HAPPY FEET
Written by
George Miller
Screenplay by
John Collee
(Early Draft)
SPACE
Distant STARS, with vast tracts of darkness stretching
between them. Move in on OUR SUN, dwarfed in the immense
cosmic ocean.
MUMBLE (VO)
You ever feel small?
Moving in on....
PLANET EARTH
The spinning blue marble.
FADE IN: A strange cacophony of MUSIC, growing louder as the
familiar CONTINENTS revolve below us and we spiral down onto
ANTARCTICA
THE ICE SHELF
Vast, pristine, stupendous. Washed with dawn light. A few
small BLACK-SUITED FIGURES are moving towards us.
MUMBLE (VO)
Like you're no-one, cos the world is full
of us, and everyone's the same
Wait a minute. These aren't humans... they are PENGUINS!
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
How do you stand out from the crowd?
How do you find someone special?
A GREAT COMMUNITY
EMPEROR PENGUINS all over the place, Its chaos - Grand
central station - with everyone SINGING to each other.
MUMBLE (VO)
I know. I know. "You sing your heart
out." That's how mum found dad in the
first place
Follow a female penguin as she waddles through the massive
crowd past an assortment of crooning males
(CONTINUED)
2.
CONTINUED:
KEEN MALE
(trying to connect)
"Babe...I got you Babe..."
She ignores him
NEXT MALE
(giving it his all)
"When a man loves a woman..."
She keeps moving, until she sees the male of her dreams:
WISHFUL
"Love me tender love me true, all my
dreams fulfil.
He stands a bit apart from the rest. And what a voice. What a
hip movement. She sings along.
NORMA J. AND WISHFUL
...for my darling I love you and I always
will.
MUMBLE (VO)
With them it was love at first song.
Close up on the two penguins as their necks intertwine.
MUMBLE (VO) (CONT'D)
But with me everything was a different,
right from the moment I was born
THE ICE SHELF
With infinite care, THE EGG is passed from Norma J's feet
onto WISHFUL's.
MUMBLE
First rule of survival: get yourself laid
before winter.
WISHFUL covers the egg, glancing up at the darkening sky
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Apparently I only just made it.
Women are leaving and heading off over the ice. The community
resounds with sad songs of parting.
(CONTINUED)
3.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Afterwards Mum went off to the sea to
keep warm. Dad stayed home like dad's do,
incubating.
Norma J is having difficulty tearing herself away. Finally
she pads off after the others.
WISHFUL
Safe home baby....
As he watches her dwindle into the distance, where huge STORM
CLOUDS are building.
WISHFUL (CONT'D)
I'll miss you.
THE DARKNESS
Wind comes shreiking across the ice shelf to where THOUSANDS
OF MALES are huddled, ice crusting on their feathers.
MUMBLE (VO)
Tell me what it is about the cold and the
dark. Soon as the sun goes away, everyone
gets religious
The huddled penguins are engaged in ritual chanting
LEAD VOICE
When all others leave...
CHORUS
We Remain.
LEAD VOICE
When the Sun vanishes...
CHORUS
We Remain.
INSIDE THE HUDDLE
The adult males are packed shoulder to shoulder, looking
downwards at the eggs balanced on their feet.
CU on the Lead male, a CARUSO
(CONTINUED)
4.
CONTINUED:
CARUSO
Deny the pangs of hunger.
Seal the gaps. Share the warmth....
MUMBLE (VO)
Caruso's the leader because he's so
incredibly old. Some say more than 40,
but you know how penguins exaggerate.
OUTSIDE
WINDWARD PENGUINS peel off and walk around to the leeward
side. WISHFUL is among them
CARUSO
....Each one taking his turn to defy the
wind.
WIDE SHOT
The MASSED VOICES rise above the gale, the frosty plumes of
their breath forming a shared `thought bubble'...a benevolent
ÜBERPENGUIN.
CARUSO.
...As we invoke the Great One, Penguin of
Penguins
WISHFUL
(pushing back inside)
OK. Invoke. But keep moving
MUMBLE (VO)
My dad was never that devout. Often his
mind was on other stuff.
As the chanting builds, a little thought-bubble appears next
to the communal imagination: An image of Norma J
NORMA J.
(Sings)
"I wanna be loved by you, alone and
nobody else by you boo boo pee doo"
WISHFUL raises his head, breaking the seal. A little puff of
steam escapes
WISHFUL
Amen to that honey
(CONTINUED)
5.
CONTINUED:
VARIOUS PENGUINS
Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa, pal!
Ya lettin' out the heat!
Penguins around him start jostling to close the gap
PENGUINS
...Quit shovin'!
...Hey watch where you're putting your
feet
CARUSO
Brothers, BROTHERS! The Devotions!
An egg rolls out of the HUDDLE and onto the ICE.
WISHFUL
Oh no! I dropped it! Where's my egg!
WISHFUL barges out of the huddle, retrieves the egg and
waddles back into the warmth again.
WISHFUL (CONT'D)
S'okay. S'okay. No harm done.
MUMBLE (VO)
I guess he was wrong about a lot of
things.
Pulling back, till the powerful rhythmic chanting is drowned
out by the HOWLING GALE.
WISHFUL
But I did learnt this from him: the
power of positive thinking
We are moving in again, towards the huddle, the voices of the
Great Male Gathering begin to cut through the wind blasts.
Louder and louder, until...
ELDER
By the power of our Devotions...
ALL PENGUINS
We turn the world once more.
ELDER
By our devotion to the Wisdoms
(CONTINUED)
6.
CONTINUED: (2)
ALL PENGUINS
We bring back the sun.
The CHANTING crescendos, awe-inspiring, as it rises above the
sound of the gale, and, as if in response
THE EARTH TURNS!
The CURTAIN OF DARKNESS which overshadows Antarctica begins
to LIFT from the curvature of the southern hemisphere. The
vast ice-continent is BRILLIANTLY ILLUMINATED once more.
ON THE ICE SHELF
The ICE itself is moaning and groaning, like a living thing.
A SINGLE CRACK appears and widens, then forks and forks
again.
The whole expanse of fast-ice is DISINTEGRATING, starting at
the sea-ice and progressing towards the ice-cliffs.
Somewhere an ICEBERG breaks free from the face of a glacier
and smashes down into the frozen sea below. At the same
time...
THE EMPEROR COMMUNITY
An EGG cracks open, then another, then all in a rush, like
POPCORN.
Fathers are calling out to each other as their fluffy CHICKS
emerge to greet the daylight.
EXCITED FATHERS
...It's a boy!
...It's a girl!
...What a peach!
...What a bruiser!
Amongst the excited crowd of males and hatchlings we find
WISHFUL staring down at his egg still balanced on his feet.
FRIENDLY PENGUIN
Late opener, huh? You thinks its alive?
WISHFUL
I'll say. Listen...
(CONTINUED)
7.
CONTINUED:
He taps the egg with his beak. Bending close they hear a
TAPPING SOUND in REPLY.
FRIENDLY PENGUIN
Well, how about that?
WISHFUL taps again. The tapping comes back louder. A TINY
FOOT pops out of the egg. Then ANOTHER. The Egg flips and
lurches off in a giddy DANCE.
WISHFUL
Whoa li'l buddy, slow down!
THE FRIENDLY PENGUIN'S chick giggles at the DANCING EGG,
which finally trips and cracks, depositing baby MUMBLE.
MUMBLE
(hopping from one foot to the
other)
Ow! Freezy, Fuh-Fuh-Freeezy! All Freezy!
OTHER PENGUINS
...Jees!
...You ever see a chick move like that
before?
...is he damaged?
...is he deranged?
They gather round staring down at this strange little jigging
ball of fluff
WISHFUL
What? Come on. He'll grow out of it.
Shovelling MUMBLE off the ice and into his BROOD POUCH.
WISHFUL (CONT'D)
Come here, li'l Mumble. Let's get you
warm and toasty.
Mumble SNUGGLES contentedly between his father's legs,
surveying his new world. The friend's chick, ELLA is staring
at him fascinated
ELLA
Get him to do it again Daddy
FRIENDLY PENGUIN
Shh. Quiet
(CONTINUED)
8.
CONTINUED: (2)
She disappears under his brood pouch
MUMBLE
(looks up)
So What happens now, Dad?
WISHFUL
We Wait
THE ICE
A LONG LINE of male penguins, thousands of them, all with
their chicks, stand staring expectantly across the ice shelf.
At the front, we find WISHFUL and MUMBLE, who is jiggling
with anticipation, hopping from one foot to the other.
MUMBLE
Is she coming soon?
WISHFUL
Any day now.
MUMBLE
Tell me again what she's like
WISHFUL
(sings)
a wiggle when she walks, a giggle when
she talks, makes my world go round....
MUMBLE does a little SOFT SHOE SHUFFLE.
WISHFUL (CONT'D)
(sharply)
Hey. Thought I told you not to do that
MUMBLE
Sorry. When I get happy my feet get happy
too.
WISHFUL
Well tell em don't.
MUMBLE
But Why Dad?
(CONTINUED)
9.
CONTINUED:
Caruso waddles past: A stern glance down at little Mumble as
he carries on along the line
WISHFUL
`Cos it ain't penguin.
LATER
MIST rises off the ice shelf. The males are still waiting
with their chicks. Over this: The sound of Chicks crying.
MUMBLE between his father's feet, follows his father's
concentrated gaze.
MUMBLE
Gee I'm hungry
WISHFUL
Everyone's hungry son. The mommas are
bringing fish soon.
Long pause
MUMBLE
What's fish look like.
WISHFUL
You'll see it when she brings one
STILL LATER
The baby penguins are HOWLING now.
Anxious fathers lean forward, peering into the distance.
Out of the thickening mist, a cluster of little BLACK DOTS
materialises.
PENGUIN LOOKOUTS
...Wives-ho! Wives-ho!
...Hubba-hubba! Wives-ho!
...Better late than never.
The distant females look exhausted as they totter unsteadily
across the ice towards their partners. The MALES break ranks
and rush towards the distressed females.
MALE PENGUINS
...Barbra-Ann!
...Peggy Sue!
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
10.
CONTINUED:
MALE PENGUINS (CONT'D)
...Hey Paula!
...Roxanne!!
A tumult of re-unions as partners find each other. But no
luck for WISHFUL.
WISHFUL
NORMA J.?!
Weaving anxiously through the throng, overhearing:
MALE#1
You're not as fat as I thought you'd be.
FEMALE#1
It was pretty slim pickings. Something's
happened I tell you
FEMALE#2
Even the squid were hard to get
We had to swim forever
FEMALE#3
Everyone split up. A lot of the gals
never made it back.
MALE #2
...Delilah?
MALE #3
...Gloria?! Gloria??!
WISHFUL, is running frantically through the crowd, singing
all the time in the hope of being recogniosed
WISHFUL
Since my baby left me. I found a new
place to dwell.
Down the bottom of lonely street at
heartbreak hotel
MUMBLE hippity-hops after his father, trying to keep up...
WISHFUL (CONT'D)
Woah I'm so lonely baby. I'm so lonely
baby. I'm so lonely I could...
Moving beyond the crowd, WISHFUL sees a last few stragglers.
Amongst them...
(CONTINUED)
11.
CONTINUED: (2)
NORMA J.
WISHFUL?
WISHFUL
(overcome)
O Honey. O Baby. You made it!
She staggers into his waiting flippers.
WISHFUL (CONT'D)
You hurt?
NORMA J.
(breathless)
Just tired and hungry is all.
It was dreadful out there....
Over WISHFUL' shoulder, she sees the infant Mumble HIPPITY-
HOPPING towards them.
NORMA J
But who's this.
WISHFUL
I called him Mumble.
Mumbles feet start to tap involuntarily, Then he catches his
dad's warning look.
MUMBLE
Did she get one. Did she bring one back.
NORMA J
Just a little krill that's all
MUMBLE
Can I see it?
WISHFUL
Later, bud. Give your ma time to
regurgitate
NORMA J
Aw. But isn't he just a darling?
MUMBLE
(yells ecstatically)
I got one! I got a mum everyone. I got a
MUM!!
12.
THE GREAT COMMUTE
The ICE-SHELF is as busy as a freeway at peak hour with males
and females are hurrying BACK AND FORTH from the sea.
MUMBLE (VO)
After that, with food being so scarce
everyone was busy busy busy. Mom and dad
were working so hard I didn't see much of
them. Besides I had school to go to.
THE CRECHE
An efficient, caring TEACHER is giving a lesson to a class of
about thirty young chicks grouped in front of her.
TEACHER
Settle class. Settle. We will begin with
the most important lesson you will ever
learn. Now does anyone know what that is?
MANY flippers go up.
TEACHER (CONT'D)
Michael?
MICK
Don't eat yellow snow?
TEACHER
True but, that's not it. Mumble?
MUMBLE
Swimming? Catching Food?
TEACHER
Anyone else?
Mumble looks astonished. What's more important than that
ELLA
It's our Heartsong, Miss.
TEACHER
Your Heartsong. Yes. The melody you hear
inside, the thing that makes you
different from every other penguin. So.
Let's all be very still now and listen.
And when you hear your song, let it come
out. Who's first.
(CONTINUED)
13.
CONTINUED:
A few flippers go up
MICK
Me! Me! I've got one!
(sings)
"I can't get no...satisfaction.... I can't
get no...girly action..."
TEACHER
Well Michael, if you think that's really
you. What have you got for us, Ella?
ELLA
(sings)
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi...ce soir?
MUMBLE
(laughs)
That doesn't make any sense.
TEACHER
Well Mumble...perhaps you can do better
MUMBLE
Mine is more sort of a...
He hesitates, as if listening to something in his head.Then,
he sings UTTERLY TUNELESS, like a drum solo.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Bim bam-a-loolah a bim bam bom
TEACHER
You heard that in there?
Mumble is still going. TITTERS and SNIGGERS from the class.
MUMBLE
You like it?
TEACHER
Dear, that's not even a tune.
MUMBLE
It's not?
TEACHER
No, a tune is like...
(she sings a scale)
La la la la la la la la.
(CONTINUED)
14.
CONTINUED: (2)
MUMBLE
Oh, La la la la la
A croaky monotone. The class LAUGHS OPENLY.
TEACHER
(getting worried)
Listen carefully, Mumble. La la la la la
la la la!!
MUMBLE
La la la la la la la la!!
TEACHER
(emphatically)
La La La La La La La La!
MUMBLE
But that's what I'm doing,
The class fall about in HYSTERICS.
MUMBLE (VO) (CONT'D)
Whats funny?
(genuinely perplexed)
What's funny?
LATER
MUMBLE's PARENTS are talking to the TEACHER.
TEACHER
(sotto)
It's bizarre. I don't understand it. Did
anything happen - you know...- during early
development?
NORMA J.
No. All fine. Normal incubation, wasn't
it honey?
Wishful shuffles guiltily.
WISHFUL
Well Yeah, it was a kinda...a tough winter
I guess, and he did hatch a little late,
but...
(at a loss.)
Is there really nothing we can do?
(CONTINUED)
15.
CONTINUED:
TEACHER
Of course there is. Thats why we have
Mrs Astrakhan.
MRS ASTRAKHAN'S
Some distance from the creche, MUMBLE stands with MRS
ASTRAKHAN, a Russian-accented remedial teacher.
MRS ASTRKHAN
CAN'T SINK? Rubbeesh. Every little
pengvin has a sonk. Vhen I have
feenished, your singink vill be givink
everyone the goosepeempel.
CU on MUMBLE looking up.
MRS ASTRAKHAN
So. Closink the eyes. Liftink chin. Deep
breathe here in the downbelow. Now...most
important part, find a feelink. Happy
feelink, sad feelink, maybe lonely
feelink.
MUMBLE closes his eyes.
MRS ASTRAKHAN (CONT'D)
So?...So?...
MUMBLE
I'm thinking.
MRS ASTRAKHAN
Don't think EET!! Feel eet!
Through the whole body, from the beak
right down to tippy-toes.
Her voice is seductive, hypnotic.
MRS ASTRAKHAN (CONT'D)
And then slowly, very slowly...
She hears a strange TAPPING sound and looks down.
MRS ASTRAKHAN (CONT'D)
Vhat? Vhat is this?
MUMBLE
What?
(CONTINUED)
16.
CONTINUED:
MRS ASTRAKHAN
The feet. The jiggy-jog. Don't do eet. Do
not move muscle.
Rigid like plank, like board. NO
MOVINK!!!
Now...calm. Remember the feelink.
MUMBLE
Feelink...ok.
MRS ASTRAKHAN
And be spontanuous.
Once again his feet start twitching uncontrollably.
MRS ASTRAKHAN (CONT'D)
No! Stop! No jiggy-jog!
MUMBLE
I'm being spontanuous.
MRS ASTRAKHAN
Not with the feet, with the sonk!
You vant to meet beautiful girl?
You vant to make the Egg?
MUMBLE
Oh yes.
MRS ASTRAKHAN
Well singk! "Ba Ba Bleckship,
tvinklestar...La la la la la la, la".
MUMBLE
(totally unmusical)
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I..."
MRS ASTRAKHAN
Hokay. Enough. Stop. Hokay! Ve go back to
the top. Forget the body, look inside the
soul. No notes, no sonk, only feelink.
Happy feelink. Sad feelink. Enormous
feelink, so enormous it fills the whole
body. It must escape or you explode! Now,
open your leetle beak...
Mumble opens his beak, inspired.
MRS ASTRAKHAN (CONT'D)
Yes, yes, lift up the head! That's it!
(CONTINUED)
17.
CONTINUED: (2)
Mumble inhales, his eyes are shining, his body is shaking.
MRS ASTRAKHAN (CONT'D)
You take a big breath, good and...now! Now!
He's off again, DANCING LIKE A FOOL...wild, exuberant, totally
uninhibited and unselfconscious.
After some time, he remembers himself, stops and turns to the
Mrs Astrakhan who is BANGING HER HEAD against a lump of ice.
MRS ASTRAKHAN (CONT'D)
Disaster! Catastroff! I never fail!
Never!
THE ICE SHELF
Follow Mumble as he wanders alone, back towards his class.
He stops some distance away, listening to the other kids who
are now performing with increasing virtuosity.
Ella is among them, her clear high voice borne to him on the
wind.
Mumble sighs and his little shoulders sink, no way he'll ever
be able to sing like that.
MUMBLE
Its tough when you realise you'll never
fit in. Plus I was beginning to moult
A piece of downy fluff is peeling off one wing
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
I couldn't face the class in this mood So
I just kept going.
Music over: Walk on By as he wanders through the vast colony
head down against the wind, little feet padding over the ice,
Gradually the colony begins to thin.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Looking for what? I don't know? A
different type of penguin?
The noise of the colony has faded behind him. He stops and
looks up.
(CONTINUED)
18.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
And that's exactly what I found.
THE EDGE
Before him, a wasteland of discoloured ice covered with
broken eggs and bits of feather. There are very few penguins
here and the ones he can see are all, frankly, weird.
A Penguin walks in an endless figure of eight muttering to
himself. Another has his flippers wrapped tightly around
himself like a straightjacket. A troubled Penguin sings
angrily..."There's no business like show business.
CU on Mumble. As he looks back to the sanctuary of the colony
and then back out over the wasteland
MUMBLE
Not the nicest place in the world but at
least you could do what you liked here.
Fade in Music: (I'm Free by the Who) and Mumble is off,
skittering over the rubbish strewn ice, little feet dancing
to his hearts content until....
a shadow passes over him and
Whump! a huge SKUA BIRD, twice Mumbles size, with a cruel
flesh-eating beak, lands on the ice right on front of him.
SKUA
Hey, whacha doin' dere flipperbird?
MUMBLE
Me? Oh, nothing. What are you doing?
THREE MORE SKUAS descend. MUMBLE is surrounded.
SKUA#1
Oh we just dropped in for a spota lunch.
Hey hey hey...
MUMBLE
(hopefully)
Lunch?...There's food? Here?
(CONTINUED)
19.
CONTINUED:
SKUA#1
(to others)
Leg or wing?
Their dark eyes fix on Mumble. He is starting to feel uneasy
and backs away.
MUMBLE
But ...but. I'm a penguin.
SKUA#1
Exackly! De flipperbirds - dat's you -
eat de fish. De flyinbirds - dat's me -
eat de flipperbird an' de fish.
Right now D'ain't no fish -- so...you do the
math.
The FIRST SKUA moves in on MUMBLE.
FIRST SKUA
And dis time I'm getting the juicy bits.
MUMBLE
I don't have juicy bits! Look...
all bone and feather! Feel for yourself.
They fall over each other, fighting to take up Mumble's
invitation.
SKUAS
...Hey, break me off a piec'a dat!
...'Smyturn ta pullimapart ya skanky shit-
squirter.
...You! Lastime ya pullimapart ya took
all the choice stuff!
MUMBLE
Wait! WAIT!
The Skuas stop momentarily.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Every seen anything like this?
He does a wild little TAPDANCE hoping to distract them.
FIRST SKUA
(unimpressed)
Nope.
(CONTINUED)
20.
CONTINUED: (2)
He knocks Mumble down and places his HUGE CLAW on his chest.
FIRST SKUA (CONT'D)
Ok boys, for once we gonna do dis
civilised. Now...
The FIRST SKUA opens his beak to strike. Mumble has noticed a
YELLOW PLASTIC BAND around the Skua's leg.
MUMBLE
Hey! What's that on your leg?
The FIRST SKUA halts his attack.
FIRST SKUA
Interesting you should ask?
OTHER SKUAS
No! No! Don't startim on that!
He turns and whacks the other SKUAS over the head with his
wing.
FIRST SKUA
Shaddap! The flipperbird aksed me a
question.
(fixing Mumble with a crazy
bloodshot eye.)
I got two words for ya: "Alien
Abduction".
OTHER SKUAS
(groaning)
... Now of all times
... Always before we eat
FIRST SKUA
Quiet ya ignorant morons!
(to Mumble)
...a lotta folks don't believe this but
...dere's somet'in out dere. Creatures. Not
like us. Bigger...Fiercer...smarter, too.
MUMBLE takes a few steps back, looking for an escape.The
FIRST SKUA towering over him...
FIRST SKUA (CONT'D)
Aks me how I know.
(CONTINUED)
21.
CONTINUED: (3)
MUMBLE
How...?
FIRST SKUA
`Cos I bin capturebyem that's how! I seen
`em!
Mumble keeps backing off, feigning interest...
MUMBLE
Unbelievable.
FIRST SKUA
Whaddayamean unbelievable?! It's true!
I'm sittin' on a rock, mindin' my own
business when suddenly...
dere onta me. Dese bein's...like big ugly
penguins, fat flabby faces
with frontways eyes, no feathers, no
beaks...an' dese, dese appendages!
Dey probe me, dey tiemeup and
strapmedown...dey take dis pointy t'ing
and stick it inta me! Den...blackout!
MUMBLE
You don't say
FIRST SKUA
Gets worse! I woke up and there's dis
thing on me!
(the leg band)
Go home and every flyinbird starts
dissin' me: `Hey Yellaleg'`What's
happenin' Whats that on your leg,
Yellaleg?'
It was humiliatin'!!
MUMBLE
At least those aliens didn't eat you.
FIRST SKUA
True. I guess my cries for mercy appealed
to their better nature.
MUMBLE
So - You think I could appeal to your
better nature?
FIRST SKUA
Nice try kid. But No...
(CONTINUED)
22.
CONTINUED: (4)
He opens his beak wide as MUMBLE stumbles backwards and falls
into a narrow CREVICE in the ice.
FIRST SKUA (CONT'D)
Hey! Whatcha think ya doin' down dere
flipperbird? Get back up here dis minute!
The other Skuas move in to help. MUMBLE cowers in the CRACK
as they spear at him with their beaks.
SKUAS
...Come on, out witcha!
...Ya sneaky-ass flipperbird!
They can't get hold of him. Frustrated, they turn on the
FIRST SKUA, squabbling and whacking each other with their
wings.
SKUAS (CONT'D)
...Great, Yellaleg.
...What did we tell ya
...ya leddim geddaway, dincha with ya
screwy alientalk.
FIRST SKUA
Hey, Don't peck me or I'll peck you and
when I peck you know you've been
pecked...(fade)
MUMBLE watches from the safety of the crack as they fight and
argue viciously among themselves
MUMBLE (VO)
Compared with that, school almost seemed
like fun
THE CRECHE
MUMBLE stands some distance back from where the other young
penguins are taking school lessons.
MUMBLE (V.O.)
Most days I hid at the back, dreaming
about the world beyond
MUMBLE looks up at a cloud that resolves itself into the
unmistakable shape of a FISH. As he watches, the cloud morphs
into something that resembles a WHALE. Then morphs again
into...a SEAL. Then into the shape of an upright CREATURE with
bulging eyes and tentacled hands.
(CONTINUED)
23.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE
Time passed. We all grew up
TIME LAPSE
As the class transforms into moulting adolescents
MUMBLE (V.O.)
But right up to graduation I never did
find my heartsong
LATER. THE GRADUATION CEREMONY
Dozens of MATURE ADOLESCENTS...their coats almost fully moulted
to reveal the sleek, shiny black and white feathers
underneath.
They stand in a group talking excitedly until the lead
penguin, Caruso, walks up and everyone falls silent
CARUSO
Graduates, today you leave the safety of
our community for the first time,
forsaking the trusted solid ice for the
terrible magic of the deep.
MUMBLE (VO)
Caruso. He couldn't help himself.
CARUSO.
Things are not as they were. For five
years now we have known nothing but
famine. But you are our hope. Upon your
survival depends the very future of the
entire Penguin Nation. Dive deep, swim
far. May the Great Penguinus go with you.
And remember...
With solemn gravity, CARUSO throws his flippers into the air
and shouts.
CARUSO
Excelsi-yah! Yah yah yah!
MASSED GRADUATES
Excelsi-yah ! Yah yah yah!
24.
AWAY FROM THE CRECHE
Follow Mumble as he returns to his parents. In his adult
plumage he's distinguishable by a small birthmark, like a
bowtie on his chest and a small tuft of down on his head
which has not yet moulted off.
Music Over: Schools Out by Alice Cooper
MUMBLE
Dad, Ma, can I go with the others
NORMA J. puts a protective flipper around her son.
NORMA-J
I don't know Wishful. I still don't think
he's ready.
MUMBLE
Dad? I'll learn to sing later. I'll find
my voice out there. In the deep. Truly.
Glancing round he sees the class moves off en masse across
the ice...heading for the sea.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Dad. Pul-eeeze.
Wishful leans forwards, pulls off Mumbles tuft with his beak.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Yeooow!!
WISTFUL
On you go then, buddy
MUMBLE
Thanks Pop. See ya Ma.
He races off, Norma J calling after him:
NORMA J
(calling after)
Remember `Stranger Danger'! Never talk to
a seal!
Mumble turns to wave, falls over, gets up and races on after
the others with his strange hippity-hop little gait.
(CONTINUED)
25.
CONTINUED:
Watching from a distance, Norma J wipes away tears
NORMA J (CONT'D)
Oh my. Stupid. I'm sorry...
Wishful pats her comfortingly
NORMA J.
(quietly to WISHFUL)
...You think we'll ever see him again
WISHFUL
(Shrugs)
Its out of our flippers
THE HIGHWAY TO THE SEA
A high shot reveals the miles of frozen ice that the
GRADUATES have to cover to get to the sea.
Some are shuffling along on their feet; others are
tobogganing.
A long way behind them we see the lone figure of MUMBLE
racing to catch up.
AT THE EDGE OF THE ICE
The juvenile penguins stand in a bunch, peering down looking
for somewhere to dive in.
GRADUATE PENGUINS
...What do you think, here?
...Are you kidding?
...How about over here then?
They shuffle off in a group to a nearby spot.
GRADUATE
...That last place looked better.
OTHERS
..I agree.
..Much better.
They all shuffle back to the previous spot and stand there,
frozen by indecision
GRADUATE
...then again....
(CONTINUED)
26.
CONTINUED:
Suddenly the little dark figure of MUMBLE barrels through the
pack, yelling
MUMBLE
Outta my way flipperbirds! Coming
through!!
For a long moment he's airborne.
Then...he hits the water with a strangled squawk!...and
disappears.
GRADUATES
...What was that?
ELLA
Mumble?
They tentatively crane over the edge. No sign of him. They
peer into the water.
GRADUATE
...Lunatic!
...where did he go?
...See any blood?
Then...MUMBLE shoots out of the water like a missile...
MUMBLE
Whatcha waiting for? It's
fantast...(splosh)
... as he falls back under water again.
ELLA
Go Mumble!
Without hesitation ELLA follows him.
The others follow ELLA. A few at first, then all of them en
masse leap yelling and hollering.
SURFACE/ UNDERWATER
The penguins flounder around, flapping, laughing, and choking
MUMBLE
I had an instinct I'd be good at this.
Actually we all were. We were the best.
27.
UNDERWATER
Transformed into creatures of grace and exuberance, they
swoop and dive trailing plumes of bubbles.
Over this: the music of THE BEACH BOYS.
BEACH BOYS
"Suntanned bodies and the waves of
sunshine.
Those California girls and the beautiful
coastline.
In the warmed up weather, let's get
together and do it again..."
Two PENGUINS shoot up through HOLES IN THE ICE...
THE SURFACE
Skidding out of control, they COLLIDE, ending up in a
breathless heap on top of each other.
ELLA
Mumble?
MUMBLE
Ella?
They scramble to their feet...but the ice is slippery.They
clutch together, slipping and sliding.
ELLA
Woah!
MUMBLE
I've got you! No I don't.
Leaning against each other, they manage to stand up, close
now, eyes meeting.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Yes I do.
A brief moment then.
MALE PENGUIN
Hi Ella.
(CONTINUED)
28.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE (V.O.)
The only bad thing about being with Ella.
It was always so darned crowded.
As others pop up all around
MALE PENGUINS
...Ella!
...Where da get to?
...there you are!
Laughing, she dives into the water. The young males follow
her. MUMBLE hippity-hops to the edge and tumbles in after
her.
UNDERWATER
A half dozen of them gambolling together, their bubble trails
intertwining...
BEACH BOYS
"In the warmed up weather, let's get
together and do it again."
Then everyone freezes as a few silvery FISH swim past.
MUMBLE
...FISH!!
They all zero in.
Collisions, barging, a bit like water polo when the ball is
first thrown in. In an instant...all the fish are taken.
ON THE SURFACE
MUMBLE surfaces with a fish in his beak
MUMBLE
(muffled)
Ella? You get one?
ELLA
Not this time.
MUMBLE
(muffled)
Here, have it.
(CONTINUED)
29.
CONTINUED:
ELLA
Thank you Mumble, but it's yours.
MUMBLE
(muffled)
I want you to have it.
MALE PENGUIN
Why don't I have it
Suddenly, A SKUA BIRD swoops down and grabs it.
ELLA
Hey! That's a felony! Mumble, let go!
Mumble hangs on. Neither he not the Skua will let go. The
SKUA soars higher, taking MUMBLE with him.
ELLA (CONT'D)
(yells)
Mumble!
MUMBLE is carried...higher and higher. The SKUA tries hard to
shake him off, but finally gives up.
SKUA
(derisive)
So fly flipperbird. Fly.
He lets go the fish and MUMBLE plummets downwards, landing
Splat! on an ice floe.
ON THE ICE.
Mumble lies still
Ella and the others gather around. MUMBLE still has the FISH
firmly in his beak.
PENGUINS
...Is he breathing?
...he's certainly not eating
Leaning forward to take the fish
PENGUIN
...Maybe I should just...
Mumble regains consciousness
(CONTINUED)
30.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE
Hey. The fish is for Ella
(to Ella)
Take it. Really. Its for you
ELLA leans forward, takes the fish, and daintily gulps it
down.
ELLA
Thank you.
MUMBLE
(spent)
You're welcome.
ON AN ICEBERG. NIGHT
The entire sky is ablaze with the shimmering LIGHTS of the
AURORA AUSTRALIS.
The PENGUINS stand below, looking up in wonder. They sing:
ELLA AND THE OTHERS
"Gotta keep those lovin' good Vibrations
a happenin' with her, "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh..."
The HARMONIES are exquisite until...
MUMBLE
(very loud and tuneless)
"...Good, Good, Good...Good VibRatiOns..."
The singing STOPS.
MALE PENGUINS
...Mumble,
...Knock it off.
The singing RESUMES.
ELLA AND THE CHOIR
"Gotta keep those lovin' good Vibrations
A happenin' with her."
Another CRESCENDO...
ELLA AND THE CHOIR (CONT'D)
"Ahhh..."
It's too much for MUMBLE.
(CONTINUED)
31.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE
"...AaahhhhHhhhhhhhhhhhhHhhhhhh..."
This stops the whole thing dead. ELLA pads over to him.
ELLA
(gently)
Mumble, the thing is...
MUMBLE
I know. I know
ELLA
....It's better if you just listen.
She returns to the choir. The singing resumes...a perfect
harmonic MUMBLE can't help himself. He begins to TAP DANCE.
ELLA AND THE OTHERS
MUMBLE!!!
MUMBLE
(retreating)
OK! I'll quit. OK!
AN ICE-FLOE
We find MUMBLE on his own small ice-floe separate from the
others on their iceberg.
As their singing drifts across to him, MUMBLE does an
exquisite little SOFT-SHOE SHUFFLE.
TIME LAPSE
As night slowly pales to a misty dawn and Mumbles lonely
floe drifts off, turning slowly in the current
Music Over: "The tracks of my tears"
MORNING
He is woken by A NUDGE at his little raft of ice.
MUMBLE
(sleepily)
Woah. Whose there.
Another nudge.
(CONTINUED)
32.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
OK. I'm awake now. You got me
He looks around - an unfamiliar landscape of ice - then over
the side, seeing nothing but slowly spreading ripples.
A more VIOLENT NUDGE from behind almost makes him lose his
balance. A DARK SHAPE passes swiftly through the water.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Saw you. Richard? Eddie? Ella....
The dark shape SHOOTS out of the water. Its GAPING JAWS
missing Mumble by an inch.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
......aaarghH!
As he recoils, slips and tumbles into the WATER.
UNDERWATER/ SURFACE
Choking, thrashing and gulping air, Mumble SCRAMBLES to get
back onto the ice.
MUMBLE
Everybody out!! LEOPARD SEAL!! (glub)
The murderous creature comes at him, jaws open, baring rows
of sharp TEETH and MUMBLE swims for his life.
The LEOPARD SEAL is relentless, barging through smaller
floes, powering around larger ones.
Mumble just CAN'T SHAKE HIM OFF. Desperate, he shoots up into
the air, landing on a THIN PANCAKE OF ICE that cannot support
his weight.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
HEEEELP!!
Mumble scrambles to gain purchase but FALLS BACK INTO THE
WATER. Now he is ...
UNDER THE ICE SHELF
...caught between the SOLID ICE above him and the bottomless
black WATER below.
(CONTINUED)
33.
CONTINUED:
Mumble POWERS ahead, the ice above growing thicker, the
angled ceiling forcing him down, deeper into the BLACKNESS.
The Leopard Seal opens its mouth. Its GAPING JAWS are about
to engulf Mumble when...
a little SPECK OF LIGHT appears in the ceiling of ice. Mumble
makes a speedy sharp turn, climbing steeply.
He is in a FUNNEL OF ICE...getting narrower and narrower as it
rises to the surface. The Leopard Seal is CLOSING fast.
MUMBLE shoots THROUGH the hole in the ice and into the air...
THE ICE-SHELF
A small group of ADELIE PENGUINS recoil as MUMBLE explodes
out of the hole, closely followed by the LEOPARD SEAL.
WHAM! THUMP! They belly-flop on the ice .
THE ADELIES
(wincing)
...Ouch!
...That's gotta hurt!
...Who ordered seal?
Mumble is quickly on his feet and out of the Leopard Seal's
reach. The ADELIES TAUNT the bulky creature like matadors
THE ADELIES (CONT'D)
...Over here
...No over here. Too slow!
...have to lose some weight pesado
The frustrated Leopard Seal snaps and snarls impotently.
MUMBLE
Yeah go chase someone your own size, ya
big.......blubberhead.
Taunting it with a cheeky little TAP DANCE. The Adelies love
it.
AN ADELIE
Hey, amigo. Do that again!
MUMBLE
Do what?
(defensive)
I didn't do anything.
(CONTINUED)
34.
CONTINUED:
AN ADELIE
That thing with The feet.
(to the others)
¡Hola muchachos!
(to Mumble)
Show them!
MUMBLE
Well...I just kind of go ...like this...and
then this...
Bolder now, he does a few neat steps.
THE ADELIES
...¡Oye! Ritmo Cubana!
...¡Riba Riba! Shake those hips!
...Yo penguino, bust a move!
They COPY HIM, improvising little riffs on his dance step.
The LEOPARD SEAL inches up behind them.
THE ADELIES (CONT'D)
...Then mebbe something like...
...No. I got it. Watch me!
An Adelie adds an ACROBATIC variation of his own. The LEOPARD
SEAL is almost upon them.
MUMBLE
Or how about ...
MUMBLE adds a neatly executed slide just as the LEOPARD SEAL
strikes. MUMBLE avoids the lunge and the creature's face
comes down hard on the ice
THE ADELIES
(to the winded Seal)
...Eat my ice, lardface.
...Kiss my frozen toosh, rubber butt
They fall about laughing. The Leopard Seal returns to the
water.
LEOPARD SEAL
I know where you live.
THE ADELIES
...Yeah, it's called The Land, tubby.
...Flop back anytime!
(CONTINUED)
35.
CONTINUED: (2)
Laughing hysterically at their own jokes they strut off.
MUMBLE watches them go.
ADELIES
...Hey, ain't you coming, tallboy?
...Or you got something better to do?
MUMBLE looks out at the endless sea of floating ice-pancakes,
all the way to the horizon. Nothing...
He shrugs and hurries off after his new friends.
FURTHER ON
A strange cacophony building as The four ADELIE AMIGOS and
MUMBLE crest the rise, to see...
ADELIE LAND
A vast, boisterous ADELIE PENGUIN COMMUNITY. Thousands of
them, stretching as far as the eye can see. Its very Rio,
very samba, worlds away from the sedate Emperor colony.
MUMBLE
Wow, there are so many of you!
THE ADELIES
...Hey, this is nothin'.
...Used to be twice as many of us.
...Yeah, back when you could still catch a
fish.
MUMBLE
The shortage has affected you too?!
AN ADELIE
...Who you calling shortish?
...All I know is a lot of us
ain't comin' back.
....And Some folks so hungry they eating
rocks
Sure enough An ADELIE walks by, a PEBBLE in his beak.
THE ADELIES
(laughing)
...Eating rocks!!?
...That is major funny.
(CONTINUED)
36.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE
Why funny? That's terrible
ADELIES
...Just kidding the rocks are for nest-
building
...That's how its works here. The one with
the most rocks gets the chicas.
..Chica boom chica boom chica boom boom
BOOM!
MUMBLE
So why aren't you guys collecting them
THE ADELIES
..Cos we got personality!.
...Without us the chicas got no boom boom.
...Without us the fiesta will be a siesta..
...Watch and learn tallboy.
One of the Adelies calls to a pair of YOUNG FEMALES he sees
walking by.
THE ADELIES (CONT'D)
...Hola Conchita!
The Adelies pose, RUFFLING UP THEIR CRESTS into various
styles: the MOHAWK, the FLAT-TOP...
THE ADELIES (CONT'D)
...See something you like?
...trying to top each other, they add HIPPITY-HOPS they've just
learned from Mumble. The females are intrigued.
A FEMALE
Hey. Cool. Where'd you learn that?
THE ADELIES
...The big guy.
...He from out of town.
...He with us.
FEMALE
Do it again.
THE ADELIES
...Sorry Show's over.
(To mumble as they walk off)
...Treat em mean and keep em keen
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
37.
CONTINUED: (2)
THE ADELIES (CONT'D)
...hold back `til the season, when they
begging for it.
A FEMALE
(calls after them)
Yeah guys, in your dreams
THE ADELIES
...You see. Some penguins got it, some
don't And the Amigos, (in unison) WE GOT
IT!
They punch and bump each other playfully.
MUMBLE
....you think I could get some of it?
AN ADELIE
Hombre, you got so much already, you
dangerous.
He touches Mumble and recoils as if burnt
ADELIE
Yow!
MUMBLE
You really think so?
THE ADELIES
...You got the biggest personality of any
of us.
...Except for me, maybe.
...Put that ego away, Ramon, you gonna hurt
someone.
THE CONGA LINE
Music over: Carlos Santana's "Oyé Como Va".
MUMBLE (V.O.)
So for a while I forgot about finding a
song altogether.
The Adelies and Mumble form a conga, weaving in and out of
the nest builders, aiming a kick here and there at their
industrious brethren
38.
UNDERWATER
MUMBLE
...We were a team
the Adelies swoop and dive, corralling a FEW SMALL FISH into
a CREVICE.
The fish, darting to and fro are suddenly confronted by
Mumble's OPEN BEAK.
ON THE ICE AGAIN
Mumble shares out the catch
AN ICEBERG
MUMBLE
...there was so much to do, so much to
see
Mumble and the adeles come shooting down a long curving
Slippery dip
THE ADELIES
...¡Arriba!
..Addidas amigos!
As they shoot off the slippery-dip and into the sea mumble
whacks his head on the edge of the ice
UNDERWATER
The Adelies shoot back up to the surface. Mumble sinks,
slightly dazed, watching the kalaeidescope patters of the
surface recede.
Music Over: "Ground Control to major Tom"
ON THE SURFACE
ADELIES
...Where's the tall-boy
...I thought he was with you.
They jump back in to look for him
39.
UNDERWATER
Mumble keeps sinking, down down down into a great cathedral-
like space, lit by eerie shards of underwater light.
MUMBLE
....stuff down there beyond my wildest
imagining.
Imbedded in the base of the glacier, the rusting remains of,
An OLD YELLOW EXCAVATOR projecting out of the glacier.
It hangs there, inscrutable, like a great yellow totem.
Mumble, dwarfed by it, contemplates it for a while, then
ventures inside, into the body of the BEAST.
INSIDE THE BULLDOZER
A rusting steering column, a perforated dashboard.
He pecks at the metal, trying to taste it, listening to the
sound it makes.
OUTSIDE THE BULLDOZER
In the shimmering space outside the bulldozer, the ADELIES
congregate.
THE ADELIES
... You sure he went in there?
...Mumble!
...Done go near it, looks like it can
bite
One of them smims closer to the great jaws
ADELIES
Ramos!
Mumble pops his head out from between the jaws
MUMBLE
Oh! There you are
Terrified the Adelies scatter and shoot to the surface like
missiles.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Guys! I want to speak to you.
40.
THE ICE SHELF
The Adelies are heading back to their colony as fast as their
little legs will carry then. Mumble Hippity hops after them
ADELIES
...Forget it
...We're not going back there
...Never
MUMBLE
But its dead. It can't hurt you
ADELIES
...Maybe its got a brother still alive.
MUMBLE
But that's what we have to find out.
Don't you see. Things like that could be
eating the fish.
The idea is so stunningly original it stops them in their
tracks.
ADELIES
Okay. Okay. Here's the plan: we go and
ask the revered one.
MUMBLE
The who?
THE ADELIES
...Reverend Loveday.
...The One who Knows
...First we gonna need stones though
MUMBLE
Why stones? Wait for me
LOVEDAY'S MOUND
MUMBLE and the ADELIE AMIGOS are bunched together, near the
head of a LONG QUEUE of Adelies each with a stone or in their
beak.
At the head of this queue stands LOVEDAY - guardian of a huge
pile of pebbles. His head pokes through one of the rings a
PLASTIC SIX-PACK CAN HOLDER festooned with seaweed like a
HOLY MANTLE.
(CONTINUED)
41.
CONTINUED:
A group of Soul singers, mainly female, sway in the
background, singing a soulful song of adoration as the
Penguin ahead of Mumble steps forward.
LOVEDAY
First, the devotion...
The PENGUIN adds his pebble to the pile.
LOVEDAY holds up a flipper for silence and a hush falls over
the gospel choir
LOVEDAY (CONT'D)
A moment...
(composing himself)
... and your question?
FIRST IN QUEUE
Señor Loveday, My wife is one of the
Disappeared ones Tell me is she alive?
Loveday hyperventillates, his eyes roll up in his head
LOVEDAY
The Mystic Beings are speaking to me.
Yes! She is alive and happy and you are
in her thoughts...
FIRST IN QUEUE
But is she with another male?
LOVEDAY
One pebble, one question. Next!
The AMIGOS push MUMBLE forward. He is at least a head taller
than the others.
LOVEDAY (CONT'D)
I sense...you are the one with the
question.
ADELIE
...How does he do it?
...He just one look and he know.
Mumble places the pebble on the pile. A long Pause
LOVEDAY
A little nervous? That's normal. Take
your time.
(CONTINUED)
42.
CONTINUED: (2)
In fact Mumble is mesmerised by the luight catching LOVEDAY's
six pack holder. He bends forwards to study it more closely
MUMBLE
I was wondering. Have You ever been
abducted by Aliens?
LOVEDAY
No time wasters. Next!
THE ADELIES
...Señor! That's not his question. He's new
here.
(prompting Mumble)
...The yellow thing
...Ask him what's taking the fish?
MUMBLE
(ignoring them)
...you see I met a Skua once, with
something like that on his legs....
LOVEDAY
...Skua? Leg? What's he talking about?
MUMBLE
... and he said he was abducted by
Aliens.
LOVEDAY
(starts to wheeze and cough)
Listen friend, this is my Sacred
Talisman, bestowed upon me by the Mystic
Beings...
MUMBLE
Looks like they bestowed it very tight.
LOVEDAY
...during my Epic Journey of
Enlightenment to the Forbidden Shore!
MUMBLE
So these Mystic Beings, did you see them?
LOVEDAY
I hear them. They talk to me all the time
I am their instrument. They chose me
to......
(CONTINUED)
43.
CONTINUED: (3)
MUMBLE
Did they have frontways eyes? No
feathers? Fat flabby faces? Did they
probe you and stick a pointy thing into
you?
LOVEDAY
Enough! How many questions is that? You
don't have enough pebbles.
ADELIES IN QUEUE
...Yeah, one pebble, one question.
...We've all got stuff to ask, pal!
MUMBLE
But I haven't had any answers yet!
LOVEDAY
SILENCIO!! The Mystic Beings are
speaking. They say show some respect
stranger. Especially to the One who
Knows.
A hush falls over the gathering.
LOVEDAY (CONT'D)
The reason there are not enough fish is
simple: There is not enough love in the
world. Love is the answer!
One cue the gospel choir start singing: All you need is Love
LOVEDAY (CONT'D)
(over this)
Okay, everybody, turn around to the
penguin next to you and give them a great
big hug. Comeon, everybody...hug! This is a
safe place.
The gathering hug awkwardly. Mumble, because of his towering
height, has trouble embracing the Adelie next to him.
LOVEDAY (CONT'D)
Now. The Mating Season starts today so
here's what everybody should do: go forth
and multiply! If you'll excuse I myself
must retire for a moment to the couch of
indulgence... okay ladies, who's gonna be
first
(CONTINUED)
44.
CONTINUED: (4)
MUMBLE and the ADELIES are jostled aside in the STAMPEDE of
FEMALES as the gospel group break ranks and mob him
FEMALE ADELIES
..Me Loveday.
..Me!
..No Me !
LOVEDAY
One at a time! And don't touch the
Talisman!
ADELIES
....I liked him better when he was just
plain Pedro.
...Did he say it starts today
...why didn't someone tell us.
...We gotta get to work guys!!
They start posturing for the any FEMALES they can attract
THE ADELIES
...¡Hola Baby! Get your chica boom-boom
here.
... Turn round, look at us!.
A couple of females look up from the scrum
FEMALE
...How many rocks you got.
HER FRIEND
...Forget `em honey. They only one
between the six of them...and they just
spent it.
AN ADELIE
(getting desperate)
Wait. Look.
The Adelies all start DANCING MADLY, but it is too frenetic,
too desperate.
ADELIES
...You like it
...Arriba!
...What do you need stones for
(CONTINUED)
45.
CONTINUED: (5)
FEMALE FRIEND
Try sitting on the ice for a month. It
might come to you Salsa Boy. Come on,
Consuela.
Rejected, the Amigos stop dancing.
THE ADELIES
...Their loss, guys.
...Ramon, where you going?
Ramon is SEARCHING frantically for PEBBLES.
RAMON
Gotta be some rocks left here somewhere!
(to Mumble)
Hey big guy, got any love stones over
where you come from?
MUMBLE
We don't collect them. All we have to do
is , well... We sing
AN ADELIE
...Easy as that?
...So why aren't you over there?
Mumble looks at them. Then opens his beak and demonstrates:
MUMBLE
La la la la la la la laaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
THE ADELIES
(to each other)
...What's he doing?
...Its a distress call
...Its world music
...Get out of here!
MUMBLE
See. That's how I ended up with you guys.
And emperor who can't sing isn't an
emperor at all.
AN ADELIE
Man. You're an emperor all right, You're
a king among emperors. The singing we can
fix.
(CONTINUED)
46.
CONTINUED: (6)
MUMBLE
You can?!
AN ADELIE
No problem. Which way's this colony of
yours?
Leading off.
ADELIES
...We'll all come.
...Yeah I like em tall.
...You jus' gotta do exac'ly as I say.
THE EMPEROR COLONY
It is autumn, the EMPEROR PENGUINS for the mating season.
It is just like the GREAT GATHERING we saw at the beginning
of our story. Males and females sing their Heartsongs. And
ONE SONG stands out from all the others.
Where NORMA J. once sang, stands ELLA, now sleek and fully
mature. Gathered around her in a semi-circle, a half a dozen
adoring MALES.
ELLA
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Suddenly she becomes aware of a MELLIFLUOUS MALE VOICE
overlapping hers. It has a curious bossa nova rhythm.
MUMBLE
Tall and tanned and young and lovely
The Girl from Ipanema goes walking
And when she passes each guy she passes
goes `Aaaah'
Ella turns to see: a PENGUIN backlit by the sun, standing
HEROICALLY on a little rise, just as WISHFUL did.
Ella recognizes those TAPPING FEET. Could this be MUMBLE?She
moves closer to investigate.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Oh, and I want her so badly
How can I tell her I love her?
Yes I would give my heart gladly
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
47.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
But each day when she walks to the sea,
She looks straight ahead not at me...."
ELLA
Mumble?
SINGING VOICE
Tall and tanned and young and lovely..
MUMBLE
(overlapping)
Hi Ella, what do you think?
Ella, suspicious moves to one side. Mumble moves to block her
view. She moves further tound and sees:
THE ADELIE
¡Hola bonita!
Obviously he's been singing while Mumble mimes
ELLA
Mumble, that's just cheap
She turns and heads off. The Adelie starts after her.
THE ADELIE
Wait up! You and me baby, we can make
sweet music. I may be short but I'm a
love god...Ooww!
Mumble smacks him with the back of a flipper and goes off
after Ella himself.
MUMBLE
Ella. Wait!
She stops. He takes her by the shoulders Shes upset.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
I'm sorry.
ELLA
(shakes her head, tearful)
When you left without saying goodbye I
thought something had happened, then I
thought he just doesn't care.
(CONTINUED)
48.
CONTINUED: (2)
MUMBLE
Don't care? I never stopped thinking
about you.
ELLA
And then when I saw you singing, for a
second I thought...
MUMBLE
I can't sing.
ELLA
I know. I know. Its impossible.
She walks off.
MUMBLE
But I'll show you something better
He TAPS an up-tempo, syncopated rhythm on the ice.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Sing something to this!
ELLA
(her back to him)
What's the point. It's embarrassing
MUMBLE
Just try it. This once.
Ella begins to hum Never Can Say Goodbye ironically and
without conviction.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Okay, that'll work. Just keep it going.
The singing ADELIE joins in...acapella, very rhythmic
THE ADELIE
"...turn around you fool
You know I love you more and more..."
Right on cue, the rest of the AMIGOS appear on either side of
him, singing back-up.
(CONTINUED)
49.
CONTINUED: (3)
THE ADELIES
"Tell me why is it so
Don't wanna let you go
I never can say goodbye, no...no no no..."
Curious, ELLA TURNS.
Framed between the Adelies, Mumble strikes a pose, holds it
for a moment... then lets rip.
He TAP DANCES...UNINHIBITED, WILD, JOYOUS. The ADELIES
accompany him. They know all the moves and it is INFECTIOUS
FEET are beginning to tap, couples are beginning to
improvise... singing along, trying out the dance steps.
Now ELLA is caught up in it. AND MUMBLE IS DANCING LIKE NO
PENGUIN HAS EVER DONE BEFORE!
MUMBLE
This is it Ella! This is the song inside
me!
ELLA is ecstatic. Just when we think the WHOLE COLONY will be
swept up into the abandon. A DARK FIGURE steps forward
CARUSO
(bellows)
STOP...THIS...DEPRAVITY!!!
ELLA STOPS DANCING. MUMBLE misses a beat, loses his footing,
trips and goes sliding across the ice to the feet of CARUSO
and the ELDERS.
CARUSO (CONT'D)
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS
ABOMINATION?!!
MUMBLE
I'm just showing them Happy Feet
CARUSO
Happy WHAT?! This is an OUTRAGE!
The ADELIES shuffle uncomfortably. Caruso turns to the rest
of the emperors
(CONTINUED)
50.
CONTINUED: (4)
CARUSO.
It is exactly this kind of disrespectful,
heretic behaviour that has brought the
Scarcity upon us! Don't you see...we are
being brought to account by the
Forefathers!
THE ELDERS
... The kid was never quite the full
Penguin.
... It all began the year he hatched.
... That's right! He's the one who brought
the blight!
MUMBLE
(astonished)
Wait. Wait. You think it's my fault that
there are no fish?!! Doing Happy Feet
can't cause a food shortage.
AN ELDER
...then what did?!
MUMBLE
My own opinion? I think living beyond
the ice there are creatures we've never
met before Aliens. Mystic Beings. Big,
flabby......
ELDERS
(pushing in)
...He has abandoned the faith.
...He has driven the fish away.
THE ADELIES
(protecting Mumble)
...Come on hombre, loosen up,
...the tall guy was just trying to....
AN ELDER
Don't touch me! Heathen!!
He BATS the ADELIES aside like skittles. Mumble intervenes
MUMBLE
BACK OFF, YA SCREWY-ASS FLIPPERBIRD!
THE ELDERS
(enraged)
...Skua talk!! He's talking Skua talk!
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
51.
CONTINUED: (5)
THE ELDERS (CONT'D)
...He's the spawn of evil!!
...The devil penguin!!!
MUMBLE
This is craziness
A VOICE
No, Son they're right.
Wishful emerges from the crowd
MUMBLE
You too pa?!
WISHFUL
Truth is, I'm the cause of it. I dropped
the egg. I made you how you are. If only
you'd come back to us, relinquish the
dark side
MUMBLE
No. Dad. No. What have they done to you.
You're talking like Caruso.
WISHFUL
Just do it. Pray to the Forefathers for
forgiveness.
MUMBLE
No. You're nuts. All of you. I'm outa
here.
MUMBLE walks away. The community part to let him go. Ella
chases after him.
ELLA
Wait! Mumble!
Catching up with him
MUMBLE
Its no use Ella. I can't live with that.
ELLA
Can you live without it?
He stops.
(CONTINUED)
52.
CONTINUED: (6)
ELLA (CONT'D)
I believe in you, Mumble. But without the
huddle we can't make an egg. Without the
egg, what are we here for?
ADELIES
...True
...That's a big question
MUMBLE
Guys. Can Me and Ella be alone for a bit
The Adelies give them space
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
OK. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm
going to talk an alien. I'm going to find
what's causing the shortage
ELLA
But what about?...
MUMBLE
Its the only way. You're right. Unless
we have food theres no future for any of
us - you, me the adelies, anyone
ELLA
But...
MUMBLE
Give me a year, just until the next great
gathering. If I don't make it back ....at
least I tried
ELLA
But...
MUMBLE
Now go back. I love you. Go.
Ella returns to the community. As she does so, CARUSO begins
to CHANT the Gathering answers.
CARUSO
"Together we stand"
ALL
"Divided we freeze."
(CONTINUED)
53.
CONTINUED: (7)
ALL (CONT'D)
Recite the Wisdoms!
ALL (CONT'D)
"In the Wisdoms we trust."
CARUSO
"When all others leave..."
ALL
"We Remain."
CARUSO
Louder. More fervent bretheren.
"When the Sun vanishes..."
ALL
"We Remain."
ELLAS watches through tears as the tiny figures of Mumble and
the Adelies dwindle to specks and disappear into the mist.
THE ICE SHELF
Mumble and the Adelies have put the colony far behind,
trekking homewards
ADELIES
Tell me again where we're going.
MUMBLE
To find the mystic beings.
ADELIES
How do we know where they live.
MUMBLE
We'll ask Loveday. He's been there.
ADELIELAND
Most of the Adelies are sitting on nests. The Adeleies and
Mumble trek past them a protective mother takes a peck at
them.
MOTHER
...Not so close. We got babies on board
ADELIES
...Wow. Does nesting make em touchy
(CONTINUED)
54.
CONTINUED:
They find LOVEDAY at the back of what is left of his PEBBLE
PILE. He sits leaning against it...exhausted.
THE ADELIES
...LOVEDAY, you okay??
...what happened
...Too much boom-boom for one penguin?
MUMBLE kicks a bunch of pebbles at him.
MUMBLE
Just one question! And I want a straight
answer! Where do I find the Mystic
Beings?
LOVEDAY tries to raise himself up. A tight low gurgling
rumbles from his throat.
AN ADELIE
Why don't he speak?
LOVEDAY gurgles and points wildly to the SIX-PACK PLASTIC
round his neck.
AN ADELIE (CONT'D)
Talisman...sounds like Talisman!!
LOVEDAY coughs. His eyes bulge.
ADELIES
...He's possessed!
...It's a seizure!
MUMBLE
No. He's choking! The Talisman's gotten
way too tight.
THE ADELIES
...Why din' you say so?
...Hold on we gonna take it off.
...You pull that side, I pull this side.
They tug at the SIX-PACK PLASTIC. LOVEDAY GASPS AND WINCES.
MUMBLE
Stop. You're hurting him.
The Adelies back off.
(CONTINUED)
55.
CONTINUED: (2)
AN ADELIE
Any better?
LOVEDAY gives a little `so-so' gesture with his flipper.
THE ADELIES
...It not gonna come off.
...Of course it's not! It's sacred!
MUMBLE
LOVEDAY, where did you get it?
THE ADELIES
...It was bestowed on him.
...By the Mystic Beings!
LOVEDAY shakes his head sadly.
MUMBLE
They didn't bestow it on you?
THE ADELIES
...Poor Guy.
...He don't know what he's saying.
MUMBLE
If it wasn't bestowed, what happened?
LOVEDAY mimes swimming.
THE ADELIES
...Oh, this one's easy.
...He swam....
...On his Hectic Journey of Delightenment...
...To the Forbidding Shore.
MUMBLE
And then....?
LOVEDAY mimes the talisman going over his head.
AN ADELIE
...Well to me that's gotta be bestowing.
LOVEDAY shakes his head, `no'. He stretches his neck.
MUMBLE
You looked up and...... It just got caught
around your neck?
(CONTINUED)
56.
CONTINUED: (3)
ADELIES
...No way. No. He's the revered one
...He speaking symbolically.
LOVEDAY hangs his head. A TEAR slides down his beak.
MUMBLE
(gently)
Loveday, did you ever meet a Mystic
Being? Really?
Beaten, LOVEDAY shakes his head `No' The Adelies are stunned
into silence.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
But this thing was made by someone. And
if we find them, they could take it off.
LOVEDAY looks up, a glimmer of hope in his eye.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
So where do we Go, Loveday
Loveday Then he makes a strange "Oi, Oi, Oi" sound.
AN ADELIE
Oh my! Now he thinks he's an Elephant
Seal
LOVEDAY nods and points towards the mountains.
AN ADELIE (CONT'D)
He wants to go to the top of the
mountain.
LOVEDAY shakes his head.
MUMBLE
The forbidden place is over the
mountains...
LOVEDAY nods.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
...In the land of the Elephant Seals!!?
LOVEDAY gestures wildly with his flippers!
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
...Beyond the land of the Elephant Seals!!?
(CONTINUED)
57.
CONTINUED: (4)
LOVEDAY nods `YES!!' and falls back in exhaustion.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
So who's coming
LOVEDAY
Oi
A MOUNTAIN RIDGE
The Adelies labour uphill into the wind. LOVEDAY is lagging
behind, breathing hard.
Even MUMBLE and the AMIGOS are puffing with the effort of the
climb.
Music Over: He aint heavy he's my brother.
ADELIES
...Stop. Enough. We must've gone past it
...Past? Don't kid me. We're not even
close.
Then on the wind comes a fiant `Oi, Oi, Oi'.
MUMBLE
Hear that?!
As they crest the peak, sure enough, down below: the LAND of
the ELEPHANT SEALS. Thousands of them.
THE ADELIES
...Refresh my memory do elephant seals eat
penguin?
...No, no...jus' krill and fish.
...Sure of your facts are you?
Not waiting, Mumble launches himself over the other side,
slip-sliding down the mountain. One by one the ADELIES
follow.
ADELIES
Well I guess we're about to find out
THE LAND OF THE ELEPHANT SEALS
The beach is literally heaving.
MUMBLE and the ADELIES come tumbling and sliding right up to
two HUGE SEALS.
(CONTINUED)
58.
CONTINUED:
ELEPHANT SEAL 1
(big-bellied, booming southern
voice)
Well roll me over and call me a dugong.
What the heck have we got here
The Adelies bunch up behind Mumble
MUMBLE
Excuse me, we need directions...to the
Forbidden Shore.
ELEPHANT SEAL 2
Sure. Just git yourselves over them there
hills I'd come with you myself but...
ELEPHANT SEAL 1
Woah Woah. You aint told em half of it:
over them hills, beyond the great
glacier, `n' through the blizzard
country.
The Good Ole Boys are into ONE-UPMANSHIP.
ELEPHANT SEAL 1 (CONT'D)
Anyhow. Its its forbidden to go there.
ELEPHANT SEAL 2
I heard its forbidden to ask how to get
there!
MUMBLE
We're looking for the Mystic Beings
ELEPHANT SEAL 2
Mystic Who?
MUMBLE
Aliens, the ones who made this.
He indicates the SIX-PACK PLASTIC around LOVEDAY'S neck.
SEAL 1 lowers it's massive head down to face LOVEDAY.
Wheezing he examines the plastic with first with one eye,
then the other, before announcing his verdict.
ELEPHANT SEAL 1
Blizzard Walkers!
Cut you up soon as look at you.
(CONTINUED)
59.
CONTINUED: (2)
ELEPHANT SEAL 2
Cut you up before they look at you.
MUMBLE
Could they be taking our fish?
ELEPHANT SEAL 1
Could be!? I heard they'd take a whole
penguin, rip its skin right off and turn
it into mush.
ELEPHANT SEAL 2
Huh! That's a Picnic! I hear tell they'd
take a baby seal and club it to death.
With their bare clubs.
ELEPHANT SEAL 1
Huh! Clubbing's a Clambake! My Granpappy
says they been known to skin a seal from
snout to tail in a hot second.
ELEPHANT SEAL 2
Your Granpappy don't know squat! What I
hear they take your sorry carcass, melt
you down, burn you up, take your fur `n'
fat and turn you into a wide variety of
useful items!
ELEPHANT SEAL 1
The hell with "useful" Those critters'd y
turn you into a food item! Little
popsicle things! Ya hear me? One day
you're a big ole whale and the next
minute, FUNFOOD!!
MUMBLE
But If your grandpappys saw them and they
survived, maybe they're not so fierce.
SEAL #1
You calling me a liar son?
SEAL #2
He's calling your grandpappy a liar. And
you know what, Maybe he's right.
SEAL#1
Why you. Flop over here and say that!
They start fighting, lunging and flopping on each other
(CONTINUED)
60.
CONTINUED: (3)
MUMBLE
Come on Loveday, lets go
ADELIES
(running to catch up)
...Go where?
...didn't you hear what he said
...Its Forbidden
MUMBLE
They don't know. They've never been there
AN ADELIE
Stop! I'm hearing voices. The mystical
guys. They say:
"Your life is perfectly good as it
is...forget this stupid mission".
MUMBLE and LOVEDAY keep trekking.
ANOTHER ADELIE
Ramon. That was embarrassing, man.
And reluctantly, he trails after them. As do...
THE OTHER ADELIES
...Oh no, don' do this to us.
...I'm a lover not a fighter
...The first sign of Popsicles or funfood
of any kind, I turn round and go back
THE BLIZZARD COUNTRY
MUMBLE, LOVEDAY and the ADELIES are tiny specks, struggling
over a series of great ridges.
MUMBLE
So we walked ... and walked .. and kept
walking. Over the hills and into Blizzard
country
A SNOW STORM breakes over them. A screaming wind brings total
WHITE-OUT. The Penguins have to shout to make themselves
heard.
THE ADELIES
...Oh man! This is no place for a penguin!
...We should be migrating out to sea by
now!
(CONTINUED)
61.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE
We need to huddle!
THE ADELIES
Huddle??!
MUMBLE
Form a moving circle! Share the cold,
share the warmth!
He turns his back to the wind. Immediately the Adelies form a
STRAIGHT LINE down-wind from him.
THE ADELIES
...Oh yeah, nice.
...That's definitely better.
...Good call big guy.
MUMBLE
I said a circle!
They form a little huddle, but as soon as Mumble moves from
the upwind position, the Adelies complain.
AN ADELIE
...No, no. This can't be right!
...It was better the other way.
They scurry back into a straight line behind Mumble who cops
the FULL BLAST of the GALE.
He gives up and marches off into the driving snow.
THE ADELIES
...Hey!
...What happened to the Huddle?!
MUMBLE
(shouts back)
Just keep moving! Toboggan, if you have
to!!
The others lie down, propelling themselves forwards on their
fronts
THE ADELIES
...Oh no, now I got chest pain
...tell you, this is a good way to get
snow blind
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
62.
CONTINUED: (2)
THE ADELIES (CONT'D)
...just keep moving or you'll get my beak
up your butt
FLARE OUT TO WHITE
The blizzard has passed. An eerie stillness.
One by one the Adelies get to their feet and waddle forwards
to where Mumble and Loveday stand, gazing into the distance.
They have finally reached the sea again
MUMBLE
You think this is it? The Forbidden
Shore?
LOVEDAY chokes out a `yes'.
ADELIES
....The way I feel": the "frostbitten"
shore
....So what are those black things?.
Close to the waters edge, the outline of several buildings
AN ABANDONED WHALING STATION
The PENGUINS venture through it, dwarfed by the old flensing-
sheds, the chimneys and boiling-vats. Its all now abandoned,
and half concealed by snow.
Around and above them, there are HOOKS, CHAINS, rusting
twisted METALWORK.
MUMBLE
Hello?! Is there anyone out there?
An ominous GROANING as some rusting metal plate moves in the
wind.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Hello!!
THE ADELIES
...No need to shout.
...Yeah, somebody might hear you.
...I think we seen all there is to see
round here.
LOVEDAY is looking at something at his feet.
(CONTINUED)
63.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE
What is it?
There, imbedded in the ice: another six pack holder.
THE SEA ICE
Mumble and the Adelies venture out onto the weak ice beyond
the whaling station, finding more and more of the strange
artefacts: a piece of nylon rope, a soda can, a boot.
MUMBLE
They must be here somewhere.
They wouldn't leave all this stuff lying
around.
AN ADELIE
Maybe they invisible.
FURTHER ON
They've reached the edge of the sea-ice. LOVEDAY croaks a
warning. He points out to sea.
AN ADELIE
What is that?
A WAVE has appeared on the glassy surface of the sea. It is
coming towards them, FAST like the bow wave of an IMMENSE
UNDERWATER CREATURE.
MUMBLE
A whale?
AN ADELIE
As long as it's a good whale, not the
other kind.
The wave is coming CLOSER.
ANOTHER ADELIE
What other kind?!!
A massive BLACK DORSAL FIN breaks the surface.
MUMBLE
The ones with teeth!!
The PENGUINS are off and running...
(CONTINUED)
64.
CONTINUED:
The DORSAL FIN keeps coming like the blade of a demonic
carving knife.
Then the monstrous fin disappears and KABOOM! The killer
whale breaches the ice AHEAD of them, cutting off their
retreat.
They are left stranded on a free-floating ICE FLOE
THE ADELIES
...Jump!
...Swim for it!
MUMBLE
No!! Stay on the ice pad where its safe
The little floe is wobbling crazily
THE ADELIES
...You call this safe amigo?
...Maybe we should split up.
...You split up I'm staying right here.
The KILLER WHALE breaches again, rising like a tower block
out of the ocean.
THE ADELIES (CONT'D)
Woooaaaahhh!!
The ICE PAD flips, flinging them into the water like a
handful of peanuts.
IN THE SEA
The PENGUINS head for shore , swimming for their lives.
LOVEDAY, thrashing and wheezing, is unable to keep up.
MUMBLE
(stops)
LOVEDAY! LOVEDAY!!
He swims back. The KILLER WHALE is about to take them both in
one bite. MUMBLE pulls LOVEDAY aside, but he's not quite
quick enough: one of the Whale's outer teeth catches LOVEDAY
by the SIX-PACK PLASTIC and he is DRAGGED AWAY, tethered to
the KILLER WHALE like Captain Ahab.
The WHALE thrashes around wildly trying to dislodge the
hapless little penguin until...
(CONTINUED)
65.
CONTINUED:
LOVEDAY is FLUNG high, high into the air and...SPLASHES DOWN
some distance away.
The KILLER WHALE is left with the SIX-PACK PLASTIC lodged in
its teeth.
ICE SHELF
MUMBLE and LOVEDAY scramble onto the ice exhausted.
Wondering where the next attack will come from, the AMIGOS
huddle nearby.
Suddenly the ICE SHELF CRACKS OPEN and the KILLER WHALE soars
right over the top of them
It hits the water but does not stop, just keeps going right
on out to sea. The Penguins have no time to reflect on their
good fortune.
Theres an EARTH SHATTERING NOISE behind them . Turning they
see a vast BLACK SHAPE, a hundred feet high, coming at them
through the fog.
The ADELIES flee across the ice. MUMBLE stands transfixed by
the BIG BLACK SHIP towering above him. On the deck he sees
HUMAN FIGURES...
MUMBLE
Aliens?!
The pack-ice is BUCKLING AND EXPLODING ahead of the GREAT
JUGGERNAUT.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Stop! Please!....
From a safe distance the ADELIES stop and look on in
amazement as Mumble stands his ground, shouting up at THE
SHIP as it advances towards him.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
...It's very important!
The ICE beneath his feet OPENS UP, Mumble topples into the
gap and The SHIP PASSES OVER HIM, huge propellers churning,
leaving a channel ninety feet wide.
MUMBLE resurfaces.
(CONTINUED)
66.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
WE...HAVE...TO...TALK!
He chases after the ship. THE ADELIES chase after Mumble...
THE ADELIES
...AMIGO-O-O-O! ...LET IT GO-O-O-O-O!!
Already the ship is half a mile away.
THE ICEBERG
Beyond the last of the ice floes is THE WORLD'S TALLEST
ICEBERG. MUMBLE hurls himself onto it and starts scrambling
up its precipitous sides. THE ADELIES follow, struggling to
keep up.
THE SUMMIT
MUMBLE's POV: THE BIG BLACK SHIP has joined TWO OTHERS about
a mile away. The Adelies join him.
THE ADELIES
...You found them, you found Aliens!
...Now we go back tell everybody who's
taking the fish.
Mumble's eyes remain fixed on the horizon.
THE ADELIES (CONT'D)
...Don't feel bad Tall Guy.
...They were just too fast. Too big.
...Too everything.
MUMBLE
They've stopped!
LOVEDAY
Mumble. I owe you my life amigo. And I
say this because I
admire and deeply respect you. If you are
thinking what I think
you are thinking. You are out of your
crazy head
MUMBLE
Say Hi to Ella for me
(CONTINUED)
67.
CONTINUED:
ADELIES
You say Hi. Come back and say Hi to her
yourself
Mumble turns, takes a few paces back.
MUMBLE
Oh. One other thing. You guys
ADELIES
What?
Suddenly, MUMBLE turns to the precipice and runs as fast as
he can...
MUMBLE
Excelsi yah!!!
As he launches himself into space...
WIDE SHOT
The tiny penguin soaring off the top of the ICEBERG.
THE ADELIES rush to the edge as, far below Mumble HITS THE
WATER. And vanishes.
THE ADELIES
...can you believe that
...brought us all this way and killed
himself
...no he didn't! look!
Far out he has surfaced and is swimming strongly in direction
of the BIG BLACK SHIP.
THE ADELIES (CONT'D)
...A dive like that, and still he lives!
... Yeah like when he did his Happy Feet,
his feet had wings.
...A normal penguin could never have done
it.
LOVEDAY
You don't think we should go with him
ADELIES
...Don't sweat it Revered One. Many are
called, few are chosen.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
68.
CONTINUED:
ADELIES (CONT'D)
..Hey, how tall you think the Tall Guy
was?
...Who could say? Four times my height at
least...
Loveday follows behind
LOVEDAY
About this Revered One stuff, you guys
AN ADELIE
Yeah
LOVEDAY
Maybe just call me Pedro
THE OPEN SEA
MUMBLE PLOUGHS THROUGH a rolling sea: towering waves block
everything from view but on the crests he catches sight of...
THREE BLACK SHIPS, far ahead, but stationary, as if waiting
for him.
LATER
He's getting closer. The ships are only half a mile away when
Something rises from the deep, threatening to engulf him: a
HUGE NET, TEEMING WITH FISH.
Mumble shoots out of the way, just avoiding being caught as.
UP AHEAD The great NET FULL OF FISH breaks the surface of the
water and is winched on board.
MUMBLE
(yells)
HEY! YOU CAN'T DO THAT!
WHAT ABOUT US?!
THE SCARCITY! THE SCARCITY!!
As if in response the ship's ENGINES START UP again and the
sea around him erupts in churning foam.
Swamped by the wake, Mumble goes under. When he resurfaces,
THE SHIP is already on its way.
(CONTINUED)
69.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
HEY YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA GET AWAY WITH
THIS?!! NOT IF I CAN HELP IT YOU SHIT-
SQUIRTER ALIEN CREEPS.
He takes a deep breath and resumes his pursuit.
OPEN OCEAN
The SEAS are MOUNTAINOUS. There is no sign of the ship now,
nor of land.
MUMBLE swims up the side of each wave, over its foaming crest
and down into the deep dark valley below.
LATER
The air is full of spray. Choking, MUMBLE ducks under the
water.
UNDERWATER
Its peaceful here. Then something moves beside him and turns
with a start to see: A MASSIVE EYE!!
A BLUE WHALE entirely fills his field of vision. It sings a
few booming Wagnerian notes. Its voice is almost deafening.
MUMBLE
Too loud.
He surfaces, spluttering.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Too loud!
A VOICE calls to him from above. Mumble looks up. An
ALBATROSS hovers overhead.
ALBATROSS
He's looking for a mate, mate. And these
days, I tell you they're few and far
between
From the ALBATROSS' aerial view, Mumble looks tiny next to
the MASSIVE BULK of the Blue Whale.
(CONTINUED)
70.
CONTINUED:
ALBATROSS (CONT'D)
Talking of which, I never seen a penguin
this far out. Watch you don't hit The
Convergence mate.
MUMBLE
The Convergence?
ALBATROSS
Where the cold water meets the warm,
mate. Once you cross it, there's no
getting' back. What you tryinmg to prove
anyway?
MUMBLE
I'm trying to talk to the Aliens!
ALBATROSS
The who?
MUMBLE
On the black iceberg. The ones taking all
the fish!
ALBATROSS
Them. Fish is just the start of it Mate.
Them aliens is the ones who took out the
whales.
MUMBLE
They kill whales! That's impossible
ALBATROSS
Straight up mate. Biggest creatures ever
lived. Decimated, mate.
MUMBLE
So if I wanted to talk to them, where
would I go
ALBATROSS
Anywhere and everywhere. Over the sea,
under the sea, Jees, I've even seen them
fly. The great southland's swarming with
em
MUMBLE
Where's that. Do you think the Whale
would take me there?
(CONTINUED)
71.
CONTINUED: (2)
The Blue Whale responds with a long mournful "NO-O-O-O" which
the Albatross does not need to translate.
ALBATROSS
No way mate, he won't go anywhere near
`em. And neither should you.
Mumble hesitates, bobbing on the water, weighing the
warnings.
He makes up his mind and strikes out again swimming towards
the convergence.
The Albatross, hovering on the wing, watches.
ALBATROSS (CONT'D)
Don't say I didn't warn you
The ALBATROSS wheels away.
As MUMBLE fights on through the huge choppy waves, the
Whale's Wagnerian song booms out, EERIE and FORLORN.
THE CONVERGENCE
We see from above, the BLUE WHALE turning as well, changing
course to avoid a change in the texture and colour of the
water stretching in a line, as far as the eye can see. MUMBLE
swims RIGHT ACROSS THE LINE.
A VAST OCEAN
MUMBLE is a mere DOT now as the GREAT CURRENTS capture him
and sweep him away.
We pull back through the clouds until the very CURVATURE OF
THE EARTH is visible: a blue horizon with no land in sight.
SMALL POLLUTED BEACH
On the HIGH-WATER MARK, amongst the rubbish and the oil
slick, we see what looks like a dead animal. It is MUMBLE.
A creature in RED GUMBOOTS approaches. Its small hand reaches
down and nudges him with a stick. MUMBLE moans and the
gumboots RUN AWAY, shouting something unintelligible.
With great difficulty, Mumble raises his head to try to see
more. Sunlight flares, bleaching to white, as he LOSES
CONSCIOUSNESS.
72.
A WHITE ROOM
Scientific books and specimens of birds in large bottles on
shelves line the walls.
MUMBLE, eyes closed, is lying on a stainless steel table. He
opens his eyes to the brilliant glare of an examination lamp.
There is movement around him. Voices whispering in an alien
tongue. A FIGURE IN WHITE bends over him cleaning the oil
from his feathers with detergent. MUMBLE squawks.
MUMBLE (VO)
When I finally saw one, the Alien was
even more hideous than I'd imagined
A very pretty FEMALE SCIENTIST is smiling down at him.
MUMBLE (VO) (CONT'D)
... frontways eyes, no feathers. Big teeth
with blood around them. Strange fleshy
beak. A meat eater
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
(terrified)
The - fish - are - ours. Understand?
But all the SCIENTIST sees is a squawking penguin.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
We can't live without them!
The SCIENTIST produces a syringe and squirts some of it's
contents in the air.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Speak Adelie? Skua-talk?
Another SCIENTIST holds him still while the needle is
administered.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Oh no! Not the pointy thing!
Drowsy now, he is eased into a PADDED CAGE. The SCIENTISTS
close the lid, and secure it with straps.
IN THE CARGO HOLD
We hear a feeble thumping from inside.
(CONTINUED)
73.
CONTINUED:
Pull back to reveal Mumble's box on a shelf among crates and
luggage. Fade in engine noise over as....
ENDLESS SKY
A 747 drones across the screen, eastwards into the night.
DARKNESS
MUMBLE
I woke in darkness. Unable to move. Was I
dead? And if I was dead, where was that
light coming from
Like the light at the end of a tunnel. As if in a dream,
MUMBLE ambles towards it. Emerging into
PENGUIN HEAVEN
Bright BLUE SKY, sparkling WHITE CLIFFS OF ICE.
MUMBLE
Wow. They brought me home
His voice ECHOES back at him, with a mocking edge. There is
something unusual about this place. A plump penguin waddles
by
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Excuse me, where are we.
PENGUIN
Heaven. Where d'you think?
MUMBLE
Oh. So we're dead. Right
PENGUIN
Dunno. Don't care. We got food. We got
water. You hear a seal now and then, but
you never meet one. Perfect.
Mumble is looking around, trying to figure it out
PENGUIN (CONT'D)
Fish!
MUMBLE
Where?
(CONTINUED)
74.
CONTINUED:
A fish hits him on the head.
A moment later he's knocked flat by a sudden rush of
PENGUINS: Chinstraps, Rock-hoppers, Adelies, King penguins,
emerging from holes in the rock face
PENGUINS
Fish time. Fish time!
Lying on his back he sees fish tumble from the sky. It's
RAINING FISH!
MUMBLE (VO)
Every day after that, it rained fish in
the afternoon.
His POV, Load after load of fish tumbling out of a clear sky
UNDERWATER
Fish hit the surface and sink
MUMBLE (V.O.)
Fish on land and fish underwater.
Mumble pursues one of them.
MUMBLE
Sometime you got a live one but there was
nowhere really to chase it
He swims SLAP BANG into a sheet of thick glass. ALIEN FACES
are pressed against it. Mumble yells and shoots to the
surface.
THE PENGUIN ENCLOSURE
High up he sees the viewing gallery. A great CROWD of ALIENS
staring and chattering
MUMBLE (V.O.)
Aliens everywhere, watching you eat,
watching you sleep
Mumble backs away and knocks into the PAINTED HORIZON. He
puts out a wing to steady himself and notices a metal tag on
it. This place is beginning to upset him.
(CONTINUED)
75.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE
(yells at the aliens)
What have you done to my wing! This is
not my home! I want to get out of here!
The other penguins stand around, immobile, chomping fish.
OLD TIMER PENGUIN
Guess he's new here
THE PENGUIN ENCLOSURE
Caption: A year later
Specators POV: Mumble stands around, like the others,
ignoring the aliens, chomping fish
His POV: Day after day, the view constantly the same, except
for the groupings of spectators high in the viewing Gallery
MUMBLE (V.O.)
After a while, you learn to stop fighting
it. Stop protesting, take the knocks.
CU Mumble: A camera flashes. A fish hits him, he doesn't
flinch
MUMBLE (V.O.)
...just take what comes and live inside
your mind
THE SAME/ PASSAGE OF TIME
Another day and another. Night follows day follows night.
Spectators come and go. The penguins stand like statues.
Though bubbles begin to appear above Mumbles head, snapshots
of his past experiences
MUMBLE (V.O.)
Sometimes I thought about dad and mum.
Sometimes the Amigos, and others I'd met
along the way. But mostly I thought about
Ella, wondering who she ended up with.
Whether she had enough food to eat.
whether she still remembered our song.
In the though bubble, Ella has appeared singing never can say
goodbye. Mumbles feet begin shuffling to the rythm
76.
SPECTATORS GALLERY
Most of the specators are leaving but one young girls stops
and stares
YOUNG GIRL
Look Mommy! It's dancing!
She bangs on the glass in her excitement.
PENGUIN ENCLOSURE
Mumble, woken from his reverie, looks up and sees her looking
at him.
MUMBLE
What? What did I do?
The little girl who is pointing at mumbles feet. Mumble looks
down, realizes what his feet are doing, looks up again.
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
You like that? Well how about this.
He does a more elaborate step. The Mother shouts in
disbelief. Various other specators come back and join her.
Mumbles fellow captives are unimpressed.
PENGUIN #1
Oh-Oh, another one gone troppo
PENGUIN #2
You think its infectious
PENGUIN #3
I sure hope not
They shuffle away
IN THE SPECTATORS GALLERY.
The aliens, in contrast, are loving it. Already a crowd has
gathered, laughing and clapping.
NEXT DAY
The Gallery is packed. Mumble keeps dancing
77.
NEXT DAY
Theres a riot going on up there. People fighting to get a
view. Newspaper reporters, TV cameras.
The other penguins in the enclosure have moved back, giving
Mumble more space. Every specattor is focussed on him. Mumble
is focussed on the spectators.
MUMBLE (VO
Yes. Yes. At last something was
happening. I was finally getting through
to them!
THE TRANSPORTER BOX
A squawking Mumble is thrust inside and the lid slams shut on
him. Kerchunk.
THE EMPEROR COLONY
Silence, then across the vast expanse a TINY FIGURE appears
on the horizon.
PENGUIN V/O'S
...What's that?
...Where?
...Coming from the Inland!
A couple of Penguins watch the approaching figure.
PENGUINS
...Is it a Penguin?
...Is it one of ours?
LATER
Mumble approaches the two sentries. The colony is much
diminished: only small groups scattered here and there.
MUMBLE
Hi, where is everybody!?
PENGUINS
Who wants to know?
MUMBLE
I used to live here. When's the Great
Gathering?
(CONTINUED)
78.
CONTINUED:
PENGUINS
This is it. I guess
MUMBLE
This is all that's left?
Other penguins are gathering to scrutinise the stranger.
PENGUINS
... So Who's this?
...Kinda small for an emperor.
...(suspicious) Where did you say you were
from?
Then a female penguin bursts out of the crowd.
ELLA
Mumble?! Its Mumble!!
MUMBLE
Ella! Is it you. You haven't changed a
bit.
As he speaks, his eyes are drawn to the huge number of FLUFFY
CHICKS following behind her
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
Are these all yours?
ELLA
They're my singing students.
MUMBLE
So. You never....
ELLA
Of course not. I was waiting for you.
MUMBLE
But that's fantastic. I've got so much to
tell you - to tell everyone.
(To the gathering crowd)
I found out who's been causing the
Scarcity!
ELLA
Huh?
(CONTINUED)
79.
CONTINUED: (2)
MUMBLE
I know who's been taking our fish!
I made contact with Aliens!
They're coming here. Right behind me.
Listen.
They listen. Above the wind faint electronic BEEPING SOUND.
PENGUINS
...Who's doing all the shouting
...Its Mumble. He's worse than before.
MUMBLE
No, honestly Aliens will be here soon!
You have to believe me. We came in a big
hollow bird and they landed on the ice
and....
CARUSO bursts through the crowd.
CARUSO.
You again! And still full of the same old
nonsense.
MUMBLE
But its true!!
The BEEP is quite audible now - a little faster and louder.
Curious, Ella ambles round behind mumble tro see what's
making the noise
CARUSO.
Move along everyone. Pay no attention.
There's no such thing as aliens
ELLA
So who fixed him up with this.
She turns him around to reveal some kind of circuit board
glued to his back: a small aerial, winking red lights. A
TRANSMITTER.
A gasp of fear and astonishment from the penguins. Caruso is
momentarily speechless.
PENGUINS
...Does it hurt?
....Its not made of feathers thats for
sure
...what's it gonna do
(CONTINUED)
80.
CONTINUED: (3)
MUMBLE
It's so they can find me.
(cocks an ear)
That's them now. Listen.
A distant rumbling, like some monstrous cataclysm is
approaching
CARUSO
You led them here. Are you crazy!!
MUMBLE
You said they didn't exist.
CARUSO
They'll slaughter us. Head for the sea!
MUMBLE
No. Do this. Do Happy feet.
He starts tap dancing. The penguins are torn, between
Caruso's instructions and Mumbles.
MUMBLES
Its what they understand. They can't
talk, they can't sing. They speak with
their feet. Do it.
A few adventurous souls begin to copy him, out of fear if
nothing else.
As they do so, the sky begins to darken. A strange whirling
wind starts whipping the snow around them. The very earth
seems to be shaking under them.
CARUSO.
Now look what you've done!
PENGUINS
...its the end of the world.
....Its all Mumbles fault. I told you
Wishful rounds on them angrily.
WISHFUL
Just do what the kid says.
They start dancing.
(CONTINUED)
81.
CONTINUED: (4)
Caruso has climbed a small hillock and is ranting like an old
testament prophet
CARUSO
Recite the wisdoms!
"Together we stand".
"Divided We Freeze".
Mumble and Ella are dancing through the community
MUMBLE
Come on, everyone! Happy Feet! It's our
only chance!
CARUSO
"When all others leave, we Remain
MUMBLE
FEET!!
CARUSO
CHANT!!
MUMBLE
FEET! FEET!! HAPPY FEET!!
The tide is beginning to turn in his favour
MUMBLE (CONT'D)
That's it! Excellent! ¡Riba Riba,
penguinos!
Shake those hips. Come on, bust a move!!
CARUSO.
Adhere to the wisdoms!! The Ancients will
protect us
As he shouts his he is blown off his feet by a tremendous
gust of wind
Caruso tumbles head over heels as a massive Chinook
helicopter rises over the hirizon, its massive rotors mashing
the air.
It swoops down over the penguin nation and lands a little
distance away.
Music Over: Wanna Dance with Somebody.
(CONTINUED)
82.
CONTINUED: (5)
Now the entire emperor community are dancing for all they are
worth.
PENGUINS
....Aliens.
... I never doubted it for a moment
Mrs Astrakhan dances past
MRS ASTRAKHAN
More feelink. BE SPONTANUOUS!!
Wishful dances over to her, his eyes on Mumble and Ella
WISHFUL
(dancing)
You know who that is? That's my boy!
MRS ASTRAKHAN
(dancing)
Know him? He ees my star pupol!
I TEACH HIM EVERYTHINGK!
BY THE CHINOOK
HUMAN scientists disembark. Skidoos are kicked into life.
We TRAVEL WITH THE SKIDOOS across the ICE-SHELF to the colony
Scientists POV: As they stop, lower their hoods and gaze in
astonishment. One of them lifts a video cam to record
THOUSANDS OF EMPEROR PENGUIN DANCING WITH PURE, ABANDONED
JOY.
MUMBLE (VO)
From that day on, No one quite knows how
it happened, but the black icebergs began
to disappear and the fish became abundant
once more.
A CONFERENCE ROOM
Suited figures are seated round a large table, watching as
IMAGES of the DANCING PENGUIN COLONY play on a video screen.
Without the music it's less obviously a dance.
CHAIRMAN
...So what do you reckon?
(CONTINUED)
83.
CONTINUED:
EXPERT
Yes, quite extraordinary. (stares at the
screen) some kind of neurological
disorder? a nutritional deficiency
perhaps. We'd certainly back the
long-term study.
CHAIRMAN
And the international treaty?
DELEGATE#1
Yes. This is exactly the leverage we need
for an embargo. No fishing
whatsoever...legal, illegal, sanctioned,
whatever.
DELEGATE#2
So we all step up policing of the pirate
factory ships. And we pressure that
country to stop their so-called
`experimental' fishing.
DELEGATE#3
Yes, if our government asks your
government to approach their government
to call off their fleet...
DELEGATE#2
Better if their government hear it from
our government via your government...
CHAIRMAN
What the heck. The amount of publicity
this is generating, they'd have world war
three if they didn't stop.
THE COLONY
In the confusion of penguins we find MUMBLE, ELLA and their
chick
MUMBLE (V.O.)
Ella's gave up teaching to look after our
chick. We take turns looking after her
and going to get the fish.
As we watch, Ella moves off, joining the great to and fro of
penguins along the highway to the sea.
(CONTINUED)
84.
CONTINUED:
MUMBLE covers his chick protectively, watrching his wife walk
away.
MUMBLE (V.O.)
I worry about her, sure. Theres so much
big stuff out there it can be kind of
frightening.
We are pulling back now, back from the colony, back from
Antarctica.
MUMBLE (V.O)
But the way I see it. Theres so much out
there we don't understand...,
SPACE
Still pulling back
....the stuff you think is small stuff
could actually be the big stuff.
Keep pulling back from the world, the solar system, the
galaxy.
MUMBLE (V.0
Or am I not making sense here?
Further back. Our galaxy is framed in something like a bomb-
sight.
VOICE#1
Is there a problem? I thought this one
was barren.
IN THE DOME
We`re somewhere otherworldly, inside a clear dome the size of
a stadium, with a view of the heavens. In the centre of this
space, always just out of shot, two illdefined figures are
talking, subtitled:
VOICE#2
More or less. But one of the stars we're
harvesting supports these things here.
Projected somehow in mid-air A 3-D image of Times square in
winter with tiny people milling around in black coats
(CONTINUED)
85.
CONTINUED:
VOICE#1
So...?
VOICE#2
Well. Exactly. But what we didn't know
about before was these things here
An image of the dancing penguins appears.
VOICE#2 (CONT'D)
Just thought you'd want to see them
before...you know.
The shadowy figure laughs, enjoying the image.
VOICE#1
Hmm. Charming
VOICE#2
So. We go ahead. Or...?
VOICE#1
No. Better leave them be. See what
sector twelves got to offer instead.
The bomb sight moves away from our galaxy to another part of
the universe
With that the two figures head off across the great shadowy
interior.
The projector beam catches them, briefly, throwing up the
giant shadows of these aliens They look very like huge
penguins.
As they walking solemnly out of shot with their hands behind
their backs one of them breaks step to do a little jig.
RUN TITLES
THE END
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