Larry-Boy and the Rumor Weed! v2.

1
©1998 Big Idea Productions, Inc.

Written by Phil Vischer

Story by Doug Peterson & Phil Vischer

FADE IN:

EXT. - BUMBLYBURG COMMERCIAL STREET - NIGHT

WS overhead 1950's style suburban commercial strip. It is early evening and the Pea
kids are, once again, returning home from a movie.

LI'L PEA
That was a lousy movie!

PERCY PEA
You're tellin' me! That monster looked like a chicken in a
wig!

They walk on a few steps, thinking.

PERCY PEA (cont'd)

Hey... do you remember what we saw the last time we were
here?

Brothers look up at the sky slowly, dramatically.

LI'L PEA

(quietly)
Yeah ....

CUT TO:

KID'S POV. Looking at sky, then Milk Money Bandit sticks his head into frame.

BANDIT
(very animated - Joe Pesci-like)
Hey, kids ... couldya spare a nickel?
 PERCY PEA
(nervously)
W-w-we're not s'posed to talk to strangers ... and no, I don't
have any extra money.

BANDIT
Oh, really? Well, how about ...
(leans in dramatically)
... a dollar and 28 cents?!?

PERCY PEA

(shocked)
Wha...? How did you know I had that ...?

BANDIT
I been watchin' ya, kid! Every Monday morning yer Mom
gives ya a dollar and 28 cents!
(pause)
And I want it!

PERCY PEA
(horrified)
But ... but that's my ...
(push in tight)
... milk money!!

CUT TO:

ROOFTOP VIEW ACROSS CITYSCAPE. SFX -Dogs bark in the distance. We hear the
Bandit laughing diabolically and then see him hop onto the roof from fire escape ladder.
He turns and yells back down to the pea kids.

BANDIT
See ya later, boys! I hope ya like water with your lunches!!

Bandit laughs hysterically again and turns to hop across roof. Something catches his eye,
however, and he freezes in his tracks.
 BANDIT
Huh?

CUT TO:

Silhouette of someone standing in front of a huge, brightly lit billboard. (It is LARRY-
BOY, standing sideways to the camera.) As the music crescendos, LB turns to face the
Bandit. His mighty plungers loom into view!

CUT TO:

The Bandit's eyes go wide. He takes a step back.

CUT TO:

LB steps into a pool of light, revealing himself. He hops toward the Bandit sternly.

LARRY-BOY
I believe you have something that belongs to those boys!

CUT TO:

The Bandit scrambles backwards, hopping up onto the ledge at the edge of the roof. He
and LB are now at eye level.

BANDIT
(stammering nervously)
Wha ...? I-uh ... uh ...

CUT TO:

Side view CU of Bandit and LB. LB leans in so that their noses are almost touching.
After a pregnant pause, the Bandit speaks.
 BANDIT
(scared spitless)
Who are you?

LARRY-BOY
(low, very dramatically)
I'm Larry-Boy!

LB suddenly pulls back out of the frame.

CUT TO:

Bandit's POV. LB stares at him for a beat, then turns aggressively until his right plunger
is aimed directly at the Bandit.

CUT TO:

Bandit. He reacts, twisting around to avoid plunger.

CUT TO:

Side view medium shot. LB lunges, nabbing the Bandit on his left side. When LB
straightens up, the Bandit is stuck firmly to his ear. LB hops up on the ledge, dangling
the bandit over the street.

CUT TO:

CU - BANDIT (FRAMED 3/4 FROM OVER STREET SO LB IS ALSO VISIBLE)

BANDIT
(glancing nervously down, then at LB)
What are you gonna do?
 LB
(sternly)
It's not nice to take people's milk money!

Larry-Boy kind of 'snaps' his neck forward, and the plunger holding the bandit rotates -
turning him upside down. (SFX - 'ratchet' sound.)

CUT TO:

PEA KID'S POV. We watch the second half of the rotation from the Pea kid's perspective
at street level. The bandit ends up upside down, hanging precariously over the street.

CUT TO:

PEA KIDS GLANCE AT EACH OTHER - AMAZED.

CUT TO:

CU bandit's backside. As he pleads his case, we dolly down plunger to LB, who is taking
a dramatically deep breath and tilting the bandit higher.

BANDIT
Hey, take it easy, fella! Don't get crazy ...

LB pauses - a look of great concentration on his face, then begins shaking bandit
violently, paint mixer-style.

BANDIT (cont'd)
Whoaaa!!, heeeeyyyy!! ...
(bandit babbles ad lib)

CUT TO:

Pea kids, craning their necks.

CUT TO:

Pea kids' POV as several coins slip out of bandit and fall past the camera, clinking onto
the sidewalk.
 CUT TO:

CU of coins, then tilt up to pea kids, who look at each other and smile.

CUT TO:

Med shot LB and Bandit.

BANDIT
(woozy)
I ain't feelin' so good.

LB ignores bandit. He turns swiftly away from the camera and begins running across the
rooftops, bandit in tow.

BANDIT
(complaining wildly)
Hey, hey ... HEY!! Where we goin?!? You can't do this ...
I got rights!!

CUT TO:

Medium shot of SCOOTER as policeman, leaning up against his POLICE CRUISER.

He is nonchalantly looking around on a slow, dull summer evening. Without warning,
the bandit drops from the sky, crashing through the roof of his car and landing in the back
seat.

CUT TO:

Reverse angle MS of SCOOTER whirling into shot. His eyes are wide.

SCOOTER
Aaah! It's another space alien!!

CUT TO:
Bandit stares back at Scooter. He smiles awkwardly.

SCOOTER (OS)
(regains composure)
Oh, it's the Milk Money Bandit! We've been lookin' for
you for months!

CUT TO:

High-angle medium shot of Scooter, who looks up toward the camera, scanning the
rooflines.

SCOOTER
Thanks, Larry-Boy!!

CUT TO:

WS FROM BEHIND LARRY-BOY,WHO IS PEERING OVER EDGE OF ROOF.

We hear ALFRED'S voice on communicator.

ALFRED (OS)
Well done, master Larry! Splendid job!

LARRY-BOY
Why thank you, Alfred! It was pretty good, wasn't it?

ALFRED (OS)
Bumblyburg should be proud!

CUT TO:

WS ALFRED IN LARRY-CAVE AT COMPUTER.

ALFRED (cont'd)
Next time, though, try to remember: to release the criminal
from your super-suction ear, turn your head left and snap
your neck down.

CUT TO:

LARRY-BOY on roof.

LARRY-BOY
Ah. Yes. That's why I couldn't get rid of him.
 (excited again)
But besides that, I was super!

LARRY-BOY jumps dramatically up on rooftop ledge, spinning to face back away from
street, puffing chest proudly. One of the building's tenants has placed a row of very small
POTTED PLANTS on the ledge. LARRY-BOY bumps the plant on the end, knocking it
off the ledge toward the street.

LARRY-BOY (cont'd)
(noticing, turns to watch it fall)
Oops!

ALFRED (OS)
What? What happened?

LARRY-BOY
Uh, nothing.

CUT TO:

MS APARTMENT WINDOW, halfway down building. A WOMAN is talking on the

phone, mostly obscured beyond the window or by drapes. Beneath the window ledge, the
PHONE LINES for the building attach, and lead away from the building through the air
to the nearest telephone pole.

WOMAN #1
(with a gossipy tone)
... that's exactly what Harold told me!
(pause)
Yes! But guess what I heard about Ethel!
(continue... ad lib)

CUT TO low-angle from phone lines' POV as potted plant falls right at us. WOMAN is
still talking, barely audible in background.

CUT TO CU corner of window and phone lines. Plant hits line, pot on one side of line
and most of plant on other side, so pot breaks free from plant and continues falling. Plant
and root mass get caught between two phone lines and get electrified. Several charges
knock the plant around, until finally it falls between the lines.

WOMAN #1 (cont'd)
(after a pause)
Did you hear something?
(pause)
Well, I don't know... but anyway, did I tell you about
Rhonda's cousin Jennifer?

WOMAN continues to ad lib.

CUT TO CU SEWER GRATE on street below. Pot lies broken next to grate. After a
pause, the plant falls onto grate, still sparking intermittantly. It slips through the grate
and into the sewer. Final spark lights up sewer eerily. We hear LARRY-BOY speak.

LARRY-BOY (OS)
Hey, whadya say we go get some pizza! You know, to
celebrate!

CUT TO LARRY-BOY on rooftop.

ALFRED (OS)

Oh, I'd love to, Master Larry, but it's getting

late and I'm volunteering at the Veggie
Valley Grade School tomorrow morning.

LARRY-BOY
Oh, alright. Goodnight, Alfred.

ALFRED (OS)
Goodnight, Master Larry!

The communicator clicks off. LB pauses, then looks up at the stars.

LARRY-BOY
(confidently)
If any more space aliens wanna fall into Bumblyburg— I'm
ready for you, too!

CAMERA tilts up to the stars, then cranes rapidly down side of building. It slows as it
reaches the sewer grate, but continues underground, finally focusing on the dark, musty,
chamber where the plant has come to rest. Lit by moonlight, the plant stands. We see
that it has grown a very odd "bud," which turns to us and cracks a big, toothy grin.

SUPER title graphic behind and around weed- "LARRY-BOY! AND THE RUMOR
WEED!"

FADE TO BLACK.

INT - DAY. VEGGIE VALLEY GRADE SCHOOL KINDERGARTEN CLASS

Screen remains black. We hear ALFRED addressing CLASS.

ALFRED (VO)
 ... so I repaired the chafing dish, then sent the chef out to
get another jar of pickled herring- and the dinner party was
saved!

CUT TO:

WS kindergarten class from Alfred's POV. It is a small classroom, with about 10 children
in tiny desks, lined up in neat little rows. The children look dazed, unable to relate in any
way to the story Alfred has just told.

CUT TO:

MS - ALFRED.

Alfred smiles, basking in his storytelling prowess. Finally the schoolteacher, DAD
ASPARAGUS, steps in.

DAD ASPARAGUS
(awkwardly)
Well... thank you, Mr. Alfred! Wasn't that a great story,
kids?

Children stare, still dazed.

DAD ASPARAGUS (cont'd)

Well!
(pause)
We've still got more to do today...
(gets idea)
Mr. Alfred, would you like to stay and watch?

ALFRED
(still beaming)
Oh, that sounds like fun! But I'm a bit winded from my
storytelling, so I think I'd better go home and 'recharge my
batteries!'

CUT TO:

MEDIUM SHOT - JUNIOR ASPARAGUS and LAURA THE CARROT, sitting in the
front row. They look at each other oddly, confused by Alfred's 'figure of speech.'

DAD ASPARAGUS (OS)

Well, okay. Let's all thank Mr. Alfred for coming today!

CUT TO:
MS - Alfred and Dad.

CLASS (OS)
(except for Jr & Laura)
Thank you Mr. Alfred!

CUT TO:

MCU - Junior & Laura. Still confused, pondering Alfred's statement. They don't hear
Dad say-

DAD ASPARAGUS (OS)

Remember, tomorrow we're going to learn about "Rumors:
Little stories that can hurt!"

CUT TO:

EXT. - BUMBLYBURG COMMERCIAL STREET - DAY.

Laura and Junior are walking down the sidewalk together, coming home from school.
They are walking slowly, pensively. Other kids may be passing them.

JUNIOR
Did you hear what Mr. Alfred said?

LAURA
Yeah. He said he had to go home and recharge his
batteries.
(pause)
Why would he say that?

JUNIOR
I dunno.
(thinks)
I've got a toy that has rechargeable batteries.
(pause)
It's my robot.

Both kids' eyes widen a bit. They look up at each other, mouths slightly open.

LAURA
Do you think Mr. Alfred is a...

JUNIOR
 I dunno...

LAURA
He talks kinda funny...

JUNIOR
And he's kinda 'stiff.' Kinda like my...
(kids look up at each other, wide-eyed)
... robot!
They quickly look down, not knowing what to do next.
They think for a moment.

LAURA
Should we tell anybody?

JUNIOR
No... we better keep it to ourselves.

WEED (OS)
Keep what to yourselves?

LAURA
Who said that?

Kids look around, spot small weed growing between sidewalk and building.

WEED
Over here. The weed! Keep what to yourselves?

LAURA
(amazed)
You're a talking weed!

WEED
I'm a talking weed, you're a talking carrot. Your point
was...?

Laura smiles and shrugs sheepishly.

WEED
So come on! Tell me what it is you're keepin' to
yourselves.

JUNIOR
It's about Mr. Alfred. But we can't tell you any more.

WEED
Listen. Sprout. Did your parents ever teach you to share?
 JUNIOR
(confused)
Well, yes, but...

WEED
Then share with me. I'm a good friend of Albert's.

LAURA
Alfred.

WEED
Alfred.
(dramatic)
I ask... because I care.

Laura and Junior look at each other nervously, then turn back to Weed.

LAURA
(very serious)
We learned something about Mr. Alfred today.

WEED
(leans in)
Yeah? What is it?

JUNIOR
Well, we think Mr. Alfred...

WEED
(leans further)
Yeah?

JUNIOR
... is a robot.

Weed startles.

WEED
No!

Kids nod, solemnly.

WEED (cont'd)

He looks so natural!
(aside)
He's a good robot!
 LAURA
You won't tell anybody, will you?

WEED
Hey, I'm not like you guys. I got roots! I'm not goin'
anywhere. Your secret stays right here!

Laura and Junior look at each other nervously.

CUT TO:

EXT. - BUMBLYBURG SUBURBAN STREET - DAY

CUT TO:

Small, square backyard of the PEA FAMILY HOME. PERCY is bouncing a SOCCER
BALL on his head. There is a rustling in the bushes.

WEED (OS)
Psst! Did you hear about Mr. Alfred?

Distracted, Percy turns to bushes.

PERCY PEA
What?

Soccer ball bounces off his head.

CUT TO:

The weed, peering out of bushes.

WEED
(almost whispering)
Mr. Alfred. The guy who came to your class today.

PERCY PEA
Yeah?

The weed looks around, then leans in.

WEED
He's a robot!

PERCY PEA
(gasps)
Aren't robots dangerous?
 WEED
I don't know. Did you hear that?

PERCY PEA
Yes... I think I did!

WEED
(intrigued)
So then, Alfred is a dangerous robot!

PERCY PEA
(gasps again, shocked even more)
Oh, my!

WEED
Whoa! Thanks for the tip!

Percy glances around, wide-eyed, deeply flustered.

CUT TO:

MR. NEZZERS HOUSE - BACKYARD.

Mr. Nezzer is grilling with Dad Carrot. Weed sprouts behind them.

WEED
Psst. Did you here about Alfred?

Mr. Nezzer turns, startled.

NEZZER
Wha-? A weed! In my yard!

WEED
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But did you hear about Alfred?

NEZZER
What about Alfred?

WEED
It turns out, he's really a dangerous robot!

NEZZER
(incredulous)
Alfred?

WEED
 Uh-huh. Everybody's talking about it!

NEZZER
Ya don't say?

DAD CARROT
(has a thought)
Hey, I just read a book where dangerous robots take over
the world!

NEZZER
(gasps)
Do you think- Alfred...?

DAD CARROT
(thinking)
He is on the library board....

WEED
Today the library, tomorrow...

Push in tight on Nezzer's widening eyes.

NEZZER
...the world!

CUT TO CU Dad Carrot reaction.

CUT TO CU Weed smiles slyly.

WIPE TO:

EXT. - LARRY-BOY MANOR FLOWER GARDEN - DAY

Extreme low angle MS of Larry (out of costume) and Alfred looking down into camera,
smiling. Nothing but blue sky behind.

ALFRED
(after a pause)
Nothing lifts the spirit more than an afternoon dabbling in
the horticultural arts!

LARRY-BOY
I couldn't agree more, Alfred.

CUT TO:

Small, single, freshly planted PETUNIA.

 ALFRED (OS)
Oh, sweet, sweet petunia, may your bloom be a beacon of
hope for all who tread these grassy hills!

CUT TO:

Extreme low angle again. Alfred and Larry pause for a moment, then SFX PHONE
RINGS from house.

ALFRED (cont'd)
I'll get it.

Alfred turns and exits. Larry looks half-way after him, then SFX rustle pulls his attention
back to the garden. Larry spots big, weird weed, which has sprouted out of nowhere.

LARRY-BOY
Hey! You're a weed!

WEED
That's right! But did you hear about Alfred?

LARRY-BOY
(not really paying attention)
Oh, Alfred's gonna be mad! He hates weeds in his flower
bed!

WEED
(getting flustered)
Ya-but... did you hear about Alfred?

LARRY-BOY
You'd better get out of here... before Alfred comes back!

WEED
(frustrated)
You're not listening to me. Did you hear-

Weed is interrupted by Alfred, hollering from house.

ALFRED
Master Larry! It's the mayor! She says it's urgent!

LARRY-BOY
I'll be right there!!
(to weed)
I gotta go. Hold that thought.

Larry heads to house. Weed looks after him, perplexed.

 CUT TO:

INT - LARRY-BOY MANOR. DAY.

Larry enters room talking.

LARRY-BOY
Alfred! There's a huge weed in your flower bed! I told it
to leave.

ALFRED
Oh, dear! Well, wait till you hear what the mayor has to
say!

Larry picks up the phone.

LARRY-BOY
Hello, mayor. This is Larry.

SPLIT-SCREEN WIPE to reveal MADAME BLUEBERRY as mayor, talking on phone

at impressive "mayor-ly" desk.

MAYOR
Yes. Hello, Larry. Listen- I need you to get Larry-Boy!

LARRY-BOY
Uh, well, sure... but tell me, why didn't you call him with
the Larry-signal?

MAYOR
Because it's daytime. You can't see it in the daytime.

LARRY-BOY
Good point.
(to Alfred)
Alfred, make a note of that.

Show Alfred, now wearing AT&T operator-style headset. He nods, and looks down as if
taking notes.

MAYOR
Tell him we need his help! There are weeds, terrible weeds
popping up all over Bumblyburg! The are saying very
strange things about your friend Alfred... I don't believe
them, but some of our citizens are getting worried. What's
worse though, they are ruining the lawns and gardens of
our fair city.
(Larry's eyes widen.)
 Larry, if Larry-Boy cannot stop them, our property values
will plummet! Our homes will be worth nothing!
(dramatic pause)
Can you find him?

WIPE mayor offscreen. Push in tighter on Larry. He looks unsure, then glances at
Alfred. Alfred nods confidently.

LARRY-BOY
(assured)
Don't worry about a thing, mayor! Help is on the way!

Larry hangs up the phone confidently, then looks to Alfred.

LARRY-BOY (cont'd)
Alfred! We've got some gardening to do!

Alfred grins excitedly. He loves gardening!

CUT TO:

EXT. - LARRY-CAVE - DAY

MUSIC starts. LARRY-MOBILE exits Larry-cave, headed into Bumblyburg.

CUT TO:

EXT. - SUBURBAN BACKYARD. DAY.

Could be anyone's backyard, as they all look the same. Backyards are cut into neat little
boxes by privacy fences. Weed, about 3 feet tall, sings to Mr. Nezzer across the fence.
As she sings, two other men pop their heads over fence. (Dad Carrot and Dad Pea?) As
the song builds, the men come through gate into yard with weed, dancing around her.

WEED (IN TEMPO)

Have you heard the one about Alfred?
A dangerous robot, I'm told!
He's got lazers for eyes and a microchip brain!
His skin is terribly cold!

NEZZER
We've heard the one about Alfred.
It's strange-

DAD PEA
 Amazing!

DAD CARROT
But true!

NEZZER
But now that we've heard about Alfred,
We'd like to hear more about you!

Music pauses, as Weed considers request.

WEED
Moi?

Men nod.

WEED
I'm a rumor weed!
I'm a rumor weed!
A tiny little story is all I need-
To make a big mess! I'm a rumor weed!

Larry-Boy runs into backyard, carrying a Larry-Boy style WEED WHACKER.

LARRY-BOY
(talking to radio)
Alright Alfred... I am executing plan A!

ALFRED (OS)
Good luck, master Larry!

Larry-Boy fires up the weed whacker and moves it towards the weed. We watch LB's
face from a low-angle as he attacks the weed. SFX sound of weed whacker trying to
chew on something much too tough. LB grimaces with the effort. MUSIC continues in
background.

CUT TO:

MS - weed. Music stops. Weed is unscathed. All the grass around the weed is gone,
revealing dirt. After a pause, music resumes and weed starts bopping to the beat. Larry
is perplexed.

LARRY-BOY
Um... I'm gonna- I'm gonna try plan B!

ALFRED (OS)
(a little concerned)
 Alright... trying plan B!

NEZZER (TEMPO)
So what is a rumor?

WEED
It starts as a story.
Maybe it's true, maybe not.
But once you repeat it,

Second weed pops head over fence.

WEED #2
it's hard to defeat it!

Third weed pops head over opposite fence.

WEED #3
Now look at the mess that you've got!

MEN
(looking back and forth)
Uh, huh!

WEED
Yeah, Alfred's a robot! Everyone knows! The story is all
over town!
We rumor weeds know how a rumor can grow...
Just like a big weed in the ground!

WEED
I'm a rumor weed!

MEN
Yes, it's true!

WEED
I'm a rumor weed!

MEN
Ooo- ooo- ooh!

WEED
 A tiny little story is all I need-
To make a big mess! I'm a rumor weed!

Larry-Boy returns to backyard. He is carrying large, Larry-Boy style pruning shears.

LARRY-BOY
Okay! I'm executing plan B!

ALFRED (OS)
Yes. Plan B.

Larry-Boy attempts to prune weed. Again, we just watch his face as he strains to cut
weed. Finally, he gives up and lifts shears to his face to examine. We see that the metal
blades are bent around the shape of the weed. MUSIC continues under.

LARRY-BOY
Alfred, I think we have a problem.

ALFRED (OS)
Yes? What's that?

LARRY-BOY
(frustrated)
I can't stop this thing!

ALFRED (OS)
Oh, dear.

Cut to Alfred at computer in the Larry-Cave.

ALFRED (cont'd)
Larry-Boy! Put your super suction ear down by the weed.

LARRY-BOY (OS)
What? Why?

ALFRED
I've installed sensors in your plungers that will tell us about
the weed's genetic structure.

LARRY-BOY
Oh, my! Well, here goes...

LB drops ear down, holding over weed like microphone. Weed stares curiously into
plunger, still bopping a little to the music.

WEED
Hello? Hello? Testing, 1, 2...
 LARRY-BOY
Alfred... is it working?

Cut to Larry-Cave. Alfred is watching data streaming across one of his monitors. The
data is noisy, impairing Alfred's ability to hear weed over communicator.

ALFRED
Yes! Yes! Perfect!
(he watches for a few moments)
Allright, that's enough, master Larry! You can come back
to the Larry-Cave, now!

LARRY-BOY (OS)
Um, I'd love to Alfred...

Cut to backyard. The weed has wrapped around Larry's plunger, holding him down. The
weed is still bopping, making LB bop up and down a little.

LARRY-BOY (cont'd)
... but it's got me by the ear.

ALFRED (OS)
What?!? You're a big, strong super hero! Surely you can
get away from a little weed!

LARRY-BOY
(tugging to get free)
Uh- yeah. You'd think so. But it's... kinda... strong!

As LB tugs, music picks up and Weed starts singing.

WEED (cont'd)
I'm a rumor weed!

MEN
She's a rumor weed!

WEED
I'm a rumor weed!

MEN
Yeah, a rumor weed!

WEED
A tiny little story is all I need!

MEN
(to Larry-Boy)
 You better watch out for the rumor weed!

LB finally breaks free and runs out of the backyard.

WEED
I'm a rumor weed!

MEN
She's a rumor weed!

WEED
I'm a rumor weed!

MEN
Yeah, a rumor weed!

WEED
(big)
A tiny little story is all I need!

MEN
(to each other)
You better watch out for the rumor weed!

WEED
(cute... feigned innocence)
A tiny little story is all I need!

MEN
(to camera- big)
You better watch out for the rumor weed!

WIPE TO:

INT. - LARRY-CAVE - DAY

Larry-Boy returns. One plunger ear is a little bent, maybe with some grass stains or
leaves hanging off. Alfred is working at the computer.

ALFRED
Good work, master Larry! The data is fascinating!

LARRY-BOY
(approaching console)
Have you figured out how to stop it?

ALFRED
 Well, not yet... but it's extraordinary! It's like no plant I've
ever seen!
(turns to LB- amazed)
It doesn't photosynthesize!

LARRY-BOY
Why do we care if it takes pictures?

ALFRED
No. Photo-synthesize. Plants turn sunlight into energy. It's
how they grow! Except, these weeds don't do that!

LARRY-BOY
They don't need energy to grow?

ALFRED
Oh, no. They need lots of energy, but they don't get it from
sunlight!

LARRY-BOY
Well, where do they get it?

ALFRED
I can't figure it out! They're feeding off something- but I
don't know what!
(moves to computer)
Look... I fed the data about the weed into the Larry-
Satellite in geosynchronous orbit over Bumblyburg. Now
wherever a new weed grows, we can see it here! See?

LB looks at screen. There is a map of Bumblyburg, with glowing, green dots all over.
Several more pop up as we watch.

LARRY-BOY
(gasp) Bumblyburg has the measles!

ALFRED
No, those are the weeds.

LARRY-BOY
What? They're everywhere!

ALFRED
Yes. And at the rate they're growing, if we can't find a way
to stop them...

LARRY-BOY
... Bumblyburg will be really weedy!
 ALFRED
Oh, it's worse than that! These weeds are strong enough to
break up sidewalks! Smash through brick walls! If we
can't stop them, Bumblyburg will be...

LARRY-BOY
(eyes widen)
...destroyed!

Stunned, Larry-Boy turns away from the computer console and leans back against it. His
backside pushes a joystick on the console.

ALFRED
No, careful! That's the satellite- !

Alfred glances up at the monitor, and his eyes widen. We can't see what he sees.

ALFRED (cont'd)
(dramatic)
Oh my goodness...

LARRY-BOY
(doesn't see it either)
What?

Alfred hurriedly returns the satellite to its original position.

ALFRED
Look. I had the satellite looking at the surface of
Bumblyburg, see?

We see original image on monitor.

LARRY-BOY
Yeah?

ALFRED
When you bumped the control you told the satellite to look
under the ground. Now watch!

Alfred slowly deepens the satellite's view. The green dots begin growing, revealing that
their roots all stretch back toward the center of Bumblyburg.

Cut to LB, whose eyes slowly widen.

LARRY-BOY
They're all connected!
Cut back to screen. Growing roots finally meet at one giant green mass, directly under
the center of Bumblyburg!

LARRY-BOY
(not quite getting it)
Wow! What's that big green thing, right under
Bumblyburg?

It sinks in. LB grows somber. Turning slowly to LB, Alfred speaks.

ALFRED
(very dramatic)
It could only be one thing...
(turns to LB)
the mother-weed!

SCORE crescendos and Larry trembles. Still staring dramatically at LB, Alfred
continues.

ALFRED (cont'd)
How do you kill a weed?

LB, still trembling, tries vainly to make his lips form words.

ALFRED (cont'd)
You go to the root!!

SCORE explodes! LB trembles wide-eyed, realizing the terror that awaits him
underground!

WIPE TO:

INT. - LARRY-MOBILE STAGING AREA - DAY

Larry-Boy is strapped into CAR. Canopy is still open. Alfred is leaning down, talking to
him over intense SCORE and SFX idling engine.

ALFRED
You've got to take out the mother-weed! Fortunately, I
made some modifications to the Larry-Mobile that will
really come in handy!

LARRY-BOY
(panicked)
I don't know what to do! I don't know what to do!

ALFRED
 Don't worry! I've planned out the entire mission! I'll be
right here giving you instructions as you need them!

Canopy closes. SFX - Engine revs.

ALFRED (cont'd)
Remember, Bumblyburg is counting on you! You can do it!

Larry-Mobile races out of garage. Tight shot on Alfred, looking after. He looks
concerned.

ALFRED (cont'd)
... I hope.

CUT TO:

EXT. - LARRY-CAVE EXIT - DAY

Overhead shot. Larry-Mobile races out of the cave.

Cut to int. - car.

ALFRED (OS)
(over radio)
Are you up to speed?

LARRY-BOY
Yes I am!

ALFRED
Allright! Press the yellow button!

Larry presses.

Cut to overhead. Car transforms into Larry-Plane. Plane takes off into sky, climbing up
in a huge, looping arc.

LARRY-BOY
Okay! This is great! But... um, I thought the weed was
under the ground!

ALFRED
(not really listening)
Yes, that's right. Now you're almost there... steady...
steady... now push the red button!

LARRY-BOY
Huh? Okay...
LB pushes the red button. To his horror, the wings on the Larry-Plane retract.

LARRY-BOY
(panicked)
Hey, my wings!! I need those!!

ALFRED
Not where you're going you don't!

LARRY-BOY
Wha-?

LB looks out window and notices plane is now falling rapidly back to earth.

LARRY-BOY (cont'd)
Alfred!! Are you insane?!?!

ALFRED
It's all part of the plan, master Larry! Now, push the blue
button!

LB looks up to see ground approaching rapidly.

LARRY-BOY
This better be good!!

LB pushes button. Tight on front end of Plane, which rebuilds itself into a high-tech
BORING MACHINE. Large, steel teeth start spinning rapidly. SFX drill whine.

LB is about to hit ground. He braces for impact.

LARRY-BOY (cont'd)
Goodbye, Bumblyburg!!

The wingless Plane hits the ground and disappears in a spray of dirt- digging almost as
fast as it was flying! CUT TO MS of plane underground, moving quickly through dirt.
Camera shakes and dirt clods fly by in foreground. CUT TO CU Larry-Boy slowly
opening eyes and looking around. He brightens.

LARRY-BOY (cont'd)
Alfred! I'm- I'm still alive!

ALFRED
Yes! Isn't it lovely?

LARRY-BOY
(amazed)
I... I'm flying under the ground!
 ALFRED
Well, actually, you're boring.

LARRY-BOY
(insulted)
Gee, Alfred... I know I'm not the wittiest of cucumbers,
but...

ALFRED
No, no, not that kind of boring! It's like drilling! It's a
boring machine!

LARRY-BOY
Oh, I see.

ALFRED
Now, I've set coordinates to take you to the sewer system
about 50 feet from the weed! Once you break through the
tunnel wall, I'll give you more directions!

LARRY-BOY
Roger!

Journey continues for a moment, then Alfred breaks in.

ALFRED
I'm slowing you down now so you don't hit the wall too
hard.

CUT TO:

INT. - SEWER TUNNEL. DAY.

All is quiet inside a very large storm sewer, approx. 20 feet in diameter. Water drips and
echoes, but there is no other noise. Suddenly, we hear a faint "whine" and focus in on
one section of the tunnel wall. The whine grows louder and louder, then the wingless
Larry-Plane bursts through the cement wall, falling towards the camera- it's boring teeth
winding down. In a rapid succession of events the front of the plane hits the floor,
springing the canopy open and throwing LB's head to the front of the cockpit. After a
beat the AIRBAG deploys, pushing LB violently back into his seat.

LARRY-BOY
Ugh!

Cut to Larry-Cave.

ALFRED
Master Larry... are you in the tunnel?
 (pause)
Master Larry?

The radio is silent.

Cut to tunnel. LB hops out of plane, looking around.

LARRY-BOY
Alright, Alfred. I'm in the tunnel!
(pause)
Alfred?

Silence.

Cut to Larry-Cave.

ALFRED
(growing worried)
Master Larry... can you hear me?

Silence.

Cut to tunnel.

LARRY-BOY
(growing worried)
Alfred... can you hear me?
(silence)
The radio isn't working...

Cut to Larry-Cave.

ALFRED
(worried)
The sewer walls must be blocking the transmission!
(panic)
That means I can't give him his...

Cut to tunnel.

LARRY-BOY
(major panic)
Directions!!
(looks around frantically)
What do I do? What do I do?

Cut to Larry-Cave.
 ALFRED
What to do, what to do?
(realization - push in tight)
I must save him!!

Cut to tunnel. WS, making LB look small and helpless.

LARRY-BOY
Alfred!!

Cut to Larry-Cave.

ALFRED
(running from room)
I'm coming, master Larry!

CUT TO:

EXT. - LARRY-CAVE EXIT - DAY

Door raises, revealing thin, British asparagus on small motor scooter.

Cut to CU Alfred in helmet.

ALFRED
Help is on the way!

Motor scooter revs.

Cut to WS, exterior. Alfred exits cave, heading off towards Bumblyburg.

CUT TO:

INT. - SEWER TUNNEL. DAY.

LB tries to regain composure.

LARRY-BOY
Okay... I can do this. I am, after all, a super-hero!

LB looks around and spots a tiny weed growing right in the middle of the tunnel floor, a
few yards from his plane. He approaches.

LARRY-BOY (cont'd)
(relieved)
Oh, look! It's just a little one! What was I so nervous
about?
 (to weed)
You've met your match, weed! I'm gonna take you... and
I'm gonna...

As LB bends down talking to small weed, we see something move in the shadows beyond
him. A huge weed moves into view, it's head is at least 6 feet across and 15 feet up in the
air. LB notices out of the corner of his eye. Turns slowly, eyes widening.

LARRY-BOY (cont'd)
Mother!

Weed moves menacingly closer.

CUT TO:

EXT. - COUNTRY ROAD. DAY.

Alfred, moving as quickly as he can on his motor scooter, notices OFFICER

SCOOTER'S POLICE CAR parked along the side of the road. Alfred pulls up next to it
excitedly.

ALFRED
Oh! Yes! Officer! I need your help! Larry-Boy is battling
a giant weed in the sewer system...

Scooter finally turns and looks at Alfred. His eyes widen in terror.

SCOOTER
Aaah!!! The robot!!!

Cut to WS, as police car peals out, heading off toward Bumblyburg.

Cut to CU Alfred, looking after him, perplexed.

Cut to WS. Alfred resumes his journey.

CUT TO:

INT. - SEWER TUNNEL. DAY.

Larry-Boy runs back to plane and looks into cockpit, obviously searching for something.
Camera inside cockpit, looking up at LB.

LARRY-BOY
Come on Alfred! Whadja give me?

Cut to weed, moving a little closer.

WEED
 How's your ear?

Cut to MS Larry-Boy. He pops head up looking at weed, confused.

LARRY-BOY
Huh? How'd you know about that?
(remembers)
That's right! You're connected!

LB resumes searching, sees something. His eyes widen.

LARRY-BOY (cont'd)
Ah! Oh, Alfred- I knew you wouldn't let me down!

Cut to weed, approaching slowly.

WEED
So, did you hear the one about Alfred?

Cut to weed's POV. LB runs out from behind plane, wearing a very high-tech weed
spraying device. There is a pack on his back with two impressive sprayers extending on
either side of Larry like rocket launchers.

Cut to CU weed, who looks a little concerned.

Cut to slight low angle from behind LB, looking up toward weed. Lights flash on back of
pack.

LARRY-BOY
(confidently)
Asta la vista, weedy!!!

Cut to CU, sprayer. Lights flash, tiny turbines start to whine as it prepares to fire. SFX
button click. Doors pop open on bottoms of both sprayers, emptying weed killing
powder onto floor around LB's feet.

Cut to CU LB. He glances down.

Cut to CU weed killing powder in two piles at LB's feet.

LARRY-BOY (cont'd)
Wrong button.

Cut to CU LB. He glances nervously up at weed.

Cut to Weed. She tilts head and pops big grin.

Cut to Weed's POV looking at a frightened LB, moving closer.

 CUT TO:

EXT. - BUMBLYBURG SQUARE, IN FRONT OF POLICE STATION. DAY.

Weeds are draped across sidewalks and over many buildings. A number of veggies mill
about. Alfred enters square on his motor scooter.

ALFRED
Everyone! Listen to me!

GROUP #1
(talking amongst themselves)
(gasp) It's the robot! etc.

Alfred gets off scooter and runs toward Officer Scooter and Mayor Blueberry in front of
Police Station.

ALFRED
Ah! Mayor! Larry-Boy needs our help! He's...

SCOOTER
Look, mayor! It's like I told ya! He's got a shiny, metal
head... just like a robot!!

MAYOR
(gasp) You're right! Stand back, evil robot!

ALFRED
(glances up at helmet- laughs)
Oh, no... that's my helmet! It keeps my brain safe!

SCOOTER
You're robot brain!!

ALFRED
No... what?!? No!!

Crowd starts to encircle him in front of police station.

CROWD
It's the robot! Watch out for the robot! etc.

NEZZER
Don't look at his eyes! They're lazer beams!!

Camera spinning on Alfred in the middle of the circle.

ALFRED
No... wait! I'm not a robot! I'm... British!
 CUT TO:

INT. - SEWER TUNNEL. DAY.

SFX sound of weed hitting super-hero. Weed sprayer spins across floor into frame.

LARRY-BOY (OS)
I'm warning you, I'm a super...

SFX another impact. This time LB enters frame, knocked up against wall.

LARRY-BOY (cont'd)
Uff!
(pause)
... hero.

WEED
Face it, you can't stop this weed! Thanks to your friends up
there, I'm gettin' bigger by the minute!!

Weed is growing visible, to the point where she doesn't really fit in the tunnel.

LB slumps down side of tunnel, dazed. Comes to rest next to the little weed.

LITTLE WEED
Did you hear the one about Alfred?

LB turns to the little weed, semi-comotose. BIG WEED LAUGHS in the background.

LARRY-BOY
(weakly)
Wha-?

CUT TO:

EXT. - BUMBLYBURG SQUARE, IN FRONT OF POLICE STATION. DAY.

The crowd is completely encircling Alfred, hurling rumors at him. Alfred is spinning-
confused. SFX general crowd noise.

MAN #1
I heard he wants to take over the world!

MAN #2
I heard there are teenagers inside him that know karate!

WOMAN #1
Our children are in danger!!
 ALFRED
No... no! It's not true! I'm not a robot...

Suddenly, the street starts shaking! Everyone pauses for a moment, wondering what to
make of it. Finally, Mr. Nezzer speaks up.

NEZZER
It's the robot! He's shakin' the world!!

EVERYONE starts YELLING about the robot shaking the world.

ALFRED
I'm not shaking anything! It's shaking me!!

Shaking intensifies. Alfred looks down and his eyes widen.

WS. The giant weed bursts up through the street like a dragon! The head looks around
menacingly, then continues to rise up. A small vine on the weed wraps around Alfred's
waist, pulling him along.

ALFRED (cont'd)
Aaah!

With Alfred in tow, the weed rises up, wrapping its way to the top of the police station.
Crowd looks on in shock. Junior and Laura are watching from sidewalk away from
crowd.

MAN #1
The weed has the robot!

WOMAN #1
Serves him right, the menace!

Dad Asparagus runs up next to Laura and Junior, bewildered by the scene.

DAD ASPARAGUS
Laura! Junior! What's going on?!? What's that thing that
has Alfred?

JUNIOR
It's a big weed, Dad! But didn't you hear? Mr. Alfred is
really a dangerous robot with lazer eyes!

DAD ASPARAGUS
What? Who said that?!?

NEZZER
(overhearing- turns from crowd)
 It's true! He's gonna take over the world!

DAD ASPARAGUS
Now where did you hear that?

NEZZER
The weed told me!

CROWD
Yeah. The weed told us. Yep.

Dad looks up at the weed crossly.

DAD ASPARAGUS
(crossly)
Did you make up this story?!?

WEED
(innocent)
What? Not me. I'm a rumor weed- I never make anything
up! I heard it from two very reliable sources. Right, kids?

Weed looks at Laura and Junior. Confused, they look at each other, not realizing that this
whole mess came from their little story.

DAD ASPARAGUS
Junior? Laura? Do you have something to tell me?

Slowly it sinks in.

LAURA
Oh. Well, we heard Mr. Alfred tell you that he needed to
"recharge his batteries."

JUNIOR
So we thought he... must be a robot. Right?

Dad can't believe his ears.

DAD ASPARAGUS
Oh, kids- that was a figure of speech!

JUNIOR
A what?

DAD ASPARAGUS
Sometimes grown-ups say things that really mean
something else. When Mr. Alfred said he needed to
 recharge his batteries, he really meant that he was tired and
needed to go home and rest. That's all!

JUNIOR
Oh.

DAD ASPARAGUS
Listen. If you hear something about someone that sounds
bad or even just weird, you should ask them about it- or ask
your mom or dad. But don't spread rumors! Even if it's
true, God doesn't want us to tell stories that can hurt. He
wants us to spread nice words!

JUNIOR
So, Mr. Alfred isn't a robot.

DAD ASPARAGUS
No. Mr. Alfred is a very nice man!
With that, a small stalk of a weed behind Dad bursts into
flowers.

LAURA
(noticing)
Did you see that?

JUNIOR
Yeah. Do you think-?

LAURA
(idea)
We can save Mr. Alfred by spreadin' some nice words!
Come on!

CUT TO:

EXT. - BUMBLYBURG SQUARE, IN FRONT OF POLICE STATION. DAY.

Laura and Junior run into crowd.

JUNIOR
Hey! Mr. Alfred is a nice man!

SCOOTER
(turning towards kids)
What? The scary robot?!?

JUNIOR
 He's not a robot! He's a nice man who came to our class to
tell us stories!

NEZZER
(thinking)
Well, I remember when Alfred helped me out with my
dinner party! A scary robot wouldn't do that!

MAN #1
He helped me change a tire!

WOMAN #1
He carried my groceries for me!

SCOOTER
(almost sobbing)
He helped us with our bake sale!!

Weed and Alfred look on. Weed looks very nervous, Alfred is tearing up happily. They
glance at each other, then back to crowd.

CROWD
(all together)
What a nice man!!

CROWD continues to praise Alfred. SFX RUMBLE rises from beneath the ground, then
flowers explode up the weed, starting below ground and racing up and around the police
station until the weed "head" explodes into a gorgeous bloom!! Alfred slides down the
flowery "ex-weed" to the cheers of the crowd!

MAYOR
We're sorry we thought you were a robot!

NEZZER
We didn't even ask you if it was true!

ALFRED
Oh, I forgive you... I forgive you all!!

Cheers from the crowd.

ALFRED (cont'd)
Ah- has anyone seen Larry-Boy?

Crowd stops cheering just in time to hear a SFX plunger fire from beneath the ground. A
super-suction ear flies out of the hole in the street, arching high overhead and landing
firmly in front of Alfred. The line immediately reels in as a bruised and battered Larry-
Boy pulls himself out of the hole. Too tired to stand, he lies dazed at Alfred's feet in the
middle of the crowd. He looks up at the curious crowd, spotting Alfred.

LARRY-BOY
Oh. Hey Alfred. Somebody told me you were a robot.

The entire crowd leans in, shushing him.

CROWD
Shhhh!!

LB looks around, noticing the flowers hanging off every building.

LARRY-BOY
(still foggy)
Is there a... flower show?

Everyone smiles warmly at each other. Larry-Boy theme song plays.

THE END