EXT. POLAR BEAR CAFE - DAY
Panda and Polar bear step out from the front door. Panda has
a determined look on his face.
He begins to make his way down the steps and heads towards a
patch of dirt outside the cafe.
PENGUIN
So do you have any idea where you
lost it Panda-kun?
Panda continues walking, Penguin tracks him with his eyes.
PANDA
Noooo, if I knew where I lost it I
wouldn't have a problem now would
I? You sure have a funny way of
looking at things Penguin...
Penguin sighs and crosses his flippers.
PENGUIN
You know what I mean Panda.
PANDA
I do know what you mean, so don't
be mean Penguin, I'm in enough
stress as it is. Now watch and see.
Panda steps in the dirt patch, leaving pronounced footprints
as he does. Methodical.
PENGUIN
What uh...what are you doing
Penguin?
Panda begins taking piles of dirt and filling in the tracks
he left in the dirt.
Penguin looks at him questioningly. Panda returns the look
with a childish, albeit sincere grin.
PANDA
They say that the best way to find
something that you've lost, is to
replace your steps!
Panda is beaming with excitement!
PENGUIN
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?
Panda continues his work of making footprints and then
filling them in.
PENGUIN (CONT'D)
Panda-kun, even for you this
is...this is something else.
Panda ignores Penguin.
PANDA
I wonder how many steps I'll have
to replace before I get my sachet
back. Maybe you could help me out
here Penguin?
Penguin looks offended that he has even been asked such a
dumb question.
PENGUIN
The expression is "Retrace your
steps"! Nobody says replace your
steps!
Panda pauses and contemplates this.
PANDA
Noooo, I dooon't think so. I've
done this before, and it usually
works.
PENGUIN
You've...done this before? Like,
you lost something...
PANDA
Mhmmmmmm.
Panda keeps stepping, digging, and filling in the background.
PENGUIN
And then you came out here, and
found it after replacing your
steps?
PANDA
That's right. Last time I lost my
sachet I just kept doing this and
sure enough it turned up. Now are
you going to help or not?
Penguin looks at Panda and then back at the cafe.
PENGUIN
Look Panda, I think it might be
best if I just went home, good luck
finding your sach-
Panda immediately looks like he's about to cry in response to
this.
PANDA
Mr. Penguin you can't just leave me
out here! Don't you want to help me
find it?
PENGUIN
I really don't think finding it is
going to be an issue at this
rate...look I'm really just not
feeling up to it right now. I hope
you find it though...
Panda sulks over towards Penguin.
PANDA
I really need your help Mr.
Penguin. I don't know what to do.
Penguin is taken aback.
PENGUIN
Eeeh? What do you mean?
PANDA
Well, usually when something bad
happens to me, I just complain and
laze around, and if I do those
things enough, eventually someone
else solves the problem for me.
Penguin scoots closer to Panda. Panda has started sniffling.
PENGUIN
Well, we haven't even really
started looking for your Sachet
yet...
PANDA
What do you mean we haven't started
looking? I replace my steps and
everything. What else is there to
try!
Panda's tears are getting stronger.
PENGUIN
Hey, hey it's OK! Don't cry! We'll
uuuh, we'll find it together! And
remember, its retracing your steps,
not replacing them.
Panda's tears begin to slow.
PANDA
You really think if I retrace my
steps I...we...could find it?
PENGUIN
Yeah...I think we could.
Panda shoots up and wipes off his tears.
PANDA
Then what are we waiting for! Let's
retrace my steps!
PENGUIN
Ok! Where should we start first?
PANDA
Hmmmm, we could cover more ground
if we split up. Should we do that?
PENGUIN
Oh...eh, sure. Where should I check
then?
PANDA
You should check Rin Rin's store,
and I'll check my house!
PENGUIN
Ok...and you're sure there's
nowehere else you've been today?
PANDA
Nope. Those are the only places
I've been today.
PENGUIN
Ok...well I'll check the store-
PANDA
Mhm! And I'll check...my house.
PENGUIN
Eh? What was that pause?
PANDA
Pause? What pause?
PENGUIN
You paused when you said you were
going to check your house!
PANDA
I don't know what you're talking
about silly penguin, now let's go
you're burning daylight here.
Panda begins to walk off. Penguin is left dumbfounded as to
what is going on anymore.
PENGUIN
Eh? Hmmmm. O-ok well I'll go check
the store.
Panda is in the distance.
PANDA (DISTANT)
Oook! You doooo thaaat!
Penguin sighs.
PENGUIN
Some birthday this has turned out
to be...
EXT. CITY STREETS - LATER
Montage of Penguin walking down the streets with sad music
playing, getting farther and farther away. He is but a speck.
He reaches Rin Rin's flower shop and slowly approaches.
PENGUIN (MUTTERING)
Well, maybe it's good to be needed.
Panda may be ridiculous but he's my
friend, and sometimes being a
friend means you play along...
A slight smile breaks on his face. He picks himself up and
marches into the flower shop.
PENGUIN (CONT'D)
Good afternoon Rin Rin, Panda lost
his-
Rin Rin drops the flowers that he was holding in his hands
and abandons a conversation with two customers to sprint over
towards Penguin!
RIN RIN
Aaah! Mr Penguin!
The two customers glare at the duo that are now standing next
to each other. Rin Rin bends down to eye level with Penguin,
starry eyed.
RIN RIN (CONT'D)
Panda called me earlier and told me
you'd come by to pick this up!
He holds the Panda Sachet in his hands. Penguin looks
shocked.
RIN RIN (CONT'D)
While I'm sorry to have to part
with it, I'm just glad that it'll
be back in his cute little hands
soon-
PENGUIN
What do you mean he called you and
said I would pick it up?
RIN RIN
Well you see this morning Panda was
walking by the shop...
Intercut with flashback images of the spoken events
happening.
RIN RIN (CONT'D)
And of course I tried to get a
picture with him, but for whatever
reason when I got close, he ran!
Probably just late for work...haha.
Rin Rin looks momentarily dejected. Penguin is fuming.
RIN RIN (CONT'D)
Unfortunately as he ran his sachet
came loose and fell into my
watchful care. I tried to chase
after him and give it back to him,
but he said he'd get it later.
PENGUIN
So you're saying that...that he
knew where it was this entire
time?!
RIN RIN
Well, Panda's are one of natures
most observant creatures!
PENGUIN
That's not what I meant! Give me
that!
Penguin snatches the sachet from Rin Rin's hands and storms
out of the shop. Rin Rin fades into the distance.
RIN RIN (DISTANT)
Say hi to Paaanda for meeee!
Penguin angrily stomps back towards the cafe Sachet in hand.
Grumbling.
INT. POLAR BEAR CAFE - EVENING
The cafe is largely empty, only Shirokuma, Sasako, and Panda
are at the bar area.
Panda spins back and forth in his chair. While Sasako and
Shirokuma (polar bear) clean dishes.
PANDA
...and that's 101 reasons why
bamboo shoots are the best food,
now can you get rid of the other
items on your menu please?
Suddenly, Penguin bursts through the door.
PANDA (CONT'D)
Aaaah Penguin! Did you find my
sachet?
Penguin is ready to burst with anger!
PENGUIN
Oh, yes I "found" it!
PANDA
Yaaay! I'm glad I was able to give
your life purpose my friend!
PENGUIN
You knew exactly where it was this
entire time! You were just to lazy
to get it yourself!
Panda gives a cute look to everyone. Sasako "aaaws'
PENGUIN (CONT'D)
Knock it off with that! It won't
work!
You can't just use other people
when you don't want to do
something!
PANDA
But I do that all the time and so
many people love meeee!
POLAR BEAR
That is true to be fair. Are you
sure there's nothing else bothering
you penguin?
PENGUIN
You know what?! Yes! There is
something bothering me! It was my
birthday! And nobody said anything!
Not one single birthday wish!
Everyone at the bar looks at each other questioningly, and
then back to Penguin.
PENGUIN (CONT'D)
I feel like I'm barely even your
friend at this point. I'm just the
but of the joke every day now, and
you barely even remember me. So
maybe this is it. Maybe its time I
found...found a new cafe...
Penguin sloops down, holding back tears. Starts trudging
towards the door.
Polar Bear interjects right as Penguin hits the door.
POLAR BEAR
Penguin, are you saying that if we
had remembered your birthday, we
would have been better friends?
Penguin stops in his tracks.
PENGUIN
Yes, I think that's fair enough
isn't it? Friends remember each
others birthdays!
PANDA
But Penguin, we did celebrate your
birthday.
Penguin shoots a look back from the door-frame.
PENGUIN
Eh?
Sasako crosses over towards Penguin.
SASAKO
Yeah, we had your party last night,
but you...well you...
POLAR BEAR
You drank so much that you probably
don't-
From a perch atop a cabinet motion stirs. It is revealed to
be Sloth!
SLOTH
Thaaaat waaaaaaaas a craaaaaaaazy
paaaaaarty Peeeeeenguuuuuiiiiin. I
juuuuust woooooke uuuuuup.
Penguin jumps in astonsihment.
PENGUIN
How did you get up there? No,
never mind. Did you guys really...
Polar Bear steps over with a digital camera and shows Penguin
a series of pictures. The night starts classy but in each
picture Penguin is clearly getting more and more intoxicated.
By the final picture everyone else has either gone home or is
asleep, except Penguin who is still drinking.
PENGUIN (CONT'D)
Eh...I...Eh...
POLAR BEAR
Maybe you need to be a better
friend to yourself and remember
your own birthday Penguin...
SLOTH
Caaaaaaan I geeeet aaaaa
cooooffeeeee?
SASAKO
Sure thing! She helps him down from
his perch and rushes off to get a
cup of coffee ready.
PANDA
That was a good one Polar Bear!
Penguin and friends all make their way back to the seats at
the bar.
They converse among themselves, slowly building into a
friendly laughter.
PANDA (CONT'D)
Hey Mr. Penguin.
PENGUIN
Nani Panda-kun?
PANDA
Aren't you forgetting something?
Panda gives him a devious look and stares at the sachet,
still in penguin's possession.
Penguin realizes what Panda's talking about with a jolt.
PENGUIN
I should have just let you keep
replacing your steps...
PANDA
Silly Penguin, the saying is
"retracing your steps". Whoever
head of "replacing your steps"?
Penguin starts to get angry, but stops. He begins to chuckle,
soon its an all out burst of jovial laughter.
PENGUIN
Here you go Panda, I'll remember
that.
He hands the sachet back to Panda who gets a cheery look on
his face.
THE END
