INT. POLAR BEAR CAFE - DAY
Penguin sits at the counter nursing a cafe mocha. He stares
out into space, lost.
Polar Bear approaches.
POLAR BEAR
More cafe mocha Mr. Penguin?
Penguin continues staring off into the distance muttering
something under his breath.
Penguin sighs dramatically.
Polar bear begins refilling the cup and shoots Penguin a
look.
POLAR BEAR (CONT'D)
Hmmmmmmm...
Penguin looks up.
PENGUIN
Oh...thank you Polarbear.
Polar bear brings back the filled cup.
POLAR BEAR
Do you think it's going to rain Mr.
Penguin?
Penguin sighs dramatically again, even more dramatic this
time!
POLAR BEAR (CONT'D)
I think it's going to rain...what
do you think Ms. Sasako?
Sasako peers over from an order that she's working on.
SASAKO
I definitely think it'll rain! Why
do you ask?
Penguin SHOOTS up from his slump.
PENGUIN
Cant you see that my sighs are a
cry for attention!
He shrumps his shoulders.
I've done nothing but mope around
here all day, and you people
haven't so much as batted an eye!
Sasako looks over at him.
SASAKO
Oh! I didn't even know you were
here Mr. Penguin.
She smiles. Penguin freezes.
PENGUIN
EEEEEEEH?! How can you say that
to me Ms. Sasako? You gave me a
cafe mocha?
She ponders this remark.
SASAKO (QUESTIONINGLY)
Did I?
PENGUIN
YES!
POLAR BEAR
Don't worry Ms. Sasako, I'm sure
someone as busy as you can't
remember the face of every customer
that passes through here...
PENGUIN
Look, forgetting that you took my
order is one thing, but forgetting
my birthd-
He pauses, embarrassed, and looks back to his drink.
POLAR BEAR
Eeeeeh?
SASAKO
What were you about to say?
PENGUIN
N...nothing. It's nothing. OH yeah
I think it'll probably rain...heh
heh.
Panda and Sasako give each other a concerned look.
SASAKO
Penguin...
Polar Bear cuts her off.
POLAR BEAR
When was your birthday Penguin?
Penguin fidgets with his drink.
PENGUIN
Birthday? Who said anything about a
Birthday? I thought we were talking
about the weather.
SUDDENLY in rushes PANDA. With an exaggerated effort he
stumbles his way over to the counter. Breathing hard.
Penguin mumbles under his breath.
PENGUIN (OS) (CONT'D)
Why would I care about you guys
forgetting my birthday or anything
like that-
PANDA
I have a prooooblem!
Polar Bear and Sasako give him their full attention. Penguin
gasps.
POLAR BEAR
What's wrong Panda-kun?
SASAKO
Is everything all right?
PENGUIN
Are you serious?
POLAR BEAR
I thought all you wanted to talk
about was the weather...
Penguin sighs and drinks his cafe mocha in defeat.
PANDA
How can you talk about the weather
at a time like this? Shame on you
Penguin.
PENGUIN
EH!? What could possibly be going
on in your life that's so
important?
Panda motions for everyone to huddle in. They do. It looks
like he's about to whisper something when SUDDENLY!
PANDA (VERY LOUD)
Soooomeone stole my panda
sacheeeeeet! (A sachet is a small
puch)
The others around him jump back. Panda is clearly pouting.
They look at eachother dubiously.
Polar Bear appears dressed in a Croquet outfit and hits a ball through a wicket.
PENGUIN
That would be "Croquet"!
Polar Bear appears with a paper mache hot air balloon.
PENGUIN
That would be paper mache!
Polar bear once again appears, this time loaded into a medieval contraption about to be launched over a castle wall.
PANDA
Ooooh, I know this one! Trebuchet!
Polar bear nods and gives him an "okay" sign.
Panda looks happy for a brief moment, but is soon
pouting once again.
PANDA (CONT'D)
Now's not the time for puns Polar
Bear, this is a crisis!
POLAR BEAR
This is indeed a very serious
matter, shame on you Penguin.
SASAKO
Are you sure someone stole it? What
if you just dropped it?
POLAR BEAR
Eeeeeh? That's like saying you just
dropped your hair, my sachet is a
part of me.
PENGUIN
But it's just a strap, it's not
actually a part of-
PANDA
There's only one thing cuter than
me, and that's me with my signature
look. Without it, what do I have
left?
POLAR BEAR
You have us, your caring frien-
PANDA
See? Nothing. Now You'll have to
help me find my sachet, or I'll
never be able to show my face in
this town again.
Panda gestures towards Polar Bear and gives him an
exaggerated pleading look.
POLAR BEAR
Sorry Panda, I have to work the
cafe all day today.
Panda gives Sasako the same look.
SASAKO
Sorry Panda, I've got orders to
take.
A customer in the background calls out for a refill.
SASAKO (CONT'D)
Coming! Good luck Panda, how about
you ask Penguin? He's always
available.
Penguin has started sneaking his way out of the cafe.
PENGUIN (HUSHED)
Eh?
Panda looks over at Penguin.
TO BE CONTINUED!