up. Toby has a look of concern on his face.

TOBY

We have to go. That’s our mommy. She is afraid of humans.

DOBY

Oh Toby, do we have too?

TOBY

If mommy finds us talking to a human we won’t ever be able to play out here again, Doby.

Toby grabs Doby’s hand and drags him away. Suzy stares after them as they enter their hole.

TOBY (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Coming, Mommy.

Doby sticks his head out of the hole.

DOBY

See you tomorrow. Don’t forget lunch ---

Toby grabs Doby and pulls him back into the hole. Doby’s voice trails off.

INT. SUZY’S BEDROOM - DAY

Suzy sits up and yawns. Mommy sits at the end of her bed. Suzy sees her and throws her arms around Mommy’s neck.

SUZY

Oh, Mommy, I had the best-est dream ever.

THE END