Shelf Life

Written by

Megan Howett

FADE IN

INT. TOY SHOP

The shop is empty, but the floor is littered with toys. Camera pans around the shop to a bargain bin in the back corner.

CUT TO:

INT. INSIDE THE BARGAIN BIN

A rubber chicken lies alone amongst the forgotten toys and junk.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

The chicken looks at the shelves full of toys longingly.

(Faint laughter)

The chicken looks curiously across the shop.

CUT TO:

P.O.V. CHICKEN

Through the window of an elaborate doll house, a doll is laughing.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

Suddenly, the chicken jumps up, looking excited.

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

The chicken climbs out and bounds across the room. The camera follows the chicken's erratic movement across the floor.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FEET

He knocks over the first in a line of dominoes that starts a chainreaction.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

He looks shocked as he falls and hears the dominoes falls.

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

(Dominoes knocking against each other)

The chicken get up and continues running to the bottom of the display then climbs to the first shelf.

Upon reaching the shelf the chicken steps onto a track and knocks a remote control.

(Sound of electric toy car)

A car knocks the chicken off the track.

CUT TO:

P.O.V. CHICKEN

Follows the course of the track up to the next level.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

He has an idea.

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

The chicken presses the remote until the car returns in front of him.

He climbs on the car and reaches over with his foot to the remote.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FEET

His foot presses down the button on the remote.

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

The car shoots up the track with the chicken holding on. Camera follows behind the car.

Once on the next shelf the chicken jumps off.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

He looks around the shelf. There are boxes of toys but nothing that appears helpful to reaching the next level. Hanging on a hookabove him he sees a toy monkey.

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

The chicken jumps and grabs the monkey's feet and starts to climb.

As he begins to climb, the spring above the monkey's head loosens.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

He looks shocked as he begins to move back down.

Suddenly, he eyes go wide as the toy springs back up.

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

The monkey springs up and down repeatedly while the chicken tries to hold on.

Finally, the chicken manages to propel himself off as the toy springs high.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

He cries out as he hurtles onto the next shelf.

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

The chicken lands in a pile of play dough tubs.

He gets up and looks down at himself. He is covered in patches of brightly coloured dough.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

He spins around trying to look at the coloured dough on his back and feet.

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

On this shelf there are whoopee cushions.

The chicken pushed one to the edge of the shelf.

He jumps on the cushion.

(Fart sound from the whoopee cushion as the chicken lands on it)

He pulls himself onto the final shelf.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

He looks back down the shelf, relieved to have made it.

He turns and sees the house.

CUT TO:

P.O.V. CHICKEN

Camera pans the front of the house, stopping on the door.

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

The chicken walks up to the door. He takes a deep breath and knocks.

The door opens.

CUT TO:

P.O.V. CHICKEN

The fashion doll stands in the door way.

CUT TO:

P.O.V. FASHION DOLL

Camera pans the length of the chicken, focusing on the splodges ofplay dough.

The chicken smiles and waves at the doll.

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

Suddenly the doll slams the door in the chickens face.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

He is distraught.

CUTt TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

The chicken stumbles back and falls off the shelf.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

He stares at the house as he falls to the ground.

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

The chicken lands with a bounce and a squeak.

(Silence)

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

He stares longingly at the house, upset.

(Bell above the door of the shop chimes as it opens)

He eyes go wide as he freezes.

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

A young girl, Susie, walks into the shop. She walks towards the shelf in the middle of the room.

She stands on the chicken, flattening him.

(Squawk)

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. SUSIE'S FOOT

She lifts her foot. The chicken's body springs back into shape.

CUT TO:

CLOSE. SUSIE'S FACE

The chicken is staring up at her.

(Susie giggles)

CUT TO:

INT. TOY SHOP

Susie bends down and picks up the chicken.

She hugs him to her chest and laughs again as he squeaks.

She begins to walk out of the shop.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP. CHICKEN'S FACE

He smiles, overjoyed as Susie takes him out of the shop.

FADE TO BLACK.

(Bell above the door chimes as it closes behind them)