We are the Swamp

## Premise

During a drought, The cubs are tricked by a buzzard’s tale of an oasis which is at the top of a giant tree, unaware that the buzzard intends to eat them!

## Synopsis

The story begins with Gus, Kissyfur, Beehonie, Stuckey, Toot, and Shelby suffering from a drought, which the swamp is very dry and the denizens are running low on food and water. at a meeting, Charles, who is wearing sunglasses and in a tub of water, announces that they should move elsewhere. Gus disputes the decision, saying that They can't leave home just because times are tough, and assures them that things will get better, as the Grown-ups think it over. nearby, as the Cubs who are suffering from the drought as well, Toot suggests going swimming. They all follow Him to a swimming spot. when they arrive, They realize too late when They jumped, that there's only mud. Seconds later, they spot a buzzard landing on a branch of a tree and introduces Herself as Flo, telling the cubs about an Oasis, which has a swimming hole with a water slide, green grass, and plenty of food, which captivates the cubs. Flo then tells them that getting to the Oasis, requires growing a tree with red seeds which will grow into a tree at nighttime through the clouds, which can be climbed to the oasis, even though Kissyfur informs Her that His Dad said Magic doesn't exist. After some discussing, The cubs follow Flo to a spot near a mountain, where Kissyfur plants the seedlings. Flo uses a stick to draw an X on the planted seeds, and gives Kissyfur a collection of acorns, so they can leave a trail to the seeds, and Flo tells them that the grown-ups shouldn't be informed, or the magic seeds won't grow. As the Cubs leave for home, Flo deceitfully erases the X and arranges the end of the acorn trail to another spot, then draws an X, in front of a giant tall tree, which is past the clouds.

At night, Kissyfur asks His dad if there was magic seeds which grew into a giant tree beyond the clouds, to a place with water and food. Gus then tells His son that problems can't be solved with magic. Morning came, and to the cubs' surprise, They see a giant tree and climb up. once they reach the top they see the oasis, and go there to play. Back on the ground, Floyd and Jolene who are also suffering from the heat wave, spot the acorn trail, leading to the tree and climb up. As the cubs were relaxing, enjoying what the oasis has to offer, Flo arrives, glad that everyone came. Then, a snake comes up, creeping out the cubs, but Flo said that the snake (Named Reginald) is joking, which calms the cubs down, unaware that the Gators, after climbing the tree, arrive at the oasis. Meanwhile, as most of the Paddlecab denizens, store up their water supply, Lennie's parents are ready to leave the swamp as soon as Lennie is found. But, Howie tells them that Lennie couldn't hear Charles' shouting, because He and the cubs went upriver with a weird buzzard. Gus, after hearing this, goes to find the buzzard, with the other denizens following. Back at the Oasis, The cubs began to worry about their families who are suffering from the heat, suggested getting their families over here. Flo, however, says that Grown-ups aren't allowed. As Kissyfur says that They can introduce Flo to the families, Reginald says Flo said no. Kissyfur then decides to leave as Reginald tells the cubs to stay. Kissyfur, noticing that the snake is being demanding, stomps on Reginald's tail, causing Him to coil around Flo, as Kissyfur tells the others to run. Flo then pursues the cubs, telling them that They'll never escape, with Reginald following.

As the Cubs run for the tree to escape. unaware that the gators under the bridge, are ready to jump them. Flo flies to a hill, where She uses a branch as a primitive lever to drop a boulder, just as the gators ambush the Cubs.Flo finally drops the boulder, on a board, which catapults another boulder, which flies and destroys a part of the bridge, cutting off the Cubs' escape, while the gators, who were on said part of the bridge got squashed as Reginald grabs the cubs seconds later. Back at the Swamp, It's nighttime and the grown-ups couldn't find the kids, so, they decide to search at night, determined. Back at the land above the clouds, Flo leads the Cubs to Her home, a hut, intent on having them as Her servants, while the gators, plan to eat the cubs. Inside the hut, Flo and Reginald rest while keeping an eye on the cubs. (Lennie washing the floor, Toot dusting the ceiling, Duane sweeping the floor, Stuckey cleaning the windows, Beehonie washing the dishes, and Kissyfur putting them up.) Back at the Swamp, as morning rose, the grown-ups grew tired from their search. Emmy-Lou asks Gus if Kissyfur said anything about where they went, Gus responds that Kissyfur said something about a magic tree that reaches above the clouds. Howie who was asleep, knows where the tree is and leads them to it. Gus spots footprints of the Cubs as Emmy-Lou spots the gators' footprints as Gus tells everyone to wait as He and Emmy-Lou climb upward to rescue the Cubs.

Meanwhile, at Flo's hut, with the Cubs, tired from cleaning endlessly, Flo tells them to stay for lunch. Lennie, being the glutton He ks asks what lunch is. Flo and Reginald laugh as Flo intends to have the Cubs as food, terrifying them as Kissyfur and the others hold off the Buzzard and Snake. As Lennie, in a panic, smashes through the door, allowing the Cubs to escape and unknowingly trample Jolene was napping as Floyd dozed off. The gators then go after them. At a ravine, the Cubs go under a waterfall, and locate an empty log, used as a boat on a stream, leading to a bigger waterfall, and at Kissyfur's command, the cubs jump and grab a tree branch as the log fell downwards.At the bottom of the waterfall, the gators are searching for the cubs, but Jolene gets hit by the fallinbg log, despite Floyd trying to warn Her. Flo and Reginald manage to catch up to the Cubs, but are stopped by Gus and Emmy-Lou, furious learning that Flo and Reginald cub napped the kids, despite to two denying their involvement. Emmy-Lou uses Reginald as a bowstring to a tree, as Gus using Flo as an arrow shooting Her featherless, and tosses Reginald far away as everyone cheered. Back on the ground as dark clouds are gathered, Howie informs the worried parents that Gus, Emmy-Lou, and the Cubs are coming down, as they her the sound of thunder, signifying, the drought's end. As the gator climb down, They're hit by lightning, and the tree, goes down hard. Moments after that, the rain comes down as everyone celebrates in a swimming hole.

## Book Differences

* Flo led the cubs to the magic tree, without having to wait the next day.
* Ralph appeared only in the Book version.
* In the Book Version, Flo and Reginald never caught up to the Cubs, and never made them Her servants.
* After the Cubs climbed down the tree, Toot used His teeth to cut down the tree., Safe from Flo, Reginald, Floyd, and Jolene.

## Cast

* Lennie Weinrib as Charles
* Edmund Gilbert as Gus
* R.J. Williams as Kissyfur
* Neil Ross as Duane
* Russi Taylor as Toot, Beehonie, Emmy Lou
* Stu Rosen as Stuckey and Floyd
* Marilyn Lightstone as Flo
* Terrence McGovern as Jolene
* Frank Welker as Reginald, Howie, Shelby

## Gallery

Gus, Kissyfur, Beehonie, Stuckey, Toot, and Shelby in the hot Sun“Let’s all work together”The Cubs’ astonishment to the treeThe Gators spot the acorn trailThe Gators reach the topHowie explains that the Cubs are missingThe Cubs run for their livesThe Gators about to ambush the Cubs“Aha! Gotcha!”“You Knew?!”The grown-ups see the treeStuckey’s natural defense at workLennie smashes through the doorFlo and Reginald catches up with the CubsFlo’s comeuppance“Here they come!”The grownups cheerThe grownups hear thunder“What goes up’s gotta come down”Everyone cheers for the rainMore cheeringStill more cheering