Black and White
[The scene opens with a shot of the viaduct as Gordon crosses over it with the Express while Spencer rushes past in the opposite direction with the maroon corridor coaches]
[Transition to a shot of the road as Penelope Pitstop drives along in her signature vehicle. She spots a familiar face in the form of Spongebob in his own vehicle coming in the opposite direction. She exchanges a greeting through a "beep-beep", to which the gesture is returned with a "barp-barp" as the two cars pass each other]
[Transition to a shot of the town of Elm as Krypto, Ace, and Streaky are shown chatting amongst one another by a cafe while Roscoe and DeSoto walk past the establishment side by side. Yumi and Ami are shown performing out in the streets together with a little tune while Sunset, Starlight, Trixie, Tech, Rev, Tina, Garfield, Odie, Bloo, and Dexter listen on. In the background; Fang, Bean, and Bark peer their heads around a corner]
[Transition to the subject of the story; Pepe Le Pew, sitting on a bench with a cup of coffee under his muzzle. This takes place just after the events of 'Duality' as he sighs]
Pepe: Ironic…
[Pepe reaches into his pocket to pull out his phone. Upon opening his socials, he looks to check up on some posts, namely one recently posted by his pupil Fifi as she's shown with Babs and Shirley on either side of her under the headline of "Fall Spirit" with the girls wearing outfits themed to the colors of autumn leaves; red for Babs, orange for Shirley, and yellow for Fifi. The elder skunk gives a small smile at this]
Pepe: At least she is doing well, all things considered…
[Pepe pauses before scrolling down once more…he stumbles upon a post reading "Latest Updates recalling the Cuts"...the Frenchman's expression slowly morphs to one of melancholy…he then feels a chill running down his body as an awful thought strikes him]
[Flashback to Pepe's dream from 'Nightmares' as the other Tunes walk through him as if he were a ghost, cut to a shot of his legs running as they slowly disappear, cut to a shot of the skunk's desperate expression as he's being erased]
"Oh my god…NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
[His words echo as we flash back to reality, the Frenchman's eyes wide…from the right side of his face, a small tear trickles down it before dripping off]
[The scene transitions to night time as we pan up from the bottom of a different bench at the top of a small hill. Panning up Pepe's legs, we see him with his head hanging low as a slow somber tune plays in the background…the skunk leans his head back as he stares up at the sky]
Pepe: Sometimes I wonder…where did it all go wrong…?
[We transition to another flashback, but this time set way back in the past with a grainy filter as the scene depicts one of Pepe's attempts at wooing Penelope Pussycat]
Pepe: "Ah my little darling, it is love at first sight, is it not? No?"
[A close-up of Penelope's expression shows her looking right to the camera rather unamused]
[Transition to a more contemporary setting as some of the Looney Tunes are gathered for a photo shoot; Pepe is positioned towards the left of Bugs, Porky, and Marvin while Daffy, Sylvester, Wile, Roadrunner, Tweety, Yosemite, and Elmer are to the right]
[Cut to a shot of the Tunes, this time with Foghorn, Barnyard Dawg, Granny, Speedy, Penelope, Witch Hazel, Taz, Gossamar, Pete, Petunia, and Claude leading a parade in promotion for the film "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"]
[Flash to the aftermath of "Space Jam" as the Tune Squad is celebrating their first individual feature-length film…well, as close to "individual" as one can get with Michael Jordan thrown in the mix. Bugs and Lola are held up by their teammates' shoulders; Daffy and Porky for Bugs, while Pepe and Wile are holding up Lola]
[Transition to a shot of a wine glass tapped by a spoon as the Tunes are gathered by a dinner table, Bugs proceeding over them at the far end with Daffy and Porky on either side]
Bugs: I'll tell ya' this, Doc, it don't matter what ya' background is, we're a collective and stand by dat.
Daffy: Sure, some stars may shine brighter than others…
[Marvin rolls his eyes as he feels the duck's eyes on him]
Daffy: …but I suppose that we all bring something to the table.
Porky: Teh-teh-teh too true, I think I speak for us all, that weh-weh, we wouldn't be where we are without each other.
Bugs: Even if we spend a lotta' time tryna' tear one anotha' a new limb.
Daffy: Some scriptwriters, eh?
[Muffled laughter can be heard among the table]
Bugs: But rememba' dis; if they wanna take us down in a blaze a' glory, united we stand, togetha' we fall.
Tunes: AHEM!
[The Tunes raise their glasses up proudly for a toast as the shot focuses in on Pepe's cheerful expression…transitioning to reality as his eyes are closed and a smile of reminiscence is spread across his face]
Pepe: Haaaaaa…yes…zos were ze good days…
[Pepe's smile is short-lived as he thinks back to recent memories…flashback to him in front of a desk with a silhouette holding a paper in front of them]
"Yeah…we might get back to you on that…"
[The door to the office slams shut before we transition to another silhouette behind a desk]
"Sorry, it's just not what we're looking for…"
[The door slams shut once more as the motion is repeated several times over with different responses]
"This won't do."
"We're going to be brutally honest."
"Sorry."
"We need to protect our image."
"There's no work for you…"
[The final slam echoes as Pepe wraps his arms around his body…he closes his eyes…and tears start to roll down…]
Pepe: …Look at me…how did I fall from grace?
[Pepe looks down at his paws…and then thinks back to his usual routine from days of old…sure, he understood his role well enough and knew the context around it, but recently, it had come back to haunt him…]
Pepe: I am not a bad person…at least, I do not think I am…then why is my name ze equivalent of mud now…?
[Pepe looks up to the sky]
Pepe: Is zis karma for all that I've done…I never meant to hurt anyone…but I feel so…guilty…
[Pepe thinks back to his relationship with Penelope, while the two had the ever-lasting back and forth between each other, they had formed some kind of a bond over time…he sighs]
Pepe: Of course, her association with me would land her in trouble…
[Pepe clenches his fist…and brings it down on the bench]
Pepe: Bastards! How dare they?! And to top it off, I have to…[groans]...what am I moping about?
[Pepe slumps back on his seat, closing his eyes solemnly]
Pepe: I look pitiful…
?: You're not the only one.
Pepe: Eh?
[Pepe suddenly opens his eyes to see who's in front of him. Cut to Penelope Pussycat in front of the skunk, a concerned expression on her face]
Pepe: Mademoiselle…I am sorry you need to see me this way.
Penelope: You don't have to apologize…
[Penelope sits down to Pepe's right with a sigh]
Penelope: It's come up again, hasn't it?
Pepe: …Yes.
Penelope: I figured it would…believe me, I've been there…
Pepe: I just don't understand it, Penny…everything used to make sense, we understood our roles and no one judged us for it…now, I feel as if I am stepping on egg shells when I walk…
Penelope: Suppose more than 70 years of misinterpretation will do that to you…
Pepe: I've tried not to let it get to me…but it's hard to keep up ze facade all the time.
Penelope: Well, at least you have a safe space, even if it's self-contained.
Pepe: I just do not know, madame…it feels like no matter what I do or say, people will think of me from a pinhole perspective…I know you could say ze same for the others, but…[sighs]...they're not seen as egregious as moi…
[Penelope puts a paw on the Frenchman's shoulder]
Penelope: I know my past self would have never thought of doing this, but seeing you like this…well, it hurts.
Pepe: It hurts how I've affected you too…I never meant to cause you any distress…
Penelope: As ironic as it sounds given our…track record…even so, we were playing our roles, as you said…it's just a shame how it became the only thing we were recognized for…
[Pepe looks down at the ground…at that moment, Sylvester and Wile are coming up the path when they come upon the scene…they glance at one another, then at the duo]
Sylvester: …Heeeeey, you two…mind if we sit down?
[Pepe and Penelope look at each other before the former shrugs his shoulders]
Pepe: I suppose it is no problem…
[Pepe scoots over to give the tuxedo cat and coyote room to sit down. He glances at them, and then looks back at Penelope]
Pepe: …It is ironic, no?
Sylvester: What is?
Pepe: At one point, I was ze same level as the two of you…and now look at me.
Wile: …Truth be told, that's a double-edged sword.
Pepe: Pardon?
Wile: While keeping the attention of masses has its benefits…once you get into a routine, you realize just how…repetitive things can be…
Sylvester: Ugh, don't I know it? I can only take so many times falling on my face.
Wile: At the very least, you have the occasional break in the momentum, scarce, yes, but it's there…can't say the same for myself.
Sylvester: Rrrrrright…weird, both of our issues stemmed from birds.
Wile: True, one would think I'd only ever see that man as nothing more but a potential meal…an extremely unachievable meal.
Sylvester: Of course, that was when the cameras were on…when they were off…
Wile: Not only that, it provides the luxury of being able to vocally express yourself. Believe me, holding up those signs all the time is quite meticulous.
Penelope: Least you got signs, I could only communicate through my limbs.
Wile: Least yours were kept intact most of the time, couldn't say the same for mine.
Penelope: …Touche.
Sylvester: You ever get that feeling that…sometimes, it's like the whole world is against you? That nothing you do matters cuz your path has been set?
Pepe: …I guess I now know how you all felt…even then, your futures are guaranteed…mine, on the other hand is…well…you know.
Wile: Who's to say? You remember that speech our beloved shining star gave us?
Pepe: You mean…that one?
Wile: United we stand, together we fall…as corny as it sounds.
Sylvester: I mean, at the very least, we've got each other's backs to some extent. No use in being enemies all the time.
Pepe: A pill hard to swallow for some…
Wile: Still, I'd rather see that charismatic grin on your face than a mug full of depression, it doesn't suit you…and it makes me feel…bad.
Penelope: Question for you, coyote?
Wile: Yes?
Penelope: Since when did you become so philosophical?
Wile: Haven't you forgotten? I happen to be an intellectual and academic genius. It only makes sense.
Penelope: Well, I see the hubris hasn't left you either.
Wile: What is life without asserting your strengths, I see no need to be humble.
Sylvester: I mean, you can actually get away with it now.
Wile: True, instead of waiting for an object to fall on my head, I can simply relax…isn't that right?
[In an instant, the Roadrunner suddenly appears next to the bench on Wile's left, doing his signature raspberry]
Roadrunner: Meep, meep!
Wile: That's a good boy…
[Wile puts his paw under the avian's beak]
Pepe: …Somehow, zat is not ze strangest attraction I have seen in my time. When two people know each other for so long, it is only a matter of time…hmmmmmm.
Sylvester: The point is…you're not as bad as some might make you out to be, if anything, you've never acted out of malice, like, uh….well…
Pepe: It is like our good friend Daffy Duck said, "some scriptwriters, eh?"
[This incites a bit of laughter from the others, including Pepe managing to give a small grin]
Pepe: It is times like this where I appreciate your company. I do feel a little bit better…
Sylvester: As you should, we all know you're not all bad, Pepe. I would know, you helped me out a while back…even if it may have come from a horseshoe.
Pepe: With you, mon ami, it would be a pleasure.
[Sylvester blushes upon hearing this]
Wile: Good to know the real Pepe is still in there.
Pepe: He never left, monsieur, I just…needed to express myself a little bit….so far, I haven't been mocked to oblivion.
Penelope: Of course not, we care about you, Pepe.
Pepe: You really are a gem, Penelope. Always be mindful of that.
Penelope: I guess I did take something from you after all…
Pepe: Yes…thank you…all of you…
Sylvester: No problem.
Wile: Just don't make it a habit for me, please.
Roadrunner: Meep-have a heart-meep!
Wile: I do…mostly reserved for the one in front of me.
[Roadrunner's signature grin turns to a silently flustered expression as either side of his blue face turns a shade of red]
Pepe: Hmmhmmhmm, I needed that…
[An alternative rendition of the first half of "In the Bed" from Coraline plays in the background as the skunk looks up to the night sky]
Pepe: Even if I'm caught in ze crossfire of interpretation and…misinterpretation, at the very least, I'm not alone…
[The shot pans out from the group sitting on the bench with the music fading out]
[Cut to black]
Character Guide:
Pepe Le Pew, Penelope Pussycat, Sylvester, Wile E. Coyote, Roadrunner, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Lola Bunny, Tina Russo, Foghorn Leghorn, Tweety Bird, Taz, Marvin the Martian, Granny Webster, Speedy Gonzales, Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Witch Hazel, Gossamar, Barnyard Dawg, Petunia Pig, Pete Puma, Claude Cat - Looney Tunes
Ami, Yumi - Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi
Babs Bunny, Fifi La Fume, Shirley Loon - Tiny Toons Adventures
Bloo - Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
Dexter - Dexter's Laboratory
Fang the Sniper, Bean the Duck, Bark the Polar Bear - Sonic the Hedgehog
Garfield, Odie - Garfield
Krypto, Ace, Streaky - Krypto the Superdog
Penelope Pitstop - Wacky Races / The Perils of Penelope Pitstop
Roscoe and DeSoto - Oliver and Company (1988)
Spongebob Squarepants - Spongebob Squarepants
Starlight Glimmer, Trixie Lulamoon, Sunset Shimmer - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic / Equestria Girls
Tech E. Coyote, Rev Runner - Loonatics Unleashed
Gordon, Spencer - Thomas and Friends