Chapter Text
Chapter 1: TEETHING, TREASURE, AND TIDE CHARTS
SCENE START
INT. POCKET HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - MORNING
Morning sunlight streams through the window. 15-month-old PAXTON MILES POCKET, wearing a colorful nature-themed T-shirt, blue shorts, and tiny sneakers, is on all fours. Under his left arm, he clutches MR. FROGGY, his beloved plush toy. His green eyes sparkle with pure mischief.
A few feet away on the couch sat LOUIS DUPAING-CHENG AGRESTE (17). He’s holding his acoustic guitar, his messy black hair framing his face, and his signature red eyeshadow with the blue lightning bolt design carefully applied. He lazily strums a soft, comforting acoustic chord progression.
POLLY POCKET (17) rushes past the couch carrying a stack of baby laundry, her magical locket resting against her collarbone.
POLLY
(breathless)
Okay, diaper bag is packed, pacifiers are sanitized, and I double-checked the strawberry situation—we have three full containers of chocolate-dipped strawberries. Pax, sweetie, please tell Maman you’re not planning on crawling under the coffee table again!
Paxton turns, giggles, and immediately begins a fast, unsteadily aggressive waddle straight toward the tall wooden bookshelf.
POLLY
(gasping)
Pax! No, no, no, not the shelf!
Polly drops the laundry basket and dives across the rug, scooping Paxton up just as his little hand reaches for a heavy glass vase.
PAXTON
(waving his hands, squirming)
Ba-ba! Up! Up!
POLLY
(pulling him into a warm hug)
I know "up," little guy, but we don't climb the furniture! That’s for your playground sets, remember?
Polly tries to set him down gently on his play mat, but Paxton lets out a loud, toddler grunt of protest, starting to turn red in the cheeks. He hates stopping when he’s excited.
LOUIS
(softly)
Hold on, Pol. Let me try something.
Louis shifts his posture on the couch. Instead of speaking right away, he plucks a gentle, rolling melody on his guitar—a calm, rhythmic lullaby tune he composed himself.
The moment the notes hit the air, Paxton freezes. His chubby little head swivels toward Louis. The soft music instantly breaks the impending meltdown. Paxton plops down on his bottom on the play mat, rhythmically bouncing up and down to the sound of his papa's guitar.
POLLY
(sighing in total relief, smiling at Louis)
You are an absolute lifesaver, Lou. I swear, his legs have two speeds: fast-waddle and total chaos.
LOUIS
(smiling gently, thumbing a final chord)
Music gives his brain something focus on. He takes after my side of the family with the rhythm. Besides, he’s got a lot of energy today. Did Marinette or Adrien text before their flight?
POLLY
Yeah! Marinette sent a picture from the airport in Rio. They’re officially on their Brazilian getaway, which means they are completely unreachable for the next twelve hours.
LOUIS
(nodding, adjusting his jacket)
Right. And Hugo and Liv are slammed at the Dupain-Cheng Bistro with that massive 300-person catering order. Emma and Aurora said they had to handle an emergency art gallery installation, so they're out too.
POLLY
And Shani is at her science expo all day! So it’s officially up to us and Lila.
Right on cue, the front door bursts open. LILA DRAPER (17) trots in, her vibrant red ponytail swaying, holding a yellowed, rolled-up piece of parchment.
LILA
Good morning, co-parents and little prince! Look what I uncovered in your attic, Polly!
Lila unrolls the parchment on the coffee table. It’s an ornate, hand-drawn map labeled Panda Beach with a prominent red wax seal marked with the initial P.
POLLY
(gasping)
Is that... Prudence Pocket's lost map?! My great-great ancestor wrote about burying something legendary near the ocean bluffs!
Before Polly can examine it, Paxton spots the crinkly yellow map. Fast as a lightning bolt, he waddles off his mat, climbs onto the low table edge, and snatches the corner of the map!
POLLY & LILA
(in unison)
Pax, wait—!
CRINKLE!
LOUIS
(standing up instantly, firm but kind)
Paxton. Stop hands, please.
Louis kneels right in front of Paxton, placing a gentle hand over the toddler's tiny wrist to stop him from ripping the ancient paper. He looks directly into Paxton's bright green eyes, keeping his voice steady and calm.
LOUIS
(kind but firm)
We do not pull or rip paper. Maman and Lila are looking at that. Gentle touch.
Paxton blinks, looking from Louis's serious face to the map. Sensing the direct, loving authority, Paxton slowly relaxes his grip and hands the paper corner back to Polly.
PAXTON
(softly, sucking on his pacifier)
Ba-ba.
POLLY
(kissing Paxton’s cheek)
Good boy, Pax. Thank you for using gentle hands.
LILA
Phew! Nice save, Louis. Look at this map—it points straight to the hidden sea caves on Panda Beach! Legend says Prudence hid her greatest secret treasure there!
POLLY
A beach day and a treasure hunt? This is going to be amazing! But Louis and I need our eyes peeled on this little guy every single step of the way.
LOUIS
(slinging his guitar strap over his shoulder)
Don't worry. Between your locket, Lila's style, my guitar, and our eyes on Pax, we've got this fully covered.
As the teens laugh and pack up the last of Paxton's gear, outside the window, two figures hide behind the bushes. GWEN GRANDE (17) and NICOLAS "NIC" WELLS (17) duck down. Nic adjusts his video camera while Gwen grins maliciously.
GWEN
(whispering)
Did you hear that, Nic? Prudence Pocket’s treasure at Panda Beach! Once Polly leads us to it, we steal it, expose her, and become filthy rich!
NIC
(grinning)
And I get the viral scoop of the century! Let’s tail 'em!