Over shoulder of mouse teacher, we see classroom full of little mice.
Teacher
WELL, WE’VE COVERED THE BASICS: COWERING…
WHACK! He hits the blackboard with his ruler – it sounds just like a mousetrap being tripped.
Mice Children
(cringing and cowering)
AAAAAH!
Teacher
CRINGING…
WHACK! The teacher hits the blackboard.
Mice Children
OOOOOOH!
Teacher
RUNNING AWAY IN TERROR…
WHACK!
Close-up of Despereaux, the smallest mouse of all, sitting up straight and attentive in his chair.
Teacher
NOW THE LYNCHPIN OF ALL THIS MOUSE-LIKE BEHAVIOR IS ABJECT FEAR….
Intercut:
DESPEREAUX’S KID MOUSE FRIENDS
DON’T, DESPEREAUX! YOU’LL BE KILLED!
Despereaux calmly trips mousetrap, parts flying up, launching cheese skyward.
Despereaux backing up like an outfielder for the catch.
KID MICE
(cheerleading)
DESPEREAUX, HE’S OUR MAN! IF HE CAN’T DO IT, NO ONE CAN!
Despereaux’s P.O.V: cheese falling, tiny in the distance...zooming closer and closer until it blacks out the screen WHACK!
TITLE
“THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX”
CLOSE-UP
Big Cheese wedged in Despereaux’s mouth, gives him a huge grin.