By Gary Curtis

Powerpuff Girls created by Craig McCracken and al related characters owned by Cartoon Network.

 

EXT-TOWNSVILLE SKYLINE-DAY

NARRATOR: The City of Townsville...a place that thinks you're never too old to learn...

[Montage of grade schoolers paying rapt attention to a lesson, high schoolers doing lab experiments, college graduates receiving their diplomas, senior citizens attending computer classes.]

NARRATOR (continuing over montage): ...a community that believes education is the key to building a better tomorrow, and it all begins with a solid foundation...

PAN to aerial view of Pokey Oaks Kindergarten. Camera zooms in on the building.

NARRATOR...and nowhere is this better illustrated than at Pokey Oaks Kindergarten...

CUT TO: INSIDE OF CLASSROOM

[The teacher, MS. KEANE, stands at the blackboard, smiling, while the smiling POWERPUFF GIRLS, BLOSSOM, BUBBLES and BUTTERCUP, hand her a big shiny apple and float to their seats amid their smiling classmates.]

NARRATOR: ...where even little girls with superpowers need that push in the right direction down the road to enlightenment...

[Everyone in the room turns their heads toward camera, frowning.]

NARRATOR (whispering): ...uh, I'll shut up now.

KEANE: Now, class, for our reading lesson today, we will be doing some nursery rhymes. We'll start with 'Simple Simon'. Bubbles, will you begin, please?

BUBBLES (stands, reads from a book; all of the children have books): Simple Simon met a pieman going to the fair. Said Simple Simon to the pieman, 'May I taste your ware?'

KEANE: VERY good!

[Bubbles beams with pride and sits.]

KEANE: Mike?

MIKE BELIEVE (stands): Said the pieman to Simple Simon, 'Let me see your penny.' Said Simple Simon to the pieman, 'Sir, I don't have any.'

KEANE: Mike, that was excellent!

[He sits. Bubbles smiles at him and he blushes.]

KEANE: Okay, Mitch, you go next, please.

MITCH MITCHELLSON (stands, frowns at the page, then gets a sly grin on his face): Said the pieman to Simple Simon, 'In that case, you can taste my underwear!'

[Laughter explodes from the kids. Keane is angry and strides toward them.]

KEANE (loudly): MITCHELL!! SIT DOWN!!

[Most of the children silence themselves at her tone of voice. Bubbles puts her hands to her mouth, slightly fearful and appearing ashamed for laughing. Keane has come to stand looking down at the Powerpuffs, whose desk is right next to Mitch's (and two other kids). Mitch sits, wearing an underwear-eating grin. Blossom and Buttercup look at each other, fighting to keep it in. They lose. They cling to each other, eyes shut and open mouths huge.]

KEANE: Girls! I'm surprised at you, especially you, Blossom!

BLOSSOM (stops laughing long enough to answer): Well, you gotta hand it to him, Ms. K! It was a pretty clever way to say 'Eat my shorts!'

[The other kids laugh again, except Bubbles, who is shocked, and Buttercup, who has her own wisecrack ready.]

BUTTERCUP: Yeah, Teach, lighten up!

KEANE: Teach??!! I think you two need a time out!!

BLOSSOM (pointing angrily): Yeah? I think your pantyhose are too tight!

[Buttercup finds this hilarious. The other children sit stunned. Even Mitch is so shocked that his grin disappears. Bubbles looks about to cry. Keane points angrily toward the corner.]

KEANE: GIT!!

[They float over to the corner, arms crossed. Buttercup looks at Blossom.]

BUTTERCUP: Gee, do ya think we were too hard on her?

[They look at each other for a few seconds.]

BLOSSOM and BUTTERCUP: NAH!!

[They wrap their arms around each other and convulse in laughter.]

WHIP PAN to Bubbles and Keane. Bubbles looks up sadly.

BUBBLES: I'm sorry, Ms. Keane. I don't know what's wrong with them this morning!

[Keane looks angrily at the two Powerpuffs guffawing in the background.]

KEANE: I don't either, Bubbles, but I intend to find out!

NARRATOR: What's going on? Is the good ship Pokey Oaks in trouble? Will Ms. Keane be able to quell this uprising before Blossom makes her walk the plank? What could have gotten into those Girls? Oh no, it could only be one thing...HIM!!

CUT TO: HIM'S LAIR

[The demon is watching the scene on his television. A sad Bubbles takes up most of the screen.]

HIM (Female voice): Yeeeess! My poor, sweet Bubbles! I underestimated you last time, but you ARE the weak link! My mistake was in believing that Blossom and Buttercup fighting would destroy the Powerpuff Girls because you were too weak to stop them. But those two ALWAYS fight. So I'm having them team up...(Evil voice)...against YOU!!! (FV) And what better way than to have everyone turn against that poor ditz of a teacher you all love so much? When you try to stop them, they'll destroy you!! And when I lift my spell and your sisters see what they've done, they'll blame each other and you little brats will be finished...(EV) FOREVER!! Hahahahahahahaha!!!

NARRATOR: Oh, no, it's worse than I thought! Will the Girls realize what's happening before it's too late? Somebody blow up that guy's TV!

FADE TO RED

CUT TO: EXT-POKEY OAKS KINDERGARTEN-DAY

CUT TO: INT

[Ms. Keane seemingly has things under control once more. The room is darkened and the camera pans on the children taking their naps. Blossom and Buttercup wear large smiles on their sleeping faces. Bubbles, unsmiling, appears to be asleep, but one eye opens and looks in the direction of Ms. Keane. Camera pans over to Keane's desk, where she is seated, talking on the phone.]

[Split screen shot, with Keane in conversation with PROFESSOR UTONIUM, seated on a stool in his lab with assorted equipment in the background.]

UTONIUM: Ms. Keane, I am truly shocked! You can rest assured I will speak to the Girls about this as soon as they get home!

[Camera pans back to Bubbles. Dotted lines in a cone pattern emanate from where her ear would be, indicating she can hear both ends of the conversation with her super hearing.]

KEANE: Thank you, Professor! I can't understand what's gotten into Blossom.

UTONIUM: Me either, Ms. Keane. Thanks for calling. Goodbye!

KEANE: Goodbye, Professor.

[Bubbles' face breaks into a smile and she shuts her eye and goes to sleep.]

FADE OUT

FADE IN: DAY

[The sisters approach the front of their home, in flight.]

BUBBLES: I can't wait. You guys are in big trouble!

BUTTERCUP: I bet that fink Keane called Professor!

BUBBLES: Yep! You were mean to her!

BLOSSOM: Shut up, Bubbles. Don't worry, Buttercup! We'll deal with it, and we'll deal with her tomorrow!

[They fly into the house through their upstairs bedroom windows.]

NARRATOR: Oh, that HIM! Evil! EVIL!!

CUT TO: INT-BEDROOM

[The Girls drop their school things, just as Professor barges through the door, looking displeased. Bubbles smiles.]

BLOSSOM and BUTTERCUP: Uh oh.

UTONIUM (arms crossed, glaring down): Blossom, Ms. Keane called me today. Did you say 'Eat my shorts' in class?

BLOSSOM: Uh, yes, but I was only saying what Mitch said!

UTONIUM: Never mind that. Did you tell your teacher her pantyhose were too tight?

BLOSSOM (looks at the floor): Yes.

UTONIUM: Buttercup, did you encourage her?

BUTTERCUP: Yeah, so what's your point?

UTONIUM: My point is...

[He taps his foot, while Bubbles' expression becomes 'Told you!']

UTONIUM (scoops Blossom and Buttercup into his arms, ignoring Bubbles; laughing wildly): Hahahahahaha!! That is the funniest thing I've ever heard! I always hoped one of you would grow up to be a comedian!

[The two hang onto him; all three laugh with tears rolling down their faces.]

BUBBLES (confused, pulls at his pantleg): Professor?

UTONIUM (snapping at her): Oh, Bubbles, stop being such a baby!

BUBBLES: But...but...but...

[Just then the hotline buzzes, and they snap to attention. Blossom flies to answer it.]

BLOSSOM: Powerpuff Girls hotline! Hi, I'm Blossom, I'm the funny one. Buttercup is my straight man and Bubbles, well, she's the wet blanket. We're now booking...oh, sorry , Mayor! Okay! We'll be right there!

[She hangs up.]

BUTTERCUP: What is it, Blossom?

[Blossom zips over and whispers something to her.]

BUTTERCUP: Cool! Let's go!

BUBBLES: Where we going, Girls?

BLOSSOM (frowning): Maybe the baby should stay home.

UTONIUM: Now, Blossom, just because the baby doesn't have a sense of humor, it doesn't mean she can't go.

[He looks down at a shocked, hurt Bubbles.]

UTONIUM: Now make sure my widdle one wistens to her sisters and doesn't cause any twubble!

[The three laugh again, then Buttercup and Blossom zip out through their windows. Bubbles gives Professor a dirty look before following them. He is too busy chuckling to notice.]

NARRATOR: Poor Bubbles, even the Professor has turned against her!

CUT TO: EXT-TOWNSVILLE SKYLINE

[Blossom and Buttercup are still laughing as they zoom toward the city.]

BLOSSOM: Now, Bubbles, don't you make a move until I say so!

BUTTERCUP: And when you do, take baby steps!

[Camera closes in on Bubbles' face as she catches up to them from behind. She is seething.]

BUBBLES (to herself): I'll show them who's a baby! If everything's such a big joke to them, I'll save the day all by myself!

CUT TO: EXT-THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN

[A green Godzilla-type monster looms high above Townsville Hall. It isn't moving at the present. A large number of citizens are standing, watching a group of dignitaries on the steps of the Hall. MAYOR MAYOR is at a podium. He introduces a MAN to his left, who is dressed casual and wearing sunglasses. SARA BELLUM is to MAYOR's right.]

MAYOR: Good afternoon, my fellow citizens. It's not every day that a great Hollywood director decides to make a feature film in our fair city. So it's with great pleasure that I introduce Mr. EMERICK ROLLAND and his huge star, Gorgonzolla!

[The enormous figure made of steel, plastic, flameproof fiberglass and expensive electronics spits a plume of real fire into the sky and waves its small forelegs high above the street. The massive speakers inside emit a tremendous roar. It is a thrilling moment, and the crowd shouts its approval. Rolland steps to the podium as Mayor backs away.]

ROLLAND (leans over and whispers to Mayor, but the mike picks it up and the crowd can hear): Hey, I thought you said they'd be here!

SARA BELLUM (sarcastically): Mayor sometimes forgets unimportant little details like calling the Powerpuff Girls! He remembered only five minutes ago!

ROLLAND: Perfect! You can kiss your cameo goodbye, Mayor!

SEVERAL IN THE CROWD (simultaneously, pointing skyward): There they are!

WHIP PAN to Girls:

[As they approach downtown, they see the $30 million investment looming over the streets. It doesn't appear to be moving at the moment. Suddenly, another huge roar and burst of flame come out of it.]

BUTTERCUP: Look, there it is!

[A blue streak blows between Blossom and Buttercup, sending them spinning briefly like pinwheels.]

BLOSSOM (righting herself): Bubbles, wait! Come back here!

WHIP TO Bubbles.

BUBBLES (twisting her face into a mask of fury): I'll save you, Townsville!

[Her sisters try in vain to catch up. She has a head start, both in speed and attitude.]

BLOSSOM: No, Bubbles DON'T!!

BUTTERCUP: Bubbles, it's only a...

[Bubbles hits it with her lasers, then blasts through it herself, ripping it in two great chunks. Sparks and flame shoot out of it as the electronics inside short out. The two halves begin to topple over and downward as screaming people try to flee. A quick pan to the podium shows Rolland choking Mayor and being choked by Bellum. Another quick pan to Bubbles as she turns to make another pass, and pulls up just as her sisters reach her. The remnants of the smashed prop create a tremendous crash and clouds of dust and smoke as they hit the street.]

BUTTERCUP: Bubbles, that was just a dummy, you DUMMY!!!

BUBBLES: Ooops! I broke the monster! Hee hee!

BLOSSOM: Bubbles, leave the comedy to the professionals, huh? Now, why did you disobey a direct order?

BUBBLES: Well, if you'da told me instead of keepin' it a big secret!

[Blossom and Buttercup's eye-lasers begin to glow in preparation to blast their sister.]

CUT TO: HIM'S LAIR

[Him is watching, on his television, the scene unfold with a look of alarm on his face.]

HIM (FV): Oh, no, this isn't right at all! They're focusing on Bubbles much too early! I want them blaming that stupid teacher of theirs!

[He waves one of his claws.]

CUT TO: GIRLS

[Blossom looks at Buttercup in surprise. They power down.]

BLOSSOM: She's right, Buttercup! We're sorry, Bubbles, we should have told you. It's our fault.

BUTTERCUP: No! It's Ms. Keane's fault! She made us so mad that we weren't thinking straight!

BLOSSOM (with a nasty smile): Yeah, Buttercup. Tomorrow, we're taking over!

BUBBLES: But Blossom, Ms. Keane didn't do anything!

[Blossom and Buttercup head for home and a very sad Bubbles follows them.]

BUBBLES: Poor Ms. Keane!

CUT TO: EXT-UTONIUM HOME

[The Girls land by the front door and head inside.]

CUT TO: INT-LIVING ROOM

[Professor is staring open mouthed at the TV, watching the report of what just happened downtown, when the Girls float in. Reporter STANLEY WHITFIELD is on screen.]

WHITFIELD: ...and this was the scene just a short time ago...

[Rolling footage of Bubbles blasting the movie prop, the wreckage falling, hundreds of screaming citizens running away, and finally the choking at the podium.]

WHITFIELD: ...when Townsville's dream of being the setting for a major motion picture was destroyed when Powerpuff Girl Bubbles mistook the giant $30 million star of the film for a real monster. The blame for this sorry spectacle can be laid squarely on the shoulders of...Ms. Keane, teacher at Pokey Oaks kindergarten!

[A file photo of Keane appears.]

WHITFIELD: It is the opinion of this reporter that such incompetence must not...

[Professor clicks the set off in disgust.]

UTONIUM: Unbelievable! Girls, if your school can't find a better teacher, I'm going to have to send you somewhere else!

BLOSSOM (Exchanging a nasty smile with Buttercup): Relax, Professor, starting tomorrow, we won't have her to worry about anymore! Hee hee hee!

UTONIUM, BLOSSOM and BUTTERCUP (singing together [my apologies to Alice Cooper]): School's...out...for...teacher!

[Bubbles just looks on sadly while they laugh at their private joke.]

NARRATOR: Oh, Bubbles, it looks like you're the only friend Ms. Keane's got.

FADE TO BLACK

FADE IN-GIRLS ROOM -MORNING

[The Girls are sleeping peacefully.]

NARRATOR (yawns): Ah, a new day...look at 'em, so sweet and innocent...I must have been having a nightmare...

[Bubbles opens one eye, sees she is the only one awake, gets up and flies downstairs. She opens the refrigerator.]

BUBBLES: We're out of apples? Well, these are just as good!

[She takes a basket of strawberries out of the fridge.]

BUBBLES: These'll make Ms. Keane feel better.

[Shefrowns.]

BUBBLES: They better not pick on her today...

NARRATOR:...oops, I think I spoke too soon!

CUT TO: EXT-POKEY OAKS KINDERGARTEN-LATER THAT MORNING

CUT TO: INT

[Ms. Keane stands at the front of the room as a smiling Bubbles gives her the strawberries. The other kids are all sitting. Blossom and Buttercup give Bubbles the raspberry as she floats back to take her seat.]

BLOSSOM: Teacher's pet!

KEANE (setting the berries down on her desk): Why, Blossom, you sound jealous! We're not going to have a repeat of yesterday, are we?

BLOSSOM (with false innocence): No, Ms. Keane. Today will be a LOT different!

KEANE (turns her back): Good! Now class, today we'll start with spelling. Please get out...

BLOSSOM (off camera): I don't think so!

[Fast pan to Blossom, standing with hands on hips. An open-mouthed Keane and Bubbles stare at her. Buttercup, Mitch and a few other kids have wide grins.]

BLOSSOM (in a haughty tone): Children, we need to expand our minds, not fill them up with this mundane trivia! I suggest a delightful mural painting!

BUTTERCUP: On three! One, two, three!

[At the magic word, a far wall of the classroom explodes in color from a barrage of paint-filled balloons. The kids laugh and scream in delight, except Bubbles, who flies to her horrified teacher's side.]

BUBBLES (screaming): What are you doing to all the colors?!!

KEANE: That's IT, young lady! Bubbles, will you please lead the class outside for recess? Blossom, you come with me!

[She turns and storms toward the door, and when she sees Blossom isn't coming, she turns back, and notices the strawberries are gone from her desk.]

KEANE: My strawberries! Who took my strawberries? They were sitting right there! No one leaves this room until the person who stole my strawberries comes forward!

[She is met with and ducks from a fusillade of strawberries. They sail over, under and around her and smash into the wall. Bubbles flies to defend her.]

BUBBLES: You guys stop that!

[She is met with the remaining fruit. A big, juicy one smacks her right in the forehead and it runs down her face. Her face contorts in anger, and she unleashes a scream. She zooms at her sisters, who duck out of the way and laugh at her. When she comes back at them, she is double-zapped and a Bubbles-shaped hole appears in the blackboard. When Keane rushes to help her out of the smoke-filled hole, the other children throw chalk, erasers, paper airplanes, jars of paste, and other assorted school stuff at them. They duck most of it, and when they stand up, they are surrounded by all of the children, who are moving in toward them in a circle. Keane and Bubbles hang onto each other.]

BLOSSOM: Let's git 'em!

BUBBLES: There's too many!

KEANE (terrified): Bubbles, why does everyone hate us?

BUBBLES (slumps in resignation, eyes closed): It's not them, Ms. Keane, it's ...Him.

[At the mention of his name, the red demon appears suddenly before them.]

HIM (EV): Right you are, Bubbles! (FV) You get a gold star! Too bad it'll be your last one!

[He sees that the children have stopped advancing, and are just staring at him, wide-eyed.]

HIM (EV): Don't just stand there, you little brats, FINISH THEM!

[Blossom and Buttercup blink, Bubbles and Keane are still standing in fear.]

BLOSSOM: You have GOT to be kidding!

BUTTERCUP: Man, you are SO dumb!

HIM (EV): WHAT??!!

BLOSSOM: You villains are all the same! You always have these...

[She looks skyward, waving her hands in a grand gesture.]

BLOSSOM: ...WONDERFUL, INGENIOUS plans to destroy us, some of which might even work; and just when you're ready to...

[She pounds a fist into her other hand.]

BLOSSOM: ...finish us off, you either show up so we know it was you or tell us exactly what we need to know to escape!

BUTTERCUP: When will you guys learn to keep your big mouths shut?!!

[The Girls move in toward Him. He sees he is about to get thrashed.]

HIM (FV): Well, I'll certainly try to do better next time! Got to run, tata!

[He waves a claw to make himself vanish.]

KEANE: Not so fast, Mister!

[She grabs Him by the collar, and pushes him toward the blackboard (which has somehow been repaired with that cartoon magic we never see), pointing with her other hand.]

KEANE: March!

[Fast pan to the blackboard. A dejected looking Him is writing (we can assume 500 times) 'I will ask permission before tormenting innocent souls.' while Keane and the Powerpuffs are laughing.]

NARRATOR: Hahahahaha! Chalk one up for the good guys! So once again, the day is saved, thanks to ...the Powerpuff Girls...and Him's lousy teachers! Good thing the Girls have you, Ms. K!

THE END

Story written October 2000

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