Penguins (2019) - full transcript

A coming-of-age story about an Adélie penguin named Steve who joins millions of fellow males in the icy Antarctic spring on a quest to build a suitable nest, find a life partner and start a family.

ED HELMS: Antarctica.

The coldest,
windiest place on our planet.

Half of the year,
there's total darkness.

The sun doesn't rise at all.

For the most part,

it's completely
devoid of life.

But each spring, that changes.

(UPBEAT POP SONG PLAYING)

(SQUAWKS)

HELMS: Meet Steve.

(SNEEZES)



Two feet tall and 15 pounds

of freewheeling
Adélie penguin.

As a five-year-old male
coming of age,

he's going to be facing

some serious obstacles
in the months ahead.

But not to worry.

"Obstacle"
is Steve's middle name.

Although Steve's
made this trek before,

in previous years
he was mostly

just along for the ride.

But he's not that same
carefree kid anymore.

This year, he'll be joining
adult society.

He has no clue
what he's getting into.

All he knows is,
he's running late.



(HAPPY MUSIC PLAYING)

All the other
experienced males

in Steve's colony
are way ahead of him

on a 100-mile annual journey

across sea and ice to
Antarctica's rugged shores.

They're returning home
in advance of the females

to set up camp
for the mating season.

And they number
in the millions.

Adélies spend
the entire winter

out in the Southern Ocean.

But now that
spring has arrived,

they're seeking dry land.

Because dry land
is the only place

they can start a family.

And it's not just any

old patch of land
they're heading to.

They're returning to the place
they were born.

(SQUAWKS)

Their only job
is to find a good place

to set up a home,
raise their chicks

and then head back to the sea
again before winter.

It's a monumental
polar expedition

that favors the early bird.

And Steve is the last one
to the party.

(AS STEVE) Wait, what?

Oh, no!

No, no, no.

Emperor Penguins?

Entirely wrong species.

(PENGUINS CALLING)

Hey! Any of you seen

a half a million penguins,
about my height?

Similar build.

No?

Okay.

A-ha! An obstacle.

Hyah!

Yes.

(GASPS)

Hey, there, I'm looking for...

(SQUAWKS)

I don't know what that means.

I'm gonna go over here,
talk to someone else.

-Just trying ask a question.
-(PENGUIN SQUAWKS)

Excuse me?

-Do we know each...
-(SQUAWKS)

Actually, it's Steve with a...

(PENGUIN SQUAWKS)

Okay.

Hey, kid, wake up.

Have you seen a colony...

-(SQUAWKS)
-Ow!

Dude, I'm just asking...

-Ow. Stop that.
-(SQUAWKS)

Ow. Ow.

Stop. Ow.

I just got beat up by a baby.

This is not going well.

Please? Anyone.

Yeah! Yeah, uncomfortable.

Yeah, okay.
Not panicking, not panicking.

This is crazy, this is crazy.

This is crazy,
this is crazy... Whoa!

I'm good. All good.

(PENGUIN GRUNTS)

This is just a bad dream.

Oh, hey! There they are.
Guys, wait up.

Guys!

(AS HIMSELF) Finally, Steve
has reached his destination.

The big city.

It's a tough place
for a first-timer.

(PENGUINS SQUABBLING)

Everyone's just arrived,

and they're all fighting

for their own little patch
of ice-free rock.

(PENGUINS SQUABBLING)

And young newcomers like Steve

need to watch their step.

(PENGUIN SQUAWKS)

(PENGUINS CALLING)

First order of business,

find a nice, quiet
nesting spot to call his own.

(STEVE HONKING)

Even though he was born here,

Steve's never had to stake out
his own place before.

But it shouldn't be that hard
to find a good spot. Right?

(PENGUINS CALLING)

(AS STEVE)
Hey, fellas, what's up?

New in town, just, uh,
you know,

looking for a good
nesting spot.

So, if you hear of anything...
Mmm-hmm.

-(PENGUINS SQUAWK)
-Ouch.

Please don't bite me.
Thank you. Ouch.

(AS HIMSELF) The older,
more experienced males

have held these
prime nesting spots for years.

And they will protect
their turf with their lives.

(SQUABBLING)

(AS STEVE) Staying calm.
Not panicking.

Not panicking.

(STEVE SQUAWKS)

All right, I'm sorry.

(SQUABBLING)

Well, that was,
uh, competitive.

All right. Next challenge.

(PENGUINS CALLING)

(AS HIMSELF) There's only
one thing more precious

to an Adélie penguin
than exposed ground.

Stones.

There's not really anything
else to collect here.

They use the stones
to build their nests.

Each one raises the nest

a little bit higher
off the ground,

making sure
their eggs will be protected

from the cold snow.

By the time Steve gets around
to starting his collection,

most of the good ones
have been taken.

He has to work double time
just to catch up.

It's paying off, though.

He's building himself quite
an attractive little nest.

Maybe too attractive.

(AS ADÉLIE PENGUIN) Ah,
welcome to the neighborhood.

Thank you.
(CHUCKLES WICKEDLY)

(SQUAWKS)

(AS STEVE) Hmm.
Could've sworn I had more.

Oh, well...

Wait a minute.

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

-Hey!
-(SQUAWKS)

One, two, three...

Five.

What?

Maybe if I...

Oh. He'll just...

What if... No!

Maybe I could... No.

How am I supposed to...

(MUTTERS)

What's with
all these neighbors?

They just come along
and steal stuff.

-Hey!
-(SQUAWKS)

You know what? Just stay calm.
Don't play their game.

(AS HIMSELF) Steve's got to
finish his nest fast

because out on the sea ice,

another several
hundred thousand Adélies

are headed his way.

A few weeks behind the males,

the females
are now returning, too.

Just like the males,

they've been out at sea
all winter.

They are the second wave
of the great homecoming.

And when they get
to the colony,

they're gonna wanna see
some progress on those nests.

(PENGUINS CALLING)

Adélie penguins return

to the same nest site
every year

in the hope of finding
their same partner.

Which means a lot of
these guys are singing,

"Welcome home, darling!"

(PENGUINS CALLING)

There's nothing
more attractive to the ladies

than a good crooner.

So, Steve lets it rip.

(CALLING)

(AS STEVE) All right, ladies.

Open for business.

(BOTH CALLING)

Oh, look at these
two lovebirds, hitting it off.

Good for you.

Oh. Here comes one.

(CALLING)

(CONTINUES CALLING)

(GROANS)

(PENGUINS CALLING)

Is she looking at me?

(WHISPERING)
I think she's looking at me.

Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh!

She's coming this way!

Hi, there. My name's Steve.

(CHUCKLES AWKWARDLY)

And she's walking away.

(AS HIMSELF) Sometimes
the most beautiful songs

are the sad ones.

(CALLING)

Looks like
this just isn't Steve's year.

(PENGUINS CALLING)

(AS STEVE) Hold on a minute.

Hi. I'm Steve.

(AS HIMSELF)
Steve, meet Adeline.

(ROMANTIC SONG PLAYING)

It's more than just
a beautiful courtship ritual.

Steve and Adeline

will use these initial moments
of intimacy

to memorize
each other's voices.

After this,

they'll be able to find
one another

amongst the crowds

(WHISPERS) forever.

♪ ♪

(CALLING)

(CALLING)

(BOTH CONTINUE CALLING)

♪ ♪

Well, well, well,

adulthood seems to be off
to a good start.

Romance. Courting.

He needs to keep
the good vibes rolling

and do whatever it takes
to impress Adeline.

It's all about the rock.

(AS STEVE) Yeah, I should
probably give her

a few more options
to choose from.

Wonder if she thinks
I'm attractive.

Collect a few rocks...

Stack up a few brownie points.

Gonna start a family!

I could build a tree fort!

Man, she smells great, though.

I gotta start working out.

Here, take a look at this one.

(ADELINE GRUNTS SOFTLY)

Uh... You like it or...

Okay, all right. All good.

Back to it.

(AS HIMSELF) Adeline requires
the right rocks

to provide
the perfect protection

for any chicks
they might have.

(ADELINE SQUAWKS)

He gets an "A" for effort.

But a "D" in physics.

It's okay. Adeline's patient.

Steve will get there
in the end.

(ADELINE SQUAWKS)

Steve hasn't left the colony
for over a month,

so he feels he's long overdue

for a little rest
and relaxation.

(HAPPY MUSIC PLAYING)

In late spring, the sea ice
begins to break apart.

It's a perfect opportunity
for a refreshing swim.

A few hours out in the water
does wonders for a penguin.

It's all they need

before returning
to their household duties.

It's like spring break.

Just colder.

(AS STEVE)
Finally, some peace and...

Whoa! Jeez.

(AS HIMSELF) When you spend
every waking moment

surrounded by thousands
of fellow penguins,

solitude is a luxury.

So, Steve's looking
for a quieter spot

away from the crowd.

He just needs to wash off
the dirt and grime

from all that hard work.

Then, it's off to enjoy
some alone time.

(AS STEVE) Gotta admit,

those were some sweet stones
I picked out.

(WHOOSHING)

(AS HIMSELF) Killer whales.

(SCATTING AS STEVE)

♪ Riding on icebergs!
Yeah! ♪

(AS HIMSELF) Two hundred times
bigger than an Adélie.

They are Antarctica's
top predator.

You don't wanna take
your chances with these guys.

The killer whales
have been waiting

for the ice to break up, too.

These channels provide

the perfect route
to their fishing grounds.

And no one wants to become
a snack along the way.

(ALARMED SQUAWKING)

(SCATTING AS STEVE)

(AS STEVE)
Ah! That was awesome!

Hey, guys, I had an idea.

Guys?

Where are they all going?

(ALL SQUAWKING)

Awkward.

So peaceful out here.

That's why I keep coming back.

I wish I could fly.

(AS HIMSELF)
Back at the colony,

Adeline has been busy.

Two precious little packages,

which Adeline and Steve
will have to keep

as warm as possible
over the next month.

Because as spring turns into
summer in Antarctica,

the winds begin to build.

They're called katabatics.

Winds drawn
by the warmer ocean

out of the colder interior.

And they can reach 150 miles
an hour in an instant.

It's a hurricane-strength
blizzard.

Even those used to
tough Antarctic conditions

know it's bad news
to be caught exposed.

And the Adélies struggle
to return to the colony.

Separated from the others,

Steve quickly
becomes disoriented.

Out here, there is no shelter
from the storm.

Even in the colony,
everyone has to hunker down.

Parents must not let
their eggs get exposed

to the minus-40-degree
wind chill.

The pummeling snow
buries all in its path.

Including Adeline
and her eggs.

And there's a real possibility

that Steve
will never see her again.

Three days after they began,
the winds subside.

Adeline has survived

and remarkably
kept her eggs alive.

But she has no idea
where Steve is.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(SHOUTING AS STEVE) Adeline!

Adeline!

(AS ADELINE) Steve? Steve!

(AS HIMSELF) The bond
between these two lovebirds

grows stronger every day.

(BOTH CALL SOFTLY)

The katabatic winds
signal the beginning of

the very short
Antarctic summer.

As the sea ice breaks up
around the continent,

the most productive ocean
on the planet

emerges from below.

The Southern Ocean
that surrounds Antarctica

briefly attracts
millions of animals back

to feast in its rich waters
full of plankton and fish.

It's a rare time
of plenty for all.

And Steve and the other males
are taking full advantage.

Feeding and fattening up for
the coming weeks of summer.

With the sea ice now gone,

it's like a giant pantry
full of food

right at their doorstep.

Just in time
for any new hungry mouths

that might appear.

And Adeline has got her timing
just right.

(CHICK CHEEPING)

(CHEEPS)

Steve's fishing trip
with the boys

has made him late

for the most important event
in his life.

(AS STEVE)
Okay, just stay calm.

You're gonna be fine.

You got the nest built,
then the mating thing...

Whoops! Excuse me.

(CHEEPING)

Laid the eggs,
eggs are in the nest.

-(PENGUIN SQUAWKS)
-Yeah, yeah. Pardon me.

Picked up the fish for lunch.

It's all gonna work out!

(AS HIMSELF) Maybe Steve's
not the most punctual partner,

but the belly full of fish
he's brought home

more than makes up for that.

And it couldn't have come
at a better time.

Adeline is fast running
out of food.

It's her turn
to go fill up on fish.

So, they trade places.

And Steve nervously
steps into the role of father

for the first time
in his life.

(CHICK CHEEPING)

He has no idea
what he's doing.

But his instinct
is telling him

to regurgitate his lunch
into his kid's mouth.

So, he does.

Steve and Adeline
will now share

the chick-feeding duties.

Compared to
everyone else though,

they're still behind.

Most of the other families
are well on their way.

Child-rearing is really

the only game in town
right now

as the parents of many species

join the race
to raise their families.

South Polar skuas
are attracted

by the same exposed rock
as the Adélies.

They also migrate here
to have their chicks,

taking advantage of
the short, bountiful summer.

(CHICK CALLING)

But when it comes to
providing for their chicks,

they are
two very different species.

(SKUA CALLING)

Steve's job,
as he understands it anyway,

is basically
barf on the chick,

then flatten it into the rocks
to keep it warm.

(CALLING)

The skuas, however,
take things to the extreme.

(PENGUIN SQUAWKS)

Skuas are penguin predators.

They take advantage of
distracted parents.

But Steve's attention
is fully on his family.

Especially now that his
second chick has hatched out.

The threat
can come at any time

from anywhere.

(SKUA CALLING)

(SKUA SQUAWKING)

(CHEEPING)

As the chicks grow,

so does the pressure on Steve
as a first-time father.

He has to feed
and fatten them up

before winter arrives,

forcing the Adélies back out
into the open ocean.

This is the role
he's been preparing for

his entire life.

Steve and Adeline only have
a small window of time

before the sea freezes over

and cuts off their route
to the ocean.

If the chicks are to survive
the winter,

they must quadruple in size
over the next month.

So, Steve needs
to show Adeline

he can put food on the table.

(FUNK SONG PLAYING)

It's time to beef up
those kids.

(SQUAWKS)

Steve has to work hard

for each belly
full of fish and krill.

Each meal time can involve
a 100-mile round-trip.

Steve can't do it alone,
though.

Both parents have to work
round the clock

to keep their chicks fed.

♪ ♪

A month into his new life
as a father

and Steve has made this trip
up the hill to feed his chicks

countless times.

By now, they spend most of
their time unattended.

Steve will only pay them
a visit every couple of days.

So their brief meetups can get

pretty lively.

(CHICKS CALLING)

(AS STEVE) Come and get it!

Come and get it!
Come and get it!

Come and get it! Whoa! Whoa!

Okay, let's take turns, huh?

(AS HIMSELF) Meal times
are hard enough as it is

without the neighbors' kids
coming around

looking for handouts.

So, Steve cleverly starts up
a game of "Follow the Food."

Which is also a great way

to separate his chicks
from the others.

(PANTING AS STEVE)
When did they get so fast?

All right, what do you say
we take a little break? Yeah?

(CHUCKLES)

I'm serious. Stop this!

Quick, turn left! (CHUCKLES)

Oh, come on!

Excuse me.

Excuse me, help! Help!

All right, this has gotta end.

Engage power thrusters.

Adeline, little help?

Adeline!

(AS HIMSELF) It's high summer

and the colony is bathed
in 24-hour daylight.

Though the temperature
is hovering around freezing,

by Antarctic standards,

it's actually pretty warm.

Especially for chicks
covered in down.

With most of the adults away
out at sea,

the chicks
crowd close together

in crèches for protection

as the skuas
are a constant threat.

-(SKUA SQUAWKING)
-(CHICKS CHEEPING)

They hunt in pairs.

Looking for the weakest
and smallest.

(CHICKS CHEEPING)

(CALLING)

The older chicks
are more likely

to be part of a crèche
at this point,

which offers
some strength in numbers.

(CHICK SQUAWKS)

But the younger chicks
are more vulnerable.

(CHICKS CALLING)

And Steve and Adeline's are
some of the youngest around.

(ALARMED SQUAWKING)

(SQUAWKS)

(AS STEVE) Oh, no! Oh, no!

Hey!

Hey! Hey!

Get away from my kids.

(SQUAWKING)

Get outta here.

Go eat your own kids.

(CHICKS CHEEPING)

Oh, jeez,
they just want food again.

Oh!

(HAPPY MUSIC PLAYING)

All right! Okay. All right.

You want some barf?
Here's some barf.

There you go.

Got some nice barf for you.

All-you-can-eat barf.

Work for it, boys.

It's good, right?
It's good barf.

(GAGGING)

Oh, goodness! Um...

Adeline, uh, one of the chicks
needs you.

(SCATTING)

I'm just gonna go
pick up some fish

for the kids.

(UNDERBREATH) Trying to do
your best. I don't know.

Maybe I'm not picking
the right fish.

They never barf up
Adeline's barf.

(SEALS SNORING)

What is that smell?

Oh, no.

(AS HIMSELF)
Steve's accidentally wandered

into the
elephant seal district.

And it's mating season

for the largest and stinkiest
seal in the world.

(SEALS GROWLING)

It's definitely
not the kind of courtship

Steve's familiar with.

(GROWLING)

Everyone here
is looking for a mate.

(GROWLING)

(AS STEVE) Uh... No.

No, no, no. No.

Nope. Nope. Nope.

(YAWNS)

All right, what was I supposed
to be doing?

Fish. Chicks. Parenting.

Right, back to it.

(AS HIMSELF)
As summer draws to an end,

Steve and Adeline spend
more and more time away

on fishing runs
to bulk up their chicks

for the coming
winter departure.

The young ones are left
on their own.

Which is just as well

because they're beginning
to molt

their downy
brown baby feathers,

leaving them itchy and cranky.

For some,

it's also an opportunity
to try out some fresh looks.

(FUNK MUSIC PLAYING)

Losing your cold-weather
feathers in Antarctica

is always a gamble, though.

By fall,

the weather once again
becomes the dominant force.

Snowflakes are a totally new
experience for these chicks.

They are blissfully unaware
of the danger

this shift in the weather
brings with it.

It's a change that leaves
Steve and Adeline anxious.

(WIND HOWLING)

This late in the season,

the chicks have grown so big,

their parents
can no longer protect them

from the elements.

Adeline knows that soon,

they will have to
fend for themselves.

Abandoning his family

is the last thing
Steve wants to do right now.

But he has no choice.

The chicks have to eat.

(WIND GUSTING)

As bad as things are here
on land,

the greatest danger
is still approaching.

Winter is knocking
on their door.

And far out at sea,

the ocean is starting
to freeze over again.

This is the change
that Steve and Adeline

have been preparing their
chicks for the entire time.

Soon, the continent
of Antarctica

will be completely surrounded
by solid ice,

cutting off the Adélies'
access to open water

and, therefore, to their food.

(PENGUINS SQUAWKING)

So, the whole colony
is moving down to the shore

to make final preparations
before their departure.

(HAPPY MUSIC PLAYING)

First item on the list,

they must introduce
their chicks to the sea.

For their entire short lives,

they've been confined
to the patch of bare rock

where their parents
built their nests.

So, they've never
experienced water before.

And yet, in no time at all,

they have to ready themselves

for the biggest journey
of their lives.

Swimming out on the open sea.

What they need
is a strong, reliable adult

to show them how it's done.

(AS STEVE) Whoop! Pardon me.
Excuse me, excuse me.

Relax, Adeline, I got this!

Watch and learn, kids.

Come on! It's perfectly safe.

(HONKING)

I'm thinking
there should probably be

a lifeguard on duty.

(SHOUTING) Always remember,

whenever you're on the water,

the key is to stay calm
and don't panic.

Got it?

Look, kids, it's fun!
I promise!

Whoo-hoo! Whoa!

I don't need help!

Help!

(LAUGHS) It's not that cold
once you're in.

(LAUGHING) Oh, yeah!

Whoo! (CONTINUES LAUGHING)

(COUGHING)

Whoa! Hey! All right!

(COUGHS)

Hmm. You see? You just keep
your cool, don't panic,

and everything's fine.

(PANTING)

Great job, kids. Great lesson.

Great lesson.

Phew!

Kids?

(AS HIMSELF) The time
for swimming lessons is over.

Now, there are
more immediate concerns.

The wind has pushed
the drift ice into the shore

and sealed in
the entire coastline.

It can happen
in a matter of hours.

It's even caught the adults
by surprise.

Many of them
have gotten trapped

in the ice floes
while fishing.

Including Adeline.

This leaves Steve
solely responsible

for the chicks' safe departure
from the colony.

And, as if the task
weren't difficult enough,

the mass of shifting ice

has cut off access
to the ocean.

This is yet
another new environment

the chicks have to
contend with.

And while they're busy
learning to swim through it,

they have no idea of
the danger lurking beneath.

Leopard seals.

The broken ice has created
the perfect habitat

for this ambush hunter.

If the chicks can make it out
to sea, they'll be safe.

In open water, leopard seals
have nowhere to hide.

The bigger pieces of ice

provide the chicks
with some protection.

Finding a chunk with any space
left on it is the hard part.

(CHICK SQUAWKING)

The seals are attracted

to any nervous thrashing
around in the water.

So, any baby penguin
who starts panicking

makes itself a prime target.

A couple of seals can kill
nearly 100 penguins in a day.

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

Steve knows this is do-or-die
for the chicks.

Adeline's made it across the
pack ice to the open water.

Steve needs to get the chicks
out there to safety.

(AS STEVE) It's okay, kids.

I've dealt
with leopard seals before.

Just pay close attention
and follow my lead.

Remember,

stay calm and don't panic.

(TENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

(CHICK CALLING)

(AS HIMSELF)
Steve makes it out to Adeline.

Now their chicks must attempt
the crossing on their own.

If they can make it out
to their parents,

they'll have access
to the open sea.

It's the greatest test
they've ever faced.

The best they can do is follow
their father's example.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS)

(CHICK CALLS)

One of the chicks
makes it safely to firmer ice.

The other one, however,
is not so lucky.

(CHICK SQUAWKING)

(CALLING)

(BOTH CALLING)

His only hope is to play dead.

If he remains perfectly still,

the leopard seal
may lose interest.

(CALLS SOFTLY)

It worked.

(UPLIFTING MUSIC PLAYS)

With the open water in sight,

the chicks
are now out of danger.

They've grown up fast,

and there's nothing more
their parents can do for them.

They'll now head north,

along with
all the other Adélies,

into the open ocean

where they're happiest
and safest,

leaving the trials
of land and ice behind

until spring returns again.

Over the coming weeks,
Steve and Adeline

will continue to push north,
as well.

But, ultimately, they too
will go their separate ways.

They'll face the next
six months on their own

in the Southern Ocean.

If all goes well,

they'll see each other again
next spring.

Steve did a pretty good job
for a first-time father.

He found a great partner.

He made her a beautiful nest.

They raised
two healthy chicks together.

Who knows?

With a little luck,

he could pull it off again
next year.

Many penguins won't survive
to see another spring.

The Antarctic winter
is the harshest on our planet.

To make it through,
you need stamina,

grit,

determination,

and a little bit of
whatever Steve's got.

(CLASSIC ROCK SONG PLAYING)

♪ ♪

(BOTH CALLING)

(AS STEVE) Like this?
You want me to walk like this?

Does this look good?

(GRUNTS)

You didn't get the slip,
did you?

What? Why do you guys
get jackets? It's freezing!

Wardrobe!

I guess
this solves the mystery

of why our kit is covered
in penguin poo.

HELMS: (AS STEVE)
Somebody say "action."

Oh, forget it.
Here we go. Whoa.

Ha-ha! Perfect ten.

Which way
was the penguin colony again?

HELMS: (AS STEVE) Oh, man,

I messed it up.
That was my bad.

Let's do it again.
Do it again!

(GRUNTS)

(CHUCKLES) That's the best
you're gonna get, guys.

(SQUAWKS)

All right and here we go.

You're not even pointing
the camera at me!

This is... We're done.
I think we're done.

Eh, putting this down
right here.

All right. Heading home,
heading home.

Good night, Sophie.
Great day. Great day. Whew!

Oh, I can't wait to get back
to the hotel and my hot tub.

(HAPPY MUSIC PLAYING)

We have absolutely
no visibility.

♪ ♪

Oh, the stench! (LAUGHS)

♪ ♪

(GROWLS)

I'm going to be hiding

in the colony like this.
(LAUGHS)

(INAUDIBLE)