02x09 - The Fright Stuff/Doug the Mold

[bunniefuu]

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♪ELINOR: Wherever I go,

♪I see things that I want to know.♪

♪Wherever I am,♪

♪I find things that I want to understand.♪

♪Go and explore, listen and see,♪

♪just follow your curiosity.♪

♪ALL: Elinor wonders why!♪

♪ELINOR: Why do birds sing and how do they fly?♪

♪ALL: Elinor wonders why!♪

♪ELINOR: Why do ants march and where do they hide?♪

♪There's so much to learn,♪

♪ wherever you turn,

♪just listen and see,♪

♪and follow your curiosity.♪

[♪♪♪]

♪ALL: Elinor wonders why!♪

♪ELINOR: Ask a question, what will you find?♪

♪ALL: Elinor Wonders Why!♪

♪ELINOR: Just listen and see, come and wonder with me.

ELINOR: "“The Fright Stuff"”

OLIVE: I hope the rain stops before Halloween tomorrow night.

ARI: Yeah, I don't want my trick-or-treating candy to get wet.

OLIVE: Mmm-hm, or my costume.

ELINOR: Do you already know what you're going to be?

OLIVE: Yup.

ARI: Sure do.

OLIVE: I'm going to be a spoooooky ghost.

Oooooo!

KIDS: [giggles]

ARI: And I'm going to be something scary, too, but you'll NEVER EVER guess--

ELINOR: Vampire. OLIVE: Vampire.

ARI: Okay. You guessed.

KIDS: [giggles]

OLIVE: What about you, Elinor?

ELINOR: Hmm. I don't know yet. I have my owl costume.

But it's not really scary. And I want Halloween to be as spoooooky as possible!

[door creaks open]

MR. RABBIT: [yawns]

KIDS: Ahhhhh!

MR. RABBIT: [yawning] Okay, kids, it's time to turn out the lights.

KIDS: Phew. [giggles]

MR. RABBIT: So good night, sleep tight, and don't let the bed bugs bite.

ELINOR: Dad, we're not in BEDS, we're in sleeping bags.

MR. RABBIT: Oh! Then... don't let the bag bugs bite!

KIDS: [giggles]

MR. RABBIT: Good night!

OLIVE: Before we sleep, let's tell some spoooooky stories to get ready for HALLOWEEN. Muhaha!

ARI: Um, how spooky are we talking here? Because Robin gets a little scared sometimes.

OLIVE: Don't worry. It'll be fun-spooky, not scary-spooky.

ARI: Oh, that's a relief. Er... for Robin.

ELINOR: [giggles]

OLIVE: Who wants to go first?

ARI: I can! Something fun-spooky happened to me the other day.

My story starts with something that leaves your head spinning...

KIDS: [gasp]

ARI: A FRISBEE!

KIDS: [giggles]

ARI: I call my story: "“The Sneeeeeaky Snaaaaaake..."”

It was a bright and sunny afternoon.

My dad and I were playing Frisbee by the lake, and it was his turn to toss it.

MR. BAT: Okay, Ari, here's a long one!

ARI: Eh! Oof!

MR. BAT: Whoops, sorry about that!

ARI: No problem, Dad! I'll find it!

Only I couldn't find it. I looked EVERYWHERE for that Frisbee.

But as I looked, there was SOMETHING in the bushes...

Huh?

Then, all of a sudden...

Ah! A snake! A snake!

Wait a minute. You don't look like any snake I've ever seen.

You're really tiny. And you're a lot shorter than a snake. No offence.

And you have legs! You are not a snake...

You're a caterpillar!

So I followed the caterpillar, and that's when I saw it.

[gasp]

My frisbee!

The end.

ELINOR: So, the caterpillar was pretending to be a snake?

ARI: It WAS! My dad told me it's called a snake mimic caterpillar.

It's a caterpillar with special patterns that makes it look like a snake.

OLIVE: I read about that in my nature book!

Lots of animals like to eat caterpillars so to stay safe;

some caterpillars pretend to be snakes.

ELINOR: It's like the caterpillar is wearing a scary Halloween costume!

OLIVE: Mhm. Caterpillars aren't the only insects that pretend to be scarier.

It's time for my story... "“BEE-lieve it...or NOT!"”

It was a spring afternoon.

My mom and I were planting flowers in the town square with Sally Beaver.

And were almost done when my mom had to go.

She needed to make it to the bakery before it closed.

Bye, Mom! We'll finish planting the flowers before you get back.

And then, all of a sudden, something scary happened.

SALLY: [gasp]

OLIVE: What is it?

SALLY: It's--it's a--it's a... BEE!

OLIVE: Don't worry, Sally! Bees don't WANT to sting you. They only sting if they're afraid.

SALLY: But I'm the one who's afraid!

OLIVE: If you calm down, bees will usually leave you alone.

SALLY: Phew! I just don't want to BEE stung.

KIDS: [giggles]

SALLY: You know, that's a strange-looking bee.

OLIVE: It has black and yellow stripes like a bee, but it doesn't have a stinger.

And its antennae are really short. And its eyes are really big.

And that's when I realized it wasn't a bee at all... it was...

ARI: A very small dragon in a striped sweater?

OLIVE: No! [giggles]

It was a fly that looks like a bee!

Once Sally and I realized that, she got less scared, and we finished planting all of the flowers.

ELINOR: But how can a fly look like a bee?

OLIVE: It's called a hoverfly. Its shape and its yellow and black stripes,

make it look like a bee, but it's not.

You can tell it's a fly because it has no stinger,

its antennae are short, and because it only has two wings.

Lots of birds like to eat flies, but they're scared to eat bees because they don't want to get stung.

So the hoverfly looks like a bee so the birds don't eat it.

ELINOR: Wow! So it pretends to be scary, just like the snake mimic caterpillar.

That is SOOO interesting!

ARI: You mean interes-STING! Get it, STING?

KIDS: [laugh]

OLIVE: What about you, Elinor? Do you have a spooky story?

ELINOR: Yes! I call my story "The Eyes in Disguise."

And it starts... in my very own... backyard!

I was all alone thinking about what to draw when I got a funny feeling.

A feeling that someone, or someTHING, was watching me.

I got up to see what it was, and when I looked into the bushes,

I saw a pair of big, scary eyes!

Ah!

They were the eyes...of...of...

ARI: A dragon! Was it a dragon? I bet it was a dragon this time.

ELINOR: Nope! They were...

--the eyes of an owl!

Or, at least, I thought it was an owl.

Huh?

[gasp] Wait, you're not an owl. You're a moth!

You look just like an owl because of the spots on your wings.

But... why do you look like an owl?

It was so strange. I wanted to remember what it looked like,

so I drew the moth on my sketch pad.

See?

OLIVE: It DOES look like an owl.

ARI: But why would a moth look like an owl?

ELINOR: I think I figured it out. Maybe it looks like an owl to be scary!

OLIVE: Oh, just like the snake caterpillar.

ARI: And the bee fly.

OLIVE: Let's check the nature book.

Some moths have dots in their wings that look like owl eyes.

The big eyes scare off animals that might want to eat the moth,

because lots of animals like birds and lizards are scared of owls.

ARI: Wow, that is so cool!

ELINOR: Lots of animals pretend to be scary!

KIDS: [singing]♪♪♪ When predators hunt for their prey,

There's a simple trick to get away.

Right before their very eyes,

You give them a big surprise,

And make yourself scaaaaaaary!

And make yourself scaaaaaaary!

ARI: [singing]The bug that looks like a snake. Can be creepy to see, but it's fake.

OLIVE: [singing]The hoverfly in the tree. Makes you think it stings like a bee.

ELINOR: [singing]The moth that can't bark or growl. Dresses up as an owl.

KIDS: [singing]They make themselves scaaaaaaary!

They make themselves scaaaaaaary! ♪♪♪

MR. RABBIT: Are you kids singing? Because you're supposed to be sleeping...

ELINOR: Sorry. [giggles] Good night, Dad!

MR. RABBIT: It's okay. I know you're excited. Good night!

[singing] They make themselves scaaaaaaary.

OLIVE: [yawn] Maybe we should go to sleep.

ARI: Yeah, I can't wait for Halloween tomorrow. It's gonna be so... scaaaary!

KIDS: [giggles]

ELINOR: Goodnight!

ARI: Goodnight! OLIVE: Goodnight!

ELINOR: Hmmm... they make themselves scary...

KIDS: [giggles]

OLIVE: Where is she? I don't want to miss trick-or-treating.

ARI: Elinor, come on! It's candy time!

It shouldn't take her THAT long to put on her owl costume.

[Bushes rustling nearby] KIDS: Huh?

ARI: [gasp]

ELINOR: [giggles]

ARI: Whoa, you're an owl moth!

OLIVE: Great costume, Elinor!

ELINOR: Thanks! I'm a bunny, pretending to be a moth, pretending to be an owl!

ARI: [giggles] You look so scary!

ELINOR: Mmm-hmm, just like the snake mimic caterpillar and the hoverfly.

KIDS: Happy Halloween! Yay! Woohoo!

ELINOR: "“Doug the Mold"”

ARI: A hot air balloon. Oh! Or how about a jetpack?

KIDS: [giggles]

ARI: What? We're supposed to bring something to school we think is interesting!

ELINOR: Those all sound super interesting,

but I don't think you can bring any of those things for show and tell.

OLIVE: Where would you even find a jetpack, Ari?

ARI: The jetpack store?

KIDS: [giggles]

ARI: What are you two bringing for show and tell next week?

ELINOR: I'm bringing my cactus.

It's grown another flower. It's so pretty.

OLIVE: I'm not sure what I'm bringing yet, but I want it to be something that's helpful in nature.

ARI: [chewing] [gulps]

I want my show and tell to be extra cool. Like an alien spaceship!

KIDS: [giggles]

MZ. MOLE: Finish up everyone. It's time to tidy your cubbies before you go home for the weekend.

ARI: I'll save you for later.

Maybe there's something cool in my cubby that I can bring for show and tell...

ARI: Oooh... Uhhh... [sigh] Just an eraser.

OLIVE: I'm sure you'll find something interesting, Ari.

Plus. we can both keep an eye out this weekend.

ARI: Sounds like a plan.

MZ. MOLE: Oh! Good morning Ari.

You're here early. How was your weekend?

ARI: Good, except... I still haven't found anything to bring for show and tell.

MZ. MOLE: Are you having trouble thinking of something interesting?

ARI: No. I can think of stuff,

but where am I supposed to find a tap-dancing, smoothie-making robot?

MZ. MOLE: You know, interesting things are all around.

Keep your eyes open. You may be surprised at what you find.

ARI: Alright. My eyes are open... Whoa!

OLIVE: Morning Elinor.

ELINOR: Morning! Find anything helpful in nature yet?

OLIVE: Not yet. Want to help me explore after school?

ELINOR: Sure!

KIDS: Ew! Ew! Uck! Aw.

ELINOR: I wonder what's going on?

ARI: Isn't it cool looking? It's my sandwich from Friday!

KOA: Ew!

ELINOR: What's that blotchy spot on it?

CAMILLA: And why is it green? And fuzzy? It looks kind of gross...

OLIVE: Wait... Green and fuzzy? I think it's mold!

I saw it on an old muffin once. It's a kind of fungus.

ARI: You mean it's ALIVE? Even cooler!

OLIVE: Yep. Funguses are living creatures.

ELINOR: Wow. That's soooo interesting!

OLIVE: My mom says you shouldn't touch mold, because you might get sneezy, or sick.

ARI: But it's too cool and fuzzy to throw away.

Can't I just keep it inside the sandwich bag? Then no one can touch it.

OLIVE: I guess...

ARI: Yeah. I'm going to keep it! I'll call it... Doug.

Doug the mold.

KIDS: Ah! Ewww.

ELINOR: [giggles] Hi Doug.

OLIVE: I don't know Ari. Mold is kind of... icky.

ARI: Aww, I think you're cool, Doug.

[gasp] I know what I'm bringing for show and tell!

I'll bring Doug! [giggles]

MZ. MOLE: Reading time! Everyone, please get into your groups.

ARI: What are you doing way over there? We're supposed to sit in a group.

KOA: Uh... We don't want to read with Doug.

ARI: Alright...

There once was a happy broccoli...

Who's ready for lunch?

I am! What about you, Doug?

Oh right. You already have a sandwich. Haha.

Where did everybody go?

OLIVE: Um... We don't want to sit with Doug, Ari.

ARI: Oh...

KIDS: [playful laughter] [cheers] Yeah!

ELINOR: Tag! Ari's "“It"”!

ARI: [laughing] Oh!

Now I tag you Doug.

Doug's "“It!"”

I'm gonna get you, Sally!

SALLY: [gasp]

Hmmm...

SILAS: Mmm-mmm.

KIDS: [gasp]

ARI: [sad sigh]

ELINOR: What's the matter, Ari?

ARI: It kind of feels like everyone's been avoiding me today.

OLIVE: I think they're avoiding Doug. And I am too.

ARI: But why? Doug is so cool. Look! He even started to grow a new blue spot!

OLIVE: It's still kind of gross. Ugh.

ELINOR: Are you ready to go exploring Olive?

ARI: Oh! Where are you going?

OLIVE: Elinor and I are going to the forest to explore.

I'm going to look for something helpful in nature for my show and tell.

ARI: Can I come? Doug, too, of course.

OLIVE: Ehhh...

ELINOR: Sure! You can both come! Let's go.

I'm sure we'll find something that helps nature in the forest.

[gasp] The wind! The wind helps nature.

It helps dandelions spread their seeds.

OLIVE: Hmm... I don't think I can bring wind to class.

ARI: Oof!

Oh, are you okay buddy?

That log is not very helpful...

OLIVE: Wait... Is that... Eww! Mold!

ELINOR: This log has mold on it, just like your sandwich Ari.

ARI: Yeah, you're right. Say hi to your cousin, Doug.

OLIVE: Eww. What's mold doing out here? I thought it only showed up on food.

ARI: Yeah. I wonder why it's on the log.

ELINOR: We need more observations!

OLIVE: I'll observe from back here.

ARI: This log has a lot of mold on it.

Oh. It's mushy where the mold is.

ELINOR: Hey, look. These leaves have mold on them too. They're mushy, like the log.

Maybe the mold is what's making the leaves and the log all mushy?

ARI: Yeah. Doug's sandwich is getting pretty mushy too.

ELINOR: But why would mold make things mushy?

OLIVE: Ew ew ew ew ew! I don't know, but there's too much mold around here.

ELINOR: Okay Olive. We can go home.

ARI: Goodbye, Doug's cousins!

KIDS: Hi Ms. Llama!

MS. LLAMA: Hey kids.

KIDS: [gasp]

OLIVE: Strawberries!

MS. LLAMA: Oh, watch out! Those strawberries have mold on them.

OLIVE: Ahh! More mold!

ELINOR: Huh. It looks different than Doug.

ARI: They must be distant cousins.

OLIVE: Oh no! It ruined the strawberries! Mold is the worst.

MS. LLAMA: Oh, well, mold isn't so bad once you know a bit about it, Olive.

ELINOR: We do know a bit, Ms. Llama,

like how mold is fuzzy, and can be different colors, like green or white.

ARI: We also observed mold making things mushy.

We found it on a mushy log, and on mushy leaves.

MS. LLAMA: Ha. Spot on observations. That's exactly what mold does!

Mold helps break things down, like logs and leaves and strawberries.

When things are mushy, that helps nature reuse their nutrients to grow new plants.

OLIVE: You mean mold helps nature?

ELINOR: Is that why you're putting the moldy strawberries in your compost?

MS. LLAMA: Yes and yes! The mold helps my compost stay healthy.

Then I use what comes out of the compost to help grow fresh strawberries, like these.

KIDS: [chewing]

ELINOR: Ms. Llama? Where does mold come from?

ARI: Yeah. How'd it get on my sandwich, on the log, and on your strawberries?

MS. LLAMA: Mold is everywhere!

It floats through the air until it lands in the perfect environment for it to grow.

OLIVE: Maybe I was wrong about mold.

The things I thought were gross about it, actually make it helpful to nature.

ARI: Told you Doug was cool. It might even be as interesting as a tap-dancing, smoothie-making robot!

OLIVE: [giggles] Well, I finally found something helpful in nature.

I wish I could use Doug for show and tell too.

ARI: Well, why don't we show and tell Doug together?

OLIVE: Hello Doug.

KIDS: [giggles]

ARI: This is Doug. He's a fuzzy green fungus that floated through the air

and found my sandwich, which was the perfect place for him to grow.

CAMILLA: Ew!

OLIVE: Yeah. I thought Doug was gross too,

but now that I learned more about it, it's actually really cool.

ARI: Even though I can't eat my sandwich anymore, since Doug's on it,

it's okay, because Doug is busy doing an important job.

CAMILLA: What job does mold have, other than being icky?

OLIVE: We'll show you!

We learned that mold breaks down old food and plants, making them mushy.

But that's not a bad thing!

ARI: Yeah. That's just mold turning them into nutrients that help grow fresh food, and new plants.

OLIVE: Which is very helpful to nature, and to us!

KOA: Being helpful to nature is totally cool.

ARI: But Doug can't help nature if it stays in my sandwich bag, so, I'm setting him free!

Mz. Mole? Would you do the honors?

MZ. MOLE: Why thank you, kids.

OLIVE: The compost heap is a great home for Doug. It has lots of old food and plants for it to break down.

ARI: I'll miss you, buddy. But I know you'll be happy here, making mush.

ELINOR: Oh, Ari. Now you're being mushy!

KIDS: [laughter]

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