I Remember Goldie

## Stats

**I Remember Goldie** is the sixth episode of the series *Harold and the Purple Crayon* that aired on February 2, 2002.

## Summary

Harold was in bed, but he couldn't sleep, as all he could think about was his pet goldfish, Goldie, who was floating upside down in her bowl. Harold's mother tells him that Goldie is dead. Harold was confused, as he had never witnessed anyone dying before, so he had no idea what it meant. She puts him back into bed and takes Goldie's bowl when she leaves the room, leaving Harold with more curiosity. He wanted to play with Goldie right now, so he gets up and draws his way into his blank world.

Harold tries to find Goldie, so he draws a mailbox, a cat to check in its mouth, and a box but can't find her anywhere until he remembers that Goldie was a fish who lived in a fishbowl. Harold creates a large goldfish bowl that he goes into, and never felt so free swimming around in the water that was bigger than it usually looked. But, he still couldn't find Goldie. He draws her castle, wondering if she could be in there, and also draws a guard that opens the large door. As he swims around in the even bigger castle, he thinks he found Goldie, but every time he does, it was just his eyes playing tricks, as they are just shadows from the light and curtains.

Harold figured that if he gave Goldie new toys, she would certainly come back, so he draws all kinds of new things that Goldie will likely like to play with, but even after that he was sure that Goldie wouldn't come back. Harold thinks that if it was something he did that hurt Goldie's feelings, then remembers the times when Goldie didn't want to come to Harold in her bowl, causing him to get mad at her, and then when he tried to play fetch with her and threw a ball into her bowl, which made Harold wish he had a dog instead.

After swimming around during a lavish fish musical number, Harold sinks behind a clam which accidentally wakes the resting mermaid up. She notices that Harold is down, so he tells her what had happened and the mermaid informs him that it wasn't his fault that Goldie left. She left unintentionally because she died, and considering she is dead, Goldie will never come back. The mermaid decides to show Harold a more understanding way of death, and as they swim together she explains that death is a natural part of life, just like growing and even dancing. At that moment, they run into an octopus jamboree and briefly join with some other sea animals. After that, they swim up to land, and because the mermaid was still part fish, Harold draws a dress on her, which gives her legs. The mermaid explains more about death, and Harold draws seeds and a watering can and learns with flowers that any living thing is born, grows, gets older, and dies. However, life rebirths and continues on.

But while Harold knew that frogs, leaves, and flowers can regrow after death, he couldn't bring Goldie back. The mermaid comforts him and says that Goldie will still be with him even after she dies. Harold doesn't get it, but she says that she lives on in his memories. Harold begins remembering all the good times with Goldie which makes him feel a bit better, then he draws a picture, which turns into another song featuring Harold having fun with Goldie. It also makes the mermaid better, as she hadn't met Goldie, yet she knows a lot about her. Harold, as well as the mermaid, gets tired, so the mermaid goes back into the water and Harold goes back to his room to get into bed, but first, before going to sleep, he draws a picture of Goldie, and a heart, where her bowl once sat.

## Trivia

* The mermaid looks extremely similar to *Disney's* Ariel, from *The Little Mermaid.*