01x04 - Lost and Found

[bunniefuu]

[waves splashing]

[birds chirping]

[penguins braying]

[narrator] The storm…

has passed.

Mr. and Mrs. Culvert head home.

If you can still call it a home.

[penguins braying]

Gone.

Their love nest…

and precious eggs…

scattered by a flash flood.

For penguins, failed eggs…

often lead to failed marriages.

The Culverts' time together…

is over.

But they'll never know…

that while one of their eggs was lost…

the other…

was found.

[opening theme song playing]

Yeah! ♪

Yeah, yeah ♪

Till my breath's all gone

I'll be pushing on so strong ♪

I'll keep pushing on ♪

Till the river runs dry

I've got to try, try, try ♪

I'll keep pushing on ♪

When my soul's burnt through

I won't be feeling blue ♪

I'll keep pushing on ♪

Till my dying day

I won't give it all away ♪

I keep pushing on ♪

[birds chirping]

Yeah! ♪

[waves splashing]

[braying]

[narrator] The baby boom is in full swing

in Simon's Town, South Africa.

[chirping]

[braying]

Parents are spread thin between hunting,

guard duty…

[chirping]

…and giving up half their catch.

The chicks are bottomless pits.

And hungry mouths are loud mouths.

[chirping]

Mr. Bougainvillea's been

getting a real earful…

while they all wait

for Mrs. B's baby-food delivery.

Long overdue.

She left to fish during the storm…

more than 24 hours ago.

[thunder cracks]

She's not just late.

She's missing.

Strong currents

could have swept her off course.

[seals grunting]

Or worse.

[dramatic music playing]

[barking]

Though, what if it's the Car Park g*ng

holding her up?

[baby penguins chirping]

Better go check.

The chicks are only two weeks old.

Too small to be left unprotected.

He's gotta be quick.

[tense music playing]

Nothing.

[chirping]

The chicks need to eat soon.

But if Mr. B leaves to fish…

they'll be sitting ducks.

And hungry chicks…

are like dinner bells for predators.

If only their mom would return.

[honking]

[seagull squawking]

Up the shoreline at Seaforth Beach…

a wave of late-nesters pairs up.

[braying]

The new rush is on to find good spots.

This handsome couple

makes a beeline for last year's nest.

[upbeat music playing]

It's their two-year anniversary.

But a giant has set up camp.

Too close to their old bush for comfort.

And everything else

close to shore is already taken.

[upbeat music continues]

They must boldly venture…

deep into town.

Where few penguins dare to go.

[birds chirping]

Through a portal…

to a parallel dimension.

[serene music playing]

An exotic labyrinth…

[water trickling]

…of strange delights.

Headless giants.

And an alluring cave.

Seemingly vacant.

In Simon's Town, an open door…

is like a penguin welcome mat.

[cooing]

Look at this place.

[whimsical music playing]

Cozy nest nooks…

everywhere you turn.

They already feel right at home.

Uh, a… a little too at home.

[coos]

But they can't dig a nest in concrete.

It's a hard no.

But out the back door…

is a whole new world.

A castle.

Shaded by fragrant forest.

[birds chirping]

[coos]

And nice, soft mud.

Yeah, they can work with this.

It's a fortress.

Their family should be safe here.

Welcome to the aristocracy.

Presenting Lord and Lady Courtyard.

Time to beget some heirs.

[chirping]

At the rescue center,

the Culverts' surviving egg…

has joined a small and lucky group.

All plucked from near disaster…

by watchful giants.

And none too soon.

[chirping]

[continues chirping]

This little Culvert

and the other youngsters here,

are miracle babies

who wouldn't have survived…

without a little help…

and a lot of fish.

This is their second chance.

In a few months, they'll be released.

A precious windfall

for the struggling colony.

But baby Culvert's

taking it one day at a time.

[chirping]

Right now, he is all tuckered out.

Rest up, little guy.

Have an awesome life.

You're in good hands here.

Down the hall,

Junior is having a flashback.

[tense music playing]

Not the box again!

This is just like

his abduction from the colony.

Then again, maybe it's his return trip.

-Bad luck, Junior.

-[braying]

This is definitely not the beach.

[penguins chirping]

Not much of a reward for someone

who just totally nailed molting.

[funk-rock music playing]

Yep, that's Junior.

Oh, yeah! ♪

[narrator] All that fish

and TLC worked its magic.

Now…

Well, just look at him.

[braying]

And his misfit friends, too.

Waterproof.

And finally an adult.

But these giants won't treat him like one.

[braying and chirping]

If only he could earn their respect.

[woman gasps]

But it's impossible to prove himself…

from inside another box.

Back in Simon's Town,

at the house on the hill,

Lord and Lady Courtyard

survey their castle grounds.

[cooing]

They've landed a fairy-tale fortress.

But at a wicked price.

The ocean is a half-mile hike.

On eight-inch legs.

This will be the first of more than

a hundred fishing commutes.

They need to determine the quickest route,

and avoid any, uh, cat-astrophes?

[cat growls]

Their built-in GPS

can guide them across an ocean,

but it can't help them

cross a busy street.

[car honks]

-[chime]

-[automated voice] Rerouting.

[whimsical music playing]

Just keep your bearings and try again.

[chime]

[automated voice] At the next bush,

turn right. Turn right.

[narrator] Or not.

-[chime]

-[automated voice] Rerouting.

[narrator] Her again?

[chuckling] That's not a good sign.

Hold on, this feels right.

-Seaforth Beach, finally.

-[chime]

[automated voice]

Your destination is straight ahead.

[narrator] Wait, she didn't

say anything about a cliff.

Do penguins bounce?

[thuds]

[thuds]

Uh, kinda.

Mission accomplished.

This could be the Courtyards'

last dinner date before their eggs come.

Better make the most of it.

Down the shore at Burghers' Walk…

[braying]

…the day wears on.

And the morning's hunters trickle back in.

[braying]

But Mrs. Bougainvillea

is still not among them.

[baby penguins chirping]

[braying]

Her chicks are ravenous.

They haven't eaten

since the day before yesterday,

when Dad last brought home the bacon.

[chirping continues]

That's also

the last time the g*ng saw him.

What good are hooligans…

[dramatic music playing]

…who have no one to mess with?

Frustrated singles

often lash out at nesting families.

[chirping]

For no good reason.

[braying]

They'll even k*ll young chicks.

To date, they don't know

the Bougainvillea babies even exist.

[honks]

Mr. B can't let them find out.

[braying]

[dramatic music playing]

[braying]

Hopefully, he made his point.

Because he can't keep them hidden forever.

[chirping]

And Mrs. B, his backup…

is still nowhere to be seen.

Out in the wider world,

young Junior is so over boxes.

He wants out…

but has no idea where "out" will be.

This…

is gonna make his year.

Hold on to your tux, Junior.

It's finally happening.

[braying]

For the beleaguered colony,

these boxed birds are a godsend.

[uplifting music playing]

Boosting the species' odds,

a few penguins at a time.

For Junior,

it's a little more personal.

He's home.

He's healthy.

And, finally…

he's free.

Master of his own destiny.

It won't be easy for him

or his fellow graduates.

But they're older and wiser

than their first go-around.

They're ready.

Destination?

Open ocean.

For months.

Till they're ready to come back

and give colony life another go.

See ya then, Junior.

For others back on shore…

a happy ending feels miles away.

[tense music playing]

The Bougainvillea chicks

are running out of time.

[chirping]

Mr. B must face the facts.

Mrs. B,

mother of his children…

wife of seven years…

the only partner he's ever known…

is never coming back.

He is all these babies have now.

[sad music playing]

[chirping]

They'll be wide open

to attack if Dad leaves to hunt.

-[cat purring]

-[braying]

If he doesn't go…

they'll starve to death.

He has to risk it.

[dramatic music playing]

He's a widower and a single dad now.

Every fishing trip is a race…

against the circling vultures.

[baby penguins chirping]

[dramatic music continues]