Between Friends

## Stats

**Between Friends** is the 16th episode of the series *Babar* that aired on September 3, 1989.

## Summary

Pom and Alexander are fighting over a coin and are making Flora take sides even though she didn't see what happened. Eventually they accidentally send Flora crashing into the gate, Babar and Celeste help her up ask what's going on. The boys explain what happened, and Babar recalls when Celeste and Zephir were in the same position when they were children as well.

One beautiful day, Babar and Madame were going for a ride, Babar is saying hello to the children at the playground but stops suddenly before he almost hits a child who was getting his ball out of the street. Babar decides to appoint a crossing guard when he returns to the palace since children could get hurt from crossing the street. Meanwhile Zephir is driving by in his racer while Celeste is riding her bike, they are saying hello to everyone (and Zephir is looking in his glove compartment for a banana), but they don't see each other, and they crash. Babar hears the crash and both he and Madame go to see if anyone's hurt. Both Celeste and Zephir are physically all right, but her bike and his racer are totaled. Rather than asking if they are all right they both start to blame each other for the crash even saying they are going to pay for their broken vehicles. They each tell Babar to take sides but he says he didn't see anything. Madame asks if they can just make up like friends should, but Celeste and Zephir say that until each of their vehicles is paid for by the other, they aren't friends, and they both leave in a huff. Babar is certain they will come around, but in the meantime, he must find a crossing guard before any more accidents happen.

At the palace, Babar tells Pompadour and Cornelius that the playground needs a crossing guard, Pompadour says that's an excellent idea, but Cornelius tells Babar that everyone already has work of their own. Babar suggests that they could have someone do it as a side job, but everyone Babar suggests is already busy, he even suggests himself, they don't like that idea since he's already busy himself. Cornelius then tells Babar that he and Arthur are supposed to play tennis soon, Pompadour tells Babar that he and Cornelius will try and find someone to be a part-time crossing guard. Out on the court, Babar tells Arthur that he invited Celeste and Zephir to play with them, hoping that things will smooth over between the two, Arthur supports Babar's plan completely. When Celeste arrives, she thanks Babar for inviting her and says she needed something to take her mind off Zephir. Babar starts to become worried, then Zephir arrives, just as they start to fight again, Babar asks if they can work out their differences on the tennis court, they agree. Zephir and Babar play against Arthur and Celeste. Babar lets Zephir serve first. Arthur tells him that Zephir and Celeste are bound to stop fighting soon enough. This does not go well, however, as Zephir and Celeste end up hitting the ball back and forth vastly to each other while shouting smart remarks at one other. Babar tries to stop it but gets hit by the ball himself. Babar says that he is hurt because Celeste and Zephir are fighting, he asks them to stop arguing and be friends again, it almost works but they disagree over whose fault it is (Zephir won't apologize until Celeste does; Celeste won't until Zephir pays for wrecking her bike). They end up suing each other and decide to take the argument to court.

Back at the palace, Pompadour and Cornelius tell Babar they found a crossing guard, but that required shuffling practically everyone's current occupation. Eventually it is revealed that the royal judge will be the new crossing guard and Babar will be taking his place. Babar is frustrated about this rearrangement and asks them to give everyone their old jobs back, but under the circumstances they can't. They tell Babar that they have heard about a big case brewing, Babar tells them it's the case of Celeste vs Zephir. The Royal Judge is working as the crossing guard while Babar is the judge for the case. Pompadour and Cornelius are both there as lawyers, along with Troubadour. Cornelius is representing Celeste, and Pompadour and Troubadour are representing Zephir. Babar asks their clients to come forward, first Celeste comes into the room on crutches and a neck cast. Zephir follows shortly afterwards in a wheelchair (pushed by Troubador) and bandages. First Celeste approaches the bench, she said that she was driving very slowly and carefully watching out for traffic, and Zephir was driving like a maniac, and that she tried to get out of the way, but it was too late. Pompadour asks her if anyone else in her family is as "imaginative" as she is, Arthur responds with a "Comme ci comme ça." When Zephir takes the stand, he tells the same story that Celeste did but switches the characters around. Babar realizes what is happening and has a plan to end this argument.

Babar gives the two friends one last chance to settle this like friends, or he'll have to declare one of them guilty. They both, however, want to see who that person is. Babar then declares Celeste guilty and sentences her to 10 years in the dungeon, which shocks everyone, including Zephir. Cornelius tells Babar that it is too harsh, and they don't have a dungeon. Suddenly Zephir speaks up and takes off his bandages. He tells Babar that Celeste wasn't the one who caused the accident entirely. Babar asks them if they were exaggerating, after a short whisper with Zephir, Pompadour responds with, "Maybe just a tad." Celeste is free to go, but Zephir is sentenced to 10 years of labor in the palace boiler room. Celeste is shocked by this, Pompadour tells Babar that Zephir is supposed to be filling in for someone else, and so on. Celeste tells Babar that she had more to do with the accident than she let on. Babar recognizes their friendship and declares them friends, but to make sure they don't forget, they are made the playground's crossing guards, and everyone gets their old jobs back. However, a slight argument happens between Celeste and Zephir again, this time over whose turn it is to help the other kids cross and who did it last. However, Madame assumes they are getting along. After the story, Pom and Alexander ask Celeste for change. Babar declares their share fair and square.