Ghost for a Day

## Stats

**Ghost for a Day** is the 38th episode of the series *Babar* that aired on June 17, 1990.

## Summary

Everyone in the palace is having a busy morning. Pom, Flora, Alexander, Queen Celeste, Pompadour, and King Babar are in the kitchen and they are all making a schedule for a day. Babar is having a short breakfast and Pom, Alexander, and Flora are having breakfast too, along with Celeste and Pompadour. At 8 o'clock, everyone leaves the dinning room to start their day. Babar kisses each of them, Celeste, Pom, Flora, Alexander, and almost Pompadour goodbye, before Pompadour asks Babar to save it for Queen Celeste.

Babar, Pompadour, and Cornelius are working busily as usual. Pompadour says that being busier each day is progress. While they are working, Isabelle, the only elephant who is not busy at the time, asks Babar about a picnic at the beach because of a nice sunny day. Babar says that he did not have a time to notice and says that today is not possible. Pompadour says that Babar needs to prepare a speech for the Anniversary of Celesteville for the day after tomorrow. Isabelle suggests that he can have it next week instead, but Babar says that it is impossible and says that the Anniversary is a very important day, as it is Celesteville's birthday. Cornelius and Pompadour also explain to Isabelle about the Anniversary and what it celebrates. They then talk about the Old King (the King before Babar and when Babar was still young just like Isabelle) and life when the Old King was still alive. Before Isabelle leaves, Babar asks Pompadour to schedule a picnic for the first available afternoon, which is 12 weeks from then. Before Cornelius, Pompadour and Babar go back to work, Babar wishes saying "If only he could have seen it all before he passed on".

While Babar is working late, tired at night, alone as usual, he hears a strange sound, before Celeste comes in. Babar missed dinner and while Celeste got home late, the children had dinner with Madame. Babar and Celeste look out the window and remember the time when they were just children, living in the jungle. Almost right after Celeste and Babar finish talking, the strange sound comes out of almost nowhere. Babar does hear it but Celeste does not. Babar goes back to work before Celeste goes to finish her job and tells him not to stay up too late. Babar keeps on working all night. Eventually he falls asleep, but soon wakes up when the window blows open and he hears a noise. When he closes the window, he sees the fireplace light up by itself. He then sees the rocking chair rocking itself but soon sees someone on the rocking chair. Babar cannot believe his eyes, it is the Old King as a ghost. When the Old King accidentally knocks out the chair and Babar tries to put it back in position, he cannot see the king at all. The Old King is staring at the window thinking that the hunter is back. Babar shows the electricity to the Old King, where the Old King explains that night is for sleeping and only day is for working. While Babar is showing the electricity to the Old King, Cornelius comes in and asks Babar who is he talking to. Babar does explain but it is hard because only Babar can see the Old King and he is gone. As Babar goes to bed, the rocking chair is rocking and the fireplace is burning again. The next morning, while Babar is having tea and his wife leaves him after asking if he is ok, he sees the Old King again, just like last night. It is not his imagination, even though no one else can see him. When the Old King tries to go on to get some Bamboo shoots, Babar explains to him about the kitchen and the dining room they are in, but soon get into an accident because the Old King had a hard time adjusting them. Meanwhile, Cornelius explains to Pompadour how Babar met the Old King. When they approached at the dining room, they are surprised to see Babar acting strangely. While Pompadour is worried about Babar's speech as he is talking to the Old King, Cornelius is worried more about Babar's health.

Babar asks questions for himself about the Old King he met, as he is asking himself in his room. The Old King appears again and later moves into the music room. Babar trumpets as the Old King did and told Babar to try it. Pompadour and Cornelius come by to the music room and Pompadour worried about Babar's speech. The Old King continues looking for modern conveniences, including the lawn mower and a car, while Babar is sitting in the passenger seat. While riding the car, the Old King is observing the city. When Babar comes back to the palace, Pompadour is still worried about Babar's speech, but Cornelius tells Pompadour he should be more worried about Babar. Night comes and Babar is still questioning why the Old King is here. Babar sees the Old King near the fountain who comments on the night and Babar goes for a walk with him. The Old King says that his visit was interesting and the modern gadgets he used were fascinating to him, but prefers being outside in nature, time doesn't go fast out there. While they are outside, the Old King reminds Babar of the old days he had in the jungle and explains the story when Babar was little. By the time the Old King finishes his story, Isabelle comes along saying that she heard elephants trumping. Isabelle and Babar are talking to each other about Babar's past and Isabelle says that nighttime might be her second favorite time of day. Soon they sleep outside, just like in the old days when Babar was young.

The next morning, Pom, Alexander, Flora, Celeste, Pompadour, and Cornelius find Babar and Isabelle sleeping outside, Babar says it was a wonderful sleep. Pompadour, is still worrying about Babar and his speech, and says that Babar should cancel it because of his strange behavior. Babar agrees completely and says that he and Isabelle have decided to have a picnic at the beach. Babar then explains that they should slow down once in a while, saying that the faster life goes the faster it can pass them by. Cornelius then mentions that is the real progress, just like the Old King said. In the end, everyone in Celesteville is having a great time at the beach. As the Old King is trumpeting, watching the crowd, Babar trumpets and all the other elephants trumpet with him. The Old King trumpets for one last time and then leaves, disappearing.