Inside Out

BLACK.

JOY (V.O.)

Do you ever look at someone and

wonder, “What is going on inside

their head?” Well, I know. I know

Riley’s head.

WHITE. FADE IN...

INT. HOSPITAL - DAY

A newborn baby swaddled in a blanket, held by her parents.

Push in... and ZOOM IN TO HER HEAD.

INT. HEADQUARTERS

Out of the blackness steps a glowing figure. This is JOY. The

room is black except for a bright CONSCIOUSNESS SCREEN.

JOY:

Hmm?

In front of Joy is a single large BUTTON. She pushes it.

INT. HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS

The baby gurgles and wiggles happily.

JOY (V.O.)

And there she was...

INT. HEADQUARTERS - CONTINUOUS

ON THE CONSCIOUSNESS SCREEN:

MOM:

Hello, Riley.

DAD:

Oh look at you. Aren’t you a little

bundle of joy?

A GOLDEN GLOWING SPHERE rolls from behind the screen. It’s a

MEMORY of what we just saw: Mom and Dad cooing at Riley.

JOY:

Whoa.

INSIDE OUT 2.

Joy rolls the memory on its track, illuminating the room. She

turns back to the button and pushes it again.

INT. HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS

Baby Riley gurgles happily.

JOY (V.O.)

It was amazing. Just Riley and me,

forever...

INT. HEADQUARTERS - CONTINUOUS

Baby Riley CRIES.

JOY (V.O.)

...for 33 seconds.

Joy looks to her side. There’s a new, droopy, blue character

touching the button.

SADNESS:

I’m Sadness.

JOY:

Oh, hello. I’m Joy.

Joy tries to muscle past Sadness to press the button.

JOY (CONT’D)

Can I just... if you could... I

just want to fix that. Thanks.

The two struggle.

JOY (V.O.)

And that was just the beginning.

Headquarters only got more crowded

from there.

INT. MINNESOTA HOUSE - DAY

Riley, now age 3, barrels through the house pulling a wagon.

INT. HEADQUARTERS

ON THE SCREEN:
Riley’s POV as she runs through the house.

Fear “supervises” Joy, who drives.

INSIDE OUT 3.

FEAR:

Very nice. Okay, looks like you got

this. Very good, sharp turn...

Riley approaches a POWER CORD on the ground.

FEAR (CONT’D)

Ahh! Look out!!! No!

Fear leaps to the console.

JOY (V.O.)

That’s Fear. He’s really good at

keeping Riley safe.

INT. MINNESOTA HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Riley stops. She cautiously steps over the power cord.

FEAR (O.S.)

Easy... we’re good! We’re good.

INT. HEADQUARTERS

A fear memory (purple) rolls in.

JOY/SADNESS

Whew!/Nice job.

FEAR:

Thank you! Thank you very much.

Joy jumps back into driving position.

JOY:

And we’re back!

INT. MINNESOTA HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Riley continues her sprint through the house.

Suddenly she’s picked up.

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

PLOP into highchair. Bib. Tray. Bowl.

DAD:

Here we go. Alright, open.

INSIDE OUT 4.

Dad lifts a spoonful of food to Riley’s mouth.

INT. HEADQUARTERS

JOY:

Hmm. This looks new.

FEAR/SADNESS

Do you think it’s safe?/What is it?

ON THE SCREEN:
a spoonful of broccoli.

DISGUST enters.

DISGUST:

Okay, caution! There is a dangerous

smell, people. Hold on, what is

that?

JOY (V.O.)

This is Disgust. She basically

keeps Riley from being poisoned,

physically and socially.

DISGUST:

That is not brightly colored or

shaped like a dinosaur... Hold on

guys... It’s broccoli!

Disgust GAGS and pulls a lever.

INT. KITCHEN

YOUNG RILEY:

Yucky!

Riley swats the broccoli. It flies into Dad’s face.

INT. HEADQUARTERS

A disgust memory (green) rolls in.

DISGUST:

Well, I just saved our lives. Yeah.

You're welcome.

INSIDE OUT 5.

INT. KITCHEN

DAD:

Riley, if you don’t eat your dinner,

you’re not going to get any dessert.

INT. HEADQUARTERS

ANGER looks up from reading his newspaper.

ANGER:

Wait. Did he just say we couldn’t

have dessert?

Rate this script:(3.67 / 28 votes)