Chapter 12: A Friendly Flight
Penny was waiting a long time for Sherman to come back with the snacks, that she was texting a friend on her phone. She sighs in boredom in the dark auditorium with the only light eminating from the screen of a paused picture of Mr. Peabody and Leonardo da Vinci working on the machine that could recharge the WABAC while Sherman plays in the field of flowers, while Penny is not in this particular scene at all.
Penny puts her phone away and stares at the screen on her theater seat with a bored expression until finally, Sherman came back holding a tray of nachos and a warm cup of melty cheese. He also holds two large cups of soda and a big box of gummy bears.
Sherman: Sorry I took so long. The lines were full.
Penny: Probably because they're all here for the new Avengers movie, huh?
Sherman: I guess.
Penny: Why did you bring so much stuff?
Sherman: it's not that much. It's just some nachos, gummy bears and some sodas.
Penny: That's still a lot.
Sherman: It is not.
Penny: whatever you say Sherman. Just hand me a soda..
Sherman hands Penny one of the sodas and takes a nacho chip, dip it in cheese, and munched on it. He offers some to Penny who complies by eating the crunchy and cheesy snack. She hits the play button on her remote to resume the movie.
...
*play*
Leonardo Da Vinci and Mr. Peabody work on the complicated contraption that could recharge the WABAC and send our time traveling trio home. The WABAC rests upon four support beams with the tips covered with a white, fuzzy cloth like material.
Mr. Peabody: Well, Leo, if my calculations are correct, this machine should generate enough energy to get back home.
Da Vinci: I got-a one last piece to pound-a to place.
Mr. Peabody: Sherman, will you please fetch the hammer for Mr. Da Vinci?
Sherman, who was playing with sticks on the flowery field, first pretending to use one as a swird, then using a couple of sticks on each hand and flaps his arms as if he was a bird. He drops the sticks to get the hammer.
Sherman: Okay, Mr. Peabody.
Sherman goes up to the lower level platform of the machine and picks up the wooden hammer on the floor. He then walks to Da Vinci until he sees a wooden peg fall off of the gear it was originally attached to. Sherman picks up the cylinder shaped piece, and looks up above him.
Sherman: Mr. Peabody..?
Mr. Peabody doesn't seem to notice what Sherman was calling him out for as he was too focused of putting the finishing touches on the machine. He doesn't even look down.
Mr. Peabody: Good job Sherman!
Sherman: But Mr. Peabody...
Mr. Peabody: You're so incredibly helpful.
He shows a thumbs up below. Sherman sighs as he can't seem to grab his attention. Until he stares at the hammer on his hand and smiles brightly as he has an idea. He could fix the gear himself. So he places the peg back onto it's socket, then with a quick steady targeted aim, he swings at the peg.
*THWACK!*
Unfortunately, the gear was part of the rotatitl ng mechanism that Mr. Peabody was in the middle of working on, and with Sherman's thwack, he accidentally triggers it just a bit to hit Mr. Peabody straight in the snout.
*BASH!*
Mr. Peabody: Oof!
The peg doesn't stay put, as Sherman inspects the piece. Mr. Peabody regains his state of mind as he rests a paw on the rotating pieces. However, Sherman begins hitting the piece repeatedly and with every thwack he makes is a backs to the face for out canine prodigy.
*THWACK!* *THWACK!* *THWACK!*
*BASH!* *BASH!* *BASH!*
*THWACK!* *THWACK!* *THWACK!*
*BASH!* *BASH!* *BASH!*
Mr. Peabody then realizes who could be causing the blind attacks.
Mr. Peabody: SHERMAN!
Sherman stops to respond.
Sherman: Yes Mr. Peabody?
Mr. Peabody then takes a look down at Sherman.
Mr. Peabody: The hammer? Da Vinci?
Sherman: Oh, okay Mr. Peabody.
Sherman starts to walk away but sees the peg one last time and gives it one more thwack, harder than before. And with a harder thwack comes a harder hit in the head for poor old Mr. Peabody, which knocked him off his back paws.
*THWACK!*
*BASH!*
Mr. Peabody: Gaahhh!
*pause*
...
Sherman and Penny were laughing over Sherman knocking down Mr. Peabody several times as he tried to fix the loose peg.
Penny: I still can't believe you didn't realize that you hit Mr. Peabody.
Sherman: Yeah I feel bad, but I can't stop laughing.
They share another laugh as they resume the movie.
...
*play*
Leonardo Da Vinci looks at Mr. Peabody getting an (unintentional and accidental) beating from Sherman, only for hom to be spooked by the boy, holding out the hammer to him.
Leonardo da Vinci: Aah!
Sherman: Here you go Mr. Da Vinci. Do you need any help..?
Da Vinci snatches the hammer from his hands as if he now developed a sense of fear to Sherman.
Leonardo da Vinci: Uuhh... No no. That's quite alright... thank you.
As Sherman was about to go back to see if Mr. Peabody also needed help, Penny peeks out from one of the wooden gears.
Penny: *whispers* Psst... Sherman?
Sherman: Huh?
He walks over to her as she wants to have some fun with him. Not in a bullying kind of wat, more like a... I want to be your friend kind of way.
Penny: Let's go. Let's go explore.
Sherman: Um... I don't know. I'm supposed to be having father-son time with Mr. Peabody.
Penny: Wouldn't you rather have fun with me?
She gives an innocent and friendly smile towards Sherman who only had... at least three seconds to think about it.
Sherman: Um... Okay!
Penny runs around the gear to seep out and the two children starts to have their little adventure, that is until Mr. Peabody spots him.
Mr. Peabody: Sherman? Where are you going?
Sherman: Exploring?
Mr. Peabody: But.. we need you here...
Suddenly, da Vinci interrupts him out of fear for Sherman.
Leonardo Da Vinci: No we don't...! Errr.. I mean... we can manage. He's a boy-a Peabody, let him have his-a fun.
Sherman: Thanks Mr. Peabody!
The two kids start running towards Da Vinci's house laughing and giggling as she seem to already get along, despite originally being enemies.
Leonardo da Vinci: He's-a growing up, Peabody. Like a baby bird leaving the nest. Isn't it wonderful?
But Mr. Peabody looks on with a worried look on his face. As if he doesn't want Sherman to grow up, not just yet.
Sherman and Penny walk into the house of the famed painter to look for something interesting and fun. However, there's nothing but wet paintings, some are even unfinished. Sherman thought it was interesting because seeing his paintings fresh off the easel was a big term for bragging rights, however, Penny isn't easily impressed.
Sherman: We're witnessing history in the making. Can you believe it Penny?
Penny: Meh...
Sherman: What do you mean by that?
Penny: I wanna do something exciting. I wanna be surprised, but there's nothing in here.
Sherman: Well... there is da Vinci's workshop on the roof of the house but...
Penny: Show me!
Sherman: But Penny, I'm not allowed to go up there.
Penny: Come on, it won't take a long time. I promise, we'll be in and out.
Penny: Please?
Sherman: Well...
Penny shows Sherman her sad puppy dog look as she begs Sherman to take her up to Da Vinci's workshop, despite knowing he can't go up there. Finally after attempts of ignoring the adorable look she's displaying, Sherman finally gives up.
Sherman: *sigh* okay...
Sherman leads Penny to another hallway which ends in a door. He opens to reveal a romantic full of blank painting frames, and sealed up paints. There is also a ladder in the middle of the room. Sherman and Penny climb the ladder and once they reach the top of the ladder, they get a glimpse of the workshop and are amazed at all that is inside.
Sherman: Its like a museum...
Penny: Its like a toy store...
They smile at each other and Penny steps off of the ladder to explore the workshop. She sees a ferris wheel type machine with clothes on the ends of the wheel and a tub of water underneath it. She pulls it down before grabbing a renaissance instrument called a Lute, and fiddles around with it. Sherman in the meantime, is making sure that she doesn't try to wreck the inventions Leonardo da Vinci made. Penny then takes a look to her side and sees something that definitely catches her eye.
Penny: Check this out! This must be the world's biggest model airplane!
She approaches one of da Vinci's flying machines. It has white cloth wings with a wingspan of at least 15 feet. It has a controlling mechanism in the middle of the machine's wings. The plane lies on a giant crossbow launcher in which Penny starts bouncing timidly on one of the ends of the crossbow.
Sherman: it's not a model, Penny, it's a prototype. And you should probably leave that alone.
Penny: Okay, but wouldn't it be cool if we could fly this?
Sherman: I don't think Mr. Peabody would like that.
Penny: Well Mr. Peabody isn't here is he?
She hops onto the slab where a pilot could maneuver the plane and faces Sherman with a smile.
Penny: Just tell me how it works. Please? You know, for learning.
Sherman: Oh, well okay.
Sherman steps onto the middle of the crossbow to explain the plane.
Sherman: the thrust comes from this crossbow doo-hicky here, making it shoot along the track, and it keeps going until the wind catches the wings.
Penny: But how does it go?
Sherman: Huh?
Penny: How do you takeoff?
Sherman: Oh, you pull down that lever.
Sherman points to a lever in the crossbow's launching mechanism only for Penny to reach for it, still showing an innocent looking smile.
Penny: This one?
Sherman: Oh no...
Before Sherman could stop her, Penny pulls down the lever and launches the plane. Sherman gets caught in the crossfire by standing in the way and stumbles aboard. The plane flies out of the workshop and into the skies of Florence.
Sherman: THIS IS CRAZY!
Penny: NO ITS NOT SHERMAN! ITS FUN!
Sherman: WE'RE GONNA DIE!
Penny: OH STOP BEING SUCH A PARTY POOPER AND ENJOY IT! WOOO!
Penny giggles as she flies the plane around the city of Florence.
*pause*
...
Sherman: That still was scary what you did.
Penny: are you being a party pooped again Sherman?
Sherman: No I'm just... I'm just... *sighs* sometimes I just don't understand you Penny Peterson.
Penny give Sherman a smirk.
...
*play*
Penny: HERE SHERMAN, YOU FLY!
Sherman: BUT I DON'T WANNA!
Penny: SURE YOU DO! IT'LL BE FUN!
Sherman: NO SERIOUSLY PENNY, I DON'T WANT TO!
Penny: I'M LETTING GO! ONE...
Sherman: DON'T DO IT!
Penny: TWO...
Sherman: NO...
Penny: THREE!
Penny lets go of the controls, sending the plane down to the ground.
Sherman: AAAAAAHHHHH! PENNY! FLY THE PLANE!
Penny: NO SHERMAN! YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SAVE US!
Sherman: BUT I CAN'T FLY THE PLANE! I'M SERIOUS PENNY, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FLY!
Penny: YOU CAN DO IT! I KNOW YOU CAN, NOW COME ON SHERMAN, FLY!
Despite smiling the whole time, Penny switches her expression into a look of concern and fear as they're getting close to the ground. Sherman grabs the controlling sticks and pulls the toward him, and with a hefty pull, Sherman maneuver the plane away from impact.
He then starts to fly the plane normally, much to the surprise of himself, and the astonishment of Penny. But then they start flying into the church, so with no time to lose, he pulls two ropes together, to fold the wings into a more streamline look. They fly through the open circular windows where a church choir was singing below them. As they fly out, Penny sees that Sherman is now enjoying the flight.
Penny: See? You got this Sherman!
Sherman: You're right, I have got this!
Sherman steers the plane to which makes them turn a full 360°. And as they fly across the streets of Florence, Sherman and Penny seem to be growing to like each other as friends.
Penny: Hahaha! Weeee!
Two of the nearby pedestrians look up to see da Vinci's invention soaring the sky.
Italian: Mama mia! Da Vinci is at it again!
Italian #2: Did you see the child child he made? So creepy!
As they talked about a creepy child that da Vinci built, the said child comes near them. With only a plastic baby head and two plastic arms flimsily, attached to a wheeled cart powered by moving moving wooden gears, it is understandable why the man thinks he's creepy.
Child: Mama! Papa!... Mama!
The two men freak out and hug each other out out of fear as the kid wheels by.
*pause*
...
Penny: Boy that kid really is creepy. Don't you think?
Sherman: Yeah he kinda was.
Penny then looks away and gets an idea. So she puts on her best impression on the kids voice. Sherman turns around to gets some candy from his seat next to him, giving the perfect opportunity for Penny to prank him.
Penny: Mama! Papa!
As she talked just like the child, she pokes Sherman's back making him jump.
Sherman: AAAAAAHHHHH!
Penny bursts into laughter as Sherman looked back to see she was pranked by his own best friend.
Sherman: Seriously?!
Penny: you should have seen the look on your face! Hahaha!
...
*play*
Sherman flies below to the river and sets the flying machine to an angle to let Penny run her fingers through the smooth current of running water. She enjoys the feeling and scoops up a bit of water to her fingertips, and with a gentle flick, she let's some droplets of water splash onto Sherman's face, letting a giggle escape his mouth. He maneuvers the plane so they can fly back to Da Vinci's house where Mr. Peabody and Leonardo da Vinci were finishing up on the WABAC recharging machine.
Mr. Peabody: All finished up here, Leonardo.
Leonardo da Vinci: And I'm-a finished up here.
Mr. It is beautiful, isn't it? Every piece in its place, doing precisely what it's supposed to do.
Behind Mr. Peabody were the two kids flying the plane. The canine doesn't notice them, but da Vinci does.
Leonardo da Vinci: Hey look-a Peabody! It's-a my flying mach... My flying machine?!
Mr. Peabody turns around to see who was behind the unexpected flight.
Mr. Peabody: Sherman? Sherman?! SHERMAN?! WHAT ARE YOU DING UP THERE?!
Sherman: I'M FLYING!
Mr. Peabody: BUT SHERMAN, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO FLY!
Sherman: I DON'T?
Mr. Peabody: NO!
Suddenly, Sherman loses control of the plane and starts heading for a crash landing.
Sherman and Penny: AAAAAHHHH!
Mr. Peabody: Turn Sherman! Lean!
Sherman tries to steer away from danger and pulls the plane from a falling position to a gliding position. However, the plane heads towards a tree in the forest nearby the house. With nothing left to do, Sherman and Penny brace for impact.
*BONK!*
The plane crashes against the tree, destroying it, and burying Sherman into the wreckage. Penny gets up and gasps at the broken remains of the flying machine. She then digs through the wreckage trying to find Sherman, dozed off after the crash.
Penny: Sherman! Sherman! Are you okay?!
Sherman wakes up and with a hint of excitement in his voice he speaks up.
Sherman: That was pretty fantastic!
Leonardo da Vinci was running towards Sherman and Penny, but not with an angry look. Instead he has more of an excited and energetic look on his face.
Leonardo da Vinci: I cannot-a believe this! My flying machine! It-a actually works!
Mr. Peabody meets up with them, but it's he who has the disappointed look on his face. Penny sees him approaching and smiles only to frown without Sherman or da Vinci noticing.
Leonardo da Vinci: Sherman! You are-a the world's first Flying man! And Penny is the first-a flying woman! Oh you must be-a very proud, Peabody. Very very proud!
Mr. Peabody: Proud doesn't begin to describe it!
All three frown as Mr. Peabody temporarily sets aside his anger into a little more calming look.
Mr. Peabody: Leonardo. Will you please fire up the mechanism.
...
Mr. Peabody, Sherman and Penny step into the WABAC and sit on the chairs. Not a single word comes from any of them as Leonardo da Vinci activates the machine. Gears start turning as they start spinning the WABAC around. Due to the cloth support beams spinning around next to the red orb, electricity begins production, charging up the WABAC. Once it reaches full power, Mr. Peabody presses the red button, and with a quick flash, the WABAC disappears.
Da Vinci is happy and content with his action put into motion, however he sees his child he built and immediately starts running away like a girl.
To be Continued...