Disclaimer: Penguins of Madagascar and all related characters are the property of Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, and any or all related affiliates. Characters of my own creation are my property and may not be used by others without express permission. This fiction was created for the purpose of having fun and being creative, no money is being made in any way from its creation and posting.
Hell Hath No Fury
Chapter 10
By
Wildgoose
(It is evening at the central park Zoo as a hot summer breeze blows through the animals habitats. The last remains of scarlet sunlight are just dipping below the horizon as Kitsune again arrives at the zoo, and after speaking for a lengthy amount of time with the night zookeeper she prepares to take Ming with her once more.)
Marlene: (Annoyed) I, ..I just don't understand. You've already taught her how to meditate, …why do you need to take Ming out of the zoo again?
Kitsune: (Writes) Meditation requires peace and quiet, …and as nosey as all of you are proving to be she'll never be able to tell you anything.
Marlene: (Irritated) Nosey…? (The penguins respond in the same manner)
Kitsune: (Writes) Yes, ..nosey. You wish to know everything that goes on in her head, don't you?
Marlene: Of COURSE I want to know everything that goes on her mind! (Pause) I'm her mother and she's…gifted. (Looks defeated) My kids are in danger and she's the only one who can tell me what's happening to them, it's not like I can read her mind or anything. (Pause as her bottom lip quivers in despair) With the others gone she's all I've got left…
Kitsune: (writes to Ming and nudges her) She called you gifted. You see, ..you're NOT a freak!
Ming: (smiles a little) I love you too, mom. (Marlene takes Kitsune's note and reads it, then looks at Ming)
Marlene: (Appalled) You think I thought you were a FREAK?
Ming: No, …I think that I'm a freak. At least that's the way I feel with everybody probing me for information that nobody else can provide. (Pause as she looks down and away) I don't like being different, …I want to be like everybody else. (Pause) I, …I just want to be normal.
Marlene: (Hugs Ming) Oh sweetie, ..you're not a freak. This talent of yours, …it's amazing! There's absolutely NOTHING wrong with being different.
Ming: The others may not think that if they find out that I can tune in on what they're up to at any time. Nobody will want to be anywhere near me.
Kitsune: (writes and then shows the note around) Like I said, …we'll discuss keeping this matter to ourselves.
Marlene: Oh uh, …sure. I guess that makes sense if that makes you feel better sweetie. It won't be easy especially with Julian around. (Pause) If he accidentally caught wind of this then the whole zoo would find out. Everybody knows what a blabber mouth HE is.
Kitsune: (writes and shows the note around) No one else will be told about Ming's talent, …not even family members. This is Ming's request, …if you care about her emotional wellbeing you will comply.
Marlene: (angry) How can you even suggest that I don't care about my daughter's wellbeing?
Kitsune: (Writes) The note was directed at everybody, not just you. Everyone knows you care, …I just need to make sure that everyone else is on the same page. (Everyone else responds in a manner similar to Marlene) Good, …then there will be no problems.
Marlene: (Sighs) Ming sweetie, …I understand not wanting the rest of the zoo to know, but your own father and siblings?
Ming: You'd understand if you were me, mom. (Pause) The others like their space, even Hannibal lately, …and if they suddenly decided that I was spying on them…
Marlene: (Looks down) There would be a lot of tension between you. (Pause) …And there's the chance that Skipper could see it as a tactical advantage when he runs his Ops.
Astrid: (Appalled) You don't really think that dad would do that, …do you?
Marlene: Ideally, no. (Sighs) …But why give temptation a chance. I mean, …nobody's perfect.
Kitsune: (Writes) I'm glad we understand each other.
Marlene: We'll um, …we'll discuss it further later okay? (Ming nods) You um, …you go do your thing. Just please tell me if anything important happens? I could REALLY use some more good news. (Ming nods and Kitsune escorts her out of the zoo to her car.)
(Cut to Kitsune's Porsche as they travel through nighttime traffic, Ming sits upright supporting herself against the dashboard so she can look out the windshield.)
Ming: This doesn't look like the way to your apartment, Kitsune.
Kitsune: (Writes when it is safe to do so) We're not going there just yet. With everything that's been going on I thought you could use a break.
Ming: …But mom wants to know what's going on.
Kitsune: She doesn't need to know everything that you see, ….more bad news will just drive up the tension and make her crazy. (Pause) I'd be going insane too in her position. (Pause) Don't worry, …we'll meditate a little later. I was sincere in what I said, however kids need to make time for fun. Especially unusually talented kids.
Ming: (smiles) I like fun, …so what are we doing then?
Kitsune: (Writes) There's a term that I've learned during my time as a human for this sort of thing, ….it's called a girls evening out. (Ming looks perplexed as the POV pulls to outside the car and then trails behind as the Porsche pulls away.)
(Cut to inside the ventilation ducts in Hans's bunker, Loki is still wandering about until he begins to hear a familiar voice coming from a nearby vent grate. Loki pulls himself up to it and having learned from his previous experiences does not position himself directly over the vent this time. Instead he stops just short of it and listens as he recognizes the voice from one of his previous experiences of having fallen through a grate in the ceiling. The voice is Red's, he is alone in what looks to be a control center and is talking into a radio to a voice that is high pitched and not familiar to him at all.)
Voice: Does Hans have the penguins yet?
Red: Not yet Dr. Blowhole, they approached by ground earlier but were repelled when they encountered the Danish forces.
Blowhole: What the, …I don't get this guy. Why did he feel the need to drag the Dane's into this? What the heck is wrong with just capturing the penguins and doing what he needs to do with them?
Red: I think it has something to do with Hans's history with Skipper. Have no fear, ..Hans is very confident that they'll be back.
Blowhole: (Groans) I grow tired of this, …he should have captured them a long time ago. That's the easy part, …keeping them from escaping is the hard part. (Chuckles) …And if they brought the psycho with them then forget it, …you're all already dead.
Red: (Confused) What was that? (Rolls his eyes) Well whatever, I can take care of anything they throw at me. However there's another development, I don't believe that Hans will follow through with his original intentions with the otter pups. There are elements around this complex that have been attempting to persuade him to see the light so to speak. Specifically, his mate has been reminding him that his intentions won't bring his own child back. (Grumbles) …And then there's Heidi.
Blowhole: Don't worry about them, ….as long as he gets the penguins and keeps them there until the plan is carried out then there will be no way for them to interfere. (Chuckles) You know I was actually worried that Hans would figure out that his anger was misplaced and drop his beef with the penguins all together.
Red: Misplaced…?
Blowhole: Oh come on, …you didn't really think that a zoo, even one as bad as Hoboken, would allow their animals to get so sick they'd keel right over, did you? Give me a break, …the animal rights humans would have the zookeepers dragged out into the streets and shot, or hung, or whatever it is that humans do to one another these days. I've heard rumors involving corn…(Shudders) Anyway, …as long as he captures the penguins then that's all that matters. Call me when he has them.
Red: It will be done. (Disconnects the radio and begins to chuckle to himself.) I think I want to adopt this guy… (Red heads out of the room and once he is gone Loki who is still hiding in the vent begins to move forward until he can find a junction large enough where he can turn around and backtrack.)
(Cut to the room where Yoshi and Hannibal are being held. Loki comes back out of the vent followed by Sarah.)
Hannibal: (upon seeing Sarah with him) What is this, … bring a friend to your escape day?
Loki: I picked her up on the way back. We'll need her, …she can help us find our way around this place.
Yoshi: I think you may have forgotten the plan, Loki. We want to get OUT not get around. (Sarah begins to help the others out of their ropes.)
Sarah: Which of you brought the weapons? (Hannibal raises his paw) I've discovered where Heidi has stored them. It's become clear that you're going to need them.
Yoshi: Why, …what have you learned Loki?
Loki: That WE may not have so much to worry about as we used to but dad may run into some serious problems when he comes to rescue us. There's somebody else involved in all of this, ….some nut job named blowhole. It sounds like he's as bad as this Red character.
Yoshi: (Pauses to reflect for a moment) I remember dad telling stories about how he's dealt with that guy in the past. (Pause) From what he said it sounded like the humans stuffed Blowhole into an aquarium somewhere to do time.
Hannibal: Well, ..I guess he wiggled his way out somehow.
Loki: I heard this Blowhole guy say something about Hans's anger over his kid was misplaced. (Turns to Sarah) I TOLD you our dad doesn't kill people.
Sarah: (Rolls her eyes) Okay, you were right. However please remember I only had what information I'd overheard at the time. (Sarah finished releasing the others from their bindings and they get up to stretch and dust themselves off. Sarah then turns to look at Loki) Time for you to go, I guess. (Pause) It's a shame, …I really liked you.
Yoshi: What's a shame?
Sarah: That Loki likes guys, …I'd thought that we had something between us at first. (Hannibal and Yoshi's jaws drop to the floor just before they burst out laughing.)
Loki: Whoa, ..whoa! I was wondering why you were suddenly acting to fishy, …who said that I liked guys?
Sarah: You did. (An extremely puzzled confused look comes over Loki's face)
Loki: (Dumbstruck) UH…..I did NOT, …why on earth I say something ludicrous like THAT?
Sarah: You're the one who said it, …so how would I know?
Loki: I NEVER said anything like that, …when could you possibly think that I said that I like guys?
Sarah: After you fell out of the vent in my room, …you were unconscious for a few minutes but then I helped you up. After I got over my surprise I approached you affectionately and you broke it to me that you weren't into girls. (Loki looks dumbfounded for a moment) I have to admit, …I was pretty shocked.
Loki: That makes two of us, …I have no memory of ANY of that. (Pause) I can absolutely GUARENTEE you that I don't bend that way.
Yoshi: As fantastic as it would be to bust on my brother right now, …I feel morally obligated to confirm what he's telling you. He may not be a ladies man at the zoo be looks at girls all the time.
Hannibal: Oh come on sis, …you could have busted on him just a little for the fun of it. How often are we going to come across an opportunity like THIS? (Yoshi flashes him a sympathy look prompting Hannibal to roll his eyes and sigh loudly) Yea alright, …I'll vouch for him too. I think I know my brother pretty darn well. (Sarah doesn't look completely convinced)
Sarah: (Sigh and looks away) You WERE acting pretty strange when you woke up.
Loki: Um okay, …I could use a lot more detail than that. Strange how?
Sarah: You were, …unsure of yourself. I'd go so far as to say you were timid or skittish.
Hannibal: (Laughs) It sounds like you turned into Ming for a minute, Loki.
Loki: (Rolls his eyes) Like that's all I need right now.
Sarah: Ming?
Loki: My kid sister back home. That sounds just like her…. (Pause) Don't get me wrong, …I love her to death but oh man! I just couldn't live my life being afraid of everything.
Yoshi: Jeez, …thank God it's not possible. Can you imagine sharing your mind with a scaredy otter? (Sarah looks back and forth between the three)
Sarah: (Crosses her arms) I still think I'd need some sort of proof here, …timid or not you seemed pretty clear Loki. (Loki flusters for a moment)
Loki: What are you expecting me to do? (Sarah glances over to a closet door and then back to Loki) (Amused tone) Oh… (Sarah takes him by the shoulder and escorts him in)
Yoshi: (Beside herself) You know, …how is it that we've been here for days and we've never noticed that there was a closet in this room?
Hannibal: (Looks about) The closet was directly behind us and we were always facing the entrance. (Shakes his head) I know how you feel though. (Groans) What gets me is that amongst us, you and I are the more attractive and interesting.
Yoshi: (Laughs) Yet our pudgy jokester of a brother is the one who finds somebody to hook up with. (Pause) In the middle of an enemy bunker of all places. (Walks over to the closet and knocks on the door to interrupt her brother) That's just life I guess, ..go figure. (After a long while she knocks on the door more loudly) Hey, that's enough in there! If you're going to take this much time then get a room for God's sake.
Hannibal: (Snickers) It's a shame that we don't have a video camera but why waste the moment, …open the door on them.
Yoshi: I think I'm scared to, …who knows what they could be up to.
Hannibal: She's a squirrel and he's an otter, …how compatible could they be?
Yoshi: More so than an otter and a penguin. (Hannibal cringes slightly)
Hannibal: …And here come the nightmares tonight, thanks for those images Yoshi. Every kid should be haunted by nightmares about their parents doing it.
Yoshi: We're in a prison hole somewhere, …I needed to shed light on our situation somehow. (The door opens and Loki and Sarah step out looking very disheveled) Don't say anything, …we don't want to know. (Pause as she looks at Sarah) Are you convinced now? (Sarah smiles slyly and nods before walking over to the vent to suggest that they get started on their escape.)
Loki: (brushes lightly past his siblings) Ladies man coming through, …step aside please.
Hannibal: How long were they in there?
Yoshi: I don't have a watch but it felt like about ten minutes.
Hannibal: Is that enough time for…?
Yoshi: (Holds her paw out at Hannibal) You're asking the wrong otter, ..I haven't been there myself. (Shivers) Let's not dwell on that though, ….I'll sleep better thinking that he's still my innocent un-squirrel tainted brother. (Looks over to see that Loki has joined Sarah by the vent)
Loki: You know if you guys are going to take your time about this then Sarah and I might as well just go back in the closet together. (Sarah smiles and wraps her tail about Loki's hips and then pulls it free suggestively)
Yoshi: No, ….we're coming. We don't need to see any more of that. (Yoshi and Hannibal briskly walk over and climb into the vent after the others) By the way, I meant to ask back when Loki mentioned our kid sister back home. Where the freak are we?
Sarah: Denmark, a few kilometers outside of Legoland.
Hannibal: (Grumbles) It figures, …you'd think our abductors could have taken us someplace more convenient, …and local. The same country would have been a plus.
(Cut to NY as the back door to the Evergreen Cineplex opens to allow Kitsune and Ming inside. Holding the door for them is Tony.)
Tony: Hey Kitsune, …how's everything going?
Kitsune: (Writes) I'm enjoying my night off with Ming here.
Tony: (looks down at Ming) Ming huh, ….are you Skipper's little girl? (Ming nods) Wow, … I don't think I've ever had the pleasure of actually meeting you. (Extends a hand to shake, after a moment of not knowing what to do Ming does the same.)
Ming: (Plain English) It's nice to meet you, sir. Mrs. Kitsune has told me some things about you.
Tony: (Amazed) Whoa, …complete sentences. That's a step up, …the last I checked you guys could only manage a word at a time.
Ming: (Plain English) I'm different.
Tony: Yea, …so I've noticed. (Pause) So Kitsune has told you stuff about me, huh? (Pause) I hope it was all good. (Pause) Anyway, …come on in here before the mosquitos suck you dry. You'll look like a deflated nubby ball by the time they're done with you. (The three disappear through the door and Kitsune shows Ming the way up front into the theater. Christine, Mike, and Al are hanging around the concession stand waiting for them.) Hey thanks for hanging around guys, …from what Kitsune has told me the kid here has never been to a movie theater before. (Pause as the others stare at him) Oh right, …introductions. Guys, ,…this is Skipper and Marlene's daughter Ming. (Pause) Ming, …this is Al, Mike, and Christine, …good friends of your parents. (Ming is picked up by Christine and placed on the stand counter top so that everyone can get a better look at her. While they fawn over her, in the background a Japanese woman pushing a stroller with a sleeping child in it comes walking out of Tony's office and approaches them.)
Kitsune: (Hears the footsteps and turns to look behind her. She looks surprised for a moment and the melts a bit when she sees her daughter asleep in the stroller.) (Writes and the bows) Ayame! I was not expecting to see you here tonight. (Conversation between them is now In Japanese)
Ayame: Sorry to surprise you, …Tony and I were going to go for ice cream after he got done work. I hope you don't mind that I brought the baby out at night.
Kitsune: (writes) No, …I know that she is safe with you. (Pause) How are things with you and Tony?
Ayame: Wonderful, …we're considering taking a trip to Japan together next year. The village may be gone but I figure that I can still show him other parts of the country that haven't been washed away, or aren't glowing in the dark. (Kitsune looks bemused)
Kitsune: (Writes) You don't think he's going to ask you to marry him while you're over there do you? For a guy like Tony a trip like that almost sounds romantic.
Ayame: (Smiles) It doesn't seem likely, …but if he did would you have objections?
Kitsune: (writes) Would YOU?
Ayame: (Laughs) I might make him wait for a response, …but otherwise no. Does it really bother you?
Kitsune: (Bemused expression returns)(Writes) I may have difficulty digesting it, …he is my employer amongst other things.
Ayame: (laughs) Well don't start popping antacids just yet, ..things are just routine for now. (They are interrupted by Tony returning all conversation to English)
Tony: Ladies, …I hate to interrupt this wonderful conversation that nobody else here can understand, but Kitsune and Ming have a movie waiting for them.
Ayame: Forgive me, …It's a pleasure to meet you Ming. (Bows)
Ming: (Plain English) You also. (Ayame looks impressed and then begins to walk away with the baby and Tony)
Tony: Have fun guys! (The three proceed toward the back door and leave)
Ming: (Plain English) So um, …what are we seeing?
Al: Mike and I have set up the Smurfs in 3D ® set up in auditorium #2.
Christine: …And I saved you some popcorn before we cleaned up tonight.
Ming: (Plain English) (looks very confused) What's a Smurf?
(Cut to later that night as Ming and Kitsune arrive back at the apartment building. They are walking down the hallway after getting off the elevator)
Ming: A movie and then DINNER! This has been a great night, Mrs. Kitsune. I've never eaten at a sushi restaurant before, ….I've never eaten out at all actually.
Kitsune: (Writes) It helps when you know people who don't mind if you bring an animal friend.
Ming: Ms. Tsukuri didn't even mind that I sat at the table. I thought humans didn't…(Notices a woman in the hallway looking at her who then quickly looks away when Kitsune stares at her.) Mrs. Kitsune, …why do people look away like they're afraid when you stare at them?
Kitsune: (Hoarse laugh) (Writes) I may have changed a lot since I became human but I haven't lost my touch when it comes to intimidating people. Let's just say that the people in this building know better than to cross me, …especially when it comes to animals visiting. Although they're probably used to seeing Uijo. My aunt never leaves home without him.
Ming: Uijo is a fox, right? I didn't see him at the theater.
Kitsune: (Writes) He was there, trust me. (The pair stop short of the apartment to notice a large bouquet of orange and white flowers in a vase encased within a cardboard box and a Styrofoam cooler sitting right against the apartment door with a delivery invoice taped to it as well as a card.)
Ming: What's all of this?
Kitsune: (Writes) I don't know. (Picks everything up and carries it inside once the door is opened. Once everything has been set down on the counter top she opens the cooler to find it packed with ice, …and in the middle of all the ice are several red mullet.)
Ming: What is all of this stuff?
Kitsune: (Writes) These are my favorites. (Eagerly opens the card to read. It is unsigned and merely reads "In appreciation of everything we've shared together." Kitsune looks confused for a moment and then walks over to the refrigerator to look at the calendar. A moment later a single tear rolls down her cheek as a smile spreads across her face.)
Ming: Is everything okay, Mrs. Kitsune?
Kitsune: (Writes) Today's date is the anniversary of when Steve first brought myself and your parents' home from the zoo after our confrontation with Darla the baboon. That's how Steve and I got together, …he's never celebrated it before but it's a very touching start. (Pause in thought) I wonder why he didn't sign it.
Ming: Um, …maybe he figured you'd know who it was from so there was no need. (Kitsune thinks for a moment and then shrugs)
Kitsune: (Writes) I'll keep the fish in the freezer until he comes home and then it can be one more thing we've shared together. (Kitsune stores the fish and sets the flowers up on the counter top before sitting down in the living room with Ming to begin the night's meditation.) I feel the need to forewarn you, …Steve hears from those traveling with your father every once in a while and he forwards that information to me. They are preparing another attempt to go in after your siblings, …you may see some disturbing things.
Ming: (Disappointed) Is that what this girls evening out was about? You were hoping it would all be over before we came to meditate so I wouldn't have to see what happens?
Kitsune: (Writes) Partly, …although what I said was sincere. Kids do need time to have fun and I enjoyed our time out together. We'll have to do it again sometime.
Ming; Do you really think it could all be over by now?
Kitsune: (Writes) With my luck, probably not. …But it figured it would be worth a shot to try.
Ming: (Sighs) I hope you were right. (Pause) Mrs. Kitsune?
Kitsune: (Writes) Yes?
Ming: (Cautious) Can we really do that again sometime? (Kitsune smiles and nods) (Ming looks more upbeat as she gets situated and begins her meditation)
(Cut to the control room of Hans's bunker. He sits impatiently in front of a console with Heidi and Red in the background as well as a number of other squirrels and a couple of Blowhole's lobsters who simply run errands. The room has only light background noise as the others bustle about doing their tasks until a squirrel sitting in front of another console speaks up loudly.)
Squirrel: I have a radar contact bearing two seven five, ten kilometers out.
Hans: (Huffs) Is it Skipper?
Squirrel: I don't know, but the craft IS giving off a standard US IFF signal. (Red walks over to the squirrel and shoves her out of the way to get a better look at the radar screen)
Red: The craft appeared directly east of Legoland, …that's where Skipper and his crew contacted the Dane's last. (Smirks evilly) I'd wager money that it's him.
Hans: So he's finally coming. (Sighs deeply) Get Your people ready, Hans.
Red: He's not coming.
Hans: What!
Red: The craft is turning to the north.
Hans: (tosses something from his chair at the wall.) I thought you said it was him!
Red: I still think that it is.
Hans: Then why isn't he coming, …what is this hide and go seek? What kind of parent is he, ….I could have killed his kids fifty times over by now!
Red: (growls) But you haven't, …and I don't think that you will. Skipper probably knows this.
Hans: (curious) What are you suggesting?
Heidi: (Cuts in) He's saying what I've been trying to tell you all along, Hans. You're no monster!
Hans: (Barks) Everything that I loved most in my life was taken from me! …To get what you want in life sometimes you have to become what you hate.
Red: (grits his teeth with a smile) Sing about your heartache all that you want Hans, ..but the truth of the matter is that your right hand puffin over here is right. You haven't don't it yet because you can't, …as a parent you couldn't stomach the death of your own kid let alone somebody else's. (Snicker) No, …you're no monster. (Pause) …But I am! (Turns to head out of the room) I'll get the job done and get the whole thing on camera to boot. You want Skipper to feel your pain? Just wait until he gets a load of me!
Hans: (Conflicted) Red! (Long pause as Hans repeatedly looks at Red and the looks away)
Red: (Annoyed) I assume you're going to say something to me sometime today, Hans.
Hans: (Conflicted) Just one of them, …an eye for an eye. (Pause) Make it quick and neat, …don't drag it out. (Pause) Ready a welcome party for Skipper as well, …I'm tired of hide and seek. (Grumbles) Skipper I CAN handle.
Red: (Rolls his eyes) You really are a wuss, Hans. (Leaves the room)
Heidi: (Looks Hans in the eye) I really don't know you anymore.
(Cut to a small airport just outside of Herning Denmark. A man of light build wearing coveralls stands outside the fence of the airport's fuel depot as he watches a small helicopter approach and touch down a short distance away from the depot. The gale from the rotors gradually diminishes as the engines power down, the man all the while still standing there beside himself at the size of the craft given the design. Once the rotors have stopped the back hatch descends to the ground and the helicopters entire compliment waddles out to greet the astonished depot attendant.)
Attendant: (Rubs his eyes and then looks down at the can of Monster® that he'd been drinking as he dumps it out.) (Danish) As God is my witness I will never touch these things again, …sugar is now my enemy.
Skipper: Kowalski, …can these translators interpret the Danish language?
Kowalski: (Begins to toy with the device on his flipper) Yes and no, Skipper. We'll be able to talk to this human, but not understand him.
Skipper: (Glares at Digger) What good are these things? Heaven forbid if I ever need to beat some information out of anybody. I'd at least like to understand their pleas for mercy.
Digger: Sorry to disappoint, chum. …But we don't do much beating of anything in our line of work.
Skipper: (Mumbles) Bunch of sissies… (Pause) Alright Kowalski, …tell this tall boy what we need before he runs off to his mommy.
Kowalski: (using the translator device to speak to the attendant) We need to fuel our bird, …please do it quickly. (The attendant just stares at them) It's no use, Skipper. This human doesn't seem willing to help us.
Skipper: If I had a nickel for every time I'd heard that… (Pause) Rico, ..persuade him! (Rico tackles the man and begins to slap him around.) Anything yet?
Rico: (grunts) Nope.
Skipper: So he wants to play hard ball huh? Rico, …tighten the screws a bit! (Rico laughs maniacally as he regurgitates a chain saw and rev's it several times over the man's head as he begins to scream like a girl.) Back off a bit, Rico. I think we may have gotten our point across. (Pause) Kowalski, …ask him if he's willing to help us now. He can respond with a thumbs up or down. (Kowalski asks in the same manner as before with the inclusion of the response choices. The man responds instead by rubbing his thumb and forefingers together.) I don't think I know that response, …Kowalski analysis!
Kowalski: It appears that he's asking how we're going to pay.
Skipper: We held a chain saw over his head and he still wants money? He must be braver than I thought.
Kowalski: Perhaps humans have a hidden spine somewhere, ..if I could dissect him then I could….
Skipper: No time for that, Kowalski. Save play time for later. (Pause) Rico! (Rico regurgitates Kitsune's credit card and holds it out for the man to take. The man looks back and forth between the penguins and the card several times before taking it and disappearing into a nearby booth for a few minutes and then coming back to unlock the pumps.)
(Fade to ten minutes later as the other blues run checks on their equipment. Babs and Private sit on the back ramp of the chopper having a conversation.)
Babs: I hope I didn't surprise you back at the pond, …I just figured I'd give your advice a twirl.
Private: Oh, …well I was a bit surprised but it definitely wasn't unwelcome. Um, …how did the twirl go if I might ask?
Babs: (chuckles) Better than I'd thought, ..I didn't expect to hit it off so well. (Pause) I certainly didn't expect to ever meet another Lunacorn fan, …I watch the series when everybody else is asleep. The others would rub my ribs good if they found out.
Private: (Smirks) I promise,… I won't tell.
Babs: You'd better not or I'll make good on my promise to feed you to the crocs. (Pause) So, …you mentioned before that you used to play mini golf?
Private: Oh yes, …I was quite good actually. A bit of a hustler before I joined up in the service.
Babs: Sounds like it could be a fun game, …any chance you'd give thought to giving a girl a few lessons?
Private: I'm not really sure if hustling is something I'd want to teach, …you really need to get close to people for that.
Babs: (looks Private in the eye) Close can be a good thing…
Private: Um, …are we still talking about the same thing? …Because the way you looked at me when you said that…
Babs: (Looks away) Sorry, …I guess I still need to work on my charm a bit.
Private: So, …you WERE talking about something different?
Babs: (Gets up to waddle away) Never mind… (Private takes her by the flipper to keep her from leaving)
Private: Don't go, …I wouldn't mind giving a few lessons. Really… (Pause) Let's just be a little less forward, ….I'm good at golf but not so good at matters of the heart.
Babs: I'm not sure if I really know how to be less forward, …actually acting like a lady isn't really something I'm used to.
Private: Nobody said you had to be all girly, …just be yourself. …And slow down a bit, that would be helpful too. (Babs takes a seat next to Private again and cautiously puts her head against Private's shoulder)
Babs: (Smiles) I'm not used to this, you know. Having a guy like me, …it feels weird. (Pause) Interesting, …but weird.
Private: I wouldn't worry, ..it's probably just the gas fumes. (Babs picks her head up to stare at Private. A moment later Skipper calls from inside the helicopter)
Skipper: Hey Babs, …are you going to fly this crate or what? We've got a door to knock down and kids to save.
Babs: (Gets up along with Private and begins to close the back hatch) You're C/O sure knows how to kill a moment doesn't he? (Private nods and the scene fades out.)
Chapter 11 coming soon…
Comments and suggestions are always welcome.