Narrator: The Curious. They say he collects strange tales.
And if you ever hear his whistle,
you know something creepy is about to unfold.
No one knows where he's from or where he's going to.
Perhaps not even himself.
Does he even have control over his actions?
Have you ever felt uncomfortable in your own skin?
What if there was a reason for that,
one that you wished you never went searching for?
(whistling)
♪
(thunder crashing)
(ghostly whispering)
Whispering voice: I have finally found you.
You are not theirs.
If you stay, you will die.
(thunder crashing, gasping)
(music playing from laptop)
Well, it's decision time.
If in doubt, go with the cheapest.
Oh, ignore your father.
A girl only gets one 15th.
Come on, Pearl. Which theme's calling out?
That one there.
The sea. Perfect.
(gasping)
Ooh, we could have an enchantment under the sea dance.
(chuckling)
Don't you need actual guests for it to be considered a party?
People will come, P.
No one clicks accept 'til a few weeks before anyway.
You're fine.
My party's in four days.
Oh.
What if we got Danny on the case?
You could start putting the feelers out.
Forcing people to come.
Yeah, that'd make for a fun atmosphere.
Not forcing.
Your brother's just... (clearing throat)
...you know, a bit more...
Popular?
Confident is the word I think your dad is looking for.
I would've picked legend
but I'll settle for confident.
♪ I got a lot of green ♪
♪ Inside eyes got ya followin' me ♪
Hope to see you there.
Well?
They were wondering why I was asking about your birthday
instead of you.
Well, duh. Me too. What did you say?
I told them Mum and Dad forced me to.
You didn't.
Do I look like an amateur? Of course I didn't!
I've got an image to protect too, you know.
Hey, Suzie.
Suzie: Hey, Danny. Focus.
What did they say? Are they coming?
They received your invite with interest.
What? What does that mean?
It means they can't say for sure.
It's not cool to be certain, P.
It's not personal, it's just the way it is.
What, and that's it?
That's the best the great Danny Stocks could do?
Relax!
This is just phase one, generating conversation.
Whispering voice: Return to the ocean, child.
Was that you?
Was what me?
You didn't hear that? Really?
See, it's stuff like this that makes you look weird.
I can't work in these conditions.
You can't help me.
I can't help you if you don't help yourself, P.
(echoing whispers)
Return to the ocean...
(indistinct whispers)
Return...
(indistinct whispers)
Come...
(indistinct whispers)
A thousand people petitioned for conservation zones.
2000 helped with our beach clean-up
and everyone here signed up to my marine action group.
Oh, you haven't.
But you will, though.
(class chuckling)
See, it's things like that.
Filthy humans' plastic bottles choke sea life.
Come here.
What's your name? Pearl.
My beautiful assistant Pearl is going to demonstrate
what the plastic bottle is doing to marine life.
(loudly glugging)
Jump.
As hard as you can.
Go on.
(popping)
(bell ringing)
Nice one. Thanks, Ellie.
Ah, my faithful assistant.
Thank you, Pearl.
How'd you get so many people to listen to you?
Humans are suckers.
(chuckling)
I never got anyone's attention like that before.
Thank you, Pui.
Well don't thank me. You jumped.
If you're not getting people's attention,
maybe you should be doing that more.
What?
Jumping.
Don't think too hard. Act on instinct.
People respond to that.
Why are you looking so pleased with yourself?
Got an RSVP. Two, actually.
What did I tell you?
You've gotta learn to trust me.
I gotta drain the tank. Meet ya by the gate.
(echoing whispers)
What are you?!
Let me show you your power.
Unleash your power, child.
Take to the water.
Let me show you how.
That's it.
I will show you. Let me show you the way.
(indistinct whispers)
(ethereal singing)
Pearl?
Pearl!
Help!
You're okay!
Yeah.
Why, what's wrong?
What?
P. You were in there for like, ages.
(scoffing)
I think you need to calm down.
I don't think you're getting how huge this is.
No one can hold their breath for that long. No one!
What else ya got? X-ray vision?
How many fingers am I holding up? Don't be stupid.
What about levitation?
Any notable eye laser beam action?
Danny, stop it.
I'm not some dumb comic book character.
Seriously, P. This is how they all start out.
The social outcast, the school weirdo.
Thanks.
You know what I mean. Late bloomers.
Then they discover their gift, like you did today.
I'm not special.
You so are.
What?
We're adopted, right?
Yeah.
I've always known who my parents were,
but Mum and Dad said they never knew yours.
And?
What if they do?
Maybe the answer lies with them.
Every hero has its origin story.
We've gotta find yours!
What, did you bring the whole filing cabinet?
How am I supposed to know what we're looking for?
The one that says "Adoption stuff" maybe?
Hurry up. They'll be back soon.
It's all boring paperwork.
(sighing) Dunno what I expected.
What's this?
Dad: Go on. Your turn now. (laughing)
What about now? Do I look more gorgeous?
Dad: Oh, that's the one.
That is stunning. (laughing)
Mum: And now?
It's actually an improvement.
Oh, stop, you! (laughing)
(baby crying in background)
What's that?
(crying)
(door opening and closing)
What's it doing out here?
No.
No that... that can't be me.
We tried everything.
To find out where you came from.
How any of it was possible.
All our research went nowhere.
In the end what it came to
was that a baby was alone and needed someone to look after it.
We've loved you with all our hearts ever since.
We gave you a home, a loving upbringing
and an annoying little brother.
We never thought about the day we'd have to tell you.
You were our daughter in every way.
I come from the sea.
It doesn't matter where you come from, Pearl.
Only how you're raised.
This is so awesome.
What am I?
(cheering)
Go!
(whistle blowing)
All right, everyone. That's a pass.
Hand me that towel, would you?
What's going on with you?
I don't know.
I feel different.
Under 11 seconds, P.
Who swims 50 meters in under 11 seconds?
I don't look at the clock.
I just like the way it feels.
♪ We're on top of the world, yeah ♪
♪ When you're laying next to me ♪
Ooh! You've done your hair different!
Mum means you've washed it.
Oh, shush, you!
You look great, sweetheart. Thanks, Mum.
And don't worry.
I'm sure those RSVPs are gonna start coming soon.
24 people? How?
♪ Feelin' on top of the world, yeah ♪
Whispering voice: You know what to do...
Do it.
(soft whooshing)
(phone beeping)
Are you leaving?
My time here is done.
Wow!
Look at you.
I wanted to thank you.
Your advice worked.
I've got a birthday party coming up
and for the first time ever,
everyone wants to come!
It's a rare gift, influence.
What are you gonna do with that power?
Use it on teenage birthday party invites,
or do you wanna change the world?
What can I do?
What can you do?
Pearl, if you can convince one person of something,
you can convince hundreds of anything.
That's how change happens.
Is that your next rally?
Can I come?
Sure you can.
Why don't you come early and help me set up?
Don't you just love it here?
It's just stunning.
Away from hordes of stinking humans and their pollution.
(breathing deeply)
Breathe it in.
(breathing deeply)
Come with me.
(chuckling)
What?
Nothing, I just...
I feel so at home.
It's hard to describe.
Try.
It's like,
like I can breathe properly for the first time ever.
Hey, Suzie. Hiya!
Everything just felt right.
You wouldn't understand.
This Pui woman, how well do you know her?
Enough to know that she's right.
Humans are destroying the planet, Danny.
Pui's got another rally next week.
I can't wait.
Hey, you dropped something.
I said hey! P, whoa.
Just pick it up yourself if you're that worried about it.
Here. Don't.
(whooshing)
(shrieking)
See how dangerous littering can be.
(echoing whispers)
Return to the ocean, child.
Return.
Come... home.
What was all that at school today?
Pearl?
These dirty humans need to learn.
Dirty humans?
That's it, isn't it?
Ever since you come back from that beach
it's like land is your kryptonite.
Just go, okay?
This Pui woman,
I feel like she's poisoned your mind.
Don't talk about her.
You filthy little land dweller.
What? Listen to yourself, P.
You've lost it!
She's brainwashed you.
Shut up!
(shrieking)
What's happening?
Pearl, stop!
Please, stop!
Pearl!
How did you do that?
Danny, I'm so sorry.
(gulls squawking)
Hello?
I got your address from...
Pui?
(knocking at door)
Hello?
Pui?
Anyone here?
♪
(rumbling)
(gasping)
Pearl.
What were you doing in there?
Breathing?
You and I, we're the same.
Come with me. I'll explain everything.
For as long as there have been humans,
there have been creatures of the sea.
Not all of us climbed out of the swamp.
(sniffing) Mmm.
Some of us chose to stay,
and we made it a paradise.
Are you a mermaid?
Is that what I am?
Mermaid?
(sighing)
These are human concepts.
They poison our history like they poison the sea.
(echoing whispers)
(speaking foreign language)
It was you.
I was guiding you,
helping you discover your powers.
(scoffing)
You couldn't have told me like a normal person?
(chuckling)
Your mind has been corrupted by the humans who stole you.
You had to learn who you were on your own.
Come. I'll show you everything.
Danny: Pearl!
Don't listen to her, Pearl!
What are you doing here? I followed you.
I've come to set you home. She is home.
What, you expect her to live in the sea
with a bunch of singing crabs?
She will be a god there.
Here's she's nothing.
A filthy land-dweller.
Don't listen to her, P.
She's a stinking, barnacle-sucking sea monster.
Stop!
(shrieking)
No!
Your powers aren't designed
to invite humans to birthday parties.
They're for wrecking their ships upon rocks.
Stop! You're hurting him!
You're a siren, Pearl.
The natural enemy of the human race.
(choking)
Join me.
That's not the way I was raised.
(shrieking)
(screaming)
Enough!
(panting) Enough.
You would betray your own kind?
Reject your true home?
This is my home.
(chuckling)
So be it.
Dirty human.
(speaking foreign language)
(pop music playing)
(music stopping)
(footsteps on stairs)
You're not ready!
Your party starts in an hour.
No, it doesn't. I cancelled it.
I don't need randoms at a party to have fun.
It's my birthday and I just fancied spending it here,
with my family.
Aww! (chuckling)
Oh!
(chuckling)
Hand me the vomit bag, someone.
♪
(whistling)
Narrator: What happens when danger
is not somewhere out there,
but inside you?
How do you hide from it then?
How do you protect the ones you love
if the monster is inside of you?
♪