Oddball and the Penguins Page #5

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Um, wow. That was a bit rude.

I'm sorry. I have something

I need to tell you.

- OK.

- Um...

I know how much

the penguins mean to you.

Um, but...

the council are backing

Rich's whale watching centre

on Middle Island.

Once everybody realised

that the island was

becoming uninhabited...

Uh, What?

You didn't think to tell me

anything during all of this?

I wanted to wait

until it was final.

- Final?

- Final?

Right, I've heard

enough of this rubbish.

- Grandad, no!

- I knew we couldn't trust him.

Stop! You can't just

barge in like this. Stop!

The sanctuary's been going

downhill for a while.

At least this will give it

something to replace it

that's honourable, and we can

think about our future.

Stop right there!

What is this I hear

about some whale watching

thing on Middle Island?!

- Dad...

- Mr Marsh...

Listen, you clown,

Middle Island is home

to those penguins

and it's where they belong.

Oh! Ow!

What was that?

- Ugh! What is this?

- It's a two-way.

He doesn't care about

the penguins, he's just trying

to feather his own nest, and

he wants you and Livvie in it.

Right, that's enough,

from both of you.

We'll catch a taxi.

Come on. Come on.

Ahh...

You know, if you had one ounce

of feelings for her...

I care about Emily very much,

thank you.

Then help us prove that

Oddball's fair dinkum.

And if his dinkum...

proves fair?

Jack.

Then the whale watching

centre will go away

and I'll be out of a job.

- Could you sit down, please?

- Sorry.

This Oddball solution of yours

really works?

Like scrambled eggs on toast.

So, Emily came

to see me about Oddball.

People are looking to council

for something special

to bring in jobs and money,

hence the whales.

This might be my undoing

as a mayor,

but the penguins

have always felt special to me.

The one thing Judge Burns

loves more than his bike

is the law.

When I point out how exposed

the entire whale development is

on account of being approved

before the sanctuary

was legally available,

he'll walk Oddball

on that island himself

in his rush for due diligence.

Huh.

You're a clever egg,

aren't you?

I didn't become mayor

for nothing.

We'll keep that dog

on the island.

But be warned,

when they're forced

to put their plans on hold,

our approval ratings might

be in for a bit of a hammering.

Oh, that's my

strategic advantage.

No-one approves of me, anyway.

I don't mind you.

This is a major setback.

- This... this is major.

- Don't put this on me.

You were the one

that convinced me

to keep that dog around

in the first place.

My office,

they think I'm a flip-flopper,

'cause it's penguins

and then it's whales

and then it's whales

and then it's penguins.

Between you and me,

I haven't had a project work

in years.

So I could really use this.

That's not really my problem.

Now, scoot.

OK.

I hate that dog.

Oddball?

Livvie.

Livvie.

Six killed. We're under ten.

And we can't find Oddball.

We'll, er... we'll find Oddy.

Get this sorted out.

We can still fix this,

sweetheart.

It doesn't matter anymore.

We're moving to New York.

Sweetheart,

go help Jack and Zoe, OK?

So, you're moving?

What am I sticking

around here for?

Because this works.

Come on. Oddball wouldn't

have just run off somewhere.

Stop! I hope Oddball's OK.

But as far as I go,

the sanctuary's done.

What, so that's it?

Just give up?

How dare you!

Do you even realise what plans

I gave up when Mum died?

Well, yes.

But I... l didn't ask you

to do that.

No, you retreated

to your chickens

and left her life's work

blowing in the wind.

Em.

I didn't just lose a wife.

I lost my best friend.

Oh, yes. But I lost my mum.

I...

But I knew that the right thing

to do was to continue her work.

It was my decision, yes,

no regrets,

but it is 11 years later and...

"Dad, the penguins are gone."

You know, I used to have fun.

I used to be a lot of fun.

I didn't get to go to

university or see the world,

but I'm gonna make damn sure

that Olivia does.

Oddball!

Oddball!

Oddball!

Where are you, mate?

Oddball!

Oddball!

Oddball!

Hi, love.

It's been a, er...

it's been a while

since you've heard from me.

Just want you to know

that, er...

Actually, I... I really

need you to know...

I'm sorry.

When you went, I should have...

I should have

taken care of all of this.

And our family.

Oh, I miss you badly.

Alright.

Hello.

What are you two doing here?

Tranquillizer dart.

Speak to Jack about this.

Pocket, I'll be back.

You know, love,

you were always there for me.

Now it's my turn.

Oddball!

Pull over!

Hey, mate.

- Where were you?

- Found him in a gully.

Down back of Baringa Road.

What were you

doing there, mate?

Alright, what's the fine?

No, judge's orders.

It's the end of the line.

Handing you this

just saves me on postage.

Oh, come on, mate.

Mate, my granddaughter

loves this dog.

Hey, don't make me the bad guy.

I'm just doing my job.

I'm not... weird.

I'm not a... weirdy weirdo.

Are you gonna give my dog back?

Oh... I'll give you two

a moment.

I'm sorry, mate.

I honestly never thought

you'd end up in here.

Sorry, mate.

What is it?

Don't worry, mate. I'm gonna

get you out of there, OK?

Time's up!

You rest up, Oddy.

You're gonna need it.

- Hey, Swampy.

- I just found this on the island

and a matching

puncture wound in Oddy.

- That's one of mine.

- Yeah, that's why I'm here.

Are you serious, mate?

I retrieve all my darts.

Emily likes it

when I keep her budget down.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

One, two, three, four, five...

I am missing a gun

and two cages.

I get why you would take guns,

but why would you take cages?

For whales.

Huh?

Right, time to give

this clown a red nose for real.

- Wait, wait, wait, Swamp.

- What?

It's probably not the best idea

to just barge on in

accusing her boyfriend

of being a penguin murderer.

- You think?

- Yeah. Be subtle.

- Subtle?

- Focus on the positives.

- The positives?

- Yeah.

Good news. I found Oddball.

- Oh...

- Can I tell Livvie?

- Er, I suppose.

- Is, er... is Bradley here?

No. But wait. What? Dad? No.

- What is going on?

- I'll tell you what's going on.

I found a spent dart

on the island,

Oddy's got a dart wound

in his shoulder

and someone stole

a dart gun from Jack's.

Eh? Proof. Look at that.

- So, who are you suggesting...

- Who do you reckon, Emily?

Who's got the most to gain

by the penguins being gone?

Who jumped at the idea to build

a whale watching centre

on Middle Island?

And who knows the final

penguin count is tomorrow?

- This bloke's good.

- Thanks.

Uh... What do you

expect me to do?

- I mean, Bradley would never...

- Oh, Emily, just forget who.

Somebody hurt Oddball

and those penguins deliberately

and whoever did it will come

back tonight and finish the job.

Em...

Look, I'm sorry

I've let you down in the past.

But I want you to know

I'm gonna make it up to you.

Just give me a chance

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