Before we begin: there is always that atmospheric X-Files background music playing, unless something else is specified. It doesn't have to be loud, just a small, quiet, noise. Sometimes I write that the music is playing...that is the noticable music, that is a little bit louder than the normal background music.

Original Story (C)1997 Andrew Perrin
All tLK characters are copyright Disney,
and Mulder and Scully and anything to do with X-Files
are most likely copyrighted by Fox.
---
Meerkat Movies present
in their first One-Hour production (w/commercials)
in association with
Andrew Perrin (a.k.a. Mageuzi)

The X-Files:
"Nothing in the Pride Lands"

<Scene fades in. We see a pride lands shot at night, with the moon over at the horizon, normal size, nothing big about it. In the bottom left corner, we see the following text:>

The Open Pride Lands
April 5th, 1:30 a.m.

<Music: Standard X-Files, creepy, atmospheric instrumental.>
<A truck comes into view. It is a factory truck, small, with white sides and one driver, male. We see the inside of the truck, and the driver checking the shipping order, which, from our angle, doesn't reveal anything about what this truck may contain. We do see, however, that this shipment is going to Cape Town, South Africa. There is Hard Rock music on the radio, turned down so that the driver can concentrate.>

Driver: Wait until I get back up North. I'll tell that "friend" of mine how much I appreciate this shortcut!

<All of a sudden, the truck starts to sputter and bang.>

Driver: What the...? <looks at gauges> Ahhh! I'm out of gas [petrol to our English readers ;)]! Just what I need right now!

<He gets out of the truck, and starts to unscrew the gas cap. He stops on his way to the back of the truck. All is silent apart from a few bugs, making their noises in the background. He continues to the back, and gets out his gas re-filling container. He walks over to the hole and pours all of it in. As he's heading over to the back of the truck to put the canister back into the back of the truck, the bugs suddenly stop. Now things are truly silent. The driver has his back turned to the camera, and at this, the camera moves closer to the Driver, very fast and very 'bumpy'. He suddenly turns with a scared look on his face. The camera suddenly cuts to an ariel shot of the truck, at an angle which makes us just not able to see the driver. We hear screaming.and something growling.>

<The X-Files opening sequence begins.>

They're out there

<Fade out. Commercials.>
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+

<Return by cutting into a downstairs office, very cluttered with one desk.and hardly enough room for that. Fox Mulder is seen sitting at the desk, looking at some papers in a manila folder.>

FBI Headquarters, Washington D.C.
April 5th, 8:30 a.m.

<Can be seen in the bottom left corner.>
<Cut to overview shot of folder. We can see a picture of the driver from the beginning. Dana Scully walks into the office.>

Mulder: Hi. Take a look at this, would you?

Scully: What is it?

Mulder: <starts to lean back in chair> This guy was last seen in northern Africa, given the OK to take a shipment down to South Africa, where they will be sold. The last message received over the intercom was "I'm going to take a shortcut."

Scully: And let me guess. He was never heard from again, right?

Mulder: Oh.you already know?

Scully: Well I already know you, and your cases, is that enough?

Mulder: <smiling> Well, you are correct, but no one can locate the truck anywhere in the Pride Lands.

Scully: <interrupting> The Pride Lands?

Mulder: Yes, one of his friends told him about a quick shortcut he could take through the Pride Lands. Anyway, as I was saying, no one can locate the truck anywhere in the Pride Lands, or his body.

Scully: So its as if he just.disappeared?

Mulder: <in a mock accent> How do you do it Holmes?

Scully: <fed up look> Well, what was the truck carrying?

Mulder: <leans over desk, smiling> That, my friend, we don't know, and need to find out. It isn't written anywhere, and neither end of the places this guy was going will talk. Sounds like the perfect X-File.

Scully: Oh goody. <Closes folder, and puts it on the desk.> Where do we start?

Mulder: Our own little search party.at the scene!

<Cut to Pride Lands, and a view of Pride Rock.>

Pride Rock
April 5th, 9:30 a.m.

<Can be seen in the lower left corner.>
<Cut to the inside of the cave at the top of Pride Rock, where we can see Simba, Nala, Timon and Zazu inside.>

Zazu: Are you ready for the morning report yet sire? It really is different! Honest!

Simba: <looks fed up> Oh, Zazu it's the same every day! What could possibly be different?

Zazu: This morning, Amka wasn't around to sound dawn! He was nowhere to be found!

Simba: What? Where has that lion got off to, now?

Zazu: No one knows sire! Yesterday, he was around at dawn with his daily roar, ready to wake everyone up like he normally likes doing, but this morning, nothing! Everyone stayed asleep!

Timon: And that's bad?

Zazu: <poking Timon> Yes that's bad, mister, because some of us have to be up early!

Simba: Yes, Timon. You may have the luxury of getting up whenever you want, but some of us, like Zazu, have to get things done early in the morning.

Timon: Oh, well, sorry for speaking! <walks out, Simba shaking his head>

Nala: Where have you looked?

Zazu: <taking his eyes off Timon> Everywhere he normally is! His den, around Pride Rock, and all around the open fields where his pride is..we've just about lost all hope!

Nala: Well you haven't found him dead, have you?

Zazu: Uhh...no.

Nala: Then he could still be alive! It's just a matter of looking for him!

Simba: Yes! Round up a few lions and other animals, and look around a little more. I'll join you, if you wish.

Zazu: Yes..sire. But don't expect to find anything!

Simba & Nala: Fine.

<Zazu jumps back at the sound of the two lions together.>
<Cut to commercials.>
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<Return. Cut to Timon walking down a jungle path. He is surrounded on all sides with bushes and trees, and is taking nice bites out of a bug he just hunted down.>

An uncharted part of Africa
April 5th, 11:00 a.m. (Can be seen)

Timon: I'll show that Zazu and Simba that they need me around.I'll just "disappear" for a few days in these trees, and see how they like not having me around! Just wait, Simba.Zazu.you'll miss me!

<Just then, a big orange Lion paw comes out of the bushes, grabs Timon by his [awesome] tale, and pulls him in. All we can hear is Timon's screams. Obviously not what he was expecting!>

<Cut to an airport, Mulder and Scully are getting off a plane. We see them walking down the hall of the airport when saying their dialogue.>

Cape Town International Airport
April 5th, 5:30 p.m. (Can be seen)

Scully: So we're here. Now what?

Mulder: Now we meet up with our Safari guide and travel to the spot it is believed the driver of the truck was abandoned at.

Scully: <sarcastically> Oh, great! I always wanted to see lions in the wild!

Mulder: Good! I just hope knowing that you have a job to do doesn't ruin it for you!

Scully: <ignoring that comment> Have you ever thought that this body could have just been eaten by lions and then taken to one of their dwellings?

Mulder: Dwellings? Scully, they live in Prides out in the open. Where, and why would they hide a recently eaten body? And how would you explain the fact that the truck has dissapeared, too?

Scully: I don't know.maybe he didn't die, and decided to drive off again.

Mulder: So then why hasn't anyone seen him?

Scully: OK. You win, Mulder.lets go.

<Cut back to the cave at Pride Rock. Zazu, Simba, Nala and Pumbaa can be seen in a group.>

Pride Rock
April 6th, 1997 8:00 a.m.

Zazu: OK, sire, if we are going to investigate where Amka has got to, then we need to make sure we get cooperation from the rest of the animals. I have already rounded up a few and told them about the LPIG.

Simba: The LPIG? <smiles> The Lazy Pig?

Zazu: <frown> No! The Lion Pride Investigation Group. These rocks <shows some rare, shiny green rocks to the group> identify you as part of this group, and that no matter who you approach with these rocks, they know you won't be hunting them down.

Simba: Ah! Good thinking! Where am I going to put it, though?

Zazu: Here.<he takes some liquid stuff out of a cocunut-like fruit and rubs it on the stone, then onto Simba's mane>.I got this from Rafiki. It will hold the rock into place, but won't make it stay forever.you will be able to take it off again. <Gives another rock with 'sticky stuff' to Nala and Pumbaa>

Pumbaa: Thanks, Zazu. Do you know where Timon is?

Zazu: Ah! Timon! Where is that meerkat, now?

Simba: Probably still angry with you.

Zazu: <looks at Simba> And you! <looks to Pumbaa> I don't know where he is.maybe you should look for him.

<All of a sudden, the gopher runs into the cave.>
Gopher: Zazu, Simba! News from the underground! Five more animals are missing!

Zazu & Simba: What?!

Gopher: Yes.we went to check up on them, and they were no where to be found.

Zazu: So.that means six animals are missing now?

Gopher: Yes! That's right!

Zazu: Who are the recenly missing ones?

Gopher: From our last check, Timon the meerkat, Chakula the wilderbeast, Kimwondo the lion, Maruko the antelope and Mikonga the elephant.

Zazu: Oh my goodness! Thank you, Chimba!

<Gopher exits.>

Zazu: Well, Pumbaa, I guess it is your job to look for Timon, now. As for us, we as a group need to start looking for these missing animals before more dissapear!

<All nod.>
<Cut to a Jeep, riding into the Pride Lands territory.>

Just inside the Pride Lands
8:11 a.m.

Mulder: <In an obviously joking voice of a child> Are we there yeeeet?

Driver: <serious, but smiling> Yes, just about. You want to travel to the place where we believe the truck last was, right?

Scully: Yes, that's right.

Driver: OK, then we just need to go a little further.

<Cut to overhead shot of the jeep, follow for about 10 seconds, then cut back down to inside of Jeep>

Driver: <stops Jeep> Alright then, here we are.

<Mulder and Scully get out of the Jeep, Scully walks away, Mulder leans over to talk to the Driver.>

Mulder: Pick us up at about this time tomorrow, OK?

Driver: Alright. Are you sure you'll be safe out here by yourselves?

Mulder: <looks over to Scully. Then back to driver.> Yes. We'll be fine.

Driver: Alright. You have the radio if you need help.

<Driver, turns around and drives away, the way he came. Cut so that Scully is in the left side of the shot, Mulder walking towards her from the right.>

Scully: <turning to Mulder> So how do they know this is where the truck probably was?

Mulder: <smiles> Look over here.

<They turn and walk forward for a few seconds>

Mulder: See here?

Scully: Ahh...tire tracks, foot tracks, and a lot of paw prints.
Mulder: Yes. We're lucky that we can still see the tire tracks. I guess a lot of animals cross this area. Anyway, this is where the tracks stop.

Scully: Hey, wait a minute. You said that a lot of animals must come around this area.but look. There can't be one seen for miles!

Mulder: Hmm. You're right! And it isn't at its hottest yet, so there can't be much sleeping going on...maybe its past rush hour.

<Mulder looks at Scully, and smiles.>

Scully: You're enjoying this, aren't you?

Mulder: Oh yeah! <tries his best to roar...it turns out to be pretty loud. For a human.>

<Cut suddenly to outside the cave at pride rock. Simba runs out.>

Simba: What on Earth was that?
<Zazu follows, flying, right behind him>

Zazu: I don't know sire. Didn't sound like a lion.what other animals roar?

Simba: Hmmm. Humans?

Zazu: Here? Now? Roaring?

Simba: <turns quickly to Zazu> Yes! That would explain the missing animals, wouldn't it?
<Nala walks out>

Nala: Yes, Simba, but don't you think Chimba would have told us about that if there was a human around? Its not like those things can hide easily.

Simba: Ahh...that's true, Nala. Well what was it then?

<Cut back to Mulder and Scully>

Scully: What was that for?

Mulder: Well... You asked if I was enjoying myself...and I was expressing the answer.

<Scully rolls her eyes, and starts to examine the tracks left.>

Scully: <Quietly> If I didn't know better.

<Reaches into her bag and pulls out a book on animal tracks. Flips through book, and smiles.>

Mulder: What? What have you found?

Scully: These are mostly lion tracks, Mulder.

Mulder: So you think he's been eaten?

Scully: This would suggest that, yes.

Mulder: So where has the truck gone? There are no clear tire tracks going on, and the ones behind us are most likely where he came from.

Scully: Should we follow them?

Mulder: Not unless you feel like going back to South Africa! Maybe we should carefully examine some lion prides and see if we can at least find the body of the driver.

Scully: <nods> OK.

<Walk towards Pride Rock, the outline of which can be seen clearly.>
<Cut to the Lions and Zazu. They are approaching the waterhole.>

Zazu: Hmm. This seems familiar.

Simba: <chuckles> Yes! Maybe I should start singing, "I just love being king"!

Nala: Don't be silly, Simba.

Simba: I was kidding you know, Nala.

<Stops walking.>

Nala: Yes, I guessed that, but sometimes you can't quite be sure about what you'll do next!

Simba: What's that supposed to mean?

Zazu: Hey guys! Calm down!

Nala: Remember "Hakuna Matata"?

Zazu: HEY! All we need now are you two starting a fight!

Simba: You're right, Zazu. And yes, Nala, I do remember "Hakuna Matata", but that was a one-off.

Nala: How do you know that?

<Zazu rolls his eyes, Simba and Nala keep debating, and reluctantly start walking towards the water hole again.>
<Cut to commercials.>
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Just behind the waterhole ;)
11:32, 51s & 32ms (a.m.)

Mulder: <pointing to water> Hey! Feel like a drink?

Scully: <grabbing Mulder, who is already starting to walk towards it> Wait! Is that a lion and lioness there?

Mulder: <squints> Yes.yes it is. So?

Scully: So? Mulder, lions eat people! We wouldn't be safe!

Mulder: We've got our guns, right? If they start to attack, we can shoot them.

Scully: Mulder. Have you ever watched "The Lion King"?

Mulder: <smiles> Yes. What does that have to do with this?

Scully: Mulder, some scientists believe in the theory of the Circle of Life, and I happen to be one of them. If you shoot these lions, you'll disrupt the circle.

Mulder: <stares at Scully> And you think I'm crazy? Do you know what you're saying? You are taking theorys from a kids movie!

<tLK fans everywhere growl. This isn't part of the story, and can't be heard, but I know you're doing it! ;) >

Scully: Its not the movie, Mulder, it's the theory. You just can't do that! It isn't right! By the way, I liked the movie. It isn't just for kids.

Mulder: Alright, alright. I see your point. Wait a second....is it my imagination...or are they coming.towards us?

Scully: I think they're coming towards us! <grabbing Mulder> Come on, lets go before they get here! <getting ready to run>

Mulder: <standing, determined not to move> No! Don't run! They'll chase us!

Scully: Better that then getting eaten, Mulder, come on!
<Cut to the Lions and Zazu>
Simba: Look! Its.. humans!

Zazu: Quick, sire, get them!

Nala: No Simba, don't. We don't get many humans around here.maybe they are in trouble! They don't look to good.

Simba: <stares at Nala. Then Zazu.> OK. Lets just walk over to them and see what they do.

<Simba, Nala and Zazu start to walk [fly] over to Mulder and Scully, who are standing as still as possible in the distance.>

Scully: Come ooon Mulder, lets go!
Mulder: Wait! <curious voice> They aren't charging.

<Simba and Nala walk over to the humans and sit. Zazu perches himself on Nala's head. They stare at each other while all we can here are the few distant bug sounds, and a drum. Thumping.>

Mulder: <to Scully, whispering> They aren't charging at us!

<Simba looks at Nala. Then Zazu. Looks to the humans.>

Simba: Of course not! Humans aren't exactly our normal food!

<Scully's mouth drops wide open, and just stares. Mulder, being the ever-curious one, looks questioningly at Simba, and walks over with an extended hand. Simba hesitates back, and so does Mulder, but eventually, Simba moves back forward, slowly, and Mulder kneels down, and puts his hand on Simba's head.>

Mulder: <In a questioning voice, not much emotion> How...can this be? You talk!

Zazu: Of course we can you mook! You aren't the only animals with language you know!

Nala: Mook? You've been around Timon too much, Zazu.

Scully: But...but this is impossible! We've proven that we are the only animals that have the capabilities to speak the English language with understanding and intellect.

Simba: Yes, well we do speak, but the only ones who can hear us are those with an open enough heart and mind to listen. You two obviously have some sort of deep connection to the wild animal kingdom to be able to hear us talk.

Mulder: <standing up> Hmmm.I've always wanted to discover the unknown, so my mind is open to anything, and Scully, <looks over to Scully> Dana has a deep and honest understanding of the Circle of Life. <Looks over to the other animals> Is that real?

Simba: Oh, well... <gets cut off by Nala>
Nala: <Simba frowns at Nala> Yes! It is very real! It is what we live by! Its great to know that you understand it! What are your names? <Looks over to Scully> Day-nah is it?

Scully: Y-yes. But you can call me Scully. That's what my friends and co-workers call me.

Mulder: And you can call me Mulder. My other name is Fox.

Zazu: <hovering in the air> OK, Scully, Mulder, <nodding at the them as he says their names> I'm Zazu, and this is Simba and Nala <pointing the best he can as he says the names>

<Mulder and Scully look at each other>
S&M: Just like in the movie!

Simba: Moo-vee? What's that?

Mulder: Oh, uh. Nothing. We...uh...are just a bit surprised. <pause> That's all.

Z, S&N: Oh.

Nala: Well so are we. We don't get many humans around here. Why are you here, anyway?

Scully: We're here because another human, carrying some stuff to South Africa, in a truck, dissapeared completely, along with the truck. We are out here to see if we can find the human...and the truck.

<Simba and Nala look at each other, and then at the humans.>

Simba: Hey! We're looking for missing friends too! Six animals have dissapeared from the Pride Lands in the last day, and we don't know where they are. No one has eaten them.

Mulder: <looks at Scully> Do you think these are related cases? <looks at the lions>

Scully: I doubt it! What would one human, a truck, and a bunch of wild animals have in common?

Mulder: I give up! What do a human, a truck and a bunch of wild animals have in common?

<Scully turns away with a "not again" sigh. The three pride land inhabitants look at each other with questioning faces.>

<Cut to a jungle scene. We hear the normal, scary, X-Files atmospheric music, with the sound of what can only be described as conversation. Pumbaa is sneaking towards the strange sound, for he doesn't recognize the voices. He suddenly steps in something strange. We know this by the look on his face. The camera moves down as Pumbaa looks down, to reveal the eaten body of what can only be assumed as the driver's. Pumbaa screams very loudly, and we see a lion paw grab Pumbaa by the tail and drag him into the bushes. After a few seconds, all goes quiet. Except for the music...and the strange voices.>

<Cut to commercials.>
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At the bottom of Pride Rock
Sun 20o above Western horizon

Mulder: So you guys want to go looking for your friends, while we go looking for our human victim?

Zazu: <cringes> Victim? How do you know he's a victim? He could be alive, you know.

Scully: Maybe. But with all the lions out there.

Nala: You think someone may have eaten him?

<Scully and Mulder nod.>

Simba: Possibly. But yes, we do suggest that we split up, now. As you say, it is pretty unlikely that your problem is related to ours, so I think we should go in our separate directions. <Looks over to Zazu> How can we make sure they won't be eaten, though?

Zazu: Hmm. If they become part of LPIG, the other animals will know that they are one of "us" and not to be harmed.

Mulder: LPIG? <Chuckles> What does that mean? Lazy PIG? <Laughs>

Zazu: Hmph. NO! It means "Lion Pride Investigation Group".

Scully: Hmm. Kind of like who we work for.

Nala: You work for Lions?

Scully: <looking at Mulder who is still smiling, and now and then giggles> No. We work for an investigation group, the FBI.

Zazu: Let me guess...the "First Bark of Insects"! <Laughs. Then realizes that no one else finds that funny.> Huh. Hee. Hmm. Ok, then, smarty pants, what does it mean?

Scully: The Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mulder: Better than LPIG! <Chuckles>

Zazu: Alright, if you must, one insult a minute, please. Anyway, let me get our rocks to show that you are part of the group.

<Flies off, and returns with two rocks, inside the cocunut-like thing. Zazu prepares the rocks, and Mulder and Scully put them on their clothes. Scully checks to make sure that it will come off again, and when she sees that it does, she puts it back on.>

Zazu: Good. Now, the sooner we separate...the sooner we can get this done.

<All nod.>
<Gopher pops up from the underground.>
Gopher: Zazu! Sir! News.. Three more animals missing! <Quickly retreats again>

Zazu: Wait! Who are they? <pauses, but no response> Oh well, come on this is getting serious!

<The two groups separate.>
<Cut to commercials.>
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1 mile from Pride Rock
Sun just set. (maybe..7pm?)

Mulder: You've been quiet since we left. What are you thinking?

Scully: I can't get over that they talked. And gave us these rocks.

Mulder: So whats your scientific explanation for this, then?

Scully: I..I don't have one. How can you explain talking lions...and birds?

Mulder: Faith. Belief. The fact that we both had problems, and it was a way of connecting. Just because science, as we know it, can't explain something like this, doesn't mean it can't happen.

<Scully nods.>

Mulder: You realize that is what I've been trying to tell you in every other X-File...and you only now get it?

Scully: Well...Mulder, this is the only solid, personal evidence I've seen in one of your X-Files. Its too real and too obvious to deny. I have to believe you!

Mulder: <sarcastically> Oh, thanks. So where are we going, anyway?

Scully: Well. That truck had to go somewhere. I have a feeling that those tracks going in the direction back to Cape Town is our key. I think we just need to follow them.

Mulder: Back to Cape Town? But Scully...

Scully: No, Mulder. <stops walking> Ever consider that they could have turned off the original track? Then got stuck in some sort of.jungle or something in the middle of nowhere, get lost, and never be seen again?

Mulder: But why would he do that? Why not head right back to Cape Town?

Scully: I don't know, Mulder, but it is the only thing we have to follow on, right now. At least investigate it.

<Mulder looks at Scully for a second, then nods, and they start walking again.>
<Cut to the LPIG group.>
Zazu: So. Where do we go?

Simba: I think we should go to the outside territory of the Pride Lands, maybe even out further, into the jungles.

Nala: Well, we could. But maybe we should just split up and walk around the Pride Lands for a bit, seeing if these missing animals are just false alerts, and that they just aren't in their normal places.

Simba: Oh, Nala, the Gophers are a very accurate communication group. If they tell us that these animals are missing, they're missing. I say we stick with our idea. <Looks at Zazu> What do you think, ba-loo-ee?

Zazu: <blubbers> Hey, that's Zazu...this heat's getting to you, Simba.

Simba: Zazu, it's the evening. This is when things get cooler. Anyway, what do you think we should do, Zazu?

Zazu: I think we should go with Simba's idea. It seems more fruitfull.

Simba: <looks to Nala> Ha! There, you see!

Nala: <frowns at Simba, then turns to look at Zazu> How can you follow his idea, Zazu? He's the one who put you under a Hippo when he was young and deserted you.

Simba: <frowns at Nala> But it was your idea!

Nala: <turning to Simba> Yeah, but you pulled it off!

Simba: With you! You can't get out of it that easily!

Zazu: Now, now, lets not start this again.

Simba: You stay out of this, banana beak!

Zazu: Hey! Now you see here, young lion....

Simba: <Growls while saying> What?

Zazu: <nervous> Oh, nothing. Nothing.

Simba: Good. <Looks over to Nala> Nala, you need to remember that while part of LPIG, I am the head of it, and you need to remember that these are my cases and that I need to take charge of them.

Nala: Oh really? Well mister hot fur, let me remind you that we are in this together...

Zazu: BE QUIET! I must step in here, this is getting ridiculous. We have a case to solve here, missing animals to find, this is no time to determine who the boss is. Besides. Everyone knows that that's me.

S&N: WHAT?!

<Cut to Scully and Mulder, approaching a break in the tracks.> Scully: Mulder! Look! A break!

Mulder: Hmm. <kneels down to take a closer look> So it is. Ready to follow it?

Scully: Well, Mulder, it is getting kind of dark. Why don't we start on it in the morning?

Mulder: OK. We should be safe here. There don't seem to be any lions, or such.

<Fade out, and fade in on the next morning.>
<Scully and Mulder start to follow the tracks. We see several fades of the camera, as the sun moves from east to west, and Mulder and Scully follow the tracks further and further. Finally, the travelers approach...>

Scully: A jungle! Maybe the driver needed to relax or something.

Mulder. Hmm. Scully? Do you smell that?

Scully: What?

Mulder: Its a very raw smell...like something rotting.

Scully: <snifs, not obviously, but you can tell she's smelling> Yes...yes there is a faint odor. What are you suggesting?

Mulder: That maybe the driver did come here to relax. Permanantely.

<The twosome walk into the woods. They walk through some trees, and you can tell the stench is getting stronger because both Mulder and Scully are covering their faces more and more with hands, shirts, etc. It is then that Mulder stops suddenly, with a face of shear disgust. Scully looks over to see why Mulder has stopped, puts on the same face, turns around quickly, covering her face so we don't know what she is actually doing. Mulder kneels down to take a closer look, and the camera follows his gaze. We see a dead body...mostly bones and blood, with insects all over it. This must be why Scully turned away (she is around dead bodies, all the time, normally)>

<The picture fades to black, and cut to commercials.>
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Uncharted part of Africa
What do I look like, a clock?

Mulder: Well. We know where the driver is.

Scully: <pearing over the body, into the trees> And maybe...

<Scully passes through the trees and walks up to the truck. Mulder follows, waiting by the trees, looking at Scully.>

Scully: Here's the truck! Some X-File! But...why did the driver die so soon? <she turns towards the truck>

Mulder: I don..ahhhhhh! Scully!

<Scully quickly turns around, she, and us, see Mulder being pulled into the bushes. Quickly, Scully runs towards him, and through the bushes. We see Mulder fighting a lion. Scully gets out her gun...and points. She hovers, and then puts the gun down, slowly...>

Scully: Wait! We don't want to hurt you! Let him go!

<The Lion and Mulder keep fighting>

Scully: We know Simba. And Nala. We came to find you.
<The Lion stops, and looks curiously at Scully. Mulder quickly gets up and runs to Scully, with blood all over his cheeks and clothes.>

Lion: You can hear us talk? You know Simba and Nala?

Scully: Yes.

Lion: I guess you want to know why your human friend died over there, right?

Mulder: Well, its kind of the reason why we're here, yes.

Lion: Well. Let me start by saying that my name is Amka, and I don't want to hurt you. I also want to say that food has been hard to get around here. I had to attack and eat your human friend.

Scully: Where?

Amka: Out in the Pride Lands.

Mulder: So why is the truck here? <steps towards the lion>

Amka: I was curious about this human machine. I had never seen one before. I walked to the back and saw many square things inside, some were shiny, others were just black. It seemed interesting to me, I wanted to investigate. I knew that if I stayed in the Pride Lands, I'd get caught very easily. So after convincing an elephant, and an antelope that the contents were worth keeping and investigating, we, together, pushed the machine out here. I grabbed one of the square things inside of it and carried it over to a clearing in the bushes. I played with some of the objects sticking out from it and...

<BANG BANG! "I'll get you sooner or later">

Mulder: What was that?

Amka: That would be the square.

M&S: Huh?

Amka: Follow me...

<All three walk into a clearing, just as Amka had described.>

Timon: Oh come on...change the picture! This is boring!

Pumbaa: Yeah, theres got to be something better!

<Mulder and Scully look at each other.>

M&S: Television!

Amka, Timon and Pumbaa: What-a-vison?

Mulder: This, guys, is one of the reasons humans have lost touch with the world. It is called 'television' and will show us whatever we want, whenever we want. Well. As long as the networks have it planned. Anyway, its our contact to the world...and I don't think its a good idea if you have it.

Timon: Heeey...you're not taking this thing away! I'm on this thing, you know!

Scully: Maybe, but you have more important things to do.

T&P: Like?

<Mulder looks at Scully. Silently, they agree that they aren't going to win this through persuasion. Mulder steps over to the television and jumps on it, crushing the set.>

Pumbaa: OH NO!
Timon: THIS IS AWFUL!
Amka: I told you humans can't be trusted.

Scully: Look guys, we're doing this for your own good.

<The other animals enter the area...including the elephant and the antelope from Amka's story>

Elephant: Hey Timon, we got the popcorn beetles! Whats on?
Timon: Nothin'.
Amka: Don't worry, guys. Theres more in the truck, remember?

Mulder: I don't think so! We're taking those.

<Mulder, seeing the evil stare in the lion's eyes, runs quickly, knocks Scully to get her running, and they jump into the truck, quickly, Mulder tries the key. It won't start>

Scully: Come on Mulder...the lion's coming!

<Just as the lion is two feet from the truck, Mulder starts the engine. The lion jumps up onto the door, and makes a large boom. Mulder releases the breaks, and starts to drive through the dense jungle, trying to get past the trees as best he can. Finally, he makes it out of the jungle, and onto the sand. Amka, Timon, Pumbaa, and the others run to the edge of the jungle, just in time to see the truck move away.>
<Fade to black.>
<Fade in on Skinner's office. Mulder and Scully are on one side of a desk, and Skinner is in his chair, facing the two agents.>
FBI Headquarters
10:00 a.m.

Skinner: So let me get this straight. The lion killed the driver, and put him in the truck. Then, with help, he pushed the truck to the jungle, started playing with the contents, and ended up watching....television?

<Scully and Mulder nod. Slowly.>

Skinner: <sighs> Well. I must say that this is hard to beleive. I don't understand two things though. First, how did you find out all of this information? And two, how could the television work without any electricity around?

Mulder: Well, I can answer the second one. You see, these people were providing some home made variants of brand-name televisions. They altered them so that they could run off solar power. Very clever, actually. Just illegal. <smiles>

Scully: We figured out the first part, mostly through guessing. But the biggest pointer was the fact that the body was fairly old when we found it, and it was obvious that it had been dragged. Blood in the truck showed that the body must have been there. Testing is currently being done to confirm this.

Mulder: And we know the animals were watching it because...well, because we saw them.

Skinner: Thats it?

<They nod>

Skinner: OK. You can go now.

<Scully and Mulder walk out of the office, into the halls of the building. About 5 feet from the door, they stop.>

Scully: So you didn't tell him about the talking animals?

<Mulder puts his hands on Scully's shoulders, and looks her right in the eyes.>

Mulder: Scully, I could tell Skinner that UFOs have landed, that ghosts exist and that the devil is real. But when it comes to something that we humans have decided on whole-heartedly already, I couldn't tell a soul.

<He walks away>

Scully: Mulder!

<Mulder turns around.>

Scully: Did you ever see Simba, Nala and Zazu since we left them?
Mulder: No. Did you?
Scully: No.

<Fade from that scene to Simba, Nala and Zazu in the cave.>
The cave at Pride Rock
1:00 p.m.

Zazu: Well, then, sire, it seems that all is back in its place now. It seems that our human friends helped quite a bit, after all.

Simba: Yes. More than we did. Thanks to Nala, here.

Nala: Hey, you were just as bad...you could have at least agreed with me so that we could have got on with the case...

Simba: But then you would have gloated in the pride that you "won". I'm not about ready to let you do that...

<Zazu shakes his head, and flies out. After a few seconds, Rafiki walks in. Zazu flies in soon after.>

Zazu: ATTENTION! <all goes quiet> I was hoping that I wouldn't have to do this, but it looks as if I'm going to have to do it. <looks over to Rafiki> Go on, then.

<Rafiki chants, and the lions look at him. The cave goes red, and all of a sudden, a big burst of smoke is let out. When it clears, we see the lions asleep.>

Zazu: Did it work?
Rafiki: <close up, tinted red> Yes. When they wake up, they won't remember a thing.

<Fade out. The End.>

The author can be contacted at: timon@net1plus.com OR
      andrewp@bigfoot.com
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