Synopsis: A tiny kingdom of frogs is panicked after their scout sights an Ox near their pond. The arrogant Frog King scoffs at the threat, claiming the God Zeus has granted him the skills needed to protect his subjects. Soon after, while attempting to puff himself to the size of an Ox, the King explodes, leaving his subjects defenseless. Terrified, the remaining frogs petition Zeus to give them a new king. Amused by the frightened beings, Zeus delivers a new sovereign in the form of a huge rotten log. At first the frogs are overjoyed at having such a hulking King to hide behind, but in time they realize the log is inanimate and harmless.
Angrily, the frogs petition Zeus for a better King, a strong King to properly rule them. Soon Zeus, annoyed by the frog's lack of gratitude and wisdom grants their wish; he makes a stork the new King of the Frogs, and the stork quickly devours the whole kingdom.
Screen Play
Title Card
FROG KINGDOM
The Frog and the Ox & the Frogs that Desired a King
Opening shot of a meadow and marsh stretching out to under clouded sky.
OVERLAID CAPTION
There was once a Kingdom of Frogs remote enough that none of it's creatures had ever seen a farmer or a beast of burden. Until one day...
Shot of a gargantuan Ox head looming over a terrified grouping of frogs. The small lot scrambles and dives over one another attempting to flee.
Cut to a shot of the hulking FROG KING wearing a crown, perched on a stone and surrounded below by smaller frogs on flowered lily pads. The subservient frogs are lashing out their tongues and batting flies into the yawning mouth of the KING. The tranquillity is broken by the panicked approach of one of the frogs from the opening.]
FROG KING
Such a torrent underling! What's the trouble??
CRIER
Your Majesty! To the East! A woolly titan looms!!!
FROG KING
By Zeus! Calm yourself crier! Have you forgotten you're under my care?
CRIER
But My Sovereign! The beast was far larger than you!!!
FROG KING
Rest easy little one, our God Zeus hath bestowed me with great potential! Watch as balloon!
The frog king puffs up his throat, going "Ribbit Ribbit" as he expands. Other frogs looking on applaud.
FROG KING
Aha! All too easy.
CRIER
Master, to be sure the monster was much larger.
FROG KING
Not a problem!
The King sucks in even more air, becoming twice his normal size. The onlookers cheer and do back-flips approvingly.
FROG KING
Surely this is... enough to frighten your beast... What say you NOW?
CRIER
NO! NO! Much bigger still! TEN TIMES THAT AT LEAST!!
FROG KING
Then larger we will go!
The King swells to enormous size, his skin stretches to a fine membrane.
FROG KING
ZEUS... AID.. MMME....
The King attempts one last breath...
BOOM!!! He explodes. Sparks, star-shapes and guts rain down on the swamp.
CRIER
OH MY! What a turn! We'll surely be stomped out now. Zeus help us!
No sooner than this is said, Zeus makes an appearance. The clouds in the sky twist into a cottony beard, and from the beard the face of Zeus surfaces looking wild-eyed. Atop his head sits a crown of lightening bolts.
ZEUS
What troubles you my luscious babes?
CRIER
Our King has exploded, oh Thunderous one! At a time of bad peril! Can thou offer new protection??!