Peter and Susan gape in amazement. They crane their heads to look up at the treetops. Susan waves her hand through the falling snow.

SUSAN
(whispers)
Impossible...

LUCY
Don’t worry...

Lucy casually steps up next to them

LUCY (cont’d)
I’m sure it’s just your imagination.

Peter looks down at her, guilty.

PETER
I don’t suppose saying we’re sorry would quite cover it.

LUCY
No. It wouldn’t.

She pulls out A SNOWBALL and WHIPS it at Peter.

LUCY (cont’d)
But that might!

THE THREE OF THEM scramble into a brief, wild snowball fight. It only ends when an errant snowball flies through the air...

AND HITS A VERY GUILTY-LOOKING EDMND IN THE FACE.

EDMUND
Oww. Stop it!

They all stare at Edmund. Peter gives a low whistle.

PETER
You little liar.

EDMUND
You didn’t believe her either.

PETER
Apologize to Lucy.

Edmund doesn’t move. Peter takes a threatening step.

PETER (cont’d)
Say you’re sorry.

EDMUND
(disingenuous)
All right. I’m sorry.

Lucy smirks.

LUCY
That’s alright. Some little children just don’t know when to stop pretending.

Edmund glares, caught in his own game.

EDMUND
Very funny.

Susan cuts through the tense moment:

SUSAN
Maybe we should go back.

EDMUND
Shouldn’t we at least take a look around?

PETER
I think Lucy should decide.

Lucy smiles.

LUCY
I’d like you all to Mr. Tumnus!

PETER
Then Mr. Tumnus, it is.

He rummages in the wardrobe.

SUSAN
But we can’t go hiking in the snow dressed like this.

Peter returns with FOUR FUR COATS

PETER
No. But I’m sure the Professor wouldn’t mind us using these.

Peter hands out the coats. He grins at Susan.

PETER (cont’d)
Anyway, If you think about it "logically," we’re not even taking them out of the wardrobe.

He hands Edmund a PARTICULARLY FEMININE COAT.

EDMUND
But that’s a girl’s coat!

Peter shoves it at him.

PETER
I know

47 EXT. NARNIA - DAY
The four of them walk through the white world.

They gape at the lamp-post.

Edmund just glowers up at...TWO DARK HILLS IN THE DISTANCE.

48 EXT. TUMNUS’ HOUSE - DAY
Lucy leads them down a narrow crevasse, around a corner.

Suddenly, she stops. The others nearly bump into her.

PETER
Lu?

Lucy stares. TUMNUS’ DOOR HAS BEEN WRENCHED OFF ITS HINGES.

Peter puts his hand on Lucy’s shoulder, but she breaks away and runs for the door.

PETER (cont’d)
Lucy!

49 INT. TUMNUS’ HOUSE - DAY
Lucy stands in the doorway, her mouth open. The others come in behind her. Susan gasps.

The little home lies RAVAGED. Smoke BLACKENS the walls.

Crockery and furniture clutter the floor, SMASHED TO BITS.

LUCY
Who would do something like this?

Peter plucks up A PIECE OF PARCHMENT. CLOSE ON: "WARRANT OF ARREST, BY ORDER OF HER MAJESTY."

PETER
"The Faun Tumnus is hereby charged with High Treason against her Imperial Majesty Jadis, Queen of Narnia, for comforting her enemies and fraternizing with Humans.
Signed, Maugrim, Captain of the Secret Police.
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN."

SUSAN
All right, now we really should go back.

LUCY
But what about Mr. Tumnus?

SUSAN
If he was arrested just for being with a human, I don’t think that there’s much that we can do.

LUCY
But you don’t understand, do you?

The others look at her, confused.

LUCY (cont’d)
I’m the Human! She must have found out he helped me.

Edmund stares down at the SHREDDED PORTRAIT of Tumnus’ father. He looks away.

PETER
Maybe we could call the police.

Susan taps the warrant.

SUSAN
These are the police.

She reaches out to reassure Lucy, who just turns to Peter.

PETER
Don’t worry Lu. We’ll think of something.

EDMUND
Why?

The others turn to Edmund surprised.

EDMUND (cont’d)
(gestures to the warrant)
I mean, he’s a criminal.

Suddenly:

VOICE (O.S.)
Psst.

Susan gapes out the doorway, where...

A ROBIN HOPS from one branch to the next.

SUSAN
Did that bird just "psst" us?

The children step tentatively outside...

50 EXT. TUMNUS’ HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
The bird stares at them a long moment, then flies away, leaving them all alone.

The Pevensies look around apprehensively. Then:

A RUSTLING COMES FROM THE WOODS.

They huddle, staring anxiously into the forest, until:

VOICE
Psst!

They look down to see A VERY LARGE BEAVER beckoning to them.

LUCY
(incredulous)
It’s a beaver

Peter takes a slow step toward it, holding out his hand as if to a dog. He makes a clucking noise.

PETER
Here boy. Here boy.

The Beaver puts his hands on his hips.

MR. BEAVER
I ain’t gonna to smell it, if that’s what you want.

Peter and Edmund stare. Susan’s jaw drops. Lucy giggles.

PETER
Oh. Sorry.

The Beaver peers at Lucy.

MR. BEAVER
Lucy Pevensie?

LUCY
(surprised, tentative)
Yes...

He hands her a WHITE HANDKERCHIEF, embroidered with "Lucy Pevensie."

LUCY (cont’d)
That’s the hanky I gave to Mr.-
(Tumnus)

MR. BEAVER
Tumnus. He got it to me just before they took him.

LUCY
Is he all right?

The Beaver puts his finger to his lips and looks around cautiously. He beckons.

MR. BEAVER
Further in.

He disappears into the forest.

Lucy and Peter start to follow.

SUSAN
What are you doing?

EDMUND
She’s right. How do we know we can trust him?

PETER
He said he knows the faun...

SUSAN
He’s a beaver! He shouldn’t be saying anything.

The Beaver pops his head back through the thicket.

MR. BEAVER
(impatiently)
Everything alright?

Peter holds Susan’s glare.

PETER
Yes. We were just talking...

MR. BEAVER
That’s better left for somewhere safe.

He waves them forward and slips away.

Lucy turns to the others.

LUCY
(whispering)
He means the trees.

She rushes after him, forcing the others to follow

51. EXT. NARNIA, BEAVER DAM - DUSK
Beaver leads the four children out of the forest. They gape.

MR. BEAVER
Come on. We don’t want to be caught out here after nightfall.

Ahead of them lies Beaver’s COZY DAM. Smoke streams out the little chimney.

MR. BEAVER (cont’d)
Oh, blimey. Looks like the old girl has got the kettle on.
Nice cup of rosy-lee!

LUCY
It’s lovely.

MR. BEAVER
Oh, it’s merely a trifle, you know. Still got plenty to do. Ain’t quite finished it yet. It’ll look the business when it is done.

A FROZEN RIVER lies in front of them like a green highway.

Lucy steps to the edge. A FISH HANGS FROZEN IN THE ICE.

MRS. BEAVER (O.S.)
Beaver? Is that you? I’ve been worried sick. If I find out you’ve been with badger again...

The door opens. MRS. BEAVER pokes her head out and GASPS.

She runs to the Pevensies, reverent.

MRS. BEAVER (cont’d)
Those aren’t badgers...I never thought I’d live to see this day.

Beaver smiles proudly. The children look at each other, confused.

Mrs. Beaver gives her husband a sharp glance.

MRS. BEAVER (cont’d)
(harsh whisper)
Look at my fur. You couldn’t give me ten minutes warning?

MR. BEAVER
I’d give you a week if I thought it would’ve helped.

She turns to the kids.

MRS. BEAVER
Come inside and we’ll see if we can’t get you some food. And some civilized company.

She leads them toward the lodge.

MR. BEAVER
Now careful, watch your step

MRS. BEAVER
Excuse the mess...

Edmund lags behind, looking past the mound...at the pair of DARK HILLS BEYOND.

MR. BEAVER
Enjoying the scenery, are we?

Beaver eyes the boy. Edmund shoves his hands in his pockets and heads inside.

PETER (O.S.)
Isn’t there anything we can to do help Tumnus?

Kindly provided by DavisChristian

Go Back - Go to Next

Go to Index