["One Step Closer" playing]
[Jane] "Apis mellifera."
[David] Have you been shrunk before?
No. I've only ever wanted to grow up, not down.
I think you'll find the experience awful.
- [Greybeard shrieks] - What?
I mean, "awesome."
[chattering]
Sorry. I might have been shrunk too many times.
"Awesome."
"Awful" is when you get unshrunk, but we'll worry about that later.
Do you know what's happening to the bees?
'Cause I don't.
- Can you tell me again, Jane? - Yes, sir.
Worker bees all around the world are suddenly going missing from their hives.
Worker bees collect food, take care of the queen,
feed the babies and defend the hive.
But now they've disappeared.
Yes, that is exactly what I was gonna say.
And scientists still aren't sure why, which is where you two come in.
Your mission is to shrink down in this ship,
enter a honeybee colony, and figure out why those bees are going missing.
Do you accept your mission?
[chatters]
I can't hear you!
All right, David, let's take it down a bit.
[groans] I thought that was good.
[chattering]
See? Greybeard likes it.
Okay, fine. Go ahead.
I can't hear you!
Yes, sir!
Hop on board, and let's save some bees.
[chattering]
[automated voice] Ten, nine, eight,
seven, six, five...
[whimpers]
...four, three...
- Two, one, zero! - ...two, one, zero.
- Shrink time. - Shrink time.
[energy crackling]
It worked. We're bee-sized.
[chatters]
[sniffs]
What's that smell?
You're not just bee-sized, you're bee-smelled too.
One way bees talk to each other is through smell,
which this ship can make--
[gasps]
You may wanna back up.
[sneezes]
- [engine falters] - Whoa!
Sorry. Bee smell is making me sneezy.
That's okay.
[sighs] Let's get this mission started.
Good luck.
The world is depending on you!
[engine revving]
[Jane] Bee spotted. Following for observation.
The bee has landed on a flower. Entering hover mode.
What's the bee doing?
[chatters]
Eating and gathering.
- [Jane] I'm moving in for a closer look. - Cool.
Bees drink the flower's nectar, which is kind of like a sugar drink...
with their tongue straws. Like this.
[imitating slurping]
[grunts]
- Like this? [imitates slurping] - [Jane chuckles]
But they also collect the flower's pollen for food.
They put it in the little sacks on the back of their legs.
Like reusable shopping bags?
- Exactly. Which they bring back to their... - [chatters]
That's right, Greybeard. Beehive.
Hold on, she's leaving.
This might get bumpy.
[Greybeard shrieks]
Approaching hive.
It's "bee-autiful."
[Jane] Incredible, isn't it?
Bees build hives for safety, to store food and to raise their babies.
- [Greybeard shrieks] - What was that?
[alarm blaring]
[David] Whatever it is, it's right above you.
[Jane] Dragonfly.
It's coming this way!
Did you know dragonflies are one of the bees' main predators?
Yes, I did.
[Jane grunts, screaming]
[Greybeard shrieking]
[inhales deeply, screams]
A little help, David? We're about to get eaten by a dragonfly.
- Something's going on over there. - [child] Die!
- Yeah! - [children cheering]
- Millie, what's happening? - Kurtis is throwing rocks at a beehive.
What?
Kurtis is throwing rocks at--
No, Jane, wait!
Jane, I'm coming!
Someone's going to get in trouble.
- [bees buzzing] - [Kurtis] Yes! Booyah!
Let's see if you can sting this. Bye-bye, bees.
No, that's their home!
Bees are our friends!
Without bees, there would be almost no plants.
And without plants, there would be no us.
And without these bees, Jadiel wouldn't have gotten stung,
and neither would I. Ow!
Bees don't sting unless they're trying to protect each other or their home,
which you're destroying!
Whatever.
- Let's go get a teacher. - [Jane] There's no time.
[screaming]
[Kurtis grunts] Careful!
She's gonna get in so much trouble.
[Kurtis] They're just bees!
[school bell rings]
[car horn honks]
- Okay, I see you. I see you. - [phone ringing]
- [sighs] - [ringing continues]
[grunts, sighs]
- Hello. - [honking]
Just a minute! [sighs]
No, sorry. That was for, um-- Never mind.
Yes, how can I help you?
She did what?
Jane?
Yeah?
What did you mean when you said, "Without bees, there'd be almost no plants
and then no us"?
Plants need pollen to make more plants,
and for almost all of them, that pollen is carried by bees.
- No bees-- - No us.
- Jane. - Mr. Harrison.
I've just come from the nurse's office.
You'll be relieved to hear that Kurtis is okay.
Just a few bee stings.
And the Apis mellifera?
Is that the scientific name for bees?
Yes, it is.
[sighs]
- I've called the extermina-- - Exterminator?
But they didn't do anything wrong.
Now, Jane, Kurtis was stung several time--
In self-defense. They wouldn't have done it otherwise.
Hi... [stammers] ...Mr. Harrison?
Bees only sting if one of them's in trouble
or if their hive is under attack.
Which it was.
Thank you, David. I'll be talking to you shortly.
[snapping]
Billy in Mr. Lee's class is still refusing to potty train.
Dawn, I've got my hands full here.
Well, so does Mr. Lee.
Oh. Uh, c-call the custodian.
- I'll be there in a minute. - Mm-hmm.
I've called your mother.
She's en route so we can discuss this situation.
[Jane sighs]
[chattering]
[sighs]
Jane?
Jane, you okay?
- No. - [Greybeard whimpers]
I can't hear you!
David, we can't. We're in trouble.
So are the bees.
Maybe we can find out something that will stop Mr. Harrison from exterminating them.
That's what I like to hear. Are you ready to go back in?
- [chatters] - Yes, sir.
You have a mission to complete.
We have to figure out why those worker bees are going missing.
But how are we going to escape the dragonfly,
so we can get into the hive and figure out what's happening to the bees?
Maybe it's time to smell in some backup.
[Greybeard chatters]
Before your mom gets here.
Turn on intruder alert smell.
[gas hissing]
I smell backup.
They smelled our call for help.
[bees buzzing]
[Jane] Yes!
[chattering]
We're free!
[rapid beeping]
[Jane] We're falling too fast!
Why are those ones not moving?
Bees die after they sting.
What? But that means--
Bees do whatever it takes to protect each other.
Kinda terrible defense.
- [Jane] Heading back to the beehive. - [Greybeard chatters]
Approaching entrance.
Turn on friend smell. Otherwise, they might think we're a predator.
And sting us until they die.
[sighs] Still can't get over that.
Bees live in huge colonies.
One queen, thousands of workers and a few drones.
Just one girl?
Actually, all the workers are girls.
There's only a few boy bees, and none of them have stingers.
You're right. All the worker bees are missing.
And we're here to figure out why and how to fix it.
- He's back! - The dragonfly?
No, worse. Mr. Harrison.
And he's with your mom.
[Greybeard chatters]
Uh, it's this way.
- [stammers] Hi, Jane's mom. - [snaps]
Now, Jane, I've had a chance to update--
- What were you thinking? - I was just--
- No, not a question. - [Jane] I was trying to save--
Did I raise you to solve your problems like this?
- If I could just-- - Not now, David.
"The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves."
We can talk about Jane Goodall later, because Jane isn't here right now.
She isn't late for work. I am.
I just wanted to say that Jane taught me how important bees are.
- Without them-- - Thank you, David.
Mom, Kurtis was gonna kill them.
And so you should speak out
using your words, not your hands.
I'm sorry.
Don't apologize to me.
Apologize to...
- What's his name again? - Kurtis with a "K."
Who I'm sure is also in trouble.
For needlessly and cruelly attacking a beehive?
Surely that's not the kind of behavior that's allowed here, Casey.
That is a good point. I'll be speaking to him next.
Why not let Jane?
Gives her a chance to practice her speaking-out skills.
A learning opportunity. I like it.
[Jane's mom] I will pick you up after detention.
[Jane] Sorry again for making you come.
It's okay. It sounded like those bees needed your help.
They still do.
Listen, honey, it's easy to get angry.
The hard part is learning how to use that anger, that fire inside you,
to change other people's minds.
Do you think pushing Kurtis would stop him from throwing rocks at bees again?
- No. - Exactly.
I love you.
Save your wrestling for me, okay?
Maybe one day you'll win.
[car alarm chirps]
- [David] Hey, Jane. - [Greybeard chatters]
Did you know that, to help bees,
some kids have planted bee gardens and bee baths at their schools?
- Look at how cute this is. - [chatters]
Aw, she's taking a little bee bath.
What are you two doing here?
We thought we'd wait until you got out of detention.
We have a mission to complete.
[chattering]
Thanks.
[chatters]
[sighs]
[David] Oh, my gosh, Greybeard, look at this one.
[Jane sighs]
How many stings did you get?
I'm sorry for pushing you.
I'm not sorry for saving the bees.
[sighs]
But I still shouldn't have shoved you, so I am sorry.
I got stung three times.
Jadiel got four.
My worst one's right here.
Aw, that would hurt.
I once got stung on my face.
- Really? - Yeah, right here.
I was, like, five or six and trying to see inside their hive.
But the bees didn't like it,
and they stung me before I even saw anything.
- They thought I was trying to hurt them. - Yeah, they're nasty.
They can be, but only to defend their friends,
like what you were doing for Jadiel.
[scoffs] I would've won if you hadn't shoved me.
Against bees, people always win.
It's an unfair fight. That's why their colonies are dying.
Did you ever see into a hive?
- Sort of. - Sort of?
How good are you at imagining?
I'm not playing with him.
Imagining lets you picture something you've never thought of before,
like how someone you disagreed with could become a friend.
Or how something you tried to destroy actually needs your protection.
Are we still talking about bees?
I'm a little confused too.
Just close your eyes and imagine.
[sighs]
Whoa. I don't believe it.
Where are we?
Inside a ship inside a beehive, trying to help the bee colony.
Is this what you're doing when you're running around the playground yelling?
Yes. [chuckles]
They built all this?
But if this is a beehive, where are all the bees?
That's what we're trying to figure out.
Worker bees from all over the world are disappearing,
and nobody knows why.
Without the workers, the baby bees starve. And with no babies--
No more colony.
No colony. No bees. No pollen.
No more french fries?
Uh, you're right. Bees pollinate potatoes.
- So, no chips either. - Right again.
You should do something.
We're trying, but we need everyone's help if we're going to solve this problem.
Buckle up.
[engine revs]
Why do those look different?
Scanning.
Uploading now, David.
[sighs] Low sugar.
They eat sugar?
They get it from flower nectar, which is pretty much all they eat.
So why don't they just go out and get more?
Good question.
Maybe because there's not as many flowers anymore.
- As cities get bigger-- - There are less places for them to grow.
Causing the bees to disappear.
This is why they're missing.
That's why every single colony matters.
[Greybeard chattering]
You have a monkey?
Chimpanzee.
- [alarm blaring] - That's not all you have!
[Kurtis grunts] What was that?
- The dragonfly is back. - And it's headed for the queen!
We need to help her.
Every single colony matters, right?
Right, but it's my turn to drive.
Get ready for ramming speed.
[engine revving]
Remember how shoving doesn't work.
[Kurtis] Yeah, I remember.
[Kurtis] She needs our help!
Can this thing smell like a queen bee?
It sure can.
[Kurtis] It's working!
- Oh, yeah! [chuckles] - Yeah!
[chuckles] Yeah!
Good job, Jane. Good job, Kurtis.
- Good job, Greybeard. Good job, me. - [chatters]
- [impacts] - [Kurtis grunts]
[Kurtis screaming]
- What happens now? - We get eaten.
[screams]
- [gasps] - [Jane sighs]
Wow. Bees really don't have it easy, huh?
No, which is why they know they're stronger when they work together.
[vehicle horn honks]
The exterminators!
Where are you going?
Stronger if we work together, right?
I'll race you to the principal's office.
- [both exhale heavily] - [children panting]
- I win! - We need to stop the exterminators!
Please don't kill the bees.
But you saw I won, right?
Oh, the running in the halls? Yeah, I saw it.
- Oh. - [Jane sighs]
Please, Mr. Harrison.
Cancel the exterminator.
- [Kurtis] Yes! High five! - [Jane] We did it!
[David] We saved the bees!
[chuckles] She seems happy.
We still need to finish her bee bath.
- [Kurtis] She won't sting me, right? - She won't if you don't bother her.
Kind of tickles.
It was your idea to plant a bee garden, right?
- [Jane chuckles] - I know it wasn't mine.
Well...
get "bee-sy."
[all laughing]
Okay, so, we can plant here and where Greybeard is. Yeah.
- Here's a good place too. - Greybeard's helping too?
Good job, Greybeard.
[Jane] Help save the bees.
- [David] Hold on. I'm almost there. - [Jane] I will.
And why did we need to get flower seeds, soil and clay?
Melanie Kirby asked us to.
She said it was a surprise.
I love surprises,
except when they're scary.
Like that dragonfly.
- [laptop chimes] - [gasps] She's here.
- [both] Hi, Melanie. - Hi, Jane. Hi, David.
Thanks for talking to us about bees.
We have everything you asked for.
Hold on. Are those real bees behind you?
Yes. This is an observation hive that I use to teach people about bees.
There's bees crawling around on the honeycomb,
taking care of their brothers, sisters and their queen.
Here, let me show you a close-up.
- [David] Whoa. - [Jane] Is that a baby bee being born?
[Melanie] Actually, it's a new adult bee.
She was a baby larva that hatched from an egg.
And the queen lays thousands of eggs a day.
That must be a lot of work.
She has nurse bees that help her feed the babies.
- Nurse bees? Are there doctor bees? - [Melanie chuckles]
Well, the bees take care of each other.
How many times have you gotten stung working with bees?
Not as many times as you would think.
Here's me holding the bees.
- [David] Whoa. It's so weird and cool. - [Melanie] It is.
Bees only sting when they feel threatened, or to protect their home.
Take a look at this. It looks like I have a bee beard.
They've taught me over 25 years how to work with them,
- so you shouldn't try this on your own. - Oh, don't worry. I won't.
[chuckles]
When did you know you wanted to help bees?
[Melanie] My mom encouraged me to serve as a volunteer in South America,
where I got to work and learn a lot from beekeepers and farmers.
My Native American ancestors instilled in me a profound sense of place and purpose.
I like passing on knowledge
and sharing stories of my experiences with the next generation of beekeepers.
Why is sharing stories important?
Because that's how we learn. That's how the bees teach each other.
They're Mother Nature's best storytellers.
They're storytellers too?
- What can't bees do? - We are all storytellers,
and we share them in different ways.
The bees share their stories through the food they help grow.
Take a look at this.
When the bees are collecting pollen and nectar,
they're moving the pollen from plant to plant.
That allows the plant to actually grow a fruit or vegetable.
Is it true we can't survive without bees?
It's true. All the food you see here depends on bees.
Which is why we need to protect them from what's hurting them.
Which is, uh, what exactly?
Let me show you this.
Let's think about it as the four P's.
Parasites, pathogens, poor nutrition and pesticides.
Parasites are pests that can actually cause damage to the bees,
and they can pass pathogens that are diseases and viruses
that make the bees sick.
And poor nutrition is when the bees don't have enough flowers.
Pesticides are actually really strong chemicals
that are used to deal with some of the parasites,
but they can actually also poison the bees.
And like the bees, we can work together to help them.
Here are some ways folks are helping.
Marion Spence Pierson, who started MO Hives,
works with kids in the city to utilize vacant land for hives and gardens.
And here's Danielle Klein and her daughter, Izzy,
who are focused on educating communities about the importance of bees.
- [Jane] What are they making? - [Melanie] Those are seedballs.
By planting your local flowers, you can help the bees.
And with the supplies I asked you to bring, you can make some too.
Here's how we make a seedball. Start with some soil,
and then you add some seeds.
- Like this? - Yeah, just like that.
Then you add some wet clay,
and roll it just like that,
and here you have a seedball.
You can toss them out anywhere there's soil for them to grow flowers.
- Like this? - All done.
Those are great.
This is so cool.
- We can ask everyone at school to do it. - That's a fantastic idea.
Thank you for talking to us about bees, Melanie.
Oh, you're so very welcome.
And remember, your stories are important too.
And you can help the bees share their stories by planting more flowers.
- Bye. - [both] Bye, Melanie.
Jane, let's go toss our seedballs.
- Wait for me. - I will.
["One Step Closer" playing]