[mysterious music]
I'VE LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE ON NORMAL STREET.
THERE'S A QUIET LAKE AT ONE END
AND A FOREST OF SHADY TREES AT THE OTHER.
AND SOMEWHERE IN-BETWEEN IS AN OLD LADY IN AN OLD HOUSE
SITTING ON TOP OF ULTIMATE DOOM.
THAT'S ME. GORTIMER GIBBON.
AND YES, I'M COVERED IN MUD.
IT'S EVERYWHERE, IN MY EARS, UNDER MY EYELIDS,
EVEN IN MY UNDERWEAR.
THAT'S MY BEST FRIEND RANGER.
RANGER AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR SO LONG
OUR MOTHERS USED TO PUT US IN THE BATH TOGETHER.
QUIT STALLING.
I CAN'T TAKE MY SHOES OFF.
THEY'RE ALREADY RUINED.
THAT'S MY OTHER BEST FRIEND MEL.
HER NAME'S REALLY MELODY, BUT NOBODY CALLS HER THAT.
LET'S JUST GET THIS OVER WITH.
IF YOU'RE WONDERING HOW COME I'M COVERED IN MUD,
WELL, IT ALL STARTED WITH A BROKEN WATERMELON
AND KIND OF SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL FROM THERE.
[exhales]
HIT IT.
[Beethoven's Ode to Joy]
IT WAS THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE YEAR
FOR THE THIRD DAY IN A ROW.
AND IT WAS ONLY 9:00 IN THE MORNING.
SHOULDN'T SUMMER BE OVER BY NOW?
THIS ISN'T FAIR.
IT WAS SO HOT, INSTEAD OF EATING HIS POPSICLE,
RANGER APPLIED IT DIRECTLY TO HIS BODY.
AHH.
HE WAS STARTING TO CRACK.
YOUR POPSICLE IS PUDDLING.
IT'S NOT NATURAL, THIS HEAT.
SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT.
MAYBE IT'S SOME KIND OF PUNISHMENT.
FOR WHAT?
CHOPPING DOWN THE RAINFORESTS.
ABUSING FOSSIL FUELS.
REALITY TV SHOWS. I DON'T KNOW.
REALITY TV SHOWS DON'T CORRELATE
WITH THE SEASONAL CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE.
PEAS AND CARROTS.
I'M SO HOT I THINK MY BRAINS ARE GONNA MELT OUT MY EARS.
WE WERE TRYING TO HELP RANGER SWEAR LESS
BY GETTING HIM TO SAY FOOD NAMES INSTEAD OF CURSE WORDS.
GARDNER, GET INSIDE.
MY LITTLE BROTHER WAS ALWAYS SNEAKING THINGS INTO MY POCKETS
WHEN I WASN'T LOOKING.
NO. STOP... I DON'T WANT...
MOM, GARDNER'S TRYING TO GIVE ME SOMETHING.
OH. [chuckles]
HONEY, IT'S JUST HIS WAY OF SAYING, "BE MY FRIEND."
I THINK IT'S HIS WAY OF SAYING,
"I WANT TO PUT DIRT IN YOUR POCKET."
[blows raspberry]
AND WHAT'S HE SAYING NOW? "I LOVE YOU?"
WELL, IT WOULDN'T HURT YOU TO SAY IT.
MOM.
GARDNER NEEDS MORE SWIM DIAPERS.
HOW FAST CAN YOU GET TO THE STORE?
IT'S TOO HOT TO WALK.
SON, YOU'LL BE FINE.
YOUR BROTHER NEEDS TO STAY COOL IN THE POOL TODAY.
YOU KNOW HOW OVERHEATED HE GETS.
YOU CAN GET YOURSELF AN ARCTIC SLUDGY.
COME ON.
YOU GUYS COMING?
FINE. IF I DON'T MAKE IT BACK,
YOU GUYS CAN SPLIT UP MY STUFF.
[sighs]
MY BROTHER GETS NOTHING.
[shoes squeaking]
MY SHOES HAD COLLECTED FIVE BLOCKS WORTH OF LEG SWEAT.
IT'S SAID THAT THE PECULIAR SOUNDS THAT THE MACHINE MAKES
WHEN BIRTHING AN ARCTIC SLUDGY
ARE THE LAWS OF PHYSICS SCREAMING IN PROTEST.
HAVE YOU GOT IT ALL?
EVERYTHING I ASKED FOR?
IT WAS A RARE THING TO SEE
MS. HUDSPITH OUTSIDE OF HER HOUSE.
SHE WAS FAMOUS ONCE, FOR SOME REASON,
UNTIL SHE WENT BLIND.
THE WATERMELON, THE DUCT TAPE...
ONE GENUINE SILVER FORK, ON SPECIAL ORDER.
AH, STERLING SILVER.
YES, I BELIEVE SO.
WELL, IS IT OR ISN'T IT, EGG? BE CERTAIN.
RANGER HAD ACTUALLY TRIED TO REACH OUT TO MS. HUDSPITH ONCE
ON DO A GOOD DEED DAY.
HE OFFERED UP ONE OF HIS MOM'S SIGNATURE BROWNIES,
WHICH NO HUMAN BEING BORN ON THIS EARTH
IS PHYSICALLY ABLE TO RESIST.
[sniffs] OH...
STERLING. I'M CERTAIN.
I ALSO ORDERED A BROOM HANDLE.RIGHT HERE.
MUST HAVE THE PROPER HEFT AND BALANCE.
WHAT'S THIS?
IT'S YOUR BROOM.I WANTED A BROOM HANDLE.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THIS STRAW STUCK ON ONE END?
WELL, MS. HUDSPITH, MOST PEOPLE SWEEP WITH IT.
DON'T GET SMART, EGG.
THIS IS MY LIFE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
MY LIFE.
both: OH!
WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
I'M SORRY, MS. HUDSPITH.
WHO'S THERE?
IS THAT THE GIBBON BOY? GORTIMER?
YES, MA'AM.
MY WATERMELON, IS IT RUINED?
TELL THE TRUTH, NOW.
IT STILL LOOKS GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT?
OKAY, BYE.
HEY, BUD.
MS. HUDSPITH JUST CALLED.
SHE WANTS YOU TO COME OVER RIGHT AWAY.
NOW?
YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU AND YOUR BROTHER CAME ALONG,
I USED TO STOP BY ALL THE TIME AND CHECK ON HER.
THINK OF HER AS FAMILY.
SHE'S REACHING OUT, GORTIMER.
DID SHE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT A WATERMELON?
[laughs] COME HERE, BUDDY.
HEY, I KNOW THIS HOUSE.
IT'S THE LADY THAT TRASHED MY BROWNIE.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
YOU JUST DON'T THROW AWAY BAKED GOODS LIKE THAT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE WANTS?
I WANT YOU TO GET RID OF THAT FROG.
I BROUGHT YOU AN APOLOGY MELON.
SHOULD YOU BE USING CARPENTRY TOOLS LIKE THAT, MS. HUDSPITH?
OH, I'M CAPABLE OF A LOT MORE THAN A BOY LIKE YOU KNOWS.
DID I EVER TELL YOU HOW I LOST MY SIGHT?
WE NEVER ACTUALLY TALKED BEFORE TODAY.
[mouths silently] GET OUT!
LISTEN, HOW 'BOUT I LEAVE THIS HERE AND GO?
I DON'T WANT TO BOTHER YOU.
[metal scraping]
I GAVE UP A LOT TO BE A FASHION MODEL.
FAMILY, FRIENDS, EVEN MY SELF RESPECT.
THEY SAY BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...
BECAUSE YOU MIGHT GET IT.
WHAT THEY MEAN IS THERE'S A HIDDEN PRICE
THEY DON'T TELL YOU ABOUT.
WISHES ARE NEVER FREE.
YOU GAVE YOUR SIGHT FOR A WISH?
I GAVE NOTHING.
MY SIGHT WAS TAKEN FROM ME.
ME, A RADIANT BEAUTY, GRACING BILLBOARDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
SEEN AND ADORED BY MILLIONS.
ME, WHO COULD NO LONGER SEE ANYTHING.
WAS IT AN ACCIDENT?
IT WAS A FROG.
THE FROG.
AND NOW HE'S COME BACK FOR MORE.
WHAT MORE DO I HAVE TO GIVE?
NOT SO FAST.
OH, MY GRAVY.
SHE'S SPEAR FISHING FOR WATERMELON.
GORTIMER, GET OUTTA THERE!
SHE HAS REALLY GOOD AIM FOR A BLIND...
HE TAUNTS ME.
DON'T YOU HEAR IT?
DAY AND NIGHT, CALLING.
LISTEN.
WHAT WAS THAT?
I HEAR IT EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY HOUR OF EVERY DAY.
HE'S COME BACK.
AND HE'S BROUGHT THE HEAT WITH HIM.
HE MEANS TO ROAST US ALL UNTIL HE GETS WHAT HE WANTS.
TAKE IT.
IF YOU EVER WANT TO FEEL A COOL BREEZE
FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, TAKE IT.
IT'S IN THE CRAWLSPACE BENEATH.
WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THIS, EXACTLY?
OH, SAVE ME, GORTIMER.
SAVE US ALL.
ARE YOU REALLY GONNA KILL A FROG WITH A FORK?
THOUGHT IF I JUST POKED IT A LITTLE IT MIGHT JUST HOP AWAY.
ARE YOU SURE IT IS A FROG?
- WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE? - COULD BE A TOAD.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE?
TAXONOMICALLY SPEAKING THERE'S NO REAL DISTINCTION.
PORK AND BEANS! OF COURSE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.
TOADS HAVE POISON GLANDS BEHIND THEIR EYES.
THEY CAN SQUIRT POISON AT YOU WITH THEIR EYES.
[sighs] THAT'S A RARE ADAPTATION.
AND ANYWAY, IT'S NOT THE EYES.
THERE'S A SPECIALIZED GLAND BEHIND THE EYES
THAT SPRAYS THE POISON.
HMM.
YOU SHOULD HAVE HEARD THE TALE MS. HUDSPITH SPUN.
SOMETHING ABOUT A WISH AND THE FROG AND THE HEAT.
THE FROG OF ULTIMATE DOOM?
MY GRANDPA TOLD ME THAT ONCE. DIDN'T I EVER TELL YOU GUYS?
OKAY, SO ONCE, THERE WAS THIS KID
AND HE WANTED TO MAKE A WISH.
SO HE RUNS TO THE TOP OF WISHING HILL
AT THE END OF NORMAL STREET.
HE WISHES FOR WINTER TO END
SO HIS FAMILY WOULDN'T LOSE ALL THEIR CROPS.
HE WAITS TO HEAR THE COIN HIT THE WATER,
BUT IT NEVER MAKES A SOUND.
HE LOWERS THE BUCKET,
BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE A SPLASH.
AND THEN... AND THEN... UH, WAIT.
I CAN'T REMEMBER. HOW DOES THIS PART GO?
OH, YEAH, SO THEN THIS KID CATCHES SOMETHING HEAVY
AND HAULS IT UP.
AND THERE IN THE BUCKET IS THE FROG OF ULTIMATE DOOM.
THE FROG SAID HE'D GRANT THE BOY'S WISH.
BUT IT DEMANDED MORE THAN A COIN.
"HOLD OUT YOUR HAND," THE FROG SAYS.
CHOMP! BITES A FINGER RIGHT OFF.
AND THAT WAS THE COST OF THE WISH.
SOME WISHES COST MORE THAN OTHERS, APPARENTLY.
BUT THE BOY GOT HIS WISH, RIGHT?
WELL, SUMMER CAME THAT DAY AND THE CROPS WERE SAVED.
UNTIL A FEW MONTHS LATER WHEN SUMMER DIDN'T END.
THE CROPS WITHERED AND THE SUN KEPT BURNING.
BUT THE HEAT ENDED AT SOME POINT.
SOMEONE HAD TO BEAT THE FROG OF DOOM.
HUH? OH... YEAH.
THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT, LIKE, A FORK OF DESTINY OR SOMETHING.
OR MAYBE THAT WAS ANOTHER STORY. I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER.
BUT THE FINGER CHOMPING? THAT IS HARD TO FORGET.
WAIT A MINUTE. FORK OF DESTINY?
LEAVE IT TO RANGER TO SKATE
RIGHT OVER THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY.
WHATEVER WAITED FOR ME UNDER THAT HOUSE,
I WANTED TO BE PREPARED.
YOU'LL NEED PROTECTION FOR THE EYES, SOMETHING FOR THE FINGERS.
[upbeat music]
HERE WE GO.
THE FORK OF DESTINY.
DON'T DROP IT.
- LET'S KICK SOME FROG BUTT? - [sighs]
THE MIND IS THE ULTIMATE BATTLEGROUND.
DON'T LET HIM GET IN YOUR HEAD.
AND KEEP YOUR FINGERS OUT OF CHOMPING RANGE AT ALL TIMES.
WHAT'S THAT FOR?
SO WE CAN RETRIEVE YOUR CORPSE.
EMERGENCY ESCAPE SYSTEM.
TUG THREE TIMES AND WE'LL PULL YOU OUT.
OR WHATEVER'S LEFT OF YOU.
GIVE ME A SOUND CHECK.
I CAN'T BREATHE. I'M GONNA BE SICK.
KEEP TALKING SO WE KNOW YOU'RE ALIVE.
MAKING PROGRESS.
JUST GET IN THERE, POKE THAT FROG, AND GET OUT, GORTIMER.
HEAT UP THE FRYING PAN, MEL.
WE'RE HAVING FROG LEGS FOR DINNER.
[all scream]
SPIDERS.
WHY'D IT HAVE TO BE SPIDERS?
KEEP MOVING, GORTIMER.
UGH. I'M ALLERGIC TO MOLD.
WHAT'S THAT? YOU'RE BREAKING UP.
[static over earpiece]
IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, MEL, I'M PRESSING ON.
[frog croaking]
THE FROG OF ULTIMATE DOOM.
I'M SORRY, BUT SUMMER HAS TO END.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THERE? THE RADIO WENT DEAD.
DID YOU GET HIM?
MS. HUDSPITH! MS. HUDSPITH!
GORTIMER, IS IT...
IS IT OVER?
I WAS JUST A KID MYSELF WHEN THIS STORY BEGAN.
OH, I WAS YOUNG ONCE.
AND MISERABLE.
I HAD SUCH BIG DREAMS.
BUT I LIVED IN A SMALL TOWN.
WHOA. SHE'S BEAUTIFUL.
YOU MADE THESE DESIGNS, MS. HUDSPITH?
OH, FOR A LONG TIME THAT WAS AS CLOSE
AS I DARE COME TO MY DREAM.
THEN ONE DAY...
THE HOTTEST DAY IN MEMORY, AS IT HAPPENED,
EVERYTHING CAME TO A BOIL.
I RAN TO THE WISHING WELL.
I HAD NO COIN TO OFFER.
- THE ONLY THING OF VALUE... - THE RING.
I DROPPED IT INTO THE WELL.
AND I WISHED. I WISHED SO HARD.
THEN HE APPEARED.
I HAD NEVER SEEN A BOY SO BEAUTIFUL.
HE LOOKED AT ME WITH THOSE STRANGE, SAD EYES.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT THEN, I DIDN'T SEE IT,
BUT WHAT WAS IN THOSE EYES WAS LOVE.
I HELD OUT MY HAND.
HE SMILED THAT BEAUTIFUL SMILE
AND SLIPPED THE RING ON MY FINGER.
EVERYTHING CHANGED.
I WAS EVERYWHERE. I WAS IN DEMAND.
I HAD BECOME EVERYTHING I WANTED TO BE AND MORE.
I WAS LIVING MY DREAM.
BUT LIKE ALL DREAMS, THIS ONE CAME TO AN ABRUPT END.
THE BOY REAPPEARED ONE NIGHT.
I HADN'T NOTICED UNTIL THAT MOMENT
THAT I WAS STILL WEARING THE RING ALL THOSE YEARS.
HE THOUGHT I HAD PROMISED MYSELF TO HIM.
BUT ALL I DID WAS MAKE A WISH.
A PROMISE TO MYSELF TO KEEP WORKING FOR MY DREAM.
I DID THE WORK, I PUT IN THE HOURS,
I SURVIVED, IT WAS MY TRIUMPH.
I OWED NOTHING TO ANYONE.
SO I THREW THE RING BACK IN HIS FACE AND I RAN.
THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM.
THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW ANYTHING.
THEN WHAT HAPPENED?
HE HAS CURSED MY LIFE WITH MISFORTUNE EVER SINCE.
MAN... YOU HAVE ALL THE LUCK.
[frog croaks]
[shudders]
ARE YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT A HELMET
OR SHOULDER PADS OR SOMETHING?
NO. I JUST WANT TO TALK TO HIM.
WHAT ABOUT THE FORK OF DESTINY?
I DROPPED THE FORK WHEN I WAS IN THERE THE FIRST TIME.
SON OF A BLUEBERRY, GORTIMER.
YOU DON'T DROP ANYTHING WITH "DESTINY" IN THE NAME.
THAT IS WHY IT SAYS "DESTINY."
SO THERE WILL BE NO DROPPAGE.
I'M GOING IN.
- GOT IT? - I'M GOOD.
HELLO?
WE NEED TO TALK.
I'M NOT LEAVING... WHOA!
[grunts]
UM, I CAN STILL GET OUT OF HERE, RIGHT?
OKAY, LOOK...
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THIS, BUT I TALKED TO HER
AND SHE'S JUST NOT INTERESTED.
SHE JUST KIND OF MOVED ON.
I'M SORRY IF THIS ISN'T WHAT YOU WANTED TO HEAR.
WHATEVER SHE PROMISED YOU SHE'S NEVER GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU
NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU WAIT.
OKAY, LOOK, WE CAN'T BE STUCK IN SUMMER FOREVER.
YOU HAVE TO END THIS. YOU HAVE TO LET HER GO AND MOVE ON.
SHE'S ALREADY GIVEN UP HER SIGHT.
WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?
POISON EYES.
OH...
[coughing]
WAIT, IT'S...
STOP CRYING.
IT'S NOT A BAD THING TO BE FR... FR...
HEATSTROKE. HE PASSED OUT.
OH, TURNIPS. OH, RADISHES. OH...
- CARROTS! - RANGER, FOCUS.
WE HAVE TO COOL HIM DOWN QUICKLY.
OH, I'M ON IT.
HEY, THAT'S MY GRANDMA'S PITCHER!
RANGER!
I WILL BRING IT BACK!
[gasping]
WHAT THE BEAN DIP?
- YOU FAINTED. - I SAID A SWEAR.
- OH. I WON'T TELL. - OKAY.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THERE?
I FAILED.
THE ARCTIC SLUDGY WAS COURTESY OF MEL.
SHE WALKED ALL THE WAY TO THE CONVENIENCE STORE AND BACK
IN THE RAGING HEAT JUST TO GET IT FOR ME.
I FELL ASLEEP BEFORE I COULD FINISH IT.
BUT I WOKE TO A SOUND I HADN'T HEARD IN A LONG, LONG TIME.
[rain pouring]
AND JUST LIKE THAT, THE SUMMER THAT WOULDN'T END WAS OVER.
[phone rings]
HELLO?
GORTIMER, COME QUICKLY. THE CRAWLSPACE IS FLOODING.
IS HE IN THERE?
HE'LL DROWN DOWN THERE. GORTIMER, HELP HIM, PLEASE.
HELLO?
HEY, KID... FROG.
FROG KID!
ARE YOU IN HERE?
YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME.
RANGER WILL BE SO PLEASED.
[screams]
GORTIMER? GORTIMER!
WHAT HAPPENED?
I'M HERE, MS. HUDSPITH.
GORTIMER?
HE'S GONE, MS. HUDSPITH.
OH...
NOW THAT THE HEAT HAD FINALLY LEFT NORMAL STREET,
WE COULD ALL GET BACK TO...
WELL, NORMAL.
OOH!
[chuckles]
[upbeat music]
[ring clinks]
[footsteps approaching]
ARE YOU THERE?
IT'S GORTIMER, MS. HUDSPITH.
- AND MEL. - AND ME. RANGER, I MEAN.
WE THOUGHT WE MIGHT FIND YOU HERE.
MY MOM MADE SOME BROWNIES.
WE BROUGHT ONE FOR YOU,
IF YOU PROMISE NOT TO THROW IT AWAY.
I...
I WAS JUST WAITING FOR AN OLD FRIEND.
YOU GOT THREE.
MS. HUDSPITH?
CAN WE HELP YOU HOME?
YOU KNOW...
I HAVE SOME WHIPPED CREAM IN THE FRIDGE.
SHOULD GO GREAT WITH THAT BROWNIE.
THOUGH SHE WISHED IT, THE GOLDEN-EYED BOY DID NOT RETURN.
THEIR STORY HAD ENDED.
IT WAS TIME FOR A NEW STORY.
A NEW BEGINNING.
HOLD ON TOO TIGHT AND LOVE CAN BURN.
CLOSE YOUR EYES TO IT AND YOU'RE LEFT ALONE IN THE DARK.
IN A WAY, MS. HUDSPITH WAS SEEING US FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND WE WERE SEEING HER.
THEY SAY LOVE IS BLIND.
BUT THE REAL DANGER IS BEING BLIND TO LOVE.
HEY, GARDNER.
LOVE YA.
[blows raspberry]
[upbeat music] y]