♪ Tell me a story
♪ Read me a poem ♪
♪ Wrap it in melody ♪
♪ Sing me the song ♪
♪ Then let me hold it ♪
♪ Deep in my heart ♪
♪ Where it can speak to me ♪
♪ All the day long ♪
♪ The adventure of virtue ♪
♪ The adventure of truth ♪
♪ The thrill of knowing ♪
♪ That it's up to you ♪
♪ Building a new day shining in the sun ♪
♪ This is my story ♪
♪ The adventure has ♪
♪ Begun. ♪
Annie: Dear Suzy--
I just got your postcard.
Zach: Hey, Annie!
I'm heading up to Plato's Peak.
Want to ride up there with me?
Not right now, Zach.
I'm in the middle of a letter.
Really? Who are you writing to?
You remember Suzy, from across the street?
Um, is that the girl
who moved to New York City with her family?
Yeah. She just sent me this postcard.
Cool.
Doesn't it look great?
Suzy says there's tons of stuff to do there.
Suzy's only been there a month
and she's already seen the Statue of Liberty
gone to the top of the Empire State Building
and taken a bike ride through Central Park.
Wow.
Last week, she said she went
to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
with her mom and dad.
That sounds fun.
I know. Wouldn't it be great to live in New York City?
To live there?
Well, I don't know about that.
I mean, it would be great to visit New York
but I really like Spring Valley.
Oh, I could live there.
So much excitement, so much to do.
I like it here, Zach, but next to New York
Spring Valley seems kind of... dull.
Dull? No way.
There's plenty to do here.
There's the park, and-and the hiking trails
and Plato's Peak.
I guess so.
I know so.
You can stay here and dream about New York City
but I'm heading up to Plato's Peak to have some fun.
Uh... I'll meet you up there
as soon as I finish this letter.
See you later, Annie-gator.
Things here in Spring Valley are... well...
There's no way I can make my life
sound like it's as much fun as Suzy's.
I'm sick of Spring Valley.
It sure would be fun to live in the big city.
Every morning I'd wake up in my penthouse apartment.
( deep breath ): Ah...
I'd have cocoa latte as I look out at the city view.
Then I'd get dressed and go for my daily bike ride
through Central Park.
And after my bike ride
I'd take the ferry out to the Statue of Liberty.
For lunch, I'd get together with all my fabulous new friends
at the best restaurant in town.
And after lunch, we'd all go shopping on Fifth Avenue.
And in New York, famous people
walk down the street all the time.
( giggling )
I'd end each day with a visit to the art museum.
My life would be more exciting than ever.
Oh!
Hi, Mr. Anderson.
Suzy's got the whole world at her feet in New York City
and all I've got is Spring Valley.
Morning, Annie!
Hi, Officer Grady.
Good old Spring Valley.
Same old people... same old places.
Nothing ever changes
and nothing fun ever happens.
Now, this is fun.
Nothing like a good game of catch.
Come on, Sock!
Give me all you got!
Throw it as hard as you can.
( yowling )
Whoa!
Ouch.
Look at that. I got it.
I should have warned you, Zach.
Socrates has got a powerhouse pitch.
Ooh, looky here!
A tetra-layered, hydra-spotted caterpillar.
Whoop! There...
This is just what my collection needs.
Come on, fellow.
Be careful there, Ari.
I don't want any caterpillars
crawling on me.
It'd never happen, Plato.
I've got everything-- whoopsie! under control.
Oh, look at that.
Here comes Annie.
Hey, everyone.
"Hey, everyone"?
Where's the excitement?
Where's the enthusiasm?
And where's the smile?
I don't know.
Oh, come on, Annie. What's up?
Nothing.
Annie's upset.
She just got a postcard from her friend, Suzy.
Plato: Getting a postcard from a friend
isn't anything to be upset about.
It is when the postcard comes from New York City.
And why is that?
Suzy has this amazing life there.
She gets to go to really cool museums
and stores, and all sorts of plays and symphonies
and the only place I ever go is Plato's Peak.
Personally, I kind of like Plato's Peak
and I like Spring Valley, too
better than anywhere else.
Come to think of it, I've never been anywhere else.
Don't you like it here anymore, Annie?
Of course I still like it here, Ari.
It's just that things are so much more exciting
where Suzy lives.
Let's face it
there's nothing to do in Spring Valley.
Annie, there's so much to do here, it's not even funny.
There's hiking and camping and bike riding.
I mean, concerts and plays and stuff
come through here all the time
and all our friends are here, and--
You can say whatever you want, Zach
but Suzy's life is much more exciting than mine
and New York is much more exciting than Spring Valley.
Oh, dear.
Plato, it sounds like our friend here
is suffering from "the grass is always greener" syndrome.
I was going to say the same thing.
What's "the grass is always greener" syndrome?
This plot of grass is all the same.
It's all green, soft and lush.
Make a line in the grass
put up a fence, and you've created two worlds.
Soon the people on one side of the fence
imagine that the people
on the other side have a better life.
They think that the grass
is always greener, more vibrant, more exciting
on the opposite side of the fence.
And when you start thinking
the grass is greener on the other side--
like imagining that Suzy's life in New York
is better than your life in Spring Valley--
you become ungrateful for what you have.
I'm not ungrateful.
It's just that things are
more exciting in New York
than they are in Spring Valley.
Things are different in New York, not always better.
Every place has its ups and downs.
I just want to live where it's more exciting-- like Suzy.
Spring Valley is a wonderful place, full of wonderful people.
You're just envious of Suzy's life right now
instead of being grateful
for what you have.
Maybe, Plato, a story about gratitude
would shed some light on this situation.
"The City Mouse and the Country Mouse"?
( chuckling ): You read my mind.
Oh, a story.
The perfect way to get to the bottom of this.
"This is the story of two mice.
"Petunia, the country mouse
and her best friend Horace, the city mouse."
Now, Petunia, the country mouse
lived in a humble home under the roots of an old oak tree
far from the city.
Petunia loved her home in the country.
In fact, she loved everything about the country--
Her friends
the fresh air
her perfect home.
( Petunia humming merrily )
( car approaching )
( gasps )
Horace. He's here-- and he's early.
Oh, well, I guess that's as clean as it's going to be.
( horn honking )
Coming!
Horace, you made it.
'Course I made it, Pet.
I wouldn't miss this for the world.
( happy sighs )
A chance to visit my old friend, Petunia
in the country, no less.
It's been a long time.
Ages. It's been ages.
How's the country been treating you?
The country's been treating me fine, Horace
but I'd say the city's
been treating you much, much better.
( laughing )
You don't mean that.
Or do you?
Come on inside, Horace.
I've been cleaning and dusting
for weeks just for your visit.
Your house is nice, Pet.
Uh, quiet.
You really like it?
Sure. It's very-- how shall I say?-- quaint.
Quaint?
Nothing like the excitement of the city.
You want excitement?
Oh, the country can be quite exciting, too.
It can?
Of course.
Why don't we go out and grab some lunch
and I'll show you.
Lunch! Now you're talking.
Isn't this nice?
I just love summer in the country.
Yeah, it's nice-- the walk, I mean.
In the city, nobody walks anywhere.
Not at this speed, anyway.
It's all hustle and bustle there.
Places to go, mice to see.
Really? Tell me about it.
The city sounds like so much fun.
Fun? Oh, you never had so much fun.
Cheese around every corner.
Mouse holes that run for miles
and hundreds of other mice to play with.
That sounds wonderful.
You ought to come and see me
in the city sometime, Pet.
You'd love it.
( mooing )
Morning, Bertha.
This is my friend Horace, from the city.
( moos )
Hello, ladies.
How are you today?
( bleating ): Not bad, Petunia.
And you?
Wonderful!
As long as Horace is with me
I'm just wonderful.
Isn't it great out here?
Everyone knows everybody else.
I'm always among friends.
Nice! You know, you know, Pet
in the city, there are so many mice
you never run out of friends.
You're surrounded by the hustle and the bustle.
Hustle and bustle?
Ooh, how exciting.
A quick hop across the river and it'll be time for lunch.
A boat made out of a leaf.
( nervous laugh ): Cute.
Thanks. I made it myself, you know.
Uh... you'd never know.
In the city, Pet
the transportation is always state-of-the-art.
Nothing but the fastest, shiniest cars, boats and planes.
Oh...
Fastest and shiniest, huh?
Interesting.
Here we are. Chez Petunia.
Lunch is served.
Uh, Petunia, you'll have to come out
to the city to visit me one day.
We eat like kings, feasts as far as the eye can see.
You never go hungry.
I never go hungry here, Horace.
Oh, but the food in the city--
cheeses and casseroles, cakes and pies.
I like oats, just plain oats.
But tell me more about the city
'cause I do like cheese.
First of all, every restaurant in the city
has some sort of cheese dish on the menu
and all the cheese is ours for the taking.
Why, they leave it out on the floor for us at night.
Really?
Plato: And so it went that Horace told Petunia
his glorious tales of life in the city.
By the time Horace's visit was over
he'd filled Petunia's head with all sorts of stories
of excitement and grandeur.
Thanks for the visit, Petunia, and remember
if you ever want to come and see how the other half lives
there's an open invitation
for you to visit me in the big city.
I may just take you up on that someday, Horace.
Plato: And once Horace went back to the city
Petunia began looking at her own life differently.
Her mouse hole suddenly seemed small and quiet... too quiet.
( mooing )
Morning, Bertha.
Morning, ladies.
Petunia began to feel that she ran into the same friends
day after day--
nobody new, nobody exciting, just the same old friends.
And almost overnight, everything in Petunia's world
seemed to slow down.
Suddenly, Petunia could think of only the excitement
and adventure that Horace was surely experiencing
in the city.
In short, she began to believe
that the grass was greener on Horace's side.
( sighing )
I'm sick of oats.
So you can imagine
that the moment Petunia heard from Horace again
she packed her bags for a visit to the city.
Look at that-- the big city.
Wow.
I have arrived.
You certainly have! Horace!
Welcome to the big city, Petunia.
Have I got plans for us.
We're going to go from dusk till dawn.
We'll see every corner of the city
from the harbor to downtown.
We've got lots of stuff to do.
Not a minute to waste.
Welcome, Petunia, to Chateau Horace.
This is where you live?
You betcha.
In a grocery store?
Not in a grocery store, my dear.
Atop a grocery store.
Penthouse suite.
Going up.
Ooh, my.
I told you, Pet, things move fast
in the big city.
Here we are, Pet, home.
How do you like it?
Views in every direction
city lights all around us
and all the luxuries of the city.
Ooh.
Oh, that chair, by the way, is, uh, modern art.
It cost me a fortune.
Modern art, huh?
It's certainly not very comfortable modern art.
( laughing nervously ): Um, could be a bit softer, I suppose.
Horace, let's go out to dinner.
Excellent idea, and perfect timing.
The finest restaurant in town is...
( gasps )
Petunia, wait!
( gasping ): Horace, what's going on?
You can't go down there, Pet.
Why not? There's all sorts of food down there.
Just look. Aisles and aisles of delicious munchies.
The grocery store is, uh... well, it's
just a little too, uh... crowded. Yeah.
Besides, don't you want to hit the town?
Hit the town?
Hey, there, pal.
Hey, good evening, partner.
How you doing, chief?
Oh, you really know all these people?
'Course I do, Pet.
Most of them, though, are just too busy
to stop and chat.
Here we are, Pet, finest restaurant in town
and, uh, dinner... is on the house.
Petunia: Wow! It's beautiful.
Oh, Horace, I am impressed.
Pet, uh, where you going?
Aren't we eating here?
Actually, babe, we use the backdoor.
Wait here for just a second, as they
uh, get our table ready.
Uh, looks like we're being seated already.
Run!
( panting )
Horace, are you out of your mind?
We could've been k*lled.
We could have been...
( gasping )
W-o-o-o-w!
Dinner is served.
Yippee!
Yum!
I like this one!
( laughing and gobbling )
Annie: Whoa. Hold on. Wait a sec.
I thought you said this was a story about gratitude.
Yeah. Oh, wait. I get it.
Petunia, the country mouse, is grateful that she left home
to go to the big city.
Not exactly, Sock.
At this point, I'll admit, it does indeed seem
that Petunia got everything she wished for, but...
But?
But we'll just have
to keep reading to find out.
Aw, come on, Plato.
Come on, can't you give us a little hint?
Here's a hint.
Sit back and enjoy the rest of the story.
( chuckling ): Oh. Good hint, big guy.
Now, where were we?
Ah, yes.
Horace and Petunia were in agreement
that at this precise moment in time
the city was the best place in the world.
( smacking lips )
( sighing )
Mmm... Ahh!
Oh...
Petunia! Stop!
( gasping )
Petunia!
Wait!
( panting )
Wait!
( gasping )
Hold on, Petunia!
I'll rescue you!
( sobbing )
It's ruined.
Oh, thank goodness, home at last.
What's going on?
Uh-oh. Delivery truck!
( screaming )
Petunia?
Oh, Petunia!
Petunia, there's no time for resting.
This isn't a good place for that.
Why not? I'm tired, wet and cold.
Why can't we just stay here?
Okay. I see why.
( gasping, sighing and shuddering )
Hey, uh, Pet, where you going?
Home.
But home is this way, right here.
No, Horace. I'm going home, my home.
Plato: When Petunia returned from the city
she saw her country life in a whole new light.
The grass was indeed very bright on her side.
The river was quiet
the oats were delicious
and the friends were plentiful.
That evening as Petunia read
her favorite book in front of the fireplace
she realized that being a city mouse
might be fine for some, but for herself
she was grateful to be a country mouse
living a country life.
Well, what did you think?
I think that cat got a bad rap.
Not all of us chase mice, you know.
( all laughing )
Maybe... maybe Petunia and I have something in common.
Oh, really? And what's that?
Well, we both kind of forgot
how good things are at home.
Everyone's life looks good on a postcard, Annie.
It's easy to forget to be grateful for what we have.
Like good friends.
Hey, Annie, you think Suzy has made any friends out there
who she can play catch with?
Zach: Even if the catcher can't catch?
And do you think she has anybody
to go caterpillar hunting with?
Oh, hey, where...?
Oh, dear, where'd he go?
Want to play catch with us, Annie?
Not today, Zach, but thanks for the offer.
Or maybe you want to help me catch some caterpillars.
No, thanks, Ari.
Or read a book with me.
Thanks, but I think I'm going to head home
to write Suzy a letter.
I want to tell her that I'm coming to New York City.
All: What? What do you mean?
What about the country mouse, Annie?
I want to tell Suzy that I'm coming to New York City
someday, to visit.
I still want to see the big city, you know.
And I also want to tell her
how great things are in Spring Valley.
See you guys later.
See you, Annie!
Good-bye!
Hey, there, Officer Grady.
Afternoon, Mrs. Trumble.
Hi, Mom.
Oh, you're in awfully good spirits today.
What's up?
Just happy to be here, Mom.
Just happy to be here.