MINNOWS IN A POND
Written by
Matthew Brunhofer
matthew.brunhofer@gmail.com
(571) 575-6158

FADE IN:
EXT. THE POND - ICE MOUNTAIN - DAY
Hordes of zombies, skeletons, and werewolves from the deepest
parts of fear storm up icy slopes. HOWLS, GROWLS, and BONE
CLINKS create chaos in the air.
EXT. ICE MOUNTAIN - HIGHEST PEAK - DAY
GARY, 10, a skinny red blob-child in a purple robe and
goggles, fires magic missiles from a crayon-shaped staff.
LEONARDO, 10, a large, husky green blob-child clad in candy
wrapper steel armor, slices a werewolf with a gigantic sword.
The werewolf disintegrates into dust.
HERALD, 10, a short blue blob-child in clothes made out of
LEGOS and a bandana around his face, dices through skeletons
and zombies with gold daggers.
GARY
Minnows! Back to back!
Gary, Leonardo, Herald (The Minnows) retract back-to-back in
the middle of a icy crater as the horde surrounds them.
An ICY SCREECH arises; the horde of enemies halts.
Everyone arches their necks and frantically gaze around.
GARDOON, an elite ice dragon, circles around the crowd and
swoops in. Gardoon brandishes his claws and crashes through
the horde. Skeletons, werewolves, and zombies scatter.
The Minnows dive out away as Gardoon’s claws stream past.
GARY (CONT’D)
Plan ninety-two! Ninety-two!
HERALD
I hate ninety-two...
Gary slams his crayon-staff, which cracks the icy surface. A
bright white light grows from the staff’s head.
Gardoon turns and swoops towards Gary.
Herald WHISTLES with his fingers. He waves his hands and runs
towards the edge of the mountain.

Gardoon turns and fires a gigantic ice ball as Herald sprints
through the crowd of zombies, skeletons, and werewolves.
Herald’s speed creates a trench in the ice.
Gardoon licks his lips.
GARDOON
Come here! Come here! You smell so
sweet! Run! Run! Make it better!
The light on Gary’s staff grows and widens.
Herald nears the edge; Gardoon streams right behind him.
Gary waves his staff and flings the ball of light at Gardoon.
It nails Gardoon in the side and sends him to the ice.
Herald skids to a halt at the edge of the mountain and swings
his arms for balance; he safely falls back onto the ice.
Gardoon contorts on the ground and screams in agony.
Leonardo approaches with his sword on his shoulder. He raises
the blade and slices. Gardoon disintegrates, and the entire
horde of enemies burst into smoke.
Gary and Herald approach Leonardo, who removes his helmet.
LEONARDO
I love ninety-two.
GARY
Haha.
Herald rolls his eyes and breathes hard.
An alarm RINGS. The Minnows sigh.
HERALD
It’s meatloaf night...
Herald gags.
LEONARDO
At least your parents cook for you.
The Minnows grasp hands and chant.
THE MINNOWS
The Pond is our Friend. The Pond is
our guide. The Pond is where we go
to hide.
2.

The Pond is greater than the times
of Rome. The Pond is our place when
we can’t go home.
The Minnows disappear from the tarnished ice crater.
INT. GARY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Moonlight casts through a window and illuminates parts of a
bed and toys all over the floor. A light dimly glows
underneath a white blanket on the bed.
A door bursts open; light spills into the room. A silhouetted
blob-hand reaches in, and a light FLICKS on.
The blanket shifts around as MOM, 33, and DAD, 41, adult
versions of red blob-children in fine-tailored suits, stomp
towards the bed. Mom rips the blanket away.
The blanket flies off of Gary, in a white T-shirt that says:
“World’s Best Son.” He holds a flashlight and a book.
Gary gapes at the angry faces of Mom and Dad. He flicks off
the flashlight and nervously smiles.
Dad snatches the book and throws it out of the room. Gary
frowns, and Mom puts her hands on her hips.
MOM
Books. Stories. It’s all you ever
think about. They will make you
deaf, dumb, and blind.
GARY
But my friends and I--
MOM
Your friends are a bad influence.
Art is pointless. Stories are
stupid. No more books, ya’ hear?
Gary crosses his arms and leans against a headboard.
DAD
Don’t ignore your mother.
GARY
I hear.
Mom and Dad exit the room and close the door.
Gary sighs and hops off the bed. He turns around as the words
on his shirt morph to spell: “Disappointment.”
3.

Gary lifts the mattress, which reveals tons of paperback
novels, a notebook, and a box of crayons. Gary grabs the
notebook and crayons, and turns; the mattress FLOPS.
Gary climbs into a large chair in front of a desk.
GARY (CONT’D)
I just want you to be proud of me.
He opens the notebook and pulls out a blue crayon. He draws a
stick figure and writes “Dad” underneath. He gives the figure
a broom, pointy hat, and goofy teeth.
Gary pulls out a pink crayon. He draws a stick figure and
writes “Mom” underneath. He gives the figure a broom, pointy
hat, and goofy teeth.
Gary pulls out a red crayon and draws a small stick figure;
he gives it a sad face. He draws a dialogue bubble from its
mouth and writes: “Why aren’t you proud of me?” inside of it.
Above Mom and Dad, Gary writes, in black crayon, “Gwendolyn
and Artemis: The Evil Witch and Warlock.”
INT. TREE HOUSE - DAY
Several power cords stream out from behind a messy bookshelf.
They connect to two televisions, a video game system, and a
DVD player.
Leonardo, with large headphones on his eyes, watches a movie
on a television and eats a Snickers bar.
Herald sits in a chair made out of LEGOS, mashes buttons on a
game controller, and screams at the other television.
Leonardo glares at Herald and puts his finger to his lips.
LEONARDO
Shhh.
HERALD
Eat your Candy!
Gary enters through a wooden hatch in the floor. He removes a
backpack off his shoulders and tosses it to the bookcase.
Leonardo removes the headphones and stands. Herald presses a
button on the controller, which pauses the video game.
LEONARDO
You’re late, dude.
4.

GARY
Maybe we shouldn’t do this anymore.
The Pond is stupid. Our adventures
are pointless.
Leonardo and Herald gape at Gary.
GARY (CONT’D)
I mean look at us. All this. Books,
Movies, Games... They are--
LEONARDO
Going to make us deaf, dumb--
HERALD
And blind.
Leonardo nods at Herald; Gary gawks at them.
LEONARDO AND HERALD
Our parents say the same things.
Gary gazes down, and Leonardo grips Gary’s shoulder.
LEONARDO
We’re The Minnows, dude. Too small
for our parents to understand.
HERALD
It’s why The Pond is so important
for us. For our imaginations.
Anything is possible there.
LEONARDO
Come on, we’re wasting time.
Herald bumps Gary’s shoulder; Leonardo winds a timer.
The Minnows gather in the center of the room.
They grasp hands, close their eyes, and chant.
THE MINNOWS
The Pond is our Friend. The Pond is
our guide...
EXT. THE POND - CATACLYSMIC LAND - DAY
A large orb of white light appears in the middle of a red sky
over a decimated, lava-ridden land.
A gigantic fiery mountain looms in the distance. Deep cracks
create canyons throughout the land.
5.

The orb of light explodes and drops The Minnows, in their
outfits and weapons, to the decimated ground.
Gary immediately yelps.
GARY
I can’t see.
He runs his hands over his goggles. They’ve fused to his eyes
with pitch black lenses.
LEONARDO
I can’t hear!
Leonardo runs his hands around his helmet. Divots on the
sides show it has fused to his ears.
HERALD
Mmmmh! Mmmmh! Meeeemmmh!
Herald frantically taps Leonardo’s shoulder. Leonardo gawks
at him, and Herald points to the bandana fused to his mouth.
LEONARDO
Deaf.
HERALD
(mumble)
Dumb.
GARY
And blind.
Leonardo and Herald gawk at each other; Leonardo grabs Gary’s
hand and pulls him over. They all grasp hands.
LEONARDO AND GARY
The Pond is our Friend. The Pond is
our guide...
Gary turns his head to Herald.
GARY
Herald, what’s wrong?
LEONARDO
The Pond is where we go to hide.
HERALD
Mmmmh-mmmmmmh!
LEONARDO
The Pond is greater than the times
of Rome.
6.

GARY
What, Herald?
HERALD
Mmmh. Mmmh. Mmmmmmmmh!
LEONARDO
The Pond is our place when we can’t
go home... Why isn’t it working?
ARTEMIS AND GWENDOLYN
Haha! Hehe!
ARTEMIS, 70, an ugly blue warlock, and GWENDOLYN, 70, a
hideous pink witch, fly over The Minnows on brooms.
ARTEMIS AND GWENDOLYN (CONT’D)
Art is Pointless! Haha! Hehe!
Artemis and Gwendolyn speed towards the fiery mountain.
HERALD
Mmmm-nuuu! Mmmmmm-nuuuuu!
Herald paces around. Leonardo stares at Herald.
LEONARDO
What, Herald? What is it?
GARY
Artemis and Gwendolyn.
Herald halts; he grabs Leonardo and points at Gary.
GARY (CONT’D)
I created them last night. They
must be powered by our parents’
“Art is Pointless” influence on us.
Herald gawks at Gary. He raises his hands and drops them.
Leonardo stares at Herald.
LEONARDO
What? I can’t hear him. What is it?
GARY
Maybe destroying them with our
imaginations will send an “Art is
Important” message to our parents.
Herald shakes his head.
7.

GARY (CONT’D)
Listen. All our parents believe art
is pointless. This will prove them
wrong. They’ll see and be proud of
what we can do... Come on anything
is possible in The Pond.
Herald crosses his arms and gazes at the ground. Leonardo
gawks at both of them.
LEONARDO
I don’t know what is going on. But,
whatever we have to do to get out
of here, then let’s do it.
HISSY GROWLS arise from behind The Minnows. Gary and Herald
turn their heads. Herald’s eyes widen.
GARY
That doesn’t sound nice.
Herald turns Leonardo around as three Fire Wolves stalk
towards The Minnows. Fire saliva drips from their jaws.
LEONARDO
Run!
Leonardo grabs Gary, and The Minnows sprint away with the
Fire Wolves in pursuit.
The Minnows move across the Cataclysmic land as the Fire
Wolves snap their jaws and slash their claws at them.
LEONARDO (CONT’D)
Herald! There! Look!
Leonardo points at a crack in a wall at the base of the Fiery
Mountain. Gary stumbles and falls. A Fire Wolf leaps for him.
Leonardo swings his sword at the Wolf.
The Fire Wolf dodges back; Leonardo grabs Gary.
Herald halts at the crack in the wall. Leonardo, with his
sword over his shoulder, tosses Gary to Herald.
Herald helps Gary through the crack as the three Fire Wolves
leap at Leonardo, who slides towards the crack. He stabs his
sword into the ground, which blocks the crack.
The Fire Wolves slam into the wall and the sword.
8.

EXT. FIERY MOUNTAIN - BOTTOM - DAY
Leonardo rests and breathes heavily against a wall. Herald
and Gary approach him; the Wolves bang against the sword.
Leonardo looks up and holds his breath. He taps Heralds
shoulder and points. A MUCOSAE HISS arises.
Herald turns and gapes at a gigantic Oil Snake. Black oil
drips over its bright, sharp teeth.
Gary taps Leonardo’s head.
LEONARDO
Snake. An Oil Snake.
Herald unsheathes his gold daggers and sprints towards the
Oil Snake. It snaps towards Leonardo and Gary. Leonardo
shoves Gary away, and the Oil Snake crashes into the wall.
Leonardo reaches through the crack, and the Fire Wolves bang
against the sword. Leonardo snaps back and crawls to Gary.
Herald climbs up a rock; he leaps towards the Oil Snake and
cocks the daggers back. Herald lands on the Oil Snake but
slips across. He falls and drops the daggers.
LEONARDO (CONT’D)
Herald, back here. Behind you!
Herald crawls to Leonardo and Gary. The Minnows back into a
corner as the Oil Snake coils up and crooks back.
CLOSE UP ON
The Minnows grasp their hands together.
BACK TO OIL SNAKE
The Oil Snake snaps forward, but three bright beams of light
shoot out from The Minnows’ foreheads. The beams hit the Oil
Snake, and it BURSTS into a thousand shards.
Herald’s eyes widen as Leonardo steps back.
LEONARDO (CONT’D)
Dude... That was sweet.
Gary feels for Leonardo’s head and turns it to him. He speaks
loud and clear.
9.

GARY
What was that?
LEONARDO
Our imaginations.
Herald nods.
EXT. FIERY MOUNTAIN - STEEP SLOPE - DAY
A heavy fog drifts across the slopes of the mountain and
blocks the view of the peak.
The Minnows approach a wooden ladder. Leonardo cranes his
neck up the ladder. It disappears as it ascends into the fog.
LEONARDO
I can’t see anything.
Herald grabs Leonardo’s head and points at his eyes, then up
the ladder.
LEONARDO (CONT’D)
You can see?
Herald nods, and Leonardo turns to Gary.
LEONARDO (CONT’D)
We need a rope, dude.
Gary clamps his hands together and squeezes. He slowly
separates them, and a long rope-like light forms between
them. Gary claps his hands, and a long rope drops.
Leonardo and Herald tie the rope around their waists.
EXT. FIERY MOUNTAIN - THE FOG - DAY
Leonardo climbs the ladder with Gary on his back. He stares
up at a dense cloud of fog.
Herald climbs the ladder and peers down at the heavy fog.
ARTEMIS AND GWENDOLYN
Haha! Hehe!
A fireball SMASHES into the wall next to Herald. The ladder
violently vibrates; Herald slips off.
Herald falls past Leonardo and Gary. The rope tightens, which
halts Herald’s fall and pulls on Leonardo’s waist. Leonardo
shifts and almost loses his grip.
10.

ARTEMIS
Have another! Haha!
A fireball hits the wall next to Leonardo and Gary. Artemis
and Gwendolyn swoop by.
GWENDOLYN
Hehe!
Herald dangles in mid-air as Leonardo’s grip loosens.
LEONARDO
Herald!
Artemis and Gwendolyn swoop and throw another fireball.
GWENDOLYN
Yeah, Herald! Don’t leave them
hanging! Hehe! They might slip!
Herald pushes off of the wall. He swings back and runs up the
slope. His legs move with incredible speed. The rope slackens
and Leonardo re-grips the ladder.
ARTEMIS
How about a can for these Sardines!
Artemis conjures a fireball, but Herald flies out of the fog
and brandishes the daggers. Artemis gapes as Herald slices
his broom in half.
A loud CRACK and shimmering light burst from the broom.
ARTEMIS (CONT’D)
Yaaaaarrrrggghhhh!
Artemis descends into the fog.
Herald crashes against the ladder, but ripples down the
rungs. He stabs the rocky slope. The dagger cuts the rungs of
the ladder. Herald slips further down.
GWENDOLYN
Hehe!
Herald goggles down; Gwendolyn flies straight at Herald out
of the fog with Artemis, who holds onto her waist.
Herald’s eyes widen, and he cocks back the dagger. He jams it
into the mountain, and it catches. Herald hugs the ladder as
Artemis and Gwendolyn barely miss him.
ARTEMIS AND GWENDOLYN
You’ll never escape! Haha! Hehe!
11.

Artemis and Gwendolyn disappear in the thick fog.
EXT. FIERY MOUNTAIN - HIGHEST PEAK - DAY
The Minnows clamber over the top of the ladder and slide into
a deep crater. A large, fiery pit snaps with BUBBLES and
HISSES in the middle of the crater.
Artemis and Gwendolyn dance at the far end of the pit.
ARTEMIS AND GWENDOLYN
Haha! You’re never gonna make it.
You’re never gonna make it. Time to
stay here... Forever.
Artemis and Gwendolyn halt as The Minnows approach the
scolding edge of the pit. They peer at Artemis and Gwendolyn
and grasp hands.
GWENDOLYN
Hehe! Artemis what are they doing?
ARTEMIS
Oh, Gwendolyn. Not enough!
Artemis waves his hand. The three Fire Wolves erupt out of
the fiery pit. The Minnows release hands and back away.
The Fire Wolves slowly stalk towards The Minnows, who
separate from each other.
Fire and oil drip from a Fire Wolf’s mouth as it hungrily
peers at Herald.
Leonardo puts his hands in front of himself as a Fire Wolf
wags a fiery tongue.
LEONARDO
Just keep backing up, Gary!
Gary slowly walks backwards. The third Fire Wolf slowly
serpentines closer and closer to him.
ARTEMIS AND GWENDOLYN
Hehe! Haha!
Artemis and Gwendolyn create fire balls with their hands and
hurl them towards The Minnows.
Herald eyes a fire ball coming towards him, but his back
strikes a rocky wall. The Fire Wolf launches itself toward
him, and Herald steps out of the way.
12.

The Fire Wolf smacks into the wall; the fireball hits the
Fire Wolf. Herald unsheathes his daggers, but halts as the
Fire Wolf grows bigger. Herald’s eyes widen.
Leonardo peers at the Fire Wolf in front of him. Its paws dig
into the ground and push off into a leap.
Herald runs up the rocky wall. He launches off of it and
lands on the back of the larger Fire Wolf.
Leonardo jumps and wraps his arms around the Fire Wolf’s
neck. He grasps it into a headlock.
LEONARDO
Gotchya!
The Fire Wolf WHINES and GROWLS as it bucks and swings its
body. Leonardo hangs on.
Gary reaches behind him, and his fingers touch the rocky
wall. A fireball slams into the wall next to him, and the
Fire Wolf growls in his face.
The Fire Wolf licks its lips and slowly opens its mouth.
Orange fangs reflect in Gary’s dark goggles. The Fire Wolf
rises on its hind legs, and its mouth surrounds Gary’s head.
Gary shoves the crayon-staff into the Fire Wolf’s throat. Its
eyes widen, and the Fire Wolf bursts into dust with a WHINE.
Gary twirls the staff and bats an incoming fireball away.
Leonardo holds on as the Fire Wolf bucks and swings.
He rips the Fire Wolf down to the ground and keeps it in a
headlock. He drags it towards Gary and glances at a fireball
descending towards Gary.
LEONARDO (CONT’D)
Gary! Eighty-six!
Gary sprints towards Leonardo. The fireball smashes the wall.
Herald jams the daggers into the large Fire Wolf’s back. The
Fire Wolf HOWLS and sprints around the fiery pit. Herald
hangs onto the daggers as he ducks underneath fireballs.
Leonardo drags the Fire Wolf; Gary twirls his staff and
creates a wheel of light. A fireball passes through a portion
of the light, and the fireball cuts in half.
GARY
Now!
13.

Leonardo throws the Fire Wolf towards the wheel of light. The
Fire Wolf passes through and disintegrates entirely.
Leonardo breathes heavily and stares at Gary.
LEONARDO
I hate eighty-six.
A HEAVY RUMBLE arises, and Leonardo peeks around Gary. He
swings Gary out of the way as the large Fire Wolf runs past
them with Herald on its back.
Herald steers the Fire Wolf towards the rocky wall. Its paws
dig in and run up the steep slope. The Fire Wolf closes in on
the end of the crater, and Herald removes the daggers.
The Fire Wolf leaps over the edge and disappears with a HOWL.
LEONARDO (CONT’D)
No!
GARY
What? What happened?
Herald lands on his feet behind Leonardo and Gary. Leonardo
snaps around; Herald cracks his neck.
LEONARDO
Show-off.
HERALD
Mmmmmh!
Three fireballs EXPLODE around The Minnows.
ARTEMIS AND GWENDOLYN
Haha! Hehe!
The Minnows band together and grasp hands.
Three beams of light fire out of their foreheads. The beams
spear across the fire pit and hit Artemis and Gwendolyn.
ARTEMIS AND GWENDOLYN (CONT’D)
Yaaaaaarrrrggghhhhhh!
The fiery pit morphs into a bed of rock; the red sky
disintegrates into a pale blue.
Gary’s goggles return to normal. Leonardo removes his helmet
and rubs his ears. Herald unties the bandana from his mouth.
HERALD
Dear Lord! That sucked!
14.

LEONARDO
I’d rather it’d stay on.
Herald punches Leonardo, who smiles and gawks around.
LEONARDO (CONT’D)
Where’s Gary?
Herald points across the bed of rock.
Gary approaches the injured Artemis and Gwendolyn, who wither
and crawl on the ground.
GWENDOLYN
Ugh! Stories are stupid.
ARTEMIS
Yick! Art is pointless.
Gary glares down at them.
ARTEMIS AND GWENDOLYN
You’re a disappointment.
Gary slams the staff down, which cracks the rocky surface.
Artemis and Gwendolyn silence.
GARY
No I am not.
Gary waves the staff around. He points it at Artemis and
Gwendolyn. They disintegrate into a magical white light, and
the light rapidly ascends into the air.
EXT. TREE HOUSE - DAY
A white light bursts out of the tree house.
EXT. CARTER AVENUE - DAY
The white light spreads over houses on a wide street.
INT. GARY’S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
Chicken cooks in a pan as Mom and Dad sit at a table. They
work on paperwork and computers.
The white light passes through a window and through Mom and
Dad’s heads.
Mom and Dad look up and gawk at each other.
15.

INT. GARY’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Moonlight casts through a window and illuminates parts of the
bed and toys on the floor. A light dimly glows underneath a
white blanket on the bed.
The door bursts open, and light spills into the room. A
silhouetted blob-hand reaches in; a light FLICKS on.
The blanket shifts around as Mom and Dad enter with a wagon
full of books.
Gary slowly slides the blanket off of himself, and his eyes
widen at the wagon. Dad places books on the desk. Mom sits
down on the bed.
MOM
We’re extremely proud of you, Gary.
DAD
Your imagination makes you special.
MOM
And we don’t want to hinder that in
any sort of way.
DAD
So, read up, son! Haha!
Mom kisses Gary’s head. Gary gawks at the books.
MOM
Hehe!
Mom and Dad fill the desk with books. Gary sweetly smiles and
walks to the window.
INT/EXT. GARY’S WINDOW - NIGHT
Gary stares at the tree house in a far off backyard.
FADE OUT.
16.