Oddball

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(WATER SPLASHES)

(FAIRY PENGUIN CALLS)

(JAUNTY MUSIC)

(MAN HUMMING)

- (KEY CLACKS)

- Argh!

- (KEY CLACKS)

- (GRUNTS)

(HUMS)

- (KEY CLACKS)

- Argh! Argh!

- (KEYS CLACK)

- Ooh!

(BELL RINGS)

(GENTLE PIANO MUSIC)

NARRATOR:
Far, far away

in a magical part of the world,

there is a special place,

the sleepy town of Warrnambool.

Where fairy penguins,

the littlest penguins of all,

call home.

They nest on a rocky place

called Middle Island.

For years, the townspeople

walked the shallow channel

to the island

to watch thousands of fairy

penguins return home at night.

(PENGUINS CALLING)

Because the penguins brought

a special magic to the town.

But one night,

foxes found that they too

could walk to the island.

And in just

a few short years...

there were hardly

any penguins left.

And there was nothing

the townspeople

could do to save them.

(SEAGULLS SQUAWK)

(PANTS)

This is just awful.

Especially if you're a penguin.

Jack, Zoe,

how many penguins are left?

You know, I'm gonna let Watt

be the angel of doom.

Em, look, you should know that

the numbers aren't great, okay?

Morning, Emily.

Sorry to be the...

- How many, Mr Watt?

- 20.

W-what?

You just did your count.

Maybe some left already.

Zoe did her count at dawn before

they go out to hunt. It's 20.

I remember when there were

thousands here. What a shame.

Maybe they're just staying out

to protect themselves.

We just need to hold

the foxes off a little while.

- How? With tranquillizer guns?

- Yeah.

- See how well that's been going.

- I was actually doing alright

till the foxes defied nature

and learnt how to swim.

Listen, your annual review

is in two weeks.

To keep funding

and sanctuary status,

you need at least 10 penguins

to call this place home.

- And at this rate...

- Mr Watt, Paul, please.

You knew my mum. This sanctuary

was her everything.

I can't let her down. Please.

That's why I've stuck my neck

out with council for so long.

I'm sorry, Emily.

But if council sees less

than 10 penguins next month,

the place won't be a sanctuary,

it'll just be a rock.

ZOE:
So now what do we do?

Well, unless things take a turn,

we're all out of work.

NARRATOR:
With the fairy

penguins almost gone,

it seems

the magic of Warrnambool

will soon be gone too.

The town's only hope

now lies with...

a chicken farmer

and his very odd dog.

- (CHICKENS SQUAWK)

- They just don't know it yet.

MAN:
Right. Ugh!

Brrr! Brrr!

Brrr!

(LAUGHS)

Ah, yes!

Nothing like a good

cold kick to the ventricles

to start the day, eh, ladies?

(CHICKENS SQUAWK)

Oh.

Mmm!

Beautiful!

Morning, Missy.

Oddball! Breakfast!

Oddball, where are you, mate?

(DOG BARKS)

(CHICKENS CLUCK)

Oh! Get out of there!

How many times do I have

to tell you, you crazy dog?

Here. That's your food.

What are you waiting for,

a knife and fork? Just eat it up.

Right, your turn to shower.

(WHIMPERS)

The only Maremma dog in history

that can't bring itself

to guard chickens.

Explain that to me.

Huh? (SIGHS)

Give me one good reason

why I shouldn't trade you in

to the highest bidder.

- Not that I'd get much for you.

- (BARKS)

(LAUGHS)

There's a good one, then.

You! You're still grounded.

So stay. okay?

I'm off to pick up Livvie.

And don't destroy anything!

And if you do,

glue it back together

so I don't know about it.

Another day, another dozen.

What happened to 'stay'? Eh?

You are dopey if you think

you're coming into town with me.

- (ODDBALL WHINES)

- (SIGHS) Alright.

Well, move over. Go on.

Shove over.

Go on, over you get.

Keep your head down

and your mouth shut.

Took me six months

to pay off your last debt.

Move over! Alright. Off we go.

AMERICAN MAN:
I am really sorry

about the penguins, Olivia.

You know, I'm sure that

your mom and her team,

they're doing

everything they can.

They're very smart. Um...

But, hey, you know what?

This gives us a chance to bond.

Right? No? Maybe not.

Hey, Olivia,

we're in a bit of a hurry.

Did you get your bag

all packed?

- Bag's on the table.

- Ah!

Good. Of course you did,

of course you did.

Because you... are mature.

You're an adult.

What are you? You're, like...

you're, like, 30 or 35, 36.

I'm 9.

I know, I was joking. A joke.

Hey, I was going to wait

until your mom got here,

but no time like the present.

- (GIGGLES)

- Okay, well, that is for you.

Just to say thank you

for being such a good hostess.

Did you want crust or no crust?

I always do no crust.

I'm going to do no crust.

Thanks.

I heard that everyone

is wearing those now.

And why would I want to

be like everyone else?

Oh... that's right.

Your mom told me that you were

a bit of a trailblazer. No!

(PHONE RINGING)

Hey. Emily! (CHUCKLES)

No. No, no. Everything's great.

Right? Huh?

No, we're having

a wonderful time.

Don't worry about it. Huh?

What? Your dad?

When? No, no, no, no.

You said he was never on time.

SWAMPY:
(OVER RADIO)

Livvie. Calling Livvie.

Out the from'

in T minus 10 seconds.

Copy, Grandad.

Be right out. Over.

- Got to go!

- He's here. What do I do?

- Ah, there's my Livvie.

- Grandad, flip me over!

Hang on, watch me back.

I can't flip you over anymore.

You're too big.

You'll just pull me over.

That's because you're

such a great big giant.

Grandad, you're not supposed

to bring Oddball into town!

- (BARKS)

- (GASPS) Oh, shoo!

Shoo! Get away! Go!

SWAMPY:
I see you in there.

Get out here now!

If you don't, I'm gonna

come in there and drag you out.

- Oh, no.

- (BARKS)

SWAMPY:
Come on,

you dopey thing. Get out here!

BRADLEY:
Not the tie!

SWAMPY:
What have you

got there? Hey?

Come on, show me

what you've got.

Oh, yeah, he's got

a bit of fight, don't you?

What is it?

Where did you get that?

- EMILY:
Hi.

- Hey. Where have you been?

- Uh...

- OLIVIA:
Hi, Mum!

Hi. I'm so sorry.

Our first morning together

has just turned into a mess.

Oh, that's okay.

Hey, I like your mess.

- Let's go.

- Go... Wait, go? Now?

Yeah. He'll just come in

and then you'll be trapped.

Don't worry. Keep it fast

and don't stop moving.

- Hmm.

- Hi, Dad! Right.

- Let's get going, eh?

- (BRADLEY SIGHS)

Hi. Uh, Bradley Slater.

We've met, um...

- Oh.

- (ODDBALL WHIMPERS)

EMILY:
Dad, Oddy's not

supposed to be in town.

You can't afford

a repeat of last time.

SWAMPY:
Well, this isn't town

and your yard's got a fence.

BRADLEY:
Alright, we've all got

places to go and things to do.

I've got a big rehearsal tonight

for the opening night.

- Goodbye.

- What's he doing here?

I was called away

early this morning

and Bradley really helped

us out. You behaved, right?

Oh, we're practically BFFs.

Alright, come on, then.

Chop-chop. Hop into the truck.

SWAMPY:
Bradley helped out, eh?

Really? You and the

tourism blow-in, huh?

(SIGHS) l... l like him.

And he's not scared away

by the single mum thing,

so don't screw this up, okay?

Alright.

It's none of my business.

- (ENGINE GRINDS)

- Oh, just grind away, Betty.

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