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Veggie Animals: The Best Of The Best

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Veggie Animals

Episode 4: The Best Of The Best

A Lesson in Humility

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[Once again, it is another nice day in the forest where the Veggie Animals live. Inside
the home of Petunia Rhubarb/Sifaka, she is organizing everything in her home, setting
them on the shelves while humming to herself. She is setting up some pictures and little
trinkets on the shelves.]

Petunia: Just a little bit more and everything will be all set up.

[Petunia has gotten almost everything all set up, until she is down to only one trinket,
which is a silver-colored cup filled with dirt with a flower sticking out of it.]

Petunia: This flower pot should look good next to these shelves.

[Petunia is about to set the cup and flower next to one of her shelves, when Larry enters
through the front door.]

Larry: Hi, Petunia! Whatcha doing?

Petunia: Oh, hi, Larry. I'm just getting everything organized here.

Larry: Wow, Petunia, that's a nice-looking trinket you've got there. Where did you get it?

Petunia: Please, Larry, it's nothing important. It's just one of my favorite trinkets.

[At that moment, Archibald also enters the door as well, before he also notices the cup
and flower as he walks up to the two lemurs.]

Archibald: Why, Petunia, where did you get this?

Petunia: Really, Archie, it's nothing.

[Mr. Lunt the rock hyrax also enters Petunia's house as well as he also notices the cup and
flower.]

Mr. Lunt: Say now, Petunia, that's a snazzy-looking trinket you got there.

Larry: Yeah, Mr. Lunt, isn't it something?

Petunia: Well, I wouldn't actually call it 'something'.

Archibald: Come now, Petunia, don't be so modest. Surely you must've gotten this trinket
from somewhere.

[Jimmy and Jerry also enter Petunia's house afterwards.]

Jimmy: I'll say that she got it from somewhere.

Petunia: Please, everyone, it's nothing special. It's just one of my most treasured trinkets.

[At that moment, Pa Grape/Guinea Pig also enters Petunia's house.]

Pa Grape: Oh my, if my eyes don't deceive me, that looks like a running trophy if I ever
saw one!

Petunia: It's not a running trophy, Pa.

Archibald: Nonsense, Petunia. If Pa says that it's a running trophy, it most certainly looks
like a running trophy.

[Petunia can only put her paw to her face in frustration afterwards, frustrated that no one
is listening to her.]

(Theme opens)

[Larry, Archibald, Mr. Lunt, Jimmy, Jerry, and Pa Grape are still admiring Petunia's cup
and flower, still under the impression that it is a running trophy. Petunia tries to tell
them otherwise, but they're too excited to listen to her. The male animals then turn their
gazes towards Petunia after that.]

Jimmy: Hey, Petunia, why didn't you tell us that you were so fleet-footed?

Jerry: Yeah, fleet-footed!

Larry: Are you kidding, guys? Petunia is as fast as I am. Why if we raced each other, we
would be at a tie!

Everyone else: Ooooooooh!

Petunia: Please, Larry, you shouldn't.

Archibald: You know, Larry, a race doesn't sound like a bad idea at all.

Jimmy: Yeah, and the prize would be that trinket!

Mr. Lunt: Oooh, great idea!

Petunia: Now, guys, can't we be reasonable about this?

Archibald: We'll be reasonable as soon as we get ready for the race!

Pa Grape: Remember to train hard for the race. Tomorrow, the race shall begin.

[With that, Larry, Archibald, Mr. Lunt, Jimmy, and Jerry then walk off so that they can
train for the race, while Pa Grape also walks off as well. Petunia is left standing all
alone while holding her cup and flower, bewildered at what happened.]

Petunia: Oh dear, how could I have let what just happened happen?

[Later on in the day, we see each of the male animals doing different exercises in order
to train for the race. Archibald is doing toe touches while wearing a yellow tank top and
a red headband around his head, while Larry is doing some running while wearing a purple
tank top and a white headband. Petunia then walks up to Archibald after that.]

Petunia: Archie, there's something I need to tell you about my speed.

Archibald: Not now, Petunia, right now I need to rest up after doing all of those toe
touches. Oh, my back.

[Archibald then walks off while holding his lower back in pain.]

Petunia: But, Archie, I'm not as fast as Larry says.

Jimmy: (Off-screen) Oh, trying to trick us into thinking you're slow, huh?!?

[Petunia then turns around in time to see both Jimmy and Jerry doing some weight-lifting
exercises. Jimmy is lifting a pair of small 10-lb. weights while wearing a green tank
top and a gray headband while Jerry is trying hard to lift a large weight while wearing
a blue tank top and a brown headband. The weights that the two jackal brothers are lifting
are made entirely out of branches and pieces of cut-up tree stump.]

Jimmy: Well, it's not going to work, because Jerry and I are going to win this race!

Jerry: *grunting* That's right, Jimmy!

[However, one end of the weight that Jerry was lifting suddenly comes loose, which causes
Jerry to lose his balance and fall over, at the same time that the tree stump piece then
hits Jimmy on the head, causing him to fall over as well. Petunia can only shake her head
at this after that.]

Petunia: I'm not very strong either.

[Petunia then walks up to Scooter, who is also training for the race as well, balancing
on top of a tree stump on one foot while wearing a red tank top and an argyle-patterned
headband.]

Petunia: Scooter, don't tell me you're entering this race too.

Scooter: Aye, Lassie, after hearin' about fast ye are, I might as well take part in this
race as well.

Petunia: But, Scooter, I'm not-

Scooter: Now, Lass, don't try to butter me up.

Petunia: *sighs*

[At that moment, Petunia then comes upon Mr. Lunt attempting to do some push-ups while
wearing a yellow-orange tank top.]

Mr. Lunt: *grunting* 25, 26, 27, 28.

Petunia: Mr. Lunt, what are you doing?

Mr. Lunt: What's it look like I'm doing? I'm doing push-ups so that I can beat you in the
race.

Petunia: Why won't anyone listen to me? I'm not all that fast.

Mr. Lunt: Sure you are, Petunia, Larry said so. Didn't you hear him?

[At that moment, Larry also runs by as well, running back and forth in front of Petunia.]

Larry: He's right, Petunia! We've raced before and we've gotten into a tie! But as long
as I keep doing all this training, we'll be even!

[Petunia can only put her paw to her face in frustration, obviously frustrated that none
of the male animals are able to give her a chance to explain. Later that night, at the
home of Petunia, we can hear Petunia talking from inside.]

Petunia: (Off-screen) Everyone, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but there's something that
all of you must know about me.

[We then cut to the inside where we see Petunia looking like she is telling the rest of
the animals the truth about how fast she is.]

Petunia: I'm not as fast as Larry says that I am, we just participate in friendly racing
sometimes. So, I've never actually won a race before.

[It is then revealed that Petunia was actually talking to just a couple of chairs, which
meant that she was actually practicing what to say to the others.]

Petunia: Yes, I think I got it now. That's what I'm going to tell everyone tomorrow at
the race.

[The next morning is the day of the race, where we now see Archibald, Larry, Mr. Lunt,
Jimmy, Jerry, and Scooter at the starting line, while Pa Grape is to act as commentator
for the race.]

Pa Grape: Alright, everyone. The race will start here and end here. Now, is everyone
ready? On your mark, get set...

Archibald: Hold up, Pa! Where's Petunia?

Larry: I just hope that she's alright.

[At that moment, Petunia finally shows up before standing in front of the racers.]

Petunia: Everyone, there's something I need to tell you.

Pa Grape: And you may say it, Petunia, just as soon as I say, 'Go'!

[As soon as Pa Grape says 'Go', Archibald, Larry, Jimmy, Jerry, Mr. Lunt, and Scooter
quickly rush off, leaving Petunia behind in the dust. Archibald is able to stop just
a few feet away.]

Archibald: Now don't let us win this race easily, Petunia, are you going to race us?

Petunia: Wait, guys, come back!

[Petunia then proceeds to run after the 6 racers, with Pa Grape looking through a
telescope to monitor everything that's going on in the race. The first obstacle in
the race is a bunch of logs that are in front of the trail, but some of the racers
are able to jump over the logs like hurdles. Jimmy, Jerry, and Mr. Lunt are the
ones who end up tripping over some of the logs, but they are able to get back up
again before continuing onward again. Aristotle the owl is perched on one branch
of a nearby tree, before he becomes surprised by the racers that rush by underneath
the tree.]

Aristotle: I wonder where everyone's off to in such a hurry?

[Aristotle then looks down in time to notice Petunia running after the others, before
he flies down and lands next to her, which causes her to stop.]

Aristotle: Why, Petunia, what is going on here?

Petunia: Oh, hello, Aristotle, we're having a race today.

Aristotle: A race? Oh my, that sounds like a lot of fun.

Petunia: Not so fun for me. I didn't even want to be in this race anyway.

Aristotle: Oh?

Petunia: Everyone thinks I'm one of the fastest in all of the forest, but I'm not
all that fast, but they wouldn't listen to me.

Aristotle: I am so sorry to hear that, Petunia. It sounds to me like their pride
has overcome their better judgment, but you are humble about yourself.

Petunia: Yeah, but they wouldn't listen to me.

Aristotle: Just remember this, Petunia, even if the others are too prideful to
listen to you, you can prove to them otherwise with your humility.

Petunia: You're right, Aristotle. I better catch up with the others!

Aristotle: I'll fly ahead and make sure that the race is going smoothly.

[Aristotle then takes to the air once again, while Petunia resumes running again
to catch up with the other racers. This time, the next obstacle is a large hill
in front of the trail. Larry is able to leap up the hill without any problems,
though Archibald, Jimmy, Jerry, and Scooter have a little trouble trying to climb
up the hill. Mr. Lunt then stops in front of the hill after that.]

Mr. Lunt: You know, this gives me an idea.

[Mr. Lunt then starts to dig a tunnel at the base of the hill before he starts
digging upwards. Jimmy and Jerry have made it to the top of the hill, before
they become surprised and nearly fall backwards when Mr. Lunt pops out from
the top of the hill in front of them. Mr. Lunt then starts to make his way down
the other side of the hill after that.]

Jimmy: Hey, Lunt! That's cheating! You can't dig up a hill like that!

Jerry: Yeah!

[The two jackals then also make their way down the other side of the hill, followed
afterwards by Scooter and Archibald. Petunia also climbs up the hill as well before
coming down the other side again.]

Petunia: If I don't finish first, then everyone will think that I'm not as fast as
they thought I was!

[Another obstacle in the race is a gorge over a river with a log over the river. Of
course, Scooter is able to walk over the log without any problems because of his
practicing in balancing. Although, Larry and Archibald are able to cross over the
log, but Jimmy, Jerry, and Mr. Lunt can't get over the log without having to crawl
across, fearing that either one of them would fall into the river.]

Scooter: Face it, ya scurvy scalliwags! None of you are as well-balanced as I am!

Jimmy: Oh yeah?!? We'll make you eat those words when we beat you, Scooter!

[The race then resumes once again, just as Petunia is also able to cross over the
log to try and catch up with the other racers. Aristotle is still flying overhead
while keeping an eye on the race.]

Aristotle: So far, so good.

[The race continues on further around the bend, where the racers now make their
way towards a large tree with a hole in the center. From the hole in the tree,
the male animals can smell the delicious aroma of food.]

Larry: What's that smell?

Archibald: Why, if my memory serves me correctly, Pa Grape said that we will be
coming upon a large sycamore tree with a hole in it. And inside the hole are
sack lunches for each racer for if they got hungry during the race.

Jimmy: Now that's my kind of race!

Jerry: Mine too!

[Once the racers approach the sycamore tree, each of them reach into the hole to
retrieve the sack lunches that had been placed in the hole. Petunia also rejoins
the other racers as well, just as the racers had gotten the sack lunches. Larry
then looks over in time to notice that Petunia made it.]

Larry: Hey, Petunia, glad you made it!

Petunia: What's going on here, Larry?

Larry: This is the tree where some sack lunches were kept. Here's yours. *tosses
one sack lunch to Petunia, who catches it*

Petunia: Thanks, Larry, I guess I am hungry.

[Soon, the animals then begin to eat the food that was in the sack lunches that
they had gotten from the hole in the sycamore tree. It is noted that the sack
lunches that Jimmy and Jerry had gotten were slightly bigger than the other
sack lunches that the others had gotten. Jimmy helps himself to a chicken
drumstick and some oatmeal cookies while Jerry is eating a ham and a cheese
sandwich.]

Jimmy: *gobble, munch* Mmmmmmmmm, all this racing has made me really hungry.

Jerry: You got it, Jimmy. *chomp, chew*

Archibald: Just be careful not to eat too fast, you two. *eats a tuna sandwich
and drinks some tea*

Scooter: Aye, no telling what will happen within your gullets and gizzards.

[Once the animals have finished eating the food that was in the sack lunches,
they are able to resume the race once again, now that their stomachs are
full. Just like before, Petunia is once again left behind in the race, with
the rest of the racers far ahead of her again. Aristotle is still flying
ahead to make sure that the race is going smoothly. However, he suddenly
becomes surprised when he sees that the racers are heading towards what
looks like a dense swampy area.]

Aristotle: Oh my! This is terrible! I must tell Petunia about this at once!

[Aristotle then quickly flies down and lands in front of Petunia to warn her
about the danger that the others are heading for.]

Aristotle: Petunia! I'm afraid that the others are in grave danger!

Petunia: How come, Aristotle?

Aristotle: They've taken a wrong turn, heading straight for the swamp!

Petunia: The swamp?!? *horrified* Oh no! And right after they've eaten too!

Aristotle: What?!? That's even worse! I have to head them off before they
head for the swamp!

[Aristotle then takes to the air once again, before Petunia resumes running
once again, following after Aristotle. Aristotle is able to make it to the
swamp, but it is too late, Archibald, Larry, Jimmy, Jerry, Mr. Lunt, and
Scooter have already fallen into the sticky muddy waters of the swamp,
unable to get out.]

Aristotle: Oh no, I was afraid of this! I was too late to stop them!

Archibald: Aristotle, how long have you been watching us?

Aristotle: I've been watching the race for some time, ever since Petunia told
me about it.

Mr. Lunt: Petunia told you about the race?!?

Jimmy: Get us out, Aristotle! My stomach feels cramped!

Jerry: Mine too!

Aristotle: I would, except for one thing. Whichever one of you I help out first
will have an unfair advantage in this race.

Larry: Where's Petunia? Is she alright?

Aristotle: She's just fine, Larry, no need to worry. I just hope that she'll
think of something to help you all out.

[From behind a nearby tree, Petunia watches as Aristotle is still talking with
the trapped racers. Petunia then comes up with an idea as she runs off to see
if she can find anything to save the others. Fortunately, Petunia is able to
find a vine that is long enough, as well as a small log, before she ties the
vine to the log.]

Petunia: This is perfect!

[Aristotle meets up with Petunia once again.]

Aristotle: Any progress, Petunia?

Petunia: You bet there's been progress, Aristotle. I just toss this vine and
log into the swamp and the others will be free!

Aristotle: Smart thinking, Petunia. *smiles*

[Petunia then runs back towards where the other animals are still stuck in the
swamp, while carrying the vine and the log. The other animals become surprised
when they see that Petunia has come to their rescue.]

Archibald: Petunia?!?

Scooter: What do ye think you're doin', Lassie?!?

Petunia: I've come to save you guys!

Jimmy: Save us? While we're having a race?!?

Mr. Lunt: I think she's lost it already!

[Petunia then throws the vine and log directly into the swamp, as Larry is able
to catch the log, before he passes it on to the other animals, until the vine
is now around the six male animals. Once the log is now tied securely around
the vine loop, Petunia then starts to pull on the vine, before the male animals
get pulled out of the swamp before they end up in a pile on top of each other,
with the vine still tied around them and some of the swamp slime on them. Aristotle
then flies down before using his talons to cut the vine afterwards. The racers are
happy that they've been freed from the swamp at last.]

Archibald: Jolly good, Petunia!

Larry: Thanks for saving us, Petunia!

Jimmy: Yeah, thanks!

[The other racers then race off, leaving Petunia behind once again. Petunia is
once again forced to have to catch up with the other racers, just like before.
Aristotle then starts flying next to her after that.]

Aristotle: Cheer up, Petunia, you did it. You saved the others all at once.

Petunia: I know, Aristotle, but I'm still not fast enough to catch up with them.

Aristotle: Don't worry, Petunia, you have something even better than trying to
win the race. You have humility.

Petunia: Humility?

Aristotle: Yes, Petunia, even if you don't win the race, you are still humble
about what you are able to do. It is said that God gives strength to those
that are humble.

Petunia: You're right, Aristotle.

[Petunia then continues running on ahead to catch up with the other racers,
while Aristotle takes to the air once again. This time, the race is able to
run smoothly once again. Once the racers have gone the way they were supposed
to go in the race, they come upon the next obstacle, a large rocky area that
they have to walk through, without tripping or stepping on any of the rocks.
Fortunately, the racers are able to get through the area without tripping
or stepping on the rocks. Petunia is also able to get across all of the
rocks as well. The next obstacle is now a small stream that the racers are
able to swim across without much trouble. Petunia is also able to swim across
the stream as well.]

Aristotle: Nice job, Petunia! You're doing great!

Petunia: Thanks, Aristotle.

Scooter: *surprised* Blow me bagpipes, the lass is such a good swimmer!

Larry: Well, sure, Scooter, why do you think we race each other a lot?

Jimmy: Yeah, but she's still got a long way to go to beat us! Right, Jerry?

Jerry: Right, Jimmy!

[Once all of the racers have made it to the other side of the stream, they
then find themselves getting closer to the homestretch of the race. Back at
the starting line, Pa Grape is still looking through his telescope, monitoring
each movement of each of the racers.]

Pa Grape: So far, it looks like Larry is in the lead, with Archibald following
after him. Jimmy and Jerry are catching up to them, with Scooter and Mr. Lunt
behind them, and Petunia is bringing up the rear! It looks like it'll be close!

[However, Archibald and Larry both end up tripping, which in turn causes the
other male animals to trip over them, before they all end up tumbling in a
ball across the track, until they tumble right over the finish line at the
same time and end up in a heap on the ground. Petunia quickly stops just inches
in front of the finish line the instant she sees what happened.]

Larry: I won! I won!

Scooter: Ye got your eyes all wrong, Larry, it seems to me that I won.

Jimmy: Hey, what are you talking about? I won!

Jerry: No, I won!

Archibald: Who's the winner, Pa?

Pa Grape: It's hard to tell precisely, since all of you crossed the finish
line at once.

Mr. Lunt: Uh, not all of us.

[The rest of the males then turn around to see Petunia still standing just
inches from the finish line.]

Larry: What's wrong, Petunia? Aren't you going to cross the finish line?

[Petunia is still too shocked to say anything before she quickly runs off
without a word, much to the confusion of the others.]

Larry: Hey, wait! Come back, Petunia!

Jimmy: Um, what just happened here?

Jerry: *shrugs*

Archibald: This is most curious indeed. Why would Petunia just run off like
that without even finishing the race?

Scooter: Aye, I'm stumped if I know.

Mr. Lunt: Yeah, I thought she was supposed to be faster than any of us.

[Back at Petunia's home, Petunia is sitting on a rock in front of her home
while looking rather frustrated. It is obvious that Petunia is frustrated
that she wasn't able to finish the race.]

Petunia: How could I have let this happen? Now the others know that I'm not
as fast as they think I am.

Archibald: (Off-screen) Petunia, what's wrong?

[Petunia becomes surprised when she hears Archibald's voice, before she turns
around in time to see Larry, Archibald, Jimmy, Jerry, Mr. Lunt, Scooter (who
are no longer wearing their race clothes), and Pa Grape standing in front of
her.]

Petunia: What are you all doing here?

Larry: We've come to see if you were alright, Petunia.

Jimmy: Yeah, and why you didn't finish the race like the rest of us.

Petunia: I've been trying to tell you all, but you wouldn't listen to me. The
truth is, I am not as fast as Larry is.

Everyone else: *surprised* WHAT?!?!?

Petunia: That so-called running trophy is actually one of my most prized trinkets
that I like to collect. I never actually won a race in my life.

Pa Grape: Why, Petunia, it doesn't matter whether you win or lose.

[Aristotle then flies down next to Petunia after that.]

Aristotle: He's right, Petunia. Like I said before, you're humble enough to admit
that you aren't as fast as the others thought you were. God likes it when we are
humble about who we are and what we do. And I hope the rest of you learned a lesson
about the dangers of letting pride get the better of you.

[Larry, Archibald, Mr. Lunt, Scooter, Jimmy, and Jerry then realize that they were
foolish for being too prideful about themselves and not listening to Petunia.]

Larry: I'm sorry, Petunia. We never would've had that race if we would've listened
to you in the first place.

Petunia: It's alright, Larry. I know that all of you were too overcome with your
own pride because of it.

Archibald: I'm ashamed to admit it, Petunia, but you do have a point. And not to
mention your valiant efforts when we were in danger.

Jimmy: Yeah, like when you saved us from the swamp just earlier.

Jerry: Yeah!

Pa Grape: Petunia, even though you did not win the race, I still hereby appoint this
not-running trophy to you, because you were humble, even during the race.

Everyone else: Hooray for Petunia!

Aristotle: Yes, and let us not forget what the Bible tells us; "But he gives more
grace. Therefore it says 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'
James 4:6"

Petunia: Thank you, everyone. It feels great to actually have this trinket back in
my possession again.

Larry: Of course, Petunia. You earned it.

[Larry then winks at Petunia, who then winks back afterwards while smiling. After a
few seconds, Larry, Petunia, Archibald, Mr. Lunt, Scooter, Pa Grape, Jimmy, Jerry,
and Aristotle then begin laughing heartily, happy that everything has been sorted
out once again, before the screen goes dark, ending the episode.]

(Ending credits playing)
Without further ado, here is the fourth episode of Veggie Animals.

Synopsis: Due to a case of major confusion, when Petunia is organizing her trinkets, Larry, Archibald, Mr. Lunt, Jimmy Jerry, and Pa Grape end up thinking that one of Petunia's trinkets is a prized running trophy. Because of this, they all think that Petunia is a skilled and very fast runner, so a race is held the next day because of that, despite Petunia's protests that she's not what they think she is. Of course, Petunia is humble enough to reluctantly take part in the race, with Aristotle's help in surveying the race. However, when the other racers wind up in a sticky situation in the swamp, Petunia is able to save them at once, but when they finish the race before her, Petunia is embarrassed before running off. When the others are confused about this, Petunia explains to them that she's not as fast as they think she is. Despite this, everyone is happy that Petunia was able to help them in the race.

A lesson in: Humility

Focus animal(s): Petunia

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The plot of this episode is almost similar to that of "The New Adventures Of Winnie-The-Pooh" episode "Prize Piglet".

VeggieTales is TM of Big Idea and DreamWorks.
© 2014 - 2024 NineLivesCaveCat
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