Scene One: A valley East of Nome

(Kaltag is now leader of the team, and they are running against an opposing sled team. They are almost neck and neck with the other team, and Kaltag looks back and nods at Nikki, Star, and Steele. They all nod back and give it their full strength. They pull well ahead, and disappear around a corner, kicking up snow.)[Fade to Scene Two.]

Scene Two: Balto’s home, the boat

(Balto is sleeping under his blanket when he is awakened by a single goose feather that floats down onto the tip of his nose. He gets up, shakes off his blanket, yawns, and puts one wrist to his eye to rub it. He goes over to his water bowl and takes a long drink. He then sees that his hair is sticking up and tries to wet it down. It stays. He looks up as he hears the sound of honking geese. Boris flies down from the flock and wraps his wing around Balto. He then ruffles Balto’s hair.)

BORIS: "Heyy, Balto! How’s it goi’n you crazy old pooch!" BALTO:(Rubbing his hair to try to keep it down)"Geez, Boris! Do ya mind? I just fixed this!"
BORIS: "Ahh, don’t be sore at me. I could of gone South dis year, but instead, I come see you. Eh?"
BALTO:(Looks up smiling warmly)"It’s good to see you, Boris." BORIS: "You too, Fido, you too. So! Vat have you been up to lately, humm? Seeing more of Jenna, I suppose?"
BALTO: "Yup."
BORIS: "Ahh, dat’s good.(Boris looks around suspiciously and lowers his voice.) Are Muk and Luk here yet?"
BALTO: "No, they won’t be here until tonight, so you’ve got awhile, ‘Uncle Boris’"
BORIS: "Ahh. You’re not still into that race stuff, are you?"
BALTO:(Balto’s eyes suddenly widen, and he looks over at a piece of wood that serves as a sundial. Seeing the time, he smacks himself in the face with one paw.)"Oh no! It’s almost ten!!"
BORIS: "Why, what’s at ten? Do you have a hot date?"(He wiggles his eyebrows)
BALTO: "No, the big race! I can’t believe I forgot the big race!!"
BORIS:(Hearing this, he rubs his temples like he has a headache.)"Oh No!"
BALTO:(Checking the sundial again)"C’mon, Boris! We can still get there on time!"
(Boris grabs Balto’s tail as Balto gets ready to jump off the edge of the boat.)
BORIS: "If you think that I am going to--" (Boris is cut short when Balto leaps and Boris is thrown onto Balto’s back. Balto runs toward the town, with Boris bumping up and down.)
BORIS: "Balto!! Riding shotgun is not a specialty of mine!!" (Boris sees a large puddle coming up that has iced over. Balto is running straight for it.) "Balto! The ice! Watch the ice!!" (picture)
BALTO: "Take it easy, Boris! I use this way to get to town every day!"(Balto hits the ice and "skates" across it, turning a circle.)"See, Boris! Ice skating!!"
BORIS: "Gee, Balto, that’s nifty, but if you don’ mind--" (Boris is again cut off as Balto suddenly stops and Boris is thrown from Balto’s back into a fence post. Boris gets up and brushes himself off.)
BALTO: (Looking around left and right) "C’mon, Boris! We can still make it!!"
BORIS: (Steps in front of Balto before he can take off again) "Now wait just a minute here, lightning paws. From now on, I fly, thank you." (Balto shrugs.)
BALTO: "Well, suit yourself, Boris.(Balto runs toward the inner part of town.)See ya at the race!!"
BORIS: (Yells) "Fine! I’ll be there!"[Fade to Scene Three]

Scene Three: The Town, first race of the season

(Jenna, Sylvie, and Dixie are sitting on a large packing crate up against a building on Nome's main street. Everyone is gathering to see the end of the race.)

DIXIE: "Umm, I thought you said that Balto was coming, Jenna."
JENNA: "He said he would be here, and if I know Balto, he will be. He would'nt miss a race for the world."
SYLVIE: "Dixie, is that ANOTHER new collar?"
DIXIE: "Yeah. I got it for someone on the team."
SYLVIE: "Not Steele, I hope."
DIXIE: "NO, not Steele! I'll tell ya later."
SYLVIE: (Sarcastically) "Gee, I'm dyi'n to know"

(Balto runs out from between two buildings, one alley down, and almost does not see Jenna and the others sitting there. Balto sees her and runs over to the crate. He puts his paws up on the crate to face Jenna.)

BALTO: "Hi, Jenna. This seat taken?"
JENNA: (She laughs as Balto jumps up on to the crate beside her.)"No, go right ahead."
DIXIE: "Hiya, Balto!"
BALTO: (Glancing at the gathering crowd) "Oh, hi, Dixie."
JENNA: (Lowers her head and whispers to Balto) "Dixie has a new collar!"
BALTO: (Lowers his voice) "Oh, right." (Balto raises his voice to normal to speak to Dixie.) "That's a pretty collar, Dixie."
DIXIE: "Gee, do you like it? I got it for Star." (Dixie blushes)
SYLVIE: "Star!! why him--why not one of the others? Nikki, now there's a handsome dog!"
DIXIE: "Nikki! Whaddy'a mean, Nikki!"
SYLVIE: "Well, I just think Nikki is better looki'n than Star."
DIXIE: (Attention turns back to Balto) "What do you think, Balto? Will umm, Star like it?"
BALTO: (grins) "Well, Star will like just about anything if you threaten to hit him."
DIXIE: (Dreamily) "Yeah..." (Hops down as Sylvie follows.) "Well, we are going to go down to the finnish line to wait."
(Balto and Jenna sit on the crate and watch.) (Picture)


Script and Picts. by Chris Bobko, 1995.