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Sleepyhead
Sleepyhead
Sleepyhead

season

3

Episode

12b

Air date

6/11/2000

Narrator

Walter Raccoon

Writer

Robert Askin

Storyboard

Enrico Casarosa

Song 1

Oodelee, Oodelay

Previous story

Sergeant Gravel to the Rescue

Next story

Watchbird Alert

Sleepyhead was the second story from the 12th episode of Season 3 of PB&J Otter and the 100th story overall of PB&J Otter. The episode aired on June 11, 2000.

Walter Raccoon comes home to his family with an important announcement: he has been named Lake Hoohaw's recycling hero of the year. He will be accepting the award in a special ceremony that evening, but first he has to get a good day's sleep. Pinch and Scootch, along with their friends, try to find ways to help Walter sleep, but at first only succeed in keeping him awake. With some smart thinking and a little luck, they finally hit upon the perfect solution.

Story detail[]

Opening[]

PB&J Otter - Walter Hugs Scootch

The Recycling Hero of the Year gives Scootch a hug.

Walter pulls up in his recycling boat. His daughter, Pinch, wishes him good morning and waves to him, while Scootch shouts ''Papa'' excitedly. Walter exits the boat, toting a couple of garbage cans, and his wife, Wanda, asks him if he had a good night at work. He says that it was a great night for recycling. Pinch asks him what he did; "Tell us, tell us!" shouts Scootch. The scene flashes back, and Walter narrates a sequence in which he describes how he had to replace Mr. Muskrat's doors, as they had taken a terrible beating from his children playing a game of pingpong against them. It looked like the new doors would be in for the same trouble, but then Walter was able to recycle the old doors into a proper pingpong table. The scene fades back to the Raccoon houseboat, where Scootch cheers. Wanda congratulates Walter on his great thinking, and Pinch asks what else he did. Another scene is shown in which Walter turned a jumble of wires and bottles into a string of lanterns. Wanda expresses pride in her husband, and Pinch bets that her dad is the best recycler there ever was. Wanda states that she hopes everyone appreciates him as much they do. Walter replies that he has been announced as Lake Hoohaw's Recycling Hero of the Year, and that he will be getting an award that evening. Scootch shouts "Papa!" and races up to Walter, who picks him up and gives him a hug. Pinch asks if her father gets to make a speech. "You bet I do," says Walter, and tells her that he wants them all to be there; Wanda agrees that they would not miss it for the world. Walter hands Scootch to her, and she tells him to get a good day's sleep, as it is going to be a big night. As they walk to the Raccoon family houseboat, Walter agrees that he needs to sleep, but says that he is so excited that he is not sure he can. Just then, he hears a couple of songbirds in a tree and says that, if anything can help him to sleep, "it's the song of those lovely larks." He yawns and, as he heads inside, Pinch tells him not to worry, that she and Scootch will help if the song of the birds does not work.

Being a hero and making speeches[]

PB&J Otter - Jelly Makes a Speech

"My fellow Lake Hoohawers…"

The scene changes, and Pinch and Scootch are now outside their houseboat standing guard. As the Otters approach, Peanut & Jelly on rollerskates and Baby Butter on a skateboard, Pinch whispers at them to be quiet. Jelly asks why, and Pinch explains that Walter is sleeping. "What a sleepyhead!" remarks Peanut, astounded that Walter would be sleeping in the middle of the day. Pinch explains that Walter sleeps during the day, because he works at night. Peanut asks why, and Pinch tells him that Walter works at night, so in the morning, everyone's trash is gone and recycled. Peanut expresses his approval, and Pinch mentions that Walter has been named Recycling Hero of the Year. Peanut, Jelly and Butter are all impressed: Jelly says that someday she will be a hero and wave to crowds and make speeches. "Me too!" says Peanut. "Me thwee!" agrees Butter. The scene changes, and Jelly climbs into a chair next to a picnic table and declares "My fellow Lake Hoohawers, I'm honored to be your hero!" Everyone claps, and Jelly continues that she would like to thank her mama, her daddy, and the Academy for the award. She bows and steps down from the chair. Peanut walks up and starts to talk, but quickly cuts himself off. "What's that? My time's up? Aw, man." He gives a quick bow and the others applaud. Everyone cheers and the camera pans up to show Walter Raccoon opening the window on the upper floor of the Raccoon family houseboat. He tells them to keep the noise down, as he was almost asleep. "Sorry, sorry, my fault!" shouts Scootch. Walter tells them to play a little more quietly.

Trying to help Walter sleep[]

PB&J Otter - Pwetty Flower

"Pwetty flower!"

The scene changes once more, and the larks are shown flying to the top of the umbrella that shadows the table where the kids were making their speeches. As the larks sing their lovely song, Peanut shushes them, but Pinch tells them to keep singing and explains to Peanut that the sound of the larks' music helps Walter to sleep. Peanut adds that they should make sure that Walter can hear them. He picks up the umbrella to get the birds closer to the window, With some help from Jelly, they move the umbrella and they know it's working because they can hear the sound of Walter's snoring. Unfortunately, just then a stiff wind blows the umbrella portion of the umbrella away, leaving only the stick that held the umbrella. The birds fly away in fright, and the umbrella covers up the window. Jelly suggests that maybe Walter was too fast asleep to notice, but then Walter pokes his head out the window, tearing through the umbrella and removing any doubt on that front. He asks if everything is okay. "Pwetty flower!" giggles Butter, as the sight of Walter's head sticking through the umbrella looks rather like a flower. "Sorry, my fault!" says Scootch. The others apologize as well, and Walter is mollified, but tells the assemblage to be careful, as he needs to sleep. He pokes his head back inside and Flick walks up, asking why Walter was dressed like a giant flower. "Wasn't he supposed to be sleeping?" Pinch moans, confusing Flick: "What? What did I say?" Pinch tells him that they need to help Walter sleep. Peanut explains that the songbirds flew away and Flick replies that he is a bird himself and thus he could help. He asks what he has to do, and Pinch tells him that bird sounds help Walter fall asleep. Flick says he can make some bird sounds. "Nice sounds," specifies Pinch. Flick replies that all the sounds he makes are nice.

Flick flies up to the window and starts singing. "Cuckoo!" Peanut tells him to keep going and that one can tell when Walter is asleep when his snoring is heard. Flick continues singing, growing progressively more off-key. "Cuckoo! Cuckoo! I'm so cuckoo when I'm with you-you!" Jelly calls it a terrible racket, and asks how Mr. Raccoon can possibly sleep through it. Walter walks up behind the group and replies that he cannot. He asks why Flick is singing. Flick turns around, sees Walter, and falls to the ground, landing in a garbage pail. "Uh, they told me you liked bird noises." "Sorry, my fault," says Scootch. Walter tells them not to make any more noise.

Cradle and all[]

PB&J Otter - Cradled Walter

"It's very restful."

"Poor daddy," laments Pinch, ing that they need to do something for Walter. Jelly says that they sleep every night, so they must be experts on sleeping: "If we can't help him, nobody can." Peanut says that they just have to think about what puts them to sleep. He says that he falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow. Pinch mentions that she is out like a light as soon as she feels her soft flower blanket around her. She suggests that they could take Walter to a flower meadow because it is soft. A fantasy scene of Walter laying in a flower field is shown. "Cwadle, cozy!" suggests Baby Butter. Pinch says that they could put all that together: a pillow, a soft blanket, and a cradle is all they need. Pinch notes that Walter would not fit in a cradle, though Peanut proposes that they can build a dad-sized one. Jelly notes that this will warrant a lot of supplies, and Peanut suggests that their dad could help. The kids are shown toting a wagon of supplies. Peanut thanks Ernest Otter for helping out, and Ernest says that it was his pleasure. The group returns to the Raccoons' yard and gets to work. Walter walks up and asks them to quiet down, and they present the cradle to him. "We made it for you, Daddy, to help you sleep," offers Pinch. Walter says that they outdid themselves: "What a sweet idea." He lays down and Pinch rocks him, asking him if it feels comfy. Walter agrees that it is indeed very restful, but then the cradle collapses. "Oops, sorry, my fault," says Scootch. Walter tells them that it was great work, but that apparently he is too big for a cradle.

Trying something new[]

PB&J Otter - Performing Oodelee, Oodelay

"Close your eyes and sleep!"

The scene changes and the group is standing around, dejected. Jelly pushes Baby Butter on a tire swing and says that the group has tried everything, "but nothing's worked," notes Peanut. Just then, Jelly realizes that there is something they have not yet tried. "My super-hypnotic magic duck powers?" asks Flick. "No, the Noodle Dance!" says Jelly, and the Noodle Dance sequence immediately begins. The group dances while Peanut stands off to the side with his arms crossed, but then Scootch dances over next to him and he starts dancing. The song ends and Jelly gets an idea. "I've got it!" she shouts, and Pinch tells her to not be so loud. Jelly replies that that is the core of her idea. They can blanket the whole of Lake Hoohaw in glue; that way, everyone will become stuck and be unable to move, so they cannot make any noise. Peanut points out that there is not enough glue, and Jelly says that they can pretend. "Nobody move!" she says, and everyone tries to be as still as possible. A branch breaks off a tree and Peanut races to catch it before it hits the ground. Pinch starts humming and Jelly hushes her, asking her what she is doing. "Sorry," says Pinch. She explains that she is humming, but she can hum softer. The song helps her think. Snoring can be heard, and Baby Butter is shown sleeping. Jelly realizes that, in addition to helping Pinch think, the song also helps Butter sleep. "Just like your dad and the birds!" realizes Peanut. Pinch says that it gives her an idea. The scene changes, and the group walks up in front of Walter's window. They begin singing the song "Oodelee, Oodelay," all except Flick, whose beak is covered by Jelly at the beginning of the song. As they perform, the birds return and perch in a nearby tree. As the song continues, the birds fall asleep and snoring can be heard from inside the houseboat. "He's asleep!" realizes Pinch. "Close your eyes and sleep!"

All tuckered out[]

PB&J Otter - All Tuckered Out

The kids are tired from their day's work.

That evening, Walter accepts his reward for being Recycling Hero of the Year. He is shown finishing a speech: "And so, one person's trash is another's person's treasure. That's my motto." He says that the youngsters proved that a little imagination can help one think up the answer to any problem. Mayor Jeff rolls forward a birdbath containing the sleeping songbirds and Walter says that he presents those recycled things to the energetic and creative kids of Lake Hoohaw. Loud snoring can be heard and Walter winces. The kids are all shown sleeping. Walter asks if his speech put them to sleep and Wanda, tucking the kids into a blanket, replies that they are simply worn out from trying to put him to sleep. Walter chuckles. "Can you imagine that?" he asks and as the adults all laugh, the shot pans out to show Lake Hoohaw at night and the story ends. The closing credits feature an instrumental of the theme of Sergeant Gravel, followed by an instrumental of "Oodelee, Oodelay", which can be heard here.

Characters[]

Credits[]

  • Executive Producers - Jim Jinkins
  • Supervising Producer - Jack Spillum
  • Produced By Bruce Knapp
  • Directed By Jeff Buckland
  • Writer - David Campbell
  • Executive Story Editor - Reed Shelly
  • Voice Director - Kent Meredith
  • Line Producer - Linda Houston
  • Production Manager - Masako Kanayama
  • Production Supervisor Robert Askin
  • Script Coordinator - Robert David
  • Music by Dan Sawyer
  • Songs By Ned Ginsburg, Lyrics and Music
  • Storyboards by Enrico Casarosa
  • Storyboard Slugging - My Chatterton
  • Editor - Daniel J. Rosen
  • Executive Consultant - Bill Gross

Songs[]

Trivia[]

For unknown reasons, Munchy Beaver does not appear in this story.

Transcript[]

A full transcript of "Sleepyhead" can be found here.

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