Chapter 1
A bunny with black fur and white spots on its cheeks nervously walks through the dark, foreboding forest,
frightened by every shadow and moving leaf.
“Fear. Treachery. Bloodlust!
Thousands of years ago, these were
the forces that ruled our world. A
world where prey were scared of
predators. And predators had an
uncontrollable biological urge to
maim and maul and…”
A jaguar leaps out of the shadows,
attacks the bunny, who screams--
As imagined by an amateur stage
production.
“Blood, blood, blood!”
Reams of red papier mâché entrails ooze from the bunny. And
when those run out-- projectile ketchup. A banner reads: CARROT DAYS TALENT SHOW!
“And death.”
The crowd looks on, confused.
“Back then, the world was divided in
two. Vicious predator or Meek prey.” Marco says standing and speaking out towards the crowd.
Two boxes then drop down, labeled VICIOUS PREDATOR and MEEK PREY.
The PREDATOR box lands on the jaguar. The MEEK PREY box lands
on Marco. His “entrails” get stuck outside the box, so he drags
them underneath with him.
“But over time, we evolved, and
moved beyond our primitive savage
ways.”
A young sheep wearing a white muumuu and a cardboard rainbow
on his head does an improvisational dance across the stage.
Marco and the jaguar burst out of their boxes, now wearing
white muumuus, too.
“Now, predator and prey live in
harmony.” Marco says then him and the jaguar shake hands as the sheep throws glitter.
“And every young mammal has
multitudinous opportunities.” he continues.
“Yeah, I don’t have to cower in a
herd anymore.”
The sheep says as he rips off his muumuu wearing a homemade
astronaut costume. “Instead I can be an astronaut.”
“I don’t have to be a lonely hunter
any more.” The Jaguar says as he rips off his muumuu dressed in a suit.
“Today I can hunt for tax
exemptions. I’m gonna be an
actuary!”
“And I can make the world a better
place! I am going to be... “ Marco says as he rips off his muumuu, revealing a police officer uniform.
“A police officer!”
Marco’s parents, Bonnie & Stu, look stunned at their son. A mean fox kid,
Reiner Braun, snickers. He’s sitting next to a weasel kid who's sweating tremendously.
“Bunny cop. That is the most
stupidest thing I ever heard.” The Fox says chuckling in his southern accent.
“It may seem impossible to small
minds--” Marco says giving Reiner a pointed look. “I’m looking at you Reiner Braun.”
After he says this a skyline drawing drops down behind him. “But just 211 miles away stands the
great city of Zootopia! Where our
ancestors first joined together in
peace, and declared that anyone can
be anything! Thank you and good
night!”
Marco finishes his play and gives a mighty thespian bow. The audience applauds while Marco’s parents look concerned.