Yogi the bear.
Billy was a normal boy of eight year of age in 1950 when he was infected with polio. Today we don’t even think about the terrors of polio and the children that suffered in iron lungs because they could not breath. When I was a young boy everyone would say you got polio from running around in the summer. Believe me I walked a lot to avoid polio or so I thought. The story about the Lion in the carpet is about a desperate boy who has a great imagination and he frees himself from the world of leg crutches and iron lungs to freely fly around. Here is a part of the Movie script from the Lion in the Carpet.
The Lion in the Carpet
By Dr. Pelham Mead III
(c)2018
Log-line: In the 1950’s, while sitting on the toilet, a young boy with polio
sees images of animals, especially a large headed Lion. The Lion, named
Leo, frees the young boy from his leg crutches and takes him on journeys
where they can walk through walls, fly the air, and appear invisible to
people.
1 1
ACT ONE- THE SCOURGE OF POLIO
SCENE 1- FREEPORT, LONG ISLAND, 2 NEW YORK, HOME OF 2
BILLY ALTON, 8 YEARS OF AGE.
Elizabeth is a thin blond haired woman with thin glasses. She is 5 feet 7
inches tall and has a New York accent. The Alton family lives in a two story
home with a finished attic and a little white fence around the entire property.
Freeport is on the south shore of Long Island, New York. The town is well
known for it’s commercial fishing boats.
ELIZABETH ALTON (38) MOTHER
Billy can you get the milk out of the milk
box for me?
Billy is a short eight year old boy with blond hair in a crew cut style. He is
pale white and thin boned.
BILLY ALTON (8)
Sure mom. What’s for breakfast mom?
ELIZABETH ALTON
How about your favorite oatmeal?
BILLY ALTON
Sounds great mom.
Robert is an older father with dark hair in a crew cut style. He served in
WWII in the Navy when he was younger. Now he is a furniture salesman in
Brooklyn.
ROBERT ALTON (40) FATHER
Is coffee ready honey? I have to take a cup
to go. I am late for my train into the city.
ELIZABETH ALTON
I’ll put your coffee in a travel mug Robert.
ROBERT ALTON
Fine, gotta run. See you tonight.
Robert runs out of the house and gets into his 1948 Studerbaker.
FADE OUT.
Six months later.
FADE IN:
BILLY ALTON
Mom I don’t feel well. Can I take a nap?
ElIZABETH ALTON
You are asking to take a nap? You must be
sick. Lay down and maybe you will feel
better later.
BILLY ALTON
Thanks mom.
FADE OUT.
A week later.
FADE IN:
ELIZABETH ALTON
Robert I am scared. Something is wrong
with Billy.
(MORE)
2.
He has been sick on and off for a whole
week. He is tried all the time and says he
feels weak and dizzy. Do you think I should
take him to the Doctor?
ROBERT ALTON
Better safe than sorry Liz. Maybe he is
coming down with a flu or something?
ELIZABETH ALTON
I will call Dr. Greenberg tomorrow for an
appointment for Billy.
FADE OUT.
The next day.
FADE IN:
ELIZABETH ALTON (CONT’D)
(On the phone) Hello Dr. Greenberg?
Alice Greene is a middle-aged woman with red hair and thick horn rimmed
glasses. She is short and thin.
MRS. ALICE GREENE (40) SECRETARY
Hello, may I ask why you are calling?
ELIZABETH ALTON
My son Billy has been sick for a week and I
want to schedule an appointment with Dr.
Greenberg to see him.
MRS. ALICE GREENE
We have 10:00 this Friday open Mrs. Alton.
ElIZABETH ALTON
That will be fine. Thank you. See you
Friday.
Friday arrives.
ELIZABETH ALTON (CONT’D)
Billy get dressed, we are going to see Dr.
Greenberg today.
ELIZABETH ALTON (CONT’D)
3.
BILLY ALTON
I feel so tired mom. Do we have to go to the
doctor?
ElIZABETH ALTON
Hurray and get dressed or I will dress you.
BiLLY ALTON
Ok mom, ok. I will get dressed.
ElIZABETH ALTON
We have an appointment at 10:00 and I
don’t want to be late.
The Altons leave in their car for the doctor’s office.
EliZABETH ALTON (CONT’D)
Hello, I am Mrs. Alton and this is Billy. We
have an appointment at 10:00 today.
Mrs. ALICE GREENE, Secretary
Yes, I have you down for an appointment at
10:00. Why don’t you and Billy have a seat
and the Doctor will be with you shortly.
ElIZABETH ALTON
Thank you.
BiLLY ALTON
Mom I feel weak and dizzy.
ElIZABETH ALTON
Be patient Billy. We will be seeing the
Doctor shortly. Maybe he will have some
medicine to make you feel better?
BiLLY ALTON
I hope so.
Doctor comes into the waiting room.
The Greenberg is an older Jewish man with grey hair and a mustache. He is
short and heavy set with dark brown eyes and a dark complexion.
4.
DR. SAM GREENBERG (60)
Good morning Mrs. Alton and Billy. Come
into my office please. Tell me Mrs. Alton
what is the problem with Billy?
ElIZABETH ALTON
Well Doctor Greenberg, Billy has been very
tired for weeks now and he says he is dizzy
and he feels weak. He was always an active
lad running around and climbing trees like
the other boys in the neighborhood.
DR. SAM GREENBERG
Let me take his blood pressure and
temperature first to see if he has any
problems.
Dr. Greenberg adjusts a blood pressure sleeve over Billy’s arm and pumps it
up.
DR. SAM GREENBERG (CONT’D)
His blood pressure is good at 120 over 72.
He has a slight fever of 99 and his heart rate
is 78. Nothing to be concerned about. I am
going to take a blood sample from Billy and
send it to the lab to see if he has any
illnesses that are blood borne. Look the
other way Billy. This wouldn’t hurt.
BILLY ALTON
Ouch. I hate needles.
DR. SAM GREENBERG
Well Mrs. Alton that is all I can do for now
until I get the blood sample analyzed. I will
call you as soon as I get the lab results back.
ElIZABETH ALTON
Thank you Dr. Greenberg. I look forward to
your call. Have a nice day.
5.
DR. SAM GREENBERG
Good buy Billy. Don’t worry we will find
out what is making you sick.
Elizabeth and Billy leave the office.
FADE OUT.
SCENE 2- INT. DAY- ALTON FAMILY 3 HOUSE IN FREEPORT, 3
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.
FADE IN:
One week later Dr. Greenberg calls on the phone.
DR. SAM GREENBERG
Hello, Mrs. Alton. How are you doing
today? I have the results back from the lab
and they are not good I am afraid. Your son
has polio Mrs. Alton. I am very, very sorry.
ELIZABETH ALTON
Oh my God, what do we do? Is there a cure
for polio?
DR. SAM GREENBERG
There is no cure for polio I am afraid. I am
going to send you to Mercy hospital in
Hempstead. They specialize in polio cases.
Perhaps they have a medicine that will help
reduce the symptoms of polio? I am so
sorry.
ELIZABETH ALTON
(Crying) What am I going to do? Thank you
Doctor Greenberg. I will call Mercy hospital
for an appointment. I need to go now and
call my husband immediately with the bad
news. Thank you. Good bye.
DR. SAM GREENBERG
Good bye Mrs. Alton.
6.
Minutes later Elizabeth calls Robert at work.
ElIZABETH ALTON
Hello, Robert. It is me. I just got the report
from Dr. Greenberg. Robert I am out of my
mind. Billy has polio. My God what are we
going to do? (crying). I need you to come
home so we can discuss this. I am calling
Mercy hospital today for them to evaluate
Billy to confirm the diagnosis of Polio.
ROBERT ALTON
Oh my God. Jesus how can this happen to
us? Calm down Liz. I will leave work and
catch the first train home. Sit down and have
a cup of tea. I will be home in two hours.
Stay calm. We will take care of this
problem. Bye sweetie.
ELIZABETH ALTON
Come home quick Robert. Bye.
Robert leaves work and heads for the train to Penn station.
FADE OUT.
Two hours later Robert arrives home.
FADE IN:
ROBERT ALTON
Liz I am home. Where are you?
ElIZABETH ALTON
I am in the bedroom Robert.
ROBERT ALTON
Wow I got home in the fastest time yet. Now
let’s discuss what we must do regarding
Billy.
ElIZABETH ALTON
I called Mercy hospital and made an
appointment for next Tuesday.
(MORE)
7.
Can you take off from work and drive me to
Hempstead to the hospital with Billy?
ROBERT ALTON
Sure, honey. I will tell my boss I have a
medical emergency and I need to take a day
off. Is there a cure for polio Liz?
ElIZABETH ALTON
According to Doctor Greenberg there is no
cure for polio. Bedrest and mild pain killers
is all that is available. My God this is such a
horrible disease. I am afraid Billy might die.
ROBERT ALTON
Billy is not going to die, trust me. I will read
up on polio so that I will be informed when
we go to the hospital next week.
The next week the entire Alton family drive to Mercy hospital in
Hempstead, Long Island.
ROBERT ALTON (CONT’D)
OK, gang get in the car. We are off to the
hospital. Don’t worry Billy. Everything is
going to work out. Come on Liz. I will take
Meadow-brook parkway to get to Mercy
hospital.
FADE OUT.
Ten minutes later the Altons arrive at Mercy.
FADE IN:
RECEPTIONIST (30)
Can I help you sir?
ROBERT ALTON
Yes, my wife Elizabeth called for an
appointment last week. We are here with our
son Billy.
ElIZABETH ALTON (CONT’D)
8.
RECEPTIONIST
Yes I see you are scheduled to see Doctor
James Garfield Jr.. Let me call Doctor
Garfield and tell him you are here. Hello Dr.
Garfield, the Alton family are here to see
you in the lobby.
Dr. James Garfield is a younger doctor with dark brown hair and a full face
beard and dark rimmed glasses. He is 6 feet tall and thin. He speaks with an
Irish accent being born in Ireland.
DR. JAMES GARFIELD JR. (45)
Hello, yes, I will be right down.
Minutes later.
DR. JAMES GARFIELD JR. (CONT’D)
Hello Mr. and Mrs. Alton and Billy. Come
upstairs to my office and we will talk.
The Altons and Dr. Garfield walk up a flight of curved stairs to his office on
the second floor.
DR. JAMES GARFIELD JR. (CONT’D)
I understand that Dr. Greenberg diagnosed
Billy from a blood test.
ElIZABETH ALTON
Yes, that is correct. He recommended we
bring Billy to Mercy hospital because you
specialize in Polio cases.
DR. JAMES GARFIELD JR.
We are very proud of our Polio treatment
center here at Mercy. May I suggest we do
some additional tests and reconfirm the
blood test taken by Dr. Greenberg? Billy
you are going to go with the Nurse into the
lab room where we will take a blood sample
and do some test to determine whether you
have been diagnosed properly. OK, relax, no
one is going to hurt you. One of you parents
can accompany Billy to the lab is you want.
FADE OUT.
9.
One hour later.
FADE IN:
DR. JAMES GARFIELD JR. (CONT’D)
Well I have the blood tests back and the
battery of tests we gave Billy to determine
whether he has polio or not. It seems he
definitely has the early stages of polio. This
illness is progressive and therefore, we must
take aggressive steps to stop or slow down
the decline in muscle function. It it travels to
his lungs he will have to be put in an iron
lung to survive the disease. In the meantime,
I am going to prescribe some medicine to try
and slow down the progress of the disease.
Billy is going to have to stay at home and
get home tutoring because the schools feel
polio can spread to other students.
ELIZABETH ALTON
I am shocked. This illness came out of no
where. We never expected Billy to come
down with polio.
ROBERT ALTON
We are going to survive and so is Billy. We
will take him where ever he needs to go for
treatment for polio.
DR. JAMES GARFIELD JR.
As the illness progresses Billy will lose the
muscle strength in his legs to walk. We can
give him leg braces and crutches to walk
with when that happens. Hopefully, we can
contain the disease from spreading. No cure
is available at this time but there are many
clinics and hospitals around the Unites
States researching a cure. We will have you
visit with Billy once a week to monitor his
progress.
(MORE)
10.
Be positive, we can kick this problem in
time. Thank you for coming and we will see
you and Billy again next week.
FADE OUT.
The Altons leave Mercy hospital.
FADE IN:
BILLY ALTON
(In the car) Am I going to die of polio mom?
ELIZABETH ALTON
No Billy, we are going to fight this disease
with medicine and therapy at the hospital.
BILLY ALTON
What about school Mom?
ELIZABETH ALTON
We will get a tutor for you at home so that
you do not fall behind in your school work.
You will not be allowed to go to school
because they feel polio might spread. I will
pick up all your books from the school and
bring them home. Don’t worry Billy, we
will be fine.
FADE OUT.
ACT TWO- THE 4 LION IN THE CARPET 4
5 SCENE 1- THE ALTON FAMILY BATHROOM IN FREEPORT, 5
N. Y.
It has been two years since Billy was diagnosed with polio and he is 10 years
old now. The disease progressed to the point that Billy had to have leg
braces and crutches to walk around since his leg muscles could not support
his weight. The adjustment for Billy was very difficult with no friends to
talk or play with. He was treated as an outcast.
One day while Billy was in the bathroom on the toilet something strange
DR. JAMES GARFIELD JR. (CONT’D)
11.
happened.
FADE IN:
BILLY ALTON
Mom, I am going to the bathroom can you
give me my crutches?
ELIZABETH ALTON
Sure Billy. Do you need help getting into the
bathroom?
BILLY ALTON
No Mom, I am fine.
With braces on his legs and crutches Billy drags his legs along with the help
of his crutches. After struggling, he finally sits down on the toilet trying to
catch his breath from the exertion of walking into the bathroom.
BILLY ALTON (CONT’D)
Finally, I made it to the toilet, mom. Close
the door Mom, please.
As Billy sits on the toilet he begins to focus on the high pile carpet under his
feet. Suddenly, he realized he could see the images of many animals in the
carpet. He focused his eyes even more and suddenly he was able to focus on
some of the images clearly. There was a wolf head, a bear, a deer and a huge
lion head with the full main. He stared at the Lion head for many minutes
noting the features of the lion’s eyes. Suddenly, the Lion roared.
LEO THE LION
Roar……(animal roaring sound) Boy am I
tired, just sitting here in the carpet with
nothing to do.
Billy almost fell off the toilet. He began to scream and then held back.
BILLY ALTON
Are you real? Am I dreaming? Perhaps the
polio has taken over my mind? Who are
you? What are you? Why is it I can hear you
talking but your mouth is not moving?
NOTE: Leo speaks to Billy in a telepathic manner. You can hear Leo’s voice
but his lips are not moving.
12.
LEO THE LION
Be not afraid little one. My name is Leo the
Lion. I have come to free you from this
bathroom, and this house. I can talk to you
from my mind to your mind. No need to use
my mouth.
BILLY ALTON
I cannot go anywhere Mr. Lion, I have
polio, and can walk only with leg braces and
crutches.
LEO THE LION
You are going to stand up now, and follow
me through the wall.
BILLY ALTON
Through the wall. Are you crazy? Now I
know this must be a dream.
LEO THE LION
Pull your pants up lad, and we are off. Come
follow me, and do not be afraid. We can
travel through walls and remain invisible to
anyone.
BILLY ALTON
OK I am going to try once, but if I fall back
it will be your fault.
LEO THE LION
Come and believe.
Billy stands up from the toilet and pulls his underwear and pants up and
buckles his belt.
BILLY ALTON
OK, Lion lead on.
LEO THE LION
Follow me lad.
Leo disappears through the wall and Billy reaches for his tail.
13.
BILLY ALTON
Wait for me. Let me grab your tail great
lion, for I am afraid.
LEO THE LION
So be it lad, be quick about it.
Both Leo and Billy are standing in the kitchen where his mother is cooking
supper but cannot see them.
LEO THE LION (CONT’D)
You see small one you made it through the
wall with no problem. We can see your
mother, but she cannot see us. Come follow
me, we will take a walk outside your house.
BILLY ALTON
We are we going Leo?
LEO THE LION
I am going to show you some of my friends
at the zoo.
BILLY ALTON
The zoo? The zoo is in the Bronx far away
and much to far to walk.
LEO THE LION
Follow me lad for we can fly through the air
unseen by anyone. Here we are at the
Elephant pen. Sheba are they feeding you
well today?
SHEBA THE ELEPHANT
Not as well as I expected Leo. Where have
you been lately. We missed you at the zoo.
LEO THE LION
I have been away Sheba. This is my friend
Billy. I am showing him the zoo today.
SHEBA THE ELEPHANT
That is good. Make sure you stop by the lion
cage. Many of the lions are mad that you
have been missing and they are still caged.
14.
LEO THE LION
I will speak with them Sheba. Kwaheri
Sheba.
SHEBA THE ELEPHANT
Tutsonana Leo.
BILLY ALTON
What does kwaheri mean Leo?
LEO THE LION
It means good bye, in Swahili.
BILLY ALTON
Oh?
LEO THE LION
Come we must visit my old friends in the
lion cage area.
FADE OUT.
Later
FADE IN:
LEO THE LION (CONT’D)
Moxie, M’wasi and Sukai, over here outside
the fence. It is I, Leo. I have returned to say
hello.
MOXIE THE LION
Well it is about time. Where have you been.
Everyone said you disappeared, and no one
knows where you went. What happened
Leo? Who is the human with you? We
thought you died Leo.
LEO THE LION
It is a long story. This is Billy, my human
friend. Be not afraid. Sukari how are you
today? You look tired.
15.
SUKARI THE LION
Yes, Leo I am tired. I am bored to death. If
only I had an elk or deer to chase down and
eat. They feed us the same old dirty meat.
LEO THE LION
I can bring you some raw hamburger meat if
you want it Sukari.
SUKARI THE LION
I would be indebted to you Leo for the fresh
meat.
W’WASI THE LION
Is it really you Leo? We though you were
dead and they buried you secretly outside
the zoo. Where have you been brother?
LEO THE LION
I have been around. Well time to move
along. Stay well my pride.
BILLY ALTON
Good bye lions.
LEO THE LION
Come Billy let’s get some fresh meat. I
know where the fresh hamburger meat is
kept for the cafeteria. Come follow me.
There is Ernie the gorilla over there. Hey
Ernie, I hear you have two children. Good
for you.
FADE OUT.
6 LATER 6
FADE IN:
ERNIE THE GORILLA
Leo, where have you been? Kumi, and Layla
and I have been getting it on. Two young
gorillas now. I am a poppa.
16.
LEO THE LION
Congratulations Ernie. This is Billy my
human friend. Stay healthy Ernie, you are
getting old. Come let’s us return home Billy.
Did you enjoy the day at the zoo?
BILLY ALTON
It was great Leo. Thanks. I never get out
anymore.
Minutes later Billy awakes from falling asleep on the toilet.
BILLY ALTON (CONT’D)
My legs are asleep. Ouch…how am I going
to stand? I cannot feel anything. Oh, now I
can feel a little. My feet must have fallen
asleep. Where was I? What happened?
Billy gets his crutches and struggles to leave the bathroom.He never tells his
parents about what happened in the bathroom for fear they will think he was
crazy.
FADE OUT.
A month goes by.
FADE IN:
SCENE 2- INT. DAY- ALTON 7 FAMILY BATHROOM 7
Leo the Lion returns one day.
LEO THE LION
Wake up Billy, Open your eyes. You are
falling asleep on the toilet. It is me Leo the
Lion. I’ve come back to see how you are
doing?
BILLY ALTON
I thought you would never come back.
Where have you been?
LEO THE LION
Come with me Billy and we will travel
again. Grab onto my tail. Follow me.
17.
BILLY ALTON
Where are we going?
LEO THE LION
We will stop here for a few minutes.
BILLY ALTON
But this is my parent’s bedroom? I am not
supposed to be here.
LEO THE LION
Your parents cannot see or hear us Billy, so
you are safe. Let’s hear what they have to
say.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
ROBERT ALTON
Elizabeth, I am getting tired of all the stress
we are having over medical bills with
Billy’s polio. Maybe we should take him to
foster care?
ELIZABETH ALTON
How can you say that about your only son?
You are a pig for being so selfish. There is
still a chance that Billy can be cured or
healed enough to walk again like normal
children. Do you think it is easy for me
everyday watch Billy in pain and unable to
walk easily?
ROBERT ALTON
I want a divorce, this is too much stress for
me. I even started to drink I am so sad and
angry over this whole polio thing. What am
I to do Elizabeth? I am at my wits end and
all we do is argue and fight all the time. This
has to stop.
BILLY ALTON
(Begins to cry) I am so sad Leo.
18.
LEO THE LION
Come on Billy I think we have seen enough.
Come with me and we will take a trip to the
movies. You can see my buddy Aldo the
lion open up the MGM movie screen.
BILLY ALTON
You know the Lion in the MGM movies?
Wow that is great.
LEO THE LION
Don’t worry my little friend there are better
things to worry about. Come let us return to
the Bronx Zoo and visit my pride.
Flying through the air.
BILLY ALTON
Wow this is cool. Flying like a bird.
LEO THE LION
Billy this is my pride, Buela, Mateo and
Matta. The other lion over there by the fence
is Thor. He is one of my brothers. Come
let’s go talk with Thor, my brother.
THOR THE LION
Well Leo, where have you been? It is so
boring in this small cage. Nothing to hunt
and old rotten meat is all they fee us.
LEO THE LION
You are aging well my brother Thor. This is
Billy, my friend.
THOR THE LION
Can we eat the human Leo?
LEO THE LION
No, he is not for eating Thor. Come Billy
let’s talk to Buela, Mateo and Matta.
(MORE)
19.
How are you women doing?
BUELA THE LION
Nice of you to come visit us Leo. What have
you been up to?
LEO THE LION
I have been around.
MATTA THE LION
We have missed you Leo. All we do is sleep
and eat everyday. Mateo wants to hunt but
there is nothing to hunt except sparrows.
LEO THE LION
Be glad you don’t have to hunt everyday
woman.
MATEO THE LION
If I could just get my teeth on a juicy deer or
elk. Where have you been Leo? We thought
you were dead.
LEO THE LION
I am still around ladies. Take care for now.
Oh, this is Billy a friend of mine.
Later they return home.
BILLY ALTON
Will I see you again Leo?
LEO THE LION
When the need is great little one I will
appear again. Be well.
FADE OUT.
LEO THE LION (CONT’D)
20.
SCENE 2- INT. 8 DAY- THE IRON LUNG 8
Billy’s polio condition takes a turn for the worse.
Dr. JAMES GARFIELD JR.
Mr. And Mrs. Alton. It has been two years
now and I am afraid we are going to have to
put Billy in an iron lung to help him breath.
His breathing muscles have gotten weaker
and weaker. We can have an iron lung
leased to be use in your home instead of
keeping him in the hospital and racking up a
giant hospital bill for expenses.
ElIZABETH ALTON
Iron lung, oh my God. How can it be? He
was supposed to get better.
DR. SAM GREENBERG
He may still recover if his chest muscles can
fight the disease and return to normal.
Meanwhile, this is a temporary setback.
Later that day.
BILLY ALTON
Mother is it true, are they going to put me in
an iron lung?
ElIZABETH ALTON
Yes Billy. We need to do this to help you
breathe. Once your chest muscles can return
to normal by fighting the polio virus we can
take you out of the iron lung.
BILLY ALTON
I am afraid mom.
Technicians arrive at Billy’s house that day and he is placed into an iron
lung to help his breathing. That same night.
In the middle of the night Leo reappears in the living room where the iron
lung is located.
21.
LEO THE LION
(Lion roar) Hello little one. How are you
doing?
BILLY ALTON
Oh you scared me Leo. I am afraid I am
going to die in this iron lung, and never
recover.
LEO THE LION
I can free you from the iron lung for a little
while little one. Come with me and we will
travel to New York City and wander through
Central park.
BILLY ALTON
How cool is this flying so high?
LEO THE LION
Here we are in Central Park in Manhattan.
Sit here on the bench little one. No one can
see us so don’t worry that you are still in
your pajamas.
BILLY ALTON
You know Leo my father used to beat me
with a belt when I did something bad or lied.
FADE OUT.
SCENE 3- INT. DAY- FLASHBACK 9 TO EARLIER TIMES. 9
Billy flashes back in his mind to an incident in years before
Polio in which he was whipped by his father. Billy is age 7.
FADE IN:
BILLY ALTON
Here comes the Peter Wheat bread truck
mom. Can you buy a pie from him mom?
ELIZABETH ALTON
We don’t have enough money for pie this
week Billy. Maybe next week?
22.
MR. BROWN, THE PETER WHEAT
TRUCK DRIVER (40)
Bread, pies, cookies for sale. Who wants
some fresh Peter Wheat white bread? (Rings
bell) Ding ding. How about you Mrs.
Logan?
BILLY ALTON
I will just go around the back of the Peter
Wheat truck and steal a pie for myself while
the driver is busy with Mrs. Logan. Wow,
look at all the pies and he left the door of the
truck open. I will just take one blueberry pie.
Got it …run..run.
Billy runs away into the local woods and sits down on a log and eats the
whole blueberry pie.
BILLY ALTON (CONT’D)
Boy this blueberry pie is great. I need to get
home or mom will notice me missing.
Billy returns home to find the Peter Wheat man at his house.
BILLY ALTON (CONT’D)
Uh oh the Peter Wheat man is at my house.
Boy am I in trouble.
MR. BROWN, THE PETER WHEAT TRUCK
DRIVER
Yes that is right Mrs. Alton. I am missing a
blueberry pie and I saw your son Billy
running away into the woods.
ELIZABETH ALTON
There you are Billy. Where have you been.
What is that blue stain on your face. Oh,
Billy did you steal a blueberry pie from the
Peter Wheat truck?
MR. BROWN, THE PETER WHEAT TRUCK
DRIVER
That will be $2.95 Mrs. Alton for the
blueberry pie.
23.
ELIZABETH ALTON
Here you are Mr. Brown $2.95, all I have in
the coin jar. Billy your are in big trouble
when your father gets home tonight. Go to
your room and stay there. No supper or TV
tonight.
BILLY ALTON
Oh Mom please. I didn’t mean to do it.
Don’t tell dad. He will beat me.
FADE OUT.
Later that night Billy’s day comes home from work.
FADE IN:
ROBERT ALTON
Hi everyone, I am home.
ElIZABETH ALTON
Robert we had a problem today. Billy stole a
blueberry pie from the Peter Wheat truck. I
had to pay for the pie with my loose change.
You need to speak to him.
ROBERT ALTON
Billy come here. What happened today.
BILLY ALTON
Nothing Dad.
ROBERT ALTON
Your mother tells me you stole a blueberry
pie from the Peter Wheat truck today. Is that
true? What have we told you about stealing?
BILLY ALTON
No to steal. Please dad don’t beat me.
ROBERT ALTON
Go in the bathroom and drop your pants and
I will be right in.
24.
BILLY ALTON
Please don’t beat me dad.
ROBERT ALTON
Get in the bathroom. I work hard all day to
come home to this nonsense.
Robert goes into the bathroom.
ROBERT ALTON (CONT’D)
Bend over Billy. (Robert takes a shaving
strap off the back of the door and begins to
beat Billy on the bare behind) Take that and
that.
BLLY ALTON
Ouch, (crying) You are hurting me.
ROBERT ALTON
Now, go to your bed.
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
LEO THE LION
When you are in pain or having bad dreams
remember this little poem Billy. Lion lift
me up, Lion make me tough, but not rough,
Lion take me away this day. If you repeat
this phase again, and again, I will come to
save you.
Billy and Leo return home and back the iron lung.
FADE OUT.
ACT THREE- THE 10 BEAR IN THE CARPET 10
SCENE 1- INT. DAY-BILL RECOVERS FROM POLIO ENOUGH TO
BE TAKEN OFF THE IRON LUNG.
25.
A year later Dr. Garfield visits the Alton house.
FADE IN:
DR. JAMES GARFIELD JR.
Well, Mrs. Alton it is a miracle but your son
seems to have beaten polio for now. His
lungs are working normally, and his chest
muscles are working normally. I am having
Billy taken off the iron lung and we will try
having him breath normally by himself. The
prognosis for Billy’s recovery looks better
than ever. He will still have to wear the leg
braces and use crutches to walk, but other
than that he may be able to return to school
someday.
ELIZABETH ALTON
Thank God. Than you Doctor Garfield for
everything you have done for Billy.
BILLY ALTON
Mom look at me. They took me out of the
iron lung. I feel much stronger now. I can’t
wait to go back to school someday.
ElIZABETH ALTON
In time, Billy, be patient. In time you will
return to school. Let’s take it one day at a
time.
Later that day Billy uses his crutches to go to the bathroom. While sitting on
the toilet Billy is hoping to see Leo the Lion while staring at the carpet.
BILLY ALTON
Where are you Leo? I can’t find you in the
carpet. Wait, what is that? Is it a Bear head?
Really? A bear?
The image of a Bear head rises out of the carpet and suddenly a full size bear
appears.
26.
YOGI THE BEAR
Hello Billy. I am Yogi the Bear. I see you
are recovering from polio finally. I am
happy for you.
BILLY ALTON
Wow, you are a real bear standing here in
my bathroom. Where is Leo the Lion?
YOGI THE BEAR
Leo cannot be with us today. Maybe next
time? Yeah it is a little small in here. Come
lets go on a trip. Let’s visit some of your
neighbors. Remember your friend Sally
Smith?
BILLY ALTON
Yes, Sally was my friend in school. Are we
going to visit Sally Yogi?
YOGI THE BEAR
Follow me through this wall. We are going
to take a short flight over to your neighbors
house, the Smiths where Sally lives.
Yogi and Billy enter the Smith house.
SALLY SMITH (11)
Mother why did Billy come down with
polio?
BEATRICE SMITH (30)MOTHER
It is God’s will that Billy was stricken with
Polio Sally.
SALLY SMITH
Will Billy get better mom?
BEATRICE SMITH
Probably not. There is no cure Sally.
BILLY ALTON
( A tear begins to form in Billy’s eye) Oh,
Sally.
27.
YOGI THE BEAR
Most people do not have any hope when it
comes to polio because they really do not
understand that it is a virus. Come we have a
lot of flying to do.
BILLY ALTON
Where are we going Yogi?
YOGI THE BEAR
You will see Billy. Hold my paw and we are
off.
They fly through the air to India where a young boy the same age as Billy is
searching for food in the city dump of Calcutta. He is so poor that he is
considered an untouchable by other Indian boys and girls.
BILLY ALTON
Where are we Yogi?
YOGI THE BEAR
We are in Calcutta, India. That young indian
boy over there in the garbage pile is called
Benjee.
DAK (9) INDIAN BOY
Tahd stay away from that boy Benjee. He is
an untouchable.
TAHD (9) INDIAN BOY
I wouldn’t go near him Dak.
BILLY ALTON
What are untouchables Yogi?
YOGI THE BEAR
The indian society is a caste society, and on
the bottom of the rung is the Untouchables,
the lowest of the low. In the Hindu religion
the poor are often untouchables. Other
castes fear that the untouchables carry
disease with them.
28.
BENJEE (10) INDIAN BOY,
UNTOUCHABLE
I will not touch you so don’t be afraid. I am
just trying to find some food in the city
dump to live another day. Buddha will
provide. Each new day is a blessing.
BILLY ALTON
What will happen to Benjee?
YOGI THE BEAR
He will grow up to become a great politician
in India, and his once being an untouchable
is forgotten.
BILLY ALTON
How sad, but he seems so happy.
YOGI THE BEAR
It is his happy positive attitude that helps
him survive. Come it is time to go.
FADE OUT.
Return home- Billy Awakes from sleeping on the toilet
FADE OUT.
SCENE TWO- INT. DAY- BILLY’S BATHROOM
FADE IN:
ROBERT ALTON
Billy open the door. Are you alright? Unlock
the door dammit.
BILLY ALTON
OK, OK, coming dad.
ROBERT ALTON
What the hell were you doing in here so
long? I ought to give you a good whipping.
Drop your pants and assume the angle.
(MORE)
29.
Take that and that (whips Billy’s bare
behind with a belt.)
Suddenly, Leo the Lion appears in the crowded bathroom.
LEO THE LION
Roar, loud Lion roar.
ROBERT AlTON
Oh my god, I must have e been drinking too
much. Now I am seeing a lion in the
bathroom. What the hell is going on? I need
to get out of here and clear my head. I am
seeing things, a lion.
BILLY ALTON
Leo you came just in time. (Crying) Help
me get off the floor please.
LEO THE LION
Things will change soon little one. Be
patient, and follow Yogi and your other
animal friends. They will show you the way.
BILLY ALTON
Thank you Leo. I thought you would never
come again.
Leo disappears in a cloud of smoke.
FADE OUT.
ACT FOUR-THE WOLF 11 IN THE CARPET 11
SCENE 1- A WOLF NAMED NOMAD APPEARS IN THE CARPET
One day while sitting on the toilet Billy is trying hard to find Leo in the
carpet but he cannot find him.
FADE IN:
BILLY ALTON
Leo where are you? Come back please.
What is that, a Grey Wolf head. Wow, a real
grey wolf.
The outline of a wolf head appears in the carpet and get
ROBERT ALTON (CONT’D)
30.
Larger and larger until it pops into a full size wolf.
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
Hello young one. My name is Nomad, and I
am a grey wolf of the North. Come with me
and we will visit your school.
BILLY ALTON
I have been wanting to visit school for many
years. Someday, I hope to go back to school
when the polio goes away.
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
We are going into the principal’s office for a
surprise.
MR. BOB SHAW, PRINCIPAL (50)
Betty you are beautiful. I am so glad I hired
you as our Art Teacher.
Principal Shaw and Betty Snow are embracing and making love in the
principal’s office with the door closed. Betty is a beautiful young blond
haired teacher. She is about 5 Ft. 2 inches tall and wears rimless glasses to
read. Bob Shaw is a tall 6 ft. 3inch man with a thin mustache and brown
thinning hair with a bald spot at the back of his head. He is dressed in a tie
and shirt and sports coat and Betty is in a flowery red and white dress.
BETTY SNOW (21) ART TEACHER
You make me feel so great Bob. I am so
glad to be teaching at Sweet Water
Elementary school. Kiss me again Bob.
PRINCIPAL BOB SHAW (40)
I am going to ask my wife Joan for a divorce
so that you and I can be together forever.
BETTY SNOW
Oh Bob that is so sweet. Well I have to run,
I have a class to teach in ten minutes. Bye.
BILLY ALTON
They are kissing Nomad.
31.
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
Yes, Billy, Mr. Shaw is using his influence
as Principal to seduce young Betty Snow.
Betty is young and naive. Mr. Shaw is a
predator like most wolves, only he has no
morals. At least we wolves have some
morals.
BILLY ALTON
What can we do to stop this Nomad?
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
Time will tell my friend. Just be patient.
Come we are going into the northern forest
where my pack lives.
BILLY ALTON
Great let’s go.
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
Follow me Billy. It is a short trip to the
northern forests where wolves run freely. He
comes my pack now. Hello Swift, Aiyana,
Logan, Loki, Luna, Malakai, Adimar, Ari
and Arctic. How goes it with you gang? This
is my human friend Billy.
LOGAN THE WOLF
Did you capture the human Nomad. Can we
eat him?
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
No you cannot eat him. He is one of the
pack for now.
SWIFT THE WOLF
Are you going to hunt with us Nomad?
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
Sure Swift. What are we hunting for?
32.
AIYANA THE WOLF
We are hunting for Elk, we saw here
recently. Come let us run over the ridge and
find them.
BILLY ALTON
But I cannot run Nomad. I have polio.
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
Your polio is gone for now so give it a try.
You can do it Billy. Stretch your legs and
stay up with us as we run down an Elk for
dinner. Oh, by the way this is Swift, Aiyana,
Logan, Loki, Luna, Malakai, Adimar, Ari,
and Arctic, and they are all part of my wolf
pack. We are all brothers and sisters
together. Arctic is the only one of our pack
that is pure white. The rest of us are grey
wolves with different colors of brown and
black mixed. Malaki is the smallest of the
pack since he is only a year old. Ari and
Arctic are twin wolves from the same
mother. Come let us run.
BILLY ALTON
Wow, I can run again. Boy your wolves can
really run fast in this snow?
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
I will take the lead. Stay up with us Billy.
You see when you run with the pack, polio
cannot stop you.
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF (CONT’D)
We will teach you how to run with the wolf
pack Billy. When we are hunting out prey
down, sometimes we have to run through the
snow for miles before our prey tires.
Come let us start slow and run faster and
faster.
33.
BILLY ALTON
Are you sure I can run with polio?
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
As long as you are part of the wolf pack you
have no handicap or polio. Come run with
us. Stay up with me. I will lead the pack.
See that deer down in the valley. We are
going to run one of the stags down until he
dies from exhaustion. Come follow me.
BILLY ALTON
I can hardly see with the snow and the wind
getting in my eyes.
Closer and closer they move behind a large male deer. The deer is fast, but
the wolves are stronger in long distances. After a mile of running the stag
trips and stumbles rolling in the snow.
FLEEING DEER
I have to keep running or those wolves will
catch up to me and make me their dinner.
Puff, puff, I am tiring.
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
Surround the stag and prepare to kill brother
and sister wolves.
FLEEING DEER
Please don’t kill me Mr. Wolf.
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
We will spare you today swift stag because
of our friend and fellow wolf, Billy would
be upset if we killed you. Thank the Gods
that you will live to see another day stag. Be
on your way now.
ARCTIC THE WHITE WOLF
Oh, Nomad you always ruin a good hunt. I
was very hungry, and the deer would have
tasted good.
34.
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
You will get plenty of deer next time Arctic.
Billy returns to sitting on the toilet in the bathroom at home.
FADE OUT.
SCENE TWO- EXT. DAY- RANDALL PARK 12 TRACK AND 12
FIELD.
Billy dreams of a time in the future.
BILLY ALTON
Wow, I am on the Freeport High school
track team running the mile.
COACH AUGUSTINE
Don’t forget Billy, set the pace from the
beginning to tire the other team out. Let’s
see you break a 4 minute mile. Good Luck.
BILLY ALTON
Thanks Coach A. I have my cinder track
shoes on today with three toe spikes to help
me with traction. Well, time to line up, Jim
stay behind me and we can sweep one, two
in the mile run.
JIM TUCKER (15) STUDENT
You got it Bill. I will stay right behind you.
There is the starting pistol. We are off. Stay
in front Billy.
BILLY ALTON
I will take the first turn. Now to stretch my
stride out.
JIM TUCKER
Right behind you Billy. Coming up to the
second lap. Time for you to pull away from
the pack.
35.
BILLY ALTON
Here is the corner of the third lap. I am
running smooth. Coach A. Is signaling that I
am doing well. Picking up the speed now to
finish under four minutes.
TRACK OFFICIAL (60)
Last lap boys.
Billy is coming down the last straight 100 yards of track to finish.
TRACK OFFICIAL (CONT’D)
3:30m, 3:40, coming down to the finish
3:52. Eight seconds under four minutes.
That is a NY State record. Congratulations.
COACH AUGUSTINE
Nice Job Billy, you and Jim scored first and
second on the Mile. That should help us win
the Track Meet against the town bordering
Freeport called Merrick.
Everyone is celebrating and slapping Billy on the back.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
ACT FOUR- THE BEAVER IN THE CARPE13 T 13
SCENE ONE- INT. DAY- ALTON FAMILY BATHROOM WITH
BILLY SITTING ON THE TOILET.
One day Billy is staring at the carpet hoping Leo will come back and free
him from the house. After staring at the carpet for five minutes a shape like a
beaver appears. Billy is shocked.
The outline of a beaver appears in the carpet and gets larger and larger until
it becomes a full sized beaver.
PODUS THE BEAVER
Hello young man. I am Podus and I am a
friend of Leo the Lion. How are you feeling
today?
36.
BILLY ALTON
I am bored frankly. Where is Leo or
Nomad?
PODUS THE BEAVER
They are not available today and I was
selected to visit you. I am going to take you
to a local pond where I built a dam to make
the water deeper. Come we will go through
the walls and fly to the pond. By piling up
branches, and mud in the stream I made the
river deeper and safer for my family to
protect them from predators.
Billy it takes hard work to make a dam and a
lodge. My family of beavers are all good
swimmers by using our powerful tails as a
paddle and a rudder we can pack the mud
and branches down. I can eat a tree down in
a matter of minutes, and then eat the
delicious lives on the top of the tree when it
falls into the water. You can learn from
beavers. We do not give up. You must learn
not to give up on getting well from polio.
Remember how hard a beaver works to add
twig after twig and pack mud in between to
make a good dam. In life you have to work
hard to succeed. Nothing is given to you for
free. Everything must be earned or it has no
value.
BILLY ALTON
I understand Podus. Who are your enemies?
PODUS THE BEAVER
We have many enemies starting with
humans who hunt us for our fur. The wolf
and the fox are also enemies, but they
cannot swim underwater to get into our
underwater entrance to our lodge. We are
safe in our lodge all winter with stored up
food to get through the long winter.
(MORE)
37.
Come and I will take you through the walls
of our lodge to have you meet Mrs. Neely
Beaver and little Alice and Henry Beaver.
So hello Alice and Henry. Do not be afraid
Billy is not going to hurt you. He is our
human friend. I have brought him here to
show him how to build a dam or something
equally great. Remember Billy hard work
pays off. We beavers work from sun up to
sun down everyday cutting logs and sticks
and dragging them to our lodge. This lodge
took all of our beaver family almost a full
month to complete.
FADE OUT.
14 14
SCENE TWO- INT. DAY-FLASHBACK-FREEPORT HIGH
SCHOOL COMPETITIVE POOL.
Billy is in a swim suit on a racing block ready to jump into the water and
race free-style down the pool two time for the 100 meter race.
FADE IN:
COACH TED RANDALL (50)
Don’t forget to get off the blocks fast Billy.
BILLY ALTON
Got it coach Randall.
SWIMMING OFFICIAL (40)
Take your position swimmers. Ready (bang
the gun goes off)
All the swimmers on the racing blocks leap off their blocks into the water
with a mighty splash.
BILLY ALTON
(Thinking to himself) I have to pace my
stroke so I don’t get tired before the end of
the 100 yard race. Time to flip at the end of
the pool.
PODUS THE BEAVER (CONT’D)
(MORE)
38.
That went smoothly, now to turn on the
speed to win this event. One, lap, two laps,
Three laps and I am headed for the finishing
line. Tap, I made it first place.
COACH TED RANDALL
Good job Billy. You just set another school
record in the 100 yard freestyle event. Get
out and dry off. We have the relays later.
BILLY ALTON
Thanks coach.
FADE OUT.
SCENE TWO- INT. DAY- 15 ALTON FAMILY HOUSE 15
A new polio serum is developed and the Doctor wants to try
It on BIlly.
FADE IN:
ELIZABETH ALTON
Billy we are going to the Doctor’s today. He
wants to try a new serum that had a small
sample of polio to help you fight the disease.
Get your crutches and let’s go.
BILLY ALTON
Does the doctor really have a possible cure
for polio after all these years Mom?
ELIZABETH ALTON
It is a needle that puts dead polio virus cells
in your body for your body immune system
to fight and defeat the polio.
BILLY ALTON
I would give anything to walk and run again
Mom. Let’s hope this works. I don’t ever
want to go back to the iron lung Mom.
BILLY ALTON (CONT’D)
39.
ELIZABETH ALTON
You will be fine Billy. Already your chest
muscles are back to normal and working
normally. Do you need help getting into the
car Billy?
Later Billy and him mom arrive at the Polio clinic at Mercy hospital.
Minutes later a new doctor comes out to meet ELizabeth and Billy.
DOCTOR SAMUEL L. STEINMEN MD
(50)
Hello Mrs. Alton and this must be BIlly. I
am replacing your regular doctor today
because I have special training in the use of
this new serum to treat polio. Billy you will
get four shots a month apart. Each shot has
just enough serum to help you develop antibodies
against the polio virus. Hopefully,
this new treatment will work and you will be
able to return to school.
For the next four months Billy went to Mercy hospital to get his serum shot.
After four months, Billy began to feel differently with more energy. He was
able to walk without crutches after six months.
A year later.
DOCTOR SAMUEL L. STEINMEN MD
(CONT’D)
Well Billy it has been a year since we began
the serum shots to combat polio and they
seemed to have worked. If you do a lot of
therapy with running, walking and
swimming, you muscles will start to return
to normal. Your leg muscles will stay thin
but that will help you run longer distances.
BILLY ALTON
I am so excited Doctor. I will work very
hard to try and get my muscles back to
normal.
40.
DOCTOR SAMUEL L. STEINMEN MD
I am happy for you too Billy. You are one of
50 successful cases we treated in the polio
pioneer serum. I will check in on you in a
year, but in the meantime, go and enjoy the
world without crutches.
ElIZABETH ALTON
Thank you so much Doctor Steinmen. We
prayed and prayed that Billy would recover
and thanks to you he is back to being
normal. God bless you Doctor.
DOCTOR SAMUEL L. STEINMEN MD
I will check back with you in a year Mrs.
Alton. Good bye, and have a great day
FADE OUT.
ACT FIVE- THE EAGLE IN THE CARPET 16 – 16
Billie struggles to enter the bathroom with his crutches and leg braces. He
sits down on the toilet hoping to see Leo, Nomad or Podus.
The image of an eagle forms in the carpet. It begins to get larger and larger
BILLY ALTON
Leo where are you?
The Shape of an Eagle forms in the carpet and it gets larger and larger until
it is a full sized Bald Eagle with white head feathers and brown feathers for
the rest of it’s body.
SKYE THE BALD EAGLE
Do not be afraid Billy. I am Skye the bald
eagle. Leo sends his regrets that he could not
join us today. Nomad, Podus, and Yogi send
their best wishes.
BILLY ALTON
Wow, you are a really big bird.
SKYE THE BALD EAGLE
I can soar over the land and see anything
with my 7x power eyes.
(MORE)
41.
When I go into a vertical dive I have an
outer eye lid that covers my eyes and
protects them from the wind. I bring the
power of long range vision. Come let us fly
to the Football team at the weekly Saturday
game in the stadium. Coach McCawell is
standing on the sidelines facing his
opponents the team from Merrick, Long
Island. The Freeport Red Devils are losing
14 to 3.
Billy and Skye are perched on the top of the stadium watching the game.
SKYE THE BALD EAGLE (CONT’D)
You see Billy with long range vision I can
see the Merrick Football coach talking to his
assistants and calling the plays. Walk down
to the Freeport coach and tell him what the
Merrick coach is calling for a play.
(CONT’D)
BILLY ALTON
Ok, but why will the Freeport coach listen to
me?
SKYE THE BALD EAGLE
Because when you tell him the first play he
will ignore you only to find out you were
right. When you tell him the second play he
tells the defense it will be a play that you
informed him it would be. Freeport will stop
the play. For the remainder of the game you
will read the lips of the Merrick coach using
the sight of an Eagle, and tell the Freeport
Football coach what the play is going to be.
He will defend against the play and Freeport
will score many touch downs afterward.
SKYE THE BALD EAGLE (CONT’D)
42.
BILLY ALTON
OK, Skye here goes nothing.
Billy climbs down from the top of the football stadium and walks out onto
the field.
BILLY ALTON (CONT’D)
Coach McKenzie Merrick is going to do a
run around the right corner.
COACH MCKENZIE, FOOTBALL HEAD
COACH
Who are you kid?
BILLY ALTON
My name is Billy Alton and I can read lips
even at 50 yards. The Merrick coach is
telling his offensive coordinator to call a
running play off tackle on the left side of the
line.
COACH MCKENZIE, FOOTBALL HEAD
COACH
Son of a Gun, they ran off tackle. What did
you say your name was son?
BILLY ALTON
My name is Billy Alton coach and I can help
you win the game by telling you what the
other coach is saying to his coaches.
COACH MCKENZIE, FOOTBALL HEAD
COACH
What play are they going to do now son?
BILLY ALTON
End run toward the goal posts coach.
43.
COACH MCKENZIE, FOOTBALL HEAD
COACH
Coach Ross tell the safety and the line
backers to watch the wide receivers
streaking toward the goals for a pass.
COACH ROSS, DEFENSIVE COACH
Signal, pass, cover the wide receivers.
COACH MCKENZIE, FOOTBALL HEAD
COACH
Interception, way to go coach Ross. They
got right in front of the Merrick wide
receivers. What a play. Thanks kid. You can
stay there for the rest of the game.
FADE OUT.
17 17
ACT SIX- A MIRACLE OCCURS AND BILLY RECOVERS FROM
POLIO
SCENE 1- DOCTOR WILLIAMS OFFICE 18 IN FREEPORT, N.Y. 18
Billy gets good news from the Doctor. His polio is cured and with
therapy he may walk again and maybe even run.
DOCTOR SAMUEL L. STEINMEN MD
Well young man, you are cured of polio and
you no longer need to wear leg braces. The
new serum worked. Thank God for that. I
am so happy for your son Mrs. Alton and
Mr. Alton.
ELIZABETH ALTON
Thank God my prayers are answered. The
nightmare is over.
ROBERT ALTON
Thank God indeed. No more medical bills
finally.
44.
BILLY ALTON
Does this mean I can return to school
Doctor?
DOCTOR SAMUEL L. STEINMEN MD
Yes, Billy you are free to return to school. I
will give your parents a medical release
stating you are cured of polio and are not
infectious. This is a great day for us all.
Later that day.
BILLY ALTON
I am free. Free to walk in the park. Free to
talk to the animals, squirrels, beavers and
the birds, even the animals in the wild, the
eagle, the wolf, the Lion, the bear, all my
animal friends. I am throwing my crutches
away in this dumpster. Go bye crutches.
POSSUM
(Hanging upside down in a tree nearby)
Congratulations human.
LEO THE LION
(Fading out of a cloud) You did it little one.
Remember the lessons you learned and go
and live life to the fullest.
NOMAD THE GREY WOLF
Run with the pack Billy. Show everyone that
you are the best runner in New York state.
PODUS THE BEAVER
(From a pond nearby) Swim strong Billy.
You can be the best, just work hard like us
beavers.
SKYE THE BALD EAGLE
(High overhead, soaring through the air)
Good job Billy, keep your eyes open. Take
charge of your life and the years you missed.
POSTNOTE: Billy goes on in high school to become the State champion
45.
in Track and Field with the fastest Mile run in New York state. He also
becomes a great freestyle swimmer and captain of the swimming team. The
Freeport football team becomes undefeated during the 1955 season with
Billy reading the lips of the opposing coaches as they call their plays.
19 The END. 19
46.