The Indian in the Cupboard

On his ninth birthday, Omri receives an old cupboard from his brother, along with a toy Native American figure from his best friend, Patrick. This seemingly innocent gift sets the stage for an extraordinary adventure that would change Omri's life forever.

Before going to bed, Omri receives a special key from his mother, which has been handed down from her grandmother. Intrigued, he uses the key to lock the toy Native American figure inside the cupboard, unwittingly setting the stage for magical events to come.

The next morning, Omri hears a tapping sound coming from the cupboard. To his astonishment, he finds that the toy has come to life, revealing itself as Little Bear, a tiny Iroquois man from the past, who brandishes a dagger in defense against Omri's size.

Little Bear introduces himself and shares details of his life during the tumultuous times of the French and Indian War. As they spend more time together, Omri learns about Iroquois culture and Little Bear's hardships as a widower.

Omri's curiosity leads him to bring another toy to life, this time resembling a Mohawk chieftain. However, upon seeing Omri, the chieftain is overwhelmed with fear and suffers a heart attack, prompting a realization in Little Bear about Omri's true nature.

Omri excitedly reveals the secret of the living toys to Patrick, who insists on bringing a toy cowboy named Boohoo Boone to life. The initial hostility between Boone and Little Bear sets the stage for unforeseen challenges as they are drawn into each other's worlds.

As they gather around the TV to watch *The Last of His Tribe*, their contrasting reactions lead to rising tensions. Boone's excited response to a scene depicting the slaughter of Native Americans deeply disturbs Little Bear, leading to a dangerous confrontation.

In a moment of heated emotions, Boone shoots into the air, prompting Little Bear to retaliate by firing an arrow into Boone's chest. This violent encounter emphasizes the cultural clash and misunderstandings between the characters.

The situation becomes dire when the key to the cupboard goes missing. As Little Bear searches beneath the floorboards for the key, he narrowly escapes an encounter with a pet rat, highlighting the dangers lurking in Omri's world.

After retrieving the missing key, Omri decides to bring a World War I medic toy to life to help with Boone's injuries. This moment illustrates Omri's evolving understanding of responsibility and compassion for his toy friends.

Realizing it’s time to return Little Bear and Boone to their respective times, Omri contemplates bringing a female Native American toy to life. Little Bear stops him, emphasizing the importance of family and the responsibilities that come with such a decision.

On the morning following their adventures, Omri and Patrick prepare to bid farewell to their miniature friends. The emotional farewell reflects the deep bond formed during their time together, marking the end of an extraordinary chapter in their lives.

Just before locking Little Bear and Boone back into the cupboard, Omri experiences a poignant vision of a full-sized Little Bear. The vision reveals Little Bear’s heartfelt declaration of their bond, stating he now considers Omri his nephew.