Recalling how his cousin pinches him and denies doing so and having witnessed a girl being bullied, a brave five-year-old uses his wise mother's practical but inventive advice to help solve his bullying dilemma.

SYNOPSIS:

Having been bullied by his cousin, Noodles, five-year-old Jimmy mentions to his mother how he had just observed a neighborhood child was observed to pull the boy’s sister’s hair. Thereafter, Jimmy’s mother defines bullying and suggests a practical approach that can be used in response to it. They then apply this approach to dealing with Jimmy's cousin Bobby's habit of pinching Jimmy and then denying he has done so. As it turns out, Bobby pinches Jimmy every time Jimmy calls Bobby by the nickname Noodles. Bobby hates that. Once Jimmy tells his mother about Bobby's behavior, his mother and his aunt arrange for Bobby to take responsibility for his behavior, apologize to Jimmy, and to explain that he does so because Jimmy calls him Noodles. Once Jimmy understands Bobby's motivation, he apologizes to Bobby and promises to not call him that anymore. Both reassured, he and Jimmy wander off, arms around each other, and when they see the boy who pulled his sister's hair come with her toward them, they discuss the possibility of talking with him about bullying.

Best Unproduced Script, Brightside Tavern Film Festival 2024

Semi Finalist, Brightside Festival 2024

*Semi Finalist, 2023 Dallas Shorts

Script also available in French and Spanish

Image attribution: 125988487 © Robert Kneschke | Dreamstime.com

YELL'N'TELL - CHILDREN'S SHORT