The Penguin That Flew
(To be Illustrated)
Theme: (A penguin who's different.)
(Illustration: One penguin is shivering and wearing a sweater.
He is seen with a regular penguin.)
Other penguin: "Are you cold again?"
Max the Penguin: "Yes. Even a sweater doesn't seem to
help."
Other Penguin: "Penguins don't get cold. You're strange."
Max: "I don't feel strange."
(Illustration: Max is seen talking with a little girl, age 7 - 9.
People "dressed as tourists" are nearby.
They are equipped with cameras, wearing hats,
etc.)
Max: "Hello. My name is Max."
Little Girl: "Hi. My name is Mary."
Max: "Where are you from?"
Mary: "Los Angeles. I'm here with my parents. (pause)
"Why are you wearing a sweater?"
Max: "I'm cold."
Mary: "I thought penguins weren't supposed to get cold."
Max: "We're not. As you know, we live in the South Pole -
where there is only ice and snow. Everyone likes it but
me. I just can't get warm."
Mary: "What are you going to do?"
Max: "I'm trying to get to Hawaii."
Mary: "That's a long way to swim."
Max: "I know. I wish I could fly. But penguins can't fly.
For some reason, our wings won't work. We have to
walk."
Mary: "Are you sure your wings won't work?"
Max: "Well, yes. I mean, everyone knows that penguins
can't fly. We're like chickens."
Mary: "People can't fly either."
Max: "But they don't have wings. No one expects them to
fly."
Mary: "That's true." (pause) What about taking an airplane?"
(Illustration: Inside of the plane.
Passengers are staring at Max,
who is sitting in a seat by the aisle.)
Max: "I'd feel self-conscious. I would be the only one with
wings. The other passengers would probably wonder
why I wasn't flying by myself. Outside."
Mary: (affectionate laugh) "Don't be ridiculous. (pause)
You're funny."
Max: "I'd be out of place. Just like I'm out of place here."
Mary: "You're different, that's all."
Max: "I'm too different. Sometimes the other penguins
make fun of me. Or they talk about me in little groups.
I can hear them use the words 'peculiar' and 'weird.'
And they seem to stay away from me."
Mary: "So, they're unfriendly and cruel."
Max: "Yes. They don't like me because I wear a sweater.
They think I'm strange. And that's not all.
They tell me I'm too nice to the tourists."
Mary: "Max, there are people who are different."
And sometimes other people are mean to them.
Why? Nobody knows.
Most people seem to want other people to be just like
them.
Max: "So, people are just like penguins."
Mary: "I'm afraid so. But don't give up. After the other penguins
get to know you as the original penguin you are - they
might like you. That's what often happens with people."
Max: "They don't seem to want to know me."
Mary: "Well, perhaps you need to be with penguins who are
more like you."
Max: "There aren't any."
Mary: "Maybe you just haven't met them yet."
Max: "Maybe."
Mary: "Some people are so different, they may have to move
somewhere else - so they can find people who are more
like them."
(Illustration: New York City.)
(Illustration: Walking down the street:
- Two people wearing eyeglasses who look like
twins;
- Two other people with the same odd facial
expression;
- Two people who look like dreamers. (A cloud
floating above the head of each one.)
Max: "That's why I want to go to Hawaii."
Mary: "But there are no penguins in Hawaii."
Max: "I know. But it's warm. And there are no tourists.
Tourists like me."
Mary: (smiling) "You are unique. You'll be the only penguin on
the beach!"
Max: (proudly) "That's right."
Mary: "You're so different. Are you sure you can't fly?"
Max: "I haven't ever tried. Everyone knows penguins can't
fly. I doubt if I can get off the ground."
Mary: "Maybe your wings are different."
Max: "Well, there's a glacier over there.
It's mostly melted, so it looks safe."
(Illustration: They are standing on the edge of a small glacier.
The ice is flat, and then slowly rises towards the
back.)
Mary: "See! It's only 8 inches high. And there's nice soft
snow on the ground. If you can't fly, you'll make a perfect
landing on your penguin feet."
Max: "Ok." I'll start at the back, and I'll run towards the edge.
Here I go!"
(Illustration: Max is shown running from the back of the glacier.
He is holding his wings out as he runs.)
(Illustration: And then he flies off the edge.)
Max: "Look! I can fly!"
Mary: "I knew it! Somehow I just knew it."
Max: "Now I can fly to Hawaii! I can't wait to get warm."
Mary: "And think of all those tourists. You'll be popular!"
Max: "What are we waiting for? We'll fly together!"
(Illustration: Airplane flying. Mary is looking out the window.
Max is flying right alongside the plane.)
(Illustration: View from the air above. Looking down at the
Hollywood sign printed on the hill.)
(Illustration: Outside the airport. There is a sign in the
background that says: AIRPORT.
Max and Mary say farewell.)
Mary: "Well, here we are. Los Angeles. Let's not say
goodbye. I just know I'll see you again.
And I'll think about you. The only penguin in Hawaii."
Max: "I wouldn't be flying to Hawaii if it weren't for you,
Mary. I would never have tried to fly.
I took a chance - on something new.
I'm glad I'm different."
(Illustration: Mary hugs Max.)
Mary: "Max, I like you because you're special.
I would still like you, even if you couldn't fly."
Max: "But I can fly. So, I guess I'd better take off.
Hawaii, here I come!"
(Illustration: As he takes flight, he looks back.
He waves with one wing.)
(Illustration: Max is seen flying in the distance.
Mary is in close-up, waving back.)
Mary: "Good luck! (pause) I wish I had wings!"
(Illustration: Max, flying high.
Hawaii is pictured below - with trees, beach,
and tourists.)
(Illustration: Max - on the beach, lying in the sun, wearing
sunglasses. (Of course he has no sweater on.)
(Illustration: Max, greeting tourists as they pass by.
They are smiling.)
(Illustration: Max, ordering a drink from a waiter on the beach.)
Max: "May I please have a soda? And extra ice.
A lot of ice. After all, I'm a penguin."
(Illustration: Words on page: "A month goes by.")
(Illustration: Max, on the beach alone at sunset.)
Max: (talking to himself)
"I'm lonely. I like tourists, but it's not enough.
I miss Mary. I need someone."
(Illustration: Max is seen reading a newspaper with the name:
"Hawaii Hot News")
(Illustration: Newspaper: Close-up of headline and photo
below. Big headline: "Penguin Flies to Las Vegas!"
Photo below: A penguin is flying across the stage.)
(Illustration: Max, holding the newspaper, and looking ecstatic.)
Max: "That's it! I'm moving to a new place to meet a new
penguin. A penguin like me!"
(Illustration: Max is flying over Las Vegas at night.
The lights of the city are blazing below.)
(Illustration: Picture of Circus-Circus sign in front of the
hotel-casino.)
(Illustration: Max is shown in audience watching a penguin
flying in a show. She has long eyelashes and
lipstick.)
(Illustration: Max meets the star of the show backstage.
There is a sign above that reads: "Backstage")
He: "My name is Max."
She: "My name is Maxine."
He: "I can fly too."
They: (in unison) "We're different."
(Illustration: They are in a show, featuring the trapeze.)
Both penguins are performing stunts using the
swings.)
(Drum roll)
(Illustration: Max is hanging upside-down from a swing. He is
the catcher.)
(Illustration: Maxine is shown swinging down on another bar.)
(Illustration: Maxine lets go of the bar and tries to catch his
wings. Their timing is off. She misses and plummets
down.
(Illustration: Audience gasps.)
(Illustration: Suddenly Maxine flies.)
(Illustration: Audience cheers.)
(Illustration: Max flies up from his swing to join Maxine in the
air.)
(Illustration: Two triumphant penguins on trapeze platform.)
(Illustration: Audience is standing ovation.)
(Illustration: (close-up) Penguins on trapeze platform.
Max and Maxine look at each other with adoration.
They're in love.)
(Illustration: On the platform, Max suddenly speaks to Maxine.)
Max: "The air conditioning is cold. I need a sweater."
The End