Horton Hears The W.H.O.

INT. FOREST - DAY



The LORAX steps up to a podium with the World Health

Organization logo behind him (& on podium?).



                    LORAX

          I'm the Lorax

          With a story for you.

          To help understand

          just what you should do.

          

          Across this great land,

          COVID numbers are rising,

          Because some just refuse

          The guidelines we're advising.



Lorax brings out a giant, oversized and asymmetrical BOOK.



                    LORAX (CONT'D)

          So for those stubborn people

          Who don't have a clue,

          I'm reading the book

          "Horton Hears The W.H.O."

          I'll read you this story.

          That's what I shall do.



Lorax opens the book and begins reading.





EXT. HORTON'S HOUSE - DAY



HORTON is hiding in a dark corner of his house.



                    LORAX (V.O.)

          In the Jungle of Nool

          Is where our story begins.

          Horton sits in a dark corner

          And shakes in his skin.



                    HORTON

          I've learned of a virus

          That's floating about.

          To protect me and my friends

          I just won't go out.

          

          I hope my friends are alright

          And haven't met any doom.

          I wish I could see them

          And get out of this room.

          Plus my WIFI's so bad

          I can't even Zoom.



Horton looks across the room and out his window at a STAR

that twinkles.



                    HORTON (CONT'D)

          I wish I knew how, twinkling star.



With THREE CHIMES the star floats down into the opposite side

of the room and transforms into DR. TEDROS Adhanom, the

Director-General of the World Health Organization.



                    LORAX (V.O.)

          As Horton lamented

          Just what he should do,

          The magic star floated in

          With a word from The WHO.



Dr. Tedros removes his mask from one ear and lets it hang.



                    DR. TEDROS

          Good morning, good afternoon, and

          good evening, Horton!

          

          I'm Dr. Tedros Adhanom

          To help your frustration.

          I'm head of the World

          Health Organization.



                    HORTON

          The Who?



                    DR. TEDROS

          Correct!

          Novel Coronavirus 19 is bad

          And I've heard your concern.

          But you can see your friends!

          With a few rules you must learn.

          

          We have global data

          Showing the virus' gravity.

          And a test where we swab

          Up your long nasal cavity.

               (beat)

          I mean we get waaay up there.



Horton grabs his trunk in response.



                    LORAX (V.O.)

          Horton hoped for

          Something else as protection.

          Like, maybe a vaccine

          He could take by injection?



Dr. Tedros straightens his tie. Horton drops his trunk.



                    DR. TEDROS

          Ahem... not yet.



                    HORTON

               (disappointed)

          Really?



                    DR. TEDROS

          A vaccine that works,

          We should have somewhat quick.

          Because a person's a person,

          No matter how sick.



Horton moves toward Dr. Tedros, but he stops him.



                    DR. TEDROS (CONT'D)

          Don't come any closer, Horton!

          

          Here's the first rule

          That you must embrace,

          Between others and you

          keep six feet of space.

          

          Oh! And wearing a mask

          I also advise,

          To cut down on germs

          That are mobilized.

          It's helpful to those

          Auto immune compromised.



Dr. Tedros pulls out a giant mask out of his breast pocket

and gives it to Horton. Horton struggles, but gets it on.



                    DR. TEDROS (CONT'D)

          Avoid large groups,

          don't touch your face,

          wash your hands.

          Not doing these things

          Will put a kink in your plans.

          

          Some believe this pandemic

          On it's own will abate,

          But a person's a person,

          No matter their state.



With THREE CHIMES, Dr. Tedros puts his mask back on fully as

he turns back into a star and flies out the window.



                    DR. TEDROS (CONT'D)

          And with that, Horton,

          I'm afraid I must leave.

          There's other lands I must visit

          Who are being deceived.

          Completely undermining

          What the WHO has achieved.



SOUR KANGAROO and her YOUNG KANGAROO appear in the window -

both NOT wearing a mask.



                    LORAX (V.O.)

          Sour Kangaroo and Young Kanagaroo

          In the window appeared,

          And gave Horton a look

          That was decidedly weird.



                    SOUR KANGAROO

          What's that ridiculous thing

          You have on your face?

          Are you stirring up fear?

          Oh! What a disgrace!



Sour Kangaroo sneezes.



                    SOUR KANGAROO (CONT'D)

          AAAAHHH-CHOOO!



                    YOUNG KANGAROO

          And ah-choo from me too!

          That's a double ah-choo

          That we've given to you!



                    HORTON

          Please cover your mouths,

          That's the least you could do.

          This is more dangerous

          Than some seasonal flu!



                    LORAX (V.O.)

          Just then, out of nowhere,

          To make things less keen,

          Pete of the Wickersham Brothers

          Monkeyed onto the scene.



PETE WICKERSHAM crowds into the window.



                    PETE

          How's it going, sheeple?

          

          Just got back from a rally

          From Vlad Vlad-i-koff

          Who assured us that soon

          This threat would drop off.



                    HORTON

          Your refusal to think of others

          Is making things worse!

          I have some WHO guidelines

          That will help cases reverse.



                    PETE

          We've got this virus under

          control...



                    SOUR KANGAROO

          Which came from a bat in Solla

          Sollew!



                    PETE

          We have our rights, Horton!

          Don't tell us what to do.



Horton gets more and more upset and frantic as he speaks.



                    HORTON

          Wear a mask, wash your hands,

          Stay six feet apart,

          And avoiding large groups

          Will do for a start.

          

          Now, following the rules

          Will get the virus to quit.

          Because a person's a person...

          You huge pieces of...



Sour Kangaroo gasps loudly and "clutches her pearls" while

Young Kangaroo shirks back into the pouch. Pete Wickersham

just shakes his head.



                    SOUR KANGAROO

          So much for civility! I'm having a

          hot flash!



                    YOUNG KANGAROO

          Do you hop in your mom's pouch with

          that mouth?



                    PETE

               (coughing)

          Dude, we were just having a

          conversation.



                    HORTON

          Sorry for getting

          A little carried away,

          But I worry for friends

          And I hope they're OK.



                    SOUR KANGAROO

          HA-RUMPF!



                    YOUNG KANGAROO

          And ha-rumpf from me too!



                    PETE

          You make me feel sad, Horton

          Since you don't have a clue!



Pete Wickersham and the Kangaroos leave, coughing.



                    LORAX (V.O.)

          The Kangaroos and Pete departed

          Before causing a scene,

          But exhibiting symptoms

          That impose quarantine.

          But that's what they get,

          If you know what I mean.



Horton washes his hands, secures his mask and heads out.



                    HORTON

          With the WHO rules in place,

          I feel very safe.

          I'll keep six feet of space,

          And a mask on my face.

               (beat)

          I think it's rather stylish!

               (beat)

          I'll enjoy the time with my friends

          They're important to me.

          Yes, a person's a person,

          That's so hard to see?





INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY



The LORAX is still behind the podium.



                    LORAX

          Thanks to the WHO's guidance

          Horton was no longer at wits ends.

          He could venture outside

          And visit his friends.

          The end.



The Lorax closes the book.



                    LORAX (CONT'D) (CONT'D)

          In conclusion,.. it's not that hard

          or inconvenient, people!

          



BLACKOUT

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