The Frida Witch by Salvador Hernandez [OPENING TITLE CARD]

"Hi, my name is Frida and I’m a cat witch! Not a people that turns into a cat that turns into a witch, just a cat who can do magic. How did I get here? Let me tell you…

My mommy had me and my brother Fibo in an old box behind a brick building. It got very cold at night, even though we huddled next to mommy all the time.

There were two peoples that found us and took us in to their bigger box to keep us warm and give us food all day.

Each night at midnight, mommy would use her magic to give us a bath. She would float as she used magic to spin us slowly in the air. She would tell us stories of the other yellow-eyed cats who, once they turned one year old, got to practice magic.

Mommy told us about the astral plane, making things float, phasing through walls, and a bunch more.

Mommy warned us to be careful with magic because not all peoples might welcome cats with magic powers. One night, our peoples caught mommy drying us as we floated in the air.

They got scared. They started screaming and kicked her hard.

The peoples chased my brother and me out of the house with a broom.

By the time we got downstairs and ran out of the house, we saw that they threw mommy out the window. *SIGH* Mommy wasn’t breathing anymore.

After we lost our mommy and our home, my brother and I had to figure out how to survive in the cold wet streets. We still miss mommy and we are always hungry, but at least we have each other."

Frida just finished telling the end of her story to a random cat.

Frida: “So that was a few months ago, and it’s been kinda crazy. Since then, my brother and I turned one and started practicing magic, but only together at night. I feel like I’m doing alright, all things considered. Whaddaya think?”

Random Street Cat (looks at Frida as if she is crazy): “MRRRROW!”

Frida: “Well, at least I have my brother, Fibo, and he managed to snag Mr. Fish as we were chased out of the house. Say hello, Mr. Fish!”

Close up of Mr. Fish laying on the floor doing absolutely nothing.

Random Street Cat: “MEEOWWW!?”

Random Street Cat walks away repeating: “MMMMMMMMMEEEOOOWWW??”

[EST. SHOT] Two humans looking out a window into the alleway.
Peoples 1: “Babe, those are the kitties I was telling you about. They must be so cold out there.”
Fibo notices Frida talking to the random cat while walking towards her.

Fibo: “Frida, what are you doing? You know she can’t understand you, right? Ok, I’m gonna go hunt for food. Remember, you can reach me in case of an emergency. Just use the astral plane like Mommy told us about.”
Frida: “No, no, no, just come back soon. Please… I don’t think I want to touch magic, especially when you’re not around. What if the peoples catch me and hurt me like Mommy? I’ll just stay here with Mr. Fish and get our place nice and cozy.”

[EST. SHOT] Fibo walking away from Frida and Mr. Fish who stand next to the dirty box.
Fibo: “Ok sis, just remember, if anything happens, you can reach out to me. You already know how.”
Fibo says this as he continues walking away.

Camera pans up to the sun. [BIRDIE NOISES]

The sun is replaced by the moon and stars. [CRICKET AND CAR NOISES]

Frida sits near the box and sighs while pacing paw prints are all around and Mr. Fish on the ground.
Frida (talking to Mr Fish): “It’s been hours! WHERE’S FIBO??? You’re right Mr. Fish, I shouldn’t worry.”

[SIDEVIEW SHOT WITH HUMANS HOLDING KITTY CARRIER]
Peoples 1: “Let’s get this kitty outta the cold and upstairs where it’s warm… oh! Where’s the other kitty?”

Frida is startled.

Frida runs inside the box, leaving Mr. Fish behind.

The peoples place down the carrier and put Mr. Fish inside of it.
Peoples 2: “Maybe the kitty will feel safer if her fishy comes with her.”

Peoples 2: “Come here nice kitty!” Frida looks scared and meows in a terrified manner.

Peoples manage to pick her up while she struggles. *ROWRR* *MEEEOOOWW*

Peoples take her back to their place where they sit her down by the window, so that we see that this is where the previous shots came from.
Peoples 1: “Let’s give her some time to settle down and warm up a bit.”

They close the door and leave the room.

Frida (looking down at the box in alleyway): “Oh no, it’s so late, and now we are who-knows-where, Fibo is never gonna find us!”

Frida paces around the room. *Impatient noise*

Frida: ”NO! Mr. Fish, I am not gonna do that!”

Frida paces some more. *Growing impatient noise*

Frida: “How can you remain so calm!?! This is an emergency!” Close up of Mr. Fish doing nothing.

From the other room we hear the humans.
Peoples 2: ,“Wow, this kitty is so furry, she left hair all over the place.” We hear a vacuum cleaner start up. *VRRRRROOOOOOOM*

Frida imagining a VERY SCARY vacuum cleaner.
Frida: “It’s worse than I thought… They must have a monster in the other room! I think magic might really be our only option. I’m gonna try to make a quick call to Fibo and hopefully everything will be okay.”

Shot of Mr. Fish looking doubtful.

Frida: “Yes, of course I know what I am doing!”

Frida continues to concentrate and starts to float. *WIND CHIMES*

Frida begins to open the astral plane. *WIND CHIMES*

Frida: “Help, help, FIBO HELLLLPPP!”

Mysterious Old Cat Witch: “Oh dear, I think you got the wrong coordinates. Is this your first time trying magic? Don’t worry, dear, it’s perfectly normal to get it wrong a couple hundred times before getting it right!”.

Astral plane pops. Frida drops but lands on her feet.

Frida and Mr. Fish are left shocked.
Frida (looking towards Mr. Fish): “Looks like we are on our own for now, Mr. Fish!”

[EST. SHOT - BIRD’S EYE VIEW] Frida curled up into a little ball with Mr. Fish because she is tired and sleepy at one end of the room.

[SIDEVIEW - Hand of Peoples 1 reaches down to pet Frida].

Frida darts her face upwards in shock with hand still in frame.

Frida runs away from the peoples (with hand still in frame).

[Hand of Peoples 1 puts down a food bowl for Frida].

[CAMERA ON GROUND HEAD-ON SHOT OF FRIDA UNDER COUCH WITH MR. FISH]
Frida: “I need to practice every day to become good enough.”

[CAMERA ON GROUND HEAD-ON SHOT OF FRIDA UNDER COUCH LOOKING AT MR. FISH]
Frida: “...but only at night so the peoples can’t catch me!”

[B.E. SHOT OF ROOM WITH FOOD BOWL] Frida hides under the couch.

[EXTRA WIDE CAMERA SHOT OF ROOM WITH MOONLIGHT FLOWING IN] Frida practices magic.

[EXTRA WIDE CAMERA SHOT OF ROOM WITH MOONLIGHT FLOWING IN GETTING DARKER] Frida practices magic.

[EXTRA WIDE CAMERA SHOT OF ROOM WITH MOONLIGHT FLOWING IN GETTING DARKEST] Frida practices magic.

[SIDEVIEW - Hand of Peoples 1 reaches down to give Frida a cat dangler toy].

Frida darts her face upwards in shock with hand still in frame.

Frida runs away from the hand with cat dangler toy (with hand still in frame).

[B.E. SHOT SHOT OF ROOM WITH FOOD BOWL AND CAT DANGLER TOY DURING DAY] The cat dangler toy sits on the ground where the food bowl is.

[EXTRA WIDE CAMERA SHOT OF ROOM WITH MOONLIGHT FLOWING IN] Frida is shown with the dangler tied around her forehead and a little one on Mr. Fish. The broken toy is next to the food bowl.

[EXTRA WIDE CAMERA SHOT OF ROOM WITH MOONLIGHT FLOWING IN GETTING DARKER] Frida practices magic.

[EXTRA WIDE CAMERA SHOT OF ROOM WITH MOONLIGHT FLOWING IN GETTING DARKEST] Frida practices magic.

[SIDEVIEW - Hand of Human 1 reaches down to take a picture of Frida].

Frida darts her face upwards in shock with hand holding the camera still in frame.

Frida runs away from the hand with the camera (with hand still in frame).

[B.E. SHOT SHOT OF ROOM WITH FOOD BOWL AND BROKEN CAT TOY DURING DAY] The people’s brought Frida a cat tree after trying to take a picture of her before she could run away. The broken cat dangler toy and food bowl remain on the floor.

[EXTRA WIDE CAMERA SHOT OF ROOM WITH MOONLIGHT FLOWING IN] Frida ignores the gifts and continues to practice at night.

Frida calls the Mysterious Old Cat Witch.

[B.E. SHOT SHOT OF ROOM WITH FOOD BOWL AND BROKEN CAT TOY DURING NIGHT]
Frida: “I have been trying and trying but nothing seems to work. I’ve spent whole nights focusing on my brother and calling him, but he never picks up.”

MOCW: ‘Well, is it possible that your brother is a sleepy-head? You need to be awake and alert to answer the mystical call. The only reason why I always pick up is that I’m a bit of an insomniac. Maybe you need to try and call during the day?’

Frida: “DURING THE DAY?!?! That’s crazy, waaaay too dangerous. There are peoples in this house and I don’t want to end up like my mom! Peoples HATE witches!”

MOCW: “Oh little one, I can feel your pain from all the way over here. I really wish I could do more to help you. Believe in yourself. It’s the only way to reach your brother”.

The connection between Frida and the old cat starts to glitch.

MOCW: “Little one, you are worthy of love”.

The connection cuts out completely.

[B.E. SHOT SHOT OF ROOM WITH FOOD BOWL AND BROKEN CAT TOY DURING DAY] Frida is left to think about this for the remainder of the night. She hugs Mr. Fish close to her.

In the morning Frida is already hiding under the couch when the peoples come in to give her food. After they leave, she and Mr. Fish take center stage in the room.

Frida: “I guess that’s it Mr. Fish. I have to try to reach Fibo. Wish me luck”.
Frida starts to focus.

There are random noises from outside the room. Frida gets scared. She is easily distracted by the noises and her astral connection keeps fizzling out.

She takes a deep breath.
Frida: “I can do this”

[B.E. SHOT SHOT OF ROOM WITH FOOD BOWL AND BROKEN CAT TOY DURING DAY] Frida fully focuses and starts to open the astral plane to her brother. She starts to levitate. Wind swirls around the room.

The connection opens! Fibo’s face appears.
Fibo: “Sis?”

The door to the room swings open.

The astral projection shuts down. Frida smacks her head on the edge of the bench before she falls to the floor and passes out.

[Fade to black.]

Frida comes to with two peoples faces staring at her.

She realizes she is being carried by one of the peoples and that they have seen everything.

She is about to start freaking out when the peoples hugs her close.
Peoples 2: “We thought we lost you for a minute.”
Peoples 1: “So what if you are a little special?”
Peoples 2: “You will always be our little scared floofy ball of hair.”

Frida looks past the peoples who are holding her and sees out the room for the first time. She sees a picture hanging on the wall with the two peoples and a picture of Frida pasted in the middle of them.

Frida lets go, curls up against the peoples, and purrs for the very first time.

Peoples 2: “Well, we’ll leave you to it, brujita.”
Peoples 1: “We love you, little witch.” The peoples leave the room

Frida (looking at Mr. Fish): “They — they love us?’ and starts purring.

[B.E. SHOT SHOT OF ROOM WITH FOOD BOWL AND BROKEN CAT TOY DURING DAY] Frida opens the astral plane again. This time it comes open much easier and she reaches Fibo again.

Fibo: “Sis! What happened? You had me scared there!”

Frida: “Hey Fibo — nothing happened. I am actually OK. I still can’t believe it, but I found some people who truly care about me. They still love me even after they found out I’m a witch.”
Frida smiles.

Fibo: “I’m so happy to hear, sis. We really are a lucky pair of cats after all”.
A child comes into focus from Fibo’s astral plane. The child is petting him while he continues talking to Frida.

Fibo: “Looks like I have to go, but hey, have you seen Mr. Fish? I have been worried sick!”

Close up of Mr. Fish ACTUALLY SMILING!

[END CREDITS TITLE CARD]