Fraggle Rock (1983–1987): Season 2, Episode 14 - The Secret of Convincing John - full transcript

[upbeat music playing]

I Dance your cares away ♪

I Worry's for another day

I Let the music play }

I Down in Fraggle Rock ♪

I Work your cares away

I Dancing's for another day

I Let the Fraggles play

We're Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober, Red!

“Whoopee!
Wowee!

Ooh, a Fraggle!



[chuckles] Look, Ma. I got a Fraggle!

Argh!

Whoopee!

♪ Dance your cares away ♪

I Worry's for another day

I Let the music play }

I Down in Fraggle Rock ♪

I Down in Fraggle Rock ♪

Down in Fraggle Rock.

[Doc] This book on positive thinking

is positively amazing, Sprocket.

It shows how having the right attitude

has a lot to do with
whether or not you experience

the sweet taste of success.



[grunts]

Well, I'm going to try and do
what this book suggests

and become really positive.

Oh, you find that hard to believe, do you?

Oh, I know I become grouchy
from time to time.

-But you'll see...
[spits]

I'm going to develop
a whole new personality.

[howls]

[spits]
-Oh, I'm sorry.

Ooh, your tongue must be tasting awful.

I'l get you a drink of water.

Ever since I agreed

to became secretary for the Society
of Tinkerers and Inventors,

I've all this boring mail to do.

-No water?
[exclaims]

Oh, no, no.

This is infuriating!

-[Sprocket growling]
-Wait, now. Hold it. Hold it, hold it.

This is a good place
for me to start becoming really positive.

Now, the old me would've just gotten angry
and phoned the landlord.

But the new me, ah, yes, Sprocket,

I'm going to face this little challenge
with a smile.

Huh. Convincing John, I don't know
what that Fraggle's secret is,

but he's got the power
to convince a Doozer

to stop working and start dancing.

And he's coming to the Great Hall
to convince us all to become clowns.

Ah, I can't believe I was foolish enough
to promise I'd be there.

Wembley, do you want to come with me?

Sure.

Hey, now wait a minute.

I thought you were gonna come with me
to get Uncle Matt's card.

Oh, yeah, I was, wasn't 1?

Well, gee, fellas, I--

Hey, Wembley,
how come you're still lying in bed?

Aren't you feeling well?

Oh, well, I just can't decide
which side of bed to get out on.

Huh? There's only one side
you can get out on.

Yeah, the left one.

And everyone always says you should
get out of bed on the right side

if you wanna start the day right.

So, should I turn around
and get out of bed on my right?

“Wembley.
-Oh, boy.

If I get this straightened up,
then I can decide what to do next.

Turn around and get out of bed.

What a wembler you are.

[shudders]

You're just not decisive enough, Wembley.

[Wembley] That's not always true,
[stammering] Gobo,

once I make up my mind.

Are you trying to convince me
that you're not a wembler?

Well, yeah-- Well, no, not exactly. I...

I'l be back in a flash
with Uncle Matt's card.

Yeah.

[rattling]

Whoa.

[Doc] What's that, Sprocket?

It's always this way, Sprocket.

You rip up half the floor
to get at the pipe

and then discover
you can't find the tools you need.

Oh, that grumbling
sounds like the old me, doesn't it?

Well, from now on,
I'm gonna try a little harder

to be positive.

I know that wrench is in here somewhere.

Wembling's not that bad.

I mean, it's not that bad. Sort of

Wow. You should see the hole
that opened up in Outer Space, Wembley.

-It's colossal.
Wow.

- almost killed myself.
[gasps]

Gosh, Gobo.

How are you gonna get your post cards
from Uncle Matt now?

Hmm, I don't know.

I guess we'll have to go back
and get a rope, eh?

Yeah. Yeah.

Hmm. Who needs Convincing John
to get things rolling anyway?

-Yeah. Who needs him?
-[thuds]

[Red] And Convincing John
has agreed to perform

his most convincing party song,
"The Clown Concerto."

-Ooh, a definite favorite.
-{upbeat music playing]

In a special one-verse rendition.

And remember, one verse convinces
for a short time only.

Which makes it perfect
for pajama parties. Whoo.

Give a cheer.

-Convincing John is here.
[all cheering]

To wear a clown's nose
and actually believe in it. [sighs]

-Say yes to the nose.
[all] Yes to the nose.

Take it, girls.

I Listen to Convincing John §

I And all your troubles will be gone

I He's gonna tell i, spell it, sell it

7 Just for you I

I Now, listen to me, Fraggles

I For your giggles and your gaggles
Here's a laugh-a-minute lollapazoo

I If you wanna get a goggle
Till your eyeballs start to boggle I

I Let me show you
What I'm bringing to you

7 Just feast your eyeballs on this.

[laughing]

I Listen to Convincing John §

I And all your troubles will be gone

Okay. It's all clear out there.

Now, I'm gonna try
to climb across that chasm.

You tie that end of the rope
to something, and then hold on as well.

-That should keep me safe.
-Yeah.

[whispering] Okay, I'l be right back.

Okay. No problem.

That's easy.

I, uh...

Gee, I wonder which would be better
to attach the rope to,

the pipe or the rock?

Ah.

Whoa.

I don't know.

The pipe or the rock?

Ow.

-[Sprocket barking]
-The new me realizes

you simply can't communicate
with me, Sprocket.

And therefore, the new me
is not gonna say anything grouchy

about your potentially irritating barking.

[whining]
-Here. Hold this for me, please.

Mind you,

I'd appreciate it
if you started to be a bit more positive

about the new me and what I can do.

Oh, what have I done?

What haven't I done?

What have I done?

I've killed my best friend,
that's what I've done.

[straining]

Well, the first positive thing to do

is to create some space to maneuver
in this place.

Oh, I'l just move this stupid basket--

I mean, of course,
this extremely useful basket.

[grunting]

[Sprocket yawns]

[Sprocket sighs]

[Doc] It's so dark under this floor.

I can't see a thing.

But then, even though
it's dark under the floor,

there's no reason why
there can't be a light in my heart.

[chuckles]

[Sprocket sighs]

[crying]

What happened?

Gobo, you're alive.

Well, of course I'm alive, Wembley.

The hole's not that deep.

But what happened with the rope?

[stammering] I couldn't decide
where fo fasten it.

[groans] One of these days,

you're really gonna have to do something
about that wembling.

I guess I am, aren't I?

[sighs]

Hi, Wembley.

-[gloomily] Hi.
-Oh.

What-- What's wrong, Wembley?

I almost killed Gobo, that's what's wrong.

My wembling almost killed my best friend.

But I just saw Gobo,

and he didn't mention anything
about death.

Oh, yeah. [gasps] Boober.

What is that red thing on your face?

Oh, is that still there?

Well, Convincing John convinced everybody

that they should wear silly noses.

sighs]
-He convinced you,

Boober "Doom-is-my-middle-name" Fraggle
to wear that?

Well, you know Convincing John.

He could convince a Gorg
that he was a Doozer.

[gasps] Hey, I bet he could
convince me to change.

-Now, wait a minute, Wembley.
What?

Convincing John is dangerous.

He can talk anyone into anything.

Then he's exactly the Fraggle I need,

one who doesn't know
the meaning of the word "wemble."

[laughs] Wow.

You know, Boober, my friends aren't safe

unless I can become a brand-new me.

Uh...

Boober's probably wrong.

I mean, seeing Convincing John
isn't that extreme a step.

[humming]

Um, on the other hand...

[sighs] Oh, I'm such a wembler.

I can't decide anything.

Maybe I should start by deciding

whether or not deciding
is a good idea or not.

I, uh...

Nice nose.

On the other hand,

maybe not deciding
is a kind of decision too.

Oh, what am I gonna do?

[gasps] I know.
['l spin around in a circle,

and if I'm pointing
at Convincing John's cave when I stop,

well, then, I'l goin.

Yeah. Whoa...Oh.

Looking for someone, baby?

[stammering] Well, I'm not sure.

Then you've come to the right place.

Let's go.

Now, it was Convincing John
you wanted to see, right?

Well, yeah.

Only because I was sort of
interested in changing.

I was just wondering if he could perhaps

maybe help me become
alittle more definite.

Oh, baby, Convincing John
is the model of definiteness.

[Fragglettes] Mmm-hmm.

And he offers a wide range of courses.

-Oh.
“Which would you prefer?

Well, uh--
-The one-verse basic course

in temporarily-thinking-of-yourself-as...

[rim shot]

pretty-okay?

It looks good.

The two-verse total-confidence-in-public-
but-still-some-doubts-in-private...

[rim shot]

tutorial?

Gee, that looks good too.

Or, but only if you're really serious...

[both] Really, really serious.

The three-verse
complete-immersion developmental workshop

in total-belief-in-your-own-supremacy?

[rim shot]
[all] Wow.

That looks great too.

[upbeat music playing]

Ta-da. An excellent choice, young Fraggle.

Which one?

Wilfred, isn't it?
Well, Wembley, actually.

Yes, I never forget a face.

And Convincing John is always prepared.

Take it, girls.

I Listen to Convincing John §

I And all your troubles will be gone

I He's gonna tell i, spell it, sell it

7 Just for you I

I Now, listen to me, Wembley
When your knees are weak and trembly ♪

I And you haven't got a notion
What to choose ♪

Step over here for a definite example.

♪ Choose ♪

7 There's a tunnel to the left of you
A tunnel to the right of you I

I And either way you go
You're gonna lose ♪

I But remember while you dither
And you blither and you slither

I And you wemble back and forth
And to and fro?

I That the danger's even stranger

! If you wemble when you know
You've gotfo god

Yeah.

I Listen to Convincing John §

I And all your troubles will be gone

I He's gonna tell i, spell it, sell it

7 Just for you I

You got me to choose. That's amazing.

Listen, I'm not finished with you yet.

I So now you've heard my teachin'
And you've heard my mighty preachin'?

I And you know inside your soul
It's really true

I And for every new decision
You will see and hear a vision I

I Of the teachin'
That I'm preachin' unto you I

I You can womble, you can wemble
You can tippy-toe and tremble ♪

♪ But it's time to face
The music and the news ♪

I You're a tiger, you're a terror

I You're a Fraggle who can really choose

Yeah.

I I'm atiger, I'ma terror

I I'm a Fraggle who can really choose ♪

You are.

I Listen to Convincing John §

I And all your troubles will be gone

I He's gonna tell i, spell it, sell it

7 Just for you I

-l am.
-Yeah.

I He's gonna tell i, spell it, sell it

That's enough!

But... but, honey,
there's still one verse left.

-That's right.
-And it's the most convincing one too.

I'm the one who asked
for this session of convincing,

and I say that's enough.

I've got things to be getting on with,
and time's a-wastin'. [chuckles]

Well, there goes one definite Fraggle.

[Fragglettes] Mmm-hmm.

Is it so bad that Wembley's seeing
Convincing John, Boober?

Yeah, I mean, self-improvement
is part of the upward spiral.

Yeah, it'll be nice to see
Wembley be definite, for a change.

-Mmm-hmm.
[Wembley] Gobo.

Hey, Wembley. How'd it go?

~The name is Wilfred.
-[Gobo] Huh?

Yes, I've finished wembling,

and I've also finished
with the name Wembley.

I've decided that
you and I will exchange beds.

But I like my bed--
-Uh, uh, Gobo, Gobo...

Don't you think we should be supportive

of Wembley's newfound strength, hmm?

[Wembley] That old bed
always gave me trouble.

And now, Mokey, I've also decided

'l get the radishes
from the Gorgs' garden from now on.

[all gasp]
What? But I--

I don't want to be the siren
for the fire department anymore.

I need fresh challenges.

Oh, I'have great ideas
for a swim meet I'm going to organize.

And a new technique

for handling all the laundry.

“What?
-But more on that later.

Right now, I want us all
to go visit Outer Space.

-[all] What?
-But... but that's Gobo's job.

Or Uncle Matt's.

Yeah, and it's dangerous.

Oh, I thought any Fraggle who wanted to
could go into Outer Space?

Well, of course, they can--

Well, then, I've been thinking about it
all the way back here,

and I definitely want to go there

before another day passes.

[llead the way.

[Gobo] Uh...

I don't like this one little bit.

No, neither do I.

Uh, maybe he spiraled a little too high.

[Boober] First, let's get rid
of these silly noses.

[Gobo] Come on, Wembley.

Wilfred.

Well, come on, Wilfred,
you've never been to Outer Space.

You don't know the hazards.
You don't know the geography--

Gobo, my mind is made up.

Well, then, unmake it.

Look, I don't have
this kind of time to waste.

I'm heading for Outer Space.

[sighs] Well, don't forget about that...

[Wembley screaming]

hole.

[crashing]

-[Gobo] Okay, you guys got him?
-[Sprocket barking]

[Doc] Why do suppliers
never have the supplies you need

on the day you need them?

Ah, Wembley, this was
very self-destructive of you.

Why, look at you,
you are completely unconscious now.

I mean, what if
we had not been here to help?

[Doc] But Sprocket, I don't know
why we're not getting water.

It's not the plumbing,

but even if it were,

I don't have the supplies I need
to do the repairs.

[Sprocket grunts]

Oh, there's no use smiling, Sprocket.

This obviously wasn't the day
for me to try becoming a new me.

It's been a positive disaster.

Actually, when you think about it,

Wembley was never really indefinite.

Alittle over-flexible, perhaps.

And look where all this changing
has gotten him.

[Mokey] Well, maybe this fall
knocked some sense into him.

[Gobo] I don't think so.

What he calls being definite,

I call being stupid.

And very dangerous.

And inflexible.

Yeah, he's no fun at all.

Why, it's exactly like this thing
Uncle Matt was talking about

on a recent postcard.

[Matt] The other day,

1 discovered a whole new breed
of silly creatures

who deal with this world
by becoming totally inflexible.

Look at him.

He will not move.

Uh, excuse me.

Yoo-hoo. Hoo-hoo.

Hello there.

Hello. You see?

So I tried being inflexible too,

but found it a singularly
unrewarding approach

to life here in Outer Space.

But although I would never handle life
the way they do,

the inflexible silly creatures and
parted as friends.

But the difference is,

if Wembley stays inflexible,

he's gonna lose all his friends.

[exclaiming]

How are you feeling, Wembley?

The name's Wilfred.

See what I mean?

That was quite a fall,

but we learn from our mistakes.
So, let's go.

Go where?

Well, to Outer Space, of course.

Uh... [clears throat]

We have to talk about you, and I mean now.

Well, I have some definite opinions
about me.

So do, and this is no good, Wembley.

Wilfred.

You're not yourself anymore.

What a silly thing to say.

I'm still the same Wilfred Fraggle
I always was.

Well, you're Wilfred, and we want Wembley.

I wish you'd all stop
using that hideous name.

I really hate it. [exhales]

Ah, Wilfred, Wembley. Yuck.

[all grunting]

You're going back to Convincing John's
to get unconvinced.

I don't want to go back
to Convincing John.

[Boober] Well, you gotta go.

You're too dangerous
to yourself as Wilfred.

[Red] You need his help.

He's the only Fraggle
more definite than you.

[Wembley] Stop it.

[sighs] I wonder which is my best foot
to put forward.

My left foot or my right?

[Fragglette] Come on, John.
The afternoon's a-wastin'.

I know that. It's just all these choices
that give me trouble.

I Every single time I wake
I can't get out of bed ♪

I Every move I mean fo make
Stops inside my head ♪

7 If had some kind of key

7 If knew which way to be

I Maybe I could find the road ahead ♪

I You got to choose right

I Choose right?

I You're getting uptight, uptight?

I You got to move now, move now ♪

I Mustn't lose now, lose now?

I You got the choose-right
Uptight, move-now loser blues ♪

Yeah, I know. I know.

I You got the choose-right
Uptight, move-now loser blues ♪

I Every time I try to choose
Something seems to stall }

I Every time I get confused
Choke, and lose it all §

7 How come I'm so paralyzed?

I Think I'l go get analyzed }

I Feel so weary, I could sit and baw!

I You got to choose right, choose right I

I You're getting uptight, uptight?

I You got to move now, move nows

I You mustn't lose now, lose now 2

I You got the choose-right
Uptight, move-now loser blues ♪

I You got the choose right
Uptight, move-now loser blues ♪

I Well, now, every morning when I wake }

I Can't get out of bed §

I Every move I mean to make I

7 Stops inside my head ♪

♪ If had some kind of key
If I knew which way to be

I Maybe I could find the road ahead ♪

I You got to choose right
I got to choose right

I You're getting uptight
I'm getting uptight

I You got to move now, move now ♪

I Mustn't lose now, oh, yeah?

♪ Choose-right
Uptight, move-now loser blues ♪

I know I do.

I 1 got the choose-right
Uptight, move-now loser blues ♪

Yeah, but it's always the same.

You know, it's just,
I can never decide which way.

Was it this way or that way?

[screeching] You, you, you wembler.

[yelling]

-[Gobo] Get him.
-[Red] Wembley.

[Mokey] Wembley, come back.

No. I can't stand that wembler.

[Gobo] Like it or not,
you're going back in there, Wembley.

[clamoring]

[Wembley growling]
-[Boober] Come on.

[all grunting]
-[Gobo] Come on.

No. No, no, I don't want to see that--
You, you wembler.

Let me at him.

Itis pretty strange.

You, of all Fraggles, having a tough time
making up your mind.

Well, it's, uh-- Well, it's the secret
to my success.

[Fragglettes] That's right.

It enables me to see everything
from every point of view.

[Fragglettes agreeing]

Yeah, but look at him.

[growling]
How can you convince him of anything?

-Let me go.
-He's seen you wemble.

He can't even stand
to be in the same cave with you.

[Wembley growling]
-Yeah, Wembley's doomed to be definite.

Well, maybe, and maybe not.

[gasps] You mean...

Yes. The definite challenge.

-[gasps] Oh, no.
-[chuckling]

The definite challenge?

[scoffs] Listen, Fraggle.

-You think you know your own mind?
-Yeah.

-You think you'll never wemble again?
-Yeah.

Well, come on, Fraggle,
take the definite challenge.

[scoffing] There's no doubt
in my mind about anything.

Come on. Do your wembliest.

Allright, but remember,
Wilfred Fraggle...

-Mmm-hmm.
-This is for real.

[scoffs]
-You get to keep anything you choose.

-Oh, yeah.
-So, which will it be?

-This cave door...
[drumroll]

or that cave door?

-Hmm?
-This cave door, of course.

All right.

[drumroll]

[Convincing John]
Now, which shirt will it be?

Still think you can make a choice?

Hah. What a silly question.
I choose the... the left.

No, no, the right.
No, definitely the left, of course.

[Convincing John] Mmm-hmm.
An excellent choice, sir.

But there is more.

Let's see what you would've gotten

if you had chosen that cave door.

[imitating siren]

Your very own volunteer
fire engine back-up trio

to add new depth and resonance
to your siren calls. [laughing]

Oh, gee, that would have been nice.

Where does this guy get all this stuff?

I heard he was prepared for anything,
but this is ridiculous.

But there's more.

Which will it be?

A 50-year-old Doozer stick culled
from the legendary Tooth Tower...

[gasps] The tower's so sweet,

they withdrew the building material
from the cave

because it drove Fraggles wild.

Or...
‘What?

gasps]
-A slice of mossmelon? [laughs]

Oh, a mossmelon.
The rarest and sweetest fruit in the Rock.

-You can only harvest it every 100 years.
-Yes.

[panting excitedly]
-You can have one or the other,

but you can't have both.

[squeals and sputters]

[panting excitedly]

I can't decide!

[laughs]

[all] Yay.

Wembley, you're yourself again.

Well, so lam.

Yes. Give a Fraggle a tough choice.

How are you feeling, uh, Wilfred?

Well, the name's Wembley,
but you can call me Wilfred if you like.

Oh, Wembley,
we love you just the way you are.

Yeah, I really miss it
when there's no one around wembling.

[both] Do you really?
That's great. Oris it?

[all laughing]

[Sprocket barking]

No, Sprocket. It just struck me.

I've been going about this all wrong.

Don't you see?
Some things you should get angry about.

Pretending everything's okay
when it isn't is just plain silly.

So I'm going to do

what I would have ordinarily done
in the first place,

complain to the landlord.

[Mr. Fenton] Hello?

Hello, Mr. Fenton? This is Doc.

It's about my water supply.

You were just about to tum it back on?

Why didn't you tell me
you were turning it off?

Oh, you tried to get in touch
with me yesterday, but couldn't.

Well, you could have left
a note, couldn't you?

[barks]

All right. I accept your apology.

Very good. Thank you. Good-bye.

[chuckles] You see, Sprocket,

that's the difference
between good, healthy anger

and just growling at people.

I don't need to change my personality.

Hah.

Here we are.
[exclaims]

[panting]

But I suppose I could try
growling a little less.

[slurping]

[chuckling]

[upbeat music playing]

[scatting]

I Dance your cares away ♪

I Worry's for another day

I Let the music play }

I Down in Fraggle Rock ♪

I Dance your cares away ♪

I Worry's for another day

I Let the music play }

I Down in Fraggle Rock ♪

I Down in Fraggle Rock ♪

I Down in Fraggle Rock ♪