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

Scene 5

NARRATOR: Pip and Freddy stayed in their room for a while. Pip had fallen asleep the minute his head hit the pillow, but Freddy couldn't keep his eyes shut. Every time he closed them, he saw Pip plunging to his death. Finally, he rolled over, and looked at his sleeping partner. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm flow over the sleeping penguin. How could Pip sleep?

FREDDY: (rolled over in bed, looking at pip from the other side of the room) Pip? You awake?

PIP: (stirred) Yeah. You woke me. (sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes)

FREDDY: How can you sleep after that?

PIP: I just... I'm exhausted.

NARRATOR: Ah. Freddy got it now. Pip was tired from the events of the day. It had been a lot for him. Freddy wondered how much courage it took him to do that.

FREDDY: Why'd you do that?

NARRATOR: Pip was silent for a moment, before shrugging. Freddy won't give up easily. He got up, and nestled under the covers with Pip. Once wrapped in Freddy's wings, Pip felt safer, safe enough to speak. His voice was barely above a mumble, but in the silence of the room, Freddy heard every word.

PIP: Last night, I got up because I couldn't sleep. I stood on the balcony, and watched the stars through the windows. Hunter found me, and told me that I should just jump.

NARRATOR: Freddy's eyes widened but he remained silent.

PIP: I asked him why, and he told me no one wanted me here. I asked him why he was doing this, and he said 'You're nothing but a fat bundle of fluff like every other penguin on earth. You don't belong here.' I didn't jump off the balcony, but I thought about what he said. (sniffled but heroically didn't cry) I'm supposed to be the engine car, you know? Like, I come up with most of the plans. But, it never occurred to me...

FREDDY: What? That you're a burden? Well, that's because it's not true. (hoped that would cheer pip up but it didn't)

PIP: Hunter had everyone fooled, even me. If I believed him that easily, what does that say about me?

NARRATOR: Freddy caught on to Pip's point. Pip had believed it all. He believed he was fat and useless.

PIP: I do weigh a lot, and I know I can't fly. I also know I get in the way of some of our deliveries.

NARRATOR: The camel, sloth, and deer deliveries come to mind but Freddy kept quiet.

PIP: I figured, what's the point? He's gonna keep bullying me, and no one's gonna stop him. He has the means to ruin my life, and he's right. I'm a penguin. There's a reason penguin's stay in Iceberg Alley: so they don't get in the way of all the other creatures.

FREDDY: Pip, I can't believe you think all that. I mean, you're here, and you've been the best partner a bird could ask for. (hugged pip close)

PIP: (didn't react, he snapped) I'm sick of it, Freddy! I've tried everything! I've done all I can think of, but still, even among penguins, I'm just a mistake. (tears poured down his eyes) I've been bullied all my life. I thought none of it was true, especially after I became a Junior Flier, but now, it's happening here too, it's happened all my life... (wiped his eyes, sniffling pitfully) It's not fair. Do you know how hard it is to prove I'm not just some useless penguin? I never wanted to spend my life on the bottom of the earth, feeling useless amongst the useless, so I ran off. And it followed me here.

FREDDY: (pulled pip close and let him cry on his chest) You were bullied in Iceberg Alley?! Why?!

PIP: I don't know. They called me short, fat, and they said I couldn't do anything right. When I talked about joining T.O.T.S, they all laughed and told me it was a miracle that I could walk.