§ [flashy synthesizer music, engine chugging] §
§ [three high-pitched dings] §
[short of breath and panting]
[laughing evilly] Ha ha ha!

§ [flashy synthesizer music] §

[trying to catch his breath] - Lexor: Oh...
Oh, it's just no use!
I'm too old for this sort of thing.
I must travel the galaxies
to find an apprentice,
one who believes and will carry on my work.

Exlibris!
§ [shimmery mystical music] §
[motorcycle engine approaching]
[engine throttles down]
- Thorzuul: He's escaped!
Oh, never mind.
Soon all the readers will be gone,
and I, Thorzuul, will rule!
- Milkbreath: Thorzuul will rule!
- Thorzuul: Hah ha ha, ha ha ha!
[evil laugh continues]

§ §
- Mrs Framish: Amy?
- Amy: They eat grass?
- Mrs Framish: Good.

- Rosario: And oats.
- Mrs Framish: That's right, Rosario.

Anybody else?
Jason? - Jason: They eat sugar cubes.
- Mrs Framish: Yes, they do, don't they.
[chalk clicking on chalkboard]

I'm thinking of something red and shiny
that ponies like to eat.
Tanya?
- Tanya: Apples? - Mrs Framish: Yes.
§ [mystical music] §

- Norbert: Holy kamoly!
- Mrs Framish: Norbert? Norbert?
Norbert?
Norbert!
- Norbert: Uh...um...
Uh...uh...

They wear silver gloves?
[class laughs at Norbert]
- Mrs Framish: Norbert, we could user your help
in getting ready for our story.
We're thinking about ponies.
What can you tell us?
- Norbert: They give rides at fairs?
- Mrs Framish: Good.

- Norbert: Really, all in a robe and everything!
- Jason: Two stories up in the air?
Give me a break!
- Norbert: Scout's honor!
- Jason: Norby.

- Norbert: Hey, look!
The ring is on my padlock!
I'll bet it's magic or something.
- Jason: Come on, Norby.
- Norbert: Maybe the guy in the window left it.

Maybe it's a sign.

- Jason: Norby, you're too much!
I've got to go.
See you after dinner.
- Yeah, see you later.
Bye.

§ [shimmery mystical music] §

§ [shimmery mystical music] §

Holy kamoly!
I'm in my own back yard!

§ [mystical music] §

Uh... uh...
Is th-this...
Y-yours?

§ [mystical chimes] §
Holy kamoly!
Who are you?
- I am Lexor, Storylord of Mojuste.
And you?
- Uh, I'm Norbert, boy of Wisconsin.

- Lexor: Norbert, there is no time to lose.
The wicked storylord, Thorzuul,
seeks to conquer my planet.
Then, he will attack yours.
I am old.
My time in this body is short.
I need an apprentice storylord
to help defeat Thorzuul
and save both our planets.
Will you accept the challenge?
- Norbert: Uh... why me?
- Lexor: Because you believe.
Your friend did not.
- Well, what do I have to do?
- When this ring glows...

come here as fast as you can.
Sit on yon bike-a-tron,
intone the magic incantation thereon,
stare into this picture,
and pedal as fast as you can.
You will reach the land of Mojuste.

- Norbert: How do I get home?
- Lexor: Simply place your hands upon your heart
and say, "Home."

My time draws to a close.
Will you accept, my child?
- Norbert: Well, sure, I guess,
but I have to be home by dinnertime.
- Lexor: Brave lad.
The planet will be safe.

- Norbert: Hey!
The ring's glowing already.
- Lexor: Farewell, my child.
§ [shimmery mystical music] §

[Norbert sighs]

What was next?
Oh, yeah.
"Thunder and lightning.
"Trumpets and drums.
"Readers rejoice!
A storylord comes!"
Now, stare into the picture.
Well, here goes nothing!
[bike-o-tron chain rattling]

§ [shimmery mystical music] §

- Woman: Oh.
- Norbert: Uh, excuse me.
Is this the land of Mojuste?
- Woman: No, it's the third moon of Gargonistan.
- Norbert: It is?!
- Woman: No, of course, this is Mojuste.
- Norbert: Oh.
- Woman: I'm doomed!
[Norbert clears throat]
Can I help?
- Woman: No, only a storylord can help.
- Norbert: I'm an apprentice storylord.
- Woman: You are?
Oh, I see you wear the gloves.
Here.
See if you can open that.
- Norbert: Do the elephant dance.

Isn't there a key or something?
- Woman: Thorzuul has the key.
- Norbert: The wicked storylord? - Woman: The same.
He gave me this book and told me to read
how to do the elephant dance,
but he locked it.
And now I can't read it.

How can I understand what a book's about
if I can't open it?
And of I can't do the dance...
That's what he'll do.
- Norbert: He didn't give you a chance!
- Woman: Oh, he gave me a chance:
this clue.

- Norbert: "Plant the seed before you read,"
- Woman: "Then it will grow, and you will know."
Tomorrow, I'll be stone!
Not if I can help it.
Don't worry, uh... - Milicent.
- Norbert: Milicent, I think I know someone who can help.

Home.
§ [shimmery mystical music] §

- Norbert: "Plant the seed before you read,
Then it will grow, and you will know."
- Mrs Framish: "Plant the seed before you read.
Then it will grow, and you will know."
- Norbert: That's right.
- Mrs Framish: That's an interesting way to say
what I was talking about in class yesterday.
- Norbert: It is?
- Mrs Framish: Yes, it tells you what to do
before you read something new.
Look, I'll show you.
Here's your story, The Big Snow.
[shuffling pages]
Before you read it,
Think for a minute about the title.
What do you think it's going to be about?
- Norbert: Snow?
- Mrs Framish: That's probably a safe guess.
Next, think about snow for a minute.
How do you feel about it?
- Norbert: I like it.
- Mrs Framish: Why?
- Norbert: It's fun to play in,
make snowballs with, toboggan or ski on.
- Mrs Framish: Is there anything you don't like about snow?
- Norbert: Shoveling it.
It can be so heavy
and slippery to walk on.
Our car gets stuck sometimes.
- Mrs Framish: So, snow can be fun
or it can be a nuisance, too, can't it?
Let's look at your book.
- Norbert: "It snowed and snowed and snowed and snowed,
"It snowed on the houses.
"It snowed on the road.
"Walks had to be shoveled.
Oh, what a load!"
- Mrs Framish: You said you don't like shoveling.
How do you think that man feels?
- Norbert: The same way.
It's too heavy.
"While children toboggan,
A stuck car got towed."
I'll bet he doesn't like snow,
but those kids are having fun.
- Mrs Framish: There, you see?
What you already know about snow
helps you understand the book better.
As your riddle says,
"Plant the seed before you read."
Before you read anything new,
think about what you know about the subject.
- Norbert: I get it.
"Then it will grow, and you will know,"
means that if you think about what you already know,
it'll help you understand the book better when you read it.
Thanks, Mrs. Framish.
- Mrs Framish: You're welcome, Norbert.
All right, class, it's about time for the bell.
Books away.
Billy, don't forget...
- Norbert: The riddle means you've got to look at the title
and think about what you already know before you read.
- Milicent: Let's try it.
If I could prove I've already solved the riddle,
the spell will be broken.
Hmm, what do I know about elephants?
They walk like this.
They walk on their hind legs like this.
- Norbert: They go 'nnnnnnrr!'
- Milicent: Yeah, something like that.
They squirt water with their trunks like this.
- Norbert: They live in jungles.
- Milicent: They eat peanuts like this.
- Norbert: They never forget.
[flame whooshes]
- Milicent: Look!

Guess what?
You were right.
What I already know about elephants
is helping me understand what's in this book.
- Thorzuul: Ha ha ha!
- Norbert: Don't tell me.
Let me guess: Thorzuul?
- Milicent: Right.
[motorcycle engine rumbles]
§ [showy synthesizer music] §

- Thorzuul: Well, Milkbreath?
- Milkbreath: His royal badness, Thorzuul!

- Thorzuul: Well, my pretty,
are you ready to dance for me
or will you join my little collection of statues here
like all the others who couldn't read?
Mha ha ha!
[Milkbreath cackles]

And tell me,
Who is your little friend here
in the storylord gloves?
- Norbert: My name is Norbert Niesenden.

- Thorzuul: What do you think, Milkbreath?
Wouldn't he make a cute, little stone doorstop?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha! [Milkbreath guffaws awkwardly]

Enough frivolity.
Begin or be stone.
Heh heh heh!

§ [playful calliope melody] §
But... but... what--
But, it's... but
You've figured out my riddle!
- Milicent: It was easy.
All I had to do before reading
was think about what I knew about elephants.
I found out that I already knew a lot about them.
That helped me understand the book.
[kaboom]
§ [flashy calliope music] §

- Thorzuul: You must have helped them.
I'll get you!
- Norbert: Got to go!

Home.

§ [shimmery mystical music] §

- Thorzuul: Haaaahhhhh!
§ [playful calliope music] §

Well, what are you waiting for?!?
Get me out of here!
- Milkbreath: Yes, yes, right away your royal highness.

[motorcycle engine throttles]
§ §