make the rules
Oh, Mortimer, you're growing up so fast.
Hedgehog! Where are we running to?
To Susie's, to get my wand back!
Where does the time go?
Is...time... of the essence?
Oh, thanks, Grandfather clock.
Hey, Ava, why are you getting rid of this stuff, again?
What?
I'm spring cleaning!
I guess what I'm asking is, uh, must we run?
It's summer, Ava.
I procrastinated.
Hey, Ava. How's the yard sale going?
Thanks. I just ate a huge breakfast and --
-Pretty peachy. -Oh, look -- a violin!
Whoa. Whoa!
Neat! Ooh, there's something else in here.
Oof!
She must've stepped out. I'll just run in and grab it.
Whoa, baby Ava.
I didn't know she played the violin.
Come on, Oscar, help me look.
Aww, she looks so happy.
My violin!
Hurry up and find it so that we can get out of here.
Oh, sorry. Is this not for sale?
You can have that for free.
Where is it?
Come on, it's gotta be here.
-Is it broken? -No. The violin sounds great.
Aw, come on, come on.
I used to love playing it, but then I got stage fright,
and now, I can't play it without screaming.
Geez. What happened?
I was playing at my recital, and it was going well.
Hello, Susie.
You have one reminder.
But then, I started thinking about the audience,
Play reminders?
who was staring at me with those cold eyes.
Hey, uh, Hedgehog?
Then, suddenly, those cold eyes were turning into cold notes.
What? Come look.
Hello, Susie.
Then, I couldn't play the notes because I was too cold.
You have one reminder.
Play reminders?
Then, the audience started booing.
Susie's intimate deets.
Maybe we shouldn't -- Play reminder.
All the notes started booing,
so I couldn't do anything else but scream.
Good morning, Susie.
Susie here with an important reminder from me to you.
Ugh. Real nightmare.
Remember, no matter what anyone says,
Haven't played since.
Here, Let me show you.
you are a perfect, delicate princess.
You're beautiful and strong
and the architect of your own awesomeness.
Anyway, it's cool.
Also, you're late for Meeting of the Minds
at the Bank of Heartforde at 9:00.
I mean, I do miss playing the violin,
but what are you gonna do?
Get a move on.
Did you hear that, Oscar?
Well, I'll take good care of it, Ava.
That must be where she took my wand.
We'll see you later.
But 9:00 was over an hour ago.
-I feel bad for Ava. -Me, too.
Yeah, but don't worry. I bet it's one of those meetings
We have to figure out a way
where the first hour is them just gabbing
to get Ava to play the violin again.
and talking about their weekend and stuff.
Without screaming.
You know, you're right.
-I have a plan! -I have a plan!
Ooh, do you think it's the same plan?
Come on, let's go find that meeting.
My plan is, Ava got stage fright for the first time
But what are you gonna do
if she won't give you your wand back?
during a recital. Right?
So, I got to get her to return to the scene of the crime,
If you take it from her, she'll just take it back again.
Yeah, well, we'll see about that.
get her back on the horse, and help her do a new recital.
I'm a lot stronger than she thinks, you know?
We do not have the same plan.
Um, yeah, for sure.
I was gonna say we should get everyone in their underpants,
Stronger than anybody thinks.
'cause it's hard to have stage fright
when the audience is all in their underpants.
You work on that, and I'll do my thing.
"Closed for meeting."
I think it's closed, Hedgehog.
Huh? Ava?
Something's moving in there.
-Hi. -What are you doing up there?
Look, it's unlocked.
Spring cleaning. I'm repainting the place.
Come on.
Ugh. I hate painting!
Well, can you come here for a sec?
Um, excuse me. Excuse me?
What?!
Oh, I thought I smelled something.
I think you should do a recital.
The solution isn't just selling your violin,
Baby powder.
and squashing out something you love!
It's Stuart, your nemesis from the library.
Yes, it is. The best way to get over your fear
I know who Stuart is.
is to sell your violin, and not let the buyer
Excuse me, the bank is closed today.
come into your house and noodle around in your past.
Well, call me "spaghetti," because I'm noodling.
If you'd like to return tomorrow,
after you've had your nap,
Look at this picture of you. You're so happy.
I'm sure someone will be available to assist you.
You should at least give it one last try.
What are you even doing here, Stuart?
Forget it! I'm cleaning.
Well, I already booked the hall.
If you're not into it, can you teach me how to play?
I'm just here to keep any goober-fingered little rug rats
Did you already put down a non-refundable deposit?
from snotting all over
this serious, grownup -- oh -- meeting.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, man.
Oh, really? Well, I'll have you know
I'll tell you what -- you paint my house,
that we're not here for a meeting, Mr. Know-it-all.
and I'll teach you the violin.
Deal!
We're here to open checking accounts!
Aah! Aah! Aah!
'Cause we're grownups, Stuart!
And we need checks to pay our bills!
Oh, Hedgehog, we do not have the same plan.
Because we're responsible! Bah!
You could never handle a checking account.
Those are for serious non-babies.
Hi, Oscar. What's up?
You'll be hearing from my lawyer.
So, you were at the scene of the stage fright?
Thanks, Stuart. That's right,
I have a lawyer because I'm a grownup!
Oh, wow.
Where did you even get that picture?
That's right,
I'm a grownup!
That happened a long time ago.
Man, that Stuart really cheeses me off.
-Tea? -Nah, I'm good.
So, about Ava's stage fright...
I'd like to go right back in there and give him
another piece of my --
Ava and I had nice tea together before that rehearsal.
Up-bup-bup. Maybe let's try a different way?
Ava played so beautifully, until she got stage fright that night.
I think I know just the thing.
Come on!
She used to be so happy just from hearing
the violin being tuned.
And now, all that's left are screams.
Did y'all go anywhere in your flying saucer?
No, we mostly stayed in.
Finally got up early enough to go to the farmers market.
Ooh ooh.
Do you think it's because of that tea we drank?
Hmm.
He was cute, but I just can't take Tauruses seriously.
I heard tea makes you sort of relaxed.
Right? That's what I heard, too!
You know what I mean, Betsy?
Okay, okay, that's enough chitchat.
What if I told you we could fix Ava's stage fright?
Glad everyone had a nice weekend.
I've assembled you all here today to talk about...
I already tried everything.
I tried acupuncture, a psychic reading, couple's massage.
this!
Well, the peaches were just gigantic.
I even bought her a viola, trying to trick her mind.
I mean, these...
Leaders, hello?
She screamed twice as loud.
This is a wand?
A wand I saw Hedgehog using?
Did you try...
Eeny, meeny, miney, chocolate.
Yeah, we had a candy slide and, uh...
underpants?
I did not.
Okay, well, what if I told you that unbeknownst to all of us,
I read in a book that picturing the audience
in their underpants fixes stage fright.
Betsy has been teaching Hedgehog magic behind my back!
So, I want put all the monsters in underpants.
What?! Oh!
But we don't wear underpants.
Oooooo-oo-oo.
We don't even wear overpants.
I love this juicy drama.
Who says you need overpants to wear underpants?
Ugh! I need your keys so we can lock this
in the safe until further notice.
Hmm?
Hmm.
Come on.
Seriously, just pass your keys up here so we
can get on with it.
Okay.
Georgina: These oil pastels should do the trick.
I'd do anything to see Ava that happy again.
Great! Let's make some underpants!
Voilà! A magnificently perfect Pointillist mustache.
Hedgehog: Aah!
Oh, Hedgehog, we do not have the same plan.
Thanks, Georgina. This is gonna be great.
I'll do yours, Hedgehog.
Uh, Hedgehog?
Well, a deal's a deal.
Let's start with a simple classic.
Hedgehog, what's this?
I'm designing a rudimentary siege engine, a tank of sorts.
Hmm.
Stuart's gonna rue the day he stood between me and my wand.
Aah!
But that's crazy.
Aah!
But you're not crazy.
It seems you can't be too close
to the violin without screaming.
Wait! Don't you see?
What?
I think you just need a bit of distance
Susie put Stuart there to throw you off your game
from the violin in order to teach me.
so you'd make mistakes!
And it's working!
You may have a point.
Hmm.
Don't worry, though, 'cause my plan is foolproof.
Your plan?
Ava says you need to play a little faster.
Props. Props?
Elaborate props.
How did she seem? Like, a little calmer?
Ooh-boo-boo. Thank you,
Saxophone.
Ugh! I'm not getting paid for this.
Now, who's next?
Fine. Tell her "okay."
Gosh, I don't know what to do.
You said you'd go first.
Hedgehog's smart, responsible, and conscientious.
You're next, Howard. Hold out your leg, please!
I don't see why she can't learn magic.
10 inches. Arms, please.
Hedgehog has a lot of potential.
100 inches.
Yeah, Susie, Hedgehog would be a great witch.
80 inches.
Listen up, monsters!
You know that. So, why are we here?
We didn't just measure for fun.
'Cause some of us have plans.
This is a pair of underpants.
Study them closely.
Mortimer: And then just go take a look around, you know?
There's so much great -- Need I remind you
all of Mildred?
And this is yeti yarn!
Let's knit some underpants!
Everyone said she's so smart, so much potential,
-Underpants! -Yay!
a real preteen prodigy.
Oscar, I think I'm done!
Those are great underpants, Blanche.
Put them on. -Okay.
Ha!
Oh, no.
Hmm!
See those holes, there?
Oh, right.
Susie: But she never learned to use her powers responsibly.
And when confronted about it,
No.
Eh. I don't know about this, Oscar.
she threw a tantrum and left home.
Monsters, I realized I've neglected to give you all
Ugh!
some crucial information.
Allow me to demonstrate how to step into underpants!
Oh, goodness! My hat!
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Aah!
Aah! Aah!
Ha! Aah!
Aah!
Oh!
Yay! Whee! Yay! Whee!
All: Underpants! Underpants!
She's a witch! She's a witch, she's a witch!
Susie: She walked into the woods that night and disappeared.
Wow, so you really don't have stage fright?
If Hedgehog goes bad, we don't know what she'll do.
You're not thinking about the audience?
She could end up blowing all our covers.
Nope. I don't get stage fright.
As Prime Monister, I speak for the monisters --
I'm not thinking about anything.
See, Ava, getting over stage fright
I mean, monsters. And you have our support.
is just about turning your thoughts off.
Yeah, it's not necessary to talk. Just give me your key.
I think, if you just tried to play --
Man, not me.
Thank you. I accept your apologies.
Yeah, that's what I thought.
I just think about everyone watching me,
Am I the only one here who thinks Hedgehog
and absolutely messing up, and everyone booing me,
and then feeling dumb for the rest of my life.
is mature enough to handle it?
Georgina: Ooh! There we go.
But it's cool you don't have stage fright.
Oscar: Very nice. Now, hold still.
See you tomorrow.
Exquisite.
Huh.
I'll admit, it's not bad.
What are we doing, again?
Morning, Hedgehog! How's your day going?
Where are you going, Mister, with...
Great! I'm pretty much ready for the recital.
It's soup and salad. I'm delivering this to grownups.
-We are, too. -I'm gonna keep practicing.
Tss -- I mean, to the meeting.
Wait, why are you practicing?
I am French.
Oh, my plan changed. I'm doing the recital.
I don't speak French.
Go that way.
What?
Hedgehog, I have so many underpants in motion right now!
Gosh, I didn't know.
-Well... -Okay, look. It's fine.
I know Hedgehog. She's no Mildred.
Can you just bring Ava on stage when you're done?
We can't afford to be afraid of things
that haven't happened yet.
Great!
Do you really want to start a beef with the witches?
Allô, mon chéris.
I, 'ow you say, thought you might be 'ungry
Uh... sounds good!
for a petite sa-lad.
Oh, yeah. This plan is gonna work.
I am French.
Oscar, I don't know how you got in here, but get out.
I'm about to lock up a wand.
Welcome, monsters!
No!
Allow me to introduce you all to our friend, Hedgehog!
It's Hedgehog dressed as a sa-lad.
-Yeah! Hedgehog! -Hedgehog!
Wait! I've worked so hard for that wand!
Why is it so bad if I have it?
See? What'd I tell you? Angry salad.
This is exactly the type of stuff Mildred would do.
Doing great, sweetie.
Mildred couldn't wait.
Mildred tried to take everything she wanted.
Uh...uh...
Everybody thought she was so special.
Oh, no. She's panicking.
Monsters, put on your underpants!
But you have to learn like everybody else!
Thank you.
Actually, forget it. I'm not gonna lock this up
for safekeeping.
Yes!
She knows this part. This is the easy part.
I'm tossing it in the middle of the ocean.
No! Reconsider, Susie!
Why is she getting stuck here?
You don't know how conscientious and reliable I can be.
She's getting in her head about it.
Sorry, Susie, I can't let you through this door.
Boo! Boo! This is an assault on my little ears!
Aah!
Terrible!
Oh, yeah, you're stronger than me.
Boo this!
Ramona: Enough!
Ramona? How long have you been here?
Long enough.
Butter Goth, can you turn the camera toward Susie?
Um, Waiter?
-Ooh! -Ooh!
Oui, oui.
Huh?
Ava, you played something without screaming.
Lovely. Thank you, Butter Goth.
I did? I did!
I was so worried about you
Susie, can you see me? A-Am I coming through?
I didn't even think about my stage fright.
Nope, can't see you. You're in frozen time,
and we're in a bank basement, so...
Ah, Ramona, you beautiful sorceress.
This is Mortimer. We see and hear you perfectly.
Coming out of retirement, MoMo?
Not quite. Oh, it's good to see you all.
-You're amazing! -You're amazing!
Susie, it was I who told Betsy to train Hedgehog.
It worked! She saw the underpants.
Seriously? Oh, my gosh.
Betsy was just a pawn?
Ava! Brava, Ava! Magnificent!
Susie, I've been trying to tell you,
Oh, you did great! One of your best.
but you refuse to listen.
Thanks, Blanche.
I had Betsy begin Hedgehog's training
Why are you all wearing shorts?
since you've been otherwise occupied
They're not shorts. They're underpants.
and neglecting to do it yourself.
What are underpants?
Now, Susie, you will not destroy Hedgehog's wand.
Wait. You don't know.
So, why did I...
Yes!
Oh. This was a waste of everyone's time.
But you will lock it up.
No.
Rose water soda, my treat!
But Hedgehog will continue to learn magic.
What? Okay.
It's been fun, Oscar. I'll see you later.
But she has to be taught by you, Susie.
-Yeah, later. -Bye.
No! No!
But if all these underpants didn't work...
And you still stop hammering on about Mildred!
You wanted them to boo?
Ooh! Ooh!
You planned the stage fright all along.
I did plan for Ava to come on stage,
and rescue me from being booed.
But to be honest, the stage fright was real.
What a meeting.
Oscar! Is that you?
It's scary out there, Oscar.
I didn't recognize you! You're a natural waiter.
But you can't let that stop you.
Ava just needed to get out of her head.
And I need to get out of this huge pile of underpants!
Aww, merci beaucoup.
See you later.
Here, just take it.
Hmph.
Seriously, please help me.
Who's Mildred?
Eeny, meeny, miney, chocolate.