Basket Cases short - Back-to-School with Pawchee -or not.

INT. - Coon Household: Pawchee's Room - DAY

5-year-old Pawchee comes into her room to see her Momma Maska sitting cross legged on the circular patterned rug.

PAWCHEE

Oh! Hi, Mommy!

She plops down opposite Maska.

PAWCHEE (CONT'D)

What would you like to play?

MASKA

Actually, right now what I'd like is to have a special chat.

PAWCHEE

About what?

MASKA

You going to school!

PAWCHEE

But I don't go.

MASKA

Wouldn't you like to though? Like your big sister and brother?

PAWCHEE

To the place they go?

MASKA

Well that's two places, actually. They're not in the same school. But yes! One and then the other.

Pawchee scratches her head.

PAWCHEE

What would I do there?

MASKA

You'd learn all about making small numbers bigger, and big numbers smaller, then doing that faster. And you'd learn how to read every word in any book you can get your pauchies on.

PAWCHEE

Oh. But I already am learning that, at Sesame Street and Between the Lions. And Cyberchase for numbers, when I'm bigger.

MASKA

But the book reading. There are many books at school that even the lions don't read. In the school's own library.

PAWCHEE

Is that the library we go?

MASKA

No. We go to the one that's for anybody, whether they go to school or not.

PAWCHEE

Oh! But there's so many at that library! I don't think I've read even all of three shelves yet. It seems sad to go to school books and leave all those.

MASKA (blithely counteracting her own point) It does. But, there are games they play at school too, you know.

PAWCHEE

Oh but I have so many here still to play! So many I haven't even hardly started!

Looking around, it does seem Pawchee has a nice amount of toys and games. Maska doesn't press that point, either.

She tries a different tact.

MASKA

But don't you think you'd like to make some new friends? School is a place for that, too.

Taken aback, Pawchee rises from sitting to kneeling, and swivels to look at another point of her room. We follow her focus, seeing puppets and dolls in a nice, inviting pile.

Pawchee points at the pile as she looks back to her Mommy.

PAWCHEE (dismayed)

What's wrong with my old friends?

MASKA

Nothing- They're the best you can know.

Reassured, Pawchee settles back down with a smile.

MASKA (CONT'D)

But wouldn't you like some who can bring new play ideas to you, and can help you with things and who you can help with things?

PAWCHEE

Oh they do! They have ideas I don't even know

where they come from, and we're always helping each other.

MASKA

Okay.

Maska places a paw on her chin; she's going to have to think this one out some more.

MASKA (CONT'D)

Except they can't push you on the swings.

PAWCHEE

Marshé can do that. She's the best swing pusher.

MASKA

So wouldn't you like more friends like Marshé?

Her paw thoughtfully on her chin, not unlike her mother before, Pawchee considers.

PAWCHEE

I think Marshé is one of a kind-

Maska abruptly gets up, completely relaxed with the whole situation.

MASKA

-Okay then!

She leaves with a pat to Pawchee's head.

INT - Coon Household: Kitchen - DAY (LATER)

At after-schooltime, Pawchee comes into the kitchen where her 15-year-old brother Ty is licking peanut butter off crackers.

The subject comes up that Pawchee isn't going to school.

PAWCHEE

Mommy said 'okay then' and left the room.

Ty is suspicious by this news.

Maska comes in.

MASKA

Would you like some PB on crackers too, Jujube?

Pawchee gives a big nod.

TY

She says she doesn't have to go to school?

Taking a stool next to Ty, Pawchee settles in to listen to the conversation; very interested.

Maska prepares the snack while she answers.

MASKA

Uh huh! We had our special chat, and there wasn't anything Pawchee needed school for, so I said 'okay then'.

TY

Since when is that an option?!

MASKA

Since it's always been. You remember our special chat about it, Dumpling.

Flashback--

INT - Coon Household: Nursery - EVENING

We see a 5-year-old Ty, sitting on Maska's lap in a rocking chair

LITTLE TY

I'm happy having your lap back, Mommy.

MASKA

Yes, I think we're all more comfortable since baby sister moved to her cot.

They start the special chat about school.

MASKA

You'll learn how to turn smaller numbers into much bigger numbers, then back to much smaller. Like magic.

LITTLE TY

Wooow.

MASKA

And you'll learn how to read any word in any book you could ever find.

LITTLE TY

Wooow. Will you be at school, too?

MASKA

I'll be there in the morning when I take you, then in the afternoon to bring you back.

LITTLE TY

But is there lunch going to be there?

MASKA

I'll pack you a special one every day.

LITTLE TY

I bet it takes the longest time to learn all of those things.

MASKA

A pretty long while. Long enough to live your whole life so far twice more, and a couple years after that.

Little Ty digests that, his eyes gradually widening.

LITTLE TY

Mommy! I can't even imagine that far! I didn't know there was anythings I couldn't imagine! When do I go?

--Back to present.

Ty slumps.

10-year-old Racks comes in.

RACKS

What's got you slumped? Oo! Crackers!

She takes one from Pawchee's plate and starts licking the peanut butter (Pawchee has made a cracker sandwich instead, which she eats over the plate).

TY

Pawchee isn't going to be going to school. Apparently that's always been an option.

Racks pauses in her cracker licking, moving her paws to her sides.

RACKS

Since when 'always'?!

MASKA

Oh you remember too, silly.

Flashback--

INT - Coon Household: Racks' Room - DAY

We now see Racks at 5-years-old, sitting on a rug with Maska not unlike how Pawchee was, though a different rug.

Her tail swishing gently back and forth now and then.

MASKA

How would you like to go to school like your big brother does?

LITTLE RACKS

Will there be lunch?

MASKA

Oh yes! There's a room just for lunch where you get to put things on a tray, with some things put on the tray for you.

And I'd make you a special lunch every day, just like I do for Ty.

Little Racks licks her lips.

LITTLE RACKS

Mmmm!!

But she can't forget the next priority.

LITTLE RACKS (CONT'D)

And I'll learn all what Ty knows? Then he won't be the only know-everything in the family?

MASKA

That's right. You'd learn in the exact same way. How to transform numbers into other numbers and back again-

-Little Racks stands up to twirl as she happily interrupts-

LITTLE RACKS

-And the keys to all the book worlds!

MASKA

That's right! Every one! Even when there are absolutely no pictures.

Little Racks stops mid-twirl at this news; she was on board until that moment.

LITTLE RACKS

But the picture books are the best!

MASKA

And there's no reason you can't still read them.

She's on board again.

LITTLE RACKS

Oh good! I'll go then.

She starts off for the door.

MASKA

Where are you going now though, Syrup?

It's not your school day yet.

RACKS

I wanna' see what leftovers we have in the fridge to get a head start on lunch!

--Back to present.

MASKA

You could hardly wait.

Racks slumps.

TY

Now you see.

Racks, still in a slumped position, reaches for one of the crackers.

Ty does as well.

Maska and Pawchee are the only two in the kitchen still content, as Pawchee offers her Mom a crackerwich.

INT. - Coon Household: Kitchen - Next SchoolDAY

Ty and Racks are grabbing their lunch boxes and see one for Pawchee, too.

TY

Is Pawchee having a look-see day after all?

MASKA

No. I just had already bought her a box and she felt like she was missing out on that. No reason why she can't have a school lunch at home.

Racks and Ty exchange a look.

INT. - Coon Household: Front Entrance - SAME TIME

At the door, Racks points in surprise at a nametag above Pawchee's hat and coat and galoshes.

MASKA

She remembered about your school cubby.

Pawchee has joined from the living room.

PAWCHEE

I like having my name on things, and a space just for me.

Oblivious to her older siblings' dismay, Pawchee sees them off for the schoolday -with Maska- with a wave and smile.