04x03 - Year Of The Lion

[bunniefuu]

Places!

♪

[ Gloria snoring ]

[ Melman snoring ]

[ Marty snoring ]

♪

Hmm...

Oh! GLORIA: Hey, Alex.

Ah!

Gloria! Heh, hi!

What are you doing up so late?

Huh? Me?

Oh, uh, nothing! Just,
y'know, couldn't sleep.

GLORIA: Is that a dumpling?

Uh...

Yeah, my dumpling!

You stashed that away from
our last order, didn't you?

Maybe...

I'm the one who
placed that order.

I think that belongs to
the duchess of dumplings.

Well, we can't let the king of
the jungle go hungry, can we?

Hmm!

Hmm!

GLORIA: Hmm! ALEX: Hmm!

[ Alex and Gloria groaning ]

[ Alex and Gloria groaning ]

- Ha!
- Ha, ha!

[ Alex and Gloria groaning ]

[ Alex laughing ]

[ Alex and Gloria groaning ]

[ Alex and Gloria screaming ]

[ Alex and Gloria gasping ]

[ Marty snoring ]

- Huh?
- Huh?

[ Alex and Gloria gasping ]

[ Alex and Gloria screaming ]

[ Marty snoring ]

[ Melman yawning ]

[ Alex groaning ]

Yeah!

Huh?

Yes!

[ Hedgies squawking ]

Oh!

[ Alex giggling ]

Oh!

GLORIA: Huh!

♪ 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 can 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! ♪♪

ALEX: Where's the Dumpling menu?

I've had a craving since that
hedgie nabbed my midnight snack!

That ol' thing? I threw it out!

'Cause Dumpling Dan delivered
this new and improved menu

for the Lunar New Year!

[ Everybody sighs ]

- Who are all these animals?
- Do they deliver us our dumplings?

- That's the Chinese Zodiac.
- Animals are used as symbols,

each representing
their very own year.

How'd you know that?

Overheard it on
Carlos's podcast.

- Let me see!
- Where's year of the lion?

I bet it's front
and center. Huh?

Why does that lion
have so many scales?

Because it's a dragon.

Sorry, Alex. I don't think
there is a year of the lion.

What? That can't be right.

Pig, horse, goat, ox...

Are you kidding me?

They even have a tiger!

I thought lions were supposed to
be at the top of the food chain!

I thought they were
supposed to be important.

I'm very important, and
I don't have my own year.

None of us do.

Yeah, but you don't
have to carry the title,

"King of the Jungle."

Well, I may not be the
King of the Jungle,

but I am the Duchess of
the Dumplings, because...

JORDAN: I love dumplings!

Wait, who said that?

Look!

- Ni Hao, New York!
- We're here live in Chinatown,

where the Lunar New Year
Festival is under way!

It's dumpling time!

Jordan, get back here!

And we're here with Dumpling Dan

to explain what all
the excitement's about!

Oh! Dumpling Dan's on TV!

Thanks, Dan. I'm Dumpling Todd.

I... Thanks, Todd.

I'm Dumpling Dan Of Dumpling
Dan's. We make dumplings.

WOMAN: Jordan!

TODD: Tell us, Dan, what
do your famous dumplings

have to do with the New Year?

At the end of each
Lunar New Year Festival,

I give away lucky red envelopes.

Each red envelope is
good for one dumpling.

EVERYBODY: Wow!

Fascinating!

And how do you fit a
dumpling in an envelope?

Well, technically, they're filled
with coupons for dumplings.

- EVERYBODY: Dumplings?
- Coupons?

So, come on down to Chinatown
for those lucky red envelopes,

and to see some of the biggest
parade performances of the year,

including everyone's
crowd-fave, the dragon!

EVERYBODY: Wow!

- "Crowd-fave?"
- Huh, what's a dragon got that I don't?

- A snake-like neck!
- Scales!

The ability to fly!

Oh! I'd love to see
a dragon up close.

I'd love to get my hooves
on those red envelopes.

- Then it's settled!
- We're going to Chinatown!

Yeah!

Huh?

You coming, Alex?

Fine, but I'm only in
it for the dumplings.

♪

[ Pickles laughing ]

[ Dave laughing ]

[ Pickles laughing ]

MELMAN: Gong Xi Fa Cai!

It's a Lunar New Year greeting.

When did you learn Chinese?

Picked up some Mandarin on TV.

Don't worry, I'll learn the other


We're heading to Chinatown's
Lunar New Year Festival,

they have some of New York's
best parade performances!

And their best dumplings!

We'll take one steamed, one
fried, and all the sauce packets.

Even the hot chili sauce?

Especially the hot chili sauce.

♪

MELMAN: Woohoo! MARTY: Yes!

♪ Aomoa, aomoa, aomoa ♪

♪ Oh! ♪

♪ Let's go find a
little adventure ♪

♪ Let's make it a
day to remember ♪

♪ Let's find something
new We can explore ♪

♪ Oh, 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 ♪♪

Hmm...

Let's go!

Awesome!

EVERYBODY: Wow!

Should we grab more
disguises than this?

Nah, we'll fit right in
with the New Year costumes.

The Chinese zodiac is
all about the animals.

ALEX: Are you sure
that includes us?

All I see are
dragons everywhere.

Melman, what do you see?

MELMAN: All I see is red!

Are you sure?

Yup.

Oh! That's better.

Now I've got eyes on...

Oh! Fortune cookies! This way!

[ Alex screaming ]

Ni Hao! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Fortune cookies are a
Chinese American delight.

Believed to have originated
in San Francisco!

That one I learned from
a Fortune cookie package.

- EVERYBODY: Huh?
- Looks like everybody came out today!

- Oh! Hi, kids!
- EVERYBODY: Ant'ney?

- What's with the costume?
- I'm getting into the spirit

of the New Year

and representing my not-so-distant
cousin, the mighty rooster!

[ Clearing throat ]

c*ck-doodle-doo!

- Mighty rooster!
- Mind making way for the mighty rat?

Rocky, you're here too!

- Brilliant celebration, eh?
- Loving all the green lanterns.

Don't you mean red?

Red, green, it's
all rock and roll.

Now, if you'll pardon my
haste, we must be off.

We need to rehearse for our big
"Year of the Rat" performance.

Now wait a second, this
year's not Year of the Rat.

For us, every year
is Year of the Rat.

[ Rocky singing ]

[ Raphael screaming ]

RAPHAEL: I'm okay!

Ta-ta! Off to practice!

- Bye!
- Bye!

- Even the rats have their own year?
- How could lions be forgotten?

Hey, nobody forgot about the
lions, like the lion dance!

That's a real hoot!

There's a lion dance?

Every year during the
parade, the lion dancers

toss lettuce at the crowds,
badda-bing, badda-bang,

the kids go wild,
everybody goes home happy!

- Happy? Huh?
- Okay, lettuce, that's good.

Everybody likes a salad, right?

Or is this more like
an appetizer situation?

I don't know, but if you're
looking for the main course,

it's that guy.

Not just this year, but
every Lunar New Year,

the dragon is the
star of the show.

And why shouldn't they be?

They have scales, a snake-like neck,
the ability to fly, they've got it all!

[ Alex sighs ]

But hey, that lettuce
dance sounds fun!

And nutritious!

- You should join the lion dancers, Alex.
- You won't even need a costume!

You mean as one of the
background dancers,

who don't even have
their own year?

[ Alex sighs]

How about some Fortune
cookies to cheer you up?

Oops, sorry.

ALEX: Huh?

[ Alex sighs ]

So much for good fortune.

Hmm, looks like your luck's
about to turn around!

"You will soon play a
very important role."

You know these cookies
are almost always right!

- "A very important role."
- Do you know what this means?

Sure do

you're going to play
a cinnamon roll!

[ Ant'ney laughing ]

A garlic roll?

It means I'm going to play the
most important role of all!

Yourself?

No, silly!

The star of the show! Ah!

Ah! Ah!

Ah! I'm gonna be the
greatest dragon Chinatown

has ever seen!

I don't think the Fortune
cookie was that specific.

♪

This is where all the
performers are getting ready.

There's gotta be a dragon
costume in here somewhere.

- Oh! Over there!
- You found it?

No, but those dancers
have got some moves!

♪

Hmm, there's some rabbit
costumes over here,

goats over there...

No dragons here.

All I see is that mythical,
majestic, snake-like lizard.

Huh? That's it!

[ Alex gasps ]

Wow! Did you see that? The
dragon just winked at me!

We need to get some dumplings
in this lion's tummy.

He's starting to see things.

- Don't you get it? It's a sign!
- The Fortune cookie was right!

This is the role I
was meant to play.

DANCER: Alright! Let's go!

I don't know,

are you sure you weren't meant
to be one of those lion dancers?

- Them? They're not real lions.
- I can't play a role that small.

The dragon is the
star of this show!

Now c'mon, help me
with this costume.

I'm no costume-ologist,
but I don't think it fits.

Yeah, it's not like we're
gonna follow you around

carrying this ginormous body
just so you can be the head.

That's exactly what
we're gonna do, isn't it?

- Just help me with the practice run?
- It'll be fun, you'll see.

- Heh...
- Heh...

[ Melman groaning ]

Oh! Uh!

Quit fooling around! Come on!

EVERYBODY: Woah!

[ Everybody groaning ]

♪ Got a part to the play ♪

♪ And work I've got to do ♪

♪ Gonna rise to the occasion
And shine for all of you ♪

♪ Be the star to the day
'Cause that's my destiny ♪

♪ It would be my honor
To fill it brilliantly ♪

♪ Oh, oh! ♪

♪ So, I'm gonna rise up ♪

♪ And do the best I can ♪

♪ Be the center of attention ♪

♪ For all the way to dance ♪

♪ I got a job to do ♪

♪ Oh, oh! ♪

♪ I'm on a mission now ♪

♪ So, let me show you how ♪

♪ I'm gonna be the star ♪

♪ I'm gonna shine
for all of you ♪

♪ I have got my fortune ♪

♪ I know what I've got to do ♪

♪ I'm gonna play the part ♪

♪ I'm gonna do the best I can ♪

♪ I have got my fortune So
I'll do it for the fans ♪

♪ I'm gonna be the star ♪♪

ALEX: Whoa!

Whoa!

We just got a very up-close
and personal sneak-peek

of the star of the parade!

Can't wait to see what
the dragon has in store

for this year's big performance!

Fun fact: The dragon
costume requires

up to 12 people to
operate smoothly.

Oh! It takes 12 people
to work this thing!

MELMAN: Well, that
explains everything.

I was just getting the hang
of being a dragon head!

Well, the parade's gonna
start any minute, so...

You all go join the parade.

I've gotta find another way to
make this dragon costume work.

I'll hang here with you, Alex.

I don't think there's room in this parade
for a long-legged creature like me anyway.

Huh?

Never mind! See you!

If we gotta wait till
the end of the parade

for those dumplicious
red envelopes,

I might as well find
something else to do.

Like that!

♪

Oh! Huh?

Well, this looks like the perfect
place for me to get into formation.

Care to trot along?

Thanks, but I've got an
important role to play.

I need to find a way to be the dragon.
I'll catch up with you in the parade.

See you!

[ Alex groaning ]

Huh?

Hey, Rocky, my
favorite rock star!

Mind giving me a claw over here?

Anything for you, mate!

[ Alex groaning ]

- It's working! I think.
- RAPHAEL: This one's too big!

- That one's too little!
- Too fancy!

- Not fancy enough!
- That one's just right!

- That's it, we found it!
- Rocky, we found our perfect stage!

Be right there!

My sincere apologies,
but I must be on my way.

Hope to see you at our "Year of
the Rat" performance in the alley.

- In the alley?
- So, you're not part of the main parade?

Nah, but that doesn't stop us
from having a rocking good time.

Good luck with the costume!

It's okay, I still got this.

Ah! Nope. Don't have it.

Never had it.

Dragon, buddy,
work with me here.

I'm supposed to be somebody
important, so why don't you fit?

- Hey, you!
- Dude, you're in the wrong area.

The lion dancers are over there, they're
about to start their performance!

- Quick, you can still make it.
- No, no...

Huh! Never seen a costume like
that, but the kids'll dig it.

Good luck!

[ Alex sighs ]

But I'm not supposed to be a...

Ah... lion.

♪

[ Alex roaring ]

Alex! I'm glad to see you
hanging with the big cats.

- Can you believe it?
- I'm stuck being a lion.

Uh, yeah, that's a real stretch.

But it's only temporary

until I figure out how to
make that dragon costume fit.

Breaking news! This just in.

The red box containing Dumpling Dan's
lucky red envelopes has gone missing!

Children all over New York City look
forward to receiving these envelopes.

[ Kids sobbing ]

Psst, Gloria! Melman!

Hey, I was just getting the
hang of walking on these stilts.

- Those are your legs, Melman.
- Oh! Right!

Dumpling Dan's lucky red
envelopes have gone missing.

We have to get to the bottom of the
case of the missing red envelopes.

- And fast!
- Those kids look miserable!

[ Kids crying ]

You're right, somebody needs to
cheer this crowd up before I debut...

Alex the dragon!

- But you're Alex the lion.
- We'll go look for the red envelopes.

- But...
- Nobody amps a crowd like my main mammal.

Keep your eyes
out for a red box.

Check under the costumes,
then the decorations.

Aha!

Nope, just a caterpillar.

That's okay, Melman,
I like your spirit.

We're gonna need to be
thorough if we're go

- Hey, Marty!
- Not now, Gloria.

I'm trying to find the missing

red box!

Rocky, where'd you get that?

- Over by the alley.
- Perfect stage for our band, eh?

♪

Or for a bunch of very
important envelopes.

Where did they go?

Don't worry, we delicately
transferred them

into another box just like this.

To the alley!

I want my free dumplings!

For the love of dumplings, won't
someone find those red envelopes?

Dumplings!

I don't get it.

Rocky said he put the
envelopes into another red box.

- Where else should we look?
- They've gotta be here somewhere!

The parade's almost over.

By the time we find
them, it'll be too late.

Let's face it, this dumpling
search is in the dumps.

ALEX: Here goes nothing...

♪

[ kids sighing ]

♪

Wow!

Yeah!

Yee-hah!

Yeah! Ya!

[ People cheering ]

- MARTY: Psst.
- Huh?

There you are! Any luck?

- Well, we found several red boxes.
- Great!

- But not a red envelope in sight.
- Not great.

Who's going to break
it to the kids?

[ Kids sighing ]

This is giving my
belly butterflies,

and you know how I
feel about butterflies.

[ Kids sighing ]

What can I do to
cheer these kids up?

Hey, Alex!

When are you gonna bust
out the salad dance?

Ant'ney, you're a genius!

Thanks, I owe it to my ma.

If it's a lettuce dance these kids
want, then "lettuce" give it to them!

[ Melman giggling ]

[ Clearing throat ]

Tough crowd.

♪

Let's see

lettuce

more lettuce

lucky red envelopes

hmm, lettuce.

Oh! Lucky red envelopes?

Yes! Look what I found
in the box of lettuce!

You found them! Like I said, I put
them in that red box right there!

Or is it green?
I can never tell.

Didn't I mention?
Rats are colorblind!

- Uh, no!
- You left that little detail out.

Red or green, I know where
these envelopes belong!

Here you go.

Red envelope or not,
the dumplings are on me!

[ Kid crying ]

It's not the same without
the lucky red envelopes!

It doesn't taste lucky!

[ Kid crying ]

Oh! The envelopes!

Hey, thanks

mystery lion dancer. Huh!

Are those what I think they are?

It looks like Good News New York
finally has some good news to report!

You're right, Mary Sue!

The red envelopes are
back where they belong!

They were recovered by a
mysterious lion dancer.

Thank you, whoever you are.

[ Alex groaning ]

[ Animals cheering ]

[ People cheering ]

♪

[ kids giggling ]

♪

Now that's my lion!

- I'm proud of you, Alex!
- Can I get your paw-tograph?

Ah, it was nothing.

Look! Here comes the dragon!

♪

EVERYBODY: Wow!

Yeah!

♪ Rat party ♪

♪ Oh, yeah! ♪

♪ Woo-hoo! ♪♪

Hello, Chinatown!

Year of the Rat forever!

RATS: Oh, yeah!

Hey, Millie?

You gotta turn
back and see this!

There's no turning
back now, Murray!

I'm blazing into this New
Year full speed ahead.

It's gonna be the
Year of the Millie!

MURRAY: Huh...

I liked watching that dragon
costume way better than wearing it!

Me too!

I'll admit that costume
was never right for me.

Even from the sidelines

being a lion is
the perfect thing.

Took you long enough!

We were starting to think you went all
the way to China for our dumplings!

We know you asked for dumplings,
so here are some extra special

Pwah! Wait a minute!

These don't taste
like dumplings!

- That's because they're not.
- They're coupons for free dumplings!

Oh...

But here are some Fortune
cookies for you to enjoy.

Those are actually...

Never mind.

Bananas rhyme with bananas?

Well, it's a happy ending after
all to this Lunar New Year.

That's right, Mary Sue.

I guess you could say this
was the "Year of the Lion."

That's me!

In Chinese Lore, the lion is
said to be a bearer of luck,

symbolized by the lucky
lettuce they throw!

And lucky we are,

that this elusive hero played such
an important role in saving the day.

- What do you know!
- You played an important role after all.

Like I said, those fortune
cookies are almost always right!

[ Everybody laughing ]

♪ Aomoa, aomoa, aomoa ♪

♪ Oh! ♪

♪ Let's go find a
little adventure ♪

♪ Let's make it a
day to remember ♪

♪ Let's find something
new We can explore ♪

♪ Oh, explore ♪

♪ Let's go find a
little adventure ♪

♪ Let's make it a
day to remember ♪

♪ Let's charge through
every open door ♪

♪ Aomoa, aomoa, aomoa ♪

♪ Oh! ♪

♪ Aomoa, aomoa ♪

♪ Adventure's calling ♪♪