A Boy Named Charlie Brown/Transcript

==Transcript==
(The scene begins with Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Linus looking at the clouds.)
Lucy: Aren't the clouds beautiful? They look like big balls of cotton. I could just lie here all day and watch them drift by. If you use your imagination, you can see lots of things in the clouds formations. What do you think you see, Linus?
Linus: Well, this cloud up there looked up to me at the map of the British Honduras in the Caribbean. That cloud up there looks a little like the profile of Thomas Eikkens, the famous painter and sculpture. And that group of clouds over there gives me the impression of the stony of Stephen. I can see Apostle Paul standing there to one side.
Lucy: Uh huh. That's very good. What do you see in the clouds, Charlie Brown?
Charlie Brown: Well, I was going to say I saw a ducky and a horsey, but I changed my mind.
(A Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson Production presents appear in the screen, as well as "A Boy Named Charlie Brown". Charlie Brown appears and he sighs as his shirt changes color. The title "starring Charlie Brown with," appears. Linus, Lucy and Schroeder appear. Snoopy grabs Linus along with his blanket as they pass the other kids. The names, "Pig-Pen, Frieda, Violet, Patty, Shermy, and Sally appear, along with "and featuring Snoopy". Snoopy throws Linus with his blanket away, and skips along across the opening credits. He pretends to be a vulture on a tree, but falls over and crushes the title "Directed by Bill Melendez".)
(The movie starts with the kids flying kites in the air. Charlie Brown decides to fly a kite on his own. As he does, the song "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" is heard...)
Rod McKuen: Like the shadows of the morning, 
that climb up to the August afternoon,
Charlie has a way
Of picking up the day,
just by walking slowly in a room.
Maybe it's a kind of magic,
that only little boys can do,
but seeing Charlie smile,
can make you stop a while
and get you feeling glad you're you.
He's only a boy named Charlie... 
A boy named Charlie Brown.
He's just a kid next door, perhaps a little more.
He's every kid in every town.
The world is full of lots of people,
here and there, and all around.
But people after all,
start out as being small,
and we're all a boy named...
Charlie Brown.
(During the song, Charlie Brown puts two wooden sticks to make a cross, puts a long string to them, uses scissors to cut the paper to make a rhombus diamond, and fits it along with the kite, and puts glue. Right before his kite was finished, he puts a tail on it. Then puts a line with a holder to it. Charlie Brown then feels proud of what he made. Then he goes outside. But suddenly, a strong gust of wind rips his kite. An upset Charlie Brown goes inside, forced to try again. He gets the ripped pieces of paper off from a kite and puts new paper on it. Charlie Brown then goes outside to find a perfect place to fly his kite. Then, he sees a tree. A mouth suddenly appears as it looks like a kite-eating tree. Charlie Brown hides his kite and quickly gets away from the tree. He then finds a perfect spot for his kite to fly. He tries to let it fly but it falls to the ground. Charlie Brown then waits for the wind to die down and then he flies a kite. As the kite was finally in the air, it slipped off from his hand and then it almost flew into Charlie Brown. The kite then lands safely on the ground. Charlie Brown came back and tries to fly the kite as hard as possible. The kite then fell to the ground. A rock then helped him out as Charlie Brown goes across Linus. Linus watches as Charlie Brown was having trouble with his kite. He then goes around in circles. Then the kite vanishes. Charlie Brown tries catching the kite but he tripped and fell to the ground. Then he jumped up as the kite crashes to the ground. Charlie Brown then punches the ground in frustration.)
Charlie Brown: I'll NEVER be able to get this kite in the air! Never, never, never, never! I can't do it! I can't do it! I don't want to see this kite again as long as I live! 
(Lucy then comes over as Charlie Brown kicks the kite. Charlie hands the kite to Lucy in disgust.) 
Charlie Brown: Take it, take it! Get it out of my sight! Anybody who can fly this kite is a genius!
(Lucy then throws the kite onto Snoopy, lying on his doghouse. The kite begins to float up in the air, suddenly appearing fine and not broken at all, as Snoopy holds onto the string while lying down. Charlie Brown spanks his head in frustration as everyone in the scene fly kites in the sky along with Snoopy.)
(Then the scene goes to Charlie Brown who was ready to play baseball.)
Charlie Brown: (thinking) My heart is full on the day I first go out to the old ball field. I love the memories. I love the smell of the horsehide. (sniffs) I love the smell of the grassy outfield and the dusty infield. The hopes... and the dreams of the new season. Ah, there it is! The old pitcher's mound, covered with tradition and dandelions. 
(Charlie Brown then looks shocked seeing the bright yellow dandelions on his mound.)
Charlie Brown: Dandelions!? This pitcher's mound is covered with dandelions.
(Freida and Lucy run up to Charlie Brown.)
Frieda: Don't touch them, Charlie Brown! Don't you dare hurt all those innocent dandelions! They're beautiful. Don't you dare cut them down! (walks away)
Lucy: Besides, you may not know it. But you look kind of cute standing there surrounded by dandelions. (grins at Charlie Brown and walks off)
Charlie Brown: (madly) I don't want to look cute!
(Snoopy then gets a very long extension cord out of the doghouse and lays it on the field. Then he gets a portable phonograph. Snoopy puts out two stereo speakers hooked up to the phonograph and puts on a record of the United States National Anthem, "The Star Spangled Banner". Various animations of blue and white stars, red and white stripes and other patriotic images appear to the rhythm of the music. Near the end of the anthem, fireworks explode in the background as we see the images of all the Peanuts characters posed with their hands or hats over their hearts to pay respect to their country. After the song ends, Snoopy puts away the extension cord, speakers, record and phonograph, and gets his baseball cap and glove out of the doghouse to join the other kids in the game. He practices playing and throws the ball to everybody. Snoopy catches the ball with his mouth but spits it out. Linus shakes the saliva off the ball and throws it to Pig-Pen. When Pig-Pen catches the ball, a huge cloud of dust blows up. Frieda blows a bubble gum and it pops all over her face. Linus neatly folds up his blanket so that it seamlessly fits under his baseball cap, allowing him to use both hands. Charlie Brown gives an ashamed look and then throws the ball to Schroeder.)
Schroeder: All right, Charlie Brown, let's get our signal straight. One finger will mean the high straight ball, two fingers will mean the low straight ball.
Charlie Brown: What about my curve ball? And my slider, and my knuckle ball? And my slide arm, and my submarine pitch?
Schroeder: One finger will mean the high straight ball, and two fingers will mean the low straight ball.
(As he walks away he sees the dandelions.)
Schroeder: Hey! What's this? What in the world are all these dandelions doing on the pitcher's mound?
Charlie Brown: (annoyed) They grew there. And the girls on our team won't let me cut 'em down. They say they're pretty... and they say I look cute standing there among them.
Schroeder: (walks off back to home base but turns back) They're right. You do look kind of cute standing there.
(Charlie Brown angrily throws his glove and a ball at Schroeder, who runs for cover. Then the game begins. Charlie Brown starts pitching, but of course the ball speeds by and sends him spinning to the ground as his clothes except his pants fly off. Charlie Brown stands up and puts the rest of his clothes and gear back on. This repeats two more times. As Charlie is getting dressed a third time, Schroeder comes over.)
Schroeder: Charlie Brown? Charlie Brown, it's taking you too long to get dressed after every pitch. If you can't get dressed a little faster, we'll never get through the first inning.
(Charlie Brown prepares to pitch again, but Lucy interrupts...)
Lucy: WAIT!! (studies the aim) Hmmm. Brush this guy back, Charlie Brown. Give him the old bean ball.
Charlie Brown: No! I can't do that! It wouldn't be right!
Lucy: It wouldn't be right?! (to the other kids) Listen who's gone more on us all of a sudden! Ol' Wishy-Washy here is too moral to throw a bean ball!
(The other players join in on the conservation, with their dialogue overlapping each other...)
Freida: What about the way early settlers treated the Indians? Was that moral? How about the children's crusade? Was that moral?
Patty: Yeah, and how about those awful movie ads you see nowadays?
Schroeder: Do you think that incident at Harper's Ferry was consistent with morality?
Patty: Define morality!
Freida: Do you call those moral, Charlie Brown? Our whole system of freeways is a perfect example of what I'm trying to say!
Violet: Have you listened to the radio lately?
Pig-Pen: How about this whole conservation situation?
Charlie Brown: We never win any ballgames, but we sure have some interesting discussions.
(Charlie Brown throws the ball, but this time it conks him right on the head and knocks him to the ground! He lies on the mound out cold as other kids run up in concern.)
Patty: What happened?!
Linus: Charlie Brown got hit by a line-drive!
Patty: Does anyone here know anything about first-aid?
Lucy: It's probably not serious. Second or third-aid will do.
Linus: (handing a handkerchief to Lucy) Here! Run over to the drinking fountain, and soak this handkerchief in cold water!
Lucy: (checks the handkerchief) You're kidding. With a head like Charlie Brown's, you'll need a bed sheet.
Charlie Brown: I'm dying! And all I hear are insults! (sits up) What happened?
Linus: You got hit on the head with a line-drive, Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown: (standing up and getting his hat and glove) I don't understand it. I used to be able to dodge those line-drives.
Patty: When you get old, your reflexes really slow down.
(As the rest of the kids walk back to their places on the field, Charlie Brown then catches the ball and starts pitching it. A musical montage begins, accompanied by multicolored squares. The opposing team scores six runs in the first inning, with Charlie Brown's team getting no runs whatsoever, likewise in the second inning when the opposing team gets eight runs. During the next several innings, whenever Charlie's team is on the field, the other team keeps hitting the ball, and Lucy, Freida and Patty all fail to catch it several times. But with one of the hits, Snoopy accidentally catches the ball in his mouth in mid-yawn! The next several squares show the kids all playing poorly, i.e. missing the ball at bat or failing to catch the ball. Later on, it's the bottom of the ninth inning, and the opposing team is way ahead while Charlie's team has no runs whatsoever. Charlie's team is up to bat. Lucy is up first and she misses the ball with all three swings, striking out. Schroeder goes next, and he too strikes out with three swings. Finally, Charlie Brown is up to bat, and as expected, he ends up striking out on all swings, much to the team's dismay...)
Everyone except Charlie: AAAAAUUUGH!!!
(Now we see Charlie Brown leaving the ball field feeling gloomy.)
Charlie Brown: (thinking) Well, we lost the first game of the season again. I shouldn't let it bother me, but it does. We always seem to lose the first game of the season, and the last game of the season...
(Charlie Brown crosses the street, pauses a bit and shouts out...)
Charlie Brown: AND ALL THOSE STUPID GAMES IN BETWEEN!
(The scene cuts to Charlie Brown getting into a bath.)
Charlie Brown: (thinking) In the big leagues, the ball players get sent to showers. I get sent to take a bath! Nothing ever seems to go right for me. I can't fly a kite, and I lose every ballgame I play. I just can't seem to do ANYTHING right.
(Charlie Brown then puts a toy sailboat in the bath, but it sinks right into the water.)
(Later that afternoon, Charlie Brown doodles in the dirt with a stick when Linus approaches, sits down and picks up a stick to join him.)
Linus: Hi, Charlie Brown. ... You're depressed, aren't you?
Charlie Brown: (annoyed) I supposed you forgot we lost another ballgame!
Linus: I did not! Today's game was our 99th straight loss without a win. ... That wasn't a very good game today, Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown: I know it. I'm getting tired of losing all these ballgames. And this was going to be our big year. The year when it looked like we might even score our first run. I think it would be kind of fun to win once in a while.
Linus: Winning isn't everything.
Charlie Brown: But losing isn't anything.
Linus: Look at it this way, Charlie Brown. We learn more from losing than we do from winning.
Charlie Brown: (sarcastic) I guess that makes me the smartest person in the whole world.
Linus: (as they start to play tic-tac-toe in the dirt) I think you just talked yourself into being a loser, Charlie Brown. I really don't believe in this business of some people being born losers. If you keep on doing different things, you're going to win just as much as anyone else. Just keep trying, Charlie Brown. Don't give up. You'll win your share of ballgames. I just don't think it's possible for someone to lose everything all the time. One of these days, you'll win.
(But just as Linus says that, he wins the tic-tac-toe game. Charlie brown glares at Linus, who smiles sheepishly and walks away.)
(Now Snoopy comes up to Charlie Brown with his dog dish, wanting supper. Charlie Brown goes inside and makes the supper of dog food for Snoopy and brings it out to him. Snoopy dances excitedly and quickly gobbles up his supper to the point where he's standing on his head in the dish. He then topples onto his back, yawns and stretches, and climbs onto his doghouse and goes to sleep. His stomach starts hurting as he sleeps and night falls. Then he dreams about being a World War I Flying Ace, via footage from "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." Snoopy flies through the air, but the Red Baron fires at him several times, Snoopy also does a 360-degree loop in the sky on his doghouse, and soon he is shot down. Right before impact, Snoopy wakes up in a cold sweat and hurries to Charlie Brown's house. He bangs on the door with his foot and Charlie Brown lets him in. Snoopy then rushes to Charlie Brown's bed and falls asleep...)
Charlie Brown: Why can't I have an ordinary dog like everybody else?
(The next day, Charlie Brown walks down the street hanging his head in shame. He finds a long blade of grass and chews on it a bit, but spits it out.)
Charlie Brown: Bleah! (throws it away and thinks) Sometimes I get so discouraged that I can hardly stand it. The harder I try, the worse I get. Perhaps I should seek professional help.
(Charlie Brown then goes to the psychiatry booth where Lucy is reading a book.)
Charlie Brown: I think I need help.
Lucy: (pretending to think) Hmmm...
Charlie Brown: Everything I do turns to failure. I guess you know I've never succeeded at anything in my whole life.
Lucy: Charlie Brown, it's true. I've recognized your frailties; your weaknesses. You need me to point out your faults, Charlie Brown. It's for your own good. Besides, I can do it for you better than anyone else. (gets up and summons Charlie Brown to follow) My system is unique.
Charlie Brown: What's so unique about it?
(They go inside Lucy's house, where Lucy has Charlie Brown sit on a little stool.)
Lucy: Come in and sit down, Charlie Brown. I'll explain my unique system. Make yourself at home, Charlie Brown. I'll set up my equipment. (walks off and gets a pile of slides) See what I've done? I put all of your faults on slides. We're going to project your faults onto a screen. 
Charlie Brown: Good grief! Project my faults onto a screen?
(Lucy gets the slide projector and begins to put slides into the carousel.)
Lucy: Now, watch carefully.
(She turns on the projector and they see a picture of Charlie Brown lying on a pitcher's mound.)
Lucy: Here we see your failure to observe the world in an upright position.
(Lucy puts on another picture of Charlie Brown and the kite stuck in a tree.)
Lucy: Here we see your lack of coordination, Charlie Brown.
(Lucy then shows a picture of Charlie Brown being whacked by a ball after pitching.)
Lucy: And here we see your lack of style. Now, on to your physical faults. These slides will show your tendency toward fatness.
(Lucy scrolls to a picture of an arrow pointing to Charlie Brown's belly.)
Lucy: Look at that stomach!
(Lucy then scrolls to a picture of an arrow pointing to Charlie Brown's nose.)
Lucy: Even your nose is fat, and your legs! Why, I'll bet if the truth were known, even your toes are fat!
(Charlie Brown look down at his shoes.)
Lucy: Now we're really going to get down to business. The next batch of slides will show your biggest and most damaging faults! (loads some more slides into the projector carousel) These could take about an hour to show.
(Lucy begins going through the slides, to which Charlie Brown gulps in embarrassment, tugs on his shirt collar nervously, stammers and covers his eyes.)
Charlie Brown: No, no! Ugh! Turn it off! I can't stand it any longer. I can't stand and watch. I can't stand it! I can't stand it! (runs out of the house)
Lucy: One moment there, Charlie Brown. 
(They head back to Lucy's psychiatry booth, and Lucy sets Charlie back on the stool.)
Lucy: Relax here a while, Charlie Brown. We'll solve this problem together. The way I see it, the problem is one of emotions. (Charlie Brown perks up) When you have emotional problems, it is usually because you had no outlets. You need emotional outlets!
Charlie Brown: I need emotional outlets. What kind of emotional outlets would you suggest?
Lucy: (holds up a football) This football is a perfect answer. There's no better emotional outlet than kicking a football. To sum it all up in one phrase, Charlie Brown, you could kick away your faults. (tosses the football to Charlie)
Charlie Brown: Boy, you must think I'm stupid. (tosses the ball back to Lucy) You just wanna hold that football and have me come running up to kick at it, so you could pull it away and see me fall FLAT ON MY BACK!
Lucy: (tossing the football in her hands) The cure is up to you, Charlie Brown. Do you wanna kick the habit, or don't you? (spins the football) Perhaps you'd rather have another viewing session of all your faults on those slides?
Charlie Brown: ALL RIGHT! ALL RIGHT! I'LL TRY IT! I'LL TRY IT! (grabs the football) No more slides!
Lucy: (as they walk away from the booth) You won't be disappointed, Charlie Brown. (takes the football) This time, I have a little extra surprise as a bonus.
(Lucy then kneels and holds the football in position as Charlie Brown walks a distance away.)
Charlie Brown: Why oh why do I let her do this to me? Why? Why?! Maybe she's right. (smiles) After all, If you can't trust on your own psychiatrist, who can you trust? (stops walking and turns around) This time I'm really gonna kick it. (he begins running towards the football) I'm gonna kick the habit! This is the end of all my faults! (tries to kick the football, but of course, Lucy pulls it away) AUUUGH! (lands on his back with the familiar thud)
Lucy: (stands up) And now for the surprise. Would you like to see how that looked onto instant replay? (walks off humming)
Charlie Brown: Instant replay?
(Lucy reveals a video camera hooked up to a TV monitor with some videotape reels, faking nonchalant humming. She configures the TV...)
Lucy: Here you are, Charlie Brown. Now I'm gonna run through this at slow motion. (turns on the TV) I think we must carefully analyze your every move, your every expression. (hums a bit more as the TV monitor shows Charlie Brown running in slow motion with a nervous look on his face) See how erotic your movements are? Look at your face! Those bad personality traits we spoke about stand out clearly. (on the monitor, Charlie approaches Lucy and starts to kick the football) Now, see the look of determination on your face? (Lucy pulls the football away on the monitor and Charlie goes flying) Oh sham, Charlie Brown. A failure face if I ever saw one. (the video cuts to Lucy giving an accomplished smile) In turn, see how benign and composed my face is, Charlie Brown? (the video cuts back to Charlie Brown crashing to earth) And your clumsiness, Charlie Brown! Shall we run through it once more at normal speed? (rewinds the video, which goes on for 8 seconds.)
Charlie Brown: (looking humiliated) No. No, I don't think so. (walks away)
(Charlie Brown and Lucy walk back to the psychiatry booth.)
Charlie Brown: (sits back on the stool) I've never got through anything like that in my life! I never knew I could be so stupid. I never knew I had so many faults! I never felt so completely miserable. (walks away)
Lucy: (smiling) Wait until you get my bill.
(Charlie Brown then goes back to his house, into his room and looks at his piggy bank.)
Charlie Brown: These psychiatric treatments are going to bankrupt me.
(The next day, Linus is sleeping in his room when Lucy opens his window shade and wakes him up, dressed in her jacket and hat.)
Lucy: Get up, Linus. It's time to go to school.
Linus: Again?
Lucy: What do you mean "again"?!
Linus: I went yesterday! (snuggles back under the blankets)
Lucy: Hmmm. Mom's already made your lunch. (puts his lunchbag on the bed and walks off)
Linus: (sighs) Guess I may as well go to school. I can't waste a good lunch.
(A little later, we see Linus all dressed and carrying his blanket and lunch. He grabs his books and starts to leave until Lucy steps on his blanket, making him fall over.)
Lucy: Do you have to drag that stupid blanket to school every day?! How would you feel if people came up to you and said, "You little brother drags a blanket with him wherever he goes!"?
(Linus pulls the blanket off of Lucy's foot and hugs it.)
Linus: This blanket is a necessity. It keeps me from cracking up. It could be regarded as a spiritual tourniquet. Without this blanket, I'd be nothing; a ship without a rudder!
Lucy: Oh, good grief!
(Linus then uses the blanket to grab his books, and then picks up his lunch and follows Lucy to school. Then the scene goes to Charlie Brown walking to school, hanging his head in shame and sighing. He hears Linus calling out to him...)
Linus: Hey, Charlie Brown! Wait for me! (catches up to Charlie Brown and sees his depressed face) You look like you've been taking shock treatments or something.
Charlie Brown: What's more shocking than seeing your faults projected onto a screen?
(They cross a street and start walking up a hill.)
Linus: Life is difficult, isn't it, Charlie Brown?
Charlie Brown: Yes, it is.
(They come up to the usual brick wall and stop there for a bit.)
Charlie Brown: But I've developed a new philosophy: I only dread one day at a time.
(A little later, the two boys have resumed walking to school...)
Charlie Brown: I feel terrible. (rests his head against a tree)
Linus: You can't continue carrying on like this, Charlie Brown. 
(Charlie Brown looks at Linus and brings his head back up. Then they walk on, going past Lucy, Patty and Violet...)
Linus: You're going to have to do something about it. You're going to have to win at something. Something that will restore your lost self-confidence.
(The girls look at each other, getting an idea. Lucy then calls out to Charlie...)
Lucy: Hey, Charlie Brown! There's a spelling bee at school today! Why don't you volunteer? (laughs)
Linus: That's a good idea, Charlie Brown! If you win, it'll show everybody that you're not a born loser.
Charlie Brown: (now feeling more upbeat) Maybe you're right, Linus. Maybe I should volunteer.
(The girls laugh among hearing this.)
Violet: YOU go out for the spelling bee?! (cackles)
Lucy: Charlie Brown, you'll just make a fool of yourself.
Patty: Besides that, you're bound to be a complete failure!
(The three girls begin to dance around Charlie Brown and sing...)
Girls: (singing) You never do anything right!
You never put anything in its place!
No wonder everyone calls you…
Failure Face!
(As they sing the above lines, they pile up their schoolbooks on top of Charlie Brown's head, and they fall off when he reacts. Then they resume dancing around him...)
Girls: You're so impossibly dumb!
In history books your name they'll erase!
Or else they're bound to call you…
Failure Face!
(At the "history books" lyric, Lucy opens up her schoolbook to reveal pages with Charlie Brown's face and the text "CHARLIE BROWN ESQ.", to which she crosses out with a pencil. Then they start prancing around Charlie and intentionally knock him down while doing so...)
Girls: And in the race to be stupid,
You'd set a brand-new kind of pace!
We'd like to christen you, Charlie…
Failure Face!
(The girls all double over each other laughing themselves silly as the song ends. Charlie Brown gives an annoyed frown and starts walking away from them as Linus follows...)
Charlie Brown: By golly, I'll show 'em! I'll show them I'm good at something! By golly, I'll show 'em.
(Now we fade to Charlie Brown sitting at his desk at school...)
Charlie Brown: (thinking) Maybe I WILL enter the spelling bee. That's the sort of thing I need to gain confidence and self-esteem. I think I'll raise my hand and volunteer. It'll be good for me. I think I'll just raise my hand and volunteer...
(But Charlie realizes he's too reluctant to raise his hand...)
Charlie Brown: My hand won't go up! My hand is smarter than I am!
Teacher: Wa wa waa, wa wa wawa wa wa waa?
Charlie Brown: Yes, ma'am?
Teacher: Wa wa wawa wa wa waa?
Charlie Brown: What am I doing? Am I talking to myself? Yes, ma'am. I was talking to myself about the spelling bee.
Teacher: Wa wa wa wa wa wa waa?
Charlie Brown: Yes, ma'am. I'd like to be in the spelling bee.
Violet: (sitting behind Charlie, whispering) Psst, you're crazy! Don't do it. You'll just make a fool out of yourself!
Charlie Brown: I WILL NOT!!!
Teacher: Waa waa?
Charlie Brown: Excuse me, ma'am. I was answering one of my many detractors.
(Charlie Brown gets out of his seat and walks up to the front of the classroom, standing in front of the blackboard...)
Charlie Brown: (thinking) Well, here I am in the first round of the spelling bee. Nobody thinks I can win the class spelling bee, but I'm gonna show them. I not only know a lot of hard words, but I know every spelling rule in the book. (rubs his ankle with one foot) The only one I have trouble remembering is, "I before E except after D." Or was it "E before I, except after G?" (looks around) I've got to stay calm and not get ragged.This is my big chance to prove to everyone that I CAN do something. I don't care if I don't actually win. All I want to do is get past the first few rounds and make a decent showing. Let's see now, how does that spelling rule go? Hmm... I guess I really don't have to worry; all the words in the first round of a spelling bee are usually quite easy. In a way, I'd almost like to start off with a hard one. You know, to kind of shake up the other kids... I feel strangely calm.
Teacher: Wa wa waa, wa wa wa waawaa wa...
Charlie Brown: (thinking) Uh-oh, here it comes! It's my turn next! Here's my first word of the spelling bee!
Teacher: Wa waa wa waaaaa, waa?
Charlie Brown: "Failure?" Yes, ma'am. That's an easy one.
Lucy: (whispering to a classmate behind her) Boy, that's one word he should know well!
Charlie Brown: Failure. F-A-I-L-U-R-E. Failure. (claps excitedly) I DID IT! I DID IT!
Teacher: Wa waa waa, wa wa waa waa...
Charlie Brown: (thinking) Uh-oh. That kid has an easy one!
Boy 1: Neighbor. N-E-I-B-O-R. Neighbor.
Charlie Brown: (thinking) Uh-oh! He's out! He missed it! Now it's...
Teacher: Wa waa waa, wa wa waa...
Charlie Brown: (thinking) Oooh! This kid has a REAL easy one! He'll never miss it. Then I'll get a hard one and I'll be out. Rats!
Boy 2: Charities. C-H-A-R... R-T-E... (nervously) Uh, I... S! Charities.
Charlie Brown: He missed it! Uh-oh! (thinking) I guess now it's up to me. It's "Sydney or the bush." Here it is.
Teacher: Wawa waa, wa waa wa waa waa waaaa?
Charlie Brown: Yes, ma'am? The word is "insecure?" (swallows nervously) Yes, that's a word I'm well acquainted with. (smiles sheepishly)
Violet: (to Lucy) Can you imagine? Of COURSE he knows that word. It's his trademark!
Charlie Brown: (now more confident) Insecure. I-N-S-E-C-U-R-E. Insecure. (smiles)
(We fade to later in the afternoon. The final bell rings and kids come running out the front doors of the school building, including multiple clones of Lucy and Violet. Charlie Brown and Linus walk out of the crowd of kids and down the sidewalk...)
Linus: Boy, you really did it, Charlie Brown. You were great! You're our class champion!
(Charlie Brown does a confident march, and he and Linus approach Lucy, Patty and Violet...)
Charlie Brown: You didn't think I could do it, did you? But I did it! (grins at them as he and Linus continue walking)
Linus: And tomorrow, you'll represent our class in the all-school spelling bee.
Charlie Brown: I'm going home and and really bear down. I'm going to study the whole dictionary!
(Now we fade to inside Charlie Brown's house, where he is reading a spelling rule book amongst a pile of books on his table...)
Charlie Brown: This is one rule I must remember.
(singing) "I before E except after C
Or when sounded like A as in Neighbor and Weigh.
Words ending in I, E
Drop the E and change the I to Y before adding
I-N-G."
(Linus walks into the room with his blanket.)
Charlie Brown: I before E except after C
Let's see:
I before E except after H,
No, I after E After C –
I before E after -
No, E before I after C!
Linus: (picking up a book and singing) When a word has a C for an ending,
Like Frolic...
Charlie Brown: Or Colic?
Linus: Or Comic, and Mimic, and Picnic,
You always add a K before appending!
Charlie Brown: Huh?
Linus: You know, sticking an E or I or Y –
Charlie Brown: Oh sure!
Linus: For example – Colicky, Frolicker, Picnicker, Mimicker!
Charlie Brown: And Hickory Dickory Docker!
Linus: On the other hand, if suffix is maintained, page 43,
Then E must be retained after C!
Charlie Brown: You mean before the ending "able"?
Linus: Right! That keeps the spelling stable!
Charlie Brown: So that’s why! 
Linus: Of course, let’s try!
(The two boys begin singing and dancing around the room with their books as Snoopy watches from the doorway...)
Charlie and Linus: Noticeable, Serviceable, Embraceable, Replaceable,
Peaceable, Enforceable, Pronounceable, Uuuuntraceable!
Linus: Sleigh, Stein, Fahrenheit!
Charlie Brown: Excepting: Fiery, Hierarchy, Hieroglyphic!
(Snoopy joins them and begins playing his mouth harp, as the room background fades away and the spelling words the boys say out loud appear in time to their singing on a colored background during the following...)
Charlie and Linus: E I is also used in special words, that merit careful study – 
E before I after C –
Seizure, Leisure, Seize, Skein, Protein,
Weird, Either, Neither, Codeine, Caffeine!
Linus: Siege, however is spelled I-E –
Charlie and Linus: Otherwise, use I-E in Thief, Believe, Fiend, Niece,
Field, Brief, Grief, 
Cashier, Achieve, Yield!
Linus: Only one word in the language ends in SEDE –
Supersede!
Three others end in CEED –
Exceed, Proceed, Succeed!
All others end in CEDE
Accede, Concede, Intercede, Precede Recede Secede!
E before I after C!
(Now we see Charlie Brown, Linus and Snoopy dancing amongst animated letters and words on a black background...)
Linus: When a word ends in C like Frolic and Mimic and Picnic, 
Insert a K before adding a suffix!
(The three slide down a line of "K"s used for the suffix examples, and spin and run around the letters and words for the following spelling examples...)
Charlie and Linus: Beginning with F, I or Y,
E-I is used immediately after the letter C.
The single exception is Financier!
(Now the three are riding on a red stylized steam train engine that pushes away the letters in "FINANCIER", and then the smoke from the train becomes the word "HEIGHT" with "I" highlighted, which the three slide down...)
Charlie and Linus: E I is used in words in which it has the sound of A,
Or the sound as I as in Height, 
Sleigh, Stein, Fahrenheit!
(Now we cut back to reality with the two boys singing and dancing around the room with their books as Snoopy dances and plays his mouth harp...)
Charlie and Linus: E I is also used in special words –
Leisure, Seizure, Seize, Skein, Protein,
Weird, Either, Neither,
Codeine, Caffeine!
Use I-E in Thief,
Belief, 
Fiend, Field, Brief, Grief, Yield, Achieve, Cashier,
Except after C as in Accede, Proceed,
Succeed, Exceed, Concede
Intercede, Precede, Recede, Succeed…
(We fade to the next day in Charlie Brown's classroom. Charlie stands next to three other kids in front of the blackboard as animated letters float above Charlie's head...)
Charlie Brown: (thinking) "I before E except after C." Let's see, before C...uhhh...
Teacher: Wa waa waa, waa waa waaaa.
Girl: Dissolve. D-I-S-O-L-V-E. Dissolve.
Lucy: (whispering to Violet behind her) That stupid Charlie Brown. He's gonna get it this time! He's up against some of the best spellers in school!
(Right outside the classroom, Snoopy walks through the schoolyard, on the bench right under one of the classroom windows and looks inside...)
Boy: Abrasive. A... S.... B... R-A-S-S... I-V. Abrasive.
Teacher: Waa, wawaa waa, wa waa waa, waa wa waa.
Charlie Brown: "Stomach?" Oh, "stomachache!" That's an easy one. Stomachache. S-T-O-M-A-C-H... hyphen, A-C-H-E. Stomachache. (wipes his sweaty forehead) Whew!
(Snoopy does a happy dance outside the classroom window.)
Teacher: Wa waa waa, wa waa waa, wawaa wa.
Tall Boy: Embarrassment. E-M-B... A-R... A-S-S, M-M-E-N-T. (gives a shocked look) Embarrassment. (walks back to his seat in embarrassment)
Charlie Brown: (thinking) He missed it! Boy! (smiles) Here's MY turn!
Teacher: Wa wa waa, waa waa wa, wa, waaaaa.
Charlie Brown: The word is "perceive?"
Teacher: Wawawaa waa waa?
(Snoopy watches from outside the classroom window...)
Charlie Brown: Yes, I know the word. "I before E except after V..."
Lucy: Oh boy! That blockhead will never get this one!
(Snoopy sees Charlie Brown sweating nervously through the window, pulls out his mouth harp and begins playing the melody to the "I Before E" song from the day before. The lyrics "I before E except after C" appear within the animated musical notes. Charlie recognizes the tune and remembers the rule, now feeling more confident...)
Charlie Brown: Uh, perceive. P-E-R, C-E I-V-E. Perceive!
(The rest of the kids begin cheering loudly and jumping up and down, including Freida, Peppermint Patty, "5", Pigpen and Shermy. Outside, Snoopy continues playing his mouth harp, but stops when he hears the cheering. Even Lucy and Violet are cheering and dancing for Charlie Brown!)
Lucy and Violet: HE DID IT! HE DID IT!
(Snoopy looks through the window and sees Charlie Brown standing there with an astonished smile on his face and the rest of the kids cheering dancing together happily.)
Everyone except Charlie: HE'S OUR HERO!
Linus: CHARLIE BROWN DID IT!
(The kids all begin marching out of the school building, and Snoopy does his happy dance and joins them. The kids carry Charlie Brown down the street for a bit before setting him down and following him through town all the way to his house...)
Everyone except Charlie: (singing) Champion Charlie Brown.
That has a lovely ring,
Something to make the fourth-column headlines,
Something the kids can sing.
Champion Charlie Brown, Esquire,
Setting the whole wide world, on fire.
Fly all the flags, break out the confetti,
Cause all the bells to sound,
He's gotta be most definitely,
Champion Charlie Brown.
Champion Charlie Brown,
He's got to be the best.
Top of the heap when it comes to spelling,
Better than all the rest!
Champion Charlie Brown, You did it!
If you're a blockhead, boy, You did it!
It must be something not to be nothing,
When you've been on the ground.
Once a beginner, now he's a winner,
Champion Charlie Brown.
Champion Charlie Brown.
Champion Charlie Brown.
(Among arriving at Charlie Brown's house, Linus waves his blanket at Charlie sitting in an easy chair, as Lucy sits at an office desk with a piece of paper as Violet stands next to her.)
Violet: I hate to admit it, but this could mean the start of something great for Charlie Brown. He may have to get an agent.
Lucy: Of course he'll need an agent. Our glorious victory must be capitalized upon! (picks up a pen) Let's see, as agent I shall get ten percent. (writes "10%" on paper) Or is it fifteen percent of Charlie Brown? (writes "15%" on paper) Perhaps this calls for incorporation. "Lucy Van Pelt Inc." Hmmm... (she and Violet both schemingly smile)
Schroeder: (to Charlie Brown relaxing in his chair) I guess you really have to start boning up on your spelling, Charlie Brown.
Charlie Brown: (sits up in surprise) "Boning up"?! What for? I just won! (leans back on the chair) Boy, I wouldn't go through that again for anything.
(Lucy and Violet glance at each other, and then Lucy gets down from her seat and walks up to the boys.)
Lucy: WHAT?!?!!! WHAT?!! WHAT?!?!
Charlie Brown: I guess I showed 'em! I guess ol' Charlie Brown came through. Whew! What a relief that's over.
Lucy: WHAT?!!! (Charlie flies out of his chair in shock) What do you mean "over"?!
Charlie Brown: It's over. I won! And I won't ever have to go through such an ordeal again.
Lucy: Why, you blockhead! This is just the beginning!
Linus: Of course, Charlie Brown. This is only the beginning.
(Charlie Brown sits up.)
Schroeder: Sure, Charlie Brown. This is only the beginning.
(Charlie Brown glances at Snoopy, who stands up and folds his arms, and then turns to Charlie Brown and growls angrily. Surprised, Charlie walks after his dog, but Violet stops him...)
Violet: Charlie Brown, this victory makes you our representative to the National Eliminations Spelling Bee, second grade!
Charlie Brown: National?! Eliminations?!! SPELLING BEE?!!! UUUUGH!!!
Lucy: Well, I can see that this blockhead needs help. It isn't just the Nationals! There's personal appearances after that, testimonials, perhaps TV appearances! A manager of my caliber is the answer, Charlie Brown. (she frowns and walks up to Charlie) In fact, I'm not sure if fifteen percent is enough. (thinks a bit) My valuable presence is easily worth... twenty percent!
Charlie Brown: Good grief!
(Violet wheels a mirror up to Charlie Brown and Lucy.)
Lucy: The first thing we must correct is your posture. (stands Charlie Brown straight in front of the mirror) Judges of a contest can be influenced by poor posture. (pushes Charlie to Violet)
Violet: Your grooming is very important. (dusts off Charlie Brown's shirt) Let's spruce up these clothes, Charlie Brown. (turns him around) You need a haircut, too. (pulls a hair off the back of Charlie's head) I can see that we're going to have to work with you. (Patty walks up) Patty, what do you think?
Patty: Well, we should check his walk. If he's going to stumble around like he usually does... (pushes Charlie Brown forward) Walk, Charlie Brown! 
(Charlie Brown quickly walks forward and flips the mirror in the process. Freida now walks up to them.) 
Patty: Not too bad. A little coaching will help, though.
Freida: Too bad he doesn't have naturally curly hair. (fluffs her hair) Judges can't resist naturally curly hair.
Lucy: You've gotta learn how to smile, Charlie Brown. Smile! Hmmm...
(Charlie Brown gives a feeble smile, while Snoopy gives a very large and pleasant smile.)
Lucy: Hmmmm... you've got a smile like a sick pumpkin! (Charlie Brown looks over at Snoopy's big smile) And furthermore, you have to be understood. The JUDGES MUST BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND YOU!
(Charlie Brown, feeling pressured, walks out of the room as Lucy calls after him and Snoopy and the other kids stand behind her...)
Lucy: YOUR DICTION MUST BE PERFECT! THE HONOR OF YOUR SCHOOL, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, RESTS ON YOUR SHOULDERS! NOT TO MENTION THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF YOUR MANAGER!!!
(Lucy glances at Snoopy, and they and the other kids sans Linus walk away as Linus follows Charlie Brown. A little later, we see Charlie, now looking somewhat tired, looking through a dictionary while seated against a pile of books under a light, as Linus stands there sucking his thumb and holding his blanket and Snoopy stands nearby.)
Charlie Brown: Linus, I don't know how I get into these messes. If I hadn't volunteered in the first place, I wouldn't have won, and now I wouldn't have to be trying to memorize the dictionary! There's a good chance that instead of being a hero, I'll make a bigger fool of myself than ever. (rests his head in the dictionary)
Linus: Don't be discouraged, Charlie Brown. You have nothing to lose. You'll either be a hero, or a goat.
Snoopy: (sticking his tongue out) BAAAAAAAAHH!
(Linus is startled by Snoopy's goat imitation, and Charlie Brown watches in concern as Snoopy walks off. Sally Brown then enters...)
Sally: Hi, big brother! Hi, Linus! (hearts appear around her) 
Charlie Brown: Hi.
Linus: Hi, Sally. (looks surprised)
Sally: Why don't you take me to a movie? 
Linus: (annoyed) How would I ever take you to a movie?!
Sally: Well, this happens all the time! Boys call up girls and say, "Would you like to go to a movie?" And then the girls say, "Why, yes; I'd like it very much!" And then the boy goes over to the girl's house and knocks on the door... (knocks on Linus's chest) ...and he says "I've come to take you to a movie." (Linus folds his arms in annoyance and tries to look away, but Sally puts her arms around him) Have you come to take me to a movie, Linus?
Linus: (pushes Sally away) Good grief, no! (throws the blanket over his head and walks away)
Sally: Isn't he the cutest thing? 
(Now we fade to some time later at a bus depot. Charlie Brown is preparing to board a Spelling Special bus to New York City for the National Eliminations Spelling Bee, with his suitcase, a sack and his camping hat. A large banner is hung, reading "GOOD LUCK, CHARLIE BROWN", and huge crowd of kids and Snoopy are all holding signs and cheering for Charlie, with Lucy leading the cheering...) 
Everyone except Charlie: C-H-A-R-L-I-E! Charlie! Charlie Brown! Yaaaaaaaaaay! 
Charlie Brown: (sheds a tear) This whole thing makes me feel like I'm being drafted. 
Linus: Think of it this way, Charlie Brown. You're going on a great adventure! And you'll be representing all us little kids. Our honor is riding on your shoulders. 
Lucy: (pushes Linus away) Not to mention my future economic security, Charlie Brown. As your agent, I expect nothing but success in our endeavors! Go out there, Charlie Brown, and FIGHT! (throws some punches) 
Charlie Brown: (recoils nervously) Good grief. 
Linus: OK, Charlie Brown, I guess you'd better get aboard. The bus is about to go. 
(Charlie Brown slings his sack over his shoulder.) 
Linus: Incidentally, Charlie Brown, I want you to take... (holds out his blanket) This! (starts shedding tears!) My blanket! My life! My all! It'll bring you luck! (closes his eyes frantically) 
Charlie Brown: Gee, Linus, that's very nice of you. 
Linus: Here! 
Charlie Brown: I don't think I... 
Linus: Here! 
Charlie Brown: (thinks a bit and takes the blanket) Well... OK. Thanks, Linus. 
Linus: (eyes still closed and holding arms out) Here! 
Charlie Brown: So long, Linus. (climbs aboard the bus steps) 
Linus: Here! 
(Charlie Brown looks out the bus window, waves uncertainly and sheds a tear...) 
Everyone except Charlie: Return victorious, Charlie Brown! 
Lucy: Or don't come back at all! 
Everyone except Charlie: You can do it, Charlie Brown! You can do it, Charlie Brown! Return victorious, Charlie Brown! 
(As the kids cheer, Charlie sits down and the bus pulls out of the depot, drives down a country road for a bit, and eventually arrives in New York City. Charlie Brown and the rest of the kids on the bus, all wearing camp hats and carrying sacks, get off the bus and look at the sights of the city a bit before boarding a taxi cab for their hotel. Later at the hotel, Charlie Brown gets off the elevator at the floor his room is in with his hotel room key, finds his room and goes in, nicely furnished with a bed and a desk with lamp. He unpacks his clothes in a dresser, and then sits at the desk with his books writing something...)
(Now we fade to Schroeder in his house, playing a Beethoven sonata movement on his toy piano, with a bust of Beethoven facing him. Lucy enters the room, moves the bust onto the floor and takes her usual place sitting against the piano...)
Lucy: Schroeder, do you think Charlie Brown will win? Do you think that Charlie Brown has a chance?
Schroeder: Well, he's been practicing a lot. I think he has a good chance.
Lucy: (thinks a bit) A young man these days has to practice a lot, doesn't he? A young man these days has to work very hard to be able to support a wife, doesn't he?
Schroeder: (stops playing and sits up) Who said anything about a wife?! (Lucy gives an innocent look as Schroeder resumes playing the music piece)
Lucy: Do piano players make a lot of money, Schroeder?
Schroeder: Some do, if they keep practicing very hard, I guess.
Lucy: (leans up to Schroeder) Keep practicing, kiddo!
(Lucy touches Schroeder's nose, who stops playing, and then Lucy kisses Schroeder on the nose, much to his disgust. Then Lucy gets up and picks up Schroeder's Beethoven bust.)
Lucy: (looking at the bust) Incidentally, who's this, George Washington? (places the bust back on the piano and walks away)
(An enraged Schroeder pounds his fist on top of his piano for a bit, scowls a bit and then calms down. Then he begins to play the Second Movement of Beethoven's Pathétique Sonata No. 8 in A-flat Major, Op. 13. The animation changes to a more dark, somber and stylish look reminiscent of Fantasia, with Schroeder initially playing against a black background that soon gets filled with musical notes. Then he imagines himself playing against an actual piano by candlelight like Beethoven would have. We then see various hand-painted images of churches and their stained glass windows, spirits, gravestones and flowers, ocean water, European cityscapes that change color, a collage of statues and European structures against music sheets, and some portrait shots of Ludwig Van Beethoven, before cumulating in angels appearing over Beethoven's death mask. Schroeder finishes the piece in a slow, somber manner.)
(Now we see Lucy returning home from Schroeder's place. Once inside her house, she sees her brother Linus sitting in front of the TV shivering and looking ill, as a downbeat version of "Linus and Lucy" plays in the background. Linus falls over from his cushion and crawls back onto it...)
Lucy: What's going on here?!
(Linus is startled, and he leaps up and faints again. He starts to get back up.)
Lucy: Well?!
Linus: I can't help it! I made the mistake of giving my blanket to Charlie Brown, to take to that spelling bee for good luck! Now I keep fainting! I keep passing out! (grabs Lucy's collar)
Lucy: (shaking Linus and standing him up) Why don't you go outside and get a breath of fresh air?
(Linus gasps for air as he stumbles out the back door. He moans and whines as he walks over to Snoopy's doghouse, where Snoopy is sleeping on the roof as usual.)
Linus: (whining) Woe is me; I'm dying! My race has run! Why did I let Charlie Brown take my blanket?! (Snoopy gets up on his doghouse) I've got to get my blanket back! (takes some heavy breaths and faints again, then gets up as Snoopy watches in concern) See, I'm always passing out! (leaps up and grabs Snoopy) Snoopy! It's up to you to help me! I just GOT to have my blanket back. (lies on the ground) I've GOTTA have my blanket! (pulls on his shirt) I don't know what's happening to me! Maybe you could come with me to find Charlie Brown and GET MY BLANKET BACK! 
(Linus passes out into Snoopy's doghouse, as Snoopy shrugs. Then we fade to the bus depot where Linus, wearing his camp cap and holding a suitcase, and Snoopy, wearing his supper dish and holding his own suitcase, board a bus to New York City. Linus is still out of it, but Snoopy reclines a bit in his seat, and then he takes out his mouth harp and begins playing it. As the bus ride continues, Linus keeps alternating between staring into space and looking out his window in a daze as Snoopy plays his mouth harp and dances around in his seat. After some time, the bus approaches New York City and drives over the Brooklyn bridge, and then is shown to be sitting in a traffic jam among arriving into the city.)
(The scene then fades to Charlie Brown in his hotel room continuing his spelling studies.)
Charlie Brown: Disgrace. D-I-S-G-R-A-C-E. Disgrace. (feeling drowsy) "In choosing between I-E and E-I, E-I is used after the letter C." This is too much. I'm so tired I can hardly stay awake. Maybe I'd better go to bed. But if I give up now, the kids will never forgive me. I can't keep up this pace. Maybe I should just tell them all that my health is more important... (Charlie Brown begins to doze off and dreams about Lucy scolding him, then he wakes up in surprise.) Yes, health! H-E-A-L-T-H, Health! (flips through some pages) I'm getting delirious. I'd better get a hold of myself. I need something in my stomach. Stomach, S-T-O-M-A-C-H! Stomach! I'd better call room service. (picks up the phone) Service. S-E-R-V-I-C-E. Service. Yes, service. Yes, that's it. I before E, save after D... Hello? Yes, hello... Oh, did I ring? Yes, I guess I rang. Rang. R-A-N-G. Rang. ... What? Oh, yes, room service. I want room service. (groans) Could you please send me up a bowl of dry cereal and a glass of milk? (hangs up phone) Let's see, what was it? "I before E after milk?"
(As Charlie Brown dozes off, he hears a banging noise coming from the door, startling him awake.)
Charlie Brown: Thump! T-H-U-M-P, thump.
(The knocking continues. Charlie Brown opens the door to find Snoopy along with Linus.)
Charlie Brown: (no longer tired) Hey!
Snoopy: Hey!
(Charlie Brown and Snoopy happily dance around and hug each other, but stop when Linus faints. Snoopy then hurries to the bathroom sink, pours water into a glass and goes back to the two boys, but drinks the water himself.)
Linus: (coughs) My blanket, Charlie Brown! (grabs Charlie Brown's shirt) My blanket! I can't be without my blanket! After I gave you my blanket, my life has been a nightmare! (sighs, then faints)
(Snoopy gets a glass of water again and drinks it himself again.)
Linus: See?! I keep passing out! I can't be without my blanket! (coughs) I need my blanket, Charlie Brown!
Charlie Brown: (helps Linus into his room) Gee, Linus, I don't know what's with your blanket. (Snoopy comes into the room with the luggage as Charlie shuts the door) I've been so busy studying that I forgot all about your blanket. 
Linus: FORGOT ABOUT MY BLANKET?! (groans and climbs into a rocking chair) Whoa, whoa, woe is me!
Charlie Brown: Gee, I'm sorry, Linus. I really have been studying so hard I must have misplaced it. (thinks a bit) Maybe I left it at the lobby... Hmm... No, I think I left it at the library. I really haven't gone anyplace except for the library. (Linus climbs out of the rocking chair) That's it. I must've left it at the library.
Linus: Library?! I give him a good luck charm, my beautiful blanket, and he thinks it's at the library! CHARLIE BROWN, I OUGHTA KICK YA! (groans sickly and then faints)
(Snoopy goes to the sink to get more water.)
Charlie Brown: (tapping Linus's stomach) Linus! Linus! Speak to me! I'm sure the blanket is at the library. Take ol' Snoopy with you. He's a hunting dog. He'll--
(Before Charlie Brown can finish his sentence, Snoopy drinks the water for himself once again.)
Charlie Brown: Good grief!
Linus: (moans sickly)
Charlie Brown: Well, he'll be happy to help you find your blanket. I have to stay and study. Tomorrow's the spelling bee, and I just have to study. (opens the door and leads Linus and Snoopy out of the room) Look in the hotel lobby first. Then go down two blocks right, then straight. You can't miss it. It's either at the library, or somewhere along the way. 
(Late that night, Linus and Snoopy search all around the city looking for the blanket as a downbeat version of "Linus and Lucy" plays. No one else is around. He checks inside a trash can as Snoopy peeks in as well.)
Linus: It isn't here!
(Linus angrily slams the trash can, trapping Snoopy in. Snoopy gets out of the can and catches up to Linus, who looks through a fence down to somewhere.)
Linus: (groans) It isn't here!
(Linus and Snoopy approach the Rockefeller Plaza skating rink and look down into it...)
Linus: It isn't here! Oahhh, where is it?! Where can it be?! (walks off)
(Snoopy happily sees the ice all shiny and new. He goes down the stairs, and tests out the ice with a foot. He pretends to put on his skates, and puts on his stocking cap. Then he skates around the rink on his feet. The "Skating" music in the background plays as Snoopy skates around showing elegant graceful moves, all with his eyes closed. After some skating, he plays hockey, superimposed against colored silhouetted live-action hockey players as the music changes to a quick jazzy action-themed tune. He quickly tries to shoot the puck but fails, making him grumble and yell in frustration. He hits the ground and slaps the puck, shooting it to the screen. We then see that three of Snoopy's teeth are missing. Snoopy looks in surprised at someone from off-screen and tries to play innocent, but is sentenced to the penalty box anyways, where he begins grumbling and shouting and acting crazy. He mockingly whistles to some players and continues on acting crazy. He then tangles his throat and yawns in frustration until someone came back and he smiles blissfully. He then continues on playing hockey and successfully makes the shot. He continues playing until the game ends and the buzzer sounds. The music changes back to "Skating." He then goes back to skating around, against scenescapes of the city at night, a frozen lake, a European town, a Dutch landscape, and finally back to the Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Snoopy smiles and is about to leave when he slips and falls flat on his belly as the music comes to an abrupt finish.) 
(Then the scene transitions to Linus who found the library, closed for the night, and he looks through the doors and windows trying to find his blanket.)
Linus: Where is it?! I don't see it! It isn't here! (looks through another window) It's gone! My poor blanket is gone! (goes down the front steps and sees Snoopy) Woe is me! I'm sunk! That scoundrel Charlie Brown lost my blanket!
(Snoopy sees one of the decorative lion statues, and sits down and imitates the statue when Linus approaches him.)
Linus: (now angry) All right, you stupid beagle, snap to it! You've been no help at all in finding my blanket!
(They start walking back to the hotel Charlie Brown is staying at as dawn breaks...)
Linus: Some hunting dog! The world is ending, and he can't even help find a blanket! It's that blockhead Charlie Brown's fault! If I hadn't felt sorry for him, this would never have happened! NEVER FEEL SORRY FOR BLOCKHEADS!!! I'll never forgive that Charlie Brown!
(The scene crossfades to back in the hotel room, where Charlie Brown is sleeping amongst his studies. An angry knock at the door awakens him, and he opens it to find Linus and Snoopy. Linus has an angry scowl on his face.)
Charlie Brown: Good morning, Linus and Snoopy. Snoopy. S-N-O-O-P-Y. Snoopy. (rests against the door drowsily)
Linus: Well, Charlie Brown, you really did it! (Snoopy yawns) We looked for that blanket all over the city! 
(Snoopy starts to doze off leaning against Linus, who moves out of the way and leads Snoopy to collapse on the floor asleep.) 
Linus: And as for this hunting dog of yours, he's completely useless!
Charlie Brown: (sleepily) Useless. U-S-E-L-E-S-S. Useless. Gee, I'm sorry, Linus. I don't know what to say. (walks to the bathroom) S-A-Y, say. (takes off his shirt) I've got to get ready for the contest. Contest. C-O-N-T-E-S-T. Contest.
Linus: I'll never see my blanket again!
(Charlie Brown is washing his face in the bathroom sink.)
Charlie Brown: Washing. W-A-S-H-I-N-G. Washing.
(Linus rocks in the rocking chair and lets out a sick groan. As he slumps down in the chair, Charlie Brown walks out of the bathroom wearing a nice dress shirt and tie. He sits on the bed and puts on his shoes. Linus moans again. Then Charlie pulls out a familiar blue cloth - Linus's blanket - from under his bed and starts to shine his shoes with them. Linus catches sight of his blanket and no longer feels ill.)
Linus: AAAAAAUGH!!!
(Linus jumps out of the rocking chair and snatches his blanket out of Charlie Brown's arms. He sighs blissfully and cuddles with his blanket as "Linus and Lucy" begins playing in the background, now sounding more like it normally should. Linus dances around with the blanket, which appears to move around on its' own, mirroring Linus's moves. Then Linus uses his blanket to play "bullfight" with Snoopy, who acts like the bull. Then Linus dances with the blanket some more, and then folds it into a paper airplane, flies it around the room and catches it. All the while, Charlie Brown watches in bewilderment.)
(Some time later, the three leave the hotel, with Charlie Brown wearing a nice suit jacket to go with his tie and dress shirt. Linus happily clutches his blanket.)
Charlie Brown: (in a daze) "I before E, when followed by C..."
(The boys and dog approach the building the National Eliminations Spelling Bee is being held at and go into an alleyway towards the back entrance, marked with a sign "CONTESTANTS ONLY." Charlie Brown shakes Linus and Snoopy's hands and goes up into the entrance.)
Linus: Good luck, Charlie Brown.
(Linus and Snoopy go to the front auditorium entrance, where kids are pouring in. Linus greets a teenage usher...)
Linus: Hi! I'm a friend of one of the contestants.
(Snoopy presents himself to the usher, gives a salute and marches inside, to the usher's surprise. Linus and Snoopy make their way to the front row of the auditorium, where Linus takes his seat next to a boy.)
Linus: I'm a friend of one of the contestants.
(Snoopy climbs into one of the seats, but due to his light weight the seat slams shut on him. Snoopy climbs out and manages to get seated. He notices the girl sitting next to him, makes flirtatious sounds at her and kisses her hand. The girl pulls her hand away in disgust and wipes it. He then salutes the two boys sitting near Linus and relaxes.)
(Back in the kids' hometown, we see Lucy, Schroeder, Pig-Pen, Violet, Freida, Patty and Sally all gathered together at one of their houses watching the National Eliminations Spelling Bee on television.)
Lucy: That blockhead better deliver!
Schroeder: I'm sure Charlie Brown will perform commendably. 
Violet: It's gonna start. Here it is!
Pig-Pen: It's "Sydney or the bush" for Charlie Brown.
(At the spelling bee, the crowd applauds, with Linus whistling happily. The second grade representative kids, including a blond-haired boy resembling Schroeder, and Charlie Brown, sit in chairs on the stage. Charlie Brown looks a bit tired.)
Charlie Brown: When a word ends in "C," a "K" is added before "E," "I" or "Y."
(At the house, Lucy is astonished.)
Lucy: That blockhead! He’s falling asleep.
(At the bee, the contestants stand up. The referee calls them out...)
Referee: Wa waa waa, waa waa waaaa.
Asian Girl: Supersede. S-U-P-E-R... S... E-D-E. Supersede.
Referee: Waa waa, waawaawaa, waa waawaa.
Blond-Haired Girl: Irritable. I-R-R-I-T-I-B-L-E. Irritable.
Referee: Waaa. (the girl’s head pops) W-waa waa, waa waa waaaa.
Schroeder Lookalike: Recommend. R-E-C-O-M-M-E-N-D. Recommend.
Referee: Wa-waaa wa, waa waa waaa wawaaaa...
Pigtail-Girl: Invitation. I-N-V-I-T-A-T-I-O-N. Invitation.
Referee: Ww-waaaa wa, wo waa waa wo wo.
Charlie Brown: Unconfident. U-N-C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T. Unconfident.
(At the house...)
Lucy: Of course! That’s a word he’s well acquainted with!
(Back at the spelling bee...)
Referee: ...waa waaaa?
Shorthaired Girl: Production. P-R-O-D-U-C-T-I-O-N. Production.
Referee: Wa-waaaa waa, waa waaa?
Brown Suit Boy: Tyranny. T-Y-R-R-A-N-Y. Tyranny.
Referee: Waa. (the boy’s head pops) Wawa waa-a waaa waa mwaaa...
Black Boy: Indispensable. I-N-D-I-S-P-E-N-S-I-B-L-E. Indispensable. (his head pops)
Referee: Waaa waawaa waa, waa waaa?
Red-Haired Boy: Irresistible. I, R-R, E-S, I, S, T A B-L-E. Irresistible. (his head immediately pops)
Referee: W-waa waaaa, waawaa waa waaa, waa waaa.
Asian Girl: Repetition. R-E-P-E-T-I-O--N. Repetition. (her head pops)
Referee: Wa waaa waa, waa waaa, waa waa-waaa... 
Schroeder Lookalike: Development. D-E-V-E-L-O-P-M-E-N-T. Development.
Referee: Waaa, am waaa waa waaa waaa-ohhh...
Pigtail-Girl: Ingenious. I-N-G-E-N-U-O-U-S.
Referee: (as that girl’s head pops) WAA! Wa waa, wa waa waa, waaa waa-waa...
Charlie Brown: Fussbudget. F-U-S-S-B-U-D-G-E-T. Fussbudget.
(Back at the house...)
Lucy: Hey! How’d he know that word?
(At the spelling bee...)
Referee: Waaa wa. waa-waa? 
Shorthaired Girl: Irremediable. I-R-R-E-M-I-D-A-B-L-E. Irremediable.
Referee: (as that girl’s head pops) Waa?
(At the house...)
Schroeder: HEY! There’s only two left!
Frieda: And one of them is Charlie Brown!
All kids: HOORAAAAAAAAY! YAAAAAY! WOOHOOOOOOOO!
Violet: Thattaboy, Charlie Brown, you can do it!
Lucy: WEEEE, the STAGE! TV! Nothing will stop us!
(Back at the bee...)
Charlie Brown: (sweating) Disastrous. D-I-S-A-S-T-R-O-U-S. Disastrous.
(At the house...)
All kids: YAY, CHARLIE BROWN, HANG ON THERE! WHOOPEEEEEEEE!
(At the spelling bee, Linus and Snoopy cheer Charlie Brown on)
Schroeder Lookalike: Occurrence. O-C-C-U-R-R-E-N-C-E. Occurrence.
Referee: Waa-waa waaaa, waa waa-waaa....
(Back at the house...)
Violet: It’s Charlie Brown’s turn! If he gets this one, and the other kid misses… why… he could be the winner!
(At the bee, Linus and Snoopy grit their teeth nervously as the referee speaks and Charlie Brown sweats. Meanwhile at the house...)
All kids: COME ON, CHARLIE BROWN! YOU CAN DO IT!
(Back at the spelling bee...)
Charlie Brown: Incompetent. I-N-C-O-M-P-E-T-E-N-T. Incompetent.
(At the house...)
All kids: HOORAAAAAAAY! CHARLIE BROWN IS DOING IT! HOORAAAAAAAY!
Lucy: I think he’s gonna do it! (applauds) HOORAY! My future is assured!
Frieda: You think he’ll do it, Schroeder?
Schroeder: I hope so. If the other kid misses this next one, Charlie Brown wins.
Frieda: COME ON, CHARLIE BROWN!
All kids: YOU CAN DO IT CHARLIE BROWN!
(At the spelling bee, Linus and Snoopy are ecstatic as Linus twirls his blanket around...)
Crowd: YAAAAY, YAAAAY, YAAAAAAAAAAY!
Referee: Waa waaaa waa, waaa waa?
Schroeder Lookalike: Leisure. L-E-I-S-U-R-E. Leisure.
Referee: Waa waaa waa, waawaa, waa waawaa.
Charlie Brown: The word is "beagle?"
(Back at the house...)
Violet: Oh boy! That’s an easy one. That’s his dog! He’ll get that one easy!
Patty: CHARLIE BROWN IS AT THRESHOLD OF BEING THE CHAMPION SPELLER!
(But back at the spelling bee...)
Charlie Brown: Beagle.
(In the audience, Snoopy jumps and points to himself.)
Charlie Brown: Beagle.
Crowd: YAAAAY-YAAAAY-YAAAAY!
Charlie Brown: B-E-A-G-E-L. Beagle. (gives a shocked look)
(At the house...)
All kids: AAAAAAAAUGH!!!!
(At the bee...)
Linus: UUUUUUGH!
Charlie Brown: AAAAAAAAUGH!!!! (bows his head sadly)
(Back at the house, Lucy angrily shuts off the TV.)
Lucy: Owing 10% of Charlie Brown is like owning 10% of NOTHING! (turns the TV back on) Charlie Brown… you… YOU MAKE ME MAD! (shuts off the TV again, hard) 
(A while later, the auditorium is empty except for Charlie Brown, Linus and Snoopy. The three leave with Charlie hanging his head sadly the whole time, out the front entrance where the usher was earlier, and down the street. Then we transition to the three with their luggage and camp hats (and Snoopy's supper dish), with Charlie wearing his usual striped shirt, boarding a bus for home at the depot. There is nobody else on board the bus. Linus sits in his seat contently holding his blanket and sucking his thumb. Snoopy, sitting behind Linus, gets his mouth harp out of his suitcase and begins playing it as the bus pulls out of the depot, and Charlie Brown, sitting behind Snoopy, slumps in his seat looking miserable and defeated. Charlie sighs and looks out the window as they drive out of the city and through an urban setting with houses and grass and an auto repair shop. Then the bus passes through the countryside as the sun sets, past houses and barns and farmland. Later as night falls, the bus drives through a city lit with all kinds of neon signs and lighted windows, as Charlie slides down all the way in his seat.)
(We fade to later that night at the bus terminal back in the gang's hometown, where the bus pulls in and stops, and Charlie Brown, Linus and Snoopy get off. No one else is around, and it's.)
Linus: I guess nobody realized that we were returning. Come on, Charlie Brown. Let's go home.
(The three walk in the moonlight down the sidewalk back into their own neighborhood. Among approaching the Van Pelt house, Linus walks up to his front porch as Charlie Brown and Snoopy continue their trek home.)
Linus: So long, Charlie Brown. See you tomorrow. (shrugs and goes inside his house)
(Charlie Brown and Snoopy finally arrive back at their home, where Snoopy ducks into his doghouse and then comes back out wearing a nightcap. He climbs onto the roof of his doghouse, yawns, scratches his sides, and goes to sleep. Charlie goes into his own house with his luggage. In his room, he opens his suitcase and unpacks his clothes into his dresser, and then slides the suitcase under the dresser. Then he pulls the window shade down, sits on his bed, takes off both of his shoes and changes into his pajamas. He then climbs into his bed, shuts off the nautical-themed bedside lamp, and lies down in bed, looking very depressed...)
(We fade to the next day, where Linus, carrying his blanket, baseball glove and bat and a schoolbook, and wearing a small baseball cap, walks up to the Browns' house and knocks on the door using his bat. Sally answers and opens the door...)
Sally: Oh, hi, Linus! Did you come to take me to a movie? There's one downtown, for mature audiences only.
Linus: Good grief, no! I came to see Charlie Brown. Is he here?
Sally: Yes, he's in his room. (leads Linus into the house) He's been in bed all day, and has the shades pulled down. (they come up to Charlie's bedroom door) Well, if you decide you want to take me to a movie, you have my phone number.
(Sally walks off with a smile, as Linus knocks on the bedroom door, covered with signs "KEEP OUT" and "NO LEFT TURN" and a "GIANTS" pennant, with his bat, which he then puts down with his other stuff except his blanket.)
Charlie Brown: (from inside) Who is it?
Linus: It's me, Linus. May I come in?
Charlie Brown: (from inside) I don't care.
(Linus enters Charlie Brown's bedroom, darkened from the closed window shade.)
Linus: It's dark in here. I can't see a thing. Do you mind if I pulled the shades up?
Charlie Brown: I don't care.
(Linus walks over to the window and opens the shade, bringing sunlight into the room. Then he goes over to face Charlie Brown, still lying in bed with the covers pulled up...)
Linus: You weren't in school today, Charlie Brown. All the kids missed you.
Charlie Brown: I'm never going to school again as long as I live.
Linus: We had a ballgame after school.
Charlie Brown: I don't care. I'm never going to play ball either. I'm never going to do anything again!
Linus: It's the first game we won all season.
Charlie Brown: Oh, brother!
Linus: (sympathetic) Well, I can understand how you feel. You worked hard, studying for the spelling bee, and I suppose you feel you let everyone down, and you made a fool out of yourself and everything.
(Linus walks back to the door and opens it, about to step out...)
Linus: But did you notice something, Charlie Brown?
Charlie Brown: What's that?
Linus: The world didn't come to an end. (leaves the room and closes the door)
(Charlie Brown thinks for a bit as he lies in bed, sits up, and then pushes back the covers and starts to pull on his socks and shoes. He gets fully dressed in his signature striped shirt, steps out of the house, closes the door, and walks around the neighborhood. He comes across a hopscotch grid on the sidewalk, stops and thinks a bit, and hops on the "7" and "8" squares. He finds Violet and Patty twirling a jumprope with Freida jumping, but they don't seem to notice Charlie's presence. Charlie then sees Shermy and Pig-Pen playing marbles. When Pig-Pen shoots a marble, a cloud of dust kicks up. But the two boys don't notice Charlie Brown standing nearby, whom walks off again and heads to the baseball field, noticing the dandelions have been removed from the pitcher's mound. He then looks over and sees Lucy, nonchalantly tossing a football in her arms, as a reprise of the "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" song begins...)
Rod McKuen: Now the shadows of the morning
Have gone beyond the August afternoon...
And Charlie's had his day,
His very special day,
His morning and his evening and his noon.
Maybe it's a kind of magic,
that only little boys can do...
but seeing Charlie smile,
can make you stop a while
and get you feeling glad you're you...
(Charlie Brown creeps behind a tree and watches as Lucy kneels in the grass, still tossing the football. He tiptoes to another tree, closer to Lucy, and watches some more. Lucy doesn't seem to notice Charlie's presence as she holds the football in her usual pose. Charlie gets an idea and starts creeping closer to Lucy, and his tiptoeing changes into running. But just before Charlie can kick the football, Lucy ends up pulling it away again...)
Charlie Brown: AAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!!!
(Charlie Brown lands flat on his back with the usual thud. Lucy walks up to him with a smile as Charlie gives a defeated look...)
Singer: He's only a boy named Charlie...
Lucy: Welcome home, Charlie Brown.
Singer: A boy named Charlie Brown...
(We fade to black, and the end credits roll, featuring colored photographs of the animators and other crew members fading onto screen as their credits appear. When the voice cast credits come up, images of the character each cast member voiced are shown, and an image of the piano from the Beethoven "Pathetique Sonata" sequence when the performer is credited...)
Singer: He's just a kid next door, perhaps a little more...
He's every kid in every town....
The world is full of lots of people,
here and there, and all around...
But people after all,
start out as being small,
and we're all a boy named...
Charlie Brown.
THE END
Category:Peanuts Transcripts
Category:1969
Category:Films
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Category:Paramount Pictures
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Category:Animated films
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