01x06 - I Wish I Could Stop Pretending

[bunniefuu]

I am keeper of the well.

A magic well. It's true!
My calling.

Part of a line of magic well-keepers that goes back

ages, even!

And it's all in here.

Hundreds of years,

thousands of wishes.

- You're up early.
- Yeah. Reading.

- Hey, Ruby, does that book
tell you anything

about what Emerald
was like 40 years ago

before the water dried up?

- Yeah. Sounds like
the best place in the world.

Happy and hopeful.

- Yeah! See, I don't get
why people aren't now.

I mean, Paula is. She's always
trying to fix this town up,

but I don't know.

When I saw that fountain
come back to life...

it was like
a kick in the pants.

Like a "Get up
and get on this, O'Reilly."

- You should.

As an apple farmer,
you make a great PR guy.

- What are you saying
about my farming skills?

- I'm saying, you're doing great
learning a lot.

- Yeah.
- But...

you know how to grow an idea.

And Emerald could use that.

Could use you.

- Hmm.

You're right.

I'm gonna get on that.

- Hmm.
- Okay.

All right.

: Grr!

I wonder when Pop-Pop's
coming back.

: I wish I could
stop pretending.

So many people who want
to stop pretending.

- A sad cheerleader.
- A jock who's secretly a poet.

- Hey! Hey, what if...
What if he's a spy?

- Uh-oh. Was someone up
late watching TV again?

- Were you binging on spy movies
until all hours, Sam?

- No.

Okay. Yeah, you're right.

I was watching spy movies,
but it's not my fault.

There was an Oath of Justice
marath-- Ow!

- Perhaps you should spend
more free time on school work

and less on mindless drivel,
hmm, Mr. Price?

- Yes, Mr. Ellis.

- And don't think I didn't
notice that you were late.

You know what that means.
You owe me a quarter. Pay up.

- It's the only reason
I even have 'em.

- Hmm.
- Just for you. Okay.

- Quarters like in my vision!

- What, you think VP Ellis's
tough-guy thing is an act?

- Uh! You know the drill.

- Maybe he's actually
a sweetheart

and he's just pretending?

: Look at his cup!
He hearts puppies?

: He has a grandson,
just like the wisher.

Could be our guy.

- You know what this means?

: Stakeout!

- Hello! Hello! Service, please!

Hello!

I'd like to renew my card!

: Mr. Brody,
why are you hiding?

: Foster, I know
you're in here!

- I know I shouldn't, but...

Mr. Ellis is a pro-level
complainer.

If I tell him he can't
renew until next week

when we're open,
I'll hear about it forever.

- Come on, Foster!
I don't have all day!

- I know he's pretty grumpy,
but he's nice inside, right?

He even has an
"I Heart Puppy Dogs" thermos.

- Oh, please! I loaned him that!
Three years ago.

- Hello!

Oh, this is ridiculous!

- So?

- Probably not our wisher.

Hey! The-the book I saw.

Maybe there's a clue
in the story?

- Oh! Uh, The Snowy Day?
- Uh-huh.

- Oh, yeah, that's a great one.
Uh, we've got it.

Should be right here. Uh...
Ezra Jack Keats.

- Keats... K...

It's not here.

- Huh. Well, I know we have it.

A bunch of kids and volunteers
came in to help

with the opening, and I remember
we put it right here.

Well, we have the audiobook,
as well. We just, uh,

we're building this
AV rack and it...

Strange.

Should be here.

Yeah, this one's missing, too.

- Hmm. Maybe it got stolen?

- Why would you steal
a library book?

Just wait one week and then
you can borrow it for free.

- Um, Mr. Brody,

do you have a list of
the volunteers who helped you?

- No, I don't. I'm sorry.

Uh, but they're coming back soon

to help finish decorating
this room.

You can ask around then,
if you like.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

- Stolen book.

Now that's a clue.

- Hey! This is a dead area
for cell signals.

Do you need a lift to town?

- Yeah! Yeah, yeah. Thanks.

Uh, I, uh, I hit one of those
potholes back there pretty fast

and, uh, I think I, um...

messed up my suspension
pretty good.

- Oh.

Ah!

Yeah.

- Yeah.

- Oh, yeah.

So, you coming in from the city?

- Is it that obvious?

Yeah. You probably know
everybody around here, huh?

- No! Actually,

you remind me a lot of me,
not too long ago.

Before the truck
and the flannel. I'm Dan.

- Ah, Nathan.

So, um, so you're from
the city, too, huh?

- Yeah! I was, but...

we like it here.
We decided to stay.

Place is looking up.

- Oh, yeah? I was going
to ask about that.

Um, I'm here on business.
My company's scouting places

we might want to expand to.

- Oh, yeah?
What kind of business?

- It's, uh, natural resources,
mostly.

It's a really clean shop,
environmentally friendly,

so carbon neutral,
ethically sourced,

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

- Really?
- Mm.

- And you're interested
in Emerald because...?

- That's all I can say.

For now.

- Okay. Gotcha.

All right, well hop in.
- Great.

- Looks like all the volunteers
are back to help

finish setting up
for the grand opening.

- Yeah and I bet our perp
is here, too.

- Because...?

- Criminals always come back
to the scene of the crime.

Maybe that lowlife
wants more free books.

- Or because he regrets
his decision

and he wants to return it.
- Oh. You two mix in.

I'm going to go look upstairs.
- Okay.

- Anyone here look like
a book thief to you?

- I'm looking.
- When was the last time

you cleaned your ears, Leon?

- Look, quarters.

- You're amazing, Pop-Pop!

- Ah! Pop-Pop. So cute.

- Yeah. And straight
outta my vision!

- Come on.

- Ooh! Ah, I-I've got it.

Thanks.
- Yeah.

- Here you go, Mr. Pritchard.

- Thanks, Mina.

- It's him. He has the book
in his bag,

but why does he want
to stop pretending?

- Last box.
- Okay. Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Mr. Pritchard?

I can't believe it.
He's so nice!

I mean, I have to admit,
my world's a little bit rocked.

- Sorry, Sam, but all
the clues point to him.

- I may have another one.
Do you have a pen?

- Yeah.

- Thank you. Okay,

did you, by any chance,
see this in your vision?

: What is that?

- Let me see.

Whoa! He still uses this?

I mean, of course he does!
It's his secret spy code,

just like in Oath of Justice:
Omen of Portent.

- Explain, please?
- Oh, when I was little,

I found a note that fell out
of Mr. Pritchard's pocket

and it had a bunch
of weird drawings,

looked just like this.
- Okay.

- Then I asked him about it,
and he said it was part

of a game, a spy game,
and this was his secret

spy code. Huh. Pritch.
- So, you're saying...

Mr. Pritchard is a spy?
- Wait!

- Well...
- Did you just say

Mr. Pritchard was a spy?
- Hi, Molly.

- We were actually just--
- Because I could totally

see it! You know, it's just like
Oath of Justice:

Whisper of Fire
where the mild-mannered

barbecue chef, he--
- Was the one who brought down

the whole town...
: From the inside!

- Are we supposed...?
- No. Never feed into Sam's

movie conversations.
- Mr. Pritchard is just like

that guy! I mean,
he's well liked,

he has a great cover.
- Farmer.

- Farmer. And he has
loads of land

to hide all of his
spy equipment.

- And his bunker with all
the fake passports

and identity changing
contact lenses.

No one would ever
suspect him. Huh.

- Except for us!

- Well, I-I was just
in movie mode.

I don't really think that...
- I'm gonna search up

Agent Langston Pritchard,
if that's his real name,

and see what comes up.

- Whoops.

Guess I got her a little
too worked up, there.

- Whoops! Guess we know
what you're gonna be doing

while we go solve this wish.
- What?

- You've done it!
Now you have to make sure

she stays out of our way.
- But that wasn't my--

- Have fun, Molly minder.

- Okay, what now?

- Back to the real world.
- Right.

- Let's go see what
our friendly, mysterious

"not spy" is up to.
- Sounds good.

Did you see that?

- Wink?
- That wasn't just a wink.

That was a wink-wink.

- Definitely a wink-wink.
Do you think it means that...?

- That he's having a secret
romance with Halona?

But he's married!

- Oh.
- Hey, girls.

- Gross!

- Hi.
- Hi.

Is this why he wants
to stop pretending?

- I hope not.

Where is he? I can't see him.

- Me neither.

- Oh, hi! Are you well today?

- He just buy flowers
for Halona?

- I'm so shocked.
Are you shocked?

- Uh-huh.

Oh!

: Ow! You stepped
on my foot.

: Sorry!

Oh, I can't watch.

He's such a nice guy!

- Just when you think
you know someone.

- Wait! He didn't give
her the flowers.

- So much for the romance!

We were wrong! Yay!

I can feel good
about this wish again.

- Let's find out exactly
where he's going.

- Yeah! All right.

- So, the tow truck is on
an out-of-town pickup.

Looks like I'm stuck here
'til tomorrow.

- Well, don't worry.
Pete's great.

He's the real deal.

- Somewhere to stay
you could recommend?

- Yeah. I'll give you a ride
to the motel.

It's not a Hilton,
but it's cozy.

- That sounds great.
- Um, yeah.

Can I assume that if
you're scouting Emerald,

you're also scouting
other towns around here, too?

- You can assume that. Yeah.

- Okay. Since you're
sticking around,

can I show the place off
to you a little?

- Well...
- You know, I-I used to do PR

in my old life. I know how
to keep things to the point.

- Oh, you're a former
ad man, huh?

- For non-profits.
I made a rule:

only work for good causes.

Emerald is a good cause.

A great one, actually.

- What makes it so special,
do you think?

- It's the community.

My kid loves it here.
She feels a part of things.

It's really brought out
her altruistic side.

You know, she's 14.
She spends all her time

helping other people.

- Wow. At that age,
isn't she supposed to be

walking around with her phone
attached to her ear?

- Exactly.

It's this town.

- You know, Dan,
if you feel that way about it,

I'll hear you out.

- Great. Tomorrow morning?
Grand tour.

- Hi.

Hi, Frank. Kelly!

Nice to see you.
Irene, how are you?

- Hi, guys.
- Good.

- Aw! Those flowers
are for his wife!

Still so in love! It's so nice.

- Oh, I am so, so glad
we were wrong about that.

- Yeah.
- But still,

it means our theory's toast.

- But good toast!
Like honey toast.

Aw! They're holding hands now!

- What do you think those are?

- I was hoping poetry,

but it looks like utility bills?

- We gotta get inside.

I'll distract the guy
at the front desk,

you get the video.
- Okay.

- Uh, hi!

- Oh! Can I help you?

- Uh, yeah, um...

I'm here to see Mrs. Pritchard.

Uh, she's a friend...
of my grandma.

Who doesn't live here.

- Okay.

- I-I-I got a gift for her
because, well,

I'm here and she's not.

- Well, that's nice of you.

So, where is it?
- Huh?

- The gift, um,
from your grandmother?

- I forgot it.

- Forgot it?
- Yeah.

So, so silly, right?

Uh, so I wanted to come
and apologize,

uh, in advance,
for not bringing it.

- The gift?

- Exactly.

- From your grandmother
who's not here.

- You got it.

- Could you just
sign here first?

Ah, where are we? Ah.

- Thanks.

Oh! She already has a visitor.

- Yes, Mr. Pritchard.
He's here with her.

- He visits a lot. That's nice.

- Nice isn't half of it.

Ever since she came here
two weeks ago,

that sweet man's brought
flowers every single day.

Oh! And now it's her rest time.

Ah. I'm sorry. You've gotta
come back later, hon.

- Okay.

- Maybe next time,
remember the gift?

- Yes. Thank you.

Uh, Sam! Uh, where's Molly?

You should be watching her!
- Relax. She's with her mom.

Finally. Did a deep dive on
Mr. Pritchard, though.

- Find anything?
- Yeah. Molly's a spy movie

superfan and it's certifiable.

- I meant about Pritchard.

- There's nothing
on the internet.

Just that he was
in the military,

he has a driver's license.
He was featured

in Farmers Monthly:
the Corn Issue.

Did you guys get anything?

- Yeah, we got a video
of him talking to his wife.

- They were whispering,
all suspicious-like.

The audio's pretty garbled,
but...

- I got this.

Sam Price: pro lip-reader
in the house. Come on.

"Put this cat rabbit...

in that skyscraper, Glen."

Huh! Pritchard may not
be a spy,

but certainly is a-a man
of mystery. I...

- Let me.
- Okay.

Oh, at cat can't hup-pup...

You can't keep this up.

You have to tell someone.

- She's talking about
his secret!

He can't keep this up.

He needs to stop pretending!

- We have to get him
to open up somehow.

- Like in Oath of Justice:
Open Secrets!

I'm on it!

If my mom comes out, just tell
her I'll be back in a bit.

- Sam!

- Hang on, Molly!
I'm coming with you!

- We've gotta stop talking

anywhere close
to the flower shop.

- Uh-huh.

- Molly, wait! I kinda need you

to not to bother
Mr. Pritchard, okay?

Ruby and Mina and I are, well...
- Spit it out, Sam!

- We're doing something
and y-you can't be a part of it,

okay? If you don't
get lost, you might ruin it.

- So, what?
Like, teenager stuff?

Exactly! You're, you know,
you're too young.

You wouldn't understand.
It's rated PG-13, okay?

- Okay, well, if I got lost
every time a teenager

told me to do so,
I wouldn't have any fun!

Hi, Mr. Pritchard.

Are you a spy?

- Good to see you, too!

Climb aboard!

- Ah, sorry Mr. Pritchard.

She's been watching a lot
of spy movies lately.

- Uh-huh.
- So, you are a spy, aren't you?

We know because we've been
following you around.

- Well...
- Ooh. You have, have you?

Have you seen
anything suspicious?

What makes you so sure
that I'm a spy?

- Well, we saw you
visit your wife

and they got you on video.

- They went to the home.

- Well, Ruby and Mina did,
but...

- And they figured out
what you said and everything!

Like, "You can't keep
this going.

You've got to tell someone."
That you're a spy.

- I'm sorry. She's just
got a wild imagination.

- You two know too much.

They're watching, too.

You gotta forget everything
you said

and keep your distance from me.

Eyes in the sky.

- Spy satellites!

Why didn't I think of that?

So, you really are a...

: A spy!

I was right!

- Okay, Molly can't
really be right about this.

- Yeah. No way Mr. Pritchard
is actually a spy,

but why would he say he was?
And plus, he was so serious

about it too. It was weird.

- I need to think about this.

Maybe read the logbook.
Might tell me something.

And you? Keep after Molly.

- Cheer up. Maybe you'll pick up
a clue while you're at it.

- You still got your nose
in that logbook?

Good stuff?
- It's epic.

It's like the more I read,
the smaller I feel.

It's generations
worth of stuff in here.

Everyone is so heroic.

They know exactly
what to do all the time.

- Hmm. If you believe that.

- Okay, I know you don't believe
this well stuff like I do...

- No, no, no.
That's not what I mean.

I mean I don't think these
heroes did a lot of talking

about the failing
they did along the way.

- Yeah. It's all happy endings.

Old-timey words for "yay".
A lot of "by my troth".

- Hmm. Huzzah!

- But you think
they struggled, too?

- Everybody struggles.

Some people just wear it better.

- The way I see it,
the town will forgive

Mr. Pritchard as long
as he comes clean.

So, we just need to figure out
who he's working for

so we can help him.
- Where did you even get

these papers anyway? And do they
even print them anymore, or...?

- Don't worry about it. Come on!

- Why are we watching
Mr. Pritchard

throw away garbage?
- Ugh, we're not.

It's a classic dead drop!
It's how spies communicate!

Come on.

Some sort of secret data module.

And look!
There's a note with code.

- I got this.

I... bean... Been!

Discovered.

- Meet!
- Meet! At 12 o'clock.

Escape plan? Escape plan!
333-786.

Why's he doing this?

- Because he's gotta go!

Because we compromised him!
We cannot let this happen.

Sam, we have to go
to the authorities.

- No, I don't really think---

Going to the authorities, then.

- We've got to be
missing something.

I mean, really?
Did you read all of this?

- Yep. What do you want
to know about corn?

- Well, what's it say
about Pritchard?

- It's just a feel-good piece
about him and his wife.

- Any good details?
- Not really.

Just about how they share
all the farm chores

and do all the housework
together. She doesn't drive,

always wanted a driver.
He wanted a financial advisor.

They fell in love, got married,
dreams came true.

Plus, guess what?

Corn.

So much corn.

- This one's tough.

- Yeah.

- How long did he say?

- Uh, he said it should
be ready around six.

- Okay, great! Gives us lots
of time to check out the town.

- Wow! Look at that.
People wave here.

- Yeah. Don't get that
in the city, do you?

- Mm.
- I mean,

not with five fingers, anyway.

Come on.

You know, Emerald...

it really is an actual jewel.

It just needs, uh,
a little bit of polishing.

- I think you're writing
my pitch for me.

- Oh, yeah. That's the idea.

It really is an up-and-coming
place.

The community's coming together
and, for the first time

in years, we're going to have
our Apple Blossom Fest.

- Hmm.

- Molly, we really don't
need to do all this.

- Officer Clark!

- Hey, kids!
What's the emergency?

- We have discovered
something huge!

- Yeah, that I need
to do more cardio.

- Mr. Pritchard is a spy.

- Pritch? A spy?

- And we have proof.

He left this at the dead drop.

- Could it be some sort
of secret data module?

- That's what I thought.

We know his escape plan,

so you have to help us stop him
before he gets away.

Maybe we can make
a deal with him?

He might have started off a spy,

but he's part
of our community now.

- Okay, hang on. Let me hook up
this data module

and just have a look.

: Unit 21,
unit 21, what's your 20?

: Unit 21.
I'm at the corner of Main and...

- 'Kay. Here we go.

"Secret data drop 8-404.

From Secret Agent Code Name:
Pop-Pop.

Two kids spotted on my tail.

Please tell them
to mind their own business.

Playing spy might be fun
and everything,

but they've gone
a little too far."

Oh? And this data module?
It's not a data module.

It's just a--
- Satellite signal jammer!

- It's a spark plug
from a tractor

plugged into some old junk.

- Yeah.

- He's not a spy, Molly.

- What about
his driver's license? Run it!

Maybe it's fake.
- Molly, I saw him

down at the bureau
with Eleanor write the test

with my own two eyes.

Now look,
Pritchard's my friend.

And he's too nice tell you this,
but I'm not.

Go do something else! Got it?

- She's got it. We both do.

- Hmm. Well, that reminded me

of Oath of Justice:
Fun While It Lasted.

- Bottom line is we gotta
stay off Pritchard,

but I still don't get it.

Why would he tell us
he's a spy

and then go to all that effort
just to what?

Get us off his back?

- Maybe he thought we were
getting too close

to his real secret and he wanted
us to stop snooping.

- Smart. Hmm...

Maybe we can talk
to Mrs. Pritchard?

- Yeah, we could still
snoop around her.

- Wait! Sam, didn't you say
that when he went to go take

his driver's test,
Mrs. Pritchard went with him?

- Well, that's what
Officer Clark told Molly

and, man, am I ever glad
that's over,

because what a waste of time.

- But it wasn't a waste of time.
I mean, thanks to Molly--

- Hey!
- And you!

I think I know exactly
what Mr. Pritchard is hiding.

: What?

- Langston Pritchard can't read.

It's been in front of us
all along.

I just couldn't put it together!

Clue number one:
Instead of waiting

to fill out a form
at the library

to check out the book
for free, he stole it.

He brings all of his mail
for his wife to read.

His signature at the senior
home sign-in book

is just a scribble.

- Which means that his
spy code is just his way

of keeping notes.
He uses little pictures

instead of words.
- And the clincher

is Eleanor went to go take
the driver's test with him,

but she doesn't drive.
- So she wasn't taking

the test for herself.
- She must have been there

to help him...
: Read the questions!

- But why does he want
to stop pretending?

- And why would a guy
who can't read steal a book?

- No idea.

But I think I know
how we can find out.

- Whoa! No!

Like, we are not supposed
to get in his face anymore.

- We're not!

We're just going birdwatching!

- We've been here for years.

I've probably grown
a beard by now.

Did I grow a beard?

- Yeah, can we take a break
so Sam can shave?

- I've actually started
watching birds.

Wait, wait! He's coming.

He's got the book with him.

: Yeah, he does.

: And he's... reading it?

- So much for that theory.

- Also. he has headphones
and a CD player.

Wait! Didn't the audiobook
get stolen, too?

- Wait! He's not reading it.
He's memorizing it.

- So he can pretend to read it.

And why pretend
to read a kid's book?

- Maybe something to do
with his grandson?

- Wait a minute. The Read-Along.
- The what?

- Remember at the library?

I bet Pritchard's grandson
is gonna be there.

- That's why he's working
so hard at it.

He's reading the book with Leon
in front of everybody.

- But still, the wish.

How do we get him
to stop pretending?

- Maybe his daughter will know?

- This fountain sort of
says it all.

The underground streams
are back.

Emerald is back.

- O'Reilly!

Hey!

Who's this?
One of your city friends?

- Sort of. Paula Price,
this is Nathan Lutes.

- Nice to meet you.
- Hello.

- Nathan, will you excuse us
for just one second?

- Oh, yeah. Sure.

- So Nathan's company is looking
to expand and invest locally.

- Mm-hmm.
- He's from some kind of

natural resource company.
I think this could be

good for Emerald.
If you want to chime in?

- Are you kidding?
Way to go, Daniel.

Yeah, let's...

let's work this angle together.

Mr. Lutes!
- Hmm?

- I am Emerald-born-and-raised,
and I would love to tell you

about our wonderful town.

- Well, that's great
because I have some questions.

Dan here was saying
that you might be bringing back

the Apple Blossom Festival.

- He was, was he?

Oh, well, that's a...

that's a difficult
conversation to have.

- But I thought we--
- Without pie.

Come with me.

- Great.

Oh, hold on!

I just gotta make a wish.

- Hope the wish comes true.

- We didn't know
for a long time either.

Mom always covered for him.

She handled the bills and stuff
while Dad worked the field.

But it all started to add up.

- So, no one ever said anything?

- Mom said he'd be ashamed
if anyone found out.

So...

We wanted to help him.

But he was too proud.

So, us kids just went along.

That's why the Read-Along
is such a big deal.

He doesn't want
to let Leon down, too.

- Do you like reading, Leon?

- I just found out!
I have orthographic processing.

- Whoa! Big words!

- Come on.

: Do you wanna come see...

- Yeah. It's a form of dyslexia.

- A reading disability.

- Hereditary. We told my dad
he might have it, too.

Touched a nerve,
changed the subject right away.

- To corn.

- You're really getting
to know the man.

If only he understood
that we didn't care.

- Yeah.

- Leon! Let's round up
the chickens.

- Ah! Everywhere I turn,
there you kids are.

Didn't you get my message
about following me?

I hope you had fun, though.

- I-I'm really sorry about that.

We didn't mean to bother you.

But...

I have some great news!

- Okay. I'll take great news.

- So... you don't have
to pretend anymore.

- What do you...?

- Because your family knows.

- What do they know?

- That you can't, you know...

Uh, yeah, I was talking
to your daughter about

how it might be hereditary--
- You talked to my daughter

about this?
- Yeah. Uh...

She's okay with it, though.

Your whole family
is okay with it.

- My fa...?

Is that why you've been
following me?

To ruin me like this?
- No! I-I wanted to help.

You wanted to stop pretending
and now you can,

because you're the only one
who actually cares about this.

Uh, wait. No, no!

It's not that no one cares.

It's just that it doesn't
matter whether or not, uh...

What did I just do?

- I told you guys to stay
out of this.

And to stop bothering Pritch!
- I know!

Okay, we messed up.
I messed up.

- Are we talking jail time?
- Sam!

- Do you want to share
what you said to him?

What this big secret is?

- I...

I probably shouldn't.

- ...is the correct answer.

- 'Kay. We just want
to apologize,

make things better.

And...

you're his friend.

Maybe you could...?

- No promises, but...

I'll see what I can do.

Let's go pay him a visit.

- Okay.

So?

- He's pretty shook up.

- Is it okay if we stick around?

- You can try, but I really
have no idea

how you're gonna
get through to him.

Good luck!

- Mina, I don't know what to do.

- I do! Ruby, you got any paper?

: Come on,
Mr. P. We love you.

- Mr. Pritchard,
please don't be mad.

At them, anyway.
It was my fault.

And I'm so, so sorry.

I-I didn't mean to, but I...

I did. I hurt you.

I... I didn't tell anyone.
I promise!

So what if you can't read?

Doesn't make you any
less nice, fun or kind.

- You're sweet.

But you're wrong.

And I've been a fool.

I thought I was getting
away with it.

I was so clever.

So you know what
I'm going to get now, huh?

The thing I hate most: pity.

My whole life, I've worked
to be a good friend,

husband, dad.

But I stole that book.

Never done anything
like that in my life.

I just...

I just had to keep that secret!

I've wanted to change.

But I always thought,
"What if I couldn't?"

- So, you're afraid of failing.

I-I get it.

Sometimes it feels
like everybody else knows

exactly what to do
all the time.

Like everything else
just comes so easy to them.

But the thing is that's just
how it seems.

Everybody struggles.

Like me! Right now.

I wanted to do something good

so that you could finally
stop pretending

and get your wish!

But I am failing miserably,

so...

I could really use your help.

- My help?

- Yep.

And it's not just me.

There's someone in Emerald
who is in the exact same place

as you are.

And he really needs a hand.

Just...

someone to look up to,

to share his story with.

- Who?

- Leon.

- Oh.

The snow was...

: So, Mr. Pritchard
recited the book as planned.

Had to. You try saying "no"

to a room full
of five-year-olds.

- After breakfast...
- But he owned up, too.

- ...he called to his friend
from across the hall.

- It's hard to admit
you have struggles,

to face your fear of failure.
But he did it.

- The end!

- And so did I.
And you know what?

All the people who love us
still love us just as much.

- Ah! There we are.

Now why don't you teach me
something you learned?

- I learned this:
C-R makes "cruh".

And C-H makes "chuh".

Cr... un... chuh!

- Crunch? Very good.

Oh, it won't be long
before you and I

are reading up a storm!

S-T-O-R-M. Storm.

- Having fun, Leon?
- Yeah. Hi, Ruby.

- Hi.
- Oh!

Ruby has something in her ear!

Whoa! What do you think of that?

- Oh!

Wow!

- Thanks.

- "Emerald in the rough."

- Mmm.
- Mmm, 'kay.

Moving on. And... no!

"Emerald: it's a gem!"

'Kay! Moving on.

"How 'bout them apples?"

Ah! Come on! Help me!
I need help!

- Oh. Don't we all, sometimes?

- Ah...

: Like this wish.

I wasn't sure it would turn out.

So what's wrong with getting help sometimes?

Other than it's hard?

But now I know people
want to help.

Just like I do.

And while helping one person
may not change the world...

it will change the world
for one person.

Epically.

And that's one for the books.