THE WORLD
1. Middle-class neighborhood, San Clemente, CA. – Day
The story begins in HOPE’S middle-class home in San Clemente, California. Outside, a magnificent tree dominates the front yard and the sky is filled with reddish-brown smoke from distant forest fires.
Inside, Hope is doing her homework. Her father, RICHARD, is reading the newspaper and her mother, PRIA, is preparing dinner.
After dinner, Hope goes to her bathroom to shower. Using her plugged-in hair curler as a microphone, she performs a song to her reflection in the mirror. She accidentally drops the hair curler in the toilet and there’s an electrical explosion. Hope is knocked to the floor, unconscious . . .
2. Dystopian Wasteland – Day
Hope is lying face down in a barren desert. As she regains consciousness, she hears someone calling her name. The voice comes from CHIP, a smartphone with an admitted learning disorder. Chip informs her that she is being charged with destroying Planet Earth and that he has been appointed as her defense attorney.
Chip leads Hope across the wasteland where they come upon a fire-scorched forest. A charred tree, WOODY, sings soulfully about the importance of trees to the environment.
Their journey continues and they arrive at a dried-up lake bed. At the bottom, they meet WAWA, the last drop of water on the planet. She accuses Hope of wasting, polluting, and contaminating her. Hope and Chip move on toward . . .
3. Mosquito Supper Club – Day
It is an old Victorian home converted into a nightclub. A lighted marquee reads, “Live Entertainment!! All Insects Welcome.” STINKY, a giant stink bug, is the doorman. MS. QUITO, a seductive mosquito and the club owner, invites Hope and Chip inside.
An assortment of insects huddle around the bar that includes: JOE, a centipede, who plays blues on an upright piano; PAULY, a praying mantis, dressed like a priest; COCKY, a cockroach wearing a pinstriped gangster suit; GOTCHA, a Tsetse fly, sporting a black cape; JILL, a ladybug outfitted as a sassy show girl; and SILLY PICKLE, an alluring black widow. The bugs are conversing with an Asian caterpillar, LARVA, who tends the bar.
The lights dim and a spotlight shines on CARMEN D’OXIDE, a smoky-voiced blues singer in the shape of a gaseous cloud. She points an accusing finger toward Hope. Hope and Chip flee the club . . .
4. TRIBUNAL OF THE SUPERCOMPUTER – BUILDING – DAY
Hope and Chip approach an ominous, imposing structure. She slowly reads the words etched on the façade, “Superior Court of the Super Computer.”
Chip leads an apprehensive Hope up the steps and into the courtroom. The GALLERY is packed full of odd-looking Cyber devices. Upon seeing Chip and Hope enter, they explode with taunts and threatening comments.
“Hang her from the highest tree!”
“There are no trees, she burned them all down!”
“Well, then hang her from a rock! There are plenty of rocks!”
The three judges, TERABYTE, FILES and REBOOT are comical looking computers seated at the front of the courtroom. FATE, the egotistical prosecuting attorney, stands by the prosecution’s table as Chip and Hope take their seats at the defendant’s table. The trial begins . . .
5. HOPE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Hope wakes up, surrounded by her parents and a boy, CHAD, who curiously resembles Chip. She does a double take when she sees Chad.
“Chip?”
“No, I’m Chad. Brianna said you needed to borrow my science book.”
Hope discovers the leaf that Woody gave her on her blanket.
“Chad, we can’t afford to wait for anybody else to save our planet! It’s up to you and me. I just hope it’s not too late . . .”
After everyone exits her room, Hope walks over to her window and watches Chad walk across her front yard. She’s startled when she sees Woody’s face on her tree. Woody winks at her and is joined by all the characters from her dream in singing, “There Ain’t Nuthin’ More Good-Natured Than A Tree.”
