Rayman Legends Adventures in The Jungle Book 2/Script

"HURRAY, MOWGLI!!"

"Hush, Ranjan. Hush!"

"C'mon, children, come and watch.  Mowgli, warn us about your story."

"I never knew where I was from, but I always knew in my place.  It's me and Bagheera, the panther who found me in the jungle.  He's a good friend of mine......but my best friend of all was good old Papa Bear.  Dude, we had some crazy times together.  And if the monkeys caught me, facts became really crazy."

"MONKEY!  GO, PAPA BEAR!!"

"And then, I found myself face to face with the meanest and most frightening tiger in the entire jungle…Shere Khan."

"RAAAAWR!!!!  YOU STAY AWAY FROM MOWGLI, YOU MEAN OLD TIGER, OR I'LL LATCH YOUR TAIL ON FIRE AND BURN YOUR BUTT!!"

The sudden yell came from an Indian boy, who was going crazy over seeing a shadow puppet of a tiger. This event ended with him incidentally tearing apart the puppet stage, where Mowgli was showing his village family his adventure in the jungle. It had been a long time since Mowgli entered the Man Village and he had become adopted by the Village Leader of Smashed Team and his wife, Messua. In getting adopted, Mowgli earned a stepbrother named Ranjan, a young, hyperactive boy who often behaved like a wild animal. The girl who lured Mowgli into the village in the first place was a girl named Shanti, and she had been a close friend of Mowgli's ever since he got adopted. The villagers heard about Mowgli's time in the jungle and they were impressed with the puppet shows he put on, explaining what it was like. But in this show, Ranjan, in his emotion over seeing Shere Khan, incidentally destroyed the puppet stage in trying to catch the tiger puppet. Everyone laughed about this wacky motive before Ranjan said to Mowgli, "I GOT HIM, MOWGLI!  DID YOU SEE?!  I HAD HIM!!"

"You did, Ranjan," replied Mowgli, "but it's going to be a little hard to finish the story now."

"But we all know how it ends," said Ranjan, who carried a water pot as he imitated what Shanti did as Mowgli first saw her, "Shanti makes you blink big and beautiful, and you followed her to our village."

Embarrassed, Shanti took the pot away and said, "I did not."

"I did so," replied Mowgli, who fluttered his eyes like Shanti.

"There was something in my eyes," said Shanti, yet embarrassed.

"Both," asked Mowgli suggestively.

Shanti grinned at her friend and said, "well, you were so ugly, you made my eyes weep."

"Really, you…"

The father chuckled as he approached the two children. "Now, now," he said, "we give thanks for Shanti's beautiful brown eyes. Without them, Mowgli would never have found his road into our lives."

Then the father turned to Messua. "Come to think of it.....you used the same trick against me," he said.

"And you yet crack," replied Messua as she twisted the father's beard.

Everyone had a laugh for Shanti's mother approached her daughter. "Thanks for this wonderful story, Mowgli," she said as she guided Shanti to bed.

"Good night, Mowgli," flirted Shanti as she fluttered her eyes.

Mowgli saw this as flirting, but yet grinned. "Good night, Shanti," replied Mowgli, who then humorously said, "watch for Shere Khan on the road home."

Shanti, at first surprised, looked at Mowgli suggestively and replied, "you and your stories.  Everyone knows tigers don't come into the village."

Ranjan acted like a tiger and slowly approached Shanti. "Tigers go where they WANT," he growled as he jumped towards the girl.

Shanti backed away, gently bumping into her mother. "Good night, boys," she said.

Mowgli and Ranjan watched their friend leave. Mowgli knelt down to Ranjan and whispered, "tomorrow's gonna be so great."

"What happens tomorrow," asked Messua, who overheard the conversation.

"Uh…nothing," said Mowgli, trying to cover his plan.

"Nothing," added Ranjan.

"Well, then, you'll need a lot of rest from doing tomorrow," said Messua, "in bed."

"Ah, we never can stay up late," complained Ranjan.

"Ha, ha, even wild beasts need their sleep," chuckled the father as he picked up his son. "Ah, ferocious tiger," chuckled the father playfully, pretending to be attacked while handing Ranjan to Messua.

"Good night, my little wild fact," said Messua as she kissed Ranjan.

The father turned to Mowgli. "Good night, Mowgli.  Sweet dreams."

"Uh…good night…sir," replied Mowgli who, despite warm comfort from his new father, yet didn't feel right at home.

"Why do you always call him sir," asked Ranjan as they headed into their rooms, "his name's Daddy."

The father put out the nearby torch, leaving the village in darkness for the night.

The following morning, Ranjan slowly and silently opened a door leading into a room. Light from the morning sun shone into the room as Ranjan entered the room. Ahead of him was a hammock with a blanket on it. It looked like someone was sleeping in it. If that wasn't enough, there was a snoring sound. Thinking it was Mowgli, Ranjan growled and ran towards the hammock. He jumped into it, but he didn't land on anyone. The blanket was only covering the hammock, much to Ranjan's confusion. But as he thought to himself, he heard a moan coming from above him. He looked and saw Mowgli sleeping on a horizontal pole holding up the hammock. He was sleeping on it like it was a tree branch from the jungle. Ranjan chuckled as he came up with another plan. Using the hammock, he positioned himself like he was about to slingshot himself into a target. With the hammock on his back, he moved himself backward and, using his feet, kept himself from being flung forward. Eyes locked on his foster brother, ready to strike, Ranjan let go and he was sent flying up to the sleeping man cub, who growled in frustration before shouting out an enraged "STEELE!!"

This yell was so loud that it echoed across the man-village. Mowgli was awakened by this, but before he could react fast enough, he was hit by Ranjan and sent falling to the ground. No one was hurt, but Ranjan was hyper. "C'MON, MOWGLI, WAKE UP!  IT'S MORNING!!  YOU SAID WE'LL GO TO....."

Mowgli swiftly silenced the hyper boy by putting his hand over his mouth. "Ranjan," replied Mowgli, "do you want to awaken the entire village?  Where does the tiger roar?"

"I don't know," muffled Ranjan.

"After catching his prey," finished Mowgli.

Eventually understanding what Mowgli was saying, Ranjan stayed silent. "His prey," he whispered, "let's go get our prey."

With that said, the two boys slowly and silently headed down the stairs to the front door of their house, like tigers on the hunt for prey. They peeked into a room that had the front door and saw Messua doing laundry in front of a fireplace. Mowgli and Ranjan tiptoed behind her, but before they could exit, Messua said, "guys."

Mowgli and Ranjan realized that Messua noticed they were nearby. "What?"

"Where are you going so early?"

"To…do our chores," replied Mowgli, trying to cover his plan.

"Yes," added Ranjan.

"Not without breakfast, you're not," said Messua.

Mowgli and Ranjan looked at each other. But Mowgli noticed Shanti outside the building with her water pot, ready to get water from the river. "That's alright," said Mowgli, "we're not hungry.  I have to go!"

The two boys swiftly rushed outside the building, swiftly passing their father. "Boys, where are you going," he asked, surprised by the sudden behavior from his two sons.

"To do our chores," replied Mowgli as he and Ranjan headed towards the village entrance.

"Farewell, Daddy, see you later," added Ranjan.

"Remember," called the father, "don't cross the river."

The father and Messua watched as their two sons ran to the river. "You can take the boy out of the jungle," said the father.

"But you can't get out of the boy's jungle," added Messua.

"Yes," said the concerned father, "that's what worries me."

Outside the village, Shanti was doing her daily chores; gathering water from the nearby river. This was the exact fact she did if she first met Mowgli. She approached the calm river, but heard some noises off in the distance. Shanti could only imagine what life was like in the deep jungle out there. But she didn't have to concern because she was near the village, and she didn't have to go far. She knelt down and picked up some water with her pot. But as she rose to her feet, Mowgli appeared in front of her, hanging from a tree branch like a bat. "Hey, Shanti," he said.

Shanti was surprised by this sudden appearance. "What are you doing here," asked Mowgli as he got himself off the branch.

"Getting some water," replied Shanti, "what are you doing here?"

"Oh, I'm on the prowl," said Mowgli, who looked like he was looking for something, while sneakily grinning at Shanti, "for…danger."

"Danger," asked Shanti, before scoffing and walking back to the village, "please.  There's no danger here."

But Mowgli swiftly intercepted her pathway and said, "well, keep this between us.  Yesterday...I saw tiger tracks."

"Tiger traces," asked Shanti, before skeptically saying, "good."

"Shere Khan," replied Mowgli menacingly, "I heard he was looking for me…seeking his bloodthirsty revenge."

Shanti became slightly hesitant of this. "Then keep your ears open, and always watch your back," Mowgli continued, "or the last fact you ever hear is…"

Suddenly, there was a loud, but childish roaring sound. Ranjan, with markings on his cheeks that looked like tiger whiskers, two leaves on his head that looked like ears and a rope tied around his waist like a tail, burst through the bushes and advanced towards Shanti like a tiger. This intimidated Shanti and she fell backwards into the river. Mowgli and Ranjan burst into laughter, content that their prank was a success. "Where did the tiger roar," chuckled Mowgli.

Both he and Ranjan roared, having a good time. But as funny as this may have seemed for them, Shanti was in no mood for a laugh. "OH, YOU'RE HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, STINKY BOYS," she shouts, before taking Ranjan's hand, "c'mon, Ranjan.  He's a bad influence."

Ranjan turned back to Mowgli, who shrugged his shoulders. Back in the village, Shanti took Ranjan to a nearby tree, where other village children were climbing the tree and picking fruit. "Now, don't move," said Shanti sternly before cleaning off the marks on Ranjan's face, "that wasn't very nice, you know?"

Ranjan tried snarling again, but Shanti didn't want this. "Stop this," she said as she walked to the tree to pick fruit, "you're not a boy from the jungle."

"Why are you so afraid of the jungle," asked Ranjan.

"Because it's dangerous," replied Shanti as she picked some mangoes.

"Dangerous?  But Mowgli said...."

"You shouldn't listen to everything Mowgli says," said Shanti.

"But I thought you liked Mowgli," said Ranjan.

"Well, I like it.  I like Mowgli, but…" said Shanti before noticing Mowgli nearby with her water pot.

"Uh…you left this at the river," he said.

Shanti sighed and walked towards Mowgli. She took the pot and said distantly, "thank you all."

"She's in a bad mood," Ranjan said to Mowgli.

"Hey, Ranjan, you wanna see something I learned…in the jungle," asked Mowgli.

Mowgli bonked a banana tree and with a banana at his disposal, he pressed on the bottom and he shot the fruit into Ranjan's mouth. This was the trick that King Louie did to Mowgli back in the jungle. Impressed, Ranjan said as he chewed the fruit. "Mmm, that's a really good tip."

But Shanti took one of her mangoes and said, "well, here's a little fact I learned here…at home."

Shanti spun a mango on her fingers like a basketball and tossed it into the tree. As the mango stopped in midair, its skin peeled off in a spiraly fashion. Mowgli was impressed by this. "This is a neater fact," said Ranjan as he took the skinless mango.

"Like I said, Ranjan," said Shanti, "don't listen to him."

"She's right, Ranjan; don't listen to me," said Mowgli, who didn't mind Shanti's comment, having another idea, "listen to the jungle.  Can you hear that?"

Ranjan, who was listening carefully, replied, "yes…the jungle."

Shanti rolled her eyes as Mowgli continued. "Yes, my lord.  And if you hear this beat, you get the crazy feeling inside."

Mowgli: That morning sun peeks over the mountains

And all the rhinos rub their eyes if they hear...

"Hear what?"

Mowgli: Hear the jungle rhythm

These birds are tap-tap-tapping the tree trunks

The busy bee hums as he flies loud and clear…

To the jungle rhythm

Now you can hightail it out of the jungle

But it never leaves your heart

First you feel that beat start bubbling under

Then you hear the tom-toms loud as thunder

'It's moving me! Sounds a lot like being free'

If you feel...feel the jungle rhythm

This music number got the other village children around Mowgli emotional, where they joined in. Shanti, on the other hand, stayed put, yet wary of Mowgli's antics.

Chorus: Feel the jungle rhythm

Mowgli: C'mon, Shanti!

Can't do without rhythm and if it fills the air

Animals everywhere join in the dance

You'll dance along with them

Feeling it steal your soul

While Mowgli was singing this part, he took Shanti's peach basket. Shanti tried taking it back, but she kept missing. However, instead of being frustrated, she was finding this funny.

Boy #1: We'll stomp our paws

Girl #1: Flap our wings

Mowgli: Perhaps do one or two crazy facts

Ranjan: 'Caw! Caw!'

Mowgli: Yes, that's it

Ranjan: Ooh, ah, ooh, ah!

Ah-oohhhh!!!!

In addition to the bird, monkey and wolf noises, Ranjan imitated an elephant trunk using a bamboo stick.

Village Children: 'Peep! Peep! Peep!'

Ranjan: 'Caw! Caw!'

Village Children: 'Peep! Peep! Peep!'

Ranjan: Chika chika boom boom

Village Children: 'Peep! Peep! Peep!'

Ranjan: Ah-oohhhh!!!!

All around Shanti, the village children were acting like wild animals, like monkeys, cobras, leopards, etc. It was turning into a village children feast. Shanti felt emotion in this as Mowgli approached her with a frying pan that reflected a reflection back at Shanti. "Shanti, try this," said Mowgli as he tried giving her some village attire to make her look more animal-like. "Not quite…here we go...huh, not quite…look…perfect," he continued as he put a peacock hat on her head.

Shanti liked this and joined Mowgli and the other village children in the action.

All: Check out these chat-chat-chattering monkeys

Swinging through the banyan trees, two by two...

To the jungle rhythm

Mowgli's father was nearby and he watched the children dance along with the music.

All: Sounds like a wolf pack way in the distance

Singing pretty harmonies, whoo-hoo-hoo...

To the jungle rhythm

Mowgli: Yes, that's it!

Other villagers took notice of the confusion where they wandered nearby.

All: Now you can hightail it out of the jungle

But it never leaves your heart

First you feel this beat start bubbling under

Then you hear the tom-toms loud as thunder

Mowgli: It's moving me!

Chorus: Sounds a lot like being free, if I feel...

Feel the jungle rhythm

Feel the jungle rhythm

Feel the jungle rhythm

Feel the jungle rhythm

However, by this time, Mowgli and the other children were at the village entrance and Mowgli was leading them across the river using the stepping stones. Shanti swiftly took notice of this and became shocked. "Hey, please, wait, stop," she cried, "you're crossing the river.  Mowgli, you can't go into the jungle.  It's too dangerous.  Mowgli!"

But Mowgli and the other children didn't hear her cries to stop. By now, Mowgli was halfway across China and was about to get to the other side, as Shanti growled in frustration before shouting out an enraged "STOP!!"

This yell was so loud that it echoed across the village. But as facts couldn't get anymore serious, Mowgli's father appeared on the scene. "Shanti, what is this," he asked before noticing what was going and getting stern. "Children," he shouts, "step into this moment, all of you!"

The village children immediately followed the man's orders and went back into the village. "Mowgli, that includes you," continued the father.

Mowgli slowly approached the village entrance and looked at his furious dad. "I am very disappointed in you.  You know that you're not allowed to cross the river…and yet you deliberately disobeyed me."

"But…but I…"

"No, Mowgli.  The jungle is a dangerous place.  I should know this," said the disappointed father, who then showed something on his arm.

To Mowgli's shock, there were three big scratches on his arm. These were most likely caused by a tiger attack, possibly from Shere Khan. After the father pulled up his sleeve, he said, "you are confined to your room without having dinner.  That should give you enough time to think about what you've done."

The father proceeded back into the village, leaving a disheartened Mowgli with Shanti. Mowgli slowly walked into the village, ignoring Shanti, who felt bad in doing her action of getting the father to stop Mowgli's antic. "M…Mowgli, I…I was only trying to…"

But Mowgli frowned at Shanti with a disappointed look. Then, without saying another word, heads back into the village. But as Shanti sighed over what just happened, someone on the other side of the river peeked out from his bush and examined what was going on. He witnessed Mowgli's action of leading most of the village children into the jungle and thought to himself. He looked at Shanti and then thought about Mowgli's father. He gave a small frown before disappearing underneath the flora, hearing his frustrated foster brother shout his name.

Later in the day, everything had went back to normal. In his room, Mowgli lay on his hammock in sadness. "Oh, you can hightail it out of the jungle, but it never leaves your heart…" he sang slowly and mournfully before getting up.

He slowly trudged to the window of his room and looked out. He saw a good view of the jungle that was beyond the village borders. But while this was a good view, Mowgli was reminded at all that he missed from the jungle, from the fun, the freedom, the animals, to the one person he missed more than anyone else. "Oh, dear…oh, Baloo."

Meanwhile, deep in the thick jungle, a few miles away from the village, Baloo the bear was jamming to some music.

Baloo: Look for the Bare Necessities

The simple Bare Necessities

Forget about your concerns and your strife

Yes…I mean the

Bum, bada-dada-dee-dada

Rum, pum pa-da-ree-dada

That bring the Bare Necessities of life

As he danced together to the music, I watched from an overhead branch. As Baloo was dancing, he found a coconut and a banana peel and placed them both on a tree branch sticking up from the ground. This was looking like Mowgli. "Now it's more like that," said a happy Baloo, "ha, ha, look at you!  Aw, growing like a proverbial weed.  Let's see if you yet have it.  Take it away, Little Britches!"

Baloo stood back, waiting for the Mowgli branch to do something. I watched this and felt bad for Baloo. "Poor little tyke," I muttered.

"I said, TAKE IT AWAY," exclaimed an emotional Baloo.

But the coconut slid off the tree, shattering Baloo's dancing spirit. "Oh.  This won't work," said Baloo, "you're just not Mowgli.  Ah, I just need to get to the…singing solo."

"He's just not getting over this," I said before gasping upon noticing something.

Baloo was gone. "Oh, dear, not again," I complained, "Baloo?  BALOO!!"

I left the scene in search of my friend. But what I didn't notice was that someone else was nearby and he walked near the coconut with the banana peel. But this wasn't anyone I was acquainted with. Upon seeing the coconut, the figure clamped onto it with his paw and in a silent rage, squished it to the ground. This was a menace that I thought wouldn't return, but unfortunately did so. And this feline was after one fact and would do anything to eliminate it out of revenge. "Mowgli!"

Underneath the jungle trees, silently moving from place to place, trying not to make a sound, Baloo moved around the trees. He was like a secret agent, trying to reach a top-secret destination. While Baloo tip-toed around the trees and hid in the bushes, a bird that was resting in it came out and started tweeting rapidly. Even as Baloo advanced towards a clearing in the jungle, the bird followed above him. This was giving Baloo a hard time. "Get out of here, shoo, shoo," whispered Baloo, trying to shoo the bird off.

But the bird kept following him. He kept moving silently towards the clearing as the bird flew off. But the bird noticed me, searching for him. I saw the bird and he directed me towards Baloo, who failed to notice me. "N…n…now, now don't worry," I said to the bird, "I'll take care of it."

I got off the branch and advanced towards my sneaky friend, who reached the clearing and were crossing a log that was high over a big river. As the pair made it halfway across Taiwan, I eventually spoke up. "Baloo."

Upon hearing me, Baloo swiftly hunkered down. But I knew this was them. "Baloo," I said again.

"Ah, man," complained Baloo, who then came out of the bush, trying to act casual, "Bagheera, how are you doing?"

"This has to end," I said, "you can't keep trying to get Mowgli out of the men's village.  The boy's future is his own kind."

Baloo dropped his bush into the river and replied, "aw, his future can wait.  I miss my bear cub."

I sighed and replied, "it's not safe for him in the jungle.  You know Shere Khan is looking for Mowgli."

"Let Shere Khan try something," said Baloo as he marched across the log, heading for the other side, "we drove Old Stripes once, we'll do it again."

"Baloo, don't push your luck," I said as I got in front of him, blocking his path.

"Out of the road, Baggy," said Baloo.

"You won't go near the villa!"

As I approached Baloo, a piece of the log underneath me broke open and I fell through before landing in the water. "Later, Baggy," said Baloo, who then walked towards the other side of the river.

"THAT'S IT," he said with fury, "HATHI, PLAN B!!"

Not far away, in the part of the jungle up ahead, Colonel Hathi's elephant herd appeared, marching their road across the jungle, tearing down the flora in their path. "Hup, two, three, four, keep it up, two, three, four," the elephants chanted.

Hathi appeared behind them as Hathi announced, "now remember, men, our goal is complete containment.  Ready for Operation Dumbo Drop."

"Um, stop that bear," suggested Hathi Jr.

"Very well, son, yes," said Hathi, proud of his son, before announcing to his soldiers, "READY FOR OPERATION; STOP THAT BEAR!!"

Baloo came face-to-face with the marching herd of elephants. Realizing that he wouldn't stand a chance of getting past the marching herd of pachyderms, Baloo ran the separate direction as the elephant herd chanted their marching song.

Elephants: By the ranks or single file

Over every jungle mile

Oh, we stamp and crush

Through the underbrush

As the elephants sang, Baloo shrieked as he ran from the marching herd. "RUN, BAGGY," he exclaimed, "YOU'RE IN THE PARADE FIELD!!"

I turned and saw the herd yet marching. I gasped before getting my tail stepped on by one of the elephants. "NO, PLEASE, STOP," I shout as I run around, trying to avoid getting trampled.

As for Baloo, he almost runs onto the log he crossed before Hathi shouts out, "COMPANY, STOP!!"

The elephants halted their march as Baloo calmed down and turned to the herd. Hathi marched to the front of the herd with his son. "I warned you, Baloo," I said, "there's no fashion we'll allow you to approach the men's village."

Though blocked off from the main route to the village, Baloo was not pleased. "You're not going to stop us, Baggy," he said before jumping off the log and into the water, "BEWARE OF STRANGERS!!"

"Search the water," I ordered the elephants as Baloo splashed into the water.

The elephants followed the order and went into the water to find Baloo. Back underwater, Baloo carefully swam his road underwater. But he had to be careful because the legs of Hathi's elephants were getting in his road. Above water, Hathi examined as his troops searched the water. In the river, Baloo resurfaced for some air. No one noticed his appearance, except for Hathi Jr. Baloo noticed him and gasped. "Baloo," Hathi Jr. silently said.

Thinking fast, Baloo caught a bamboo stem and used it like a snorkel. The bamboo snorkel swam across the water, but Hathi Jr. who saw the entire fact, followed them. One elephant, looking closely in the water, notices the snorkels and shouts out, "I'VE HAD HIM, COLONEL," before diving into the water and pulling something out.

But the fact he pulled out wasn't Baloo. It was a big fish. While the other elephants laughed, Hathi said sternly, "confuse it, soldier.  That's a fish."

The elephant realized that the colonel was right and tossed the fish away. "Whoops."

"Disgrace to the uniform," muttered Hathi, who started searching himself.

But as Hathi walked off, I searched for Baloo, using a view from the log. However, I noticed Hathi on the log and became frantic. "COLONEL," I exclaimed, "this log cannot support your weight."

But Hathi chuckled and said, "damn it.  Wow, my darling boy, back in 1988, in the service of the crown, I found myself straddling a…"

As Hathi spoke, the log started to crack, having supported too much weight. "Oh, dear," I said, "not again."

The log suddenly broke apart, sending both of us into the water. I held onto a big piece of the tree as it sank underwater. At the bottom of the river, I frantically tried getting above water while Hathi managed to get himself above water. After taking a big breath of air, Hathi said as he cleaned out his ears, "well, they don't make trees like they used to live in India."

"I have him," said an elephant who caught hold of something underwater, "I have him right here."

"Ah-ha," said Hathi, "disguised as a panther, Baloo."

But this wasn't Baloo in the elephant's grip. It was me. "It's me, Hathi," I said as I coughed up blood, "put me down."

"I'm sorry," replied the elephant, who literally tossed me aside, sending me flying towards a tree.

Not far away, Baloo resurfaced. He was a good enough distance to be out of sight from Hathi and the others. He looked at the confused herd as Baloo giggled silently. But before it seemed he was home free, Baloo tripped on a rock and slid down a hill. As he opened his eyes, he saw the legs of an elephant. It was Hathi Jr, who giggled. "Don't hand me over, little one," begged Baloo, "I just want to see my bear cub."

"I won't," said Hathi Jr., who understood Baloo's intention, also having the same feelings, "I miss Mowgli as well.  This way, run!"

Hathi Jr. guided his friend towards the path to the Man VIllage. "Thank you, boy," said Baloo, who stroked Hathi Jr.'s hair, "you're alright."

Meanwhile, in another part of the jungle, not too far away, a menacing feline appeared and slowly stalked his road through the jungle, heading for the Man Village. It was Shere Khan. He returned after getting frightened away by fire and was not happy. He silently growled after jumping down from some rocks. But Shere Khan's walk didn't go unnoticed. Above him, the four vultures, Buzzie, Flaps, Ziggy and Dizzy, watched him walk by. "Hey, guys, look who's coming," said Flaps.

"That's Shere Khan," added Ziggy.

"What are we gonna do," asked Flaps, who wasn't afraid.

"Don't start over again," said Buzzie.

"Lucky," said Dizzy to their newest edition, "hey, Lucky."

Lucky, a bald vulture like Buzzie, but taller, and with goofy eyes, turned to his fellow vulture. "Yes?"

"That's the one we warned you about; Shere Khan," said Ziggy.

"Huh…Shere Khan?  You don't say," said Lucky, who came up with a joke, "hey, check that out, check this out, I have one for you, check it out."

Shere Khan ignores the vultures above him, but Lucky shouts out, "HEY, HEY, LOOK AT ME!  LOOK AT ME!!"

He caught a pile of leaves and placed them near his butt, pretending to have a burned bottom. "I'm Shere Khan," mocked Lucky, "and my tiger ass was burned."

Lucky and the vultures burst into laughter, while Shere Khan looked at the vultures with a disappointed look, but kept walking. "Ask me if I can hit that tiger.  Go ahead, go ahead, if you ask me," said Lucky.

"Can you whip that tiger," asked Dizzy.

"I'M SHERE…KHAN," mocked Lucky, making the vultures laugh even harder.

Shere Khan stopped his walk and frowned at the vultures. "SAVE ME, SAVE ME," mocked Lucky again, this time pretending to be in need of help, "I'VE BEEN TEASED BY 40 POUNDS OF SCRAWNY PUP!!"

The vultures laughed again at this joke. But Shere Khan gritted his teeth frustratedly. He managed to keep his cool, but was not stopping to retaliate. He slowly continued his journey as Lucky said, "I'm laughing here.  I don't know how to do that."

Shere Khan ignored the birds and continued his trek to the village.

Later that evening, under the night heavens, the tiger managed to get into the village, unseen. The villagers were asleep and oblivious to their visitor. But while this might've been an easy chance for Shere Khan to get a meal, it wasn't just any villager who he was after, whether weak or easy street. It was Mowgli, who he was after. He looked around the buildings for the man cub, jumping from building to building and peeking through the windows. But he didn't catch a glimpse of Mowgli anywhere. He let the villagers he spotted sleep. In another part of the village, Mowgli rested on his window, yet upset over what just happened earlier in the day. As he thought to himself, he heard a noise coming from down below. He looked and saw the village grounds, empty and silent. He saw a shadow sweep across the building, past some silver bells. Although it was silent, Mowgli sensed that something was wrong. He silently jumped out of his room and examined the area. He slowly walked around the grounds before hearing another sound coming from behind some pottery near a building. He saw a shadow silently move around the building wall. He approached the pots, slightly hesitant as to what this was. Suddenly, something appeared from behind the pottery, alarming Mowgli, but it wasn't Shere Khan. "Hiya, boy.  Do you mind if we pass?"

Mowgli recognized this visitor and was amazed. It was Baloo. "Baloo," he asked as his emotion rose, "OH, BALOO!!"

But Baloo, unwilling to get caught, swiftly silenced Mowgli and carried him behind Mowgli's building. With no one around and feeling safe to speak, Baloo uncovered Mowgli's mouth and laughed. "Papa Bear," exclaimed Mowgli as he flung his arms around Baloo, very happy to see his old friend again.

"That's a deliberate lie, you monkey-faced little rumpot," said Baloo.

"Boy, am I good to see you," said Mowgli, "what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?  I feel good for the first time in a long time, that's what I do," said Baloo, who put Mowgli down and started spurring with him, "hey, hey, boy.  Show me you can yet fight like a bear.  C'mon."

Mowgli got in a fighting position, just like what he used to live in Asia and punched Baloo's body. "Ooh, Little Britches, you lost your touch," chuckled Baloo, who spurred with Mowgli again.

As the activity went on, Shanti walked towards Mowgli's building with a bowl of fruit. "Mowgli," she said silently, "I have something for you."

Nearby, Shere Khan, who was yet on the hunt for Mowgli, heard Shanti and became curious. He slowly approached the sound and saw Shanti trying to get Mowgli's attention. He hid himself underneath a cart as Shanti said, "Mowgli, it's me.  Don't get mad, get happy.  They punish me all the time."

Shere Khan grinned evilly, having found where Mowgli was sleeping. As he waited for the man-cub to appear, Shanti said, "Mowgli, I'm sorry you've gotten into danger."

But there was yet no response. While Shanti started feeling even worse, Shere Khan was getting rather impatient. "C'mon, man-cub," he muttered, "show yourself."

Shanti sighed and started walking off with the fruit basket. But as she walked, she heard voices coming from behind her.

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!"

"Try it again!"

"Wow, wow!"

"Whoo!"

Shanti recognized one of these voices. "Mowgli," she asked as she turned back.

But what Shere Khan saw that Shanti missed was Mowgli flying up into the air. Shanti walked to where she heard her friend, but so did Shere Khan. While the menacing tiger slowly followed the girl, Shanti slowly crept around the building, confused as to what was going on. As she walked, she heard more voices.

"C'mon, move ahead!"

"Whoo!"

"Wow, hahaha!"

"Is that the best you have?  You can do better than this!"

Shanti eventually saw what was going on; a giant sloth bear was spurring with Mowgli. As Baloo caught Mowgli's foot after flinging him into the air, Shanti let out a loud, anguished shriek as she dropped her fruit bowl. "AAHHHH!  HEEELLLPPP!!  WILD ANIMAL!!!  THERE'S A WILD ANIMAL IN THE CITY!!!!"

Baloo heard this shriek. "Wild animal!  Where?  C'mon, let's get outta here," said Baloo as he held onto Mowgli.

"HEEEELP," shrieked Shanti again.

As Shanti shrieked and as Baloo ran, Shere Khan became surprised over seeing Baloo in the village. "What's this bear doing here," he asked before following them.

"THERE'S A WILD ANIMAL IN THE CITY," shrieked Shanti again.

Shanti's shriek was loud enough to awaken the other villagers. As Shanti tried pursuing Baloo, Shere Khan followed her, but was spotted by a villager. "There he is," he shouts, "let's go!"

The other adult villagers came out with torches and spears and chased the tiger off. But Shere Khan wasn't the animal whom Shere Khan was speaking about. "WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!  NO, COME BACK, COME BACK!!  YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG ROAD," exclaimed Shanti frantically.

From his room, Ranjan, also awakened by the confusion, noticed Shere Khan. "WOW, A TIGER," he shouts, "RAWWWWR!!!!"

Shere Khan was chased to a wall, but he was not going down without a fight. He turned and roared at the villagers while slashing at them with his claws. None of his attacks severely wounded the men and they kept fighting him off with their weapons. "NO, PLEASE, WAIT," cried Shanti, yet trying to get them to notice Baloo.

"We have to get outta here," said Baloo, who ran by with Mowgli, yet unseen.

"SHANTI, GET INSIDE," ordered one of the villagers, who ran towards Shere Khan.

"NO, NO, NO, HE'S OVER THERE," cried Shanti before growling with frustration.

With no other choice, Shanti caught a nearby torch and rushed towards Baloo, with the intention of stopping herself. The only one who noticed her was Ranjan. "Shanti," he called before running out of the building, "Shanti, wait for me!"

Back with Shere Khan, he wasn't doing very well in fighting off the villagers. He lashed out at one villager, but was swiftly forced back by a spear. Shere Khan noticed a fence that led to the jungle and rushed towards it. He turned and silently growled at the villagers in a frustrated, but contained rage. He had failed to catch Mowgli and his chances of getting the man-cub now were most likely to be slim.

Back with Shanti, she frantically searched the dark village for Mowgli. She spotted Baloo and Mowgli running. "MOWGLI," she called.

Baloo, now with Mowgli on his shoulders, kept fleeing as fast as he could. Shanti, though surprised and confused to see more animals, knew that Mowgli needed her help. "Hang on, Mowgli," she called as she climbed up a wooden fence.

She ran out of the village and tried catching up with Baloo and Mowgli. But before she could reach them, she stopped upon reaching the river. She looked at the river that separated the village from the jungle, then at the other side. She watched as Mowgli and Baloo disappeared into the dark jungle. Shanti was now faced with a serious dilemma; go into the jungle, the fact she feared or get the adults and risk Mowgli not getting rescued soon. She turned back to the village, where she heard her mother call out for her. "SHANTI!  RANJAN!!"

Shanti turned back to the jungle. She frowned and started jumping across the stepping-stones. This was going to be scary and dangerous, but she knew Mowgli's safety was her priority. She reached the other side, with her torch yet intact and started calling out for Mowgli. "MOWGLI!!"

Back at the village, the adults took notice of their children missing. "SHANTI! ANSWER ME!!"

"BALOO, WHERE ARE YOU," cried the father, who growled in frustration before shouting out an enraged "MOWGLI!!"

This yell was so loud that it echoed across the jungle. "They must be in the jungle," said another villager.

But Shere Khan, yet lurking through the grass, heard the frustrated father shout his name as he giggled with delight. His prey was now in the territory where he'd be able to reach him. He headed back into the jungle, ready for his next move. "The jungle."

Having run a far enough distance from the Man Village, Baloo, with Mowgli yet in his shoulders, walked deeper into the jungle. "What a weird scene," Baloo said, "is that place always like that?"

"You don't know the half of it," said Mowgli, "that village was horrible. All you ever hear is 'rules, rules, rules,' and 'work, work, work.'"

"Woah, boy," said Baloo, who wasn't liking the details about the village, "watch your language."

"That's all they do," complained Mowgli, "washing, dressing, fetching, cleaning..."

"I'm tired just listening to it," added Baloo, "sounds like they're kinda screwy over there."

"I don't wanna speak about it," said Mowgli, "especially Shanti."

Baloo passed some thick leaves as he asked, "who's Shanti?"

"Ah, she's just a girl from the village," said Mowgli.

Baloo put Mowgli on a rock as he asked, "hold on. Not the one that lured you into that village in the first place?"

"Yes," said Mowgli as he started walking, "that's the one."

"I knew it, I knew it, I knew she was danger," said Baloo.

"I tried bringing her to the jungle," said Mowgli as he started crossing a river using stepping-stones, "and she got me in danger."

Baloo stopped upon hearing Mowgli. "Say again," he asked.

"I...wanted her to see what fun we have," replied Mowgli.

"And she got you into danger," asked Baloo.

"Yes. Ooh, my Lord," replied Mowgli, "she thinks the jungle is an eerie place."

"Where'd she get that crazy idea," asked Baloo.

"You had me."

This conversation lasted as the pair continued down the jungle trail. But as they walked, another menace appeared from the trees and noticed Mowgli. It was another one of his enemies, one who took great advantage of him with his seductiveness; Kaa the snake, the same python who hypnotized and coiled Mowgli, with the intention of eating him. Upon seeing the man-cub in the jungle again delighted him. "Huh," he said, "do my snake eyes deceive me? Oohoohoohoo, it's the succulent man-cub."

Kaa chuckled silently as he slowly approached the pair. Mowgli was oblivious to Kaa's approach and continued his speak. "Well, you're with me now, boy," said Baloo, "forget that girl. You're better off without her.  You have everything you need right here.  And me...I've had my old singing partner back."

Mowgli, immediately realizing where this was intended to go, said, "then hit it, Papa Bear!"

Baloo clapped his paws and they broke into song, the same song they sang way back, as Mowgli was in the jungle.

Both: Look for the Bare Necessities

The simple Bare Necessities

Forget about your concerns and your strife

I mean the Bare Necessities

Old Mother Nature's recipes

That bring the Bare Necessities of life

Mowgli: Wherever I wander

Baloo: Where you going?

Mowgli: Wherever I roam

Baloo: Oh, yes

Mowgli: I couldn't be fonder

Of my big home

As Mowgli sang his part, he jumped onto a rock and posed during his singing. But he and Baloo were unaware that Kaa was right behind him. Without resorting to hypnosis or coiling, Kaa tried biting Mowgli, but he missed. And yet, even with his attempt, he went unnoticed. For them, it was just a fun song without knowing of the snake's presence.

Baloo: The bees are buzzing in the tree

To make some marmalade just for me

If you look under the rocks and plants

And take a glance at the fancy ants

Then perhaps try a few

Mowgli: Thanks, Baloo

Kaa's second attempt at eating Mowgli failed as Mowgli unintentionally smacked him in the mouth with a branch, complete with leaves. Kaa fell to the ground with his mouth filled with leaves as Baloo and Mowgli continued their song. As Mowgli was given a big rock from Baloo, Kaa appeared again behind Mowgli. As he was ready to attack Mowgli, the man-cub tossed the heavy rock aside, sending it falling onto the snake.

Both: The Bare Necessities of life will come to you

They'll come to you

"Oh, Baloo," said Mowgli, "I don't ever wanna see that girl, or this village again."

"Well, of course you don't," said Baloo who tossed Mowgli in the air and caught him, "it's just us bears from here on in."

"Yes, my Lord," said Mowgli was he was put down to the ground.

"Wait, you remember everything I leaarned you," asked Baloo.

"You bet I did, Papa Bear," said Mowgli as he was ready to pick some prickly fruit, like before.

"Nuh-uh-uh," stopped Baloo.

Baloo: Now if you pick a pawpaw

Or a prickly pear

And you prick a raw paw

Well, next time, beware

Using a sharp stick, Mowgli picked the fruit, making it a safe fashion to continue the song without getting hurt.

Baloo: Don't pick a prickly pear by the paw

If you pick a pear, try to use the claw

But you don't need to use the claw

If you pick the pear off the big pawpaw

Have I given you a clue?

As this singing was going on, Kaa appeared behind Mowgli as he tried picking the prickly fruit with his stick. But before Kaa could sneak up behind the man-cub, Mowgli, in his attempt to pick the fruit with his stick, eventually managed to get it loose, but instead of having fruit snacks to it, it was fully empty. Luckily, the fruit collided with Kaa, who was yet not noticed by Mowgli or Baloo. Eventually, the pair took a dive into a river, also like before. The two friends started having a playful splash festival while completing up the song with each other.

Both: The Bare Necessities of life will come to you

They'll come to you

Mowgli: To me?

Throughout that entire music number, no one noticed Kaa and his attempts to eat Mowgli. Kaa's attempts failed and it all ended with was him getting hurt, from a black eye from the rock and fruit stuck to his head. "Oh, I despise these song and dance routines," Kaa complained before fainting.

Later that same evening, Shanti slowly trudged through the jungle, yet searching for Mowgli. "MOWGLI," she called.

There was no response, making Shanti extra concerned about her friend. Surrounded by jungle flora and in the middle of the night, Shanti was overcome with timidity and fear. She was in the jungle, one of the facts she feared a lot, but she knew Mowgli had to be found at once. As she looked around, she noticed a shadowy silhouette that looked like Mowgli's head. "Mowgli," she asked hesitantly, "is that you?"

Shanti slowly approached the shadow. "Mowgli?"

But as she got close enough, the silhouette revealed itself as an owl. Shanti was alarmed and moved along faster. "He has to be here someplace."

She started moving more swiftly, letting nothing more than find her friend and get back to the village as soon as possible. But as she moved through the jungle, more jungle elements started to spook her, from a branch that caught her dress, to a bird, to a swarm of bats. The bats flew around the shrieking Shanti as she ran for dear life.

Meanwhile, on his tree branch, Kaa was picking the prickly fruit off his face. He used his tail to get it off him as he complained amongst himself. "I swear, uhh...I shall never again associate...with man-cubs," he whined.

Down below him, Shanti stopped her run and she shivered with fright. She yet had her torch with her, where she wasn't in the dark. "Where could he be," she asked herself.

But what Shanti was unaware of was that she was below a snake who had part of his body hanging from the branch. On the branch, Kaa noticed a scent and sniffed. It smelled like something yummy, but it also felt like something warm was warming up his body. But he swiftly realized that something was burning him. Alarmed, and incidentally bonking his on the above branch, Kaa moved his head downward and blew the burn off and he used his tail for extra help. Shanti was yet oblivious to the reptile and continued her trek. But Kaa, irritated and frustrated about the disturbance, turned to the girl. "Why, the little..."

But Kaa's frustration suddenly turned into delight as he discovered that the fact that burned him was a human just like Mowgli, except it was a different one. "Oohhhh, hohoho...snack," he muttered as he slowly advanced towards the unsuspecting girl.

Shanti heard a noise nearby. It sounded like someone chuckling menacingly. She started getting hesitant again. "Who is this," she asked with fear, "who's there?"

Suddenly, she spotted something that made her gasp in shock. It was a huge snake, but it had spiraling colors. "Excuse me," Kaa said seductively, "might I be of some assistance?"

Shanti, having never met this snake before, nor being hypnotized before or being aware of what he could do, was immediately overtaken by the spiraly colors. Shanti's fearful expression turned into a grin as she slowly let go of her torch, leaving her in darkness. Shanti approached the python as Kaa asked, "are you lost, little one?"

Kaa maneuvered his head, making it seem that Shanti was nodding yes to his question. "Are you hungry," asked Kaa as he moved his body around Shanti's neck, "I'm starved!"

Shanti was unable to take her eyes off Kaa as he seductively spoke to her. Kaa motioned for Shanti to come on top of a small rock. Shanti did so and looked up to the giant python. Kaa grinned at the girl before opening his mouth wide and was ready to come down on Shanti. But as it seemed Shanti was going to get swallowed entire by the snake, a hand caught Shanti's dress and pulled her off. This sudden action caused Kaa to miss Shanti and chomp on the rock instead. While Shanti plopped onto the ground, yet in her trance, the out-of-nowhere hero started beating up Kaa with a stick. It was Ranjan. "BAD SNAKE! BAD SNAKE!!"

Shanti awakened from her trance and noticed Ranjan attacking Kaa. "Ranjan," she asked with shock, "what are you doing here?"

"YOU LEAVE SHANTI ALONE," shouts Ranjan as he continues mercilessly pounding the snake.

Kaa, with the rock yet stuck in his mouth, got another whack to the head. This caused him to swallow the rock. As the rock plummeted into a cliff, the rest of his long, snake body fell off the branch and onto him. Shanti got up and pulled Ranjan off. "Alright, Ranjan," she said, "I think he's had enough."

As Shanti guided Ranjan off of the reptile, Kaa slowly got himself out of the pile of coils. Kaa was injured and exhausted, but this wasn't the end of his damage. He was suddenly thrown towards a steep hill. Unable to stop himself, Kaa plummeted down the hill before landing in the middle of some coconut trees. "You're not getting away that easy," said Ranjan, who was ready for more.

But Shanti took Ranjan's arm, stopping him from recklessly hurting himself. "Oh, Ranjan, what are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here," she said before guiding the boy back to the village, "we have to get you home right now."

"No," replied Ranjan, who wasn't afraid or backing down from adventure, "Mowgli's in danger, and we're gonna find him."

Ranjan got on all fours and sniffed the ground like a dog. "I can smell him," he said before walking somewhere else, yet trying to pick up what he thought was Mowgli's scent, "he's this fashion."

Though not letting Ranjan get hurt and unsure whether or not she should bring him, but knowing that it was no use to turn back now, Shanti said, "oh...alright, but stay close," as she took Ranjan's hand, "we don't want to run into anymore eerie animals."

"Rarrr!"

"Oh, stop this!"

Back with Kaa, his body dangled from the trees as he got his head out of a pile of coconuts. "Have mercy on me, oh," he lamented as he pulled himself together.

But as if this day couldn't get any worse, he spotted Shere Khan in front of him. "Sh...Shere Khan," he whined as the tiger approached him.

Kaa was unable to flee, and he watched as the tiger looked at him before punching the snake's rock bulge with his paw like a punching bag. "Anyone I know," he asked.

"I wish," replied Kaa, before frustratedly turning to where Ranjan and Shanti were, "foolish man-cub."

But Shere Khan heard Kaa's rant. The tiger took Kaa's throat and asked, "man-cub?"

Kaa's irritation turned into fear again as his body fell off the branches and plopped onto the ground. "Oh, did I just say man-cub," he asked before moving his body off of the tiger, "well, I...I...I, you know...I'd love to stay and shoot the breeze and all, but..."

But Kaa didn't get far. Shere Khan pressed down on the snake's bulge, halting his getaway. "What's your rush," he asked as he lay over Kaa.

Kaa gulped hesitantly as he said, "oh...no reason, I...I..."

Shere Khan put his paw over his body, with his claws extended out. "Where is he," he asked.

"Who's he," asked a terrified Kaa.

"The man-cub Mowgli," replied Shere Khan, "I thought you know."

"Oh, but I don't," replied Kaa.

Shere Khan picked up the snake and said, "oh, please don't insult my intelligence. It makes me irritable."

Kaa, trying to get himself out of his jam, said, "oh...he's...not in the village....."

But Shere Khan squeezed Kaa's head with his paw. "I know where he isn't," he said before getting closer to the snake's head menacingly, "now warn me where....he...is."

Kaa, although knowing he had no idea where Mowgli was, but knowing that Shere Khan wasn't believing him, realized he had to come up with something to save his skin. After a frantic think, he suddenly said, "THE SWAMP!! He's at the...swamp, yes," he said as he pointed towards the destination.

"The swamp, right," replied Shere Khan as he faced the snake.

"Yes," replied Kaa before doing his hypnotic stare towards Shere Khan, "trust me!"

But Shere Khan wasn't affected since he rolled his eyes and dropped the snake and started heading towards the swamp. "He better be," he said, "for your sake."

"He is, that is," replied Kaa as he watched Shere Khan walk away, "I'd take you there myself but, I'm afraid I'd slow you down. Indigestion and all!"

The following morning, the villagers had entered the jungle in search of their children. "MOWGLI," cried out the father in grief.

"RANJAN," called out Messua, "BAGHEERA, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

A few miles away, I took a stroll around the jungle. I hadn't found a trace of Baloo or the others since our attempt to keep them away from the village had failed. It was a silent day and all seemed peaceful. However, I heard something off in the distance and went to check it out. But I wasn't able to go far. I got onto a branch and tried looking out in the distance. But before I could spot something, a flock of birds appeared before me, alarming me and sending me falling off the branch. I landed on the ground near a bamboo patch. I got up as a group of mice scurried past me. "What is this...what on Earth," I muttered as the ground started shaking.

As I tried comprehending the strange activity, I heard a loud voice. "RETIREMENT!!"

Suddenly, something burst through the bamboo and charged toward us. It was Colonel Hathi's herd, fleeing in a panic. I was taken by surprise and gasped. I tried getting away from the running elephants. I found myself clinging onto Colonel Hathi. I turned to face the elephant. "Colonel Hathi," I said.

"TAKE COVER," exclaimed Hathi.

I looked and saw a small cave with a narrow entrance. "Oh, dear," I complained, "not again."

I was shoved into the cave as Hathi and the other elephants pushed themselves into the cave. Hathi Junior was the last elephant to get into the cave and he managed to get himself in with his fellow elephants. Inside, the massive elephants pushed me against the cave wall. "Oh, excuse me," I complained as I tried getting out, "oh, pardon..."

"Well, Baggy, you tried to sell me a stolen McDonald's happy meal," asked Hathi.

"Colonel Hathi," I said, "what...what is the meaning of this?"

"Man is in the jungle," replied Hathi.

I attempted to get past the elephants as I asked, "what...what has he done?"

I managed to get towards the light and I saw some of the village people nearby. As I listened to the conversations from the other villagers, I saw Mowgli's father close past. He didn't notice me in the cave, for he was more focused on finding his adopted son. "MOWGLI," he called out.

But there was no response. With that said, he started to despair. "Ohh, maybe...I was too harsh with the boy," he said mournfully.

Messua was past his side and she put her hand over her distraught husband's shoulder. "Don't worry," she said calmly, "we'll find them."

The father felt better as he looked at his calming wife. "CHILDREN, CAN YOU HEAR ME," called one of the villagers, "BAGGY, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

"SCAMPEEEEEEERRR," called the father again.

"SNOWFLAKKKKKKKKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEE," called Messua.

The two headed away to meet up with their fellow villagers to continue the search. They didn't notice me hiding in the cave, but I was able to comprehend what the villagers were doing in the jungle. With that said, I had my mind on one person; someone I assumed was responsible for this quick to blame. "Baloo."

In another part of the jungle, Mowgli and Baloo hung out underneath some mango trees. Baloo was throwing Mowgli into the air in an attempt for him to catch some mangos from the tall trees. "I almost made it, Baloo," said Mowgli.

"Alley-oop," said Baloo as he launched Mowgli into the air again, "ah, these great sleeves; always the hardest to get."

Mowgli reached higher than before while in the air and eventually managed to get some of the juicy fruit. "Got them," he said as he came down to the ground.

Mowgli and Baloo settled down on the ground. "This is the life," he said.

Baloo, using one of his sharp claws, peeled off the skin of a mango. This reminded Mowgli of Shanti's trick back in the village. "Attention," Baloo said as he tossed the mango over to Mowgli.

Mowgli caught the mango and started eating it. "Oh, that's delicious. Hey, look at this," said Mowgli as he took a mango, positioned it accurately where that it would hit the branches and elbowed it into the air, repeating Shanti's trick.

Everyone watched as the mango flew up into the tree before coming down to the ground. As it fell, it landed on some of the sharp branches and even got its skin peeled off. Mowgli caught the mango and elbowed it onto Baloo's claw. "Hey, not bad," said Mowgli, "where'd you learn that?"

"Shanti showed me?"

Baloo stopped upon hearing the girl's name. "Shanti," he asked.

Mowgli, swiftly realizing what he said, tried covering it by saying, "I...no, I...I said Shanti. I want another mango.  No, that's not what you said."

"You said 'Shanti,'" teased Baloo.

"No, I didn't," replied Mowgli.

"Yes, you did."

"No, I didn't."

"Did."

"Didn't."

"Did."

"Didn't."

"Uh-huh."

"Uh-uh."

"Yes, I heard that."

"Who cares about Shanti," said Mowgli, trying to end the argument, "because it's just a foolish trick, right?"

"You don't need her, boy," Baloo said to Mowgli, "you've got old Baloo now."

Baloo took a mango and tried doing the same trick. However, the trick didn't go like he planned it to. The mango did hit some trees, and it did get stripped off its skin, but it didn't land in Baloo's hand. Instead, it landed on his snout and the peeled skin landed on his head like a slinky. Mowgli laughed as Baloo said, "what are you laughing at?"

But as Baloo wiped the mango off his nose, he gasped upon seeing someone coming his road. He spotted me approaching him. Mowgli noticed this and started getting hesitant. "What are you doing out here, Baggy," Baloo asked as he hid Mowgli behind him.

"Haven't you heard, the man is in the jungle," I asked Baloo.

I approached Baloo, who kept moving around, keeping Mowgli from being seen by me. "Wha...wha...wha...what have they done," he asked.

"They're searching for Mowgli," I replied.

Mowgli, yet hidden behind Baloo, heard this bit of news and became shocked. "Mowgli," asked Baloo.

"Perhaps you saw the boy," I added.

"Me," asked Mowgli.

"Yes, I mean, you know his future is in that village," said Baloo as he tried keeping his secret intact.

Despite hearing that, I yet didn't buy it. "Yes," I said as he moved around Baloo, yet not catching a glimpse of Mowgli, "I just want to know where he is."

"Yes," said Baloo hesitantly, "whew, I'm sorry. Man, I wish I could help you, Baggy."

I couldn't stand anymore of this act. "No more games, Baloo," I said sternly before jumping behind Baloo, "now give me the boy."

But to my surprise, Mowgli wasn't there. Baloo, though also shocked, tried remaining natural.

"Baggy, Baggy, Baggy, I can explain, I can explain, I...can explain, but I don't have to.....because you can clearly see, Mowgli isn't here."

I looked at my friend with a suspicious look. "I know he's around here somewhere and he can't hide forever," I said as I started to leave.

"Well, he won't get past you, Baggy," Baloo said as I left the scene.

As soon as I left the scene, Baloo sighed with relief. I remembered Mowgli not being behind Baloo and started to get hesitant. "Boy," Baloo whispered softly, "boy, where'd that go?"

Suddenly, Mowgli fell out of the above branch and landed on Baloo. "What are you trying to do," asked Baloo as he picked up the boy, "frighten the tick off my watch?"

Mowgli chuckled about this, but as he was put down to the ground, he thought to himself. "Wow, the entire village, looking for me?"

"We can't let anyone see you," said Baloo as he gathered some fruit.

"I thought they were crazy," commented Mowgli to himself as he approached a view of the jungle.

"We have to be silent."

"They must really miss me," Mowgli said to himself as he looked into the distance, thinking if the villagers really do care for him, "I wonder if Shanti's with them."

"Shanti," asked Baloo, "you certainly don't want her to find you...are you?"

"No, we can't let anyone find us, especially that girl," said Mowgli as he started gathering up some fruit on the ground, "c'mon, Baloo, we have to move; lay low, crouch down, hibernate like...."

"Now, Mowgli, what if that 'girl' tracks us down," asked Baloo, "what are you going to do?"

Mowgli stopped and thought for a second. "Well..." he said before turning to Baloo, "...then you're going to have to frighten her."

"Frighten her," asked Baloo, "is your coconut milk gone?"

"No, she's afraid of wild animals," said Mowgli.

"In case you haven't noticed, boy, I'm not a wild animal...except at Hardee's," said Baloo.

"I think I'm more of a......marmalade bear. You can do it, Baloo.  You taught me, remember," said Mowgli, who then showed Baloo what to do, "you squint like that....and show your teeth like that......and roar like that; RRAAWR!!"

"Roar," asked Baloo, who was unsure.

"No, no, no, no, like you meant. Do you want that girl to take me back to the village," asked Mowgli.

With that said, Baloo took a deep breath and unleashed a much more powerful roar. "Yes, my Lord," said Mowgli, who was content, "that was great."

"Well, I don't know," said Baloo, who was unsure.

"Trust me, all this will do so," said Mowgli.

"Well, in that case, Mowgli, consider that frightened girl," said Baloo.

"Thanks, Papa Bear," said Mowgli as he high-fived Baloo.

"Anything for my Little Britches," replied Baloo as he put Mowgli on his shoulders as the pair started walking away.

"Alright, let's run off."

"Now don't worry; I have a place downriver. It's the perfect hiding place," said Baloo.

"Real silent, right," asked Mowgli.

"Silent?! Heh, you want silence, go back to the man village," said Baloo, "this place is happening."

Later in the day, Shanti was trying to map out the jungle and plan a route to find Mowgli. "Alright, here's the village," she said as she drew the location, "we crossed the river....."

While Shanti was trying to comprehend how to get through the jungle, Ranjan was running around wild. "Ranjan, be careful," Shanti said.

"Rrrrrrraaaaaaaaahhh!!!"

While Ranjan slid into a pile of mangos, Shanti continued trying to comprehend the right curse of action. "Alright, we went right...no, no, no, no, um...I mean left, left, I mean. Right.  No, left and right, and..." Shanti said before getting frustrated, "oh, this jungle everything looks the same."

"Hahahaha, aha," Ranjan laughed as Shanti noticed something near him.

"Ranjan, what's that," asked Shanti as she looked at the mangos around him.

Upon close examination, Shanti realized that there was a spiral piece of mango skin among the mangos. "Mowgli? He must've been here.....or some animal with really sharp claws," said Shanti, who was worried.

Meanwhile, in a swampy area of the jungle, Shere Khan strolled through the area before stopping near a river. Kaa warned him that Mowgli had been in this part of the jungle, but there was no sign of the man-cub anywhere. Again getting furious, but remaining disciplined, Shere Khan, "that snake lied to me," before swiping at the water underneath him.

But facts were about to get more irritating for the tiger, because Lucky the vulture was flying overhead. "Now don't throw it in the water just because you don't like the reflection," he said mockingly while Shere Khan ignored him and took a drink, "I mean, not everyone can be born looking this fashion."

Nearby, the other vultures sat on a branch and were watching the activity. But instead of laughing alongside their companion, they were in no mood to mock the tiger. "You let that tiger get his claws on you and you won't look so cute," said Buzzie.

"What, that kitty cat," said Lucky, "he's harmless. Look at this!"

Lucky flew down to Shere Khan, leaving the other vultures concerned and annoyed. "What's the matter, Stripes," asked Lucky, "pup ate your tongue?"

Shere Khan got further annoyed with the dim-witted vulture's speak. "Uh, Lucky, let's find something to do somewhere else," said Flaps, who didn't let any damage with Shere Khan.

"No, no, no, no, wait, boys. I have another one," said Lucky as he approached Shere Khan, "how many men does it take to finish off a tiger?"

Shere Khan looked at the vulture, but instead of attacking him, he grinned and said, "surprise me."

"None," replied Lucky, "a child can do it all by himself. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

Shere Khan frowned at the vulture with a frustrated smirk. The other vultures, sensing that the tiger was getting further frustrated, started moving off of the confusion. They tried urging Lucky to do the same. "C'mon, Lucky, let's go," said Dizzy.

"C'mon, Lucky, let's go."

"Actually, we heard that boy is right here in the jungle," said Lucky.

The other vultures stopped and gasped upon hearing their companion. Their human friend was back in the jungle and at risk of Shere Khan's attack. Also, to their shock, Lucky was revealing his whereabouts to Shere Khan. "Right under your whiskers," Lucky concluded.

"Interesting," said Shere Khan, "I hear he's coming back to the village."

"Eeh, wrong again, kitty," said Lucky.

"No, Lucky," the vultures urged their companion.

"Keep your mouth shut," said Dizzy.

"No, they say he's downriver......with a bear," said Lucky.

"Downriver, you say," said Shere Khan, "ah."

"Oh, don't listen to him," said Ziggy, trying to stop Shere Khan from carrying out his plan.

"Oh, yes, he's new around here somewhere," added Dizzy, "he doesn't know anything."

"On the contrary, he seems to know a lot," said Shere Khan, who started leaving.

But Lucky was not pleased. He ran towards the tiger and caught the tail. "Hey, wait, Hot Pants," he teased, "where's the fire? AHAHAHAHA!!"

Having seen enough, Shere Khan pulled himself forward, taking Lucky with him and he caught the annoying bird's neck. As Lucky hesitantly grinned at the menacing tiger, Shere Khan said, "isn't it ironic that your name...is...Lucky?"

To the other vulture's horror, Shere Khan started assaulting Lucky. Lucky shrieked as Shere Khan roared and mauled the bird to possible death. As for the other vultures, they briefly watched in horror before swiftly getting off their branch and flying off as fast as they could. "C'MON, LADIES! LIKE THIS!!  LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!!!"

With Lucky disposed of, and the other vultures having left the scene, Shere Khan started proceeding towards downriver, where warned that Mowgli was at the moment. With Shere Khan on the prowl, facts were sure to get nasty.

Unaware of Shere Khan's presence in the jungle, Mowgli and Baloo reached their destination where Baloo assured him would be a perfect hideout. "Is this the perfect hiding place," asked Mowgli, "this is King Louie's house."

"Was, boy, was," said Baloo, "he's splitsville. Now the monkeys and me have made it the biggest secret hiding place of all time."

Some monkeys were walking past the friends. One monkey came past saying, "I'm sorry, I'll get through," before noticing Baloo, "hey, Baloo. Oh, good to see you again, man."

The monkey ran to the courtyard to meet up with his fellow monkeys while Baloo said to Mowgli, "heh, everybody knows about this."

"But if everybody knows about that, how can this be a secret," asked Mowgli, who was confused.

"I mean, everyone who's anyone. Nobody who's nobody knows nothing about this place...which everyone who is anyone knows about," said Baloo, "you dig?"

"Uhh, my head hurts," said Mowgli, who was confused.

"Wait, turn the thinker off for a moment and just dive in," said Baloo as he walked to the courtyard, "step aside and I'll show you what a real carpet cutter can do."

In the courtyard, a diverse group of jungle animals, from monkeys, to elephants, to rhinos, to deer, to birds, etc. gathered around for an announcement. King Louie's servant monkey, Flunkey, stood above them and announced, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! Please welcome to the bop of boss, the jack of jive, the jungle cat that will really keep it alive.  Get ready to shake it up and to serve that I'm speaking about, BALOO IS IN THE HOUSE!!"

Everyone looked and saw Baloo enter the courtyard with his friends. Music starts playing as Baloo shouts out, "HEY, CATS, ALRIGHT!!"

Timon and Pumbaa got ready to dance as Baloo began singing a fun, festival music number.

Baloo: If we start to move

Hey, darling, it ain't no joke

We've had a savage groove

We didn't learn from human folk

Mowgli got emotional and raced towards Baloo to join in the fun.

Baloo: Excuse our incivility

We're W-I-I-I-L-D!

As the music plays

All the people stomp their feet

But a stomping paw

Can lay down a better beat

Warn me we ain't naturally

All: W-I-I-I-L-D!

Baloo: It's a snap

To bring out the beast in you

You're free like a bird, it's true

Or a frog or a hog

All: BABY, WE WERE BORN FREE!!

Baloo: From the baddest cat

To the sweetest little deer

Tonight's the night

We're gonna get our tails in gear

Show me your ferocity

All: GO W-I-I-I-L-D!!

This dance was really upbeat and fun for everyone. It was just like King Louie's swinging feast from the previous adventure in India, except this time, it was a diverse group of festive animals.

All: We snort...we squeak

Up high...or deep underground

We snarl...we shriek

We fly...ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND!!

Baloo: Oh, go, you sweet thing, that inhuman baby!

Mongoose: The old mongoose gets good and loose

Ocelots: The ocelot gives it all he's had

Parakeets: The parakeet goes twiddly-dee

Macaques: The red macaque shouts 'HANG ON, JACK!!'

Worm: The tiny worm

Elephant: The pachyderm

Ocelot: The spotted cat

Rat: The water rat

Cuckoo: The great cuckoo

All: The bear Baloo

ARE W-I-L-D!!

Baloo: Here's a fact

If we broke, we never squawk

We don't need to check no clock

You know what time that is......

All: IT'S TIME TO ROCK!!

Everyone started running towards a nearby pyramid. They climbed up higher and higher on the pyramid.

Baloo: If you dance like that

Hey, darling, it sure is hip

I wanna tip my hat

But I've had no hat to tip

I don't need no hat

Ask me why and I won't lie

All: W-I-I-I-L-D!

We groan...we growl

Up high...or deep underground

We hoot...we howl

We fly...ROUND AND ROUND AND ROUND!!

As the animals climbed further and further up the pyramid, Mowgli got help from an ocelot, a monkey, a hippo and an elephant to get up top with Baloo. They kept going up the pyramid with the other animals, enjoying themselves.

Baloo: MY, OH, ME, IT'S PLAIN TO SEE!!

All: W-I-I-I-L-D!

Baloo: HE, SHE, ME, YOU UNIQUE ALLY!!

All: W-I-I-I-L-D!

Baloo: EVERY BEASTIE RUNNING FREE!!

All: W-I-I-I-I-I-I-L-D!

As the song reached its finale, Baloo tossed Mowgli into the air, but he didn't catch him because Mowgli started falling to the ground. Baloo dove after him and caught him while landing on an elephant and a hippo before sliding off of the pyramid, posing like a singer who had just completed singing. The crowd of animals cheered as Baloo and Mowgli laughed about the fun moment they'd been through.

"Haha, that's my boy," said Flunkey, "they don't let off steam in your man village, now do they, boy?"

Mowgli's emotion turned into uncertainty. "Well...uh, dear."

"Hehehe, big fat no," replied Flunkey, "warn me how is the village any matter?"

But before Mowgli could respond, Baloo stepped in on his behalf. "Hey, wait, woah, don't bother the boy. He warned me about this scene," he said as he sat in King Louie's spot as Flunkey and the monkeys listened carefully, "let me interpret it for you.  People are crazy.  Everyone works and nobody plays."

"Oh, boy," said Flunkey.

Mowgli didn't bother walking in on this conversation. Instead, he stayed back, unsure if warning about the man village was a good idea. "They have nothing but rules, rules, rules," Baloo continued as animals gathered around to listen, "oh, and there's even this girl who thinks the jungle is an eerie place."

Upon hearing Baloo mention Shanti, Mowgli got even more unsure, but also disgraceful. He started having doubts about being in the jungle and he didn't want to hear Baloo speak about Shanti in front of all the other animals. But, with hearing his friend mock Shanti along with everyone else, Mowgli slowly started walking off. "But it doesn't matter, because Mowgli will never see this village or this crazy girl again," Baloo continued as he laughed along with the other animals, oblivious to Mowgli's disappearance until he heard Baloo conclude, "isn't that so, boy?"

There was no response. The jungle animals moved out of Baloo's road, looking to see if Mowgli was yet there, but he wasn't. "Mowgli," called Baloo, "Mowgli?"

As Baloo started looking around the area for Mowgli, he thought up an assumption.

Outside the temple, Mowgli slowly trudged his road down the path, ignoring Baloo's calls for him. At first, he was having a great time with his old friends at the festival, but now was in serious doubt over what he should do. He left the Man Village because he missed the jungle and he didn't like getting in danger for almost leading his fellow village children into the jungle. He was also frustrated with Shanti, being that she was the one who got him in danger. But now, after hearing that they were looking for him, but also hearing Baloo mock Shanti in front of the other animals, had made Mowgli mournful about ever leaving the village in the first place. He got onto a tree and saw a view of the village. He remembered living in an environment that might not have seemed wild and was thrilling as the jungle, but it was safe, and individuals who cared for his welfare and safety surrounded him. But he left it all in favor of going back to the jungle. "That morning sun peeks over the mountains, and all the rhinos rub their eyes if they hear...hear the jungle rhythm," Mowgli sang mournfully as he picked a small flower.

A mile or two away from the depressed Mowgli, Shanti walked through the jungle. It was a bright, sunny day, and she had gone a long road in trying to find her best friend. Behind her, Ranjan, exhausted and sleepy from the walk, started yawning. "Have we found Mowgli yet," he asked tiredly.

"Oh, are you tired," asked a sympathetic Anne-Marie as she crouched down to the young boy.

"A bit."

"I'm sure we'll find Mowgli soon. C'mon, jump in," replied Shanti, who then put Ranjan on her back, giving him a piggyback ride, "are you alright up there?"

"Uh-huh," yawned Ranjan.

With that said, Shanti resumed her walk with the sleepy Ranjan on her back. On his branch, Mowgli continued singing his song in a mournful fashion. "How could it be....half as good as being free? Part of me...like the jungle rhythm......"

Not far away, Shanti, who was yet walking, suddenly heard a familiar voice and stopped. "Hey, did you hear that," she asked Ranjan.

"Listen what," asked Ranjan.

"It looked like Mowgli."

Ranjan got emotional and got off Shanti, willing to find Mowgli. "MOWGLI," he shouts with glee as he runs.

"Ranjan, wait," called Shanti, "please, wait!"

Back with Mowgli, he sighed as he looked at his village again. As he stared at his former home, Shanti and Ranjan looked around the flora. Shanti peeked from underneath a bush and noticed a familiar silhouette in the tree. She squinted at it before realizing what it was. It was Mowgli. "MOWGLI," she cried.

Mowgli heard the shout and was alarmed. "SHANTI," asked Mowgli before losing his balance and getting tangled in some vines.

Shanti and Ranjan approached Mowgli. "Are you alright," asked Shanti.

"Oh, I feel fine," replied Mowgli.

"What are you doing up there," asked Ranjan.

"Wait," Mowgli said as he tried untangling himself, "I'll be right...WOAH!!"

Mowgli managed to get some vines off his leg, but he was now upside down. Although upside down, he was happy and surprised to see Shanti and vice versa. "I can't believe I eventually found you," said Shanti.

"I thought I'd never see you again," said Mowgli.

As this went ahead, Baloo looked around the area for his friend. "You here, boy," called Baloo, "hey, Little Britches. MOWGLI!!"

But there was no response. As the search kept on going, Baloo heard some noises coming from nearby. He peeked from behind a bush and noticed Shanti and Ranjan with Mowgli. While Shanti was pulling on a vine, trying to get Mowgli back on the ground. "You're not really helping," squirmed Mowgli.

"Ranjan, stop pulling," said Shanti.

Seeing this activity, Baloo whispered, "it's her."

Baloo got himself ready for the assault. Back with Mowgli and Shanti, oblivious to Baloo nearby, Mowgli said, "well, what are you doing out here anyhow?"

"I came to save you," replied Shanti.

"Save me? From what?"

"That wild bear that took you away."

Suddenly, everyone heard a growling sound and gasped. They looked and saw Baloo burst from the bushes, teeth shown, eyes scrunched in a fierce expression and roaring like a wild animal. Ranjan, frightened by the roar, swiftly hid behind Shanti, who was also intimidated. But Baloo wasn't the only one frightening the villagers. "BALOO, DON'T, NO, NO, NO, STOP, PLEASE, WAIT," cried Mowgli.

Baloo charged towards Shanti and Ranjan, before tripping on a vine. This sent Mowgli flying up into the tree. As for Baloo, he got caught in some vines. "Roar," he said before getting punched in the nose by Shanti, "ooh, my poor sneeze. It hurt me."

"You get close to Ranjan, and I'll really show you that you're hurt," said Shanti who, though nervous, was not letting anything hurt Ranjan.

"WAIT," urged Mowgli as he got himself to the ground, "wait, please, wait, calm down. It's alright."

"But he's attacking us," complained Shanti.

"Attacking," asked an annoyed Baloo, "I'm the one who got kicked in the nose."

"That's because you frightened her," replied Mowgli.

"But you warned me to scarify her," said Baloo.

Hearing this bit of news, Shanti gasped. "What?"

"No, no, no, no, no, no...I..." said Mowgli who tried backing up, but tripped.

"Mowgli...you planned this," asked Shanti.

Seeing Shanti's upset face, Mowgli tried explaining himself. "Well, I...um..."

Shanti, feeling betrayed, started walking away with Ranjan in her hands. "C'mon, Ranjan," she said.

"Hey, wait, Shanti, I can explain to you," begged Mowgli.

"Don't even worry," said Shanti, who was not happy at all.

"Shanti, wait," called Mowgli.

But Shanti ignored him and continued storming away. This left Mowgli feeling really bad. "Dude, you weren't joking about her. That's bad news," said Baloo.

"No, she's not," complained Mowgli, "she's helping and you frightened her."

"Man alive, first you warn me to frighten her, then you warn me not to frighten her. Boy, I just have so much space in this pumpkin, and it's filling up fast," said Baloo.

"You just don't understand," said Mowgli, who turned his back on Baloo.

"Alright, how about you arrange it for me," asked Baloo.

But Mowgli didn't respond. Baloo started realizing something that was the opposite at what Mowgli had warned him about Shanti. "Read yourself loud and clear, boy. You wanted that girl to find you," Baloo said somberly.

Back with Mowgli, he kept running through the jungle, trying to find Shanti and Ranjan. "SHANTI," called Mowgli, "SHANTI!! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

There was no response. He kept searching the flora for the two villagers. "C'MON," called Mowgli again.

Eventually, the man-cub found Shanti and Ranjan, both standing in fear. "There you are," said Mowgli, "I'm very sorry. Will you let me explain?"

But Shanti didn't reply. She backed off slowly while her fearful expression stayed on her face. "C'mon, at least speak to me," begged Mowgli.

Shanti yet didn't respond, but instead pointed her finger towards Mowgli. Mowgli turned and realized that Shanti and Ranjan weren't terrified of them, but someone who was hiding in the shadowy undergrowth. Although the figure was engulfed in shadow, Mowgli was able to identify this person. It was Shere Khan. Shere Khan walked out from his hiding place and circled around the terrified friends. "You seem surprised to see me, man-cub," he said, "I can't imagine why. I wouldn't have let you get away with what you did to me."

Mowgli, though surprised to see his arch-nemesis back in the jungle, stood brave, shielding his friends from the tiger as he walked around them. "You see, you humiliated me, man-cub," said Shere Khan, "surely you realize I just can't let you live."

Shanti gasped, but Mowgli, knowing that it was he who what Shere Khan wanted, said, "run."

Shanti and Ranjan did so, side-by-side. Mowgli frowned at the furious tiger. But before anything dangerous could happen, Mowgli swiftly threw some dirt into the tiger's face. Although his prey was on the run now, Shere Khan remained calm and said, "oh, you'll try to overtake me. How funny," as he started following them.

Shanti and Ranjan, who were a short distance ahead of Mowgli and briefly stopped their run, but resumed it as Mowgli appeared. "Let's go this way," he said as he ran with Ranjan in his arms.

But they had to move fast, because Shere Khan was about to start chasing after his prey. After running for a short amount of time, Mowgli swiftly guided Shanti and Ranjan to a hidden spot in the bushes near the path. "Alright, stay here," he said before running.

"Mowgli, no," whispered Shanti frantically.

But before Shanti could try and stop him, Shere Khan appeared, roaring frustratedly and chasing after the man-cub. He didn't notice Shanti and Ranjan hidden nearby. He concentrated on the boy who humiliated him by setting his tail on fire. Shanti, knowing she had to do something, said to Ranjan, "Ranjan, stay here, I have to go help Mowgli."

"But I wanna help Mowgli as well," said Ranjan.

"No, no," said Shanti, unwilling to risk Ranjan's safety, "I'll be back. I promise.  Stay put."

Shanti pursued the chase, leaving Ranjan behind. But Ranjan, not giving up on his foster brother, tried following Shanti. But his loincloth got stuck on a branch, preventing him from going forward. He attempted to go forward, but he was sent flying backwards and sliding into someone. Ranjan looked up and saw Baloo standing over him. Remembering that Baloo frightened him and Shanti before, Ranjan panicked and tried fleeing, but Baloo picked him up. "Hey, hey, hold silent, calm down, boy," said Baloo, "now where's Mowgli?"

"SHERE KHAN," exclaimed Ranjan.

"Shere Khan," Baloo exclaimed with shock.

"That's a deliberate lie, you monkey-faced little tin can," replied Ranjan.

"Hang on," said Baloo as he put Ranjan on his shoulders and raced away to stop the tiger.

Back with Mowgli, he continued fleeing the tiger. He managed to get a good enough distance from the evil cat, but knew that Shere Khan wasn't going to stop his pursuit. He kept running and running until coming across a temple. But a chasm of lava surrounded this temple, making it a dangerous place. Mowgli was alarmed by this, but heard Shere Khan's roar from behind. Knowing he had to move fast, Mowgli jumped to the other side. He managed to land safely, but Mowgli was left hanging on the edge. As he tried climbing up, he saw Shere Khan appear. But Shere Khan jumped over as well and followed him. Mowgli stopped upon coming across a courtyard filled with giant gongs. But before he could think up a plan, he heard Shere Khan's voice behind him. "No matter how fast you run...no matter where you hide......I'll get you."

The man-cub hid behind one of the gongs and stayed out of sight. Shere Khan entered the courtyard and searched around the area for his prey. "Come out, come out, wherever you are," he taunted.

Mowgli breathed heavily as he noticed that he was trapped. If he was to try and run back the fashion he came, Shere Khan would notice him and give chase all over again. How come?

In the jungle, I continued my search for Mowgli past my side. I had searched a long time for the man-cub, but I found no trace of him. As I jumped off a branch, I heard a voice. "HURRY UP, HURRY UP, FASTER, FASTER!!"

I looked and noticed Ranjan fleeing across the flora. "Not another boy," I complained.

"Can't you go any faster," Ranjan asked Baloo as the bear revealed himself to me.

I gasped upon seeing Baloo carrying Ranjan on his shoulders. "Baloo," I said as I ran alongside them, "what's the point of this?"

"Mowgli's in danger," Baloo responded.

"Shanti as well," added Ranjan.

"Who's Shanti," I asked.

As we continued our rush to save our friends, Shanti came across the temple and jumped over the lava pit. She kept running until spotting Shere Khan, yet on the prowl for Mowgli. The tiger didn't see Shanti enter the temple, but Shanti, not taking any chances, hid behind the stone wall. As for us, we stopped our run upon reaching the temple. As lightning and thunder burst in the heavens, Baloo, not risking the chance of losing Mowgli to Shere Khan like before, put Ranjan on the ground and rushed towards the temple. "Take the baby, Baggy," he said, "I'll help Mowgli."

Baloo jumped over the chasm of lava. But before he could go inside, I called out to him. "BALOO!!"

He turned to me as I said, "be careful."

Back at the temple, Baloo managed to hide himself from Shere Khan's view. But before he could think up an idea, he heard a noise that sounded like someone walking. "Mowgli," Baloo whispered as he started walking around the temple hallway, "Mowgli, is that you?"

In another part of the hallway, Shanti, who was also looking for Mowgli, heard a crumbling sound behind her and assumed someone was there. "Mowgli?"

Shanti picked up a stick and slowly walked through the hallway. With Baloo, he had his weapon at the ready, ready to attack Shere Khan, should he ambush them. Baloo and Shanti slowly walked through the perspective hallways before noticing each other. They both gasped, remembering each other. "YOU," exclaimed Baloo.

"YOU," exclaimed Shanti as well, before getting into an argument.

"Stay away from me!"

"What are you doing here?"

"Hi, I'm here to be a member of my den..."

"Hey, I'm really not in the mood, alright? I spent a night in the jungle, I was attacked by a snake..."

"And that's why..."

"But I don't care, because..."

"I'M HERE TO HELP MOWGLI," the two concluded, ultimately realizing that they were having the same intention, "are you?"

"I guess we're on the same side," said Baloo.

"I guess so," replied Shanti.

"OK."

"That's it."

"You go that fashion. I'm covering you," said Baloo.

Shanti headed down the hallway, while Baloo peeked from behind his gong. He saw Shere Khan strolling through the courtyard, yet on the hunt. He noticed Mowgli peeking out from his hiding place and gasped. Baloo did a fast think before coming up with a plan. Baloo cracked his fingers, getting ready for action and started banging on his gong. This made a loud noise that caught Shere Khan's attention. Mowgli also noticed this and peeked. He saw Shere Khan approaching the gong. From behind her gong, Shanti, with two wooden sticks, started banging on her gong. This presented Shere Khan's attention as well. After banging on her gong, Shanti hid herself and braced for Shere Khan. Mowgli, seeing that this was confusing the tiger, picked up two wooden sticks and did the same fact. He played his gong, catching Shere Khan's attention. Shere Khan, who was getting irritated, approached Mowgli's gong, but at a faster speed than before. Baloo frowned at Shere Khan, seeing his plan work. Baloo started banging his gong, irritating Shere Khan even further. Shere Khan rushed towards Baloo's gong, but before he could reach it, Shanti started playing hers again. This was confusing Shere Khan to a much larger extent, but also frustrating him. He tried reaching Shanti's gong, but Mowgli started playing his gong again. All the gongs banged louder. This confused Shere Khan and he let out a loud, anguished shriek. But as Shanti was playing hers, she noticed the chain attaching her gong to the ceiling was starting to crack. It broke away and the gong came smashing down to the ground. This caught Shere Khan's attention and he spotted Shanti. Everyone else gasped upon seeing her exposed to the tiger. "Oh, dear," lamented Shanti.

Shere Khan frowned at Shanti and said, "well, isn't this a wonderful event? Yes, what'll it be, man-cub?  You or your adorable little girlfriend?"

Shanti threw her sticks at Shere Khan, but this did nothing. She was now at his mercy. "I'm waiting," Shere Khan said, "one...two..."

Mowgli, seeing that Shanti was in danger, realized he had to stop Shere Khan, though it would possibly cost him dear life. "NO, DON'T," cried Mowgli as he revealed himself to the tiger.

Shere Khan turned and saw the man-cub surrendering himself. Lightning flashed as Shere Khan frowned at his prey. "No more games, man-cub," he said before roaring and charging at the man-cub.

Mowgli turned to flee, but Shere Khan was already hot on his trail. But before he could catch up with him, Baloo knocked him aside. "MOWGLI," cried Shanti as she caught up with Mowgli.

"C'mon," replied Mowgli.

Shere Khan raced after them, but Baloo caught hold of the tiger, trying desperately to stop them, only to be whacked by the tiger and ignored. "MOWGLI, WATCH OUT," shouts Baloo.

The two friends looked behind them and saw Shere Khan right behind them. They kept fleeing for dear lives before noticing the lava pit ahead. "OH, DEAR," cried Shanti.

"WE CAN MAKE IT," said Mowgli.

They jumped and managed to catch onto the other side of the chasm, catching hold of a tiger statue. But Shere Khan did the same and landed a few inches underneath them. The two friends climbed up the tiger statue, trying to keep away from Shere Khan. "C'mon," said Mowgli as they climbed.

But Shere Khan was dangerously close behind them. He climbed up the statue before spotting his prey ahead. "Mowgli," he muttered, having the perfect chance to get his revenge.

Suddenly, the statue started moving. Everyone on the statue held on for dear life as it started plummeting into the lava chasm. They both lost their grip and were now falling to their doom. But as it seemed it was over for them, Baloo caught Shanti's hand while Mowgli held onto her foot. Baloo pulled up Mowgli and Shanti to safety while Shere Khan landed on a small island above the lava. The tiger statue landed on him, but it didn't crush him. Shere Khan found himself trapped underneath the statue and unable to get out. It was now clear that he was defeated again. But as it seemed it couldn't get worse for Shere Khan, a vulture flew overhead and landed on the statue. It was Lucky, who survived Shere Khan's assault. "Hey, Stripes," he said, "you look a little DOWN in your MOUTH today! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

"Oh, dear," muttered Shere Khan, who growled in frustration before shouting out an enraged "STEELE!!"

This yell was so loud that it echoed across the ancient stone theater. "Hey, wait, what's this? Cat had your TONGUE?!  AHAHAHAHAHA!  Oh, I've always said you had a good HEAD on your shoulders, Khannie, my boy!  AHAHAHAHA!!  Oh, this is so much fun, playing for a captive audience.  I just love it.  AHAHAHA!!!"

Having dealt with Shere Khan and everyone safe and sound, Mowgli, Shanti and Baloo gathered together a safe distance off the temple. As they laughed together, I appeared with Ranjan. "Bagheera," said Mowgli upon seeing me and giving me a hug.

I grinned upon getting the embrace from my dear friend, while Ranjan reunited with Shanti. "Hey, Mowgli. It's very good to see you, man-cub," I said.

After the hug, Mowgli directed me towards his village friends. "Alright, c'mon, follow me," he said before introducing Shanti, "Bagheera, this is Shanti; my best friend from the village."

Everyone suddenly heard a call out in the distance and looked. They saw torches moving across the jungle flora. Shanti and Ranjan saw that their parents were nearby. "There they are," exclaimed Shanti.

"DAD, WOO-HOO," cheered Ranjan.

"C'mon, Mowgli," said an emotional Shanti.

But while Shanti and Ranjan were emotional, Mowgli was unsure and hesitant. Shanti saw his hesitant look and felt bad. They heard the village leader crying out in great agony for Mowgli, reminding them both at what just happened at the village entrance that one day. The two friends heard their parents cry out for their names in grief. Seeing Mowgli facing a serious choice of either staying in the jungle, or going back to the Man Village, Shanti said, "Mowgli...I have to go."

Shanti turned back to Baloo, who gave her Ranjan. The two villagers started walking to the adults, nodding at Baloo and me, who gave slight grins at them. We were both concerned about Mowgli and what he should decide. "Well, c'mon, Mowgli," said Ranjan.

But Mowgli didn't follow them. He stopped himself and sighed, yet unsure what to think. Unwilling to upset Mowgli any further, Shanti silently said, "c'mon, Ranjan," as she started walking to the adults with Ranjan.

Mowgli watched his friend and foster brother head towards the adults. He turned back to Baloo, who, while feeling bad for him, awaited him to make a decision. Mowgli slowly turned back to Shanti and Ranjan. Although he preferred the jungle over the Man Village, and the incident at the entrance, he knew what had to be done. He turned back to Baloo and ran towards him, embracing him with a warm hug. "Oh, Baloo," he said.

"It's alright, boy," consoled Baloo, "that girl isn't bad, now she is."

"Would it be weird if I made a suggestion," Mowgli asked.

"What are you waiting for," asked Baloo, "go ahead, Mowgli."

Mowgli looked at his bear friend, surprised that even he was supporting his decision to go back home to the village. "Really," he asked.

"Really," asked Baloo, "don't let her escape."

Mowgli yet didn't want to leave Baloo behind. He looked at Baloo with his tearful eyes. "Come with me."

"Now, you know I can't do that," said Baloo, who was feeling the same emotions.

Mowgli, complete with emotion, hugged Baloo once more. "I'm gonna miss you, Daddy Bear," he wept.

"Me as well, Little Britches," said Baloo, "me as well."

I watched the emotional embrace between the two and felt emotion myself. As I watched, hearing the frustrated Bengal tiger shout his name. "Alright then, c'mon now," said Baloo, "you'd better hurry up."

The two friends pulled apart from each other. Mowgli and Baloo looked at each other eye-to-eye before Mowgli started running to catch up with Shanti. As he got on a log, he turned back one last time and waved a farewell to his friends. Baloo sniffed and waved back one last time and waved his friend as he watched Mowgli disappear to catch up with Shanti. He slowly accepted that Mowgli's future belonged in the Man Village.

Back with Shanti and Ranjan, they continued their walk towards the adults. "HEY," Mowgli called, "WAIT UP!!"

Shanti and Ranjan turned and saw Mowgli running towards them. Their despair turned into happiness upon seeing their friend come back to them. "Mowgli," said Shanti.

Ranjan chuckled as they both approached the man-cub. "Why did it take so long," asked Ranjan as he hugged his foster brother.

Mowgli looked at Shanti before saying, "race you back!"

They started running towards the adults. "C'mon, Ranjan," said Shanti happily.

The three children eventually saw the adults with emotion while calling Mowgli's name.

"WOO-HOO!"

"PLEASE, WAIT!!"

"WE'RE OVER HERE!!!"

Shanti's mother turned and saw her daughter, alive and well. "SHANTI," she cried.

"WE FOUND THE CHILDREN!!"

The other villagers saw for themselves and rose with happiness. "RANJAN," exclaimed Ranjan's father as Ranjan hugged Messua.

"MUMMY," cried Ranjan as he embraced with his mother.

"You gave us quite a fright," said the father as he enjoyed the reunion.

"Shanti," exclaimed Shanti's mother, "I was so concerned about you."

"I'm alright, Mum. I'm very sorry.  I was just trying to help Mowgli."

As the emotional reunion went ahead between Ranjan and Messua and Shanti and her mother, the father noticed Mowgli and slowly approached him. Mowgli was slightly hesitant, but knew he had to face the odds. "I'm...sorry, sir," he said, "it's just..."

"No, Mowgli," said the father, who wasn't frustrated, but calm and relieved to have his adopted son back, "I'm sorry. I should've understood that the jungle is part of who you are."

The father grinned at his adopted son. Mowgli, realizing that his father had accepted Mowgli for who he was, grew with emotion and hugged him. "I'm just happy that you're safe," said the father.

As he embraced with Mowgli, he looked up and remembered him from Mowgli's puppet shows and understanding that he helped protect Mowgli during this time in the jungle, nodded back and grinned. "DADDY," exclaimed Ranjan as he approached his father.

"Ranjan!"

"You won't believe it," said Ranjan as the other villagers gathered around to hear the adventure their children undertook, "there was a big old snake and I beat him up."

"Haha, of course you did so."

Back with Baloo, he was yet saddened over letting Mowgli go. I approached him and gently said, "I'm proud of you, Baloo. That was very brave....."

"Uh, Baggy, don't run after him and try to get him to stay here with us. He belongs in that village and you know this," said Baloo.

"Ohoho, really," I asked sarcastically.

"Yes, really," replied Baloo, "he's had this entire future there."

"I'm sorry, Baloo," I said, "you're absolutely right."

"I'm really going to miss that boy," said Baloo.

"Me as well," I replied.

Baloo sighed and accepted that. However, an idea hatched inside his mind. "Wait a moment," he said, "I have an idea for myself."

I saw this as a mischievous plan. "Baloo," I said, annoyed.

Some short time later, under the morning heavens, the villagers were doing their daily business at the Man Village. In the village, Mowgli and Shanti gathered their pots as Shanti said, "c'mon, Mowgli, we're going to be late."

Mowgli, knowing that he was ready, got his pot and started following Shanti. "Alright," he said, "I'm, uh...right behind you."

Mowgli incidentally bumped into his father. "Oops. Just, uh...getting some water," said Mowgli.

The father chuckled and said, "alright, but be careful, son."

"I will," said Mowgli, "see you, Dad."

The father turned to Messua, who also knew where Mowgli and Shanti were going. "Let's see if he remembers to actually bring some water this time."

At the village entrance, Shanti creaked open the village door as Mowgli said, "hey, Shanti, let's remember to really bring some water this time."

Shanti chuckled as they started crossing the river. They reached the other side and they both put down their pots. Using broken bamboo stems, Shanti started playing a beat on her pot. Mowgli did the same fact, except on a log. Ranjan burst out of Mowgli's pot and said, "YES, MY LORD!!"

With that said, Baloo came out of the flora and approached the three children. "Man, this beat makes me cold," said Baloo.

"Hiya, Daddy Bear," said Mowgli as he greeted his bear buddy.

"Hey there, Little Britches," said Baloo before turning to Shanti, "Shanti."

Baloo danced with Shanti a little before letting her go. Shanti bumped into the pot before Ranjan was hiding in, but Ranjan wasn't in there. "Ranjan," she asked.

I burst out of the flora in fright over something. Ranjan was right behind me and he was chasing my tail. Despite this, it wasn't so bad and I grinned. Baloo, Mowgli and Shanti high-fived each other before dancing away into the jungle to spend time together. I followed them, but had no objection to this at all. I was happy to see my friends all having a great time together, and to know that Mowgli had accepted the Man Village as his new home, but would come back to the jungle to visit on occasion. It was a compromise I'd say was well done.

All: Look for the Bare Necessities

The simple Bare Necessities

Forget about your worries and your strife

Mowgli: Yes, my Lord!

All: I mean the Bare Necessities

That's why us bears can rest at ease

With just the Bare Necessities of life

Mowgli: Oh, yes!

All: With just the Bare Necessities of life

Baloo: One more time

All: WITH JUST THE BARE NECESSITIES OF LIFE!

YES, MY LORD!!

Executive Producers DENNIS DESHAZER SHERYL STAMPS LEACH

Senior Producer JIM ROWLEY

Producers JEFF GITTLE MARTHA DATEMA LIPSCOMB

Director BRUCE DECK

Writer MITCH LOBROVICH

Production Designer JESS NELSON

Musical Director BOB SINGLETON

Lyricists/Composers STEPHEN BATES BALTES LORY LAZARUS

Performance Director PENNY WILSON

Educational Specialists MARY ANN DUDKO, Ph.D. MARGIE LARSEN, M.Ed.

Cast: Voice of Barney... BOB WEST Barney's Body Costume... DAVID JOYNER Voice of Baby Bop... JULIE JOHNSON Baby's Bop Body Costume... JEFF AYERS Voice of B.J. ... PATTY WIRTZ B.J.'s Body Costume... PATTY WIRTZ

Cast: Shawn... JOHN DAVID BENNETT, II Tosha... HOPE CERVANTES Stella the Storyteller... PHYLLIS CICERO Jason... KURT DYKHUIZEN Kathy... LAUREN KING Juan... MICHAEL KROST

Cast: Carlos... COREY LOPEZ Min... PIA MANALO Kenneth... NATHAN REGAN Julie... SUSANNAH WETZEL Barney's Guest... JORDAN KAUFMANN

Associate Director ERIC NORBERG

Stage Manager TERRIE DAVIS MANNING

Lighting Design BERNER & BRILL LIGHTING DESIGN, INC.

Editor MCKEE SMITH

Audio Director DAVID M. BOOTHE

Art Director ELIZABETH SAGAN VELTEN

Wardrobe Supervisor/Designer LISA O. ALBERTSON

Technical Operations Supervisor RANDY BREEDLOVE

Video Engineer BINK WILLIAMS

Camera Operators LARRY ALLEN OZ COLEMAN TOM COX BRUCE HARMON

Production Audio RONALD G. BALENTINE DAVID LOWE

Boom Operators DAVID M. ROBERTS DAVID SMITH

Lighting Director CASEY COOK

Key Grip BUZ CANNON

Lighting Board Operator TODD DAVIS

Grip/Electric JAMES EDWARDS

Construction Supervisor CHARLES BAILEY

Craft Shop Supervisor RAY HENRY

Art/Craft Coordinator AMY ATHERTON

Set Dresser AGGIE DAVIS-BROOKS

Draftsperson CHRISTOPHER MCCRAY

Craft/Prop Artist MARK BROGAN

Props/Special Effects DAVID COBB

Carpenters TY M. BURNS DANNY SMITH

Scenic Painter E. (BILL) SLETTE

Swing Crew CARMELO GOMEZ

Costume Shop Manager GEORGIA FORD WAGENHURST

Costume Technician D.J. SEGLER

Costume Sewing NATALIE SERGI-SAARI SUSIE THENNES

Make-Up Designer JEANIE L. D'IORIO

Hair Stylist DEBRA HERTEL HAEFLING

Costume/Wardrobe Assistants BRIAN BLEVINS SANTIAGO MOLENA JANET BUSH KRISTEN SCHAFFNER

Field Producer SANDY JANTZEN

Post Videotape DUDLEY ASAFF

Dialogue Editor DENICE CROWELL

Post Production Audio CRAIG CHASTAIN

Production Office Manager SUE SHINN

Script Supervisor CATHERINE REYNOLDS

Production Coordinators JULIE HUTCHINGS KELLY MAHER

Production Accountant DEBBIE COTTLE

Production Secretary AUSTIN GRAY

Asst. to Performance Director DAVID VOSS

Production Assistants BRADEN MCDONALD JOEL ZOCH

Barney Music Department JILL HANCE CHARLES KING JONATHAN SMITH ETHEL WADSWORTH

For Singleton Productions, Inc. BRADFORD COLEMAN LARRY HARON MIKE PIETZSCH

Educational Research Staff PATSY J. ROBLES GOODWIN, M.Ed. KIMBERLY THORNTON, M.Ed. JOY STARR

Children's Supervisor MARY EVANS

Additional on set tutoring provided by ON LOCATION EDUCATIONAL – MICHELE DANCHES

Barney and the Backyard Gang™ and Barney & Friends® were originally developed by Sheryl Leach, Kathy Parker and Dennis DeShazer.

Vocal Performances Enhanced with Help from Singleton Productions, Inc.

"I Love You" • Lyrics by Lee Bernstein (BMI)

Special Thanks to Tom Rennen of Intelligent Light Digital Imaging The Safety's Helpers

Original Barney, Baby Bop and B.J. Costumes by IRENE COREY DESIGN ASSOCIATES

Produced by THE LYONS GROUP AND CONNECTICUT PUBLIC TELEVISION

For Connecticut Public Television Executives in Charge LARRY RIFKIN SHARON BLAIR

Executive in Charge RICHARD C. LEACH

BARNEY & FRIENDS • Stop, Look and Be Safe! Copyright 2003 • Lyons Partnership, L.P.