[intense electronic music]
[wolves growling]
[deer bleating]
[wolves growling]
[grunts]
[wolves sniffing]
[wolves growling]
- [suspenseful music] - [sniffing]
Whoa!
[wolves growling]
[deer sniffing]
Stop, stop.
Shoo!
Knock it off!
[Zoey yelling]
[grunting, panting]
- Easy, easy. - [deer bleating]
Hey, I know you're scared.
[deer bleating]
[Zoey laughing]
It's easy to be scared when you're all alone.
- [bird squealing] - There you are!
You know, I could've used your help with this.
Where have you been?
Jeez. Always thinking with your stomach.
[laughing]
[opening theme music playing]
[Mrs. Castillo] Aw, little one.
Did that mean old witch scare you out of your home?
We'll take care of you.
Izzie, if I tell you a secret,
you promise not to freak out?
[squealing] Tell me what it is!
The anticipation is already killing me.
Okay, okay.
Well, you know how I haven't
seen my dad since, like, forever?
Well, yesterday, he kinda sorta came back.
- Oh, my! - No freaking out.
What happened? Did he apologize?
Did he explain where he's been? Did he reveal a dark secret that
he's been leading a double life this whole time
and he just couldn't tell you in order to keep you safe?
No. He just came by my place and said hello.
It was weird. He wants to have a father-daughter day this weekend
and like catch up or whatever.
You are gonna go, right?
You must be so curious.
I'm curious what lava feels like,
but I'm not gonna go stick my hand in it.
But this isn't lava.
This is your dad.
What's the worst that could happen?
[school bell ringing]
[Logan groaning]
Sun Tzu's The Art of War.
Miyamoto Musashi's Ancient Samurai Strategy Guide.
The Book of Five Rings.
- What class is this for? - It's not for class.
It gives me an edge when I face Astrid in the trials.
Without being able to Dream Craft,
I don't stand a chance against her.
But I got to thinking about
how you're dealing with your missing memories,
so I figured I'd try something totally different too.
Totally unexpected.
Like studying?
Exactly! She'll never see it coming.
[Logan laughing]
He knows you actually have to read those, right?
Logan, nobody wants to beat Royce's protege more than I do,
but I'll be honest, in this next round,
you're gonna be facing one of the most diabolical,
most menacing, most insidious things you've ever seen.
An alarm clock.
[gasping] Squeal! It's so cute!
Look at those big, dreamy eyes.
In order to win the next trial,
you gotta catch this clock and hit
the snooze button before the alarm goes off.
No problemo. I do that every morning.
Whoa, not so fast.
The goal is to catch it, and in the trial,
your opponents will use Dream Crafting to slow you down.
So I want you three to try
and stop Logan while he goes after the clock.
Tap the clock, the timer resets and you advance.
But whatever you do,
do not be near this thing when the alarm goes off.
Uh, what happens if the alarm goes off?
Anyone near it will be ejected from the Dream World.
- Game over. - Uh, Mr. Oz?
Not now, Izzie.
Can't you see I'm trying to explain
to Logan about the… Whoa, wait.
Why are you guys backing up? Is it my breath?
Oh, nuts!
[alarm ringing]
- Where'd he go? - Back to the Waking World.
That's the trick. You gotta tap the clock,
but if anyone's too close at the wrong time, poof!
Out you go and the timer starts all over again.
You know, I've always wondered.
If you and Mr. Oz are sort of the same,
why do you stay here in the Dream World when he wakes up?
Isn't there a part of you that's always dreaming?
Now, who's ready to beat the clock?
Whoa! Unexpected.
Game on!
[Logan panting]
[Logan growling]
Just trying to get you ready for the real thing.
Fine. I'll just have to bring out the big guns!
[yelling]
[screams in slow motion]
[grunts]
[exclaims]
[panting]
[yelling]
[exclaims]
[yelling]
Not good, not good, not good!
- [Logan growling] - Oh, boy.
Somehow, it's even worse than I pictured it.
Do you really expect to win this thing
without being able to Dream Craft?
Well, as it says in the Art of War,
"One may know how to conquer without
being able to do it."
You've certainly mastered
the "not being able to" part.
[giggling] He actually did read it.
[Izzie] Hey!
This better not be BFF talk.
Okay, fine. I won't ask you about your dad again.
Do you wanna come outside and train with us?
We get to throw things at Logan.
[Logan] Oh, man, there goes Cooper!
- This thing is gnarly! - Tempting.
So, have you given any more thought to meeting your dad?
Izzie.
Look, I know parents can be complicated.
My mom never calls and my dad's started dating again.
I get it. You're afraid of getting hurt.
But come on. You just gotta give the guy a second chance.
[Logan yelling]
[clock beeping]
[Logan coughing]
Come on, Logan. Let's give it a rest.
I'm almost out of sand.
"In the end, we only regret the chances we didn't take."
Was that from The Art of War?
Nah. Lewis Carroll.
Get back here! [panting]
Fine!
- I'll call him when we wake up! - Yes!
- [alarm clock ringing] - [cat purring]
Hey, honey? If you're not feeling okay about this,
we can call it off. Really.
I know, Aunt Jenny. I know.
[doorbell ringing]
[door creaking]
[Aunt Jenny] Brother.
You know those are poisonous for cats, right?
And here we go.
[bright piano music]
[camera shutter clicking]
[choking]
Zoey! How'd it go?
[door squeaking, slamming]
That good, huh?
Watching Astrid train seemed like a good idea,
but man, I'm getting concerned.
Speak for yourself.
[tires screeching]
[gasping] What the…
[deer bleating]
Yeah, I just feel worse now.
[tires screeching]
Oh! Pretty.
Oh, man, I'm doomed!
Nah. You'll be okay.
You always pull some crazy move no one sees coming.
Don't you get it?
Your Dream Crafting may be garbage without Z-Blob,
but at least you've got an hourglass.
What are Zoey and I gonna do
in this trial with everyone throwing stuff at us?
Speaking of, where is Zoey?
I've been looking for her all night.
She better be here for the trial tomorrow
or she'll be disqualified.
[Susan] Where are you, Dream Bandit?
Aha!
Gotcha!
Let me show you how it's done.
[Snivel yelping] Sorry about that, boss.
[Night Hunter] Take this thing down.
[Susan] You're sick of her too, huh?
[Night Hunter] I said, take it down!
[Susan] What's your problem?
Why you gotta ruin our target practice?
[Night Hunter] Because that's my daughter!
- [Susan] Your what? - Your daughter?
[Susan] Are you sure, boss?
I mean, I… I don't see a resemblance.
Then why have we been fighting her all this time?
I had no choice.
If the Nightmare King knew,
he would've used her against me.
I had to keep her safe.
Why do you think I kept letting her go?
[Susan] To be honest,
I just thought you were a lousy henchman.
- [Night Hunter scoffing] - Come on, boss.
You can tell us.
[Night Hunter] I know she'd hate me if she ever found out,
so I thought maybe we could reconnect
in the Waking World and be a family again.
[sighing] Turns out I was wrong.
I may be the ruler of the Grim Realm here,
but out there, I'm just another deadbeat dad.
[Susan] So in all this time while
you've been fighting her,
she's never seen your real face?
[Night Hunter] Wait. That's it!
- [Snivel] It is? - [Susan] There he goes again.
[Snivel sighing]
Sorry, Zian.
I don't feel like playing.
[clock ticking]
[Beau] That's quite the timepiece.
Dad? What are you…
Are you an aware dreamer?
Must run in the family.
Wow. But, um…
Wait, how did you find me?
Licorice. [chuckling]
When you were little and you were mad or sad,
I could always cheer you up with some candy.
Your mom said not to,
but a piece of licorice always cheered you up.
I figured this is where you'd be.
Right.
You want some more?
You won't choke on it here.
[chuckling] Well, I'm trying to cut back.
But it is good to see this again.
I remember hiding it under the floorboards of my room.
Where did you get it?
When I moved in with Aunt Jenny.
So this watch was… was yours?
A long time ago.
I loved how it could give you a second chance.
Too bad it can't turn back time
far enough to fix the mess I made with your mother.
I'm sorry, Zoey.
I'm sorry today went so bad
and I'm sorry I didn't come to you sooner.
I guess I was just afraid of getting hurt.
Yeah.
I know that feeling.
Hey, Dad, you ever dream about flying?
[Beau laughing]
Wow! This is incredible!
Yeah, it sure is!
Hey, Dad, I've got kind of a test… or contest or…
I don't know how to explain it.
But would you wanna come see me compete in it?
Of course! Just tell me where!
It's tomorrow night at this
really cool place called Castle Nocturnia.
My friends will all be there,
and I want you to meet our teacher, Mr. Oz.
Oz, you say? Mr. Oz?
Um, I'm not sure I can make it tomorrow, Zoey.
I work the night shift some days.
Oh. Sure. Okay.
I mean, I'll try. I just…
Forget about it. No big deal.
It was a stupid idea anyway.
- [crowd cheering] - [triumphant music]
By the end of this round,
we'll be closer to finding out
who among us is the best of the best.
Closer to taking on the Never Witch.
- [crowd booing] - As per the tradition,
rules for Beat the Clock are simple.
If you catch and tap snooze, you advance.
Every tap or every 90 seconds, the clock resets.
We are down to 14 contestants,
but only the first seven agents
to hit that button will advance.
Give it your all. And remember,
you're allowed to Dream Craft
whatever you want to help yourself
or incapacitate your opponents.
[suspenseful music]
Zoey! What are you looking for?
Get your head in the game! We're about to start!
All right! Good luck!
May the best and only the best seven Dream Chasers win.
[clock ticking]
[Phil] And they're off!
They say time flies, but never quite like this.
Check out that Dream Crafting!
[grunts]
Go time!
[Phil] Mateo of Brooklyn Dream Crafts!
[Mateo yelling]
A snot-bug?
Follow that alarm clock!
[Phil] And there goes Izzie of Brooklyn!
Oh, boy. This is gonna be one heck of a run, folks.
[yelling]
[glass shattering]
Aw, man!
Seriously?
We just finished repairing that window.
Come on, guys! You got this!
[Mateo yelling]
Aha!
Now's our chance.
A little closer. A little closer.
Now, Bunchu!
[Mateo yelling]
No!
Watch where you're going!
Sorry! This thing is kind of hard to steer.
[Mateo yelling]
[clock ticking]
[suspenseful music]
[alarm ringing]
[Phil] Oh! Looks like it's back to the Waking World
for the whole South African branch.
And another 90 seconds back on the clock.
[Izzie yelling]
Hey! Get off of my pizza-platoon!
[Phil] Logan from Brooklyn…
- Thanks for the lift! - Slicing it!
[Logan laughing]
[Logan yelling]
Zian! Why must you always think with your stomach?
[Izzie humming]
He's not wrong.
[Izzie speaks in Spanish]
[Mateo yelling]
[alarm ringing]
[crowd cheering]
That's the first snooze of the match.
Wow! You did it!
You got the first tap!
[Phil] Now the clock resets and there are six slots left.
[alarm ringing]
[crowd cheering]
Yeah! All right! Takashi!
[Zoey panting]
[Zoey yelling]
[crowd cheering]
Oh, man.
- [clock beeping] - [suspenseful music]
- Yes! - [crowd cheering]
Zian! [yelling]
That's it! I give up!
Zoey! Zoey!
Dad? Dad!
- You came! - Are you kidding me?
Wouldn't miss it.
Are you gonna eat that hotdog by your shoe?
Oh, it's you.
I mean, it's all you, all yours. Help yourself.
[Mr. Oz] Five-second rule, am I right?
[clock ticking]
[Phil] What a move by Zoey from the Brooklyn branch!
I didn't even see her coming.
She's clinched her spot.
Yeah! That's my girl!
That's, uh…
I mean, good job, Brooklyn girl!
Say, who is that under there?
Your voice sounds familiar.
Who, me?
No, I'm nobody. Just a fan.
Will you excuse me? I gotta run.
[Phil] That's it! Only one spot left,
and odds-on favorite Astrid from
the Berlin bureau still hasn't got it!
Logan!
[Logan yelling]
Nice. Time to even the playing field.
[Logan yelling]
[crowd cheering]
[clock beeping]
[Phil] There it is!
Astrid of Berlin has done it!
The advancing finalists are set!
[Izzie chuckling]
[triumphant music]
[grunts]
Here to gloat?
[Logan yelling]
Go ahead. Get your fill.
You kept up with the entire field without Dream Crafting.
I'll be honest,
I'm not sure even I could have pulled that off.
Hey, now that I'm out of the competition,
you gotta tell me.
You let me have that jetty thingy, right?
Have you ever read The Book of Five Rings?
Ah, I knew it! I totally knew it!
Classic bait and switch.
Hey, what's your favorite chapter?
Zoey, that was amazing,
I've never seen anything like it.
And you won't again.
What's that supposed to mean?
The rules of Beat the Clock are very clear.
You can only use Dream Crafting.
No outside gadgets.
I don't make the rules. It's tradition.
But that's not fair! She caught the clock.
- Who cares how she did it? - I do.
Because facing the Never Witch is no game.
Sometimes she won't have her watch to save her.
I'm not sending anyone but the best on this mission.
She is disqualified and another Dream Chaser will take her spot.
Why, you stuck up little so and so!
- You think you can just… - Hey, it's okay.
I don't need the win.
I already got everything I wanted today.
[mysterious piano music]
[suspenseful music]
Lower your weapon!
Since when am I taking orders from you?
Oh, you'll be taking lots of orders from me.
From here on out,
you'll be doing everything I tell you to.
Why in the world would I do that?
Because if you don't, I'll show your daughter this!
No, no, no! Please don't!
Just tell me what you want!
What I want
is the one they call Mateo.
[closing theme music playing]