03x05 - New Neighbors/Koo's Gift

[bunniefuu]

Michael, guess what?

Somebody's moving into the house
across the street.

- Really?
- [Addy] Yeah. Come see.

There's the moving truck.

Awesome. We're finally gonna
have new neighbors.

- Wanna go see if we can meet them?
- Yeah!

Wait, right now?

But we have no idea what they'll be like.

[groans]

Come on, Michael!

Okay, coming.

[item rustles]

I just talked to the movers.

They said the family
won't be here till tomorrow.

Yeah.

We have to wait a whole day
to find out who they are.

I wonder if they have any kids.

I wonder if they have any pets.

I wonder if they have a pet dinosaur.

[chuckles] I'm not sure
they'll have a pet dinosaur,

but I know a way to find out if they
have any kids we can be friends with.

Really? How?

We can figure out everything we need
to know about the new neighbors

just by being observant
and looking for the right clues.

Clues? Like detectives?

Like detectives investigating
if we're gonna have new friends moving in.

You ready to crack this case,
Detective Karl?

[radio static]

I see a box. It looks like toys.

Toys? Gotta be a kid.

Now I see a bike.

- A big bike or a little bike?
- [radio static]

[Karl] Bigger. Like Michael size.

It's a mountain bike.

That must mean an older kid
my age is moving in.

How cool would that be?

There's never been any kids
my age on the street.

I see another box with
something round sticking out of it.

It's a basketball!

Awesome! The kid likes sports.

This just keeps getting better and better.

What did I tell you, Karl?

We're gonna know everything
about these new neighbors

before we even meet them.

[Karl] Whoa! I see a piano!

And now I see...

Hello, Karl. You look like
you're on an important mission.

Stillwater!

We're being detectives looking for clues.

How exciting. [laughs]

What kind of clues?

Clues about the new neighbors moving in.

Do you want to be detectives
with us, Stillwater?

Hmm. That sounds like fun,

but I prefer to be surprised

and I have some gardening to do.

I'll look forward to hearing
about your adventures later.

Okay. Bye, Stillwater.

- [microwave beeps]
- [Michael] And remember the basketball?

That must mean this kid
is seriously into sports, right?

Guess we'll find out tomorrow.
Can you please pass me an apple?

But we didn't see any baseball bats
in the moving boxes.

Uh-oh. What if this kid likes
just basketball and not baseball?

I'm not so good at basketball.

And this kid has a mountain bike,
but mine's a street bike.

What if they want to go trail riding
and I can't go with them?

And that piano must mean
they take piano lessons,

but I don't play any instruments.

I can't even read music.

Oh, no.

This is the only kid my age on the street,
but what if they don't like me?

What if I don't like them?

[inhales deeply] What do you think, Addy?

Why don't you go talk
to Stillwater, Michael?

Yeah.

I probably should.

Michael, you remember
my compost pile, don't you?

Sure. Where you put all your
plant trimmings and kitchen scraps

and they turn into new soil.

Exactly.

Come have a look at what I've discovered.

Whoa!

Little seedlings.

Aren't they wonderful?

Sometimes when composting
old fruits and vegetables,

the seeds inside the scraps
will sprout to make new plants.

What kinds of plants are they gonna be?

That's the fun part. We have no idea.

All we can do is wait and see.

I... I actually was hoping to
talk to you about something.

You can talk to me
about anything, Michael.

I'm just feeling really nervous
about these new neighbors.

[sighs]

At first, I saw the bike
and the basketball and the piano

and was so excited a kid my age
would be moving in.

But then I started thinking,
"What if we don't have anything in common?

What if we can't be friends?"

Hmm.

It sounds like you're getting a lot
of ideas from what you're observing

when you haven't even
met this new neighbor.

That would be like deciding
what kinds of seedlings these are

before actually seeing the fruit.

[sighs] I know, you're right.

But it's hard not to wonder.

I'd like to tell you a story about a time
when assumptions were made

based only on what people saw.

[Stillwater] Ikkyu, a humble bookseller,

once inherited a beautiful robe.

It was made of finest silk
and embroidered in gold thread.

A dazzling sight to behold.

The first time Ikkyu
wore his robe out in the streets,

many people noticed him.

Even people who knew the prince.

I do say, what a marvelous robe.

You must come to
the prince's party later tonight.

[gasps] I'm sure I'll meet all kinds of
interesting folks at a party like that.

- I'll be there.
- [person chuckles] Lovely.

[Stillwater] Ikkyu arrived at the party
wearing his robe

and was instantly welcomed.

[guests chattering]

[Stillwater] Throughout the night
Ikkyu tried to impress the guests

- with his charm and wisdom...
- [laughing, chuckling]

...but everyone seemed
more interested in the robe.

[sighs] You were right.
Ikkyu's robe is truly magnificent.

Such exquisite material.

And we had so many interesting
conversations with you, Ikkyu.

I hope you will come again next week.

Everyone was so nice to me.
I cannot wait for the next party.

[Stillwater]
He went home feeling very special.

The next week,
Ikkyu did not put on his robe

for fear of damaging it
if he wore it too often.

So, the next week he wore
his simple everyday clothes instead.

This time, when he arrived at the party...

- But I have an invitation.
- Surely not.

You invited me yourself.

I think I would have remembered that.

[scoffs]

[doors open]

[Stillwater] Ikkyu looked down
at his plain outfit

and started to wonder.

He then returned to the party
wearing his robe

and was immediately welcomed
by the same guests

who had just turned him away.

Huzzah! Ikkyu's back.

Oh, we have been waiting for you and
your fabulous robe to get here all night.

[Stillwater] In that moment,
Ikkyu was struck by wisdom.

- Ah.
- [gasps]

Ikkyu, why are you taking off
your beautiful robe?

So you may enjoy its company without me.

I thought I was a welcome guest here,

but now I know that
all you invited was a robe.

[guests gasping, murmuring]

[Stillwater] With that,
he left his robe on a chair

and went home to his books,

which for Ikkyu were
much more welcomed company.

Everyone at the party
thought they knew Ikkyu

just by the robe he was wearing
instead of getting to know the real him.

That's what I'm doing, aren't I?

Thinking I know the new neighbor
just by looking at their stuff.

There's a lot
we can't tell from appearances.

It's often more fun to be surprised
and enter into any new introduction

with an open mind and heart.

Thanks, Stillwater.
I'm beginning to think so too.

I just have one more question.

What's that, Michael?

Will you go over with me tomorrow
to meet the new neighbor kid?

I'd be delighted to.

Here goes.

[sighs]

- Hello.
- Oh, hi.

I'm Michael and I live across the street.

Hi, Michael. I'm Molly.

I was really hoping there would be
kids our age living here.

Do you like basketball?

Maybe we can sh**t around some time?

Actually, that's my basketball.

This is my twin brother, Leo.

Hey, nice to meet you.

Twins? Wow!

I just went from no kids my age
on the street to two.

Oh! This is my friend Stillwater,
who lives next door.

Welcome, Molly and Leo.

I look forward to
getting to know you both.

We're excited to get to know you too.

There weren't any giant pandas
living next door where we moved from.

[laughing]

I'm really glad you came over
to introduce yourself, Michael.

We were kind of nervous about what
the kids around here would be like.

I was nervous too.

But now I can't wait to
show you the neighborhood.

Why not now?

Sure!

Ready. Launch!

[Stillwater] There they go.

[Addy] Whoo-hoo! Yeah!

- [Molly] Whoa! Nice throw.
- Oh, wow, look at yours, Karl.

- You're the furthest.
- [Karl] Wow! Look at them go!

- [Addy laughs]
- [children chattering]

All finished, Uncle.
My calligraphy is done.

Thank you for your help.

It is very fine brushwork, Koo.

Whoa! Is that a picture?

Chinese characters.

This is my gift to Heather.
They spell out her name.

And now, it's time to wrap it.

That's really pretty paper.

In China, the way a gift is wrapped
can have special meaning.

Red paper for luck,
and now for the gold ribbon.

Gold means good fortune.

And the pink and yellow bows
represent happiness.

Wow. All I did was buy her a toy,
but I wrapped it myself.

[laughs]
That's quite an achievement, Karl.

A toy from the store?

Should I have done that also?
Would that be better?

No. Yours is way cooler.

You made Heather's present all by
yourself and wrapped it super pretty.

And you'll be able to
give it to her very soon.

- [children cheering]
- Yeah! Presents!

Look at the balloons
and all of the kids playing,

and all of the food.

[laughs] It appears everyone
is having quite a good time.

- [children laughing]
- Yeah. Hey, Emma, wait up!

Hi, Koo. Hi, Stillwater.

I'm so glad you came.

Happy birthday, Heather.

Thanks, Stillwater.

I'll be reading just over there
if you need me, Koo.

Have fun.

Happy birthday, friend.
Thank you for inviting me.

I brought this for you.

Aw, thanks. You can set it here
with the other presents.

Come on. We're gonna play games now.

First, we'll play Simon Says.

When Simon says to do something,
you have to copy him and do it.

If Simon doesn't say, but you still
copy him, then you're out.

Who is this Simon?

Why must we do what he says?

- [laughs]
- Does he make the rules?

Simon Says is just the name of the game.

Simon says, "Touch your nose."

Huh?

Simon says, "Stand on one foot."

Hop up and down.

[laughing]

[chuckles]

Nice hopping, but Simon didn't say.

You're both out.

[chuckles] Come on, Koo.

We can watch from here
until the next game.

Duck, duck, goose!

[laughing]

Go, Karl. Get him.

[Karl groans]

Duck, duck, duck...

- [chuckles]
- Goose!

- Get him, Koo!
- [child laughs] Yeah!

- [child 2] Go, go, Koo!
- [child 3] Get him, Koo!

When you get tapped as the goose,

it means you're supposed to
get up and run.

Oh, I can do that. I'm a very good runner.

- I'll go extra fast.
- Go, Koo!

- [child 4] Yeah! Whoo-hoo!
- [child 5] Get him, Koo!

- Go get him!
- No, the other way. [laughs]

Okay, time for Freeze Dance.

While the music plays, you dance.

And when it stops, freeze!

[music starts playing]

- [music stops]
- [laughing]

Oops. [chuckles] We didn't freeze.

We're out,
but we can still dance over there

even if we won't win.

[music starts playing]

[children clamoring, laughing]
Whoo-hoo! Yeah! Yeah! Whoo-hoo!

Now it's time for presents.

- [children cheering]
- Yeah! Yay, presents!

[giggles] She's opening mine now.

[gasps] She tore the paper.

You wrapped it all by yourself.

Are you okay, Karl?

Huh? Yeah, it's just wrapping paper.

The fun part's the present.

Wow, a truck. Thanks, Karl.

[child] Oh, Heather, open mine.

- Whoo-hoo! [chuckles]
- [child 2 chuckles]

- [Heather] Wow.
- Yeah!

My present is next.
It's my best calligraphy.

I hope she likes it.

Oh, this ribbon is my favorite color.

Oh. Thanks, Koo.

And now for the best part. Cake!

- [child 2] Yay, cake!
- [child 3] I love cake.

[children cheering, laughing]

[children chattering, laughing]

Uncle Stillwater?

I am ready to go home.
Can we please leave now?

[chattering, laughing]

Of course we can,
but wouldn't you like some cake first?

[sniffles] No.

I'll eat it wrong,
just like I played the games wrong.

I did not know them.

My gift was not loved. [sniffles]

It was not like the others.

I should have bought toys.

It sounds like the party has not
turned out quite as you had hoped.

Would you like to sit for a moment
and hear a story before we go?

[Stillwater] Mr. Mudskipper
was used to life underwater,

but he was a special fish
who could also go on land.

So, he was thrilled
when he got an invitation

to his first birthday party on the shore.

At all of the underwater parties
Mr. Mudskipper had been to,

guests dressed in their fanciest clothes.

But on the land,
partygoers wore whatever they wanted.

[party host] Mr. Mudskipper!

Oh, I am just tickled pink
you made it to my birthday party.

It's gonna be a swell time.

[Stillwater] Even though
Mr. Mudskipper felt out of place,

Ms. Salamander
didn't seem bothered at all.

So, Mr. Mudskipper
began exploring the party.

Oh, I bet they have tasty food
on the land.

[gasps] My, what colorful seaweed.

- [slurps]
- [Ms. Salamander giggles]

Oh, Mr. Mudskipper, you are such a dear.

Those aren't seaweed, darlin'.
They're streamers, decorations.

[spits] Oops.
[stammers] I do beg your pardon.

[Stillwater] He felt terrible about
eating the decorations,

but he decided to try and
get to know the other party guests.

And this is my first party on the land.
Isn't it grand?

Why, Mr. Mudskipper,
you are truly something else.

I bet Frog will be happy
to twist you another one.

[balloon squeaks]

[Stillwater] Everyone was thrilled when
Ms. Salamander started the dance music.

[big band music playing]

What's that dance?

I call this the Mudskipper Hop.

- Yep! Yep! Yep!
- [guests laughing]

Would you look at that.

[laughter continues]

No! That cake is on fire!

[party guests gasp]

Uh, Mr. Mudskipper, w...
It's just a land birthday tradition.

We light a candle for each birthday
we've celebrated.

[Stillwater] Mr. Mudskipper felt awful

about spoiling
Ms. Salamander's birthday cake.

I'm so sorry, everybody.
I... I'll go home now.

That way, I...
Well, I won't ruin the party anymore.

[Ms. Salamander]
Whatever are you talking about, darlin'?

I can't do anything right.

- Don't you want me to leave?
- [chuckles] Not at all.

We love that you have different ways
of looking at things.

In fact, we can't wait for you to teach us
that Mudskipper Hop you were doin'.

- Yes.
- It looks like fun.

Golly, that's a relief!

And it would be my pleasure.
It starts with a hop to your left.

[party guests cheering]

[chuckles] What a fun party.

All experienced new joys.
They all learned from each other.

I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

There you are, Koo.
I've been looking for you.

Karl said you made this yourself.

Chinese characters written in calligraphy.
They spell out "Heather."

That's so cool.

The way you wrapped it was so pretty,
I almost didn't want to open it.

But look! I liked the ribbon so much,
I put it in my hair.

Maybe later, we can do
a craft together with the red paper.

I love to do crafts.

I am pleased you like the gift
and the wrapping too.

I love it.

Are you coming back to the party?

Yes, I would like to.

Your games were quite interesting.

May I teach you one?

A game from China.

It's called Catch the Dragon's Tail
and is very fun.

I'm the dragon's head,

so I need to try and
catch the dragon's tail.

That's you, Stillwater.

And go!

- [children clamoring] Whoa! Yeah!
- Ooh! [laughing]

[child] Go this way! Whoo-hoo!

[Stillwater laughing]

[Karl] Yeah!

[singer] ♪ With our spirits
We were floating through the trees ♪

♪ Like creatures, we were soaring high
Blowing off some steam ♪

♪ Or a mountain
And its effervescent green ♪

♪ A never-ending dream ♪

♪ I found a little bit of honey ♪

♪ And now I'm a little sweeter inside ♪

♪ It's just a little bit funny ♪

♪ But now I have the world on my side ♪