This is a short play I wrote about how the movie UP was written.

Two men, PIXAR EMPLOYEE 1 and PIXAR EMPLOYEE 2 are sitting around a table. They have been working all night, and are, despite being very tired, in a fabulous mood.

PIXAR EMPLOYEE 1: This is going to be even better than Wall-E.
PIXAR EMPLOYEE 2: I know, man. When we finished that montage with Ellie's death, even I was crying. And I haven't cried in ten years.
PIXAR EMPLOYEE 1: You don't think the bird's too much?
PIXAR EMPLOYEE 2: Nah. As long as it's not a major plot point or anything and it's just there for a little bit to show the boys' nurturing sides, I think it'll be fine.

The PRESIDENT OF PIXAR enters with his NEPHEW. The PIXAR EMPLOYEES rise.

PRESIDENT: Please, sit, sit.

They sit.

PRESIDENT: So, how's UP going so far?
PIXAR EMPLOYEE 2: It's going really well. The best one yet, I think.
PRESIDENT: Agreed, agreed. I saw some of the stills for the scene where the old man beats the guy in the truck and goes to court, and it's just so realistic. Totally heartbreaking.
PIXAR EMPLOYEE 1: Yeah, we were all pretty proud of that one.

There is a long pause.

PRESIDENT: You've met my nephew Toby, right?
PIXAR EMPLOYEE 1: Yeah, Toby! I remember you interned on Cars - nice to see you again!
NEPHEW: I helped do some of the early character development in Wall-E, too, for the Jeff Garlin character. Remember?
PIXAR EMPLOYEE 2: Oh, right, Toby!

A longer pause.

PRESIDENT: So, Toby's good. He's really good. He just needs a chance.

The PIXAR EMPLOYEES look at each other nervously.

PRESIDENT: I want Toby to write the movie from hereon in. You've set it up so well, and he's such a good writer...he has some great ideas, and this should be a piece of cake for him.
PIXAR EMPLOYEE 2: I dunno, boss - we've started talking about what happens next, and we've got some great ideas about Carl dealing with own mortality, his body breaking down while they're in South America...
PRESIDENT: I think you should listen to what Toby has to say.
NEPHEW: Well, I was thinking. You know the famous painting Three Dogs Playing Poker? I was thinking it'd be really funny to set up a visual image of that in the movie.
PRESIDENT (laughing): Ha! That's a good one, right?
PIXAR EMPLOYEE 1: But there aren't any dogs in the movie.
NEPHEW: Well, not yet...



I love, love, love dogs. But I was not sold on the last two thirds of this movie. I know it's hard to critize something featuring a house floating by balloons on lacking reality, but come on.