Cast Away/Transcript

(A large octopus is seen. It turns out to be a picture on an advertisement for the “Creatures of the Deep” exhibition at the Museum of Natural History which Arthur is reading. His dad calls.)

David Read: Arthur, hurry up! We only have a few hours before the museum closes!

D.W. Read: Can I come, too?

Arthur Read: Coming!

D.W.: Can I?

Arthur: No. This is for me and Dad.

Father: You're spending the day with Mom, D.W.

D.W.: But I want to go to the museum, too!

(sounds of crying)

Jane Read: Could you take D.W. today? Kate's sick, and I've got to get this account finished by tonight.

(Arthur, D.W., and their dad are going to the museum. There is a poster advertising a unicorns exhibition.)

D.W.: Unicorns! Can we—?

Arthur: No!

D.W.: Daddy, this is scary! Can't we see the uni—?

Arthur: No!

D.W.: Can't we see the uni—?

Arthur: NO!

Woman: Sir, this might not be the exhibit for your daughter.

Arthur: I SAID NO!

(D.W. cries)

Father: Arthur, she's right. Why don't I take D.W. to see the unicorn dolls and meet you back here in an hour.

Arthur: I used to wonder what little sisters were for, and I've finally figured it out. They're there just to wreck things for us guys and our dads. Whoa.

(Title Card)

CAST AWAY

Written by: Dietrich Smith --- Storyboard by: Gerry Capelle

Francine Frensky: (voice-over) Cast Away!

(Pal barks)

Arthur: Hey!

(Back to the story)

#

(That evening, the Read family sits around the dinner table. D.W. shows pictures of unicorns while Arthur looks depressed)

D.W.: Then there was this pretty ballerina unicorn. She did pirouettes. And I didn't like the Super Unicorn Man one. That was dumb. And then there was a Japanese unicorn in a kimono. And then, oh yeah, there was a Russian dancing one. And look, ha, doesn't this clown unicorn look just like Arthur?

Arthur: Can I be excused? I wanna do my homework.

(He goes out. The parents exchange looks)

D.W.: Oh, and look how they put glitter all over this ice skating one. And they shine lights on her and you can…

(Arthur does his homework looking angry. D.W.’s voice can still be heard from downstairs. His dad comes in)

Mr. Read: Arthur? Are you okay? Listen, I’m sorry, I know you were hoping it would be just the two of us at the museum today.

Arthur: Yeah.

Mr. Read: Which is why I was thinking, next weekend, we could go fly-fishing at Whale Lake!

(He holds a fishing rod. D.W. appears beside him.)

Arthur: Why? Are there unicorns there?

Mr. Read: No, just you and me. And it's such a great place, Arthur. My dad used to take me there when I was a kid. The fish practically leap into your lap.

Arthur smiles.

D.W.: Dad! It’s time for my bedtime story!

#

Mr. Read's old camping spot is now a busy campground featuring a carousel with unicorns.

D.W.: You were right, Dad. Nature's great.

#

D.W.: Mary does it again!

(She turns on the recorder.)

Cassette: “When you’re with a Moo Cow…”

(In front of the next tent, Alex’s dad is barbequing fish which Alex is eating. Maryann’s family waves at the Reads.)

Alex’s Dad: Hey, buddy, thanks! Your little girl's a fish magnet.

Campers: (singing) “Mary Moo Cow, Mary Moo Cow, I love you. Yes, I do.”

Arthur: I can't take it anymore!

(He throws down his equipment and his cap and walks off.)

(Arthur walks to the lake and kicks a stone into it.)

Arthur: Ow! It's not fair.

Mr. Read: Arthur.

Arthur: She always gets what she wants. Now she even fishes better than me.

Mr. Read: She was pretty lucky this time, but what you did was even rarer.

Arthur: What was that?

Mr. Read: Not many boys would be kind enough to let their little sister come on their own private fishing trip.   Pause.    In my book, that beats catching fish any day.

(Arthur notices a whale blowing water in the lake.)

D.W.: Come on! It's time to go!

Mr. Read: Okay, Arthur, what do you say we start...?

Arthur: No, Dad, wait! Dad ...it's... Dad! Look!

Mr. Read: (gasps)

(They return to the car.)

Mr. Read: We saw the whale! Arthur spotted the whale!

D.W.: What whale? Where?

(She comes out of the car holding binoculars.)

Mr. Read: No, no, it's gone already, but... but we saw it! I waited my whole life to see it and Arthur spotted it!(He hugs Arthur.)

(Mr. Read starts the car.)

D.W.: Wait, Dad! Can't we go back? I wanna see it too! Please!

(As they drive off, Arthur and D.W. look through the rear window and Arthur sees the whale again. D.W. spots it, too.)

D.W.: Wow!