The Lion King (1993 draft)

The Lion King is an early treatment for what would become the film of the same name. It was written by Irene Mecchi and Jonathan Roberts, and dated August 20, 1993.
==Synopsis==
One morning, Simba is presented to the animals of the Pride Lands. Shortly afterward, his uncle Scar lamented how Simba's birth meant that he was no longer the next-in-line for the throne. Zazu arrived and lambasted Scar for missing Simba's presentation, but this only incited the lion to eat him. Just then, Mufasa arrived and ordered Scar to let Zazu go. He then questioned his brother as to why he had missed the ceremony, and Scar sarcastically replied that the "hairball" had changed his place in the succession line. Though Mufasa attempted to reason with his brother, Scar simply walked off into the savanna.
Seasons later, Simba, now a young cub, bounded into the den of Pride Rock to awaken his parents. Mufasa took his son to the top of Pride Rock and showed him the Pride Lands. He told his son that the kingdom would belong to him someday but that he must avoid a "shadowy place" on the horizon. The two descended Pride Rock and began to walk through the savanna, during which Mufasa taught Simba about the Circle of Life.
Just then, Zazu arrived and began to deliver his morning report. In the middle of the report, Mufasa taught Simba how to pounce, and the cub used Zazu as his target. However, a mole appeared and informed Zazu that hyenas were in the Pride Lands. Immediately, Mufasa took off to deal with the problem and forbid Simba from coming with him. Deflated, Simba followed Zazu back to Pride Rock.
When Simba returned home, he went to visit his uncle Scar and bragged about how he was going to be the king of Pride Rock someday. Scar asked Simba if Mufasa had shown him the shadowy place, and a miffed Simba related how he had been forbidden to go there. In the face of Simba's questions, Scar revealed that the area was an Elephant Graveyard, after which he feigned remorse and made Simba promise not to go there.
After his conversation with Scar, Simba fetched his friend Nala to go on an adventure with him. Though his mother, Sarabi, gave the cubs permission to leave, she ordered them to bring Zazu along as a babysitter. Though reluctant, the cubs did as they were told. While with Zazu, the hornbill informed them that they were betrothed, but Simba declared that he would break the tradition of betrothal once he was king. This led to a series of misadventures in which the cubs led Zazu into disaster after disaster and eventually escaped him altogether.
After the escape, Simba and Nala began to playfully wrestle, which caused them to roll into the Elephant Graveyard. They started to explore the area, only for Zazu to catch up to them and order them to return home. Despite Zazu's warnings, Simba declared that he laughed in the face of danger. As he emitted a loud fake laugh, it was echoed by three hyenas who were hiding in a nearby elephant skull. The three - Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed - emerged and expressed a desire to eat them. However, as the hyenas began arguing over who would eat which intruder, the cubs fled.
The hyenas managed to nab Zazu and send him shooting out of a geyser. Simba and Nala came back for him, only to get attacked by the hyena trio. After an extended chase, the hyenas cornered the cubs against a rock wall. Though Simba attempted to scare them off with a kittenish roar, they merely laughed at him and mocked his efforts. Just then, Mufasa arrived and chased the hyenas off. Once the danger was gone, he turned his ire on Simba and reprimanded him for having disobeyed direct orders. With Mufasa in the lead, the cubs and Zazu departed the Elephant Graveyard, unaware that Scar was watching from above.
That night, Zazu escorted Nala home, while Mufasa reprimanded his son. He reminded Simba that he had put both himself and Nala in danger, and Simba explained that he had simply been trying to replicate his father's bravery. To this, Mufasa countered that he was only brave when he needed to be and that being brave did not meaning one should look for trouble. Simba asserted that Mufasa was not afraid of anything, but the king admitted that he had been afraid of losing Simba to the hyenas. This made Simba realize that even kings could be scared.
Mufasa and Simba started to playfully wrestle in the grass. During their play, Simba asked his father if they would always be together, and Mufasa replied that the Great Kings of the Past lived on in the stars and that they would always watch over Simba, as would Mufasa himself.
Meanwhile, in the Elephant Graveyard, the hyenas lamented how Mufasa, and lions in general, called all the shots. Just then, Scar appeared, and the hyenas expressed relief that he was not "somebody important," like Mufasa. The hyenas continued to speak in awe about Mufasa, which disgusted Scar. Even so, he gave them an animal haunch as food and told them that he had "practically gift-wrapped" Simba and Nala for them. Shenzi retorted that the cubs had not been alone, and Banzai asked if they were supposed to kill Mufasa. Unexpectedly, Scar replied that they were, after which he recruited them to help him kill both Mufasa and Simba.
The next day, Scar lured Simba to a gorge and told him that his father had a surprise for him. However, instead of fetching Mufasa, Scar gave the signal to Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed to start a stampede of wildebeests. With the hyenas nipping at their heels, the creatures flooded into the gorge, and Simba fled for his life. In the meantime, Scar fetched Mufasa and Zazu, and led them to the gorge.
Once Mufasa arrived, he jumped into the fray, while Scar knocked out a panicking Zazu. Mufasa managed to bear Simba to safety, but before he could climb free of the stampede, he was dragged back into the fray by a wildebeest, out of Simba's sight. Eventually, he jumped out of the stampede and started climbing the side of the gorge. Simba, who had been spectating, began climbing up the side of the gorge to meet his father at the top. However, as Mufasa neared the top of the gorge, Scar grabbed him by the paws and heaved him to his death. From the top of the gorge, Simba watched his father fall and screamed in horror.
After the stampede, Simba found Mufasa's dead body and broke down in tears. Scar soon arrived and blamed Simba for the death. When Simba asked what he should do, Scar advised him to run away and never return. The cub did as he was told, but just as he got out of view, Scar ordered Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed to kill him. The hyenas chased Simba until he jumped into a thorn patch, after which they gave up the chase and assumed that he would perish in the desert.
That night, Scar delivered a eulogy to the pride. He then invited the hyenas into the Pride Lands, which horrified the lionesses.
Meanwhile, Simba struggled through the desert, braving the heat and sandstorms. Eventually, he passed out from exhaustion and was set upon by vultures. Just before he could be eaten, Timon and Pumbaa charged through the vultures and scattered them away from their prey. Pumbaa approached Simba and realized that he was still alive, and Timon properly identified the cub as a lion. Though Timon was fearful of Simba and wanted to run away, Pumbaa insisted that they should take care of the cub. With some persuasion, Timon agreed, and the duo bore Simba to safety.
After reviving Simba on the edge of the jungle, they asked him where he was from, and Simba replied that it did not matter because he could not return. Realizing that Simba was an outcast just like them, Pumbaa asked what he had done, but Simba was evasive and refused to answer. Timon then suggested that he should adhere to the "Hakuna Matata" philosophy. Both he and Pumbaa explained how they had not fit in as youths and so had decided to embrace a "problem-free" philosophy. Before long, Simba did as well.
Seasons passed, and Simba grew up with Timon and Pumbaa in the jungle. One night, while stargazing, the friends discussed their theories on what the stars were, and Simba repeated Mufasa's story about the Great Kings of the Past. This made both Timon and Pumbaa laugh and make fun of him. Though Simba acted blasé about their reactions, he soon walked off to be by himself and collapsed in grief. Milkweed floss was tossed up by Simba, and it eventually reached Rafiki in his tree. After recognizing Simba's scent in the milkweed floss, Rafiki realized that the prince was in fact still alive.
One day, a full-grown Nala attacked Pumbaa, only for Simba to come to his friend's rescue. As the lions fought, Nala pinned Simba on his back, and he recognized her as his childhood friend. The two had a delighted reunion in which Simba introduced her to Timon and Pumbaa. During the course of the conversation, Nala commented that Simba was the rightful king, but Simba insisted that he was not. He then sent Timon and Pumbaa away so he could have a more intimate conversation with Nala. From the sidelines, Timon and Pumbaa lamented Simba and Nala's growing relationship, as they believed it meant that Simba was no longer a member of their trio.
Together, Simba and Nala toured the jungle. Eventually, Nala asked Simba why he had not come home, and he claimed that he had wanted to get out on his own and live his own life. Though Nala told him that Scar had destroyed the Pride Lands and that his pride needed him, Simba refused to accept responsibility and stormed off.
Once on his own, Simba shouted at the stars and declared that there was nothing left to believe in. Shortly afterward, Rafiki appeared and began chanting, which disrupted Simba's melancholy mood. The mandrill asked Simba who he was, but the lion was unable to answer. Unexpectedly, Rafiki called Simba "Mufasa's boy," then dashed off, with Simba in hot pursuit. When Simba caught up to Rafiki, he asked the mandrill how he had known Mufasa, and Rafiki clarified that he still knew Mufasa. Sorrowfully, Simba informed Rafiki that Mufasa had died, but the mandrill insisted that he was still alive.
With Rafiki in the lead, the two ran through an area of dense jungle. They stopped at a pool of water, and Rafiki prompted Simba to look into the water. Upon seeing his reflection, Simba declared that he did not see his father, only his reflection, but Rafiki instructed him to look harder. He then told Simba that Mufasa lived on inside him.
Just then, Mufasa's spirit appeared in the heavens and implored Simba to return home. Though Simba insisted that he had changed, Mufasa reminded him that he was the rightful king and that it was his responsibility to return home. Mufasa then faded into the night sky.
Later that night, Nala woke Timon and Pumbaa, and asked them where Simba was. In answer to her question, Rafiki appeared in a nearby tree and told her that the "king" had "returned." Nala excitedly explained to the duo that Simba had returned to the Pride Lands to challenge his uncle Scar for the throne. She and Pumbaa took off to help Simba, while Timon remained behind.
Meanwhile, Simba returned to the Pride Lands to find it in devastation. Nala and Pumbaa soon arrived, followed by Timon. Though the three were shocked to see him, he insisted that they would not get themselves killed without him. Together, the four neared Pride Rock. In order to draw away the hyenas, Timon and Pumbaa provided a distraction, while Simba and Nala snuck deeper into the Pride Lands.
Within Pride Rock, Zazu performed songs for Scar, to the hornbill's chagrin. At one point, Zazu lamented how he had never had to perform for Mufasa, which incited Scar's wrath and prompted him to recite the new law of the Pride Lands: never mention Mufasa's name in the king's presence. Just then, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed entered the den and told Scar that there was no food left in the Pride Lands. Instead of helping them, he ordered them to leave.
Timon and Pumbaa's distraction worked, which allowed Simba and Nala to reach Pride Rock. Once there, Simba witnessed Scar yelling for his mother, Sarabi. After Sarabi came to him, Scar grilled her on why the lionesses were not hunting, and she replied that the herds had moved on. She then implored Scar to lead them out of the Pride Lands, else they would die, but he refused and insisted that he was the king. Sarabi started to unfavorably compare him to Mufasa, which caused him to strike her in a rage.
Suddenly, Simba appeared and rushed to his mother's side. Though both Sarabi and Scar mistook him for Mufasa, he revealed his true identity to his mother and nuzzled her affectionately. Meanwhile, Scar expressed shock that Simba was alive and glared at the hyenas, who shrunk back behind a rock. Simba confronted Scar and demanded that he abdicate the throne, but Scar pointed out that the hyenas still saw him as the king of the Pride Lands. This prompted the hyenas to attack Simba and drive him dangerously close to the ledge, all while a strike of dry lightning set the Pride Lands ablaze.
Finally, as Simba struggled to stand from his injuries, Scar called off his minions and approached Simba himself. He mocked the young lion for getting Mufasa killed and for running away from his kingdom. Though Simba tried to defend himself, he slipped off the promontory of Pride Rock, and Scar pinned him there. Scar then revealed that he had been the one who had killed Mufasa, which gave Simba the strength to jump up and pin Scar, then expose him for his crimes. From his prone position, Scar ordered his minions to attack, and a battle broke out between Scar's and Simba's allies as the fire began to surround Pride Rock.
After a brief fight, Simba chased Scar to the top of Pride Rock and cornered him. Desperate to escape, Scar blamed the hyenas for Mufasa's death and insisted that he had been forced to confess because they had outnumbered him. From the shadows, Shenzi overheard the betrayal and left. In the meantime, Simba told Scar to run away and never return. Instead of heeding his nephew, Scar attacked, and Simba managed to kick him off Pride Rock.
At the base of Pride Rock, the hyenas surrounded Scar. Though he was initially relieved to see them, they surrounded and advanced on him, to his horror, after which they ate him alive amidst the flames of Pride Rock.
After the battle, Simba ascended Pride Rock and roared over his kingdom. In the following seasons, the Pride Lands was restored to its former glory, and Simba and Nala had a cub. Simba's pride, including Sarabi, Sarafina, Timon, and Pumbaa, joined the presentation to meet Simba's cub. Rafiki presented the newborn to the animals of the Pride Lands, while Simba and Nala looked on proudly.
==Appearances==
==References==
Category:Concepts
Category:Drafts
Category:Real world