02x09 - Leadership - The Tower to the Moon / The Gordian Knot

[bunniefuu]

♪ Tell me a story

♪ Read me a poem ♪

♪ Wrap it in melody ♪

♪ Sing me the song ♪

♪ Then let me hold it ♪

♪ Deep in my heart ♪

♪ Where it can speak to me ♪

♪ All the day long ♪

♪ The adventure of virtue ♪

♪ The adventure of truth ♪

♪ The thrill of knowing ♪

♪ That it's up to you ♪

♪ Building a new day shining in the sun ♪

♪ This is my story ♪

♪ The adventure has ♪

♪ Begun. ♪

( Crowd cheering )

( Grunting )

( Grunting )

Ooh! Go, wolverines!

( Crowd cheering )

( Grunting )

( Panting )

That's it, zach! Get him!

( Grunting )

Go, go, zach, go!

Oops. Oh...

I am so sorry.

( Chuckling and mumbling )

Here, zach!

Kick it to me!

You're out of position, melanie!

( Grunting )

( Grunting )

Melanie! Melanie!

( Gasping ): oh, man, what is she doing?!

Melanie! Don't try to take it in by yourself!

Pass it across!

I've got a clear shot!

I'm going to win this game!

( Grunting )

( Grunting )

( Whistle blowing )

That's it!

Game over!

( Groaning )

I don't believe it.

A tie!

( All talking )

Hey, what's with all the hot-dogging, melanie?

I was open. Why didn't you pass to me?

I wasn't hot-dogging

And I'm the best shot on the team.

That's why I'm captain

And you'll do as I say out there.

I'm calling the shots in tomorrow's rematch, not you. Got that?!

( Disgusted sigh )

Yeah. Got it.

Big whoop, zach.

Today was a fluke.

Tomorrow you'll blow the razors off the field.

( Grunting )

Not with melanie calling the shots.

Sock: annie! Zach!

Smack it here!

( Laughing )

Ari, ari!

Heads up!

What's up, sock?

( Laughing )

Hey, look what

Zach taught me!

( Grunting )

Oh! Oh!

Oops.

Ari?

Is everything

All right down there?

( Chuckling )

I'm glad you guys can laugh.

The wolverines tied with the razors.

I know you feel bad, zach, but there'll be other games.

I know, plato.

We can't always win.

I'm upset about melanie, our captain.

She calls the shots during the game

But she's so full of herself

There's no room left on the soccer field

For the rest of us.

You've kept your sense of humor.

I'm trying.

It's tough when our leaders let us down.

So she's the best player?

That doesn't make her a good leader, right?

She keeps herself

Up at the front line for all the glory shots.

I could be a better team captain any day.

Zach's right. She won't listen

To anyone-- not even the team coach.

Yes.

( Clearing throat )

When a leader only hears his or her own voice

But is deaf to others, she's doomed to fail.

Zach: that's it exactly, plato.

Who said that?

Einstein? George washington?

( Chuckling )

No. I just made it up.

It's the idea behind a fable I once heard.

On the island of the dominican republic

They tell the tale of an ancient leader...

An island king.

The island king was not

A very good leader.

Announcing the king's humble servant

Chief from the north!

Offerings, o king on high

From your grateful subjects in the north.

What is the meaning of this outrage?!

The chief from the north dares to be taller than me?!

Has he forgotten that I am the island king?!

You see, the king was so full of his own self-importance

It was against the law

For anyone to be taller than he was.

Bring me the royal advisors!

Summon the royal advisors!

Royal advisors!

Royal advisors!

Royal advisors!

Both: you called, o king on high?

Something must be done!

I'm still not tall enough!

Advise me.

Plato: his advisors were at a loss until one of them got a...

Well, let's just call it...

( Plato laughing )

A "hair-raising" idea.

Finally, most definitely

The king was taller than anyone else

If only for a while.

So he closed down the barbershop

And asked his advisors once again...

Advise me.

Plato: and so they did, with decidedly mixed results.

( Grunting )

( Frustrated grunt )

Plato: so the king also closed down

The shoe shop and asked his advisors

One more time...

Advise me.

No one wears shoes anymore.

We dig trenches that everyone stands in.

What next-- crawl on our bellies?

Hoo-hoo! That's it!

I'm brilliant!

Let it be done.

Everyone, on your bellies!

( Grunting )

No! No good.

( Grunting )

Bring me...

The royal carpenter!

Summon the royal carpenter!

Royal carpenter?!

Royal carpenter?!

Royal carpenter?!

You called, o king on high?

Something must be done.

I'm still not tall enough.

Build me something.

Perhaps a taller, more magnificent throne

O king on high?

No, no, no. Hmm...

I need something permanent

Something that will settle this once and for all.

( Laughs )

That's it! I'm brilliant!

Build me something

So I am as tall as the moon.

( Chuckles )

But, uh, how is that possible?

Because I am "o king on high"

And what I want, I get!

I humbly agree, o spoiled and most childish king on high.

Build me a tower so tall

That I can touch the moon.

But... But... But...

And if you do not

Then you will be the shortest person on this island.

( Laughs )

A full head shorter.

( Gulps )

Let it be done.

( Chuckles )

The king's going to love this.

I have just the thing, o king on high.

Belly.

( Chuckles )

First, we'll need some boxes...

...a bunch of boxes.

Nah. Not tall enough.

You're fired.

Yikes!

Um, then we'll stack all the boxes

On top of each other, o king on high.

Yes! Oh, I'm brilliant!

Let it be done.

( Snaps fingers )

So... What do you think?

Nah. Still not tall enough.

But we have used every last box

On the island.

Belly.

You're a carpenter, right? Make more.

That should about do it.

It might not be safe.

I'll go first, o king on high.

Don't be ridiculous.

This was my idea

And the honor of touching the moon

Belongs to me, and me alone.

( Screams )

Let it be done.

( King straining )

Hey! I need

One more box!

There are no more boxes on the whole island

And no more trees left to make more boxes!

I've had it

With all your negative thinking!

Yikes!

Whew! Give up and come down, o king on high!

Never, never, never!

( Exclaims in frustration )

Hmm... Ooh, I have it.

Take the first box from the bottom

And bring it to the top!

I don't think that's a very good idea!

( Sighs )

A king's work is never done.

Do as I say, fool!

Take out the first box

And bring it up here!

Okay. You're the king!

( Groaning )

Got it.

( Sighs )

Oh, king?!

Whoa...!

( Yelling )

Bye!

Plato: and that's the last they ever saw of their island king.

Zach: so, if a leader makes foolish decisions

And doesn't listen to those being led

He or she is bound to... Well, fall.

It's as predictable as gravity.

I sure wish melanie

Could have heard that story.

Play your best tomorrow.

That's all you can do.

Ari: good luck.

Good luck, zach.

Thanks, guys.

Something tells me

I'll need it.

( Snoring )

( Footsteps approaching )

Wha...? Who-who is it?

Zach?

I'm sorry I had to bother you, plato.

Shouldn't you be home resting for tomorrow's game?

Sleep? No way.

Hmm. Still worried about melanie?

No. I've got a bigger problem now.

The coach called tonight.

He's pulled melanie

And now I'm the new team captain.

Everyone on the team is excited but me...

And melanie, I guess.

I don't know

The first thing about being a leader.

The razors are tough players.

There's no room for mistakes.

But you trust your coach and his decisions?

Yeah, sure.

Then he must believe in you.

Socrates: here you go, plato.

( Snoring )

( Chuckles )

Okay, ari, move along.

( Groans )

Here's another leadership story

About one of the world's most famous leaders...

A greek we now know as alexander the great.

Once, there was a king named gordius

Who was a wise and thoughtful ruler.

Before he died, gordius tied a great knot of rope.

Look at that.

I've never seen anything like it.

Plato: so intricate were its twists and turns

That no one could see how to untie it.

For years after gordius died, all who visited the temple

Proclaimed that only a great man

Could have tied such a mighty knot.

The man who undoes this knot would be greater than gordius

And have the world for his kingdom.

Plato: leaders from all over the world came to the temple

To try and untie the magnificent knot

And they all failed

Until a young man from macedonia

Arrived in the city.

It was alexander returning home with

His soldiers after a battle in india.

Where is this fabled gordian knot?

Hmm...

Ah.

One king spent months trying to find the knot's ends.

Another used golden needles trying to pry it apart.

A prince examined it through a diamond.

Together: all failed to be the greatest.

I know how to undo it.

What did he say?

What could he possibly know?

Plato: he was not discouraged by the odds

And he solved the problem at hand

In an unconventional

And creative way

And so, alexander showed that he truly was a great leader.

Maybe I shouldn't worry about the razors.

I've got trick plays I've wanted to try.

That's more like it...

And, you know, alexander didn't stop

With the gordian knot.

As he led his soldiers home, they had to cross a vast desert

But days after their water ran out

The soldiers grew thirsty and weary...

( Moaning )

Not another step, alexander.

We can't

Go on.

And even lost their faith in their leader.

( Gasping )

It was then that fate showed its hand.

Man: o mighty alexander.

How fortunate our paths should cross

In this forsaken land.

Alexander's wisdom and triumphs

Are known in all the corners of the world.

I, a mere greek traveler, am honored to be

In your presence.

Oh, you are thirsty.

( Hoarsely ): water...

Water.

Here. What little water I have is yours, alexander.

Thank you, my friend...

( Coughing )

Please, some water.

Water, please.

Water.

Please.

( Gasping )

But I cannot accept this.

There is not enough for my men.

If they cannot drink, then I cannot drink.

What did he say?

Alexander! Alexander!

Lead us home, alexander.

They found renewed strength because of alexander's loyalty

And every soldier demanded that they continue home

And that alexander should be the one to lead them.

Zach: of course.

Before you could be a good leader

You have to set a good example.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Thanks, plato.

I know what to do.

But first, you get some sleep, or you won't be able

To keep your eyes open.

Oh, and plato, thanks again

And I'm sorry for waking you up, sock, ari, auror...

Plato: shh.

Night, zach.

( Snoring )

( Murmuring )

Oh, thanks.

Go, wolverines!

( Grunting )

Give it to me!

You haven't got a shot!

( Grunting )

( Groaning )

Gather around, guys.

I'm going to move some positions around.

Uh, coach...

I've got a few ideas.

Go ahead, captain.

Huh. Captain.

With this sore ankle

I'm pulling myself out of the game.

What?!

No, you can't.

The decision's been made

And, melanie, as for you...

Yeah?

Stay up front in an offensive position.

Are you nuts?

What are you doing?

Yeah. I don't get it.

Zach: melanie is our best forward player.

Jon, you play in my position.

We'll never have a chance without you.

We're a team, and I'm doing this for the team.

I wish plato could be here to see this.

Plato: as a wise man, jawaharlal nehru, once said

"Great leaders have something in them

Which inspires a whole people and makes them do great deeds."

Whoo! Go get 'em, wolverines!

Yeah!

Whoo!

Yeah, yeah! Go, go!

Yeah, that's it, tyler!

Pass it!

( Grunts )

They're throwing a block

Melanie!

I can make this one.

Huh?

Pass it. Pass it!

Pass it.

( Grunts )

( Grunts )

( Grunts )

( Sighs )

Game over!

Yay!

( Cheering and laughing )

Great game, you guys.

Nice job.

Good play, melanie.

Those were good calls, zach.

Congratulations, captain.

You're better at this

Than I ever was.

( Cheering and laughing )

All right! Yeah!

♪ Do you know where you're going? ♪

♪ Chances are, if you do ♪

♪ Somebody walked ahead ♪

♪ To lead the way for you ♪

♪ If you know what you're doing ♪

♪ You can be a leader, too ♪

♪ Set an example ♪

♪ For those who follow you ♪

♪ 'Cause it takes teamwork ♪

♪ If you want to play the game ♪

♪ Even if you're not a leader ♪

♪ You're important just the same ♪

♪ Yes, it takes teamwork ♪

♪ To be the best you can be ♪

♪ Stand and join together ♪

♪ Now you're playing as a team ♪

♪ 'Cause it takes teamwork

♪ To be the best you can be ♪

♪ Stand and join together ♪

♪ Now you're playing as a team. ♪