Captain Friendship

Male track for Captain Friendship from Bright Star Touring Theatre

There's no need to fear, Captain Friendship is here. It's time to be kind, Lion.

I'll do no such thing, Captain Friendship. I'd rather chop you up and serve you on a cracker than be kind to those clowns in that circus.

Tell me Lion, why on Earth are you so down on clowns and making them frown?

Because I don't like them very much, that's why! I don't like them, and I certainly don't like you. And that means I especially don't like you, or you, or you, or you. Roar!

Lion, are you okay?

I don't know what I was thinking being so mean. I'm so sorry, Captain Friendship. I can't believe I allowed myself to become such a bully. It just doesn't make sense to be mean. I'm sorry.

I am so glad to see you've changed and I can't wait to see how many friends you'll have in the circus now that you're being kind and loving.

I'm so excited to finally have some friends! Thank you, Captain Friendship! Thank you, everybody!

I just got tired of getting bullied and watching other people get bullied so I decided to put an end to it.

Wait, wait!

Who is that?

Captain Friendship! Captain Friendship!

That's me!

There you are! I have been chasing you for a while. You sure do fly fast!

What on Earth are you doing here? Don't you have a circus act to perform?

Yes! Hi, Captain Friendship! My name is Bubbles Flattenburger. You have just saved our circus from that bullying lion. Listen, what you did back there... thank you so much. The whole circus is very grateful for your help. The ringmaster wants you to come back there anytime you want and see the circus for free!

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Thank you!

It's my pleasure. Say, this here is a fine looking group of students. So what's next for you

Well, I go where I'm needed.

Say, you don't mean to tell me there are bullies here in this very room?

Have any of you ever experienced bullying in some way?

You don't say?

I'm afraid I do say. Every time someone here opens their mouth to say something or do something, they have a lot of power.

Super powers?

Absolutely! They have the power to say things that support each other, make friendships with one another, and even make people feel good about themselves.

Those are all good powers.

But, just as easily, they can say things that hurt people, or make them feel bad, or stop a friendship from even starting in the first place.

Wowzers!

...bullying needs to end, and that's why I want to each everyone to use their superpowers!

That's right! You taught us that at the end of the day, the most important thing is that we have good friendships and that we're nice and kind to all those around us.

I'm so glad you remembered that.

Yowzers! Listen, I better get out of here. If I miss our clown car routine, I'll never hear the end of it. Please be careful if you happen to run into the... Bully Bandit. Thanks again, Captain Friendship! Goodbye, everyone!

...MEOWMAZING MEOWMIGO!

WAHOO! Hello, Captain Friendship! Where's the kitty?

Everybody meet my sidekick, the Amazing Amigo!

Hello, everybody!

Sorry, Amigo. The kitty split. How was the circus!

It was so awesome! The trapeze artists were flying through the air, the clowns had me laughing so hard, the cotton candy was so yummy and fluffy and the big band had this drummer that was like...

That sounds awesome!

It was! Oooh, wait a minute, I'm getting a message! Oh no!

What?

Oh no, oh no, oh no!

What, what, what?

Zoinks! No!

Amigo! What is it?

I've got bad news. The... Bully Bandit seems to have left Friendville and is headed straight for (city)!

Oh dear. Hey, does anybody know where (city) is?

Here? That's here? Oh dear! Not here! What should we do? I fear being here, if he's here... is that clear? Oh, I wish I had a kitty to keep me calm!

You see, the Bully Bandit is only one of the worst bullies around.

I know. They're mean to people just for the sake of being mean to them.

It has nothing to do with how fun you are.

So it's not my fault if I get picked on?

It takes a great amount of courage to stand up to a bully.

I don't know how people do it. I'm so scared! What should we do?

But I've actually never met the... Bully Bandit.

Well, you've never talked to the... Bully Bandit because they always run away when they hear you're coming around. They do not want to deal with you or your kind ways so they make like a banana.

What?

They split.

Oh, good one. But I've never seen them up close. I bet they won't even recognize me.

Of course they'll recognize you. I mean, look at you! You're like the most famous person in the world! They will definitely run away if they see you coming.

Okay, good point Amigo. Let's put our heads together and come up with a plan. ...I've got it!

Great! What's your plan?

Undercover!

Perfect! We'll build a blanket fort and we'll go under covers and wait for them, and then you can jump out and deal with them and I can just stay there and hide.

No... I will go undercover and wear a disguise so they don't recognize me and I can catch the... Bully Bandit in action!

You're really going to do that?

Of course I will. I'm Captain Friendship. I will do anything to stop a bully.

Aren't you afraid? I mean, to be honest, I'm afraid of the... Bully Bandit.

...If they see me dressed like me, they'll either run away or pretend not to be mean for a while. I have to catch them in the act.

Yeah, but that means they will probably bully you. Words can really hurt, Captain.

I'll be careful, good buddy. Now, I have to go get undercover and find a great disguise.

What if they show up while you're gone?

I'll tell ya what. While I am gone getting ready, why don't you ask them about what you can do if you're ever getting picked on. I bet they have a lot of great ideas. I'll see you soon, Amazing Amigo!

Great idea. Hey, everybody! So, have any of you ever been picked on or bullied? No way, almost all of you? That's terrible. Getting picked on is awful and can certainly make you feel all kinds of emotions or feelings. Hey, but you know what? The best thing to remember is that it's not your fault if you're being bullied. And that you certainly aren't alone. I mean, didn't you just see all the hands that went up? You are definitely not the only one who's been through it. So tell me, what do you think I should do if I am ever getting picked on? ...Thanks you guys, you are all so smart and I'm so happy I asked you for advice. Those are great suggestions.

Hello, Amigo!

Who are you and how do you know my name?

Psst

it's me, Captain Friendship!

You mean my disguise is that good?

Oh, it's the best! I had no idea it was you!

Hey, did they help you with what you should do if you're ever being bullied?

Boy, did they. I just learned so much stuff like how important it is to walk away from someone who's bullying you.

That's a great idea. My best advice is to let adults that you trust know when you're being picked on. By telling an adult, you can make sure you aren't alone dealing with someone who's bullying you.

And what if you tell an adult and they don't do anything?

Then you tell another adult you trust, and another, and then another, and you keep telling them until you find someone who will step in and help you in some way. A parent, grandparent, teacher, counselor, principal, or anyone else you trust.

That's a great idea, Captain! It's always okay to ask for help when you need it, and it's never okay for someone to be mean to you.

Never. Now, if you'll excuse me Amigo, my mission is about to start!

Oh, of course... well listen, if you need me just whisper out my name!

I sure will! So long, Amigo!

Bye, Captain Friendship

Those are great thoughts. I will definitely look for things like that when I think I see them.

You better stay out of my way, or else!

Oh dear! Who's that? They don't sound very nice. I should probably get out of their way, whoever it is.

I am so mad at everybody in this town and everybody who ever lived. And the next person who gets in my way is gonna find that out first hand. I don't need friends. I don't like friends. I don't want friends.

You know, I've spent my whole life fighting against people who were mean, but maybe it would help if we figured out why people were so mean to begin with.

I'm so mad... Well, well, well, what do we have here? Who are you? Your outfit is so ugly I think I'm getting a headache.

Well, that's not very kind. Listen, I heard you talking a minute ago about not having friends.

You were spying on me? That's none of your business. If I wanted you to know that, I'm pretty sure I would've told you. Now move it, ugly clothes.

I don't care what you say about me. I just want you to know that I'll be your friend.

Ha! You, be MY friend? I would never be friends with someone who looks so ugly and dresses so ugly and acts so ugly. Now, I thought I told you to move it. I don't need friends

But I really think that you do. Friends can be there to help us feel better when we're feeling sad; they can help us with our problems, give us advice...

Look. Get out of my way now. Or else I'm gonna do something you'll regret.

What would you do?

I don't know. Maybe I'll... I'll hit you!

But, you can't use violence against me!

Ha. Why not?

Because it doesn't solve anything. Violence is never the answer.

I don't care about any answer. I care about getting you out of my sight.

I've never been talked to like this. Don't you know everybody deserves respect?

No they don't. What are you, a clown with those goofy clothes on?

No, stop it!

Clown!

Stop being so mean to me!

Clown! Clown! Clown!

Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

That's what I thought. You act all tough, but in the end you're just like everybody else.

Who else?

Everybody! Now, stop talking to me!

AMAZING AMIGO!

WAHOO!

Oh thank goodness, I'm so glad you're here, Amigo...

Wait, who are you?

Amazing Amigo, it's me, Captain Friendship.

Captain! I forgot you were undercover. Hey, are you alright, Captain? You don't look so good.

Amigo, I just had the worst experience in my life happen.

Oh no, what happened? Are you okay?

I don't know. I mean, I don't think so. I feel just awful.

Let me guess. You met the... Bully Bandit.

Yes, I did, it was just... so much worse than I could've imagined.

Captain, it couldn't have been too bad, right? I mean, you're a superhero.

Sometimes the things that make us super heroes are the things that are in all of us.

Huh?

In the end, I am no different than anybody else. The only thing that makes someone a real hero is trying to always be the best we can be. To look for kindness in everyone and try our best to make people's lives a little happier.

I see.

You know who the superheroes are to me?

No. Who?

The people that see someone getting bullied and step in to help... either by telling an adult or trying to be friends with the person who was just bullied. Do you know how much courage that takes?

A lot!

More courage than Superman has strength; more than Batman has skills; more than just about anything else in the world.

I guess I didn't see that as superhero skills.

What did you see it as?

Tattling.

What!?!?! No way, there's a big difference between tattling on someone and letting an adult know that you see someone getting picked on. Tattling is just trying to get someone in trouble for something small; it's never wrong to tell an adult that you saw something bad happen or that you need help.

I never thought of it like that; you're so right!

I guess I just feel awful because I've never been afraid of bullies before and today I really was.

I'm sorry Captain. Bullies can be really scary.

Everything I tried didn't work. They're just so mean. And they have an ugly heart. And I hope something really bad happens to them.

Uh oh, Captain.

What?

You're being an accidental bully right now.

What? No I'm not. I just don't like them!

It's okay, Captain. I mean, you're angry. People say all sorts of things when they feel angry or attacked.

I am angry... and embarrassed

And you're allowed to be angry and embarrassed. Those are totally normal feelings to feel. You just have to remember, be careful not to become a bully yourself. Just try to be nice to them if you can, or ignore them if you can't. I mean, your name is literally Friendship. You need to try and stay nice and friendly no matter how hard it can be.

You're right. It's just that I was nice to them and tried to be their friend and they didn't even care. I feel like I'm out of ideas. What do I do if they come back?

Oh, that's easy! These friends out here had some great ideas for what to do when you're being bullied. Does anybody remember what we talked about earlier

These ideas are really, really wonderful. Thank you all.

Listen, Captain. I'm so sorry you had to experience being picked on.

Thank you, Amigo. I think I need to go and see if I can find the... Bully Bandit and end this once and for all.

Good luck. I believe in you captain! If you need anything at all, just whisper my name.

I sure will, Amigo. I'm so glad I have you as my bestie.

Besties for life! Bye, captain! Bye, everybody!

He spent all of his time in school in a quiet library.

(crashing noise)

Oh no! Who's there? Is everything okay?

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

Bubbles?

Huh? How do you know my name? Wait... don't tell me! I made a balloon for you back in the day?

No, I

Bubbles, no, it's me

It's me! Captain Friendship!

Captain Friendship! But what in the world are you wearing?

A disguise...

But why?

Because I needed to go under cover to see what the... Bully Bandit was really like.

(screams)

Is everything okay?

Not at all. Things are terrible.

Uh oh. Does this call for a visit from Captain Friendship?

It might. It's just the Circus was underway this afternoon when in comes the...

Yes?

The... Bully Ban

You can do it.

The... B

The Bully Bandit?

Yes. See, I even tremble to say their name. Anyway, they came stomping into the circus and started being mean to all of us, before long they were so mad they were knocking over cages and trying to get the band to mess up. It was so awful, I just had to get out of there. And that's where I bumped into you.

They are one tough bully.

They make me very nervous!

It's okay, buddy. I'm so sorry you went through that awful thing.

Yeah. You know, they weren't the only bully I've dealt with today.

Really? I'm so sorry, Bubbles. Who else bullied you?

Tess the Trapeze Artist.

Oh, you're kidding! What did she do?

She didn't want to eat lunch at our table. She was in a really bad mood.

Um, Bubbles?

Yeah?

That's not bullying.

What? She wasn't super nice to me. Of course it's bullying.