The Jungle Book1967

Bagheera:
[first lines] Many strange legends are told of these jungles of India, but none so strange as the story of a small boy named Mowgli. It all began when the silence of the jungle was broken by an unfamiliar sound. [At the sound of a baby's cries, Bagheera stopped at Baby Mowgli's boat] It was a sound that had never been heard before in this part of the jungle. [Bagheera looks at the boat with Baby Mowgli] It was a man-cub! If I had known how deeply I was to be involved, I would have obeyed my first impulse and walked away. [Bagheera turns back on the branch, but Baby Mowgli cries again, making him return. He looks down and Baby Mowgli looks at him playfully] This man-cub would have to have nourishment, and soon. It was many days' travel to the nearest man-village, and without a mother's care, he would soon perish. Then it occurred to me. A family of wolves I knew had been blessed with a litter of cubs. [the wolf pups play around their mother Raksha, Bagheera is looking at them from bushes, Bagheera with Baby Mowgli watches from the bushes as the family of wolves walk into their lair and puts the baby boy right before the entrance. He goes back into the bushes and waits, but nothing happens, so he carefully sneaks back over and pushes the basket with his paw. He rushes away again as the baby cries out in surprise. The wolves come out and look at Baby Mowgli, and Raksha smiles down at him] I knew there'd be no problem with the mother, thanks to maternal instinct, but I wasn't so sure about Rama, the father. [Rama comes from the jungle, sniffs suspiciously at the baby Man-cub, sees the smiling face of Raksha, looks at Baby Mowgli playing with the wolf pups again, and smiles, too, and "My Own Home" starts in the background as the wolves take Baby Mowgli into the wolf lair. Ten years later] Ten times the rains had come and gone, and I often stopped by to see how Mowgli the man-cub was getting along. He was a favorite with all the young wolf cubs of the pack. [Mowgli howls; Raksha and the four young wolves came out of the cave; Grey Brother and Leah playfully tackle and lick Mowgli] No man-cub was ever happier. And yet...I knew that someday, he would have to go back to his own kind. [scene switches to Council Rock on a misty, moonlit night, with howling] Then, one night, the wolf pack elders met at Council Rock, because Shere Khan, the tiger, had returned to their part of the jungle. This meeting had to change the man-cub's entire future.

Akela:
Shere Khan will surely kill the boy, and all who try to protect him. Now, are we all in agreement as to what must be done? [wolves solemnly nod] Now, it is my unpleasant duty to tell the boy's father. Rama! Come over here, please.

Rama:
Yes, Akela?

Akela:
The council has reached its decision. The man-cub cannot stay with the pack. He must leave immediately.

Rama:
[shocked] Leave?

Akela:
I'm sorry, Rama, but there is no other way.

Rama:
But-- But the man-cub is-- Well, he's like my own son! Surely he's entitled to the protection of the pack?

Akela:
But Rama, even the strength of the pack is no match for the tiger.

Rama:
But the boy cannot survive alone in the jungle.

Bagheera:
Akela, perhaps I can be of help.

Akela:
You, Bagheera? How?

Bagheera:
I know of a Man Village where he'll be safe. Mowgli and I have taken many walks into this jungle together, so I'm sure he'll go with me.

Akela:
So be it. Now, there's no time to lose. Good luck.

[scene switches to Bagheera and Mowgli at night]

Mowgli:
Bagheera... [tiredly stretches] ...I’m gettin' a little sleepy. Shouldn't we start back home?

Bagheera:
Mowgli, this time, we're not going back. I'm taking you to a Man Village.

Mowgli:
But why?

Bagheera:
Because Shere Khan has returned to this part of the jungle. And he has sworn to kill you.

Mowgli:
Kill me?! But why would he want to do that?

Bagheera:
He hates men. And Shere Khan is not going to allow you to grow up to become a man: just another hunter with a gun.

Mowgli:
Aw, we'll just explain to him that I'd never do a thing like that.

Bagheera:
Nonsense. No one explains anything to Shere Khan.

Mowgli:
Well, maybe so, but I'm not afraid. And besides, I--

Bagheera:
Now, that's enough! We'll spend the night here. Things will look better in the morning.