In the library, Plucky is sitting at a table all by himself, reading through a Batman comic book, with a look of disinterest & gloom on his face.
The entire library was silent, with the only hint of sound coming from Plucky slowly flipping through the pages. He spent the whole period in the library, reading whatever Batman comic books he could find. He has not been seen nor heard since he split from his friends back at the hall before school started. He planned on spending the whole day by himself with no one else around, not caring if he's marked tardy or absent in any of his classes.
By the time he finished reading, he went up to the front desk, where Bookworm was checking in a new shipment of books.
"Do you have any other Batman comic books?", Plucky asked. Bookworm shook his head in response.
"I've read this 13 times. Is this really the only one you have?"
Bookworm nodded.
"Rats."
As Plucky turned to head back to his table, Hamton & Shirley entered the library & immediately spotted him.
"There he is!", Hamton said as he & Shirley approached the green duck.
"Go away", Plucky said in his monotone voice.
Shirley replied, "Hey, we've been looking all over for you."
"Good for you, now leave me be", Plucky told them as he sat back down & started reading his comic book again.
"Plucky, we've come up with something that you might like."
"Not interested."
"Like, can't you hear us out for one second or some junk?"
"Leave me alone", Plucky started to get a bit agitated as he held the book up to his face. Hamton, with a look of dismay on his face, snatched the book out of Plucky's hands & threw it aside.
"Hey!", Plucky exclaimed.
"We didn't spend a half hour looking for you for nothing, Plucky", Hamton told the green duck.
After a moment, Plucky then said, "Fine. You have my attention. What do you want?"
"Well, while we were in class last period, I remembered seeing something in the news this morning, and I told everyone about it."
"What is it?"
"I heard that down in L.A., they're planning to do something as a tribute to West. They're gonna shine the Bat Signal on the side of the L.A. City Hall."
"Okay. So, are we gonna go all the way to Los Angeles to attend the ceremony or something?"
"Not quite", Shirley said. "Like, we planned on doing something similar. What if we shine the Bat Signal on the clock tower of Acme Loo or some junk?"
"Well...", Plucky started, but then he got to thinking for a moment. "Actually, that doesn't sound like a bad idea."
"Are you interested?", Hamton asked.
"Of course I am. I mean, if it means paying tribute to my biggest idol, then yeah, I think that would be the right thing to do."
"Like, I'm pleased to hear that", Shirley said. "Hamton & I already told everyone else about it, and we wanted to make sure you don't miss out or some junk."
"When is it all taking place?"
"Tonight."
Later that night, Plucky headed over to Acme Loo & saw many of the toons were already there, making preparations for the Adam West tribute.
"There he is", Furrball said, pointing at the green duck approaching them.
"Hey, you made it!", Shirley exclaimed.
"Yeah, I wouldn't miss this for Mr. West", Plucky responded.
"We're glad you're here", Buster commented. "We're still getting things ready. Once Calamity gets the Bat Signal up & running, we can proceed with the occasion."
"Excellent. Any idea when this will all start?"
"It should take about 5 minutes."
"OWW!", Calamity exclaimed as he got zapped.
"6 minutes."
Just then, Cliff & his mother, Marie, both arrived. "Hey guys!", Cliff said.
"Bonjour, Clifford. Bonjour, Mademoiselle Evans", Fifi greeted.
"Hi", Marie greeted back. "How's everyone doing?"
"Doing okay, I guess", Plucky answered.
"Still feeling down, Pluckster?", Cliff asked.
"Don't call me that."
"Sorry. Hey, Calamity & I could use your help on something."
"Oh?"
"We're trying to pick a song to play for the event, but we can't make up our mind on what to choose. So we figured that it'd be best to let you choose for us."
"Okay. What are the options?"
"We have 'Kiss From A Rose' from Batman Begins."
"Okay, not bad."
"'I Never Even Told You' from Mask of the Phantasm."
"Ooh, nice."
"And 'Gotham City' from Batman & Robin."
"Oh, no! I want nothing from Batman & Robin to have ANYTHING to do with Mr. West! That movie is a disgrace!"
"Point taken. So, what'll it be?"
"Hmmm...", Plucky thought for a moment. "I think I'll go with 'I Never Even Told You'. It seems like the best choice."
"You've got it", Cliff said before he headed over to tell Calamity Plucky's choice.
"How are you feeling, Plucky?", Marie asked.
"Not too good, to be honest", the green duck answered. "I don't think I've ever felt this depressed before."
"Trust me, we all go through this feeling at some point in our lives. That's how it is."
"Have you ever dealt with this kind of depression before, Ms. Evans?"
"I have."
"Like what?"
"I don't think it's a good idea to ask", Buster said to the green duck.
"You're right", Plucky agreed. "Sorry. I guess being depressed really tampers with my ability to think straight."
"It happens", Marie said.
After a few more minutes of preparations, Cliff returned to the group.
"Okay, guys", he started. "We are ready to start the main event."
"Good", Buster commented. "Let's do this."
Buster followed Cliff to the stairs between the Bugs Bunny & Daffy Duck statues & turned to the crowd, while Cliff joined Calamity, who's standing by the stereos with an iPad in his hands, which he's using for the speaker controls, such as volume, track selection, etc.
"Good evening, everybody", Buster started. "Thank you for coming here tonight, to join us in our tribute to Mr. Adam West, who has sadly passed on at the age of 88. Mr. West was a wonderful actor & is best known for starring as the Bright Knight himself, Batman. He was a landmark in the history of superheroes, and a big influence to many fans of Batman around the globe. For that, we all thank him for leaving a big impact on all Batman & superhero fans everywhere."
Buster paused & looked down at Plucky, who had his head hung forward in gloominess.
"Plucky", Buster said, the green duck looking up at him. "Would you like to say a few words?"
After a moment of no response, Plucky answered. "Sure."
Plucky slowly made his way to the steps as Buster moved aside for the green duck to give his parting words to his idol.
"Adam West was a...he was a brilliant & talented man. The first time I saw Mr. West as Batman on T.V., he won me over & became my biggest idol. I remember when I was little, I used to watch the original Batman T.V. show with my mother every day, and not only that, but he also inspired me to create my Batduck persona, with Hamton as my sidekick, Decoy. Since then, I became a huge fan of Batman & the comics & the movies...some exceptions...but even though there are a few good actors, like Michael Keaton & Christian Bale, that many sees as the superior Batman...for me, there is only one true Batman. The Bright Knight himself. Nobody can top the true original Batman that was...Mr. Adam West."
After a moment of silence, Plucky slowly stepped down from the top of the steps & returned to where he previously was.
"Thank you for those kind words, Plucky", Buster said. "Now, I think we're ready to begin the main event. It's time for us to shine the final Bat Signal."
Buster turned & faced forward with the rest of the toons looking toward Acme Loo, as Calamity started up the stereo with the CD Plucky had chosen, then activated the Bat Signal & slowly started moving it up toward the clock tower, as the voice of Tia Carrere started singing the song.
There was never any question
Any lovers' indiscretion
In my eyes
And my quiet desperation
Wasn't any indication
That my life
Suddenly could change
And never be the same
Now I feel so ashamed
(I never even told you)
I thought you knew
(I never even said a word)
How I feel about you
(I never even told you)
I thought you knew
Thought you knew
There was never any mention
Though it wasn't my intention
Not to say
(Not to say)
And my silent desperation
Couldn't change my situation
Anyway...
And doesn't it seem strange
How everything can change
And still feel the same?
(I never even told you)
I thought you knew
(I never even said a word)
How I feel about you
(I never even told you)
I thought you knew
Thought you knew
I had to keep my feelings locked away
I couldn't whisper, no I couldn't say
Now I know what this cost, my chances are lost
Like tears, tears in the rain, they're washed away
During the final verse of the song, the Bat Signal is seen shining brightly at the top of the clock tower, with Plucky looking up at it along with the other toons. The green duck stared at the Bat Signal with watery eyes. Even though his longtime television idol is gone, he's at least happy to be here with all his friends to give one final sendoff to his childhood icon.