Chapter Text
EXT. FISHTOWN MARKET - EARLY MORNING
A refrigerated box truck pulls into the rear parking lot of Fishtown Market. The parking lot entrance is cut off from the unloading dock by two queues of predators, one mostly feline, the other mostly not, who wait behind two big rigs.
The box truck parks and GORDIE HUDSON, male polar bear fishmonger, gets out and cuts through the line to the rear entrance of the market, where SETH WALLOWITZ, the pig health inspector, waits holding a clipboard.
HUDSON
How am I supposed to unload with all these mammals standing around?
WALLOWITZ
No unloading. The market's closed. A couple more customers got sick yesterday.
HUDSON
I've got a truck full of salmon and trout that's gonna go bad. Nobody thought to tell the merchants?
WALLOWITZ
Those cops had a plan to stake out the docks. They needed everyone to think the market would be open like normal. Mrs. Cottonworth was going to reimburse all of you, but then they wound up arresting her. You could ask her son, but he's going to be busy for a while.
FRANK COTTONWORTH stands on the tailgate of one of the trucks with some of his employees, helping to distribute boxes of vegetarian predator food.
FRANK
I see some felines in the non-feline queue. We have special foods for your palate and dietary needs in the truck to my right. Please line up behind that truck.
Occupants of both queues start to rabble, including a FEMALE LYNX in the non-feline queue and a MALE SNOW LEOPARD near the front of the feline queue.
FEMALE LYNX
I've been waiting in this line for twenty minutes!
MALE SNOW LEOPARD
My wife's a wolf! Do I have to wait twice?
FRANK
I apologize, but different products come from different warehouses and we didn't have time to collate them.
The leopard collects his own food, then returns to the back of the non-feline queue. The Bear Fishmonger walks up to him.
HUDSON
(whispered)
I have a truck full of real food. I'm gonna set up down the road where the pig can't see. Pass it around, but be cool.
The leopard nods. The bear shakes his head, feigning disgust, as he returns to his truck, starts it up, and drives away.
The leopard nudges the bear in front of him, whispers to him, then abandons the line for the street. Word spreads, and a large contingent of predators rush down the street. The health inspector notices.
EXT. TUNDRATOWN STREET - MOMENTS LATER
The fishmonger stands in the back of his truck, trading plastic-wrapped whole fish for pawfuls of cash. He turns to grab more fish, and when he turns back the health inspector is at the front of the line.
WALLOWITZ
You didn't tell me you had a food truck permit now.
HUDSON
I'm just giving these mammals what they want.
WALLOWITZ
Listen, we know what made everyone sick. There's a couple of crews
in there right now with pressure washers. As soon as it's safe,
you can set up your stall like usual.
(turns to crowd)
I just need you to be patient.
FEMALE LYNX
Patience means my family goes hungry!
MALE SNOW LEOPARD
And that rabbit poisoned a bunch of us! You think we're going to eat her store brand food?
The crowd closes in on the inspector, who holds up his clipboard as a shield.
HUDSON
I think they're well aware of the risks. Don't you have somewhere with a history of violations you should be keeping an eye on?
The health inspector turns back to the fishmonger, livid. Before he can say a word, one of the customers shoves him to the ground. He crawls between their legs as they resume shopping and flees toward Fishtown Market.
End of cold open
Notes:
As I was preparing to post this episode, it occurred to me that the Snow Leopard could have got two feline portions and traded one to the Lynx for a canine portion for his wife and saved them both a bunch of time, but if it took me 8 years to realize that then I don't feel bad that they didn't come up with it on the spot.
Chapter 2: Act One
Chapter Text
INT. JUDY AND NICK'S APARTMENT, JUDY'S BEDROOM - MORNING
JUDY HOPPS sleeps peacefully in her bed. From the floor below, the WHACK-WHACK-WHACK of hammering in a nail. Judy's eyes open. The high mechanical SQUEAL of an electric drill. Judy plugs her ears with her pillow. The loud BUZZ of a circular saw.
INT. JUDY AND NICK'S APARTMENT, LIVING AREA - MOMENTS LATER
Judy, wearing her flannel pajamas, walks through the door from her antechamber and sees NICK WILDE headfirst up to his waist in the washing machine, naked. His tail covers his shame. Judy WHIRLS in disgust.
JUDY
Aw, Nick!
NICK
(muffled)
Good morning. You said you were going to sleep in, so I thought the crack of dawn would be a good time to do all of my laundry.
Judy backs toward the bathroom, using her paws as blinders.
JUDY
Well I thought it would take our landlord longer to find a new contractor. Didn't we talk about this?
NICK
Yeah, underwear or pajamas or something. I had a spiel about why I shouldn't have to buy those, but that won't be real convincing now, will it?
JUDY
No, you did a great job proving my point.
NICK
Do you want to hide in your room until I'm decent again?
JUDY
I can't sleep through this racket, so how about I take a nice long shower--no, a bath! A memory-scrubbing bath, while you look up where I can get my phone's screen fixed. I can't do it myself.
NICK
Because you need your phone fixed, got it.
JUDY
And ask the landlord whether we're wired for cable or satellite.
NICK
I'm supposed to watch you for concussion symptoms, right? Leave the door unlocked in case you pass out.
JUDY
Fine.
She reaches the bathroom and closes the door, then opens it again.
JUDY (CONT'D)
But if you come in here and I'm not--ugh!
She slams the door again.
NICK
You can't blame me for that one.
INT. JUDY AND NICK'S APARTMENT, BATHROOM - MORNING (LATER)
Judy relaxes in the bathtub with her eyes closed. Suds cover the surface of the water, which is only a third of the way to the top, but that's enough to cover her up to her neck. The construction noise continues. A KNOCK on the door.
NICK (O.S.)
Carrots! You didn't pass out and drown, did you?
JUDY
Stay out.
NICK (O.S.)
I know. My clothes are dry.
INT. JUDY AND NICK'S APARTMENT, LIVING AREA - MOMENTS LATER
Judy emerges from the bathroom wrapped neck to toe in her towel and carrying her pajamas under one arm and heads for her antechamber. Nick sits at the table wearing his green shirt and tie outfit. He has a shaved rectangle on his left arm from the IV he had the night before. There are two bowls; he eats oatmeal from one of them.
NICK
The previous tenants had cable. The wiring comes up the outside so it should've survived the fire. If we don't want to wait for a pro, we can get a self-install kit.
JUDY
If we're going out anyways, we might as well.
NICK
If you got the protection plan on your phone, there's a company store downtown. Otherwise I know a cheap mom and pop place that fixes them.
She reaches her antechamber and closes the door.
JUDY (O.S.)
I have a lot of young siblings. You better believe I got the warranty.
Nick picks up the second bowl and approaches Judy's antechamber door.
NICK
And while we're downtown I can, ugh, do my clothes shopping.
JUDY (O.S.)
It won't be so bad. And we can stop off at a church at some point. We've worked every Sunday since you joined the force. You should take in a mass when you have the chance.
NICK
I've never been to church in my life.
JUDY (O.S.)
Really? You're always saying "God" this or "Hallelujah" that.
NICK
Just a speech habit I picked up. Plus all the good oaths are religious. We can hit up a rabbit church for you, though.
JUDY (O.S.)
Rabbits don't have churches, or clergy, or scheduled services. We had to adapt to solve the "Sunday Brunch" problem.
Nick takes a moment to REALIZE who was on the brunch buffet.
NICK
Oh! Ugh.
JUDY (O.S.)
We hold an ad hoc thing whenever a crowd gathers.
Judy exits her antechamber wearing stretch pants and a t-shirt.
JUDY (CONT'D)
But what we do have is pacifism, which doesn't gel with being a cop, so I'm not really active either.
Nick offers the bowl to Judy.
NICK
Do you want some oatmeal with blueberries in it?
JUDY
That's about three times as much as I can eat.
NICK
I made it for myself, but I didn't have the stomach for it.
JUDY
Because blueberries were the last thing you ate before you got sick?
NICK
Seems like it.
JUDY
That's so unfair. Cottonworth wanted predators to stop eating fish, and instead she keeps you from eating your favorite plant.
NICK
Yeah, story of my life.
EXT. DOWNTOWN ZOOTOPIA - DAY
Judy and Nick exit the Carrot Store, an edifice of both regular and frosted glass.
JUDY
I have a phone again!
Judy raises her arms to hold her phone aloft, but it slips out of her grip and flies into the air. She juggles it a few times when it comes down, then catches it with both paws inches from the ground.
NICK
You want to go back in and buy a bumper case? Or can we go pick up my flannel prison?
He points down the street with a thumb. They start walking in that direction as she holds her phone at arm's length for a selfie of them together.
JUDY
Why is this a big deal? Did you sleep naked under your bridge? How did you never get arrested?
She snaps the photo.
NICK
Aren't you supposed to ask permission before taking someone's picture?
She fiddles with her phone while still walking.
JUDY
Sorry, no expectation of privacy on a public street.
NICK
I had plenty of privacy under my bridge. Nobody ever came down that road except to see me. Plus I had a box.
Judy shows him the picture: their heads lined up vertically, ears at the same angle, with a sepia filter applied.
NICK (CONT'D)
I never got the whole selfie thing.
JUDY
It means a picture of yourself.
NICK
I mean I never got why I would take one.
JUDY
Because you want a picture of yourself?
Nick's phone plays a notification chime in his pocket.
JUDY (CONT'D)
Just tagged you in that, with the caption, "Running sick day errands with my partner, hashtag concussion protocol, hashtag poisoning victim."
NICK
Maybe because it used to be a bad idea to advertise my location.
JUDY
Or because you didn't have a smart phone until the department issued you one?
NICK
It's hard to pass a credit check when you've never had a real job and your address is a bridge.
Both of their phones play a notification chime.
JUDY
See, we already have a response.
Judy checks the notification. It's a comment from POLICE CHIEF BOGO.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO (V.O.)
If you're healthy enough to run errands, you'd better be at work tomorrow. We're seriously short-hoofed today.
JUDY
Oh right, he follows his officers on everything.
NICK
I do love being instantly vindicated.
JUDY
Think of it this way: when you were growing up, did you ever see foxes in commercials?
NICK
Not that I remember.
JUDY
How about movies or TV?
NICK
A few times.
JUDY
But always the villain, right?
NICK
You'd think just once it would be a red herring.
JUDY
Obviously in Bunnyburrow the local ads had rabbits, but never the big name stuff. And in movies we were always the defenseless townsfolk the Aurochs-boys had to rescue. Usually from the foxes.
NICK
I think we saw the same movies.
JUDY
And how many foxes do you see in ads now?
NICK
Just one, but it's me.
He points up at a ZPD recruiting billboard featuring the two of them standing back to back in uniform with arms folded.
JUDY
That probably means a lot to any kits who see it. But what about the ones who live in other towns?
NICK
I don't think you want to turn me into a role model.
JUDY
It's too late to stop that. And your story gets told by other species, just like mine does. Or we can tell our own stories, and the bunnies and foxes who want to find them can use taxonomy search.
Their notification chimes play.
JUDY (CONT'D)
Looks like my dad commented.
Judy's phone screen shows a comment from STU HOPPS.
STU (V.O.)
Concussion? Poisoning? Sick day? What happened? Are you okay?
JUDY
Yeah, I guess I should have told them first.
NICK
You have an excuse.
Their notification chimes play again.
JUDY
And my mom reshared the photo.
Judy's screen shows her photo with a caption from BONNIE HOPPS.
BONNIE (V.O.)
My daughter the cop out in the big city with my possible future son in law. Hashtag fingers crossed.
NICK
Please stop, one fox can only be so right.
JUDY
I'd better reply to that before the chief sees it.
NICK
That may have to wait. We're at the store.
Judy looks up from her phone. A line of PROTESTERS of various species of predators, including a BADGER, WOLF, FERRET, and BEAR, plus the red panda IMPOSTOR poorly disguised as a deer, picket a store front. Some carry signs like, "Predators need to eat too," or, "Don't poison predators." Judy and Nick continue toward the store.
JUDY
Is this Cottonworth's?
NICK
Yeah, the flagship store.
JUDY
After yesterday?
NICK
They sell other clothes I like. I figured this was my best chance of finding something tolerable. Plus they have these really good fruit snacks... that have blueberries in them. Maybe they'll be okay because they're not blueberry-shaped.
JUDY
I'm getting worried about your diet. Do we need to try other fruits? I can keep an eye out for saskatoons.
NICK
Do saskatoons look exactly like blueberries?
JUDY
Yeah.
NICK
Were you going to trick me into eating blueberries by telling me they were saskatoons?
JUDY
Yeah.
NICK
I appreciate the effort, but you'll have to be less transparent than that.
The badger protester stops them.
BADGER PROTESTER
Hi folks. Legally we can't stop you from going into this store, but we can delay you by-- Nick?
NICK
Oh, hey, long time no see.
BADGER PROTESTER
I'm surprised you're here. Unless it's for your, uh...
He gestures to Judy.
JUDY
Roommate.
BADGER PROTESTER
I bet there's a story behind that. Anyways, you should know what the owner of this chain has been up to in case it makes you not want to shop here.
NICK
I think we know better than you what the owner has been up to.
Judy notices the impostor.
JUDY
Would you excuse me for a moment?
She walks toward him.
BADGER PROTESTER
Do you think maybe you don't want to support a store whose owner poisoned dozens of predators?
NICK
I'm angry with the owner, but her son the C-E-O banned her from acting as an agent of the company, and he's giving away free food to bridge the gap until the fish market can re-open. I don't have a problem with supporting him.
Judy reaches the impostor.
JUDY
You're already a predator. Wearing that costume makes it look less appropriate for you to protest here. What's the deal?
BADGER PROTESTER
Just because he's dealing with the aftermath well doesn't mean we're not upset that the poisoning happened, or that we shouldn't show it.
The impostor SHRUGS and keeps picketing. Judy shakes her head and walks back toward Nick.
NICK
The law is upset too. That's why Mrs. Cottonworth is in jail, or at least custody in a hospital. But if you let them see that they get to you, they'll know how to get to you next time.
BADGER PROTESTER
I don't believe most prey want to antagonize us. They just don't understand what our lives are like. How will they know if we don't tell them?
NICK
If they think we're dangerous, raising our voices convinces them they're right. What was your time limit for holding us up?
BADGER PROTESTER
If you still want to go in, you're free to.
NICK
I'll be honest, I'm not sure I could live without Cottonworth's, and that's not an exaggeration.
He and Judy walk past the line, then he turns.
NICK (CONT'D)
You never noticed how I always had a bag lunch?
BADGER PROTESTER
I think we had different lunch periods.
NICK
Oh yeah. Well, there's a reason the other kids said I wasn't a real predator.
They keep walking.
JUDY
School chum?
NICK
"Chum" is too strong. Why were you giving that deer a hard time? I disagree with the protest, but it's nice to have solidarity.
JUDY
You're kidding, right? It was a red panda in a costume.
NICK
Are hallucinations one of the symptoms I need to watch you for?
JUDY
Look for yourself, he's right--
She looks back. The impostor has fled.
JUDY (CONT'D)
Huh. Definitely a costume.
INT. COTTONWORTH'S FLAGSHIP STORE - MINUTES LATER
Judy flips through a rack of utilitarian dresses. Nick FLOPS a green cotton two-piece pajama set on a hanger onto the rack from the other side of the aisle.
NICK
Pajamas.
JUDY
They look nice.
He holds up a six pack of boxer briefs.
NICK
And underwear.
JUDY
I don't care how those look.
NICK
Is there anything else about me you want to change?
JUDY
I'm not trying to change who you are. I just want you to wear clothes on top of who you are.
NICK
I'm comfortable in my own pelt. Is that so wrong?
JUDY
No, as long as I don't have to see it. Is there anything I do that you don't like?
NICK
You lived with hundreds of siblings. I'm sure all your sharp corners are rounded off.
The sound of SHOUTING from outside. The bear, wolf, and ferret protesters enter, then shove the door closed.
WOLF PROTESTOR
Lock that door, and make sure nobody leaves.
BEAR PROTESTOR
Right.
The bear uses his foot to push the BOLT on the door through the receiver on the floor.
The rabbit CASHIER at the lone open till locks her cash drawer and flees.
WOLF PROTESTOR
We're going to the office.
The wolf puts a paw on the ferret's back and guides him down one of the aisles toward the back of the store.
Nick looks down at Judy from over the aisle wall. They NOD: it's go time.
End of act one
Chapter 3: Act Two
Chapter Text
INT. COTTONWORTH'S FLAGSHIP STORE - DAY
Judy and Nick CREEP down adjacent aisles of the store until they reach the end near the front. The Bear Protester stands guard at the front door.
NICK
(whispers)
What do you think? Robbery? Hostages for profit?
JUDY
(whispers)
Recognition for a cause? Wait, what does it matter? Your whole greed thing was about solving crimes. This isn't a whodunnit. We can see who's doing it.
NICK
Fine. What are you like for fighting strength? I'd say I'm about sixty percent. Still a little weak from the anemia.
JUDY
I think eighty. Hip's a bit sore from the fall. Not sure I have my usual vertical. How did you beat the rhino at the academy?
NICK
I insulted his life choices until he charged me. I dodged; he knocked himself out on the turnbuckle. You?
JUDY
Triangle jump off the ropes and kicked his fist into his face.
NICK
That sounds so much cooler.
JUDY
You like two on one against the bear, or even strength on the wolf and ferret?
NICK
It's a big one, and if he calls for help it's two on three.
JUDY
Yeah, we'll have better control of the space in the office.
They run to the back of the store, then slink along the back wall. They SHUSH the STORE MANAGER (a koala) and employees near the office, then listen near the open door.
FERRET PROTESTER (O.S.)
It won't come out.
WOLF PROTESTOR (O.S.)
Keep trying.
Nick smirks, gloatingly.
FERRET PROTESTER (O.S.)
Why don't they have a faucet? Everything that comes out of one eye is just going in the other.
WOLF PROTESTOR (O.S.)
It has to be better than nothing.
Nick and Judy look at each other in confusion.
FEMALE LOUDSPEAKER VOICE (O.S.)
Attention hostage takers: We have the building surrounded.
FERRET PROTESTER (O.S.)
What does she mean by "hostage takers"?
Nick steps around Judy into the door. The ferret is using an eye wash bottle.
NICK
She means you guys, bursting in here and not letting anyone leave.
Judy steps into the doorway.
JUDY
So much for the element of surprise.
WOLF PROTESTOR
Nobody's a hostage. There was a cloud of tear gas outside. We didn't want anyone to wander into it by accident.
FERRET PROTESTER
Is this distilled water, or can I refill it from a tap?
JUDY
What were you doing when the police arrived?
WOLF PROTESTOR
What's it to you?
NICK
We're off-duty cops. If you didn't do anything wrong, we'll help you straighten this out.
WOLF PROTESTOR
Can we un-blind him first?
FERRET PROTESTER
The eye wash isn't helping. Maybe I just have to wait for it to wear off.
WOLF PROTESTOR
Don't rub them. You'll get it on your paws and spread it everywhere.
Judy jogs back to the store manager.
JUDY
Do you have an external P-A system here?
STORE MANAGER
No, just internal.
Judy turns back to Nick.
JUDY
Let's go up front and see who's in charge. I'm sure we can clear up the misunderstanding.
NICK
Someone interested in listening probably wouldn't jump straight to tear gas.
JUDY
Do you have an alternative?
NICK
No, this seems like bad options all around.
He turns to the wolf and ferret.
NICK (CONT'D)
But the longer you stay in here, the worse it looks. We have to tell them something before they storm the doors.
WOLF PROTESTOR
But we didn't do anything.
FERRET PROTESTER
Everything's still blurry. Somebody guide me.
The wolf guides the ferret through an aisle toward the front with Judy and Nick leading the way and the manager bringing up the rear. Nick's phone starts playing a notification noise repeatedly.
NICK
What's going on?
JUDY
You might want to turn off notifications for likes. I think our photo just hit my siblings and niblings.
Nick fiddles with his phone for a moment.
At the front door, several customers (almost exclusively prey species) are huddled together, including a MOTHER BEAR and her TWO CUBS, the female DEVOUT ANTELOPE, and a male IBEX CUSTOMER.
BEAR PROTESTOR
I'm not saying you can't go outside. I'm saying it's a bad idea. That isn't smoke, it's tear gas.
JUDY
You're sure none of you did anything threatening? I'm not saying this is proportionate, but I have to know what they're going to say you did.
WOLF PROTESTOR
There was a shouting match with one of the customers who said we were "of the devil" but it's not like we attacked her.
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
Every religion agrees that the devil corrupted prey to make predators.
FERRET PROTESTER
From the sound of it, that's her.
BEAR PROTESTOR
Not Bruinism.
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
What's that?
BEAR PROTESTOR
Only the second largest mammal religious group?
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
Never heard of it.
WOLF PROTESTOR
I can't believe we're looking at jail time because of this idiot.
Nick WHIRLS on him.
NICK
Hey! If you wanted to lose my sympathy, that's a great way to do it. Being devout doesn't make her stupid.
BEAR PROTESTOR
Yeah dude, not cool. That's how you get reborn lower on the food chain, and the prey are tied with us at the top now, so we're talking mollusks.
He mimes two level lines with his paws.
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
I thought Rabbitism was second largest.
IBEX CUSTOMER
It splintered off the Church of Prey, so they get lumped together.
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
Oh, so it's like a heresy.
IBEX CUSTOMER
I think there's something wrong with your preacher.
NICK
Hey! Give it a rest!
MOTHER BEAR
Are you calling me and my cubs devil-spawn?
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
I didn't mean it as a value judgment.
FERRET PROTESTER
I'm Preyist too, and you forgot the part where predators rejected the devil's influence. Unless you're orthodox?
IBEX CUSTOMER
So am I, and I make it through the day without calling anyone "devil spawn".
NICK
You're all piling on, and you're going to stop right now!
(to wolf)
And you're going to apologize.
WOLF PROTESTOR
(insincerely)
I'm sorry.
NICK
It's not a real apology if you don't say what you did.
WOLF PROTESTOR
(to antelope)
I'm sorry I called you stupid. Obviously I don't know how smart you are, and I'm scared and frustrated.
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
I forgive you.
NICK
Good. Now since nobody wanted anyone to get poisoned, nobody wants a snoot full of tear gas, and nobody is anybody else's hostage, we're all on the same team, right?
MOTHER BEAR
Yeah.
FERRET PROTESTER
Of course.
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
Sure.
IBEX CUSTOMER
Okay.
NICK
All right.
He walks back to Judy.
JUDY
(sotto voce)
I thought you didn't go to church.
NICK
(sotto voce)
Neither did my mom, but she prayed every night. Where do you think I picked up the habit?
BEAR PROTESTOR
It looks like the tear gas is clearing up, but things aren't much better out there.
Judy and Nick rush to the door. Several rhino cops in riot gear stand outside. Police cars, personnel carriers, and news vans line the road. Judy spots FRANCINE TRUNKABY (the loudspeaker voice), an elephant cop, holding a megaphone with her trunk.
JUDY
Ugh, Francine.
She gets out her phone and starts looking up a number.
NICK
Why "ugh"?
JUDY
Have you ever worked with Trunkaby?
NICK
Nope, I've only worked with you.
JUDY
Let's just say we do not see eye to eye politically.
She speed-dials a number and it starts ringing.
JUDY (CONT'D)
No height joke?
NICK
From the second shortest cop on the force?
JUDY
Touché.
Nick crouches down to hear the other side of the call.
EXT. COTTONWORTH'S FLAGSHIP STORE - CONTINUOUS
Trunkaby's phone rings. She tucks the megaphone in her amrpit, pulls the phone out of a pocket with her trunk, ROLLS HER EYES at who it is, and answers.
TRUNKABY
Bad time for a chat, teensy.
INTERCUT BETWEEN TRUNKABY AND JUDY
JUDY
Francine! Funny coincidence. I'm inside Cottonworth's, and you've kind of made a mess of things. Like I notice you brought out the riot gear, and there's no riot.
TRUNKABY
Not anymore.
JUDY
No, not ever. You overreacted to a peaceful protest.
TRUNKABY
Maybe that's what it looked like to you, but I have a pretty good idea what a riot looks like after this morning, and I have to react to the crime scene as I see it.
JUDY
This isn't a crime scene.
TRUNKABY
So you went and got yourself taken hostage, huh? Don't worry, the real cops will rescue you.
JUDY
I'm not a hostage. Nobody's a hostage. Barging in here might get someone innocent hurt.
TRUNKABY
They can hear you, can't they? Just give me the duress code word.
JUDY
I'm not under duress.
TRUNKABY
Of course you can't say it where they can hear. A code word would be suspicious.
JUDY
You know, at some point we're going to have to come up with a non-duress code word, and then publicize that we have both kinds so no matter the situation someone always says some code word and it's not weird. In the meantime--
TRUNKABY
If you're worried about the hostages getting hurt, maybe find a way to keep them away from the door. I'll give you five minutes.
JUDY
There are no hostages!
She hangs up, then STOMPS her foot angrily.
JUDY (CONT'D)
Why does it feel like I just made things worse?
NICK
This is why I don't trust cops. Except you, Carrots.
JUDY
And yourself?
NICK
Yeah right, like I've earned that.
BEAR PROTESTOR
What's going on?
JUDY
She gave me five minutes to get the hostages away from the door so they don't get hurt when the rhinos come charging in.
WOLF PROTESTOR
Nobody's a hostage.
JUDY
I know.
STORE MANAGER
You can't just let them smash my storefront.
JUDY
I know.
MOTHER BEAR
I can't risk my cubs getting hurt over cheap toys and fruit snacks.
JUDY
(stomps)
I know!
NICK
The blueberry ones?
MOTHER BEAR
My boys like blackberry.
NICK
I might have to try those.
MOTHER BEAR
(to manager)
I'm sorry to whoever has to restock my basket, but we have to leave before it gets dangerous.
JUDY
If you leave, they might think you escaped and get worried about the rest of the... occupants.
MOTHER BEAR
So we can't leave?
WOLF PROTESTOR
Now who's got hostages?
JUDY
As a team, we're going to collectively avoid any surprises.
She dials her phone again.
JUDY (CONT'D)
(to phone)
It's me again. Some of the customers--and staff?--
She looks at the store manager, who shakes his head.
JUDY (CONT'D)
--just some of the customers would like to leave the store, but we're all a little concerned about the police presence.
TRUNKABY (V.O.)
You mean they want to release some of the hostages as a goodwill gesture?
JUDY
That is not what I said.
TRUNKABY (V.O.)
However they're making you phrase it, send them out single file, hooves and paws in the air. No sudden moves or funny business.
Judy hangs up and looks at the customers.
JUDY
Who else is leaving?
IBEX CUSTOMER
I'm out.
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
I just wanted some cheap skirts for a clothes drive.
NICK
You could always come back once the cops are gone.
Most of the customers raise their arms. The bear protester unlocks the door. A large group of the customers file out with both arms raised, followed by the ibex, the mother bear, her two cubs, the antelope, and more customers.
MOTHER BEAR
Stay behind mama, okay boys?
EXT. ADJACENT BUILDING ROOFTOP - CONTINUOUS
OFFICER DELGATO, a lion, looks through the scope of a pneumatic rifle at the customers filing out of the store. At the sight of the mother bear, he gets out his radio.
DELGATO
Was the bear hostage taker a he or a she?
EXT. COTTONWORTH'S FLAGSHIP STORE - CONTINUOUS
Trunkaby holds a police radio with her trunk and watches the customers exit. The cubs are obscured by their mother.
TRUNKABY
Wasn't obvious. You think one of the perps changed clothes and is trying to sneak out?
EXT. ADJACENT BUILDING ROOFTOP - CONTINUOUS
Delgato keeps his scope trained on the mother.
DELGATO
I'll keep an eye on her.
EXT. COTTONWORTH'S FLAGSHIP STORE - CONTINUOUS
The line of customers marches through the abandoned signs from the protest. The mother bear steps on a sign, which SLIDES out from under her feet. She stumbles forward, catching herself on the Ibex's shoulders. A loud PHOOM, then a TRANQUILIZER DART lodges in her neck.
End of act two
Chapter 4: Act Three
Chapter Text
EXT. COTTONWORTH'S FLAGSHIP STORE - DAY
The mother bear reaches toward the tranquilizer dart in her neck, then collapses. The ibex customer dives to avoid being trapped under her.
CUB 1
Mama?
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
Come on, boys. Back inside where it's safe.
The antelope picks up the two cubs under her arms and carries them back to the store.
CUB 2
Mama!
INT. COTTONWORTH'S FLAGSHIP STORE - CONTINUOUS
Judy STORMS out the door. Nick futilely reaches out an arm to stop her.
NICK
Carrots!
He holds the door open to let the antelope in, along with some of the other customers who were behind her in the line.
EXT. COTTONWORTH'S FLAGSHIP STORE - CONTINUOUS
Judy SPRINTS toward Trunkaby as the customers still outside scatter and are stopped by the rhinos in riot gear.
JUDY
Trunkaby!
TRUNKABY
Hey short stack, you escaped!
JUDY
There was nothing to escape! The only threat to anyone here has been you, and you just tranqed a mother in front of her cubs for no reason!
A news crew hears the shouting and scrambles to get Judy and Trunkaby on camera.
TRUNKABY
An officer saw what might have been a perp attacking a hostage. I trust his judgment.
JUDY
She slipped on a sign!
TRUNKABY
The worst case was a civilian suffering grievous harm at the paws of a bear. Someone taking a four hour nap is a small price to pay to avoid that.
The camera crew sets up next to Judy with their camera pointed at a steep angle to get Trunkaby in the shot. Judy GLOWERS at them.
JUDY
The chief is going to hear about this.
TRUNKABY
Go ahead! He knows the protocol as well as we do.
Judy STORMS away as she pulls her phone out. The camera crew tries to follow her, and she DASHES across the street while dialing her phone.
INT. ZOOTOPIA P.D., CHIEF BOGO'S OFFICE - DAY
Chief Bogo picks up his ringing phone, ROLLS HIS EYES, and answers.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Hopps, I know that being healthy enough for errands isn't the same--
INTERCUT BETWEEN JUDY AND BOGO
JUDY
Do you have any idea what Trunkaby has been doing?
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Dealing with that riot at the Cottonworth's downtown.
JUDY
Why does everyone keep calling it a riot? It was a peaceful protest and she turned it into a disaster!
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
The report we got said it stopped being peaceful. I sent one of my most experienced officers--a lot more experienced than you. What do you want me to do, take over without being at the scene?
JUDY
Whatever it takes to stop her from making more mistakes.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
We review the response after the fact so we can learn from any mistakes and keep from making them again.
JUDY
And what if she makes a mistake we can't take back?
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
I worry about that every day about every one of my officers, even you. The only way I deal with it is to assume all of you will follow your training until I see proof that you haven't. How did you even get involved in this? You weren't freelancing, were you?
JUDY
Nick and I were inside the store.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
The thing that'll cause a mistake we can't take back is two uncoordinated teams trying to manage the same incident. Fall in behind Trunkaby or stay out of it.
JUDY
Yes, sir.
She hangs up, STOMPS THREE TIMES, collects herself, then recrosses the street.
INT. COTTONWORTH'S FLAGSHIP STORE - MOMENTS LATER
Nick talks on his phone while the antelope tries to soothe the crying bear cubs. The bear, wolf, and ferret protesters slump against the wall; the ferret rubs his eyes occasionally.
CUB 1
Mama!
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
It's okay, your mama's just taking a nap. She'll wake up in a little while.
NICK
(on phone)
I'll talk to them.
He hangs up and walks over to the protesters.
NICK (CONT'D)
I wanted the idealistic way to work, but I think we all knew from the start that there was only one way this could end. You have to turn yourselves in.
WOLF PROTESTOR
For what? We didn't do anything wrong.
NICK
It doesn't matter. If someone gets hurt or worse because you held out for a better ending, could you live with yourselves?
FERRET PROTESTER
It isn't fair.
NICK
Story of my life. I can't speak for my partner, but I'll testify on your behalf if it comes to that. The word of a cop should carry a lot of weight. Issue a summons if you have to. Officer Nicholas Piberius Wilde, badge number two-four-oh-one-oh.
BEAR PROTESTOR
You said you don't trust cops. Now you want us to?
Nick puts his paw over his heart.
NICK
Fine, then. On my honor as a fox. Maybe that means less than nothing to you, but it's all I have.
The ferret stands up.
FERRET PROTESTER
Paws up, right? Somebody aim me.
The other two stand up.
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
I'm not the one who called the police, but if someone did because they heard us yelling, then I'm sorry for what I said. I can testify too.
WOLF PROTESTOR
I appreciate that.
The ferret and wolf walk out the door with their paws up. The bear stops with his paw on the door.
BEAR PROTESTOR
What kind of name is Piberius?
NICK
You'd have to ask my mom. I can't; she doesn't like me.
He exits and raises his paws.
EXT. COTTONWORTH'S FLAGSHIP STORE - CONTINUOUS
OFFICER SNARLOV, a polar bear, intercepts the protesters calmly and cuffs each of them, then gets muzzles from his belt. Nick opens the door of the store.
NICK
Hey Snarloff, do you have to do the muzzles?
SNARLOV
Standard procedure, Nick.
NICK
It's a humiliating procedure. They came out peacefully. Give 'em a break.
Snarlov returns the muzzles to his belt and leads the protesters toward a paddy wagon. Nearby, the news crew interviews the ibex customer.
IBEX CUSTOMER
This whole thing seemed like a police overreaction. I was afraid they'd do something drastic.
INT. COTTONWORTH'S FLAGSHIP STORE - CONTINUOUS
Nick returns from the door and approaches the antelope.
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
I don't think I'm a bad mammal. I tithe, I donate, I volunteer.
NICK
You just don't know any predators.
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
There aren't any in my congregation.
NICK
Do you think it's because of the "devil" thing?
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
I'll try to broaden my horizons. In the meantime, someone should stay with these two until the tranquilizer wears off, or their father gets here.
NICK
Are you volunteering?
DEVOUT ANTELOPE
Nobody deserves to see something like that happen to their mother. Not even devil spawn.
Nick FACEPALMS. She stands up.
DEVOUT ANTELOPE (CONT'D)
Come along, boys. Let's find out where your mama is.
STORE MANAGER
Ma'am.
She turns. The store manager is holding out a box of blackberry fruit snacks.
STORE MANAGER (CONT'D)
For the cubs. On the house.
She takes the box and guides the cubs out the door as Judy enters.
NICK
I didn't even get to rub my vegetarianism in her face.
JUDY
So much for us getting a day off.
NICK
We still have a few hours left, and there's stuff in a shopping
basket in one of the aisles that I don't think you're going to let
me get away with not buying.
(to Store Manager)
Assuming you're still open for business.
The manager gestures to the cashier, who returns to the checkout lane. Judy and Nick head for the aisle where they left their baskets.
INT. JUDY AND NICK'S APARTMENT, LIVING AREA - NIGHT
Judy, dressed in her pajamas, removes a webcam from its package and places it under the TV, which displays setup instructions for their new cable box.
NICK
I feel weird.
Judy turns. Nick is dressed in his new pajamas and holds a half-full basket of blueberries.
JUDY
You look... like you live in a building.
NICK
(joking)
How dare you?
His phone plays its notification chime.
NICK (CONT'D)
I thought I turned those off.
Judy brings the cable for the webcam behind the TV stand and crouches to plug it into the cable box.
JUDY
You know, for someone who wanted a pack so badly, you don't seem to like being part of my herd.
NICK
I'm not in your herd. I'm herd-adjacent at best.
JUDY
My mom hinted she's getting a clearness committee together to give us wedding advice. I did tell her to stop.
NICK
Clearness committee?
Judy returns to the front of the TV and fine-tunes the camera angle to cover the whole couch. The TV screen shows the camera feed.
JUDY
Another rabbit thing. Point is, as far as she's concerned, you're in, and that counts big with the rest of the family.
NICK
It's not liking selfies that I want a pack for.
JUDY
Being there for you on stuff that doesn't matter is how they show they'll be there for you on stuff that does.
Nick takes his phone out of his breast pocket. He has a message from JESSICA TWO HOPPS.
JESSICA TWO (V.O.)
Dear Judy and Mister Nick: I was very sad to hear that you had both been sick recently. I hope you feel better soon, and that whoever poisoned and/or concussed you gets what's coming to them. Love, Jessica Two Hopps, esquire.
JUDY
I also love being instantly vindicated.
He puts his phone back in his pocket and sits on the couch, an inch from his armrest.
NICK
Your parents are going to be larger than life on this screen.
JUDY
Isn't it great? Now I'm glad you talked me into getting the TV.
She stands upright, admires her work, then rounds the coffee table and sits on the couch, an inch and a half from her armrest.
NICK
Am I a curmudgeon because I wanted a TV to watch TV on?
JUDY
(instantly)
Yes.
He offers her the blueberries.
NICK
You want to finish these off?
JUDY
Not after all those lentils.
She picks up the remote and hits a button. The setup screen is replaced with Zootopia News Network.
INT. ZNN STUDIO - CONTINUOUS
FABIENNE GROWLEY, a sharply dressed female snow leopard, sits at the news desk in front of a panoramic Zootopia backdrop.
GROWLEY
Recapping our top stories of the day.
EXT. TUNDRATOWN STREET - MORNING (RECORDED)
A mob of predators stands between the police and the bear fishmonger's truck.
GROWLEY (V.O.)
Predators in Tundratown clashed with police in the aftermath of Frances Cottonworth's arrest for the poisoning of dozens of customers of Fishtown Market. The protesters' ire was split between Mrs. Cottonworth and the officers who arrested her.
An OTTER RIOTER gets in front of the camera.
OTTER RIOTER
That bunny cop had more sympathy for the rich rabbit than for the predators who got poisoned!
INT. JUDY AND NICK'S APARTMENT, LIVING AREA - NIGHT
Judy turns her palms up at the suggestion.
JUDY
I was sympathetic because I know her prognosis. That doesn't mean I support what she did.
NICK
Did you actually explain that during the presser?
JUDY
We can't just give out a suspect's medical info. Okay, I understand that reaction.
NICK
It's fine, we can fix this.
EXT. TUNDRATOWN STREET - MORNING (RECORDED)
A TUNDRA WOLF RIOTER is interviewed.
TUNDRA WOLF RIOTER
The old lady tried to force us to be vegetarians, then that fox cop wanted us to do the same thing!
A group of police led by Trunkaby are shown suppressing the riot.
NICK (V.O.)
I never said permanently. Just a few days, while the fish supply is short, so there's enough for the big cats.
JUDY (V.O.)
Maybe you were the wrong messenger too.
INT. SUPERMARKET - DAY (RECORDED)
An empty supermarket shelf.
GROWLEY (V.O.)
Supermarkets didn't have advance warning of Fishtown Market's closing and found their already depleted stocks of canned fish snapped up by hoarders.
INT. CONVENIENCE STORE - DAY (RECORDED)
A PIG SHOPKEEPER standing in front of a shelf full of canned fish.
GROWLEY (V.O.)
Other stores were accused of price gouging.
PIG SHOPKEEPER
If someone needs fish, I have some because I adjusted my prices to discourage hoarding. Don't paint me as the bad guy here.
EXT. COTTONWORTH'S FLAGSHIP STORE - DAY (RECORDED)
The three protesters being led away in cuffs amid the abandoned detritus of the protest.
GROWLEY (V.O.)
The unrest wasn't limited to Tundratown. A protest at Cottonworth's flagship store in downtown Zootopia turned violent, leading to a standoff between police and four hostage takers.
JUDY (V.O.)
Four? Are they including the mom they tranqed for no reason?
GROWLEY (V.O.)
Police were able to arrest the hostage takers without damage to the store or injury to any of the hostages.
NICK (V.O.)
They're supposed to say "alleged".
The Ibex customer is interviewed with the label, "freed hostage".
IBEX CUSTOMER
I was afraid they'd do something drastic.
JUDY (V.O.)
That was taken completely out of context! He meant the police!
Trunkaby is interviewed.
TRUNKABY
I'm just glad we were able to bring this situation to a peaceful conclusion.
NICK (V.O.)
She tranqed someone! How was that peaceful?
JUDY (V.O.)
And you're the one who brought it to a conclusion.
INT. JUDY AND NICK'S APARTMENT, LIVING AREA - NIGHT
Judy turns off the TV.
NICK
I hope those guys get a bench trial, because it'll be hard to find a fair jury after that.
Judy stands up and SULKS toward her antechamber.
JUDY
How do I keep doing this? I catch the bad guy, but somehow I ruin everything.
NICK
Something like this was always going to happen. The food supply got messed up, so mammals were going to be hungry, and hungry mammals get angry and scared, no matter what species they are.
JUDY
Maybe we should have said the poisonings were an accident like you wanted.
NICK
No, you were right. Once it's back to normal, the city will be better than it was, but if we'd lied and it got found out, it would have been even worse.
JUDY
Because nobody would trust us? They already don't trust us.
NICK
So we get in early and write a press release that apologizes for not being clear enough during the conference.
JUDY
And some day we'll have time left over to make the world better after we fix everything that went wrong the previous day.
NICK
Please don't get discouraged, Judy. If you give up, what hope do I have?
He picks up a blueberry between two of his claws.
NICK (CONT'D)
I tell you what: I'm going to eat a blueberry. That way I fix something today that went wrong today. More time tomorrow to make the world better.
JUDY
Good luck with that. Good night, Nick.
She enters her antechamber.
Nick holds the blueberry near his open mouth, trying to force himself to eat it. Instead he FLINGS it at the wall in frustration.
End of act three
Chapter 5: Act Four
Chapter Text
INT. ZOOTOPIA P.D., CHIEF BOGO'S OFFICE - MORNING
Officer Trunkaby sits facing Chief Bogo, who paces behind his desk. A KNOCK at the door.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Who is it?
Nick opens the door enough to stick his head in.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO (CONT'D)
We're busy in here, Wilde. What's wrong, you have a problem with your assignment?
NICK
No, traffic safety is important, and we had plenty of excitement on our day off. It's just that I have to stop off at the courthouse to testify at the bail hearing for those protesters Trunkaby arrested yesterday.
TRUNKABY
You think you're going to trash me in open court?
NICK
It's not all your fault. I could say the department made mistakes.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Come inside.
Nick enters, followed by Judy who holds a sheet of paper in her paws. She closes the door behind them.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO (CONT'D)
You didn't read your union guidebook very closely, did you?
NICK
I got annoyed at the part about paying dues.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Neither the department, nor any officer, may release information about an internal non-criminal investigation until the completion of the disciplinary process. It's in the collective bargaining agreement.
TRUNKABY
And don't forget who your union rep is, by the way.
She points at herself with her trunk.
NICK
Very early yesterday, you were going to reprimand me because I suggested lying about a case. How is this any different?
TRUNKABY
Because there aren't criminal charges against me.
NICK
(to Judy)
I think our elephant sized cuffs are in the car.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Nobody's asking you to perjure yourself. If there is a disciplinary hearing, it will be done before the trial starts.
NICK
Long enough for the department to get its story straight.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
If you mean, "long enough for the outcome of the hearing to be in the public record," then yes.
TRUNKABY
Only if I get suspended or terminated, which I don't expect. Reprimands don't get published because nobody cares.
NICK
I can't believe the department agreed to this.
TRUNKABY
This policy benefits you, too. Some day, someone you arrest will make a meritless allegation and this will stop your good name, such as it is, from getting dragged through the mud.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
And the department agreed to it because protecting our officers' reputations protects the department's reputation.
NICK
I'm sure everyone you know thinks the cops have a good reputation. Sir, I learned this the hardest way there is. If you act like you're perfect, someone who knows you aren't will never trust you. You have to own up to at least some of your mistakes. That's why Hopps and I got here early and wrote a press release apologizing for some poorly chosen wording during our press conference the other night.
Judy approaches Bogo and give him the sheet of paper.
NICK (CONT'D)
We already ran it by the city's P-R department. They'll send it out as soon as you give it your imprimatur.
Judy returns to Nick's side, surprised by his word choice. Bogo reads the press release.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
"Every communication failure is the fault of the speaker"?
NICK
It wouldn't be an apology if we didn't admit it was our fault.
Bogo rubs the bridge of his nose over the top of his glasses.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Wilde, we don't solve every crime we investigate--sometimes the evidence isn't there. We don't investigate every crime that gets reported--I have to do triage every morning because we don't have the mammalpower. And we don't get told about every crime that gets committed--if someone shoplifts five bucks worth of candy, it will cost the store more than that to help us investigate. I won't pretend I'm happy about any of those, but the public accepts them because they know that we do our best. If we give off the impression that we're a bunch of bumbling idiots, how is anyone supposed to believe we can apply the law fairly?
NICK
The law isn't fair. I don't know why anyone would expect it to be applied fairly.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
What do you mean, the law isn't fair? The law makes things fair.
NICK
It's illegal for predators to eat prey, or vice versa. You think that's a fair law?
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
You think predators should--
NICK
Hey, I'm a vegetarian. I don't even eat what I'm allowed to. Of course murder should be illegal, and destroying a body makes our job harder, so ban it if you want. But a law like that tells predators they need to be regulated. That's not fair.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
I don't write the laws.
NICK
No, but they're not handed down from God. They're written by mammals who don't know what message they're sending. Or maybe they know exactly what message they're sending. Thanks for your shoplifting example, too, because it's prey you're letting get away with it. Cats wouldn't steal candy--they can't taste sweet and it would probably make them sick. Except for Clawhauser. I honestly don't know how he's alive.
OFFICER BENJAMIN CLAWHAUSER's silhouette is at the door.
CLAWHAUSER (O.S.)
I have a rare mutation. Is now a bad time?
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Later, please.
Clawhauser shuffles away.
NICK
And baring the fangs is a threatening gesture. Do you know what teeth I find threatening? Incisors. Big ones that that can take a chunk out of a tree. What would those do to my skin? But you don't even try to issue us beaver-sized muzzles. Not that I carry the ones you do give us.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
You can be reprimanded for improper equipment practices.
NICK
If you force me to take them out of the armory, I'll leave them in the patrol car.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
If you don't believe in the police or the law, why did you even join the force?
NICK
I filled out the form because I thought I'd be good at it, but I submitted it because I never had someone to stand up for me before, and I wanted to be that mammal for someone who needed it. I'm not an idealist like Hopps. I don't think I can make the world a better place. But I can do some good. And if you're sure that the law is always right, then you don't have anything to worry about from me. But court cases only have gag orders when there's a good reason. That's the standard we should hold ourselves to for our own mistakes.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Union rep?
TRUNKABY
I'll tell the leadership you think we should trade a more transparent disciplinary process for some other concession. Expect to be outvoted.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
And that wouldn't be in effect until the next contract, which is months from being negotiated. In the meantime, today is just a bail hearing. Any disciplinary action will be done before the trial. Just wait until then.
NICK
What if they can't afford bail? What if it gets denied? What if they miss work for the hearing and lose their jobs?
TRUNKABY
They should have thought of that before--
JUDY
--before you tear gassed them for no reason?
TRUNKABY
I still think what I did was justified given the information I had at the time.
JUDY
I tried to give you better information and you ignored me.
TRUNKABY
Because it wasn't credible for obvious reasons.
JUDY
Oh yeah! Chief, we apparently need a code word for when we're not under duress other than, "I'm not under duress."
NICK
This is just a union rule, right? So if I testify, I lose secrecy for my reprimands, I don't have to pay dues anymore, and I have to negotiate my own salary? I'll take that deal.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
The C-B-A also has a "no scab" rule.
NICK
The union can have me fired?
TRUNKABY
For cause, but that would do it.
NICK
Sir, those protesters turned themselves in because I gave my word I'd speak on their behalf.
TRUNKABY
Nobody forced you to make a promise you can't keep.
NICK
Oh, I can keep it. It just has consequences.
Everyone gets serious.
JUDY
Nick, you'd throw away your career over this case? There are other witnesses.
NICK
You want me to trust someone else do the right thing so I can be the lying fox everyone already sees me as? That's not the story I'm telling anymore.
JUDY
You made a promise to me too.
NICK
I know.
(to Bogo)
How many ride-alongs can a civilian do before it's weird?
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Wilde.
Nick heads for the door.
NICK
I hate to bring up my business savvy again, but the optics of firing me for this are going to be terrible, marketing-wise.
He puts his paw on the doorknob.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Wilde!
NICK
Sir?
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Exculpatory testimony would be unusual at a bail hearing, and you can't be a character witness for mammals you met yesterday, but if you privately warn the prosecutor what other witnesses will say at the trial, maybe he doesn't pursue the case and owes you a favor for saving his time.
NICK
Thank you, sir.
Nick and Judy leave.
POLICE CHIEF BOGO
Now I know who my new project is.
INT. ZOOTOPIA P.D., UPSTAIRS HALLWAY
Judy closes the door behind her. Nick gets his phone out of his pocket and starts searching for a number.
NICK
At least this fits the spirit of what I promised.
JUDY
Do my incisors intimidate you?
NICK
No. I think it's because they're curved.
JUDY
Not naturally. I rounded the corners off.
NICK
It's a good look for you. Sorry. Your bully was a fox, right? Mine was a chinchilla.
He holds the phone to his ear.
NICK (CONT'D)
I just hope I can get the prosecutor on the line before he makes it to the courtroom.
INT. COURTROOM - DAY
The three protesters sit at a table with MAXWELL BIGHORN, their ram defense attorney. The gallery contains a few mammals. PHILIP BEESTON, a mid-50's wildebeest, sits at the prosecutor's table. JUDGE EIREEN MUSSORGSKY, a female mouse, sits at the bench with a tiny gavel.
JUDGE MUSSORGSKY
Next case...
Nick BURSTS through the door.
JUDGE MUSSORGSKY (CONT'D)
Can I help you, officer?
NICK
Yes, Your Honor, uh, Mister Beeston respected the court and turned his phone off, and I need a minute of his time. It is relevant to this case.
The judge looks at Beeston, who looks at Nick.
NICK (CONT'D)
Probably won't even take a whole minute.
Beeston looks back at the judge.
BEESTON
A brief recess, please, Your Honor?
JUDGE MUSSORGSKY
You have one minute.
Beeston puts a hoof on Nick's shoulder and leads him out of the courtroom.
BEESTON
Yikes, Nick. I almost didn't recognize you in that uniform.
CATHERINE WILDE, sitting at the front of the gallery behind the defense, looks over her shoulder at them as they exit the courtroom.
FERRET PROTESTER
(whispers to lawyer)
I told you he'd show up. Fox's honor, right?
A crescendo of MURMURS from the gallery for ten seconds before Beeston rushes back through the door and sprints to the front of the defense table.
BEESTON
Obstructing a fire exit, second degree trespassing, and criminal mischief. All misdemeanors, fines only.
WOLF PROTESTOR
I'm not going to plead guilty when I didn't do anything wrong.
BEESTON
I'll accept No Contest.
Catherine leans over the gallery rail and whispers in the defense lawyer's ear.
CATHERINE
This is not the negotiation strategy of a mammal who knows he has a strong case.
The defense lawyer nods.
EXT. COURTHOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
At the base of the courtroom stairs, Nick gets in the passenger door of a police car, which drives away.
At the top of the stairs, Catherine bursts out of the courthouse door.
CATHERINE
Nicholas!
She looks around, spots the police car driving away, and slumps.
The three protesters exit behind her.
BEAR PROTESTOR
Was that your son?
Catherine looks at him.
BEAR PROTESTOR (CONT'D)
What kind of name is Piberius?
End of act four
Chapter 6: Tag
Chapter Text
EXT. SAHARA SQUARE COAST ROAD - DAY
A police car with lights flashing is parked at the side of the road behind a small convertible driven by a SPEEDING WEASEL. Judy walks up to the driver's door of the convertible.
JUDY
Do you know why I pulled you over?
SPEEDING WEASEL
It's daytime, so it can't be a tail light.
JUDY
You were going seventy. Do you know what the speed limit here is?
SPEEDING WEASEL
Eighty?
INT. POLICE CAR - CONTINUOUS
Nick sits in the passenger seat of the police car watching the traffic stop. The half empty basket of blueberries is in his lap, and he holds a pawful of berries near his mouth.
NICK
C'mon, go in.
JUDY (O.S.)
If you weren't paying attention to traffic signs, maybe you need a distracted driving charge too. Let's try again. Do you know what the speed limit here is?
Nick opens his mouth, but can't bring himself to put the berries in it.
SPEEDING WEASEL (O.S.)
Fifty-five, but there was nobody else on the road.
Nick gets out his phone and takes a selfie of his face and the berries.
JUDY (O.S.)
Do you know how speed limits get set?
SPEEDING WEASEL (O.S.)
Slower than everybody drives, so you can fund the department with tickets?
Nick returns the berries to the basket and starts typing a caption for his selfie.
NICK (V.O.)
(typing rhythm)
Got aversion trained out of being able to eat my favorite food, hashtag blueberries, and trying to overcome it. Hashtag not going well.
JUDY (O.S.)
Not in Zootopia. Traffic engineers consider visibility, separation from oncoming traffic, nearby water or sand that can reduce traction, and off-road obstacles, and calculate a speed that minimizes accidents.
Nick posts his selfie and picks up a pawful of berries.
SPEEDING WEASEL (O.S.)
And it's that fifty-sixth mile an hour that's the killer?
JUDY (O.S.)
Fifty-three is safer than fifty-five is safer than fifty-seven. The posted limit makes it fair. You can't say we didn't warn you.
Nick's screen starts filling with comments encouraging him to keep at it.
JUDY (O.S.) (CONT'D)
I know you weren't happy to see me behind you. But you would have been really unhappy to see an ambulance and a fire truck here to cut you out of the wreckage of your car, wouldn't you?
SPEEDING WEASEL (O.S.)
Yes, officer.
Nick gets a private comment from "Yekaterina Wilde".
CATHERINE (V.O.)
I never figured out what you hoped to gain from your stories. Did telling them per se make you happy? Because that's all I ever wanted for you.
JUDY (O.S.)
And I'd be unhappy having to tell your family something happened to you. So do you think you can drive safely for me, and for yourself?
SPEEDING WEASEL
Yes, officer.
CATHERINE (V.O.)
But you have to stop involving other mammals in them. Especially me.
JUDY (O.S.)
If you forget--
(tearing ticket)
--maybe this will help you remember.
NICK
(mouth full)
No, mom, it's the oppo--
SPEEDING WEASEL (O.S.)
Thank you, officer.
Nick looks at his paw: EMPTY. He bites down with a satisfying SQUISH.
JUDY (O.S.)
Take care.
NICK
Thanks, mom.
Judy enters, sits in the driver's seat, and buckles up.
JUDY
Any progress on the berries?
NICK
I think I can eat them if I'm distracted.
JUDY
Well that's something.
Nick's phone plays a notification noise.
NICK
And the chief scolded me for posting a selfie while on duty.
JUDY
Remember? He follows us on everything.
Wildfox (Guest) on Chapter 2 Thu 28 Aug 2025 06:47AM UTC
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