T.O.T.S.- The Bully Problem - The Script

Scene 2

((Pip walks toward the back runway doors, wandered outside, and sat down.))

NARRATOR: Pip was a penguin. He'd always been proud of that. Even more so, since he was the first penguin to get a job outside of Iceberg Alley. His parents had always told him (goes into a slightly different voice) 'Stay in Iceberg Alley, Pip. It's safe here. The less we're in the way of those big, other creatures, the safer we will be.' (returns to normal voice) Pip shook that off. He knew better than to listen to a bully. What did Hunter know?

((Pip got up to go back inside, only to pause, seeing his reflection in a puddle.))

NARRATOR: When they'd gone to the desert, he'd certainly slown them down. It was worse in the rain. He'd gotten wet, and slipped right off Freddy's back. If Captain Beakman had heard about that, would she have second thoughts about him? He had been such a pain. He wanted so badly to speed things up, he didn't think about Freddy and Sunny. He shook that off. He didn't need to listen to Hunter... although, what he was saying made a little sense.

NARRATOR: Penguins stayed in Iceberg Alley, away from other creatures. Where they wouldn't be in the way. Their need to keep cool was a bit of a problem. Pip had proved that. This was probably why penguins stayed in Iceberg Alley.

((Pip wandered back inside, went to the restroom, and took a look at his reflection in the mirror.))

PIP: (says to himself) I look a tad bit plump. Am I too heavy? I need to find a scale.

NARRATOR: Pip thought about other things. Was he really a burden? Not supposed to be here?

((Pip exited the restroom and walks toward the cafeteria, looks around, luckily neither Freddy nor Hunter was there, wiped out his flypad, and read all he could on penguins.))

NARRATOR: Finally he found the answer: Hunter was right. Penguins stayed in Iceberg Alley by agreement of the Inter species court. With penguins in Iceberg Alley, they would be out of the way. And in return, the penguins would be safe from other creatures. So why was he here? Was he breaking a law?

((While out on a delivery with Freddy. . . .))

PIP: I'm not too heavy for you, am I?

FREDDY: (shook his head, flapping his wings a little harder) Nah, you're okay, Pip.

PIP: All right, I was just a little worried... are you sure?

FREDDY: (nodded) Yeah. This is a piece of cake. (laughed to himself) Remember when you got so wet, you fell right off? Compared to that, carrying a dry penguin is easy. (smiled, unaware that he had just hurt pip's feelings)

((After the delivery, Pip turned down a smoothie break, and walked to their shared room. Pip walks over to his side of the room, lay in his bed, and stares at the ceiling.))

((Just then, Hunter appears in the doorway....))

HUNTER: (stood in the doorway) I see the delivery went well? (smiling at the penguin) Such a surprise.

PIP: (sat up) You were wrong. Freddy doesn't think I'm fat or useless. I'm fine!

HUNTER: (approached pip) That may be, but why would he lie? Perhaps, he knew that lying would make things easier, hm?

PIP: (frowned) Lie?

HUNTER: Would Freddy really tell you you're fat? Would he really admit that you were too heavy? He would lose his partner if he did.

NARRATOR: Pip knew Hunter was right. If Freddy had any problem with him, that would be the end of their partnership. And Freddy needed him.

HUNTER: (continued) Why do you ask him? Are you finally accepting the truth?