04x03 - Rupert and the Marsh Mystery

[bunniefuu]

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Yahoo!

Whee!

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(Train whistle blowing)

RUPERTIt's super of your Aunt Felicity to invite us down

to Crompton Marsh for the weekend, Ottoline.

How long has she owned Bullrush Inn?

For simply ages.

She says she enjoys the slow pace of life out here.

I hope you won't find it too boring.

(Train whistle blowing)

Hurry, Rupert! It's only a quick stop!

Whoa! Oof!

Wait!

Rupert!

Thank you!

Phew!

Yoo-hoo! Ottoline!

Auntie Felicity! This is my friend, Rupert.

Welcome to Crompton Marsh, Rupert.

Thank you for inviting me.

Oh, my pleasure. There's always room at the Bullrush Inn

for my favourite niece and her friends.

I only hope you youngsters

don't find things too slow around here.

Not a chance!

(Engine approaching)

Ah-ha! Miss Felicity!

So very sorry, a mere miscalculation on my part.

Cast off the moorings, Rupert.

Hey!

new guests for the Inn, I see. Business must be picking up!

Splendid!

We're not guests! I'm Aunt Felicity's niece, Ottoline,

and this is my friend, Rupert.

Oh, how unfortunate. One certainly can't run a hotel

without guests now, can one?

Speaking of business,

have you reconsidered my more than generous offer?

Whoa! Oof!

I told you before, Mr. Grumidge, I'm not interested in selling!

We'll see about that.

RUPERTI take it Mr. Grumidge wants to buy the Bullrush Inn?

How could he think you would even consider selling?

To people like Silas Grumidge,

everything boils down to profit and loss.

Bullrush Inn is not just a business, it's my home.

Hello, Mrs. Muskrat! The little ones are doing fine, I see.

I just have to stop here and pick up a few supplies.

Ready with the rope, Rupert!

Hello, Winston.

Miss Felicity, what a nice surprise!

Makes my day when you call in.

And who are your charming companions?

Do I detect a certain family resemblance in this young lady?

Yes, this is my niece, Ottoline and her friend, Rupert.

They've come up for the weekend.

Oh, hello there Winston! And how's business today?

Ah-ha! Just what I'm looking for!

A nice large scarecrow

to keep the birds off my vegetable patch.

Whoa!

(Laughing)

Phoebe, Phoebe, how many times have I told you

to get a new pair of glasses?

That's not a scarecrow you have there!

Although he'd certainly scare the birds away!

Pleased to meet you. My name's Rupert.

I apologize for that little mistake.

No offense meant, Rupert, no offense.

Now let's see, what else did I need?

Rupert, could you get me bolts from that barrel over there?

And Ottoline, boxes of nails, please.

I hate to ask, Winston,

but it seems that with all the problems at the Inn lately--

Now, now! Don't you worry, Felicity.

I'll just add it to the bill. Your word is good enough for me.

Is your aunt in some kind of trouble?

Nothing she's told us about.

Well, ta-ta!

Excellent service as usual, Winston!

Yes, Winston! As usual, excellent service.

(Chuckling)

I'd think twice before staying here, if I were you!

First the bed collapses, then the lights go on and off--

But no running water? Well! That's just too much!

We demand a full refund. Come along, dear!

Oh, dear! No one wants to stay in an old ruin.

I'm sure it can't be that bad.

I'm afraid it is.

The old place seems to be falling down around my ears.

No matter how hard I try,

I just can't keep up with all the problems.

Tosh! Tosh! Felicity my dear.

Don't let a few lily-livered deserters upset you!

A little hardship builds character, you know.

No backbone, that's their trouble.

Thank you for your support, Brigadier.

Ottoline, Rupert, I'd like you to meet--


Brigadier General Monty Carruthers-Smythe, retired.

At your service.

Off "birding" again, Brigadier?

Indeed, indeed.

A bird in the bush is worth in the hand

to a dedicated birdwatcher like me, you know. Ha, ha, ha!

Now then, I'll get my tool box

and things will be back under control in no time.

Strange, it almost looks as if this stair has been--

Ahh! Rupert! Ottoline!

Hurry! I need your help!

Quick! The wrench! In the tool box!

Turn it! Turn it!

(Grunting)

I'm afraid this won't last long.

I'll need to go to the store and get a proper clamp.

Ottoline and I can go for you.

That would be a big help, Rupert.

Make sure you stay on the canals and footpaths.

There are bogs and sink holes all over the marsh!

OTTOLINEWe will!

Are you sure you have enough supplies here, Oscar?

I didn't expect to see you two back so soon.

We're here to get a clamp for the drain pipe.

Uh-oh! The plumbing again?

Yes. Aunt Felicity's even lost some guests because of it.

Oh, well, Winston, it looks like I won't be

needing all this fishing tackle after all.

I'm Oscar, the local fishing guide.

I was supposed to take your aunt's guests out fishing.

Oh, what a shame!

Here you are. This should do the trick.

Thank you.

Bye, now! Sure hope your Aunt can get her problems sorted out.

Tell her to let me know if there's any way I can help.

We will! Thank you!

Aunt Felicity's run of bad luck seems to be affecting everyone.

Yes, they all count on her to bring

tourists to the marsh. I wonder if--

GIRLAhh! Help! Help!

Phoebe! What's wrong?

It's terrible! Horrible! Big eyes glowing!

A moaning and a roaring!

M-- m-- monster!

What is it?

Careful, Rupert!

Ha, ha, ha! Phoebe really does need new glasses!

Come on ahead, you two, the coast is clear!

Here's your monster, Phoebe!

Wh-- what about that horrible moaning?

Just marsh gas; the hollow trunk is acting like a megaphone.

But what's causing that glow?

It's foxfire! At least that's what we marsh folk call it.

It's a type of fungus that glows in the dark.

I should have recognized it, but I suppose I just panicked.

How embarrassing! Oh!

Never mind, Phoebe, it startled me too.

And it is getting darker.

In fact, we'd better get back so my Aunt doesn't worry.

I'm sorry for putting you through so much trouble.

No trouble at all, Phoebe.

We're always happy to go on a monster hunt!

(Wind gusting)

(Crashing noises)

The monster!

Oh, just dreaming. But, what was that noise?

Rupert! Your heard it too? It made the whole Inn shake!

(Wind gusting)

(Gasping)

Oh, no, I'm ruined!

It isn't bad enough that the old building is falling apart.

Now even Mother Nature is working against me.

I just hope Grumidge doesn't change his mind

when he sees this roof.

Auntie Felicity, don't tell me you're thinking of selling?

Ottoline and I will have this tidied up in no time!

It's not just the mess.

With no paying guests I'll never be able to repair the roof!

I'm sure your neighbours will help.

Winston, Oscar and the others have been too kind all ready.

And besides, they need an Inn

that can attract tourists to the marsh.

And how many guests would be crazy enough

to stay at an Inn with no roof?

A-hem.

Oh! Sorry, Brigadier, at least you haven't deserted me.

Never! Now chin up, old girl.

Bound to be a silver lining and all that!

Yoo-hoo!

I just heard. News travels fast on the marsh.

Oh, dear! It's terrible!

Let me help you clean up.

Oh! Why you cheeky little scamp!

Who are you talking to?

There's a young muskrat hiding under here.

On your feet now, lazy little thing!

There's work to be done.

I'm afraid he won't be much help!

Oh! Winston is right about these glasses.

Looks like it wasn't the storm that brought


the tree tumbling down after all!

But that would mean... Sabotage!

Look! A trail!

It doesn't make sense.

Who would be trying to ruin poor Felicity?

Everyone on the marsh loves her!

She's always there to help when someone's in trouble.

Looks like the trail goes right through these willows.

It's a building site!

There's someone in the trailer.

Phoebe, could you stay with the boat,

in case we need to make a fast getaway?

All right, Rupert, but be careful!

(Man laughing)

Silas Grumidge!

GRUMIDGEBullrush Inn is as good as ours!

Felicity just called to say she's ready to sell.

I tell you, that tree idea of yours was, shall we say...

a crashing success!

By this time tomorrow,

Bullrush Inn will be nothing more than a pile of kindling,

and construction of Grumidge's Marina will be well under way.

So that's why he wants Bullrush Inn!

GRUMIDGERelax, I'm going over right now to sign the papers.

We've got to get back and warn Auntie!

Whoa!

Who's there?

What are you two doing snooping around here?

There are laws against trespassing you know.

There are laws against cheating people out of their homes too!

So! Not only are you snoops, but you're eavesdroppers as well!

Run!

Oof!

(Gasping)

I've got you now!

Run, Rupert!

Ha!

This way!

Run for it!

Oh, dear! What's happening?

(Panting)

Get back here!

Whoa!

Quicksand!

Ha, ha, ha! Just the place for a pair of nosey parkers!

Careful now! The trick to quicksand is not to struggle!

You can't build that marina!

You'll flood everyone in the marsh out of house and home!

And if you don't waste all your energy shouting,

you just might keep you're heads above water

until somebody finds you! Ha, ha, ha!

If we don't stop Aunt Felicity from selling,

the Inn and the marsh will be lost forever.

Right now I'm more worried about

the two of us being lost forever.

(Gasping)

Rupert! Thank goodness I've found you!

Now what has that nasty Grumidge done with Ottoline?

Phoebe! We're over here!

Rupert? Is that you?

Oh, dear! That does it!

First thing tomorrow I'm going to town for a new prescription!

Hurry, Phoebe! There's no time to lose!

I'm a very busy man, Miss Felicity.

No time to read all the fine print.

May as well sign and get it over with.

After all, who else would buy a hotel with no roof?

Auntie!

Wait! Stop! Don't sign!

Ottoline! Rupert! What's the matter?

I do apologize for the commotion, Mr.--

Well, really!

What is going on?

Auntie! You'd better look at this!

AUNTI'd have never forgiven myself if all of my friends

in the marsh would have lost their homes too.

Ohh! But I'm afraid there's still the problem

of a broken roof and no guests.

(Clearing throat)

Miss Felicity, you know I am an avid birdwatcher and

well, I happen to have a sizable nest egg put aside.

I wonder, would you allow me to buy Bullrush Inn?

Brigadier! Why on earth would you-- you can't run a--

Of course I would insist everything remain

exactly as it is, with you, Miss Felicity,

in charge of running things,

while I would enjoy the benefit of always having

a pleasant place to spend the summer.

That would solve everything! Oh, Auntie! Do say yes!

I don't know how to thank you for such kindness, Brigadier.

It is an honour to help you in your hour of need.

And to celebrate, I think we'll throw a party

and invite all the neighbours!

Hooray!

Well done! I will draw up the necessary papers

and we can sign them tonight.

GRUMIDGEWhat do you mean "move the equipment into place"?

Those interfering little brats have ruined everything!

How can I--

Good news? Yes, yes, of course.


I'll meet you at the usual place.

Jolly good! Jolly good!

Helping with the preparations I see.

I'll be back soon. Just going to pop into the marsh

and see if I can catch sight of the Lesser Spotted Grebe

before it migrates for the winter.

Strange hour to go bird watching.

I suppose the Lesser Spotted Grebe must be nocturnal.

No, they aren't night time creatures, Rupert.

They don't migrate either. They stay here all winter.

Why wouldn't the Brigadier know that? Unless...

We have to find out what he's up to.

It's getting dark. We'd better hurry or we'll lose him.

RUPERTWe've lost him!

Wait! Look over there!

Faster, Rupert, before we lose sight of the lantern again!

Come on, no time to lose!

Shh!

It looks like we've been barking up the wrong tree.

Oh, dear, it's my monster!

We haven't been following the Brigadier at all.

But I could have sworn the light was moving.

Me too. I suppose our eyes were playing tricks on us.

Well, that's nothing new for me.

(Chuckling)

Hold on! Look at this!

Someone was here, and they stepped in foxfire!

This way!

(Gasping)

It's the equipment from Grumidge's camp!

What's it doing here?

This part of the marsh is Felicity's property.

If my guess is right,

we'd better get back to the Inn and fast.

I'll tell you why on the way.

Ahh...!

You won't be telling anybody anything!

(Evil laughter)

Look out! Run!

There-- there really is a monster!

Ohh!

Phoebe, run!

No one stands in Silas Grumidge's way!

Let's get out of here!

This way!

Hurry!

No Rupert! Quicksand!

Run!

Oh, this is going to be too easy!

I'll just scoop up this little problem.

Rupert! Jump!

Ahh...!

Ohh!

Get me down! Get me down!

Why don't you hang around awhile, Mr. Grumidge?

At least until the local police come for you.

(Laughing)

And to think the whole marsh may have been flooded

if that Mr. Grumidge had his way!

It's all such a relief.

And thanks to the Brigadier's kind offer,

I'll finally be able to pay my bills at your store, Winston.

Aunt Felicity!

Well, there you are!

I was afraid you were going to miss the party.

I'm sorry, Felicity, but we have to interrupt your celebration.

Silas Grumidge was working with an accomplice.

And if my suspicions are correct,

the culprit is in this very room!

(Gasping and chattering)

Ha, ha, ha. Don't be silly, how could that be?

Really Rupert, we're all Felicity's friends!

Not all. Someone has only been posing as a friend,

so they could sabotage Bullrush Inn.

That someone met Grumidge out on the marsh tonight.

And whoever it was, accidentally walked in some foxfire,

which, as you all know, glows in the dark!

(Someone running away)

(Excited shouting)

(Gasping)

After him!

He's getting away!

Not likely! Look!

Ahh!

(Spluttering and coughing)

Help! Help!

Looks like Grumidge and his crony finally ran out of rope!

(Laughing)

Good as new!

Nothing like a little help from your friends, right Auntie?

That's right, Ottoline. And thanks again to the of you

for showing me who my true friends are.

How can I ever repay you?

Um...

Well, you could start by getting Phoebe new glasses.

Tsk-tsk-tsk.

Oh, I've never seen such lumpy walls!

(Laughing)

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