"HONORING THE Scientist"
Episode #26
FADE IN:
InT. book - dAY - intro
NARRATOR
In a land before time, far, far, far away, there was a legendary kingdom called Sugarland.  Its citizens were gentle and kind. 
Narrator (CONT'D)
Well, let's see whose story we are telling today. Hmmmm...
CUT TO:
EXT. town square - dAY
Narrator
...Aha, I think this man. Just the way he rides the donkey could be a story in itself. Hmm... No, no. I'll tell this guy's story.
Scientist
Hold on, hold on please. You've told so many stories so far. But you've never told mine. Even once. 
NarrATOR
Oh, I'm sorry. Pardon me for asking, who are you?
Scientist
I'm a poet, an educated man, and a writer. I've written forty books so far. I've received many international prizes. Yes, I'm very well know around here. 
NARRATOR
You don't say! Hey, Korbin? 
Korbin
Ya what do you want?
NARRATOR
You knew this gentleman and didn't tell us anything? 
Korbin
Who? This guy? No, can't say that I do. 
Nanna
Ah, ah... so hot. 
Korbin
Hey, Nanna. Tell me, do you know this guy? 
Nanna
Him? Of course, he's the storyteller. 
Korbin
No, I'm talking about this one here. 
Nanna
Ah, No, can't say I know him. Probably a stranger.
Sammy
Okay, step aside, all. I do know this man. He's an actor, he's been in all kinds of great action movies. 
Scientist
What are you talking about? What action movie??
Franky
What's going on here? You lost or something? Where you from anyway?
Scientist
Oh, for Pete's sake. You're driving me mad. You know what Mr. Storyteller, I don't want to tell you my story. Forget the whole thing. 
NARRATOR
No, no, no... Not at all. In fact I just recognized you.

SAMMY
Can I get your autograph?
NARRATOR
The fact is I know the story of folks like you by heart. Let's go and watch your tale.
CUT TO:
INT. sugarland - day - scientist work room
NarrATOR
Back in the days here in Sugarland, there was a professor who was an expert in many disciplines. Literature, poetry, history etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. 
Scientist
Not at all, you're being too kind.
NARRATOR
Well, yes, this professor would burn the midnight oil all night and produced many books. A plethora, you might say.  
CUT TO:
EXT. town square - dAY - lATER
The scientist has set up his kiosk and tries to sells his books and literature.
Scientist
Get your book here. Artistic books, books on philosophy... educational books.... all types of books. Get them here...
NARRATOR
As you can see, since there was no bookstore in Sugarland, the professor had to sell his own books.
Kid #2
Do you have the book called "The Bear and the Little Talker"?
Scientist
No, kid. I don't.
Kid #2
How about "The Rabbit and the Tricky Bear"?
Scientist
I'm afraid not. We don't have any books with bears in them. 
Kid #2
Huh, so you don't have any of the good books. 
Raana
Excuse me, you have the book "Men are from Sugarland, Women are from Bookland"?
Scientist
No, I don't
Raana
What! How about "Swallow Your Shoe?". You have that?
Scientist
No young lady. Don't have that either. But we have the book "A Review of the Sugarland History" it's about... something...
Raana
Sorry, not interested. Sorry... 
SAMMY
Hey, dude, how much for the books?
Scientist
"The History of Philosophical Thoughts" twenty coins, and the "Collection of Poems by..."
SAMMY
No, dude. I mean all of your books together. How much for them all?
Scientist
Sorry, I don't quite understand. What?
SAMMY
I mean like all included. Like, all inclusive? I want to decorate my coffee shop with them. 
Scientist
You know what? No sale here! NO! 
SAMMY
Not for sale? Well, say so from the start. Why some people waste other people's time. I just don't understand...
Scientist
Ah! Why me...
NarrATOR
That's right! And in the end, since he couldn't sell anything, he'd end up reading his own book. 
BACK TO:
INT. sUGARLAND - DAY - scientist work room - mOMENTS LATER
Scientist
Hummm, OH, How interesting... But first I have to write more footnotes. 
NARRATOR
So, that's how it was, until the day...
CUT TO:
EXT. tOWN SQuaRE - DAY
JACOB
No, no... Not this one either.
Scientist
I have this one too. "Reasons Why The West Got Ahead and Sugarland Was Left Behind".
JACOB
Let me see.... Let me see....
Scientist
This book examines the root causes of...
JACOB
Humm... No, no. This is no good. Give me that one. No, over there... No, over there, over there... 
Scientist
Just tell me what subject you are interested in.
JACOB
The subject doesn't matter. I just want its thickness to be just so. To put under the leg of my table which is broken. 
Scientist
What!, You people are driving me mad. I'm not selling anymore books. Get out of here! Get out of here... I tell you, get out! 
JACOB
Why are you shouting? You silly moron person!
NarrATOR
Wow, that's why the professor decided to move to Bookland. Maybe there he could sell some of his books.  
CUT TO:
EXT. road to bookland - dAY
Scientist
(to himself)
I'd better go to Bookland, maybe I can sell something there. Maybe here... 
CUT TO:
EXT. rOAD TO BOOKLAND - bridge - dAY - mOMENTS LATER
Scientist
Move, you beast. Move. .. What are you doing? No, careful... Careful... Careful I said. Careful...
The donkey bucks and the books fall over the bridge and into the water.
SCIENTIST (CONT'D)
Oh no, my books. My darling books.  I've got to rescue them... my books...
The scientist jumps off the bridge and into the water to save his books.
SCIENTIST (CONT'D)
Help! Help! Someone help... Help!
NarrATOR
And right after the Professor drowned, things started to change. 
CUT TO:
EXT. sUGARLAND - DAY - town sqaure
SAMMY
Get all your movies here. Hollywood pictures. Foreign films. Come on... Everybody.... 
JACOB
People, people..... Listen to me. The professor is dead! He has left us. He's dead...
Franky
What's going on here? Who died?
Nanna
Maybe somebody we know.
JACOB
Our town's pride is gone. 
SAMMY
Oh, where did he go? When? Where's he been till now?
JACOB
The Professor is dead. He is gone. He is dead. Dead! Dead!
Franky
Professor? What's he a professor of?
SAMMY
Dude, I think he's talking about the guy with the books?
Franky
You sure he kicked the bucket? 
JACOB
Yes, they found his turban, in the river. 

FRANKY
Seriously? OH NO! Not the Professor! He's gone... I know him, since I was a little boy.... Oh, ya... I don't even know who that is... anymore... 
Nanna weeps as well.
JACOB
WHY!!!
CUT TO:
EXT. sUGARLAND - DAY - town square - staging area
Some of the town folk are gathered to pay tribute to the scientist. Franky, Nanna, and Jacob continue to weep.
SAMMY
Hello... Testing... checking One, two, one two... Condolences for the death of the Professor. As the deceased closest friend, I will announce this grand ceremony to honor our dear departed Professor. 
Franky
Wait a second, who says he was your friend? He was my best bud for years and years. Now that he's gone, you want to grab him? Your   a friend stealer, that's it... 
SAMMY
The fact is I am very close to the artistic and literary community. I have also composed some poems that I will recite at his ceremony. 
Nanna
Don't get ahead of yourselves. The Professor always had his dinner at our place. 
SAMMY
Oh dear Professor. I'm only glad that your not here to see our friendship being questioned. 
NarrATOR
And from that day on, everyone considered himself a close friend of the Professor and wherever you went, you heard the Professor's name. 
CUT TO:
EXT. sUGARLAND - DAY
A TV reporter talk to various town folk about the dearly departed Professor.
RePORTER
Yes, can you tell us what you thought of the Professor?
Randolph
Ah, by the geeze, are we live right now?
REPORTER
Across the nation, please continue. 
Randolph
Okay... Professor why did you die? Why did you leave your friend alone? What a disaster. I don't even know how this could of befall on us? Tell me! Tell me why? I need to know... I need to know... 
CUT TO:
INT. suGARLAND - DAY - judge's house
The judge watches the town folk testimonials on his television.
JUDGE
What? Oh come on... What a hypocrite... What?
Franky
Me and the Professor, we was like one spirit in two bodies. We used to go down to the piggly wiggly... and we would have great meat pies together. Then the Professor would say 'Franky'. I'd say 'Yes, my friend'. He'd then say to me 'What a great meat pie'. I miss meat pies....
JUDGE
What? I can't believe this lying bunch! What?
SAMMY
Ya, it's true... I'm heart broken... And now the poem I've composed for the Professor. "Hey you dear Professor, where did you go, don't you know how much we miss you? From my eyes comes blood not tears and..." and... Hey, come on, these fools know, I've paid alot of money for these poems.... atleast you could write it down legibly.  
JUDGE
Ah, look what type of boastful fools they interview. And no one even calls me, the guy who was his friend and had opened a line of credit for him. .. Ah, I don't believe this....
The Judge dials into the TV network.
JUDGE (CONT'D)
Hello, is this the Sugarland TV Network?
PHONE OPERATOR
Yes?
JUDGE
Excuse me, how come no one interviewed me, a close friend of the Professor?
PHONE OPERATOR
Sure. We'll put you down for tenth anniversary of the Professor's death. 
JUDGE
What? Ten years from now? But why?
PHONE OPERATOR
So far two thousands of the Professor's closest friends have booked time to be interviewed. 
JUDGE
I know what to do, with them. 
CUT TO:
INT. sUGARLAND - DAY - copy and print store - mOMENTS LATER
The clerk works on a photoshoped image of the judge and the professor.
DRUMMER BOY
How's this?
JUDGE
No, no, no... I was his best friend. Gotta make it closer... alot closer...
DRUMMER BOY
How's this? Can't do closer than this. 
JUDGE
Aha... That's better. Now print one thousand copies of this. I'll show them. Yes, that'll be good... 
NarrATOR
So you see, everyone did what they could to honor the Professor. 
CUT TO:
EXT. sUGARLAND - DAY - korbin's house
Korbin supervises the teenager as he carves out a statue of the dearly departed professor.
Korbin
What is this? You were supposed to make a statue that depicts the Professor's greatness.
TEENAGER
But, you haven't even seen the whole thing yet. Jackson. Turn the pump on. 
Jackson (O.S.)
Alright, here it goes.
Korbin
Great. Beautiful. You outdid yourself kid. You made the Professor's name eternal. 
CUT TO:
EXT. sUGARLAND - DAY - TOWN SQUARE - ceremony
The town folk have gathered at a ceremony to officially honor the memory of the Professor.
NarrATOR
And on and on, until that day...
SAMMY
I just wanna take a moment out to welcome everyone to the ceremony to honor the Professor, ya... I've encapsulated all my feelings in the form of a poem which I will now sing for you... "What an awful habit life is. It's all about unrequited love and broken hearts..." A nightmare you can't wake up from..."
CUT TO:
EXT. sUGARLAND - DAY - alley
The professor makes his way back into the main square. Cloths dripping from the fall into the river.
Scientist
Wow, I almost drowned. At least I managed to save these two books. What? What is this statue? Wow! Look how much it resembles me. Take a look at that. The posters! They all show me. Better find out what's going on. 
SAMMY
And now I invite our great friend Franky to come up to the podium and, recite some of the Professor's poems for us. 
Franky
I... I... The thing is I left my glasses back home. You know, Ray, you do the honors. 
Ray
Ah, Forget it, I haven't even read one line of his poems. 
Sal 
You mean to say, this guy was also a poet?
SAMMY
Okay, so no one's reading his poetry? Okay, no problem. Let's have someone talk about his writings, then.. Okay?  
Nanna
What are 'writings'?
JUDGE
No, come on... What he means his is... the stuff he wrote down when he was bored. 
Scientist
I would like to say a few words.
crowd
What... who wants to talk... oh, the Professor...
Scientist
Ya, I have a few to say and share with these people... these very fine people... Thank you for your generosity... I appreciate the gesture to honor me... 
Franky
Oh, Who is this guy. What's he saying?
Scientist
I always knew you folks loved your culture. 
Nanna
Hmmm... This is the Professor himself. Hey, everybody. The dead have come back to life!!
Scientist
I am humbled by your generosity of spirit...
Franky
What? So he's like... undead?
Ray
Let's get out of here. He's been pulling our leg. 
JUDGE
And just think, we said so many nice things about him. 
Scientist
When I see so much love for culture right here, I ask myself why should I go to Bookland. I will stay here... Right here in Sugarland... I will never leave... 
NarrATOR
What a strange tale. It seems it's time for us to go too. Till another day and another story.   
CREDITS
Director: Babak Nazari
Story: Mehdi Esmaeeli, Babak Nazari, Saied Zameni, Asghar Saffar, Masood Aslani
Script: Mehdi Esmaeelie Ghahforokhi
Character Design: Rashin Kheirieh, Asghar Saffar, Mehrdad Shahverdi, Elahe Taherian, Mohammad Yousefi
Background Painting: Hossein Safi
Object Design: Ashkan Shir-Mohammadi, Mohammad Yousefi, Morteza Sharifian, Vahid Mohammadi
Story Board and Story Reel: Saied Zameni, Asghar Saffar, Mehrdad Shahverdi
Animators' Supervisor: Hazhir Ziaee
Animators: Kazem Mirahmadi, Iraj Khosronia, Morvarid Rohanizadegan, Mahtab Vakil, Nora Shafizadeh, Javad Ghorbanpoor
Texture and material:  Mohammad Yousefi, Morteza Sharifian
F/X, visual effects and technical aspects: Iraj Khosro-nia. 
Layout: Ashkan Shir-Mohammadi, Ali Hossein-Khan, Meyzam Borza
Light and Camera: Babak Nazari
Composit and Titles: Asghar Saffar
Production Manager, Rig and Dynamics: Iraj Khosro-Nia
Edit: Asghar Saffar, Babak Nazari
Score: Jalal Zolfonon
Dubbin Supervisor: Shokat Hojjat
Sound: Peyman Tavasoli
Sound Assistant: Aidin Radkia
Dubbing: Faranak Rafiee, Narges Foladvand, Morteza Ahmadi, Akbar Manani, Asghar Afzali, Javad Pezeshkian, Mohammad Ebadi, Shahrooz Malek-Araee, Said Sheikh-Zadeh, Tooraj Nasr, Ebrahim Shafiee, Mehdi Arian-Nejad, Alireza Shaygan, Ardshir Monazam, Ali Ashkboos, Ali Hemmat Mosa-Vand, Alireza Javid-Nia, Valiollah Momeni
Production Manager: Hazheer Ziaee
Thank yous: Hoda Masoodi, Afsaneh Bakhshi, Vida Nematian, Mohammad Reza Doost Mohammadi, Maryam Naghibi, Ali Hamidi, Ali Aghajani
In charge of production: Film Frame Studio
Executive Producer: Seyed Masood Safavi
A joint production of: Hoze Honari Animation Center and Channel 2