The Tardy Tumbler/Transcript

Introduction
''A sign-up sheet lists the names of several girls. Marina, Fletcher, Katy, Carol, Jenna, Sue Ellen and Molly stand in the gymnasium in gym clothes. Prunella stands beside Marina in her normal clothes.''

Bellow: Good afternoon, little ladies of Elmwood. I am Boris Bolinski, but you can call me Bellow. I have coached nine girls to Olympic gold medals. You may clap now.

The girls clap.

Marina: Isn't this exciting? The Bellow, coaching a gymnastics team in our town.

Prunella: I have never heard of him, but if you're excited, I'm excited.

Bellow: Enough! Flattery will not get you on this team. What will? Strength, flexibility and, above all, heart. I want tigers, not mice. Who is first?

''The girls stand in front of a row of mats. Sue Ellen does a flic flac. Marina and Prunella are last in line.''

Marina: Now, remember why you're here. When Bellow gives me the signal, you whisper "Go."

Prunella: Got it. Are you sure it's a good idea not to tell the coach you're blind?

Marina: I've been taking gymnastics classes since I was little. I'm going to make this team because I'm good, not because someone feels sorry for me.

Prunella: Go.

''Marina does a flic flac followed by a salto. Coach Bellow smiles.''

Bellow: You! Next!

Prunella: Eh, me? I'm not trying out.

Bellow: You are in gym during my practice?

Prunella: Yes.

Bellow: Then you are trying out. Go!

Prunella: Well... I do practice yoga.

She does several yoga exercises ending with a split.

Bellow: Enough! I will now announce the lucky girls I have chosen. Katy, Carol, Sue Ellen and... Marina.

Marina+Prunella: Yes!

Bellow: And one more: Yoga Girl.

Prunella: (gasps)

Title Card: Prunella gives Marina her headband
Marina and Prunella leave the school.

Marina: I can't believe I made the team!

Prunella: Imagine how I feel. The only flip I've ever done is when I slipped on my crystal ball.

Marina: Well, Bellow's the best and he said you're a natural. Since my mom and I drive right past your house, we can pick you up for practice before school.

Prunella spits out the water she was drinking.

Prunella: (splutters) I'm sorry, I thought you said before school.

Marina: I did. We practice every morning at six o'clock sharp.

Prunella: There's a six o'clock in the morning?

Mrs. Datillo drives up.

Marina: That's my ride. Here, it's Bellow's audio book. For inspiration.

She hands Prunella a CD labelled “The Tiger of the Tundra”.

Marina: See you at 5:30 a.m.

Prunella: “The Tiger of The Tundra”.

***

While listening, Prunella imagines a small boy trudging through high snow.

Bellow (narrator): Life was not easy for a little gymnast in my country. I walked many kilometers to the gym, through snowdrifts so high I could not see.

''Little Boris looks around and sees a Russian church and a building with a sign saying “имнастика” (gymnastics). He dives into the snow and burrows towards the gym.''

''The fantasy ends. Prunella is listening in her bed in the evening.''

Bellow (on CD): “But the dream of Olympic gold lead my way.”

Mrs. Deegan calls from downstairs.

Mrs. Deegan: Prunella! Bedtime!

''Prunella turns off the light and continues listening. It is 8:00.''

Bellow (on CD): “Chapter 2. The push-up is your pal. Every morning, I started with two hundred push-ups.”

The clock changes to 11:59.

Bellow (on CD): Chapter 23. Leotards are for lions.

''Prunella falls asleep. In her dream, Francine and Buster are reporting from the gymnasium as reporters.''

Francine: History is being made tonight at the Olympics, ladies and gentlemen, where superstar gymnast Prunella "The Natural" Deegan is wowing the crowd.

''Prunella stands on a small podium surrounded by censers. She takes a run-up, jumps over a pommel horse using one finger, swings on the uneven bars using her ears while sitting in a yoga seat, and runs over the balance beam on two toes.''

Buster: I've never seen anything like it.

Francine: Believe it or not, Prunella is attempting all four events at the same time.

Buster: Can you believe she just started doing gymnastics last week?

''Prunella finishes by doing flic flacs past the reporters. In passing, she snatches Buster’s water glass and drinks it while doing a split on her podium. All judges hold up tens. Mr. Ratburn, dressed as a referee, blows a whistle.''

Francine: Ooh, that's got to hurt. The Natural is disqualified for going overtime.

''The dream ends. Prunella is woken by a car horn outside.''

Francine’s voice: Overtime. Overtime.

''Prunella sees that it is 5:35. She jumps out of bed.''

Prunella: No! I overslept.

She hurriedly puts on her socks.

***

Shortly afterwards, Prunella runs out to the Datillos’ car and gets in.

Prunella: I'm sorry, Marina. I'll be on time tomorrow, I promise.

Marina looks miffed.

Marina: It's okay. Anyone can make a mistake... once.

Prunella: Yeah. I'm sure no one will even notice we're late.

***

''Prunella and Marina walk into the gymnasium after 6:00. Bellow walks towards them and blows his whistle.''

Bellow: You are late, little mice.

Marina: I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again.

Bellow: Let me ask you girls a question. How many times do you think my greatest champion Nadia Comeinimgladtomeetya came late to practice?

Prunella: Um... 12?

Marina facepalms.

Bellow: Zero times. You both now have one strike. Three strikes, you're out.

''Marina look angrily at Prunella, who looks embarrassed. Bellow blows his whistle.''

Bellow: Okay, everyone, back to work. If gymnastics were easy, they'd call it football.

***

''During the practice, Marina does saltos on a balance beam. Bellow smiles as he writes in his notebook.''

Prunella attempts a cartwheel on the balance beam, but she falls off.

Prunella: (yawns) Sorry. Not a morning person.

''Marina gets in position for jumping over the pommel horse. She counts her steps.''

Marina: …8...9....

Prunella: I can't look.

''Marina manages the jump perfectly. Prunella tries and falls on her face.''

Prunella: O-oh. (groans)

***

Marina stands in front of the uneven bars looking scared.

Prunella: Marina, he gave you the signal two minutes ago.

Marina: I know, I know.

The bell rings.

Marina: (relieved sigh) Time to go.

Prunella leads her away.

***

That afternoon, Prunella knocks on Marina’s door.

Prunella: Marina, are you okay?

Marina: Yup. Great. Got to practice. Bye.

She closes the door after briefly opening it.

Prunella: What happened today at the uneven bars? Are they too hard for you?

Marina opens the door a bit.

Marina: I can do anything other people can do. Sometimes I just have to work a little bit harder. Now, if you'll excuse...

Prunella pushes the door open and sees a trapeze bar hanging from the ceiling and a plank of wood supported by two crates on the floor.

Prunella: Ooh, I like what you did with your room. Nice trapeze bar.

Marina: My mom hung it for me. To help me with the, erm...

Prunella: The uneven bars? You can tell me.

Marina: I'm… afraid of them. I can't see the bar above my head and I get scared that when I jump up there'll be nothing to grab onto.

Prunella’s cellphone rings.

Prunella: Hold that thought.

''The screen splits. Muffy is seen in the other half.''

Muffy: Prunella! Muffy. Tonight. My house. ‘Henry Skreever and the Giblets of Jeopardy’ in gastro-vision!

Prunella: No way! That sounds amazing. What's gastro-vision?

Prunella does not notice Marina’s annoyed look.

Muffy: Only the most exciting development in cinema since the invention of the movie screen.

Prunella: (gasps) Tell me more.

Prunella does not notice Marina pushing her out of the door.

Muffy: Every time a character eats something in the movie, you eat it in real life.

Prunella: Even magical smelly beans? I'm so there. See you tonight.

She hangs up.

Prunella: Sorry, you were saying? The door slams behind her. Marina?

***

''That evening, Prunella, Francine and Buster sit in the Crosswires’ TV room with bibs and TV trays in front of them. Muffy and Bailey present a trolley of food.''

Muffy: Hold on to your bibs, kids. The Muffy Megaplex proudly presents the film and food extravaganza of your life: Henry Skreever in gastro-vision!

The others clap.

''The movie begins. All four kids sit on the couch and Bailey serves whatever food is mentioned on screen.''

Henry’s Aunt (on DVD): Breakfast is in your bedroom beneath the sink, Henry. Gruel.

Meanwhile, Marina is doing pushups in her room, first two-handed, then one-handed.

Bailey serves cake.

Persephone (on DVD): For luck, in tomorrow's Tri-Gizzard Tournament, Henry. Karma cake.

Kids: Mmm.

Meanwhile, Marina is doing sit-ups.

Marina: (groans)

Henry (on DVD): Stop! That's not Multifruit Potion, it’s pixie puke!

Girls: Eww.

Buster goes on drinking green stuff through a straw.

Meanwhile, Marina prepares herself to jump at the upper bar.

''Eventually, Francine and Buster lie on the couch, looking like they ate too much. Prunella stands in the door.''

Prunella: Thanks, Muffy. That was fun and filling.

Muffy: You're leaving? But I've got ‘Henry Skreever and the Gremlin's Gallstone’! Let's make it a double feature.

A split screen shows Prunella and Marina, who is still standing under the beam.

Prunella: Gremlin's Gallstone? I can't pass that up.

She returns to her seat.

***

The next morning at 5:40, Prunella is woken by the car horn again.

Prunella: Not again.

***

Prunella sits in the Datillos’ car.

Prunella: It was a Henry Skreever double feature. What could I do?

Marina: Make a commitment to this. You were late and you're barely trying in practice.

Prunella: Well, excuse me for having a life, Miss Perfect. You know, gymnastics isn't everything.

Marina: It is to me.

Prunella: Then maybe you need to get out more.

Marina: Maybe you need to get out... of this car.

Prunella: I will... after it stops moving.

***

When they walk into the gymnasium, Marina and Prunella are greeted by the whistle again.

Bellow: Strike two!

Marina and Prunella walk in opposite directions while giving each other dirty looks.

***

Prunella attempts to do sit-ups.

Prunella: (groans)

She lies back.

Bellow: Yoga Girl, no resting in gymnastics.

Prunella: Is there sleeping? Cause I'm bushed.

Bellow kneels beside her.

Bellow: You know what, Yoga Girl, you have the talent, but do you have the fire in the belly for this sport?

Prunella: Well, I did eat a lot of really gross stuff last night.

Bellow: No, I mean, maybe you don't have passion for gymnastics, like your blind friend.

Prunella: How do you know she's blind?

He points at Marina doing a handstand.

Bellow: Bellow knows all, sees all. And her mother called me. That girl is the bravest tiger in this gym.

Prunella: I don't know if I don't care enough about gymnastics or if I'm just lazy.

Bellow: Eh, tough question. But I tell you this: When you find what you really care about, be like the tiger, don't let anything keep you from it.

''He walks away. Prunella smiles and walks over to Marina, who is standing under the uneven bars.''

Prunella: Marina, you can have my headband, I won't be needing it anymore. I hope it takes you all the way to the Olympics.

''She leaves. Marina looks surprised.''

***

That afternoon, Prunella is on the phone in the Deegans’ kitchen.

Prunella: Finally, a night free of responsibility. What are we doing, girls?

''The screen splits. The other half shows Francine and Muffy in Muffy’s room. Francine holds a soccer ball, Muffy a badminton racket.''

Francine: Sorry, it has to be an early night for me. Big soccer game against Mighty Mountain tomorrow.

Muffy: And I have a big badminton match against Bailey.

Prunella hangs up.

***

''In a fantasy, Marina stands on a podium with a gold medal. Katy and Carol have won silver and bronze. Bellow is in the audience.''

Marina: I can't believe I'm the tenth girl Bellow has coached to an Olympic gold medal. It's like he always says, "you're either a tiger or a little mouse."

Marina+Audience: (laugh)

''Prunella watches the ceremony on TV. Her head sits on a mouse’s body.''

Prunella: (squeak)

***

The next morning, Prunella is woken by car horns.

Prunella: (gasps)

It is 5:15.

Prunella: Great. Now I wake up on time.

''She looks out of the window and sees a major traffic jam. Mrs. Datillo’s car has broken down in the middle of an intersection.''

Prunella: Huh?

***

''Prunella runs to the Datillos in her nightshirt. Mrs. Datillo is using her cellphone.''

Prunella: Marina? What happened?

Marina: Can you believe it? Car trouble. Strike three.

Prunella has a thought bubble with Bellow’s head.

Bellow: When you find what you really care about, be like the tiger, don't let anything keep you from it.

''The bubble disappears. Prunella looks determined.''

Prunella: Mrs. Datillo, I can get her there on time. I promise.

Marina puts on Prunella’s headband.

Marina: I'm ready. Let's go!

She takes Prunella’s hand and they start racing past the cars.

''They run past Mr. Ratburn who is doing stretching exercises in front of his house. Then they run through a loose board in a fence.''

Prunella: This way! I know a short cut.

The girls jump over a small stream and run past the Read house, where Mr. Read is picking up the newspaper.

Prunella: Good morning, Mr. Read.

The girls run past Mrs. Tibble who is gardening in front of her house.

Prunella: Your flowers smell nice, Mrs. Tibble! Marina, jump!

They jump over the Tibbles’ hedge and are briefly shown as two tigers.

''The girls come to another fence. Prunella climbs a tree next to it, and holds out a hand.''

Prunella: Marina, jump up and grab my hand. I'll swing you over.

Marina: I...I can't.

Prunella: I know you can do it, Marina. Jump! I promise I'll be there.

Marina jumps.

***

''At the gymnasium, Marina starts using the uneven bars while Prunella watches. Bellow comes in out of breath.''

Bellow: Bellow has never been late. Some poor lady had car trouble and... Marina! You have crushed your fear.

Marina: Well, I had a little help from Prunella.

Prunella: I found something I cared about.

Bellow: Yoga girl, I have two questions for you. You ever think of becoming coach?

Prunella: Olympic coach. I like the sound of that. What was your other question?

Bellow: Why are you in my class wearing pajamas?

Prunella: (gasps)

She blushes.