Carl's Concerto/Transcript

Introduction

In the Elwood Community Preschool classroom, Carl is cleaning a chair with a rag.

George: He steps into the camera from the right side. Carl is a great kid, but he's very particular. If things aren't a certain way, he can get really upset. Like with food...

At George's house, he is sitting at the kitchen table with Carl, with plates of food in front of them and Mrs. Lundgren watching.

Carl: I can't eat this.

George: Why not? I thought you liked chicken.

Carl: The peas are touching the potatoes. Peas are green, potatoes are white.

George shoves his plate closer to Carl, who takes it as Mrs. Lundgren gives his to George.

Carl: That's better.

George: Or putting toys away...

In the Community Center classroom, George is about to put some blocks into a box.

Carl: No, no! That box is only for square pieces.

George: Oops, sorry, I forgot. He takes a round piece out of the box and puts it into another one next to it. And he likes to have a very structured routine.

George and Carl are shown outside, sitting on a bench and looking sad.

George: I knew I shouldn't have touched it, but I did, and the whole toothpick Ferris wheel came crashing down.

Carl's watch starts emitting a beeping sound, and a red light on it starts blinking. He presses a button on the watch to stop the beeping, then gets off the bench and walks away.

George: Hey, where are you going?

Carl: It's 3:52. Extreme Kite Flying with Tex Buttery is on in eight minutes.

Cut back to the classroom.

George: Carl has autism, and I really don't mind following his rules. But I think bringing him here might have been a terrible idea.

A crowd of people in the classroom watches Carl, and a spotlight shines on him. He puts a hand over his left eye.

Title Card: Carl plays the accordion

At the Reads' house, the doorbell rings, and Arthur opens the door. George is on the other side.

Arthur: Hey, George, come on in.

D.W. and Bud's voices are heard from the living room.

D.W.: Spin the goose? You just moved it.

Bud: Well, that's how I spin things.

D.W.: Well, you're a terrible spinner.

Arthur: Thanks for lending me the math assignment. I'll bring it right down.

While Arthur goes upstairs, George looks at D.W. and Bud arguing over Confuse the Goose.

D.W.: It's not "Donna Winiferd," it's Dora Winifred. And I told you to never call me that.

Bud: Well, I did call you that. And I'm not taking it back either.

Wally: He pops up from behind the sofa. Hey, What's all the ruckus?

Bud: Sweet johnnycakes! It's a miniature giraffe with four bow ties.

D.W.: That's just Wally, George's dummy.

Wally: I prefer the term "ventriloquist's puppet."

Bud: Wait, you're making him talk? But you hardly moved your mouth.

Wally: Thank goodness! Nothing interesting comes out of his mouth.

Bud: That's amazing! Hey, you should perform at our school's BAYFAF day.

George: BAYFAF day?

Bud: I'm not sure what it stands for, but it's going to be a lot of fun.

D.W.: That's a great idea. You'd be much better than that sneezing clown we had last year.

Bud: Please, please, please!

George: Um...

Wally: We'll do it!

George: Wally!

Wally: What? You never take me anywhere.

Arthur: He walks into the living room with the math assignment. Here you go.

***

Arthur and George are sitting next to each other in class.

Arthur: George, that was really nice of you to agree to perform at D.W.'s school for BAYFAF.

George: Oh, well, it's just a little show. I thought it would be fun.

Arthur: Um, it's not so little. BAYFAF stands for "Bring All Your Friends And Family."

George: It does?

Arthur: Yeah, my whole family is going, and Molly will be there, and I think Ladonna even invited Mr. Ratburn.

Mr. Ratburn: Okay, class. Open your books to chapter ten.

Arthur: I can't wait to see what you do.

George looks worried.

***

George is pacing back and forth in the Tree House.

George: I had no idea this was going to be such a big deal. Whatever we do has to be really good.

Wally: How about Hamlet? You can't go wrong with Shakespeare.

George: It has to be something little kids would like. I was thinking of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Wally: Oh, goody! I've always wanted to be a blonde. Can we make it a musical?

George: No, we can't make it a musical. Where am I going to find someone who... The sound of an accordion being played is heard. Huh? He looks outside the Tree House.

Wally: Be not afeard! The woods are full of noises, sounds and sweet airs.

George rises up from behind a bush and sees Carl with his mother on a picnic mat, playing the accordion.

Carl: Hello, George. Would you like to join our picnic?

George: Hey, Carl. Since when do you play the accordion?

Carl: Since I got it for my sixth birthday two years ago from my Uncle Cal. I know 18 songs.

George: You're really good!

Carl: Yes, I know.

George: He realizes that Carl can see Wally. Oh, sorry.

Carl: It's okay. I'm no longer afraid of puppets. My therapist uses them to coach me on my social skills. How... are you today, George?

George: Um, good. Actually, that's not true. I'm doing this puppet show, but it's a bigger audience than I thought, and... Hey, you wouldn't want to play for it, would you? I really want there to be music in it.

Carl: Okay.

Mrs. Gould: You don't have to if you don't want to.

Carl: I know.

George: That's... that's great! This is going to make it so much better. Thanks, Carl.

George offers to shake Carl’s hand. Carl misunderstands the gesture and gives him some grapes.

***

At George's house, he is with Binky, Rattles, and Buster in the garage.

George: Okay, you guys are the three bears. Binky, you're Papa Bear. Let's hear you roar.

Binky: (roars)

George: Good. Rattles, show me Mama Bear.

Rattles: (roars softly)

George: Nice! And Buster?

Buster: (roars strongly)

George: A little more baby-like.

Buster: (roars softly)

George: Great! Okay, when the show opens, Wallilocks will be skipping through the woods. He stands behind the theater stand. Carl, could you play some happy, skippy music?

Carl starts playing his accordion.

Wally: George is puppeteering him from under the theater stand, and he's dressed up like Goldilocks. La, la, la, la! Here I am, skipping through the woods. Hello, birch. Hello, elm. Hello, poison oak. Keep your distance. The accordion music stops playing. The music stopped. Should I keep skipping, or take five?

George: Um, Carl? Why did you stop?

Carl: I don't like this room. It's very messy.

George: It is?

Carl: I think we should rehearse outside.

George: Outside? But we can't...

Binky: It is pretty stuffy in here.

Buster: And it's a gorgeous day out.

Rattles: (Mama Bear's voice) I could use a little Vitamin D.

George: (sighs)

***

George's theater stand is now outside.

George: Okay, let's take it from where we left off. Wallilocks is skipping through the woods, while... The sound of Carl's watch beeping is heard. Carl? What are you doing?

Carl: Putting my accordion away.

George: I know, but why? We have to rehearse now.

Carl: It's 12:15, so it's time for lunch.

George: Well, can we have lunch a little later?

Carl: It's 12:15, it's time for lunch.

He leaves with a Bionic Bunny lunchbox.

George: Okay, everyone, let's break for lunch.

***

In the theater stand, Wally is sleeping as the Baby Bear puppet approaches him. The backdrop is of the three bears' bedroom.

Baby Bear: Someone's been sleeping in my bed, and they're still there. Ah! It's a long-necked alien from the planet Gamma-Magga!

George: Easy on the ad-libs. Okay, Carl, that's your cue.

Carl plays the same phrase three times.

George: That's great, but I think we only need you to play it once.

Carl: It's out of tune.

George: That's okay. It still works.

Carl: (Plays the accordion, and the notes are off tune) It doesn't sound good. I have to replace one of the reeds. They're at home.

George: What? No, you can't leave now.

Carl: Do you have an accordion reed here?

George: No, but...

Carl: Then I have to go home.

George: (groans)

Carl walks away.

***

That night, George is sleeping in his bed. He dreams of performing the play at the preschool.

Wally: Oh, what a beautiful day to be skipping through the woods! I'm so happy. (Carl plays an ominous tune on his accordion) I said "happy" not filled with doom.

Carl continues playing the ominous tune. The audience stares at him.

Bud: It's supposed to be a fairy tale, not a scary tale.

D.W.: Even though this is free, I demand my money back.

Carl continues playing as the crowd jeers.

George: It's not my fault. I tried to tell Carl what to play, but he wouldn't listen.

Mr. Ratburn: George, as a member of the Puppeteer's Guild, I hereby revoke your Dummy Operator's License. George looks at his Dummy Operator's License. I'm afraid I have to confiscate Wally as well.

George: Noooooooo!
The dream sequence ends.

George: (gasps)

***

The next day, George, Binky, Buster, and Rattles are rehearsing for the play again.

Papa Bear: Well, if you won't leave, then I'll have to... Um... invite you to live with us.

George+Binky+Buster+Rattles: Yay!

Wally: And Wallilocks moved in with the bears and lived rent-free forever and ever! The end.

George: Carl, that's your cue to play the final tune.

Carl is packing up his accordion.

Carl: I know.

George: Well, can we hear it? The show is tomorrow.

Carl: I don't feel like playing right now. But I've been practicing it. It'll be good. See you tomorrow.

He leaves.

George: Binky, I'm worried about Carl.

Binky: Why? He's a really good musician.

George: I know, but what if it's too noisy in the room, or he just doesn't feel like playing? Could you bring your clarinet tomorrow?

Binky: You want me to replace him? Who will play Papa Bear?

Rattles: I will! I can use both hands. To be honest, I don't find Mama Bear that challenging. She's very passive.

Binky: Okay, it's your show. But you better tell him.

***

At home, George is sitting in front of the telephone.

Wally: Well, what are you waiting for? The phone can't call itself.

George: I know, I know. I'm just... thinking about what I'll say.

He dials Carl's number. Carl picks up.

Carl: Good evening. Gould residence.

(George looks stunned on the other end)

Carl: Hello? Hello? [He hangs up. George puts his earpiece back on the telephone stand]

George: (groans)

Wally: That went well.

***

Outside the preschool, George walks out of the building and approaches Carl.

George: Carl!

Carl: Hello, George.

George: I, uh, meant to call you last night, but I was kind of busy...

Carl: What did you want to talk to me about?

George: Oh, I just wanted to say that you don't have to play today. I mean, if you don't want to. There will be a lot of kids in there, and you might get nervous.

Carl: I don't feel nervous. I've practiced a lot.

George: Yeah, I know, it's just that...

Carl: It's just that what?

George: Nothing. Forget it.

***

Inside the preschool classroom, the audience has assembled in front of the theater stand. Carl, holding his accordion, sits down on a chair. Behind the theater stand, Buster and Rattles are rehearsing with their puppets as Binky brings his clarinet, to which George shakes his head to say "No" Binky takes the Papa Bear puppet from Rattles.

Rattles: Aw, man!

They go under the theater stand.

Wally: Hey, boys and girls, it's me, Wallilocks! Get a load of these golden curls.

[Mr. and Mrs. Read and Cheikh's mother laugh]

[Time skip to the end of the play]

Wally: ...moved in with the bears and lived rent-free forever and ever.

Carl plays an upbeat tune on his accordion. The audience applauds and cheers as the actors walk in front of them.

George: You were really great, Carl.

Carl: I know. [His watch beeps] It's time for a snack. See you later.

George, Binky, Buster and Rattles raise their arms to George who takes a bow. Carl's mother is seen escorting him out of the room. George gets out of his bowing position and has himself and Wally look at each other.