Once Upon a Forest

Abigail! Abigail! Abigail! Abigail! When are you going to learn to come when you're called? Abigail! Oh! There you are. I'll have you know that when I was a furling, I couldn't wait to get to Cornelius' class. Yes, daddy. At least he's taught you to behave. I'm glad you stopped climbing trees. Yes, daddy. See you later. Love you. Me, too, Abigail. Wait, that's my finger! Ow! Ow! Mom. They won't give me a chance for breakfast. Well, you'll just have to be quicker, Roland. I'm not Roland, mother. I'm Russell. Russell. No, no, you couldn't be Russell. He's at furling class. Class?! Hold on. Almost done. Mama, Cornelius has a big surprise planned for today, and you're making me late. Now hold still, Edgar. I'm almost finished. Well, I... Don't I even get a good-bye kiss? No time. I'll kiss you when I get back. Guess what! Guess what! You're never going to guess, I betcha. Uncle Cornelius said I could go with you on your ramble today, but since you lateys have probably forgotten all about it, I'll never, ever get to see what the big surprise is. What took you so long? My dad. My mother. No breakfast. Come on. We'd better hurry. If uncle Cornelius asks, tell him it isn't my fault you're late. good. He's busy. Think he'll notice we're late? Hey! where's Cornelius? Shh! he's experimenting. On the big surprise, I betcha. Oh, I love surprises. Let's have a look. Don't take another step. Furlings, prepare to be amazed. Wow! Ooh! It's really flying! Look! it's coming this way! Wow! Oh, wow! Well, what do you have to say? Uh... Sorry we're late? No, no, no, no. About this. My life's work. The flapper wingamathing. Of course, this is only a test model. Oh! One day, I shall build it full-size. It's wonderful, Cornelius. Russell, your mouth is hanging open. I want to fly it next. Please. Don't be silly. You'll crash it. Correct, Abigail. It's far too delicate for furlings. Huh? I didn't mean me. Ho ho ho ho ho! Me! me! Let's have another go, shall we? Oh, dear. Furlings! No, Russell! No! There it goes. No, furlings! Th-that's delicate! My books! Abigail, not that! Yippee! Whoa! Catastrophe! Catch it, uncle Cornelius. Oh, no! No! no! Huh? Look, I think it's slowing down. It's going that way! Here it comes! I got it. I got it! I got it! Ahh! Uncle Cornelius, your mouth is hanging open. Great honk! Look what you've done! Sorry, Cornelius. Well, furlings, there are times when we of science must learn to accept... Setbacks. Looks like one of those times, doesn't it? I guess we wrecked the big surprise, huh? No. you wrecked months and months of work! The big surprise is awaiting us on our ramble. Oh. give me strength. Now... Now, let's hurry along before we have any more... Setbacks. Step lively, furlings. Wait for us! Left, right. Left, right. I'm ready. Come on, you guys! Hurry! Michelle! not that way! That area is off-limits. Why, uncle Cornelius? That's not our lesson for today. Come along, furlings. Today is plant day. We'll learn how everything we need grows right here in Dapplewood. Now, what is this, furlings? I know, I know! A Willow, Cornelius. Correct. And did you know its bark can be used to cure rheumatism? Uncle Cornelius, what's r-rheumotism? Rheum-a-tism, Michelle. Oh! I know! Rheumatism makes your bones hurt when the weather gets damp. Correct again. Wow! Now, as we get further along the trail... Very good, Mr. smarty-pants. Hey! give that back! Over here! Over here! Hey! Furlings! We shall go home right now if you are not going to take this ramble seriously. No, no! Please, Cornelius! We promise to be good. Come along, then. We've lots to see. I'll lead the way. You always lead. Not so fast, Abigail. Hey! What do you think you're doing? You've been leading long enough. Now it's my turn. Forget it. You don't know where I'm going. But I know where I'm going. Whoa! Hey! wait for us! Russell. Where have you led us? I don't know. This ground isn't normal. It's... It's hard. And it smells kind of funny. Furlings! Get away from there! Get out of the road this instant! Furlings... Move! Russell, you are one lucky hedgehog. It's rare that a furling survives an encounter with... With... A monster? That... is a good name for it. What was it really, Cornelius? No more questions. I want you to forget this place. Ohhh! When are we gonna see it? Are we there yet? Yes, yes. I believe this is the right trail. Ready, furlings? Here's the big surprise! Wow! look at the boat! Are we going to ride in it? Of course! Get in! Get in! Yippee! I get to steer. Don't be silly, Russell. You'd just sink us. Would not! Give me a chance. You two settle down. Everyone will get a chance. Hop in, Edgar. Ha ha! Now, in you go. Oh! Great honk! All right. Abigail. Russell. You paddle first. No. no. Stop, stop, stop, stop! No. no. We'll never get anywhere that way. Now, together. Stroke. Stroke. And stroke. Stroke. Stroke. Good. Stroke. Good. So much better. So much better. Gas! I've got to get help. Oh, great. You're going to lose my paddle, too. I don't like this. Yippee! this is fun. Furlings, for the last time... Swim for shore, furlings. Abigail, your performance out there could have cost us our lives. And as for the rest of you, in all my years, I've never had a more undisciplined... What's the matter, Cornelius? Shh! Something's wrong. The woods are far too still. We must hurry home. But we're all wet. Now, furlings. Now! Oh, dear heaven! Not here. What's happened? Where is everyone? Mommy! Daddy! Michelle! No! We must stop her! It's not safe. Mommy, daddy, where are you? Mommy! Michelle, wait! No! Hello? hello? Mommy, is that you? Wait, Michelle! It's dangerous! No, furlings! There's a deadly gas in there. But... but what about Michelle? Just a moment. I'll... I'll think of something. We're not waiting. Cover your mouth! Don't breathe the gas! Michelle! Oh, Michelle. Abigail... For once I'm glad you didn't listen to me. We must get her to higher ground. Quickly, furlings! To my house. Did you find your mother? No. Just... just her apron. Then... We're the only ones left. I was in such a hurry this morning. I never kissed my mother good-bye. Tell me there's good news. Can we stay with you tonight? Of course. What happened to our home, Cornelius? I had hoped you'd be a little older before we had this lesson. A long time ago when I was a furling, I lived far away in a place called willowbrook. It was winter... During our bedtime story when we... We heard the sound. Mother and father told us to run. I was the first to the door, and that's when I saw them... Humans! We got out, but mother and father... They didn't. There was nothing I could do for my mother or father. But there is something you can do for Michelle. Us, Cornelius? I need special plants. Eyebright to soothe the burns on her eyes. And her lungs are badly damaged, so you must collect plenty of lungwort. But everything in our meadow's dead. Then you must find another. Another meadow? There's no choice. You only have 2 days time. The herbs must be applied before the moon waxes full, or it will be too late for Michelle. You're coming with us, right? I wish I could, but I dare not leave her side. We'll be by ourselves? No. you'll have each other. You'll want an early start. Now get some sleep. And if you dream, dream of better times for Michelle and Dapplewood. I can tell time by the moon I can tell time by the sun no matter how I Mark the hours light and dark I tell you, your time's just begun it is morning in your life day is breaking, oh, so bright you've barely made a start just one beat of my heart don't sleep away the morning light please wake up please wake up leave dark dreams behind please wake up it's your morning golden day to find once I had a morning, too I was young once just like you it's evening in my life all I have is the night but it's still early morning for you for you for you Is the pack full yet? I have more room in my pockets. Whoa. This isn't a picnic. Here. pack something useful. Boy, I'm already working up an appetite. Think we should take this? Oh, Edgar. Hmm. Well, I'm ready. Let's go. Wait. I feel like we're forgetting something, and I'd hate to be unprepared. Is this what you're thinking of, Edgar? Cornelius! your map. It will take you to the edge of Dapplewood Forest. Then you will be on your own. Now, I want you to stay together. The only other thing I can give you is this warning. Avoid the humans, and try to work together. Good luck, my furlings. Michelle is counting on you. Wait, Abigail. Haven't we come far enough for one day? Edgar, look at the moon. Cornelius said to get those plants to Michelle before it's full. We have to travel as far as we can tonight. But... but it's not safe out there. There's no cover. OK... if it makes you feel better, we'll run for that tree, catch our breath, and plan the next move from there. Ready? Let's go. Hold on. I got to stop. Russell, we can't rest now. Easy for you to say. You're not carrying our supplies. Well, I will. Hand them over. Abigail, not so loud. Aah! aah! Help! help! Ohh! ohh! Aah! aah! Help! Uhh! uhh! Aah! Edgar! Russell! Abigail! Abigail! Help! Oh! uhh! Uhh! Ohh! We're gonna... Climb? We can't dig our way up. Ohh! Grrr! grrr! Aah! Can you see her yet? Uh-huh. Aah! Oof! Ooh! uhh. Ooh. Good thing you're a slow climber. Oh! Hurry! let's get out of here! Ohh! There! Under that log! That was close. Ohh! ohh! Aah! Ohh! aah! Shoo! Go away! Aah! Edgar, are you all right? That's it, Abigail. That's the last time I'm gonna let you get us into trouble. From now on, I'm... you're right, Edgar. I was wrong. Thanks for coming to my rescue. What about me? I broke your fall. You, too, Russell. Well... Now that that's settled, our only problem is that... We're hopelessly lost. Don't worry. If anyone can get us on the right trail, you can, Edgar. What about our food? Most of it got lost on the Heath. You'll find more, Russell. That's never been a problem for you. That's true. After all we've gone through, the worst has to be over. I sure hope so. You know, Abigail, sometimes I wish I was brave... Like you. You are. Good night, Edgar, Russell. Ohh. Huh? What? He's gone ooh he's gone ooh he's gone oh, my lord, he's gone I'm gonna miss him so gonna miss him so ooh ooh gonna miss him so Hey. Maybe they know where a meadow is. One more is gone Brothers and sisters, it is indeed a sad day. One of our flock has crossed over to a better place. Excuse me. Excuse me. My friends and I are lost, and we... say no more, child. We, too, are lost. Lost in our grief. Amen, brother Phineas! But verily, verily, verily, the end that comes to us all has come too soon to one of our feathered brothers, who has been brought down by an evil scourge. Evil! And by what name do we call this scourge? Yellow dragons! Yellow dragons! Yellow dragons have drained our marsh and turned our nesting ground into a muddy graveyard! Ooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh What's he squawkin' about? Shh! Someone's died. Oh. So, brethren... Step forward, and pay your last respects to our dearly departed... Bosworth! Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma! Good-bye, mother. Bosworth! Oh, my son! Wait. it doesn't have to be that way. No? Is there a ray of hope? A ray of hope? Ohh! There is a ray of hope. Brothers and sisters, we ca save bosworth. Hallelujah! hallelujah! Russell, you find us a couple of branches, and, Abigail, we'll use the twine you packed. Eee! Bosworth! You're back. Ohh... He's back! Ooh I see him movin' movin', movin' I see him movin' I see him movin', movin' I see him movin' I see him movin', movin' what a surprise my, my, my surprise aah! He's back he's back, there's no doubt about it he's back he's back, I'm gonna shout it stuck in the mud up to his knees they came along and then, well, well hallelujah Ha ha ha! Well, well, well well, well, well, well, well I'm so glad I'm so glad, I'm so glad well, well, well, well, well, well, well well, well well, well, well ain't you glad about it? Ain't you glad about it? I'm glad, I'm so glad Ha ha ha! He's back he's back, no doubt about it I said he's back he's back, I'm gonna shout it he was stuck in the mud up to his knees they came along and they well, well ooh well, well hallelujah hallelujah, he's back talk to me, now la, la, la talk to me la, la, la talk to me yes yes la, la, la he's back he's back, no doubt about it I said he's back he's back he was stuck in the mud up to his knees they came along and they... well well, well well, well, well hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah, he's back Hallelujah! Hal-le-lujah! There's gonna be some celebratin' today. I hope you plan on staying. Sure. will there be any food other than worms? Sorry, we can't stay. We only have until tonight to find a meadow. Oh, on a pilgrimage, eh? There's a glorious meadow just yonder, but you have to walk among the yellow dragons. That's the second time you've mentioned the... Yellow dragons. Are they as terrible as they sound? Worse. They are huge monsters that breathe fire and brimstone! We can take care of ourselves, thank you. Yeah, well, after what you did for bosworth, I truly believe you can. If you're strong of heart, the only path lies that way, across accursed ground over which my flock will not even fly. Oh! It's the yellow dragons! Aah! Russell, now's no time to get all balled up. Oh! ohh! Ohh! Ohh! Aah! Oof! Aah! Hey. Maybe he didn't want to eat us up after all. No, but that one does. Aah! Ohh! ohh! Ohh! ohh! Whoa! Suck in your stomach, Russell! Ohh! Wiggle. wiggle harder! Uhh! uhh! Aah! Aah! I'm drowning! Help! help! Help! Edgar... Heh heh heh... Get up. Oh... ha ha ha. Oh... huh. Wow! Look at this place. Gives me the creeps. We're only underground. Yeah. and you're a mole, right? Think of this as home. Only stinky. We're not helping Michelle by just standing around. We've got to get moving. Listen. what's that noise? Huh? Ohh! Ohh! Aah! Aah! Now where are we? I don't know. None of this is on the map. It's all over. We'll never find our way now. Don't say that, Abigail. Michelle's counting on us. Maybe if we climb that hill, we can start over. Boy, we could be anyplace. Uh! uh! Huh? Huh? It's a meadow! We made it! Now all we need is the eyebright and the... wha... ahh... ohh! Oof! Ow! Oof. Thanks, pal. Hey, why'd you take that? Oh, come on, now. You give that back to me. Are you all right, Edgar? Whoa! Get out of the way! Ha ha! Huh! uh! Hey! Uh! Gee, and I thought meals were out of control at my house. I saw it first. You mice are all the same... greedy little cowards. How we gonna get anybody to help us find the herbs? Maybe these guys won't be so grouchy after they eat. Well, we can't wait that long. Hey, let go! What's the big idea? Whoa! whoa! Pbfllt! Hey, just what do you think you're... you're... Gosh, I hope I didn't hurt you when you threw me down. Hurt me? No. I'm fine. You're not from around here, are you? Mm-mmm. Aha! now the truth comes out. They're just here to steal our food. No. we're just looking for lungwort and eyebright. Liar! It's true. We need the herbs to help a sick badger back home. More lies. Why would a mole, a mouse, and a hedgehog want to help a foul-smelling, worm-eating, good-for-nothing badger? Michelle's none of those things. She's our friend, understand? We've come too far to be stopped now. Step aside! Russell, Abigail, are we doing this together or not? Wait for us! I'm proud of you, Edgar. Hey, look at all the eyebright. For all the good it'll do you. I'd like to see you get the lungwort. No one in oakdale's ever been able to reach it, but I'll bet you three can. That's right. We've already got a plan. Right, Edgar? I don't know. Ha ha ha! Just like a hedgehog... big mouth and no brains. Hmph! Don't listen to waggs. He just likes to pick fights. Wait a minute. I know how to get up there. We'll use Cornelius' flapper wingamathing. Russell, good thinking. We'll fly to the top of the cliff. You don't really mean fly. You heard them, Willy. They'll flap their little paws and fly like birdies. Ha! Laugh all you want. We'll show you. It looks like it really might work. To your stations! Crank the winder-uppers! Yay! we're flying! They did it! They really did it! Abigail! I'm locking the wings. We're on full glide. Edgar, get ready to grab the lungwort. Don't worry, Edgar, I'll do it. Be careful, Abigail! Yeah, the wind's picking up. Oh, no! What? Oh! Aah! aah! Abigail! Aah! Russell, do something! I've got my hands full. You've got to save her! Hang on, Abigail. I'm coming. I can't hold on! Help! Aah! Aah! Is everyone all right? Uh... Yeah? I guess we have to try again. It's no use now. The lungwort's gone. We failed. No, we haven't. Look! we got it! We got it? We got it? They got it! You're so brave, Edgar. Ha ha ha! Look! the land of the yellow dragons! Won't Cornelius be excited to see where we've been? Abigail, you're standing in my light. It's not Abigail. Look! Whoa! Whoa! oh! Whoa! oh! Uh-oh! Whoa! Whoa! Aah! Oh! Ohh! Whew! Aah! Whoa! Hold on! Whoa! Whoa! Where are we? Right where we want to be! Look! the Willow from our ramble. We're home! Michelle. Come on! Cornelius... My furlings, you're back. Did you get the herbs? Yes. how is Michelle? I'm afraid she's slipping away. I must administer the herbs immediately. Any sign of our parents, Cornelius? None. I'm sorry. Huh? huh? What was that? Let's see. Someone's outside! Cornelius, come here. Quick! Oh, no, not again. It's the gas. We can still get away. Out the back! This way. Aah! Cornelius? Russell? Abigail? Edgar! Aah! There you go, little fella. Edgar! Oh, Edgar. In all my years, I... I've never... All right, good. This area's cleaned up. Here you go, Edgar. Thank goodness. This way, Cornelius. Where are you leading me, furlings? Someplace safe. Did we make it in time, Cornelius? We'll know in the morning. Whatever happens, you've done your best. Oh, my dear Michelle. Huh? what? Michelle? Michelle? Oh, Michelle. We were too late. No, no, my furlings. You did everything possible... Oh. everything possible. Oh, my dear Michelle. Mama? Papa? Uncle Cornelius... Why do you look so sad? My goodness! Michelle! You're all better! Oh, Michelle, my child, you're all right. Of course I'm all right. I just had... A long nap. Hey, what's that? Great honk! My flapper wingamathing! Yes, we built it. You built it? But how did it get here? We flew it! You? magnificent! No, no... Stupendous! You three... You have changed so much these past few days. I hardly recognize you. You're no longer my furlings. You've grown up. Huh? Lookee, uncle Cornelius. Russell! Hey, where were you? We stayed in the forest until it was safe. Abigail! Daddy! Oh, daddy, I missed you so much! Uncle Cornelius... All the mommies and daddies are coming back. Not all, my dear. I'll never be able to replace your mommy and daddy... But I'll do my best. Mama? Edgar! Mama? Mama! Edgar! Oh, Edgar! When we ran from the gas, I was worried sick about you. Oh... did you forget your scarf somewhere? No, mama. This is what I forgot. Oh, Edgar. I guess nothing will ever be the same again, will it, uncle Cornelius? Well, my dear... If we all work as hard to save Dapplewood as your 3 friends worked to save you, it will be. Come away come away and your heart will understand yesterday flies away but tomorrow's in your hand come away come away there's a place that it can be that you can be like once upon a time with me once upon a time we were flying once upon a time we were free life once let us go as far as we could go always remember once upon a time with me come away come away and your heart will understand yesterday flies away but tomorrow's in your hand come away come away there's a place that it can be that you can be like once upon a time once against the odds we were winners we were all we dreamed we could be you touched night and day and made them go our way once upon a time with me when we lived our lives like a story and the story ends what will be? Where this life will go I don't pretend to know please don't forget that once upon a time with me come away and your heart will understand yesterday flies away but tomorrow's in your hand come away come away there's a place that it can be and you can be like once upon a time with me when one story ends there's another it's all up to us don't you see? You say let's begin and I say once again and you'll find it's not once upon a time but here and now and you and me come away and your heart will understand yesterday flies away but tomorrow's in your hand come away come away there's a place that it can be and you can be like once upon a time with me go with me Captioned by the National Captioning

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