Z&B Episode 7: Antarctic Balloon
[FADE in from black, exterior wide view] A colorful hot air balloon drifts in the bright sunshine over the ocean. [Rotate around] The ocean ends in a nearby line of rocky crags and ice. [Continue to rotate around and zoom in to head-to-thigh front view of occupants of balloon basket.] Zoot is delighted at what she sees through binoculars. Buff is taking in the sights while holding a cup of popcorn in his right hand at the proper height to censor his nudity. He uses his left hand to eat popcorn kernel by kernel.
[stock footage] Treacherous waves crash on icy rocks.
[closeup] Z sees something amazing through the bInoculars and excitedly hands them to Buff. [swish pan right] Buff is curious about what she saw and trades the popcorn for the binoculars and holds them up to his eyes.
[stock footage] An American bald eagle spreads its wings and looks around.
[Head to waist] Buff salutes the eagle with his right hand as Zoot sets down the popcorn. He hands the binoculars back, then starts to shiver. He rubs his arms, letting Zoot see he is cold. Zoot signals with one hand for him to turn around. He turns, showing that he has two patches on his lower back over his kidneys. They turn from tan to cold blue. Zoot peels the patches off, discards them while he shivers, and picks up two more blue patches from somewhere in the basket and sticks them to his back over his kidneys. They turn from blue to bright red like a car's hot electric cigarette lighter. He stretches, no longer shivering, and turns around. Zoot is happy that he is warm now and resumes looking out.
[closeup] They both are happy to see something cute far below them, then they become worried about it.
[head to ground] A baby walrus on a tall rock calls out as the waves crash below it, spraying up. It seems distressed. It's tail may be caught in the rocks.
[return] Zoot and Buff turn their worrid gaze slightly and see somehting else of interest down there.
[stock footage] A full grown walrus in the icy water looks up.
[return] Zoot and Buff look at each other, decide on something, and nod at each other. They both jump to action (offscreen).
[opposite side of balloon basket, head to thigh view] Buff sets up a cannister on the edge of the basket. He pulls two more blue patches and sticks them to his abdomen, similar to the ones on his back. As they turn red, he pulls two more from somewhere in the basket and sticks them to his deltoids on his shoulders. As those also turn red, he reaches around to the bottom of the cannister and pulls out a very small hooked anchor the end of a thick rope.
[front side of balloon basket] Zoot pulls two levers and looks out to one side then the other.
[wide view] Two sails unfold from the sides of the balloon and catch the wind. <whistling wind>
[inside balloon] Zoot looks over her shoulder toward Buff and nods.
[other side of balloon basket] Buff is looking over his shoulder inside the basket while reaching an arm over the edge. The anchor from the cannister is clenched in his right hand. He nods, looks out below him, [zoom out] and leaps out of the basket, tumbling in the air.
[helicopter view circling hte action] The balloon sails toward the rocky shore. Buff descends on the line quickly at first, slowing as his feet approach the land. In so doing, the balloon is dangerously close to the rocky craigs.
[wide view, ground, dolly back to follow] Buff swings down and runs as he lands. He releases the rope and continues sprinting.
[head to chest] Zoot, looking down, glances ahead and pulls the levers with determination.
[wide view, rear] The sails change shape and pull the balloon up.
[wide view, side] The basket approaches the sharp cliffs and rises just in time to miss as it blows past. The rope slides along the sharp rocks.
[closeup] The anchor catches in the rock.
[wide view] The balloon basket lurches to a stop, dragging the balloon to a halt.
[head to waist] Zoot (with serious determination) feels the lurch, pushes the levers the opposite of the way that extended the sails, releases the controls, and steps to look over the edge, using the binoculars.
[PoV, zooming in quickly] From far above, Buff can be seen running toward the sharp rock close to the water.
[closeup] The baby walrus turns and shouts, alarmed.
[closeup] The adult walrus is angry and shouts.
[head to waist] Buff halts as he realizes he has made a mistake. [zoom out] He crouches down and starts to approach slowly.
[face] The baby cocks its head with suspicion.
[face] The adult walrus cocks its head with suspicion.
[head to toe] Buff realizes he is not welcome. He thinks a moment. He turns and looks at nothing beside him with mock interest.
[head to tail] The baby looks at its situation, still stuck, then looks to the adult.
[head and shoulders] The adult walrus is still aggitated.
[head to toe] Buff, still crouching and looking to the side, takes a slow sidestep toward the baby, pauses, and repeats to get closer. His red patches turn less bright, but still red.
[head to ground] The baby looks to the adult, and Buff slides a bit closer, it turns to look at him, and he freezes in place, looking the other direction. When it looks back to the adult, he slides within arm's reach. The baby looks toward Buff, but he has already gone back to his crouching statue pose. It looks directly at the camera. It looks to the adult, then Buff reaches out and scratches it on the back and shoulders. It is startled at first, then relaxes into the massage happily.
[Buff PoV] Buff's hands reach down and pick up the baby walrus under the flippers. It wriggles and flops. As Buff lifts, it pulls its tail free from the rocks.
Plot type
Episode
Parent Plot
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