02x06 - Toss and Turn

[bunniefuu]

[dramatic music]

Jeez, with Sneak gone,
I gotta be in charge

and do all the sneaky work?

It's too much, boss.

Eh... Boss?

Wait! What do you mean
you're in charge? [grunts]

[both grunting and thumping]

Ah, gee, boss.

What can we do to snap
you out of this funk?

Ya... Ya... You want us to
rustle up some trouble

with the Dream Bandit?

You're always happy
when she's around.

Ooh! You could try to
steal her watch again!

You're right.

I should find her...

in the Waking World!

Don't burn the place down
while I'm gone.

[zaps]

[both clap]

[opening theme music playing]

[door opens]

See you later, Mrs. Castillo.

[watch clicks]

[sinister music]

Hey! Zoey, Zoey?

What? Oh, hey, Mateo.

Are you okay?
You walked right past us.

Oh, sorry, I...

I guess I've been
a little in my head

ever since we fought
the Never Witch.

Yo... [clears throat]

I swear I am still sore.
[grunts]

Wait. Can you be sore
from a dream?

It's not that.
It's...

[stammers] Never mind.

Forget I said anything.

Well, Mr. Oz said the R.E.M.
trials kick off tonight.

Could be interesting?

I guess.

Finally, everything
will be as it should be.

[sinister music]

Welcome to Castle Nocturnia!

[majestic music]

[Mr. Oz sighs] Even the Tokyo
branch is here at this hour.

I haven't seen
Agent Takashi in years.

[Dream Chasers chattering]

[Dream Chasers gasping]

Uh, you ever feel like
someone is staring at you?

We must be like
celebrities now.

Just act natural.

Uh, this feels like a lot.

The Readiness Evaluation
Metrics are a big deal.

Or, they were.

R.E.M.s used to be
how the Night Bureau

evaluated Dream Crafting skills

and assigned agents to missions.

Mm, kinda fell by the wayside
over the years.

Wait, so the Never Witch
is stealing memories,

realms are disappearing,
the Sandman is missing,

and we are having a dumb contest

to see who has
the biggest imagination?

R.E.M.s are meant to
sharpen your skills

and single out the most
powerful Dream Chasers.

Now let's get cracking.

I want to hear what
the challenges will be.

Hey!

Oh, look, Grand Inspector.

The Brooklyn branch is here.

I see they wore their
funny little costumes.

And I see you wore
your smirky little face.

[magic chimes]

[Logan gasps]

[laughs] Really?

You thought you could trip
me up with a... [screaming]

Ah, finally.

Now, if everyone
can gather around,

-we can begin.
-[Logan grunting]

It's so wonderful to have

these legendary premises

back at last.

[inhales] Thanks to Agent
Oswald's team, of course.

Without their royal blunders,

we never would've reclaimed it.

Let's all give the Brooklyn
branch a big thanks.

[applause]

[giggling] See?
They love us!

I see agents from
across the globe.

I know it is daytime
for some of you,

and I appreciate your commitment
in these dangerous times.

As you all know,
we are facing a threat.

The greatest one we've
faced in our lifetime.

The Never Witch.

We must be vigilant and
restore the Night Bureau

to its former glory
with R.E.M. trials.

Now, as is tradition,

the trials will determine
the three best Dream Chasers

for a special task force
to take on the Never Witch!

Who will help restore
the Dream World to greatness?

Hm? Which of you can prove
you're better than the rest?

What lengths will you go to
eradicate your competition?

Well, that took a weird turn.

Ooh, why can't we all just
band together and defeat her?

The first 14 who successfully
complete the first trial,

equipped with only
their hourglasses,

will qualify for
the second trial.

Only seven will move on
to the third trial,

which as we have always done...

Tradition, Inspector Strick.

With no further ado,
the first trial is...

-[Phil imitates drum roll]
-Toss and Turn!

[cheering, applause]

[cheers] I love that one!

Wrangling a wild dream
creature, rodeo style.

Tomorrow night will be
an opportunity to prepare

and practice,

for those who need it.

The trials commence
on the following night.

May the best
Dream Chasers triumph!

We are good
Dream Chasers, right?

Yeah, but that Astrid
is one tough cookie.

Huh! She's no better
than we are.

Banana Monster!

[screams] Where, where, where?
[growls]

[all laughing]

[gasps] Zoey?

Are you all right?

Zoey?

[chuckling] No, you go first.

[laughs] I'm embarrassed.

We'll go at the same time.
[chuckles]

One, two, three.

[both] Lullaby!

[chuckling] I knew
that was your favorite.

It's yours, too.

You really think that's
what we should play

at Battle of the Bands?

We've written 12 songs.

We gotta play something, right?

I can't believe we're doing it.

Lullabyis a little
bit of a cheat.

I got the tune from my mom.

-[Zoey vocalizes]
-[gentle guitar music]

She knows her stuff.
It's catchy.

It wouldn't work
without your harmony.

It's gonna k*ll at the
Battle of the Bands.

If we win, it would
be a dream come true!

You wanna talk about it?

The Never Witch made me
relive some memories.

Some I'd rather forget.

A whole bunch, actually.

All at once.

And now they're stuck.

It's like a headache
I can't shake.

Why don't you talk to someone?

Like us.

That's what friends are for.

It could help.

I had this friend, Miya.

She was an aware
dreamer like us,

but the Night Hunter
ruined everything.

-Miya!
-[tense music]

-Run!
-[Grimspawn cackling]

[pants] These Dream Realms
were supposed to be fun!

They were, until these
things showed up!

What are they?

How should I know?

-[Grimspawn cackling]
-[tense music]

I want to go back
to our landing.

What are you doing?

Keep running!
I'll catch up.

[Grimspawn cackling]

[Zoey grunts]

[tense music]

Who are you and why are you
butchering my song?

You...

From the moment we first met,

it was like he was
out to torment me.

And not just me,

but everyone and everything
that meant something to me.

But, uh, but... but... but anyway,

he's not our headache right now.

Let's focus on these trials.

Right?

[upbeat music]

[Izzie] It's beautiful!

Now, these bedbugs
ain't nothing like

those little babies you
let out of them crates.

Okay, so it's a little bigger.
So what?

-It doesn't look that hard.
-[bug screeches]

[Logan screams]

Okay, first thing
you gotta remember

is the trials are just about
you and your hourglass.

No outside items allowed.

Creativity will
get you everywhere,

so don't underestimate
your imagination.

-Let's begin.
-[bug screeches]

[magic chiming]

Why is everything
blobby with you?

Uh, it worked on the siren.

Focus, Mateo!

I am not losing to Royce

because your Dream Crafting
is only one-note.

-Think different!
-What about Logan?

All he does is change into
Lolo and no one says a thing!

Uh, what did I do?

He's probably just shy.

He just needs a hug.

Come here, ya big softie.

[bug screeches]

Nothing like a good hug.

I'm gonna need
some bouncy shoes.

Go on, Coop.
Get in there!

Me? I... I...
I don't know where to begin.

Then pretend it's
a car or something.

Use your imagination.

[whimsical music]

-[bug buzzing]
-[Cooper panting]

I'm up! [screams]

[Cooper thuds]

Zoey, looks like you're up.

Ugh, I'd rather feed
this thing to Zian.

I don't give a hoot if
bugs give you nightmares

or you'd take 'em on a date.

Get its attention.
Lure it over.

Do anything!

Sing to it if you gotta!

You did what?

I changed the lyrics.

But... But... But these
don't even fit the song.

They don't have
the same flow at all.

Your version is boring.

This is better.
Edgier.

Wait, is this...
is this his version?

The guy from the dream?

You heard it.
It's good!

It has more attitude.

Your version is kind of...

well,
baby-ish.

The song is called Lullaby!

I thought we were a rock band.

But not this song.

My mom used to sing this to me.

It's important.
My mom...

[somber music]

What?

I'm sorry your mom is sick.
I am.

But I'm not going to get up
in front of the whole school

and sing a song for babies.

If you have a problem with that,

then maybe we don't
have a band anymore.

[door slams]

All right.
Get ready for it.

Zoey?

What did you do to Miya?

I told her what I'm
about to tell you.

I can offer you a Dream World
just the way you like it.

Anything is possible.

-You can make things right...
-[Zoey gasps]

...between you and your friend.

We can work together.

Make the Dream World wonderful.

Perfect.

I don't want anything from you.

Anything of yours is twisted.

It's corrupt.

[bug screeching]

-You okay?
-[grunts] Whoa! [chuckles]

Yee-haw! [laughs]

[Albert screaming]

This was entirely unacceptable!

You are all better than this.

I don't know why
we're even here.

This is pointless.

We can take on the Never Witch!

If I could just go get Z-Blob.

Z-Blob's place is
in the Grim Realm

holding the Nightmare King.

Your place is here
with your team.

You need to focus.

-You need inspiration.
-[Cooper gasps]

-You need creativity.
-[Logan gasps]

What'd I do?

And you need to get over

whatever is distracting you.

You're all lucky
you even get a chance

-to train before this trial!
-Doesn't feel lucky.

If that pompous hack and
his protege Astrid beat us,

and I lose one shred of
what's left of my reputation

because of you bunch,

I... I...

[screams] I am not
losing to Royce!

Oswald!
Enough!

Mr. Oz!
I... I...

Don't be like Mr. Oswald,

weighed down by the past.

Everyone, let's try again.
[clapping]

[Izzie] We need to get
our acts together.

Angry Oz was harsh, but he's
right. We're better than this.

I know I'm better than Astrid.
We gotta fix this.

Well, you know who's better
than all of us? Albert!

You see how he rode that
bedbug like a bucking bronco?

But we won't have
Albert in the trial.

We won't even have each other.

The Night Bureau wants us

showing off our own skills.

We'll each have to capture
our own grody beastie.

Everyone is on their own.

[groans] Who cares
about the stupid trials?

First, I'm minding my own
business in the Dream World,

then you guys come along and
convince me to roll with you.

Now it's every dreamer
for themselves again?

The Night Bureau gives me
some serious whiplash.

It's okay.

We will figure it out.

Uh, sorry. It's just dealing
with some stuff.

These headaches.

In fact, I... I should go.

Maybe I'll see you tonight.

-Maybe?
-Let her go, broseph.

[sinister music]

[watch ticking]

-[watch clicks]
-[cat purring]

[ethereal music]

[cat meows]

-Here you are.
-[cat meows]

Thanks, Aunt Jenny.

Whoa, kitty!

Oh, that's just Pyewacket.

He'll get used to you.

If he can handle Brooklyn rats,

he can handle a kid
from California.

Is there anyone
you want to call?

Let them know you arrived?

A friend back in Frisco?

Nobody says "Frisco," and no,

nobody to call.

Listen, Zoey,
I'm sorry about your mom.

So, so sorry.

She was a really great person.

It'll take time,
but you'll be happy here.

I promise. And hey, you got
your dad's old room.

How cool is that?

Would be way cooler

if I knew him through
anything but photos.

I know.
I don't know where he is

and why he left the way he did.

My brother was always
a troubled soul.

But in time, maybe...

I... I guess I'll
leave you to it.

I'll just be down the hall.

Give me a shout
if you need anything.

[door closes]

[cat meows]

Oh, hello.

-[clock ticking]
-[cat purring]

Yeah, I guess I'm gonna be
your new roommate for a while.

Are you ticking?

[cat meowing]

Hey, where are you going?

[watch ticking]

[Zoey thumps]

Get away from
my friend, you creep.

[grunts] Who are you?

[gadget buzzing]

Come on!
Let's get out of here!

[groans] Get off me!

-Miya, it's me.
-Zoey?

I thought you were
in Brooklyn now.

Not in my dreams.

Ah. [chuckles] Zoey.

So you decided to come back.

Ooh, nice watch.

That's Dream Bandit to you!
[grunts]

[sinister music]

[lamp clicks]

-[spectators cheering]
-[heroic music]

Welcome, Dream Chasers,
to the first trial

of the R.E.M.s: Toss and Turn.

All contestants must
face an untamed bedbug,

wrangle one and exit the arena.

The first 14 agents to do so

will continue to the next trial.

Participants, you may
now enter the ring!

[spectators cheering]

Where the heck are Teo and Zoey?

-The trial's gonna start.
-Feeling good.

Feeling confident.

Nothing can spoil these feels.

Ha!

[chair hisses]

-I stand corrected.
-Good luck, Logan.

Hope your mad blue baby
thing works out for you.

Where is Mateo?

[heroic music]

Ready to go and
back on my A-game.

Meet my new secret
weapon: X-Blob!

[blob squelches]

Not what Mr. Oz meant by
"think different" at all.

Like, at all.

Okay, that will never work.

Zoey!
You're here!

How do you feel?

I'll live.

[blob squelches]

That, on the other hand,
might not.

[blob squelches]

[spectators cheering]

-[all gasping]
-[bugs buzzing]

Holy roly-poly.

[bug screeches]

All right, y'all, time to focus.

[whistle blows]

[bugs screeching]

[bugs buzzing]

[magic chimes]

[bug screeches]

[magic chimes]

[spectators cheering]

[grunts] Dude! What gives?

Sorry, Izz.
I... It's my sticky pudding.

[Izzie grunting and panting]

All right, X. Let's show them
what we're made of.

[X zaps]

[Mateo gasps]

You're wasting your time!

You don't need him!

[bugs buzzing]

[bugs buzzing]

[Phil] That's one.
No surprise,

the crowd-favorite,
Astrid from Berlin,

has beaten the all-time record,

and with such grace!

Now, X! Throw me!

[screaming]

[Mateo thumps and screams]

[bug screeching]

[Logan grunting]

Ah!

Ha! Paint me green
and call me a cucumber!

Now we're talking!

Looks like Brooklyn is coming in
strong with a number two finish!

[bugs screeching]

-[Mateo grunts]
-[Cooper screams]

[Phil] That's two!
Three! Four!

Amazing performance
from Agent Takashi!

[laughs] Yatta!

[spectators cheering]

-[tense music]
-[blob squelching]

-[bugs screeching and buzzing]
-[tense music]

[Izzie screams]

[groans] Stuck again!

[Zoey grunting]

[bug screeches]

[dramatic music]

-Back off!
-Ah, you attacked me.

[Zoey grunts]

I don't want to fight you.

[Zoey grunts]

Then stop twisting my song!

Give me back my friend!

[Grimspawn cackling
and growling]

Hey, boss, you...
we should grab 'em?

Stay back!

I'm not his or anyone's to give.

Come on, Miya, we can
go back to how it was,

fun adventures in
the Dream World.

-Play in the band.
-That's not me anymore.

And I thought I told you,
there is no band.

So this is really what you want?

And what do you want?

Maybe a perfect Dream World
for you doesn't have her in it.

[Miya screaming]

[cage rattles]

Mark my words,

I'm gonna take back
everything you've ever stolen.

Well, I'd love to see you try.

Don't blink or you'll miss it.

[spectators cheering]

[bug screeching]

That's it. Keep coming at me.

[bug screeching]

Eight! Wonderful display
by the Zoey of Brooklyn.

Even without an hourglass!

[bug screeching]

-[Logan grunts]
-[bug screeching]

Nine!
Ten!

Huh! The Lughead did it.

Eleven and twelve bedbugs
have been wrangled!

Great show by
the South African branch!

Only two slots remain.

Mateo! Get out!

Time's almost up!

You got this! Go!

-We got this. Together.
-[Cooper] Get it!

[bug screeching]

Over here, you
overgrown footrest!

[bug buzzing]

[Mateo grunting and screaming]

And agents from Brooklyn
close with 13 and 14.

The trial is over!

[spectators cheering]

[cheers] We made it!

Congratulations
to these 14 agents

on their stellar performance.

We all look forward to seeing
your skills on full display

tomorrow night in
the second trial.

Mateo, you could have won
second place behind Astrid.

If only you had
focused on yourself

and not let your weaker
links hold you back.

My team doesn't hold me back.

I know greatness when I see it,

and you could be great.

Tomorrow night's trial
won't be so easy.

[cars honking and roaring]

[knocking on door]

-[door opens]
-[revealing music]

Dad?

[closing theme music playing]