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Franklin and the Wonder
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Season
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1
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Episode
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14a (27 overall)
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Date
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September 16, 2011
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Previous
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Next
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Written by
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Cathy Moss
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Directed by
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Lynn Reist and John Payne
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"Franklin and the Wonder" is the first story of the 13th episode of the first season of Franklin and Friends.
Plot[]
When Mr. Owl assigns the Nature Nuts a group project to present a wonder of nature, Franklin is excited, but his partner Rabbit is secretly scared of speaking in front of an audience.
Summary[]
Franklin, Bear, Rabbit, Fox, Goose, Beaver and Snail are outside the schoolhouse, oohing at a spider's web. Franklin asks Mr. Owl what they are made of. He tells him it's a good question, that spiders spin webs from long strands of silk. He tells him and the others that it's just one example of the wonders of nature all around them. He tells them that he'd like them all to find a wonder of nature to show the class. Goose asks just what this could be and he tells her that it's anything wonderful, amazing or beautiful in nature. “Like a rainbow,” suggests Goose. “Or a sunset,” says Snail. Mr. Owl tells them it could even be something small. He assigns them groups: Beaver & Goose, Fox, Bear & Snail, and finally Franklin & Rabbit.
The group starts to race off excitedly, but Mr. Owl clears his throat. He asks if they aren't forgetting something and they recite the Nature Nuts pledge. Mr. Owl tells them that there's one more thing, that after they show their wonder of nature, they can tell everyone about it too. Rabbits ears droop at this and he sounds troubled. As Franklin searches for a wonder, Rabbit tries to engage him a game of tag or hide-and-seek. Franklin asks if he doesn't want to find a wonder. He shows Rabbit some flowers, telling Rabbit that they're jewelweed, or touch-me-not. Rabbit asks why it would be called that and Franklin squeezes a flower, which sprays pollen. Rabbit suggests they not touch them anymore.
Rabbit asks Franklin if they can play in the park. Franklin asks what's up and Rabbit asks him if he really wants to talk in front of the class. Franklin replies that it's like being the teacher and Rabbit tells him he'll find a wonder for him to talk about. Franklin reminds him that they're partners, saying that they can both do finding and talking. Rabbit tells him that he doesn't mind if he just does the talking, and falls into a hole. He brushes it off and then Franklin spots something on a branch – a sort of green pod. Franklin asks Rabbit what he thinks it is and he says it's something that Franklin can talk about in front of the class. Franklin says that Aunt Turtle might know what it is.
They head over to Aunt T's place, where she happily invites them in. Mr. Mole is there, having his picture painted. Franklin shows her the pod, asking if she knows what it is, and Mr. Mole tells Franklin that he does: that it's a chrysalis. Franklin asks what this is and Mr. Mole tells him that it's a bed for a caterpillar, that inside it changes and turns into... “What?!” shout Franklin and Rabbit excitedly. Aunt T beckons them to the window, telling them to check it out. They see butterflies in the garden. Franklin is stunned at the idea that there's one in the chrysalis and Mr. Mole tells him there isn't yet, but soon. Franklin and Rabbit both find it cool, Franklin calling it the best wonder of nature ever. Franklin says that they should get to work on their show-and-tell and Aunt T offers some paper to use.
Rabbit tells Franklin not to worry, that he'll do all the work and that Franklin should rest up to do the talking. “Huh?” wonders Franklin and Rabbit paints a picture of the chrysalis. Franklin comments that he's sure working hard for a guy who wanted to play. He says that since he's already done the work and Franklin likes talking, he won't do any talking. Franklin tells him they found it together and should talk together. Rabbit then spills some paint on the picture. Rabbit raises his hands, saying that he guesses they can't show-and-tell after all. Aunt T comes over and says it's easy to fix, pouring some other colored paint on it. She folds it, then has Rabbit it, revealing that the paint has created a butterfly over the chrysalis. Franklin tells Rabbit he saved the picture. “Hooray!” he agrees weakly.
As the two head over to school, Franklin tells Rabbit that he should talk first, to show everyone the chrysalis and say how they found it. Rabbit tells him he should do the first part, and the middle too. Mr. Owl welcomes the group, saying that he's excited for what they're about to share. He asks who wants to go first and Franklin starts to raise his hand, but Rabbit stops him. So Beaver and Goose step forward instead. Beaver presents a ring of sunflowers. She and Goose explain that they don't usually pick flowers, but they do pick sunflowers because they have something inside you can eat. Beaver pulls a seed from one the flowers. “Seeds with black and white stripes,” she says and Goose says that black-and-white stripes are her new favorite color, that it used to be orange, but it's okay to change favorite colors. “Goose!” protests Bear and Goose says that the sunflower is their wonder of nature because it's beautiful and Beaver finishes that it makes a necklace you can eat.
Everyone cheers and Mr. Owl asks who wants to go next. Franklin raises his hand again, only to again be stymied by Rabbit. So Bear and Fox end up going next. Fox declares that they've never seen a wonder like this and Bear pulls up a wagon, revealing their wonder of nature. “Snail!” declares Fox. Fox explains that Snail may be small, but he's strong enough to carry his house on his back. Bear talks about Snail's tentacles and eyes. Everyone cheers and Franklin calls to Rabbit that it's their turn, only to find that Rabbit isn't next to him. He sees Rabbit with Mr. Owl. He goes over to Mr. Owl, asking where Rabbit is going and Mr. Owl tells him that Rabbit isn't feeling well. Franklin groans, saying that it was their turn next.
Franklin goes to the playground, where he finds Rabbit on a swing. He calls him out for saying he was sick. “Wanna play on the swings?” asks Rabbit, but Franklin demands to know why he left. Rabbit evades the question again, but Franklin insists he answer. Rabbit's ears droop and he tells Franklin he was afraid of talking in front of the class. Franklin protests that he loves to talk and Rabbit tells him it's different, that in class, he's afraid everyone will laugh at him if he messes up. Franklin tells him that sometimes when he's afraid of something, practicing can help. Rabbit tells him he's too scared to even practice.
Just then, Mr. Mole appears, asking if they want to see the portrait that Aunt T painted of him, calling it a masterpiece. They agree and he shows it, Rabbit saying that it looks just like him. Franklin tells Rabbit he thinks he knows how he can practice. They head to Aunt T's, where Franklin explains Rabbit's situation. “They might laugh at me,” agrees Rabbit, and Aunt T notes that she didn't laugh at him when he spilled the paint. Franklin tells Aunt T he thinks he knows a way to help Rabbit. So together, they paint pictures of the class. Franklin tells Rabbit he can practice now in front of his friends. He suggests Rabbit take a deep breath first. So Rabbit does and starts presenting. Franklin presents with him. It works and Rabbit gains in confidence. The two return to the class, where Rabbit is finally able to speak in front of the class. To everyone's amazement, just as they are finishing the presentation, the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis. Franklin tells Rabbit that he did great and Rabbit tells him that they both did great as the episode ends.
Cast[]
- Graeme Jokic as Franklin Turtle
- John Stocker as Mr. Owl
- Mackenzie Fahie as Goose
- Mark Ramsay as Bear
- Liam Tully as Snail
- Emily Nighman as Beaver
- Christian Martyn as Rabbit
- Jake Roseman as Fox
- Naomi Snieckus as Aunt T
- Bill Colgate as Mr. Mole
Gallery[]
