[Stanley is playing with his animal toys in his mom and dad's bedroom. He runs with a rhinoceros hand puppet.]
CHARGE! Look out! Rhino coming through!
[sees a rolling lion toy on the floor] Huh? Stanley! WATCH OUT!
[slips on the toy] Whoa, WHOA! Uh!
[As Stanley falls on the floor, he sends a box of small plastic red monkeys up to the ceiling, just as his dad walks in. He screams as he is covered with the monkeys.]
JJoyce
Stanley Griff, look at what a mess you made in this room.
No, daddy. That's my python. See? [hisses]
JJoyce
That's very nice, Stanley, but--[gasps] My hat!
That's the penguin's igloo!
Stanley, you know how much we love you, and we love how much you love animals.
JJoyce
But that doesn't mean we like it when you turn our room into a total zoo.
Stanley, I want you to clean up this mess right now, or...
[makes a confused goofy face] Or...
BBoth
No dessert tonight.
[Stanley's older brother, Lionel walks in.]
Ooh! Guess who's gonna miss out on banana whammy!
[Lionel laughs mockingly at Stanley.]
JJoyce
Lionel, that's enough.
Now, Stanley, you know what you have to do, right?
Finish playing "jungle safari"?
[Lionel laughs again.]
Okay, you have 'til dinnertime to herd these animals back to your room.
[A humpback whale jumps out of the Great Big Book of Everything and onto the roof of Stanley's house, causing the house to shake.]
JJoyce
Oh. That sounds like a big truck.
[panics] Aah! The sky is falling!
JJoyce
Stanley, you were a magnificent baby. You were very cute, very cuddly, and your favorite food was mashed corn. [a photo shows baby Stanley with a bowl of mashed corn on his head]
It was also your favorite hat.
JJoyce
Oh, I remember how much I loved to feed you, to bathe you, to rock you to sleep in my arms...
And boy, did you love animals, Stanley. As soon as you started crawling, you were always making friends with cats, dogs, fish, you name it.
JJoyce
And then when you started walking and talking, it was always, "Take me to the zoo, take me to the zoo!"
Now, look how much you've grown. You can ride a two-wheeler, you go to school, you can even read.
JJoyce
You're not my little baby anymore [hugs Stanley] You've grown into a wonderful child, who will someday be a wonderful grown-up.
Sure, Stanley. Before you know it, you and your brother will be all grown up and living on your own.
[Lionel tries writing his song in the kitchen, but is interrupted by the kids acting like chickens.]
Stanley, what are you doing now?!
Playing "Follow the Chicken".
Yeah. That's when you act like a chicken, and everyone follows you around. Wanna play?
If I didn't want to play "Follow the Monkey", what makes you think I'd wanna play "Follow the Chicken"?
'Cuz in this game, you "bawk" like a chicken.
[Lionel leaves, grumbling.]
No, like this, Lionel! Bawk, bawk, bawk!
I guess he doesn't like chickens.
I know what I don't like. This jar.
It's not that bad, is it?
It's terrible! I miss my home!
Dennis really doesn't like being in this mayonnaise jar.
JJoyce
I know just what he needs.
What do I look like, a gherkin?
[Stanley approaches his parents, who are in the kitchen, sitting at the table.]
Something wrong, Stanley?
Well, just go and ask for it back.
He won't give it back! He says he's busy, and I keep annoying him with animals!
JJoyce
Why don't you go talking to him about it?
He won't listen me! He doesn't even like me!
JJoyce
Stanley, you know your bother loves you.
No, he doesn't. He doesn't even like being around me. He says I bother him all the time and I always mess things up. Even when I'm trying to help him.
It's true, Dad! He doesn't like animals and he doesn't like me!
JJoyce
Listen, Stanley. Brothers argue sometimes, but it doesn't mean they don't like each other, does it?
Yes! Maybe. I don't know.
JJoyce
Doesn't Lionel do things that annoy you sometimes?
Yeah! Like when he takes my book.
JJoyce
But that doesn't mean you don't like him anymore, does it?
JJoyce
And just because Lionel's annoyed at you, doesn't mean he doesn't like you.
Why don't you head back upstairs and try talking to Lionel? I'm sure you two will be able to work it out.
Stanley · 51 quotes
