07x05 - The Secret of the Dumpling

[bunniefuu]

[Gloria] Places!

[Mary Sue] Hope you're
hungry, New York!

- [Melman] How'd they know?
- [Marty] Shh, here he comes.

[Todd] I sure am, Mary Sue!

Today is our scrumptious
honor to welcome Central Park

favorite, Dumpling
Dan, to the studio.

[Dan] Thanks for having me.

[all] Yeah!

- [Marty] Go, Dan!
- [Mary Sue] In celebration

of the Grand Opening of
his brand new food truck,

this weekend, Dan
is gonna show us

everything we need to make
one of his famous dumplings.

[Dan] Almost everything,

gotta keep my special
ingredient to myself.

[Alex] A perfect dumpling
and a wining personality?

How does Dan do it?

[Dan] Okay, let's get started.
First, we need our dough.

[Alex] Hmm. A-ha!

Dough, check.

- Close enough.
- [Dan] Then, flatten the dough.

Next, give it a little flip.

[Alex] I bet I could
have my own cooking show.

The key to cooking is
substitutions, don't have salt?

Sub in pizzas!

[monkey chattering]

[Alex] Hey, wait, you
don't wanna eat that!

- It's not...
- [Pickles] Mmm, delicious!

[Alex] ...real food.

[Bill] Looks real enough to me.

[choking sounds]

[Gloria] At least it's organic?

[Bill] Look at you.

♪ It's a wild, wild world ♪

♪ And it's calling our name ♪

♪ It's a jungle out there ♪

♪ So let's get on our way ♪

♪ To have fun ♪

♪ Through the tunnel ♪

♪ See the big, big city ♪

♪ Everybody get ready ♪

♪ Get ready! ♪

♪ Time to go a little wild ♪

♪ We could go a million miles ♪

♪ Can I get a "Hey, oh!" ♪

♪ Can I get a "Let's go!" ♪

♪ On a journey all smiles ♪

♪ Time to go a little wild! ♪♪

[pots clanking]

[Gloria] Ah! What's going on?

[Marty] Alex woke up early?
I've seen it all now.

[Bill] Hey, who's
making all that racket?

Despite popular belief, not
all birds are early birds.

[Alex] Do I hear
hungry morning bellies?

Who is ready to
break their fast?

[Melman] Break our what nows?

[Marty] I think he
means breakfast.

[Gloria] Then why
couldn't he just say it?

[Alex] Because everything is
better with a touch of flair.

Welcome to Alex the Lion's
first ever cooking show!

- [Marty] You cook now?
- [Alex] Yup. I found my calling!

I'm going to become a master
chef like Dumpling Dan.

[Bill] I didn't know
you knew how to cook.

[Alex] Of course I
know how to cook.

I watched most of
that cooking show.

Now, please, take a seat and
enjoy pizza for breakfast.

You may be wondering,
how do I create a dish

that will warm your
bellies and your hearts.

[Gloria] Actually, I'm
wondering how you've learned

- to make pizza from scratch.
- [Alex] I didn't.

The art of cooking, like acting,
is all about improvising.

[Melman] Um, Alex,
are you putting donuts

in that pizza?

[Alex] Shh, "do nut"
want to give away

the secret ingredient
to the viewers at home!

"I call this my Chef's Surprise"

and luckily for my
in-studio audience.

[Bill] I think that's us.

[Alex] I've got a piping hot slice of
Chef's Surprise ready for a taste test!

[Bill] Hmm, creative
presentation.

[Alex] Thank you, thank you.
Will you do the honors, Marty?

[disgust sounds]

[coughing]

[Gloria] Wow! That
sure is flavorful.

- [Alex] What's wrong?
- [Marty] To start,

this violates
several health codes,

I don't know which ones, but
I definitely feel violated.

[Gloria] This was just the first
try, Alex, you'll get better.

[Alex] It couldn't
have been that bad.

Hey, Pickles and
Dave! Come over here!

- [Pickles] Huh?
- [Alex] You liked the test run of my dish yesterday,

surely you'll love this new dish
by an up-and-coming celeb chef.

[monkey chattering]

[Pickles] Yeah! Love
your new hobby, Alex.

[monkey chattering]

[Pickles] It was awful,

I think I preferred the mud pie.

- [Alex] Was it really that bad?
- [Bill] No!

Psst, if you hurry, you
can order some dumplings

- from Dan's before the morning rush.
- [Gloria] I'm on it.

[Bill] It was just a little
palate cleanser, you know?

Gloria, make it a double order.

Ah! Sweet, savory relief!

[Gloria] I've never
been so grateful

to taste a dumpling in my life!

[Marty] Like a comforting
hug for your mouth.

[Alex] Dan's dumplings
are delicious.

Must be that secret ingredient
he wouldn't reveal on the show.

I wonder what it is?

[Marty] What's up, Melman, you
usually love Dumpling Dan's.

[Melman] I do, but I'm
usually not seeing double.

- Or sweating. Or seeing double.
- [Gloria] You already said that.

[Melman] Oh, no, now
I'm saying double.

I think my tum
should take a break.

[Marty] Hmm, more for me.

[fast breathing]

[Bill] What's that?

[Marty] The first
weekend of the summer,

dip into the ocean, then
dip into Dan's dumplings.

[Gloria] Right,
Dan's food truck.

His Grand Opening is today!

[Bill] You know, Alex,

if you wanna become
a great chef,

maybe you should spend
some time studying Dan.

[Alex] That's a great idea.

I just got to find out Dan's
secret ingredient and voilà,

your favorite lion will
be your favorite chef too!

Just imagine it!

♪ I'm on fire,
heating things up ♪

♪ Staying inspired,
do what I love ♪

♪ When I'm in it, nothing
keeps me from the top ♪

♪ Taste the magic,
feel what I mean ♪

♪ I am fresh and
new in the scene ♪

♪ People stand I'm in
demand I'll never stop ♪

♪ And I feel something
burning at the heart of me ♪

♪ I feel inspired, got that
special kind of energy ♪

♪ There's just no limits
to what I can do ♪

♪ I'm on top of the game,
I know you see it too ♪

♪ I heat it up ♪

♪ I make it hot ♪

♪ I got the stuff ♪

♪ That all the people love ♪

♪ So line it up ♪

♪ Around the block ♪

♪ You work the way ♪

♪ When you're the one on top ♪

♪ Sing ♪

♪ Whoo, yeah! ♪

♪ Whoo ♪

♪ Sing with me, now ♪

♪ Whoo, yeah! ♪

♪ Whoo ♪

I know just where I'll learn Dan's
secret, at his Grand Opening!

We're going to the food truck.

[Melman] I'd like to celebrate,

but my throat is getting
a little scratchy.

[Marty] Which part?

You got a whole lot of throat.

[Melman] Aaah.

[Marty] Hmm, I
don't see anything,

but you better stay
back just in case.

There's a chapter in my Park Ranger
handbook on mysterious ailments,

I'll get to the bottom of it.

[Alex] Looks like it's
you and me, Gloria.

[Gloria] Melman, are you
sure you're okay if I go?

[Melman] Yes, go on.

I don't want you to
see me like this!

[Bill] Don't worry, I'll
keep him in good spirits.

[Alex] As long as you're staying
back, can you also prep some cameras?

[Bill] Sure thing! Wait,
are we doing a fashion show?

- Is that what this is?
- [Alex] No silly,

we're gonna film
my cooking show!

'Cause once I return with
that secret ingredient,

everybody's gonna wanna know
what this cat is cooking.

[Pickles] Where are you off to?

[Alex] We're gonna find out Dumpling Dan's
secret ingredient to use in my recipes!

[Gloria] Show them
the toll payment Alex!

[Alex] Fresh, left
over Chef's Surprise!

[Pickles] Yeah, no toll today.

- This one's on us.
- [Alex] Wait, really?

[Gloria] What's the catch?

[Dave chattering]

[Pickles] Dave says
your cooking needs work.

[Alex] Is that all he said?

[Pickles] Yup! Enjoy the ride!

♪ Let's go find a
little adventure ♪

♪ Let's make it a
day to remember ♪

♪ Let's find something
new we can explore ♪

♪ Ooh, explore ♪

♪ Let's go find a
little adventure ♪

♪ Let's make it a
day to remember ♪

♪ Let's charge through
every open door ♪

♪ Adventure's calling! ♪

[humming]

[Gloria] Look at this place!

Smells like being
inside a dumpling! Yum.

[Alex] Now to figure
out what exactly is

inside those dumplings.

What would a secret
ingredient come in?

A bottle? A box?

[park customer] Hey, Dan! Whoa!

Since when do you
have a food truck?!

[Dan] Since today, actually.

I'm headed to Jones Beach for
my Grand Opening right now!

[park customer] Lucky beach bums! Wait 'till
they get a load of the city's best dumplings.

[Gloria] Hm, all these
smells are making me hungry.

- Listen to my stomach!
- [Alex] Ow!

That's not your
stomach, it's the truck!

- We're moving!
- [Gloria] Where are we going?

[Alex] Maybe Dan's taking
us to an underground hideout

where he stores his
secret ingredient!

[GPS] Beginning directions
to Jones Beach, Long Island.

[Gloria] Long Island?

That's like an
outer, outer borough.

We can't get stuck
in Long Island,

we won't know the way home.
We gotta get off this truck!

[Alex] That's too dangerous,
the truck is already moving!

Besides, Dan lives in the city,

I'm sure he'll bring us back
after his Grand Opening!

[Gloria] I hope you're right...

How are these so good?

[Alex] Must be Dan's
secret ingredient,

and I'm gonna find
out what it is!

[Marty] Okay, in
order to diagnose you,

we first need to
clarify your symptoms.

Do you have hives?

[Bill] Those look like polka dots. Umm,
Melman appears to be more "spotted."

[Melman] Are spots a bad
sign? I've always had them.

Does that mean I've
been sick all my life?

[Marty] Calm down, Melman.

Just close your eyes
and try to relax.

[shaking and sobbing]

[Bill] I'll tell him a joke

to help him forget his woes.

Hey, Melman, knock knock!

- [Melman] Who's there?
- [Bill] Banana.

[Melman] Banana I
thought you were Bill!

Oh no, now my mind is going. I
must be sicker than I thought!

[Marty] I hope Gloria and Alex are
having better luck than we are.

[Dan] Sun's out, weather's fine,
perfect time to dumpling dine!

Hey, that was pretty good.

[phone ringing]

Oh! Hey honey! Yup,
beautiful day at the beach

but it'll be a long one.

Not coming home 'til I
sell every last dumpling!

That could take all day!

[Alex] Don't worry, Dan's
dumplings always sell out.

See, here comes a customer now!

[Gail] I'll take, uh,
three dumplings please!

[Dan] Coming right up!
Enjoy your dumplings.

- Gail?
- [Gail] Diving Dan!

Is that you?

[Dan] It is! But I go by
Dumpling Dan these days!

[Gail] Wow, things have sure
changed since swim team.

Mmm, your dumplings are as
legendary as your freestyle!

[Dan] Well let me know if you
ever need an extra lifeguard.

I've still got some
of my old moves!

[woman] Help! Lifeguard!
We've got a situation!

[Gail] Oh, oh, looks like someone
mistook Superstick glue for sunscreen

- again!
- [man] I'm stuck!

[Gail] Hey, Dan, the other lifeguard's
still stuck in beach traffic.

Think you can cover my stand?

[Dan] Uh, I need
to finish prepping.

[woman] Someone, come quick!

[Dan] But I guess I can
catch the post-lunch rush.

It'll just have to
be a late night.

[woman] Now my
other foot's stuck!

[Gloria] If Dan's busy on the
beach, how will he sell out

in time for us to get
home before tuck-in?

[Alex] Hmm... maybe
selling Dan's dumplings

will help me figure out
what makes 'em so tasty!

If he can't work
his truck, we will!

Open that window.

[customer] Four
dumplings please!

[Alex chuckles]

[customer] That is the best
dumpling I've ever tasted! Thanks.

[Alex] This professional
chef business is a breeze!

- How many more to go?
- [Gloria] Let's just say

a lot.

[Alex humming]

[Alex] Ha!

[Gloria] Keep 'em coming!

[Alex] Ha!

♪

[humming]

[Gloria] A lotta
Dan fans out there!

[Alex] Uh, we're out!

[customer] Ugh,
every single time!

[Gloria] Hurry up, Alex,
the line is getting longer.

[Alex] That's all Dan prepped,

and I still don't know
what makes them so good.

I'll just cook up
all these ingredients

and figure out which one is
the secret ingredient myself.

[Millie] Hello? Can I get
some service around here?

[Gloria] Okay, if you say so...

[Millie] Two dumplings
please. Extra sauce.

[Alex] Where to start?

I'll use a little bit of this and
a little bit of that and, voilà!

Order up!

[Gloria chuckles]

[disgusted sounds]

[Millie] What did I tell you?

Everything tastes
better in the city!

[Murray] Maybe we could
feed them to the seagulls.

[Millie] No way! That
would be animal cruelty!

[kid] Aww.

[sad customer] Come on, I got a day
old tuna sandwich in my beach buggy.

[Alex] A bad review? But I used
every ingredient in this truck!

[Gloria] We were supposed to help
Dan's Grand Opening, not hurt it!

What if we ruin Dan's reputation
and he goes out of business!

[Alex] I can't imagine a
world without Dumpling Dan.

I need to figure out
his secret, stat!

[Gloria] Hey! This is
Dan's recipe book! Wow!

There's drawings of
all his creations.

And a lot of scribbles.

Looks like he kept
changing the recipe.

[Alex] One of these must
be the secret ingredient!

[Gloria] There's only
one way to find out.

[Alex] Let's get cooking.

[Melman sighs]

[Marty] "Dropsy is
a serious illness

that causes a loss of appetite,

swelling of the abdomen,
and listlessness."

[Melman] Listlessness?

I haven't made a
single list all day!

[Marty] No, it
means you're tired.

[Melman yawns]

[Melman] Oh, no, I am listless!

[Marty] "It also causes the
patient's scales to stick out."

Wait a minute... scales?
Dropsy is a Goldfish illness!

[Melman] Now I'm
turning into a goldfish?

Ugh! I'm a horrible swimmer.

[Marty] That was the last
page, I'm all out of disorders.

[Bill] Alex better get back
soon. He's got a crowd forming.

It must be for his show because it
definitely ain't for his cooking.

Hm, if Alex isn't
here to perform,

maybe a captivating
performance from yours truly

will help lift the
mood around here.

- Hey, Melman!
- [Melman] Hmm?

- [Bill] Have you ever seen a flamingo roar?
- [Melman] No,

but I have seen a horse fly!

[Gloria] Great news, Alex!

Someone just called your
dumpling "not terrible!"

- You're getting better!
- [Alex] That's not good enough to become my friends

and fans favorite chef!

Come on, Dan's secrets,
reveal yourself.

♪ I'm on fire,
heating things up ♪

♪ Staying inspired,
do what I love ♪

♪ When I'm in it nothing
keeps me from the top ♪

♪ Taste the magic,
feel what I mean ♪

♪ I am fresh and
new in the scene ♪

♪ People stand I'm in
demand I'll never stop ♪

♪ And I feel something
burning at the heart of me ♪

♪ I feel inspired, got that
special kind of energy ♪

♪ There's just no limits
to what I can do ♪

♪ I'm on top of the game,
I know you see it too ♪

♪ I heat it up ♪

♪ I make it hot ♪

♪ I got the stuff ♪

♪ That all the people love ♪

♪ So line it up ♪

♪ Around the block ♪

♪ You work the way ♪

♪ When you're the one on top ♪

♪ Sing ♪

♪ Whoo, yeah! ♪

♪ Whoo ♪

♪ Sing with me, now ♪

♪ Whoo, yeah! ♪

♪ Whoo ♪

[customer] Mmm. Not bad!

[Gloria] All that
practice is paying off!

The customers are starting
to like your cooking!

[Alex] Yeah great, but my cooking's
still nowhere near as good as Dan's.

[Gail] Thanks for
your help, Dan!

[Gloria] Hide!

[Dan] Yeah, who knew so many people
could get stuck to a beach ball?

[Gail] I'm so sorry to keep
you from your Grand Opening.

[Dan] Eh, that's okay.

I'll just wake up early and
prep everything tomorrow.

[Gail] You're a real life-saver,
Diving... I mean Dumpling Dan!

[Dan] At least I got to
dust off my own dog paddle.

[Gloria] Yes! We're going home!

You cooked every last
ingredient in the truck.

[Alex] You're right I did!

Wait... I cooked every
ingredient in the truck,

and I still haven't figured
out the secret ingredient!

Without it, my food
won't be delicious

and my dreams of being a
master chef will be cooked.

[Dan] Huh, what's this? Where
did all this cash come from?

But I didn't sell a
single dumpling all day.

Must've spent too
much time in the sun.

[Marty] Okay, watch
the ball, very closely!

[Melman] What is
it supposed to do?

Aside from make me dizzy!

[Marty] Distract you?

[sighs]

I'm sorry. I'm out of ideas.

[Melman] It's ok, Marty!

It took us so long to figure out what's
wrong with me that I feel better now!

- [Marty] You do?
- [Melman] And I think I figured out what it was!

[Marty] You did? Tell me!

[Gloria] Cheer up Alex!
You can still be a chef!

You improved so much
in just one day.

Maybe we can look for the
secret ingredient tomorrow?

[Melman] It turns out,
I wasn't sick at all.

I just... didn't
like Alex's cooking!

I didn't like it at all!

[Alex sighs]

[Gloria] I'm sure he
didn't mean it like that!

[Dave chattering]

[Pickles] It tasted
like an overripe banana,

after Dave stepped on it.

[Marty] Really? 'Cause
I found it to be

more like an old dirty sock
that's been dipped in... Gloria!

[Melman] Dipped in Gloria?

I thought you were gonna say an
old sock dipped in hot dog water!

[Alex clears throat]

Alex! Umm, I didn't mean
for you to hear that.

[Marty] Hey, bud, I'm sorry.

[Alex] No, you're right.
My cooking is terrible.

It was silly to think I
could be a master chef.

[Melman] Just because I
didn't like the chef's...

[disgusting sounds]

Surprise, doesn't
mean you're silly.

[Alex] Dumpling Dan's
cooking makes everyone happy,

and mine makes everyone sick.

[Gloria] Alex, we don't need you
to cook for us to make us happy.

[Marty] Yeah, you're
already our favorite star!

Check out the crowd that's
been waiting for you!

[Alex] But if I'm over here,
who are they waiting for?

[Bill] Can I get a roar?

[coughing]

Let's see, how would Alex roar!

No?

[roar sounds]

Gotcha!

[woman] What happened to the cute
little lion that usually preforms here?

[man] I don't know, but there's
something seriously wrong

with that flamingo.

- [Alex] Bill?
- [Bill] Oh, hey! You're back!

Now, give me a squack!

[woman] Do you think we
should call someone for help?

[laughing]

[Melman] Bill was right!

This does cheer me up!

[Alex] Bill, what are you doing?

[Bill] Exactly what
you do every day!

The audience was here so I figured
I'd just put on your little show.

Keep the crowds warm. Oof!

[man] Let's go see if the
sea lions are acting normal.

[Bill] Actually, I guess
I left them sorta cold.

[Alex] Aw, don't feel bad!

Perfecting my show has taken
lots of learning and hard work!

I practice my flips every night

and I've been workshopping
my roar for years!

[woman] Oh, thank goodness!

- There he is!
- [man] Now that's a performer!

[Bill] I don't get it. I've been watching
your show ever since I moved next door.

I consider myself an expert.

[Alex] You don't just wake up
one day and become an expert

at something because you
wanna try it on for size!

It's not like you can magically find
the secret ingredient to being a...

- Oh!
- [Gloria] That sounds familiar!

[Alex] There is no "secret ingredient"
to Dan's success, is there?

[Gloria] Maybe not, at least,

I don't think it was not anything
you can find in a bottle.

[Alex] All those
drawings in his book,

that was his practicing
and perfecting.

His secret ingredient
was hard work!

[Gloria] And a whole lotta love.

[Bill squaking]

[woman] Must be one of
them Florida Flamingos.

[Bill] Whew! That is enough
performing for me for one day.

Is anybody else
hungry for a snack?

[Marty] That depends.

Alex, are you giving
up on cooking?

[Alex] Of course not! I just
have a lot more practicing to do.

But in the meantime, we
brought back dumplings.

♪ It's evening ♪

♪ Let's wind down ♪

♪ Today is almost done ♪

♪ It was a bit sweet ♪

♪ A little wild ♪

♪ Let's shine that ossicone ♪

♪ Go on and stretch
those paws out ♪

♪ Let that yawn out ♪

♪ Oh, I'm tired too ♪

♪ I love saying
goodnight to you ♪

♪ Goodnight to you ♪

- [Alex] Yes!
- [Marty] Not again.

[Alex] I did it!

[Marty] You figured out how
to make the perfect pizza?

[Alex] Nope, but I did figure
out how to roll the dough.

Now I can finally get started!

[Gloria] Does this mean there's
another taste test coming tomorrow?

[Melman] Oh, no.
Marty, get the book!

Just in case!

[Marty] And, we're rolling!

[Alex] And now my favorite dish,
well, really my only dish so far,

for my favorite studio audience.

And Bill.

[Gloria] Hey, this
isn't half bad!

[Bill] It's, dare
I say, half good?

[Marty] I don't taste anything
that violates any health codes!

[Melman] And my
stomach feels A-okay!

[Pickles] It's still not as good
as the mud pie but, I like it!

[Alex] I'm glad you like
it because I'm gonna test

all my recipes on you every
night 'til I get 'em right!

[Melman] Every night, huh?

[Gloria] Get the menu, we're gonna
need to order a lot more dumplings!

[laughs]

♪ Let's go find a
little adventure ♪

♪ Let's make it a
day to remember ♪

♪ Let's find something
new we can explore ♪

♪ Ooh, explore ♪

♪ Let's go find a
little adventure ♪

♪ Let's make it a
day to remember ♪

♪ Let's charge through
every open door ♪

♪ Adventure's calling! ♪