Mr. Turtle quotes from Franklin

When no one was looking, he turned on his night-light.

Franklin

Night-light?

Fireflies. See how brightly they glow?

I'm going on a holiday tomorrow.

Lucky you.

Somebody seems to be in a hurry this morning.

Franklin

Snowballs, Dad. I've got to get mine piled up before Bear does.

Franklin

But, Mom, I can't go to Granny's tomorrow, I promised my friends!

And I promised Granny!

You can play with your friends anytime, Franklin. Granny loves it when you visit.

Franklin

I don't want to sit and talk, I want to have fun with my friends!

Granny likes to do fun things. Why don't you ask her?

Franklin

Does she like throwing water balloons? I don't think so, Dad!

She might. You never know.

Are you sure you haven't gotten taller? You look taller to me!

Mom, I haven't gotten taller! Maybe you've gotten shorter!

Oh, fiddlesticks! Here, now, get out of that!

Mmmm!

Franklin, does your father carry on like this at home?

Franklin

Sometimes.

Would you like to lick the spoon? You've had some already. This is for Franklin.

Franklin

Dad can have it.

Then would you like to help me frost these cupcakes?

Franklin

Nah, you can do it, Granny.

Are you not feeling well?

Franklin

No, I'm just bored.

Franklin.

It's okay, son. We'll be fine. Here, now, why don't you run along? Franklin and I have all sorts of things to talk about. There. Now, off with you.

Bye, Mom. Bye, Franklin.

Franklin

Bye.

I hope Franklin didn't tire you out, Mom.

Oh my. I couldn't keep up. Lands sakes! Where's my cane? [voice gets shakier, as she gets more into the "helpless old Granny" act] Somebody find my cane.

Franklin

My fort is fixed. I'm all ready for Granny. What's the matter, Mom?

Granny has come down with a cold, Franklin. She can't come to babysit.

Franklin

Aww, poor Granny. So, I guess you can't go on your trip now.

No, we're still going. Mrs. Muskrat is coming to stay with you.

Franklin

MRS. MUSKRAT?!? But she's never babysat me before!

[about Mrs. Muskrat] Well, no, she hasn't. But she is our friend and she's very nice.

Franklin

I don't care. She's not Granny.

There's no one like Granny. I know. But Granny can't come. Besides, Mrs. Muskrat loves children.

Yes. She's a grandmother, too, and she talks about her grandchildren all the time. She's so good with them.

Franklin

She won't know the things I like to eat.

I'll make a list for her.

Franklin

But what about bedtime? She won't know the storybooks I like.

We can get them out for her right away.

I'll get the rest of the things loaded.

Now then, where is that little turtle with the twinkle in his eye?

Why, he was here just a second ago. Franklin?

[opens the sink curtain where Franklin is hiding] Hello, Franklin. I like your room. Did your mom make the curtains?

Aren't you going to say hello, Franklin?

Franklin

[weakly] Hello.

This is from the first car I owned.

Franklin

I think you saved the wrong part, Dad. You should have kept the car.

Franklin

My jam's ready. I'll hear about it later, Dad.

Hmm. That was a very brief father-and-son moment.

Franklin

Dad, will you play the Meadowlark song for me?

There's a song I haven't heard in a long while.

Yes. How does it start?

Franklin

It starts with me crying.

That's right. Now I remember. [plays song beautifully]

We use to go on vacation.

Yes, but then we had a baby turtle.

Franklin

A baby turtle? Oh yeah, me.

Mom, are we going to be there soon? We've been driving for so long!

Franklin

Dad!

Isn't that Franklin's job?

Franklin

Wow! Neat!

I have to milk a cow?

Tamarack Point?

Franklin, how many friends are we talking about?

Franklin

Well, just my good friends. You know, the ones I play with all the time.

Yes...

How many?

Franklin

Ten?

Ten?

Franklin

But it's really more like nine, because you know how small Snail is.

Dear, I'm sorry, but I don't think we can manage that.

Franklin

But we've gotta go! I've already invited everybody!

Now, Franklin, you know we'd love to take all your friends to Tamarack Point, but we can't possibly fit everyone into our car and it's a long way.

Not to mention how much it would cost! Ten meals, tickets for ten kids, ooh!

Instead we'll have a nice party here.

Franklin, don't worry, your friends will have fun. Tell them we're going to run through the sprinkler. They'll love that.

Hi, Franklin! You're all muddy!

Franklin

[despondent] I know.

What's the matter, son?

Franklin

Bear got a home run.

You're unhappy about that?

Franklin

I'm unhappy because he hit my ball right into the pond! I tried to find it, but I couldn't.

Oh dear, the fish have another ball to play with.

Franklin

Yeah, and this one was like new.

Well, son, I have some news that might cheer you up.

Franklin

What?

Someone is coming here for a visit!

A friend you haven't seen for a long time.

Franklin

Who?

Otter!

Franklin

[perking up] Otter? Coming here?

That's right! Tomorrow morning!

Franklin

YAY! YIPPEE! Otter's coming! Otter's coming! I've gotta find all the games we used to play! Wait, I should go and tell Bear! No, I'd better clean my room first!

[chuckles] That certainly cheered him up.

Yes, I've never seen him hurry up to clean his room with a smile on his face.