Episode 1 - Welcome to the Family
CHAPTER 1
EXT. SYDNEY STREET - A SUNNY DAY
TIA TOO scoots along the street, weaving this way and that in the morning sun. Behind her, TIA’S DAD pushes a buggy in which sits little brother FRANK, gnawing away at a large red apple. Heavy bags of groceries hang from the back of the buggy and the family dog RUFUS happily trots along side.
On the front of TIA’s scooter sits a mint green toy monkey named MONKS. He is enjoying the speed of the scooter and the wind in his fur.
Then - TIA spots something on the edge of the curb.
TIA points. Still scooting, one handed.
TIA
Monks! Look!
MONKS leans out from his position on the front of the scooter. Then looks up to TIA with a worried expression.
She skids the scooter to a halt. EERRRT!
TIA turns back to her DAD, huffing along behind with the buggy and the shopping.
TIA
Pa, look, down there!
DAD
What is it, Pumpkin?
TIA points down to the side of the road at a small furry object.
TIA
Down there.
DAD swings the buggy over to TIA and clicks on the break. FRANK leans out from his seat to get a look at what TIA has found.
DAD
What have we got here?
He reaches down to the roads edge.
Dad crouches by the side of the buggy and reveals what he has found. He lifts up something furry, damp and covered in grime from the road. He brushes it down gently with his hand then turns it round to reveal the face of a small brown TOY BEAR, its eyes closed.
TIA gasps!
TIA
Mr Bear… Are you OK?
The bear doesn’t move.
DAD
Does he belong to anybody?
DAD looks up and down the street, but it is empty.
TIA
What are we going to do, Pa?
DAD
Maybe we should take him home? Poor guy looks a little rough around the edges.
TIA and MONKS both nod.
DAD
I’ll pop him up here for now.
DAD gently places the bear on the top of the buggy as TIA scoots around the back of RUFUS who inquisitively sniffs the air, Tia stops with her eye line next to the top of the buggy.
TIA
(quiet)
You’ll be ok. I promise.
She looks down to her toy monkey.
TIA
Right, Monks?
Monks nods reassuringly, but there is worry in his eyes.
CHAPTER 2
EXT. TIA’S HOUSE - LATER
They arrive at a small terraced house. Tia parks her scooter as FRANK jumps down from the buggy and pushes open the front door.
INT. TIA’S HOUSE - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
The door swings open and TIA steps inside followed by her Dad, pushing the buggy into the hallway. Tia kicks off her gum boots and lifts the small toy bear from the back of the buggy.
Tia’s MUM walks down stairs as FRANK scampers away into the next room.
MUM
Hi guys.
TIA looks seriously up to her mum.
TIA
We found a lost bear. He’s in a bad way.
DAD
Shall we clean him up?
DAD heads through to the laundry, TIA with MONKS and the bear in her arms following on behind.
INT. TIA’S HOUSE - LAUNDRY - MOMENTS LATER
TIA pushes over a stool and climbs up beside her Dad at the sink. She sets MONKS and the bear down to the side.
TIA
Don’t get wet, Monks.
MONKS nods as he watches on. TIA turns on the taps and pushes up the sleeves of her top.
DAD grabs a bottle from a cupboard beneath the sink.
DAD
Bubbles?
TIA, all business, pulls on a pair of yellow rubber gloves and holds up her hands as if she is about to go into surgery.
TIA
(serious, focused)
Go bubbles.
DAD hands the bottle to TIA. She turns it upside down and gives it a firm SQUEEZE.
Bubbles begin to rise.
DAD hands TIA the bear.
TIA
(softly)
Bath time.
TIA dunks the bear under the bubbly water.
TIA
Sponge please, Pa.
DAD hands Tia a large, soft sponge. She scrubs behind the bear’s ears and under his arms.
TIA
Cloth, please.
DAD passes a cloth and takes the sponge. TIA rubs the bear’s paws and under his chin with a cloth.
DAD
Fresh water?
TIA sits the bear on the side of the sink as Dad adds clean water.
In the bear goes again and then out and onto a soft towel.
TIA removes her gloves and wipes her brow with the back of her arm.
TIA
Phew… We’re through the worst of it.
Tia wraps the towel around the bear and gives him a gentle rub. She looks out of the window to the small back garden.
TIA
Can I put him in the sunshine?
DAD
I think that is a great idea.
EXT. TIA’S HOUSE - BACK YARD - MOMENTS LATER
TIA carries the bear, wrapped in the towel. MONKS tucked under her left arm.
She sits MONKS on the clothes rack and takes the bear from the towel.
TIA lays the bear on top of the clothes rack.
TIA
You stay there and get better. We’ll keep an eye on you from inside.
INT. TIA’S HOUSE - TOY ROOM - LATER
TIA stands by glass doors that face out onto the garden. She has a small bowl with vegetables and crackers in one hand and a carrot in the other.
She takes a bite.
TIA
Do you think he is going to be ok?
Several toys, all around Tia also look out of the window.
FLUFFLES - A white, round bear with short soft fur and little black nose looks up to Tia and nods.
TIA
Thanks, Fluffles.
TIA continues to munch on her snack bowl
CHAPTER 3
EXT. TIA’S HOUSE - BACK YARD - AFTERNOON
The sun is setting behind the small garden.
TIA with MONKS under her arm, make their way over to the clothes rack.
She reaches out to the small brown bear. And sits him upright on top of the clothes rack.
TIA
Are you okay?
The bear's eyes are still closed.
TIA
Mr Bear?
The bear doesn’t move.
And then…
The bear blinks once, twice… And opens his one good eye.
TIA
Mr Bear!
TIA reaches out and grabs the bear. She gives him a great, big hug.
She holds him out in front of her. He blinks back with his one good eye.
TIA races back into the house.
INT. TIA’S HOUSE - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
TIA
Mum. Dad. He’s okay! He’s okay!
TIA races past Frank, stood in his pajamas.
TIA
He’s okay! He’s okay!
INT. TIA’S HOUSE - TOY ROOM - CONTINUOUS
TIA races into the room and the toys all turn to face her.
TIA
Everybody. He’s okay!
TIA sits down on the floor and places the bear in her lap.
TIA
Let me introduce you to everyone.
She sits MONKS next to the bear.
TIA
You know Monks, of course.
MONKS nods, happily.
She points to the large, white, soft polar bear.
TIA
This is Fluffles.
FLUFFLES steps forwards and gives the bear a HUGE hug.
SKOINK! SKOINK! SKOINK!
Off to the side of the group a sheep is bouncing up and down on a half flat soccer ball.
TIA
That’s Baa.
BAA
Baaaaaaa!
TIA
Where is Terri?
Slowly, cautiously a pink sausage dog skooches out from behind Tia.
TIA
There you are.
(to the bear)
This is Terri-boo. He’s a little shy.
TERRI-BOO reverse skooches back behind Tia.
TIA
And Ham-to
HAM-TO a perfectly round, large hamster is upside down standing on his head. He gives a little upside down wave.
TIA
And everyone this is…
She looks at the bear.
TIA
This is… Morris.
Morris looks up with one large, blinking eye.
TIA
Welcome to the family.
MORRIS leans his heads against Tia’s arm. Safe, warm and welcome in his new home. as the sun sets through the window of the playroom.
