Chapter 1

"Don't make the same mistake that I did," Oscar said to Don Lino. "I didn't know what I had, until I lost it."

We're all familiar with this line and we all know what happens next. Lino realizes he's made a huge mistake in judging Lenny, the two of them reconcile, and everyone lives happily ever after. But what if it hadn't happened that way? What if, in spite of everything that happened throughout the movie, Lino was still reluctant to accept his vegetarian son? What do you suppose would've happened to Lenny? Where would he have gone? Who would he have met? Would he ever meet another shark who loved him the way he was? It is my sincere pleasure to answer these questions as I tell how I would rewrite the ending to Shark Tale.

Lenny looked hopefully into his father's eyes and smiled weakly. Lino stared blankly. He'd never before considered the possibility that he'd hurt the feelings of someone he really cared about. For a single second, he could actually feel the father in him starting to come out, and it seemed to be telling him something. Maybe he shouldn't have been so hard on Lenny all the time. Maybe he shouldn't have judged him before truly getting to know him. And maybe he should've reminded himself who exactly he was practically discriminating against all those times; his son. Maybe deep down he really did love Lenny no matter what. Maybe… maybe…

No! The hint of sensitivity that was finally starting to rear its head out suddenly vanished. Son or no son, Lino would never accept a vegetarian. He was cold blooded and prejudice through and through. Family had nothing to do with the tradition of being a real shark.

The sad look in his eyes was replaced by his signature face of fear, and he said to Lenny, "You'll never be the shark I want you to be?"

Lenny's smile faded just a small bit.

"Then you'll never be any son of mine," Lino continued.

At this point, Lenny's face looked as if it'd never cracked a smile in his life. He stared back at Lino trying to think of something to say to express his shock. All he could even manage to say, though, was, "What?"

"Did I stutter?" Lino asked. "I said as long as you're a fish hugger, you'll never be my son."

Oscar gave himself a face palm. "We were so close," he said quietly.

Lenny was now feeling a lot more than shock. "Pop… I don't understand."

"Then maybe you'll understand this," Lino said furiously. "I want you outta my life and my memory. When you get outta that trap, don't even think about goin' back home. You'll never be welcome back there as long as I'm still kickin'. I don't care where you go or what you do, but as long as you're away from me then everyone wins."

As if the fact that he was saying this to his own son wasn't enough. He was saying it in front of hundreds of fish and a camera that was filming everything. Apparently he didn't care that every single one of the viewers was beginning to think he was the worst thing in the shape of a parent. He also wasn't aware that it wasn't just fish who were seeing all this happen. Back at the liner that was his home, his wife Kathleen, who had heard from Lino's employees that Lenny was still alive, was hearing every word Lino was saying on the TV. But we'll get to that part later.

Lenny, now shocked, hurt, and confused, miserably looked down at the ground trying to think of what to say now. Then he decided. There was no way he was going to keep his feelings bottled up this time. This time, he was going to look his father straight in the eye and let out everything that he was feeling.

"Alright, fine," he said angrily to Lino. "If that's what you want, that's just what you'll get. Oscar?"

"Say no more, Pal," said Oscar, who was clearly on his best friend's side.

Oscar approached the controls to the Whale Wash's machines and pressed the button that disabled Lenny's trap. Lenny was now free and able to move again, but Lino remained trapped and that was just fine with everyone.

For the first time in his life, Lenny actually had enough courage to face his father and tell him what he needed to hear. "You might wanna take a good, long look at me while you still can," he said, "'cause this is the last time you are ever gonna see me."

The look on Lino's face was becoming more sinister by the second. "You make sure you get as far away from here as possible," he said in a dangerously quiet voice. "No kelp eatin' shark will ever be allowed on a reef where I'm in charge."

"Fine with me," said Lenny. "I'll just go somewhere where being a vegetarian shark is normal."

"HA! Good luck with that. There ain't no other sharks like you in this ocean. And if ever there were, I swear I'd have every last one of 'em taken out. And I mean every one! Old, young, women, children, you name it. I'll never let 'em take another breath! You're lucky I'm showin' mercy on you and throwin' you outta our home!"

Lenny was stunned. How could anyone possibly be that prejudice against someone else? Disowning his own son for whatever purpose? That was one thing. But threatening to destroy so many innocent lives for that purpose? That was something entirely different.

"You will never change, will you?" he asked his father. "For a brief second, I actually thought you were having a change of heart, but you'll always be a great big jerk!"

"Why do you care?" said Lino. "I'm not your dad anymore!"

"And don't think I'm not grateful!" Lenny shouted. "If you actually think this is some sorta punishment, sorry to disappoint you but I'm glad! And what do you mean 'anymore'? You were barely my dad to begin with! You always treated me like one of your mobsters instead of what I really am: your son! I don't know where I'm going but I know I'll be a lot happier there than I ever was at home with you!"

"Then what the halibut are you waitin' for?" Lino barked. "GET OUTTA HERE!"

"FINE! I WILL!" Heartbroken and disowned, Lenny made his way to the Wash's entrance. "AND SAY HI TO MOM FOR ME, YA BIG JERK!" he added before leaving the building.

Once Lenny was gone, every single eye in the Wash was on Lino. And every single eye looked beyond frustrated as they glanced at the once most-feared and respected shark on the reef.

"What are you lookin' at, ya little hors d'oeuvres?" Lino snapped.

Oscar boldly approached him, aware that Lino could do nothing to him as long as he was trapped in the Wash's machines. "I really hope you're proud of yourself," he said to the great white mobster. "I think you need to stay in your cage a little while longer." He then turned and swam off in the direction Lenny had just fled in. Angie, who was also concerned for Lenny's feelings, followed him.

It didn't take them long to catch up with Lenny, even though he was so frustrated that he could out-swim the fastest dolphin known to man.

"Lenny!" Oscar tried to get his attention by grabbing hold of his dorsal fin. "Lenny, slow down!"

Lenny became aware of their presence and stopped where he was. "What do you want, guys?" Clearly he was still upset, so Oscar and Angie tried to go easy on him.

"We're sorry about what just happened," said Oscar. "There's just no way to reason with that guy."

"Tell me about it," said Lenny. "And I had to put up with him for nineteen years. And to think I actually did think he was about to change."

"You weren't the only one who was almost fooled," Angie said. "I almost thought he was changing too. I guess some people will always be dark and bitter, no matter what you do."

"I really thought my little speech was gonna get him to change his mind about you," said Oscar. "Guess even that wasn't enough, huh?"

"It was worth a shot," said Lenny. "Thanks for tryin', Oscar. Now I gotta get outta here before he sees me."

Before Lenny could swim away, Oscar speedily swam up to him and stopped right in front of his face. "Wait a minute, you mean you're actually leavin'?"

"What choice do I have?" Lenny asked. "You heard what he said. No kelp eatin' shark will ever be allowed on a reef where he's in charge. And that includes me."

"Well where do ya think you're gonna go?"

"I don't know and I don't care," Lenny replied. "Like I said, anywhere's better than being here with him."

"Well then we're coming with you," said Angie.

Lenny tried to talk them out of it. "No, guys. He's kicking me out, not you. You have to stay here."

Neither Oscar nor Angie could believe what their best friend was telling them. "You mean you're going all alone?" Angie asked.

"I'll be fine," Lenny assured her. "The way I'm feelin' right now, no mugger or killer would dare lay a fin on me."

"But we're really gonna miss you, Man," said Oscar.

Lenny sighed. "I'll miss you guys too, but you know I have to do this. I can't jut stay here and let him make my life more miserable than he already has. Don't ya think you guys would do the same?"

Oscar and Angie were both silent for a few seconds. Then they looked at each other and decided they really would do the same thing if they were in Lenny's "shoes".

"You're sure you'll be okay?" Oscar asked.

"Positive."

"Will you be in touch with us?" Angie asked.

Lenny thought about this for a moment. Again, he didn't know where he was going or even how far away it was. But he was certain he could communicate with them somehow. "I'll do what I can, I promise," he said.

"Then, I… I guess this is goodbye," Oscar said sadly.

"I guess so," Lenny agreed. "Thanks a lot for helpin' me feel better about myself, guys."

"And thank you for making us realize that not all sharks are evil killing machines," Oscar said with a small laugh.

Oscar and Angie both hugged Lenny on the nose and the three best friends said their goodbyes.

"I really hope to see you guys again soon," Lenny said before departing.

"Count on it," Oscar replied. "Well, we'll be seein' ya, Lenny."

"Bye, Lenny," said Angie.

Lenny took one last look at his best friends before slowly turning to leave. "See ya."

Oscar and Angie kept their eyes set on their only shark friend until he was nothing more than a tiny black dot on the aqua-colored horizon. By then, Oscar was just about reduced to tears. "Poor guy," he said to Angie.

Angie placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "He'll be fine. I know he will. As long as he's away from here, he's safe."

End of chapter