make the rules
Ava: Hey, Pepper.
Oh, Mortimer, you're growing up so fast.
Hedgehog! Where are we running to?
That's a nicely eyebrowed piece of pottery you've got there.
To Susie's, to get my wand back!
Where does the time go?
Max, what are you working on today?
It's a tornado-style pot.
Is...time... of the essence?
Oh, thanks, Grandfather clock.
Hey, Ava, why are you getting rid of this stuff, again?
Hedgehog, this is beautiful.
What?
Thanks, Ava.
I'm spring cleaning!
Guys, I've got to say,
I guess what I'm asking is, uh, must we run?
It's summer, Ava.
your pottery skills are impro...
I procrastinated.
Hey, Ava. How's the yard sale going?
Thanks. I just ate a huge breakfast and --
What kind of pot is that, Oscar?
-Pretty peachy. -Oh, look -- a violin!
It's a lint pot.
It's, uh, for bits of lint and stuff.
Whoa. Whoa!
Neat! Ooh, there's something else in here.
I don't think my pottery skills are improving.
Oof!
She must've stepped out. I'll just run in and grab it.
Whoa, baby Ava.
Everyone else is so good.
I like your lint pot, Oscar.
I didn't know she played the violin.
It has feeling.
Sorry I'm late, everyone, but check it.
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?
Lost it first thing this morning.
You can have that for free.
-Wow! -That's so cool.
Where is it?
Lucy, that's a huge deal.
Come on, it's gotta be here.
-Is it broken? -No. The violin sounds great.
You can have this grown-up cookie covered with toffees
Aw, come on, come on.
I used to love playing it, but then I got stage fright,
because you don't have anything to lose.
and now, I can't play it without screaming.
Ooh, thanks!
Geez. What happened?
Lucy, were you the last one of us to lose --
I was playing at my recital, and it was going well.
Hello, Susie.
You have one reminder.
to -- to still have a baby tooth?
But then, I started thinking about the audience,
Well, I think Oscar still has a baby molar.
Play reminders?
who was staring at me with those cold eyes.
Right, Oscar?
Hey, uh, Hedgehog?
Then, suddenly, those cold eyes were turning into cold notes.
Am I right?
What? Come look.
Did he say "yes"?
He did?
Hello, Susie.
Then, I couldn't play the notes because I was too cold.
You have one reminder.
I advise you to stop those vain judgments,
Play reminders?
Then, the audience started booing.
as a fellow citizen of permanent teeth.
Susie's intimate deets.
A citizen of what?
Maybe we shouldn't -- Play reminder.
All the notes started booing,
so I couldn't do anything else but scream.
I actually lost mine, too.
Good morning, Susie.
-Awesome! -Oscar, my bro!
Susie here with an important reminder from me to you.
Ugh. Real nightmare.
Shushabee! Yeah, right. When?
Remember, no matter what anyone says,
Haven't played since.
Here, Let me show you.
This -- Last night.
you are a perfect, delicate princess.
Prove it.
You're beautiful and strong
Uh...
and the architect of your own awesomeness.
Yeah. Show us.
Anyway, it's cool.
Mm, yes, prove it.
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,
Of course. That's a very logical request.
but what are you gonna do?
Get a move on.
Did you hear that, Oscar?
Well, I'll take good care of it, Ava.
I can respect that. It should be easy to prove.
That must be where she took my wand.
We'll see you later.
I guess the easiest way to prove it would be to, uh...
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
Oh!
We have to figure out a way
Ohhh.
where the first hour is them just gabbing
to get Ava to play the violin again.
You know what? I'm so dumb.
and talking about their weekend and stuff.
Without screaming.
I completely forgot that I've been carrying
You know, you're right.
-I have a plan! -I have a plan!
Ooh, do you think it's the same plan?
my baby tooth around with me in my pocket
Come on, let's go find that meeting.
My plan is, Ava got stage fright for the first time
since 9:00 last night. What?
But what are you gonna do
I guess half this cookie belongs to you, Oscar.
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.
-Yay! -Yeah!
I'm a lot stronger than she thinks, you know?
Thanks for helping me out, Hedgehog.
No problem.
We do not have the same plan.
Um, yeah, for sure.
I was gonna say we should get everyone in their underpants,
It's not like we're gonna be thrown in jail, or something.
Stronger than anybody thinks.
'cause it's hard to have stage fright
when the audience is all in their underpants.
Dirt.
Are you Oscar?
You work on that, and I'll do my thing.
Yeah.
Molar Mole.
I've got a report of one newly dislodged baby tooth
"Closed for meeting."
of the molar variety.
I think it's closed, Hedgehog.
Huh? Ava?
Hand it here, please.
Uh...
Something's moving in there.
-Hi. -What are you doing up there?
Look, it's unlocked.
Spring cleaning. I'm repainting the place.
Why not?
Come on.
Ugh. I hate painting!
It's a fake.
For your sake, I hope you have a good lawyer,
Well, can you come here for a sec?
Um, excuse me. Excuse me?
you molar-faking swine!
What?!
Oh, I thought I smelled something.
You're under arrest by the Molar Mole Fraud Squad.
I think you should do a recital.
Anything you say above ground
may be used against you underground.
The solution isn't just selling your violin,
Baby powder.
Aren't you taking this way too seriously?
and squashing out something you love!
It's Stuart, your nemesis from the library.
It's just a fake tooth.
Yes, it is. The best way to get over your fear
Okay, let's go.
Hedgehog, call my lawyer!
I know who Stuart is.
is to sell your violin, and not let the buyer
You don't have one. You're a child.
Then call my mom!
Excuse me, the bank is closed today.
come into your house and noodle around in your past.
Oscar!
Well, call me "spaghetti," because I'm noodling.
Hup, hup, hup, hup, hup, hup, hup, hup, hup.
If you'd like to return tomorrow,
after you've had your nap,
Look at this picture of you. You're so happy.
This way.
I'm sure someone will be available to assist you.
That way, tough guy!
You should at least give it one last try.
Alright. Alright. Hup, hup.
What are you even doing here, Stuart?
Forget it! I'm cleaning.
Inside!
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
Hedgehog! Oscar!
this serious, grownup -- oh -- meeting.
Mm-hmm.
Hello. Who's this?
Oh, man.
Bartholomole Hildebrandt Esquire,
Oh, really? Well, I'll have you know
I'll tell you what -- you paint my house,
finest lawyer in all Metropmolis!
that we're not here for a meeting, Mr. Know-it-all.
and I'll teach you the violin.
Are you here to represent me?
Deal!
We're here to open checking accounts!
Well, normally, yes, but it's Tuesday
Aah! Aah! Aah!
'Cause we're grownups, Stuart!
and my name starts with a "B," so no can do.
And we need checks to pay our bills!
Oh, Hedgehog, we do not have the same plan.
Because we're responsible! Bah!
Oh. But you can
borrow my law book.
You could never handle a checking account.
I never use it 'cause I'm so good.
Those are for serious non-babies.
Hi, Oscar. What's up?
I'm so sorry I got you into this mess, Oscar.
You'll be hearing from my lawyer.
So, you were at the scene of the stage fright?
I'm gonna get this straightened out as soon as I can.
Thanks, Stuart. That's right,
Thanks, buddy. I know you will.
I have a lawyer because I'm a grownup!
Oh, wow.
Where did you even get that picture?
The book of Mole Law, complete and unabridged.
That's right,
I'm a grownup!
That happened a long time ago.
Just revised this morning, as a matter of fact.
Man, that Stuart really cheeses me off.
-Tea? -Nah, I'm good.
Wait. I'll take that, Mr. Esquire.
So, about Ava's stage fright...
I'd like to go right back in there and give him
another piece of my --
I'm gonna be Oscar's lawyer.
Well, sure.
Ava and I had nice tea together before that rehearsal.
Up-bup-bup. Maybe let's try a different way?
You can be his astronaut, as long as the judge doesn't mind.
Ava played so beautifully, until she got stage fright that night.
Huh?
I think I know just the thing.
Law number one, the judge is always right.
Come on!
She used to be so happy just from hearing
Well, good luck, and don't mess up my book.
the violin being tuned.
And now, all that's left are screams.
Thanks. Thank you.
Did y'all go anywhere in your flying saucer?
Well, this is a lot to learn.
No, we mostly stayed in.
We'd better -- Trial's starting.
Finally got up early enough to go to the farmers market.
Ooh ooh.
Do you think it's because of that tea we drank?
Well, well,
Hmm.
He was cute, but I just can't take Tauruses seriously.
if it isn't the shameless counterfeiter.
I heard tea makes you sort of relaxed.
Right? That's what I heard, too!
You know what I mean, Betsy?
Hello.
Okay, okay, that's enough chitchat.
What if I told you we could fix Ava's stage fright?
Oscar, don't respond to that.
Glad everyone had a nice weekend.
I've assembled you all here today to talk about...
You must be a fool to have pulled this clumsy caper.
I already tried everything.
I tried acupuncture, a psychic reading, couple's massage.
this!
Here in Metropmolis,
Well, the peaches were just gigantic.
I even bought her a viola, trying to trick her mind.
we don't play by your silly above-ground ways.
I mean, these...
Leaders, hello?
She screamed twice as loud.
Oscar, these laws are all nutso.
This is a wand?
Honey is a vegetable?
A wand I saw Hedgehog using?
Did you try...
Last week was all Tuesdays?
Eeny, meeny, miney, chocolate.
Yeah, we had a candy slide and, uh...
underpants?
I did not.
No salad for Dave?
Okay, well, what if I told you that unbeknownst to all of us,
I read in a book that picturing the audience
What are we gonna do?
in their underpants fixes stage fright.
No, Oscar, these moles are imbeciles.
Betsy has been teaching Hedgehog magic behind my back!
I'll run circles around them.
So, I want put all the monsters in underpants.
Opening remarks.
Counselor, if you please.
What?! Oh!
But we don't wear underpants.
Oooooo-oo-oo.
Watch this.
We don't even wear overpants.
I love this juicy drama.
Who says you need overpants to wear underpants?
Ladies and gentlemoles of the jury, I ask you this.
Ugh! I need your keys so we can lock this
What is free will, really?
in the safe until further notice.
Hmm?
Hmm.
During this trial, I intend to demonstrate
Come on.
Seriously, just pass your keys up here so we
can get on with it.
that Oscar's sheltered upbringing
has left him so impressionable
Okay.
that he effectively lacks any agency at all.
Georgina: These oil pastels should do the trick.
I'd do anything to see Ava that happy again.
I call this condition "impressionablitis."
Great! Let's make some underpants!
Voilà! A magnificently perfect Pointillist mustache.
Hedgehog: Aah!
Stop! I know you're new here, Counselor,
Oh, Hedgehog, we do not have the same plan.
but all opening statements must be delivered
Thanks, Georgina. This is gonna be great.
I'll do yours, Hedgehog.
while standing on one leg.
Uh, Hedgehog?
Well, a deal's a deal.
Law 751.
Let's start with a simple classic.
Oh. Sorry.
Hedgehog, what's this?
As I was saying --
I'm designing a rudimentary siege engine, a tank of sorts.
Stop! Law 87.
Anyone standing on one leg must also be touching her nose.
Hmm.
Stuart's gonna rue the day he stood between me and my wand.
Aah!
Okay.
Uh, so, as I was -- Stop!
But that's crazy.
Aah!
But you're not crazy.
It seems you can't be too close
to the violin without screaming.
So, when the trial is through, you will see then,
Wait! Don't you see?
What?
I think you just need a bit of distance
he can't help but do what it takes to fit in.
Susie put Stuart there to throw you off your game
from the violin in order to teach me.
so you'd make mistakes!
Atrocious.
And it's working!
I suggest you brush up on your mole law, Counselor.
You may have a point.
Hmm.
Don't worry, though, 'cause my plan is foolproof.
You found anything useful yet?
Your plan?
Mm, maybe this one?
Ava says you need to play a little faster.
It's about courtrooms being hippopotamuses on holidays
Props. Props?
Elaborate props.
How did she seem? Like, a little calmer?
if the defendant is over 10 years of age.
Ooh-boo-boo. Thank you,
Saxophone.
Ugh! I'm not getting paid for this.
Well, that leaves you out, you big baby.
Now, who's next?
Fine. Tell her "okay."
Lucy?!
Gosh, I don't know what to do.
You said you'd go first.
Will the witness please take the stand?
Hedgehog's smart, responsible, and conscientious.
You're next, Howard. Hold out your leg, please!
Oops. Got to run.
Now, Lucy, the defense would have us believe
I don't see why she can't learn magic.
10 inches. Arms, please.
Hedgehog has a lot of potential.
100 inches.
that you teased Oscar, and excluded him from the group,
Yeah, Susie, Hedgehog would be a great witch.
80 inches.
Listen up, monsters!
making him desperate to fit in.
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.
Is this true?
No, Your Honor. In fact, he teased and excluded me.
Study them closely.
Mortimer: And then just go take a look around, you know?
And just this morning, he -- he stole half my cookie!
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!
Lucy, what are you doing?!
They're gonna put me in jail!
a real preteen prodigy.
Pfft. Chill out, Oscar. It's only for six months.
Oscar, I think I'm done!
Those are great underpants, Blanche.
Six months?! You got to tell them the truth.
Put them on. -Okay.
Ha!
Oh, we're all about truth, now, huh, cookie boy?
Oh, no.
Stop! Bailiff, get her out of here!
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.
But Judge, what about my cross-examination?
she threw a tantrum and left home.
Monsters, I realized I've neglected to give you all
Ugh!
Uh...new law.
All Lucys shall not be cross-examined,
some crucial information.
Allow me to demonstrate how to step into underpants!
but rather, there'll be, um, lunch break instead.
Oh, goodness! My hat!
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Aah!
Aah! Aah!
Oscar: Mm, I think that went okay.
Yeah, maybe. But what are we gonna do?
Ha! Aah!
Aah!
Oh!
Yay! Whee! Yay! Whee!
I can't learn all these laws.
All: Underpants! Underpants!
And even if I could, the judge will just add more.
She's a witch! She's a witch, she's a witch!
Well, maybe instead of all the laws,
you could just focus on one, like a one-pronged attack.
Susie: She walked into the woods that night and disappeared.
One law. One law.
Hedgehog?
Wow, so you really don't have stage fright?
If Hedgehog goes bad, we don't know what she'll do.
Hedgehog? Oscar, shh!
I'm scheming.
You're not thinking about the audience?
She could end up blowing all our covers.
Judge: Now, Oscar, you must answer every question
Nope. I don't get stage fright.
As Prime Monister, I speak for the monisters --
I'm not thinking about anything.
and must follow all instructions,
See, Ava, getting over stage fright
and that's all there is to it.
I mean, monsters. And you have our support.
is just about turning your thoughts off.
Counselor, you may proceed.
Yeah, it's not necessary to talk. Just give me your key.
I think, if you just tried to play --
Counselor?
Man, not me.
Thank you. I accept your apologies.
Yeah, that's what I thought.
That's it! What's it?
I just think about everyone watching me,
Hedgehog: Judge, if I may.
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.
Now, then, Oscar, will you please let the court know
is mature enough to handle it?
where you were at 10:00 this morning?
Georgina: Ooh! There we go.
No can do. I don't know how to tell time.
But it's cool you don't have stage fright.
Oscar: Very nice. Now, hold still.
See you tomorrow.
Also, I don't know what "court" means, or who Oscar is.
Exquisite.
Huh.
Stop! Why is Oscar putting on this foolish act?
I'll admit, it's not bad.
What are we doing, again?
'Cause Hedgehog told me to.
Morning, Hedgehog! How's your day going?
Counselor?
Where are you going, Mister, with...
Judge, you just said Oscar is acting foolish,
Great! I'm pretty much ready for the recital.
It's soup and salad. I'm delivering this to grownups.
which means he can't be a fool,
-We are, too. -I'm gonna keep practicing.
since he must act to seem like one.
Tss -- I mean, to the meeting.
Wait, why are you practicing?
Correct?
I am French.
Oh, my plan changed. I'm doing the recital.
Yes. And...?
I don't speak French.
And so, I rest my case.
Go that way.
What?
Hedgehog, I have so many underpants in motion right now!
-What? What? -What do you mean?
Gosh, I didn't know.
Explain yourself.
-Well... -Okay, look. It's fine.
Well, as a rotten little show-off, I'm glad you asked.
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
As you know, the first law of Metropmolis is
that haven't happened yet.
Great!
the judge is always right.
Do you really want to start a beef with the witches?
So, you were right when you said that Oscar is not a fool.
Allô, mon chéris.
But, and I'm sure the stenographer will concur,
I, 'ow you say, thought you might be 'ungry
Uh... sounds good!
the second thing you said when we entered the courtroom was...
for a petite sa-lad.
Oh, yeah. This plan is gonna work.
You must be a fool to have pulled this clumsy caper.
I am French.
Oscar, I don't know how you got in here, but get out.
Therefore, if one must be a fool to have committed this crime,
I'm about to lock up a wand.
Welcome, monsters!
No!
Allow me to introduce you all to our friend, Hedgehog!
and Oscar is no fool, then Oscar is free to go.
It's Hedgehog dressed as a sa-lad.
-Yeah! Hedgehog! -Hedgehog!
Ta-da.
Wait! I've worked so hard for that wand!
Why is it so bad if I have it?
Well, I know when I'm beat.
See? What'd I tell you? Angry salad.
That was a truly fine display of Mole Lawyering.
This is exactly the type of stuff Mildred would do.
Doing great, sweetie.
Yeah, I'll say. That's the smartest thing you've done
Mildred couldn't wait.
Mildred tried to take everything she wanted.
Uh...uh...
since you made me that fake tooth this morning.
Everybody thought she was so special.
Oh, no. She's panicking.
Monsters, put on your underpants!
Are you mad at me?
But you have to learn like everybody else!
Hedgehog? Um, okay.
Thank you.
Well, I'm gonna go poke around out there.
Maybe I can find the first mole?
Actually, forget it. I'm not gonna lock this up
for safekeeping.
The lawyer?
Yes!
She knows this part. This is the easy part.
I'm tossing it in the middle of the ocean.
Hedgehog, great news!
No! Reconsider, Susie!
Why is she getting stuck here?
What?
I found this dental mirror,
You don't know how conscientious and reliable I can be.
She's getting in her head about it.
so we can look around corners when we escape!
Wow. Good job, Oscar.
Sorry, Susie, I can't let you through this door.
Boo! Boo! This is an assault on my little ears!
Plus, I got the key to your cell.
Wha-- How?!
Aah!
Terrible!
I found one of the guards, and pushed him over.
Oh, yeah, you're stronger than me.
Boo this!
Ramona: Enough!
Oscar, I love you!
Now, let's get the heck out of this crazy place!
Ramona? How long have you been here?
Long enough.
No guards around. They must all be pushed over, or something.
Butter Goth, can you turn the camera toward Susie?
Let's go.
Um, Waiter?
-Ooh! -Ooh!
Look! There's a special door!
Oui, oui.
Maybe it leads to the surface!
Huh?
Ava, you played something without screaming.
Lovely. Thank you, Butter Goth.
I did? I did!
Root beer time at last.
I was so worried about you
Pointed-hat lady!
Susie, can you see me? A-Am I coming through?
I didn't even think about my stage fright.
Now you're attempting a criminal escape?!
Nope, can't see you. You're in frozen time,
and we're in a bank basement, so...
Guards!
Oh, come on, Your Honor.
Ah, Ramona, you beautiful sorceress.
She was just trying to help me.
Because I was obsessed.
This is Mortimer. We see and hear you perfectly.
Coming out of retirement, MoMo?
Obsessed with being embarrassed
because I was the late baby in my pottery group.
Not quite. Oh, it's good to see you all.
Yes, pottery group.
I was even embarrassed because I still have a baby molar.
-You're amazing! -You're amazing!
Susie, it was I who told Betsy to train Hedgehog.
It worked! She saw the underpants.
But so what?
Yes, I have a baby molar. I can live with that.
Seriously? Oh, my gosh.
Betsy was just a pawn?
What I can't live with is Hedgehog getting thrown in jail.
Ava! Brava, Ava! Magnificent!
Susie, I've been trying to tell you,
Oh, you did great! One of your best.
Take me! I'll go for twice her time.
but you refuse to listen.
Thanks, Blanche.
I had Betsy begin Hedgehog's training
Hmm? Hmm. Hmm.
Why are you all wearing shorts?
since you've been otherwise occupied
They're not shorts. They're underpants.
How did it finally come out now?
and neglecting to do it yourself.
What are underpants?
Your baby teeth fall out when you're mature,
and that was a very mature speech you just gave.
Now, Susie, you will not destroy Hedgehog's wand.
Wait. You don't know.
It was? Oh, yeah.
So, why did I...
Yes!
Oh. This was a waste of everyone's time.
I planned it out that way, quite maturely.
But you will lock it up.
No.
Rose water soda, my treat!
But Hedgehog will continue to learn magic.
Hand it here, please.
What? Okay.
It's been fun, Oscar. I'll see you later.
But she has to be taught by you, Susie.
-Yeah, later. -Bye.
Baby tooth certificate.
No! No!
But if all these underpants didn't work...
That's bail.
You two are free to go.
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, Hedgehog, where you have you been?
Oscar! Is that you?
It's scary out there, Oscar.
You both look so much older.
I didn't recognize you! You're a natural waiter.
But you can't let that stop you.
Wow, you can really tell?
Ava just needed to get out of her head.
I lost my baby tooth. And I'm a lawyer.
And I need to get out of this huge pile of underpants!
Aww, merci beaucoup.
Oh. I meant because you both look so horrible.
See you later.
Here, just take it.
Hmph.
Seriously, please help me.
Who's Mildred?
Eeny, meeny, miney, chocolate.
Uh...new law.