03x01 - Dragon Me Along

[bunniefuu]

- This is me, eliza thornberry,

Part of your average family.

I got a dad, a mom, and a sister.

There is donnie-- we found him.

And darwin-- he found us.

Oh, yeah, about our house-- it moves,

'Cause we travel all over the world.

You see, my dad hosts this nature show,

And my mom sh**t it.

Okay, so we're not that average.

And between you and me, something amazing happened,

And now I can talk to animals.

It's really cool, but totally secret.

And you know what?

Life's never been the same.

[Darwin yelling]

[Upbeat instrumental music]

♪

[Calm flute music]

♪

Shouldn't we have seen it by now?

- Any moment, poppet.

- Are you sure we're on the right road?

- There's only one road, dear.

- [Groaning]

- [Chattering]

- I emailed ling that we'd be here at noon.

I can't be late the first time I meet her, can i?

- Sure you can,

Just like we could have gone shopping in beijing today.

- Ugh, debbie. Please don't start that again.

- Eliza, look.

There it is.

- Wow!

The great wall of china.

- Doesn't look so great to me.

- Are you kidding? It's , miles long.

That's longer than the whole united states.

- Find, but does it have a mall?

- Debbie, what's wrong?

- Look, I can almost understand why we have to go

To "nowheresville" to film your exotic animals,

But there's nothing to film out here.

We left civilization behind

Just so she can meet her little pen pal.

- Honey, why don't we spend some time alone

With debbie today?

- Time alone with debbie?

Oh, what a smashing idea.

- Huh? What--what did he say?

- Oh, debbie.

We've obviously been neglecting you

A little bit lately.

While eliza's off with ling, the three of us can,

Oh, I don't know, hang out?

- What? No!

I mean, uh, I've got to-- I've got to do a school report!

Yes, and I don't even have a topic yet,

So I'll be really busy.

- Splendid.

We'll help you.

Let's come up with a topic together, shall we?

- [Groans] - [laughs]

- All I wanted was to buy some beaded slippers.

- Eliza.

Eliza, over here. Eliza.

- Ling. - Eliza.

You are finally here.

I have been counting the days.

- Me too.

Hey, your english is really good!

- Thanks, I have been studying it online.

- These are my parents and my sister debbie and--

- Darwin and donnie!

I have heard so much about them.

- And you're still friends with her?

- Oh, never mind her.

Come on, ling.

Let's see the great wall.

- Okay, follow me.

This arch honors the thousands of people

Who built the wall to protect china from invaders.

- Wow, look at those lions.

- Yes, but you have seen real lions.

- [Gasps] debbie, maybe you could

Do your report on these beautiful carvings?

- Yawn.

- Or perhaps a treatise

On the engineering history of the great wall.

- Hey.

How about I do it on the retailing history

Of the gift shop?

- Oh, golly gosh, pumpkin.

That doesn't strike me as being particularly scholarly.

- Want to see the top now?

- Lead the way!

[Gasps] it's so awesome.

Did you know that astronauts

Can see the great wall from orbit?

- [Darwin chattering]

[Both chattering]

[Darwin screams]

- Darwin! Ling, help me!

[Both groaning]

- Thanks, ling.

That was close.

- That was so exciting!

Do you save darwin very often like that?

- All the time.

- Hmm.

- Well, okay, sometimes it's the other way around.

- Think how much you could pack into a report

About the great wall.

- Mom, dad, I appreciate your help, really,

But can't we do this later?

- Now, debbie.

Procrastinating won't make this any easier.

Debbie?

- Huh? Oh, yeah.

That is some view.

- Writer's block.

I had a bad case of it myself as a school boy.

- Mom, dad, is it okay

If I go into the village with ling?

- Of course, honey.

Just be back at the comvee before dark,

Which will give us plenty of time

To concentrate on debbie.

- Oh! - [Laughs]

- Wow. Oh, that's beautiful.

- Yoo-hoo, debbie.

You ready to go, honey?

- Ready, mom.

[All laughing]

- [Yells]

- [Chattering]

This street's like an obstacle course!

Oh, good thing you're such an amazing rider.

- You are more amazing, eliza!

You travel all over the world,

And I bet you speak many languages, yes?

- [Yells]

[Darwin chattering]

- So is your village always this crowded?

- Oh, no.

This is because of the kite festival tomorrow.

Want to see my family's kite?

- Sure. Is it nearby-- - [yells]

- Whoa!

[Laughs]

- This is my grandfather.

He made the kite to enter in the festival.

Grandfather, this is eliza.

- Ah, the computer friend.

Hello, eliza.

- Wow, these are so different from american kites.

- Indeed.

You see,

In china we have made kites for hundreds of years--

Kites that fly,

Kites as large as a house,

Kites that can even tell a story.

- My grandfather is the best kite maker in all china.

- So far only second best, but tomorrow that will change.

Let me show you why.

- Wow.

This is incredible!

- Six people can stand inside it.

- Tomorrow, my sons and I will perform in the parade,

And finally we will win the festival's top prize!

- I can't wait to see you win, mr. Chi.

Shi shou?

- Eliza, please help us!

- Shi shou! Mei-mei!

Oh, no!

[Gasping]

- Eliza, what's wrong?

- Those pandas, I know--

Something must be wrong.

Why are they in that cage?

- I don't know.

I've never seen a panda outside of the preserve.

- Ling, you've got to help me find that truck.

I'll explain why later.

- An adventure.

I'll go that way.

- And I'll go that way.

- [Chattering]

- Don't worry eliza!

We will find them!

- Shi shou?

Mei-mei!

- Eliza, are you absolutely sure that was shi shou?

Doesn't he live far from here?

- Yes, that's why I know something's up.

He shouldn't be in a cage.

That guy must be a poacher

And he's going to sell him to a zoo!

- Oh, let's go get your parents!

- And what?

Tell them I know these pandas because I talk to them?

No matter how I try to explain it,

I'd have to tell them my secret.

- Eliza!

Over here!

The truck went in there.

- You really think a truck could fit in here?

- Yes, I have seen them.

Ah-ha!

- Fresh bamboo.

Ling, you're right.

The pandas!

- Whoo!

[Both gasping]

Whoo, isn't this inspiring, debbie?

Now you can write a report about climbing the guard tower.

- [Laughs]

I'm getting goosebumps, marianne!

- [Gasps] I'm getting nauseous.

- Why, it's a cricket, a chinese symbol of good luck.

- Come here, you two.

Oh, this is amazing topography.

Debbie, you'll have to include this in your report.

- [Groans]

Oh--oh, it's lovely.

- Hi.

What's that?

Oh, yeah.

A cricket cage.

I've heard about those.

I could use some good luck today.

- Wait here while I check inside.

Shi shou? Mei- mei?

Are you okay?

- We're fine.

I cannot believe you found us.

- I'm going to get you out of here.

Oh!

[Gasps]

Ling, I told you to stay outside.

- But the adventure is inside.

Who's that man?

- Shh!

- Huh?

- He's the poacher.

- Hmm.

That was way too close.

Ling, go outside and be the lookout

While I get the pandas.

If you see that guy again, let me know.

Shi shou, mei-mei, follow me.

- Yay! We're free, mommy!

- Shi shou, come back here.

- Come on, mei-mei, we have to hurry!

- Where are you taking us?

- Uh, I'm not sure exactly.

Some place safe.

- We are safe here.

- No, you're not. Not in this cage.

Mei-mei, you've got to trust me, okay?

- The man gives us food.

- That man took you from your home!

Don't you want to go back?

- There was a big fire.

It burnt all the food.

- What?

I bet the poacher set that fire so he could catch you.

- Eliza, he is coming.

- No, I don't want to go back in there.

- [Grunts]

- Quick, he is outside!

- [Gasps]

- This is the most fun I have ever had.

- Shh!

- [Speaking native language]

- [Grunts]

- Hmm?

- [Gasps] phew.

- [Sighs]

Hey.

[Speaking native language]

Well, hello there.

Who are you two?

[Both chattering]

[Both gasping]

- We're locked in. - Great.

Oh, this is the scary part of the adventure, right?

- Right.

- Now that we've settled on the topic,

Worked out the format and the key elements,

All that really remains is

The research and the actual writing.

- I'll run a computer check

While you look through our library.

Oh, nigel! Isn't this fun?

Yes, and I must say,

Debbie has been an absolute joy in all of this.

So agreeable-- so willing.

- So--uh, not here again.

- Well, that was fun. I feel inspired now.

See you.

- Oh, that was just the beginning, honey.

- I'm prepared to pull an all-nighter if necessary.

- Donnie! Are you out there?

- [Chattering]

- That sounds like it's coming from inside.

- [Chattering]

- Way to go, donnie!

Ling, you first.

I got to get home,

But I'll come back first thing tomorrow.

I promise.

- Don't forget about us.

- So that's the plan.

We'll meet back here tomorrow morning.

- But what will happen to shi shou and mei-mei

After we set them free?

This isn't their natural habitat.

- I know that, but I'll convince my parents

To drive out that way and we'll conveniently find them.

See?

- I suppose it's pointless to tell you this is a bad idea?

- [Chattering]

- Come on, ling's meeting us there.

- Oh.

- Wakey-wakey.

Rise and shine.

- [Groans]

What time is it?

- Time to get cracking on that report.

- Don't worry, honey.

We stayed up all night compiling research

On the land, resources, and minerals of china.

- And we've cataloged it according to region.

Such excitement!

[Yawns]

Oh, I wouldn't mind a strong cup of tea.

- Kettle's on.

Uh, see you soon, debbie.

- [Groans]

How come eliza misses all of this excitement?

- Eliza, I am not sure about your plan.

If my grandfather finds out, I could be in big trouble.

- Trust me. I know what I'm doing.

Shh!

Now's our chance.

Donnie, I have to be the head!

- [Chattering]

- Donnie, I'm serious!

- [Chattering] - hurry, eliza.

I must get the kite back to my grandfather

Before the parade starts.

We only have a half-hour!

- Okay, donnie, you can lead us.

Just go that way.

- [Chattering]

- [Darwin chattering]

- The poacher!

Don't stop, donnie, keep going.

- Eliza, who--who are all those people?

- Stop!

We are scaring shi shou.

- You have to stay under the kite.

- But it's dark in there.

- Oh, oh, what? Stop!

That girl is stealing my panda!

- Eliza, what do we do?

- Everybody run!

- [Darwin chattering]

- Stop her!

[Speaking native language]

- Oh, where are we going?

What about my mommy?

- She's right behind us.

- No, she's not!

- [Gasps]

- [Speaking native language] - oh, no.

We'll find her later.

Can you walk, shi shou?

'Cause I can't carry you.

- Oh, my kite!

Follow them!

- Grandfather! Oh, no.

- [Gasping]

My kite!

- Quick, everybody up the stairs!

[Gasps]

- It is the parade.

There is no way out.

- It's okay. No one will notice us.

March, donnie, march.

- [Chattering]

- Oh, no.

My grandfather is looking right at us!

- Just keep going.

We've got to get the pandas away from the poacher.

[Gasps]

[All grunting]

- Please return my panda now.

- Panda?

What panda?

[All gasping]

[All yelling]

- We'll bring this right back, okay?

Here, everybody. Climb aboard.

- Eliza, let me drive.

- No time.

- Somebody stop that dragon!

- That is my dragon!

- Donnie, I can't see where we're going.

- Yahoo!

[Cheering]

- Uh, nigel, I don't understand it.

We gave debbie all kinds of research and ideas,

And she rejected them all.

- I'm as baffled as you, dearest.

I was certain she'd go for my topic,

"Confounding confucius."

- Bye, thanks.

Oh, isn't this a great festival?

- Debbie, we wanted to help you with your report,

But frankly, we're at a loss here.

- Mom, dad, listen.

You don't have to spend time with me because I see you,

Well, a lot, and it's great.

- Aw. - Poodles.

- But, I am going to do a report

About something that I like.

So I decided to write about

Trading commerce at the great wall.

- Huh? - Come again?

- Some girls gave me a fan, which I traded for a cage,

Which I gave away for a box,

Which I just swapped for these totally cool slippers.

So, thanks.

You were a big help.

- [Chattering]

- I know this may sound strange,

But was that eliza inside that dragon costume?

- Oh, why on earth would eliza

Be dressed in a dragon suit riding a bicycle

With a panda in the front basket

On top of the great wall of china?

[All speaking at once]

- Let's go.

- I think shi shou is safe.

- I think we're in trouble.

[All yelling]

- [All groaning]

- Ling, are you okay?

- I--i think so.

- Shi shou!

- Is he hurt?

- I think he's just scared.

- Eliza! Ling!

Are you all right?

- We're okay, mom.

- Eliza, poppety, would you care to explain

What you were doing?

- Mom, dad, that man is a poacher.

He took this panda out of the wild.

- You thought I was a poacher?

No, no.

My name is mitchell chung.

- Notthemitchell chung?

The world's foremost authority

On protecting and preserving wild pandas?

- But--but you had them in a cage.

I saw you.

- Yes, I rescued the mother and cub from a fire.

They had no food or shelter.

I'm taking them to the nature preserve.

- Mr. Chung, I am so sorry.

I thought--

I guess I jumped to about five conclusions all at once.

- I can see that your heart was in the right place.

- And maybe next time she'll come to us

When she suspects something like this.

- Grandfather, I am so sorry.

- It's my fault.

I talked ling into helping me free the pandas.

- Fortunately, nobody was hurt,

And even more fortunately, it seems the festival's

Judges were very impressed by your wild ride.

First place.

- [Laughing]

- So, you'll be in a nice place with lots of food

Until it's okay for mr. Chung to take you back home.

I'm sorry I put you through all that.

- It's all right.

We're all safe.

- I didn't really mind,

But next time I want to be the head of the dragon.

- Goodbye, eliza.

- Bye, ling.

It was really great to finally meet you.

- Bye, eliza.

Email me as soon as you do something exciting.

- I've had enough adventure for a while, ling.

Just kidding!

[Both laughing]

- [Speaking native language]