[electronic music]
- Thanks for helping me practice my part in the play, Norby.
- It's okay.
You do your part and I'll read all the rest.
I'm from a family that's called brontosaurus.
We eat so much, there's not enough for us.
[stomps]
- [squawks]
- Holy camoley, Mandy!
What are you doing?
- It says I'm supposed to squawk.
- I know.
But why are you clomping around like a brontosaurus?
You're supposed to be a pterodactyl.
- Yeah, but I've never heard of a pterodactyl.
- It was a big bird.
- Mandy: Well, how was I supposed to know that?
Well, you could have figured it out.
- Look, first of all, it says that you squawk, right?
- Mandy: Right. - Norbert: So, that's a clue,
and there's another one in your very next speech.
- Mandy: "I soar and I fly high up in the sky."
- See, that says bird to me.
- Mandy: Yeah, I get it.
- If you don't understand what you're reading,
stop and look for clues that can help.
- Okay, let's start over.
I'll come in like this.
[squawks]
- Uh, let's do this after dinner, okay?
I just remembered some homework I've got to do.
- Okay. - Close the door, okay?
[door shuts]
Lexor!
- My son, you are needed again in Mojuste.
- I wish you could pick better times.
My sister almost caught us.
- We have no time to lose.
Hurry, or Thorzuul will claim another victim.
[Norbert sighs]
Norby?
[gentle music]
[eerie music]
- Thunder and lightning, trumpets and drums.
Readers rejoice!
A Storylord comes.
[Bike-O-Tron whirrs]
[shimmer]
- I mean, who does he think I am?
Some sort of detective or something?
[shimmer]
Hey, be careful!
You'll ruin my soufflé.
- Sorry.
Where am I anyway?
A restaurant?
- No, a car wash.
Of course it's a restaurant.
Mine, Chef Jeff's.
Are you the boy they send to peel the potatoes?
- I'm Norbert Niesenden, apprentice Storylord.
- Did you say Storylord?
- Uh, yes. - Great.
First it's Thorzuul,
now it's a munchkin wearing Storylord gloves.
- Has Thorzuul been here?
- Is broccoli green?
I come in this morning,
and look what I find pinned to my oven door.
- "From the desk of Thorzuul.
"Chef Jeff, have this ready for tomorrow or else!
"Under some ice cream, over some meat,
beside some milk, what a treat."
Hmm, that's a tough one.
- I mean, who does he think I am?
Encyclopedia Brown?
Oh, [sobs] my goose is cooked.
Or should I say microwaved?
- Don't worry, Chef Jeff.
We'll figure this out. - We?
You mean you can help me?
- Is broccoli green?
I'll see you here tomorrow.
Home.
[shimmer]
My soufflé!
- Mrs. Framish: Now, before we-- Norbert?
- Mrs. Framish, you remember how yesterday
you said if something we were reading didn't make sense,
we should stop and read it over and look for clues?
- Mrs. Framish: Yes.
We put it right up here on the board.
- Well, what if you read it over and it still doesn't make sense?
- That's a very good question, Norbert.
If you can be patient,
maybe we can answer it in today's reading class.
Now, who can remind us of what we read yesterday?
Angie?
- This mother told her kids that someone was moving in with them,
but she wouldn't tell them who.
And the kids are trying to guess.
- Mrs. Framish: Very good, Angie.
Now, let's begin.
Jason, will you start reading for us, please?
- "'Will you tell us his name?
"Please?' begged Sarah.
"Their mother nodded.
"'His name is Mr. Muddyface.' [class laughs]
"'Mr. Muddyface?' said Adam.
"'What a funny name.'
"'Where will he sleep?' asked James.
"'I think I'll put his bed in the basement.
"Beside the furnace,' said their mom.
"'Who will he sit beside at dinnertime?' asked Julia.
"'No one,' said their mother.
"'I think I'll put his plate on the floor.' [class laughs]
"'I don't think he'll stay very long,' said Adam.
'Well, I think he'll like it very much,' replied his mother."
This doesn't make sense.
- Mrs. Framish: Why not, Jason?
- Because I was right.
No one would like to sleep by the furnace
and have his plate on the floor.
- Do you all agree with Jason? - Students in unison: Yeah.
- I'm glad you stopped reading when it didn't make sense.
Let's all read it over to see if we missed a clue
that might help us understand
who this mysterious Mr. Muddyface could be.
If you find a clue, raise your hand.
[jaunty music]
No?
All right, Norbert, this is what you were asking about.
Since what we are reading still doesn't make sense to us,
we read on.
And look for new clues.
Angie, will you read on for us, please?
- "Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door.
"'And here's Mr. Muddyface now,' said their mother.
"The children raced to the door and opened it.
"It was their neighbor, Mrs. Lockwood,
"holding a large box with holes in it.
"'You're not Mr. Muddyface,' said Sarah.
"'No, I'm not,' laughed Mrs. Lockwood.
"'He's in this box.'
"All the children peered in through the holes.
"'Is anyone in there?' asked Julia.
'Meow,' said Mr. Muddyface."
Mr. Muddyface is a kitty cat!
- I get it!
That's why he'd sleep by the furnace
and have his plate on the floor.
- Right.
Now, everything in the story makes sense, doesn't it?
We found out some new clues by reading ahead.
Does this answer your question, Norbert?
- I hope so, Mrs. Framish.
I'll soon find out.
- I've read it and reread it.
I understand all the words,
but it still doesn't make any sense!
Here.
- Under some ice cream, over some meat...
Sounds like spare ribs à la mode or something.
- Ugh!
Gag me with linguine!
- Let's read on and search for new clues.
- Read on, where?
- Good point.
Did you check the other side of the note?
- Did I check the... As a matter of fact, no.
- Aha!
Look at this.
- Chef Jeff: "If you will heat it, I will eat it."
Signed, Thorzuul.
- If it has to be heated, then it must be something cold.
- The fridge!
It must be something in the fridge!
- Norbert: Under some ice cream.
Is there any ice cream in the freezer?
- Chef Jeff: Yes, and there's some meat in the bottom drawer.
You know, over some meat.
- Norbert: Beside some milk, look!
Right here, an apple pie!
- Chef Jeff: Under, over, beside.
That's it!
That's the treat he wants me to heat!
- Norbert: I hope you have a microwave!
[Jeff hums]
[electronic music]
- Milkbreath: His Royal Badness...
His hungry Royal Badness, Thorzuul!
- I don't smell anything cooking. [evil laughter]
Enough of this friendly banter.
Where's my treat?
[beeps] - Chef Jeff: One hot apple pie!
Coming up!
- But... but my riddle!
You've solved it.
How?
- Well, when I realized I couldn't understand your note,
I stopped and read it over to see if I'd missed any clues.
Then I reread it, looking for more clues.
And I solved it.
- It was easy as... pie.
- You... I'll get you!
Milkbreath!
Get me out of here.
[electronic music]