[bell rings]
- [sighs]
Hey, it's the last day before spring break,
which means a week without Jenny,
the girl of my dreams.
She even comes with a cool magical halo effect.
[shimmering tone]
- Ahh, get them off! Get them off!
- [grunting]
- It's okay, kids. I've got my pigeon net. Ah.
[birds squawking]
[rumbling, people screaming]
Perhaps we'll cut today's still life lesson short
and just watch some TV.
- [sighs] You guys know me.
I love when teachers put on educational videos,
but not during my favorite subject, art.
I mean, I'd much rather be drawing right now--
[gasps] Oh, my sweet baby hyenas!
NARRATOR: A disruptor is something,
or on this case, someone, who interferes with the structure
of the system it belongs to.
One of nature's most reliable disruptors
is the spotted hyena.
And for the animal kingdom of Namibia,
they are a big pain in the behind.
[crunching]
[all scream] - Awesome!
[upbeat music]
* Don't wanna go to school today *
* The sun is red hot, and I wanna play *
* But if I get caught they'll make me pay *
* Detention again *
- * Big Nate, Big Nate *
- * Math and social studies just ain't my thing *
- * Big Nate, Big Nate *
- * Rocking with my band is where I'm king *
* Stealing the teacher's teeth or bailing on a test *
- * Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh *
* Big Nate *
[loud clang]
[loud crash]
[bell ringing]
["Cum on Feel the Noize" playing]
[all cheering]
- Ohh, yeah! Spring break, baby!
You wanna come over tomorrow?
I found a new fire ant hill in the backyard.
Figured we could relocate it to Ellen's underwear drawer.
- Can't. I'm heading on a road trip with the parentals.
- We tried that once,
but the motels in my dad's price range
were a little sketchy.
[door creaking]
[eerie music]
[toilet flushing]
[growls]
- Did that rat just-- - Yeah.
And there's also a clown in the bed.
[eerie laughter]
* *
- We're more of a staycation kinda fam now.
So where are you guys headed?
- The "Highway to Hodag".
Which is actually just a normal highway
to Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
- Oh. And what's a Hodag?
- Only a super cool ancient creature from the 1700s.
- Huh? - Said to have
the head of a frog,
the grinning face of an elephant,
and the back of a stegosaurus.
Legend tells of the Hodag roaming
the woods of Rhinelander to this very day.
- Ohh.
Oh, wow.
That sounds amazing.
My family's never gone on a vacation as cool as that.
[sad music]
[whimpering]
- Ah, I can't believe I'm saying this,
but, uh, you wanna come with us, Nate?
- Whoa! Oh, I thought you'd never ask!
- [chuckles]
all: * I've been workin' on the railroad *
* All the live long day *
- Hit us with that famous freestyle, Mrs. Pope.
- My pleasure, Mr. Pope.
* I'm Mrs. Pope and I fix up teeth *
* I bring in the charm and I mean no harm *
* I will not boss ya if you make sure to floss-uh *
* Working in the dentist's office all the live long day *
- All right, fam.
What's next on the schedge?
- Uh, looks like, "Give my Regards to Broadway,"
by George M. Cohan.
- Wow! So you guys plan out
all of the songs for your trips?
- Sure do. A mix for no family bickering
once we get on the road.
- And more time for fun. [beeping]
Oh, honey, looks like it's almost my turn at the wheel.
- And not a second too soon.
Mama Pope has to drop off a package
in the little girls' room.
[tires screech]
- Ah, ahh, ohh, ohh.
- Wow, you guys really figured it all out.
I mean, even the car temperature
is set to a perfect 72 degrees,
with a slight breeze from the east.
[wind gusts]
- Yeah, but sometimes I wish we could be a little more
"go with the flow." [beeping]
Time for me to go to the bathroom now.
[carnival music playing]
* *
- Yeah-ha-ha!
- Yeah!
- Who's ready
to get their Hodag on? [all laugh]
- Haunted Hodag Hayride, folks.
Guaranteed to see a real Hodag, or you get a partial refund.
- Whoo-hoo-hoo! - Whoa, a real-life Hodag!
This place is mind-blowingly cool.
If only my dad could see me now.
[razor buzzing]
- Huh?
Ahh!
- Ugh! So what should we do next?
Grab some world famous Hodag hotdogs?
[all laughing] - Whatever.
What's so funny?
- Lunch isn't slotted for another hour, ya goof.
We still have 60 more minutes
of Hodagging before then.
- Sweet! You know, I think I can really
get behind this whole structured vacation thing.
- Oh, we're like this at home, too.
- Where you're welcome to join us any time, Nate.
Any time. Any time!
["We Are Family" playing]
- * We are family *
* I've got all my sisters and me *
- [laughing]
- [growls] - [screams]
- * We are family *
- [laughs] - [screams]
- [grunting] - * We are family *
- [screams] [all laugh]
- Best week of my life!
[shutter clicks] - * We are family *
- Hey, Dad, uh, can you turn that thing off for a second?
I'm calling a family meeting.
- It's a newspaper, son.
You can't--
Uh, sure I'll turn it off.
Bleep, bloop, boop, boop.
[imitates machine shutting down]
Ellen, family meeting!
- Right here, Dad. [texting]
- Okay, gang.
I'm about to change our lives.
I'm gonna teach you about...
[imitating drum roll]
Structure!
- Okay, from the genius who tried to build a tree house
out of frozen waffles?
- [laughs] Yes.
I wanna start scheduling our days more efficiently
and free up time for more fun.
That means you, Dad, need to plan ahead for dinner.
- All right. I'll admit,
soy sauce and crouton night wasn't my finest moment.
But I can plan.
- Okay, great!
Then as orderly and organized as possible, let's eat and have
ourselves a movie night.
- You're on!
Now, if you mix the different cereals together,
you get a whole new flavor experience every night.
Observe: [munching]
- I'm going to my room.
NARRATOR: While the antelope's long legs
may help them jump high, they are ill-prepared
for the inexorable ambush.
- Notice the efficiency of planning.
Instead of scrolling through the channel guide for hours,
I picked something we can all enjoy.
NARRATOR: Watch, now, as the enraged predators pounce.
[animals growling] [fighting efforts]
- It's my turn with the-- - [grunts]
I am the Remote King!
- [screams]
[crashing] - Ow!
[groaning]
Why don't we just turn off the TV?
Uh, let's, like, enjoy a family activity.
Like, I don't know, a--a puzzle?
[both laugh]
- I'm moving in with the Popes!
- Okay, son.
Hey, bring back ice cream.
- Maybe forever.
As in, like, you know, permanently.
- See if they have mint chip, 'kay?
- Uh, and Mr. Eustis is dropping off Spitsy later.
He's going to a polka festival in Orlando.
- Ahh, the Paris of the South.
- Yeah, oui, oui.
[slams door]
Imagine all the awesomeness that being organized
is gonna bring me.
I'll get Godfrey off my back.
[shimmering tone]
I'll become internationally recognized for my art.
Then I can build that awesome backyard theme park
I've always dreamed of. [crashing]
- Yah-hoo!
NARRATOR: In rare instances, when rejected by its own herd,
a hyena may look to enter a new species' domain.
[doorbell dings] - Oh, hi Nate.
Back so soon?
- You said I was welcome at any time, right?
- Oh, yes, we did.
Come on in, pal.
[easygoing music]
- Hey what's that, Mrs. Pope?
- The official Pope Family Activities Schedule.
Or as we call it PFAS.
- You penciling in some fun?
- We sort of pencil in everything.
- Everything goes on the schedule, Nate.
Francis, you've got a toenail clipping session in 45 seconds.
- Okay, I get it.
We can do anything as long as it's on the schedule.
- "The schedule is law.
PFAS for life."
That's our motto, Nate.
- Hmm.
- Where's Nate? Isn't this his dog?
- Ugh, no.
It's Mr. Eustis's dog.
We're dog sitting, don't you remember?
[squeaks]
- He left us his garage door opener?
Well, that's weird.
Well, you must be hungry, boy.
Is this your food or your medicine?
- Uh, I think it's food.
This stuff is written in like, well, it's--it's in English.
It's just really boring.
- [muttering] Chocolate diddley, yada, yada.
Ah, we'll figure it out.
- Huh? - Now does the medicine go
in the front door or the back porch?
- Can we just, like, assume it's his mouth?
- Okay. But for the record, I was game.
Wow, this thing's on tight.
- Ugh, here. - Okay, you hold I pull.
- Let me-- - One, two--
[dramatic music]
* *
Ahh, ooh! - [screams]
[swallows, retches]
[vomits]
- Uh, hey, Dad?
When was the last time that you saw Spitsy?
- Well, now that you mention it, I have no idea.
This morning, maybe? [dog howling in distance]
Uh-oh. Sounds like old Spits
fell down the well again. [laughs]
- We don't have a well, Dad. - Hmm.
Spitsy!
- What's on the schedge, fam? [all exclaim]
- Oh, we were just enjoying some downtime, Nate.
- Oh, that's weird.
I don't see "downtime" on here.
[tense music]
You guys up for an activity? - Ahh!
[plate shatters] Ugh.
Uh, well, I'll be gluing this plate back together now
if you'd like to join me.
- Yeah, that sounds like fun.
Ah!
Wow, I'm gonna need a lot of glue.
- [chuckling nervously]
Oh, hey, Francis! - Ahh!
- What's next on the old schedge?
I'm bored.
[dog barking in distance]
[phone ringing]
- We've looked everywhere!
- It's like he's inside the house
but also somehow outside the house.
- [gasps]
What are you doing, Dad?
- I think he must be in the walls.
It's the only logical explanation.
- Okay, but I mean, isn't there a better way to--
[grumbles]
[rooster crows] - Uh, another
beautiful morning.
[all exclaim]
- [slurping]
- Oh, uh, hi there, Nate.
- I know what you've all been thinking.
"We don't have time to schedule everything for Nate."
Well, lucky for you, I took the planning into my own hands.
[clanking]
From now on, every minute of every day
will be scheduled by me.
- He can't do that. Can he do that?
- There's no rules against it in the Pope Family Charter.
- Come on Popes, we've got some fun to get through.
The game: "Floor is Lava."
- Okay. So our engineered hardwood floor is hot lava?
- Oh, yeah. So you better not fall in.
- What happens if we do?
- Well, when you do, your skin will be scorched
and it'll, like, sluff off.
You're gonna need a lot of grafting.
It's pretty horrific.
[all scream]
Ready? Go!
[rock music]
- Ahh!
- Uhh!
- Ohh. - [sighs]
- [grumbles] - [laughs]
- Okay, so, uh, what's the play here, Fran Fran?
Jump, or drown? - [whimpering]
- Either way, you know, the options aren't
looking that great from here.
- Uh, Nate, can we take a break?
[sighs]
[grunts] - I'll tell you
when it's break time. [beeping]
- Begin break time.
- Okay, it's break time.
Yah! [panting]
Aren't you guys gonna join?
all: Uhh--
Come on, guys! It's on the schedule!
I mean, seriously, it's like I understand
the Pope family laws better than they do.
Now, I have adjusted the schedule
such that everyone in the house is allocated
ten minutes in the shower...
- Oh, I mean, that doesn't seem so bad.
- Combined.
- And there it is.
[struggling efforts]
- Well done, Popes. Well done.
- Aren't you gonna go next, Nate?
- Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
I only bathe during the full moon.
For reasons I simply cannot go into.
- [yawns]
[crashing]
Huh, that's weird.
[gasps]
[dog howling in distance]
- It's like the dog just vanished.
Poof, gone.
And where is Nate, for Pete's sake?
- I think he said something about moving in with the Popes.
But I mean, that can't be right, can it?
- No! Where is he?
[crashing]
[muttering] - Dad, what are you doing now?
- What if Spitsy left our version of perceived reality,
in hopes of getting Nate back?
We could be dealing with an auxiliary
plane of existence here.
Our home may contain a portal to another dimension.
- Uhh, hold that thought.
All right, remember what your therapist, Dr. Freudeline says,
"Meet your bonkers family members at their own level.
Only then can you hope to help them."
Okay, Dad, let's find the entrance to that portal
or my baby brother and the neighbor's weird dog
could be stuck in outer space forever.
[phone ringing]
Nate? - [indistinct chatter]
- Oh, hi! Mr. Eustis!
- [indistinct chatter] - You're on your way back
from Orlando? Okay.
- [indistinct chatter] - It was less humid
than you hoped, okay. - [indistinct chatter]
- You'll be back tomorrow? [laughs] Okay.
- I think something's really wrong with him.
- Uh, you don't say.
- He's destroying our lives, Son.
- I want that boy out of my house.
[intense music]
[all gasp]
- [humming] - Um, hey, Nate?
- I prefer Nathaniel.
- Help! That not me out there!
Get me outta here! Please!
[thunder rumbling]
- [snoring]
Porcupines go next to the puppets
so they can stay in alphabetical order.
- [snoring]
* *
[rumbling]
[gasping, panting]
- [laughs] I'm free!
[gasping]
[inhaler hisses]
[doorbell dings]
[gasps] - Hi, there.
- We're about to bend the very fabric of reality.
So I can't buy any Girl Scout cookies right now.
- Umm--
[dog barking in distance]
Mr. Wright, it's me Francis.
- Francis, come in.
And actually, I would like some Girl Scout cookies.
- Mr. Wright, I have a plan to get both of our families back.
But I'm gonna need your help.
- [gasps] Ahh!
You can bring Nate back to us?
- I'm desperate to bring Nate back to you.
Ahh! - Great Scott.
This drawing is a cry for help.
Ellen, come down here!
- [grunts]
- Look, proof that Nate's alive!
- [gasps]
If this is Nate's art, then where is Spitsy, hm? Hmm?
- I don't know where the dog is,
but I bet Nate does.
- Take us to him. - Okay.
But I need something from your house before we go.
[rock music]
* *
- I really hope you're right about this.
* *
all: Hm.
- Holy smokes. Is that my son?
- A--a little more to the right, old chaps.
Oh, hello, former family.
Once the backyard amusement park is completed
and our artisanal frozen juice sticks
have been artisanally frozen,
we will enjoy said artisanally frozen juice sticks.
Then, allow 30 minutes of digestion
prior to mounting our roller coaster.
Then, and only then, we shall dine on chocolate lasagna.
- [whimpering]
Help me.
- You guys ready?
- I said to the right, you unlicked gibbon.
[struggling efforts]
I say, take your filthy hands off me!
This is not on the schedule!
[grunts]
What is this rudimentary rubbish?
Whose prints are these?
- This is your art, Nate.
You drew this stuff.
- I--I who--who is Nate?
Some kind of naive expressionists?
- It's you. You're Nate.
And we want your old self back.
This weird, super realistic art with a British accent,
it's not you!
- Huh?
[dramatic music]
* *
[blubbering]
[eerie music]
- Uh, guys, what's happening with Nate?
- Oh, I'm trying to get out!
Ahh!
Ooh!
ANNOUNCER: Big Nate versus Nathaniel!
Three, two, one.
- Hmm. - Uh, what's going on?
ANNOUNCER: Fight!
[video game music]
- Ah, ah, ahh! Ahh!
* *
[screams]
- Huh?
- [grumbling]
- Huh--ahh!
* *
[gasps]
* *
[screams]
Uh! Yah!
- [laughs]
- Ugh, that does it.
Hey, wait a second.
* *
- [grumbles]
- Now part of your complete breakfast.
* *
ANNOUNCER: Whoops.
Out of cereal.
- Should have planned ahead for that.
* *
- [whimpering]
[beeping]
[gasps]
[beeping]
[explosion booms] [screams]
[grunts]
* *
[clang]
- Please, Nate.
Come back to us.
- The world needs your awesomeness,
[echoing] awesomeness, awesomeness.
- They need my awesomeness!
Huh? Ooh.
- [laughs]
Stopping you is all too easy when I follow the plan!
[crashing] Huh?
- Try and plan for this!
- Huh?
- It's bed time, Schedule Boy.
- No!
- Uh, what--
What--what's going on?
- Nate's back?
Nate's back!
- We've always got your back! - Oh, I missed you!
Oh, I love you so much!
Nate, don't leave me again!
- Okay, seriously, you have to leave now.
[light music]
* *
- Ahh, home sweet home.
- And not a second too soon.
Son, there's no easy way for me to tell you this,
but we lost Spitsy to an alternate universe.
- Uh, are you sure about that?
- I've never been more certain of anything in my entire life.
- [sniffing]
[barking in distance] - Huh?
* *
[high-pitched whistling]
- [howls] - [laughs]
I missed you too, buddy!
[laughs] That's a good dog.
Yes, boy. - We thought that thing
was the neighbor's garage door opener.
- Nope. I told you to follow the instructions, didn't I?
- Please don't leave us again, Nate.
I'll buy groceries. Ellen will be nicer to you,
won't you, honey? - Probably not.
But the point is, Dad really went off the rails this week,
and it was honestly pretty scary.
- Mm-hmm.
- Okay, okay.
So what you're both saying is--
- I need help-- - You missed me!
- I never said that. - Don't embellish, Nate.
NARRATOR: And so, you see, nature can be quite cruel.
It knows no pity.
It can leave its victims shaken.
[all sigh]
- We're safe. It's going to be okay.
NARRATOR: But in the end, balance is always
restored in the animal kingdom.
[animal howling]
[intense electronic music]
* *