01x38 - By Sled or Snowshoe/The Shortest Birthday

[bunniefuu]

Hey, everyone-- it's me, Molly!

♪ Molly of Denali ♪

Let's go!

♪ She's Molly of Denali ♪

(laughing): Whooo!

♪ By plane or sled or snowshoe ♪

♪ She is ready to explore ♪

♪ From Kaktovik down to Juneau ♪

♪ Always wanting to learn more ♪

Yeah!

♪ Together with her best friend Tooey ♪

♪ Always by her side ♪

And Trini!

♪ Discovering the outdoors ♪

♪ On adventures day and night ♪

♪ Come along with Molly ♪

♪ Molly ♪

♪ Through fields of fireweed ♪

♪ Come along with Molly ♪

♪ Molly ♪

♪ From tundra to the sea ♪

Mahsi'choo-- let's go!

♪ Molly of Denali ♪ Yeah!

♪ She's Molly of Denali ♪

♪ Come on ♪ ♪ Let's go! ♪

♪ Molly of Denali ♪

♪ She's Molly of Denali ♪

MOLLY: "By Sled or Snowshoe."

(phone chirps) Hey, everyone, it's me, Molly,

speaking from the Denali Trading Post

in way up north Alaska. (barks)

(chuckles)

This week, I have an amazing story to tell you.

It all started when we were stocking the storeroom.

And Dad was having trouble figuring out

my organizing system.

Hmm...

So... where do sneakers go?

On the "W" shelf, with wolves.

Huh?

Because wolves are a kind of dog,

and dog rhymes with jog, and mostly you jog in sneakers.

You know, another option would be

to put them on the "S" shelf.

Dad, you're complicating things.

(phone chirps, Molly gasps)

A text from Nina!

"Hey, Trading Post peeps!"

(phone chirps) "Can you do me a favor?"

I'm up on Mt. Snow with your grandpa

tracking volcano activity.

(chuckling): Don't worry, Molly, we're safe.

Volcanoes are far away.

But the camera just broke and we really need a...

(mountain rumbles loudly)

GRANDPA NAT: Whoo-hoo!

If only we were filming!

I'm on it, Nat.

Texting your granddaughter now.

(volcano rumbles, Grandpa Nat cheers)

(laughing): There she goes again!

Can you guys bring us my video camera

from the bunkhouse A.S.A.P.?

If you can get it here before dark,

you might be able to see...

MOLLY: "A real live exploding volcano!"

Happening now.

Nina's there and Grandpa!

(squeals)

We gotta go!

Slow down, Molly.

First, where are they?

Mt. Snow, which is...

Wait, what's the symbol for mountain?

There--

in the map key.

A triangle.

So then Mt. Snow is....

There!

And we're here.

Super-close.

But the road doesn't go all the way.

See?

That black line is the road.

Then we'll drive to the end and walk.

It's just a few inches.

That's ten miles on this map, Molly.

Snow-Go?

Broken-- in the shop.

Then we'll fly.

Can't-- no place to land.

I'm afraid the camera delivery will have to wait.

But I promised.

Remember our motto?

♪ Buy your supplies from the Post at Denali ♪

♪ We'll deliver today or my name's not Molly ♪

I've never heard that.

Have you been practicing?

Mm-hmm.

Please, Mom?

I really want to see...

A volcano?

(chuckles)

Well, if you can think of some other way to get there.

Hmm...

(barking, panting)

MOLLY: We're talking expl*si*n, Tooey!

We're talking ka-boom!

Say yes, say yes...

♪ Say yes ♪

(dogs howling)

(whistles)

(howling stops)

(chain rattling)

I saw a volcano once.

Mostly I smelled it.

Did you know they stink like rotten eggs?

Well, I haven't seen or smelled a volcano,

which is totally unfair.

Yeah, but... you raised a totem in Sitka,

seen puffins in Kenai, canoed to Juneau,

got gold in the Native Youth Olympics...

Okay, okay.

But everyone should get a chance to smell a volcano.

(both laugh)

So what's the plan?

Dad will drive us to the end of the road,

then wait while you sled us down to Lake Jak.

See the key?

The dotted line is a trail symbol.

Once we get to the lake,

Mom and I can catch the ferry to Mt. Snow!

Looks easy enough.

Okay, I'll do it.

Yes!

♪ You're the best ♪

(dogs howling)

(whistles, howling stops)

Only no singing.

It spooks the dogs.

Got it!

You won't even know I'm there.

MOLLY: The first thing we had to do was pick up Tooey's sled

from Mr. Patak's wood shop.

Good as new.

Quyana, Mr. Patak.

TOOEY: It's perfect!

MR. PATAK: Are you worried about melted snow, Tooey?

It is getting warmer every day.

Dad and I went sledding last week.

There was still plenty of snow.

Hmm...

May I see your map?

♪ ♪

Just in case,

right about here, past the stream--

see this blue curved line?--

there's a shortcut to the lake.

I'll draw it for you.

MOLLY: Hey!

That looks like Tooey's ear!

I always knew my ear would be famous.

(laughs)

It's hard to find and too narrow for dogs,

but if there's not enough snow for your sled,

the shortcut will save you time.

Good luck.

MOLLY: The second thing we had to do:

drive on the world's most bumpity road.

I need a cushion!

One more mile, Molly Doodle!

(chuckling): Keep your antlers on.

Moose!

(tires squeal, brakes squeak)

(engine idling, moose snorts)

(moose bellows, all sigh in relief)

MOLLY: You always have to watch where you're going in Alaska.

You never know when moose are going to happen.

♪ ♪

(cheers)

Thanks for the ride, Walter!

I'll be here waiting for you, Tooey!

Hang on, Molly.

Do you have everything?

The map?

It's with the food!

Auntie Midge's famous fish stew.

Come on, Mom, we have to hurry!

Do you have the ferry schedule?

Mm-hmm.

So the last boat leaves...

In two hours?!

We'd better get going.

That's what I'm saying.

Let's go, let's go...

♪ Let's go! ♪ (dogs howling)

TOOEY: You said you wouldn't sing!

That's singing!

MOLLY: Hey, everyone!

Molly here on a dogsled to Mt. Snow.

TOOEY: Gee!

That was Tooey telling the dogs to go right.

If he wanted them to go left, he'd say, "Ha!"

(whimpers)

(humans yelping)

Tooey! Tree!

Whoa!

MOLLY AND TOOEY: Whoa!

(panting)

MOLLY: Okay, so that was totally my fault.

But the next problem was not at all my fault.

Mr. Patak was right.

There's not enough snow.

Can't the dogs go faster?

Not when they're pulling you over rocks and roots.

(phone chirps) Oh, no!

The ferry leaves in one hour!

MOM: And we still have a ways to go.

You know, I think we should call it a day.

Please, Mom?

We have to go!

I've lived in Alaska my whole life

and I've seen exactly zero volcanoes.

(gasps)

The shortcut!

Did we pass it already?

Don't know.

Forgot to look.

Where's the map?

Uh... map... map...

(gasps): Oh, yeah! The snack bag!

♪ ♪

(gasps)

(sniffing)

Fish stew?

Who didn't screw on the cap?

Oh... me.

After we check the map,

we can eat it for lunch. (sniffing)

No!

Drop it! Down, Luka!

Put it down!

(both yelp)

(both gasp)

He ate from Anchorage to Fairbanks!

Nice going, Luka.

(gulps)

(barks)

That settles it.

I'm afraid we'll have to...

No, wait!

I remember the map!

The shortcut looked like your ear!

Dad parked here...

and the lake is here...

and the trail went

sort of like this.

Right?

And the shortcut was right in the middle somewhere.

Wasn't there a stream?

Yes!

Before the shortcut!

And we just went over it!

I see it!

There's an arrow!

Shortcut, here we come!

♪ ♪

Say hi to the volcano for me!

Hike! Thanks, Tooey!

Bye!

(phone chirps) minutes, Mom!

We gotta run!

♪ ♪

(yelps, grunts)

MOLLY: Have you ever tried to run in showshoes?

You kinda have to pretend you're a duck.

(yelps)

(falls in snow)

♪ ♪

MOLLY: So I only fell times,

and Mom fell once.

(yelps, grunts)

MOLLY: Twice.

(both laughing, ferry horn blowing)

(gasps): That's the ferry!

MOM: Waddle, Molly, waddle!

♪ ♪

(panting)

(horn blaring)

Wait! Don't go!

We're coming!

♪ ♪

(horn blaring)

(both panting)

We missed it!

I can't believe it!

We did our best, Moll.

Hopefully we can get Dad on the phone.

What?

We can't give up!

Mt. Snow is right there!

It's farther than it looks, hon.

Plus, it'll be dark soon.

But this is my last maybe ever chance

to see a volcano-- in action!

I'm sorry, Molls.

GRANDPA NAT (in distance): Hello! Hey! Huh?

(engine humming in distance) Hello! Hi!

Who's that?

(gasps)

It's Grandpa!

Shchada'a!

Whoo!

Whoo-hoo! All right! Yeah!

Look at that.

You brought the camera!

I told Nina you probably couldn't get it to us today.

Never underestimate

the power of Molly.

That's my shgguya!

(grunts)

(both laughing)

♪ ♪

♪ Wa-hoo ♪

(all laughing, cheering, volcano rumbling)

MOM: I can't believe it!

So I actually did get to see a real live volcano!

And I learned an important thing.

Two important things.

One: don't let Luka eat your map.

Two: never give up,

even if it's late and you have to run like a duck.

DAD: Do batteries go with applesauce

or do you keep them with the long underwear?

(laughs): I gotta go.

Dad needs help.

See ya next time! (phone chirps)

Hey, everyone!

Molly here to answer your questions about life in Alaska.

Tisha from Guam asks,

"Are there other small towns in Alaska besides Qyah?"

Yes! Chickaloon!

ALL: Hi, Molly!

CHILD: Today, we're in Chickaloon Village.

We are singing a song in the Ahtna language.

(singing in Ahtna)

CHILD: The words in the song

are all the traditional place names around us.

Where are all these places?

Let's look it up on the map!

CHILD: We wanted to know where they were,

so we looked them up on the map.

This is the key.

The key helps you figure out

how to read the map.

CHILD: The first name in the song is Benteh.

CHILD: And it is the traditional place name for Wasilla.

CHILD: So let's find Wasilla first.

According to the key, Wasilla will have a small black dot.

CHILD: It's over here!

Wasilla!

We found Wasilla!

CHILD: Next is Ts'es Tac'ilaexden.

It means "fish swim among the rocks."

That's the traditional place name for Sutton.

CHILD: No, I found it!

Let's find Denali!

What does the key say

that's a symbol for the mountains?

CHILD: Triangles.

CHILD: Do you see a triangle?

(all talking at once)

Guys, I have an idea.

How about we write the Ahtna names on the map?

CHILD: That's a really good idea.

CHILD: We're putting the Ahtna place names

back on the map for Wasilla...

Palmer, Sutton, Chickaloon,

and Anchorage.

CHILD: The traditional name for Chickaloon is Nay'dini'aa Na'.

CHILD: Now we get to go play outside in Nay'dini'aa Na'.

♪ ♪

ALL: Chin'an, Molly!

Mahsi'choo!

Thanks for asking and see ya next time!

MOLLY: "The Shortest Birthday."

(phone chirps) Good morning!

Okay, I know it doesn't look like it's morning,

but it is.

That's because it's winter.

And in winter in Alaska,

the sun doesn't come up till super-late.

And it sets really early, too.

Sometimes it gets dark before we even get out of school.

But more importantly, today is also...

♪ Trini's birthday ♪ Trini's birthday!

Her very first birthday in Qyah.

And we prepared this special surprise for her.

This bird food, which I made.

And a birdfeeder, which I made.

And these Tongass Forest cookies, which Mom made.

And it all goes into this birthday box,

which we made.

Those cookies!

So gooey and filled with deliciousness.

No...

For Trini. (chuckles awkwardly)

(phone chirps) Come on, let's wake up the birthday girl.

But shouldn't we try one?

Just to see if they're all right?

Be strong, Tokone.

(groans)

♪ ♪

(knocking on door)

Vahn Gwinzii! Vahn Gwinzii!

That means good morning in Gwich'in.

(yawning): Good morning to you, too.

(yawns)

I can't believe it's : a.m.

Yeah, you'll get used to it.

(softly): We're here to surprise the birthday girl!

Is she up yet?

(quietly): Come on in.

She's just talking to her mom.

TRINI: Thank you, Mom!

I love you!

Bye!

Happy birthday, Trini! Happy birthday, Trini!

(gasps)

Thank you!

(both imitating fanfare)

(gasps)

♪ A birdfeeder ♪

Molly is teaching me everything she knows about bird-watching.

Teaching?

You already know almost as much as I do.

And I bet you'll learn even more today,

because we're going to...

Kii-t'it'! Kii-t'it'!

Whoa, where's that?

Do I need a passport?

'Cause I don't think I have one.

Nope!

All you need are some hiking boots.

It's the best bird-watching spot around Qyah!

We'll set up the birdfeeder, eat cookies,

drink hot chocolate...

And bird-watch! And bird-watch!

Ooh, ooh, ooh!

Maybe we'll see a pine grosbeak!

I haven't seen one of those yet.

This is gonna be great!

♪ ♪

TOOEY: And that trail goes all the way to Minto.

Whoa, there sure are a lot of trails out here.

You'll get used to it.

It says here

that it is rare to see a pine grosbeak in winter.

I wonder why it's called a grosbeak.

His beak doesn't look gross.

Huh.

I don't know.

Maybe they make a gross mess when they eat?

Or maybe "gros" means something else

in a different language.

Wait! It does!

I remember Nina once seeing a beaver she called gros.

I thought she meant it was gross,

but she told me gros meant "fat" in French.

So grosbeak might actually mean "fat beak"?

Hey...

His little beak is kinda short and fat.

(both laughing)

I guess we could call him a pine fatbeak?

Mm, grosbeak sounds nicer.

Well, he may actually get fat,

after he tries some of Tooey Ookami's homemade bird...

Uh-oh.

Tooey! What is it?

I forgot the bird food!

(yelps)

And we only have four hours of daylight!

We have to go back and get it!

♪ ♪

TRINI: Then you swing your arms out like this.

Now your arms go here.

(humming b*at)

(imitating humming)

(laughs): I don't get it.

Got it!

Nice!

Let's get going.

We're running out of daylight.

AUNTIE MIDGE: Heya, everyone!

Is that the birthday girl?

(gasps)

Those are so beautiful!

Here.

Kooyhdone'.

A rose for you.

Wow!

Thank you!

I mean, mahsi'choo!

Happy birthday, Trini!

And happy winter solstice, everyone!

(bell chimes)

♪ ♪

TRINI: "Winter Solstice Celebration."

What's a solstice?

That's today.

December .

You didn't know your birthday is on the winter solstice?

Wait!

There's a restaurant in Texas called El Sol!

That means "the sun" in Spanish.

Does solstice have something to do with the sun?

Yeah, it does!

Molly?

Can I borrow your flashlight, please?

Let's say this rock is the Earth.

The winter solstice is when part of the Earth

is farthest away from the sun.

It's the longest night of the year and the shortest day.

Alaska is up here.

See how it's not getting much light?

So that's why we really have to hurry

if we want to see those birds!

Come on!

We only have a few hours of daylight left!

♪ ♪

Can you believe all this snow?

Even in my wildest dreams,

I've never seen this much snow.

And I've had some pretty wild dreams.

(tree rustling)

(branches snapping, Trini gasps)

Wait!

Is that a pine grosbeak?

Nope.

Just a squirrel.

TOOEY: He may not be a grosbeak,

but he does have pretty fat cheeks.

(groans)

All this walking and not seeing any birds

is kinda making me hungry.

Well, then, it's a good thing we brought Mom's delicious...

(gasps)

I left the cookies at the festival!

(gasps)

(yelling): Nooo!

(Tooey continues yell)

Uh... (chuckles awkwardly)

Ahem.

I better make sure we don't forget anything else.

We'll meet you at Kii-t'it'.

That means "head of the birch trees."

Kinda funny how they think we know where we're going.

(chuckles)

I was just thinking the same thing.

(singing cha-cha-cha)

(both singing)

Huh.

Which way do we go?

(sighs)

They really ought to have a trail marker.

(gasps)

How about this one?

Whoa.

None of these words look familiar to me.

Me, neither.

(gasps)

Maybe we can figure out these words by saying them out loud!

Good idea.

Zhah...jal.

Hmm...

Does that mean anything to you?

Hmm...

I'm afraid not.

Let's try this one.

Koo...yhdone.

That one sounds a little more familiar.

Hey!

When Auntie Midge gave me this rose,

she called it kooyhdone'.

Maybe there are roses in that direction!

Maybe in the summer.

What about the third word?

Kii...t'it.

That sounds a lot like the word Molly and Tooey said earlier,

the place with the best bird-watching in Qyah.

(chuckles): You're right!

Let's try it.

♪ ♪

Wow!

What a view! (birds twittering)

(gasps)

Look!

Birds!

This must be the place!

Let's fill the birdfeeder!

♪ ♪

This was supposed to be a great birthday for Trini.

How could you forget the bird food?

Me?

You forgot the cookies.

MOLLY: Oh! So you're saying it's all my fault?

No, but...

TRINI (quietly): Guys! Shh!

Don't move a muscle. (bird twittering)

DANIEL (whispering): Is that it?

TRINI: That's it!

(bird twittering)

Was that a...?

Yup!

A pine grosbeak!

This is the best birthday ever!

Except for the one where I held a baby lamb.

Ooh! And that one at the water park.

But this is definitely in the top five.

Ooh! Cookies!

Break out the hot chocolate!

♪ ♪

Um... oops!

What?!

You forgot the hot chocolate?

Just kidding!

(all sigh in relief)

♪ ♪

(all slurping)

(sigh contentedly) Mm, mm, mm!

Hello, my tasty friend.

I have waited so long for this moment.

(chews noisily)

(murmuring happily)

Oh, I could eat these every day. (Molly giggles)

Did you have any trouble finding this place?

Mm... a little.

It was kind of a puzzle.

But I love puzzles.

MOLLY: Look! The solstice festival is starting!

TOOEY: It begins!

It's so pretty!

Just you wait!

(fireworks crackling)

Ooh! Ooh!

No way! Awesome!

(kids exclaiming)

Amazing. I agree.

(gasps)

Guys?

Can we do this on my birthday next year, too?

Trini, we're gonna do this every year.

(fireworks crackling and exploding)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪