"And you want me to do what exactly?"
Annie and Ellie were talking to Pa Grape about their plan, doing their best not to let Pa know what exactly they had in mind.
"We need you to get with Mr. Lunt and take over a show as the Pirates who Don't do Anything," Annie explained, already trying to think of a true answer to his next question.
"Why?" he asked. Luckily for Annie, Ellie was ready with an answer.
"Alex and I probably won't get a role until we do the Pirate movie, and Mr. Lunt and Larry will be easier to convince if we ask them when they're dressed up as pirates," Ellie told him. Pa looked at the girls in careful consideration. Annie did her best not to look like this was as huge a question as it was. The seconds seemed like hours. If Pa wouldn't do this, the rest of the plan would not work.
After a while, Pa finally said, "You know, those costumes are a little too far back in the costume room for my taste. Alright, I'll do it!"
Trying their best to act like they were excited about Ellie getting a role more than the rest of their plan was intact, the girls did a little happy dance. One group down, one to go! Annie thought to herself, as the rest of the plan was becoming more possible in her head.
"Why does everyone think I'm a carrot? I'm a Pepper!"
"Sorry Nick! Khalil was the first person to see you, and he said that you were a carrot," responded Philippe, as Annie and Ellie entered the cast lounge, where the French Peas had their lunch every day. As Nick left, Jean-Claude noticed the girls.
"Annie! Ellie! What brings you here?" Where Ellie had a closer connection with Pa, due to him hiring her for the movie, Annie had the peas because even though she was in The Toy that Saved Christmas first, Annie was hired for Madame Blueberry, the peas story.
"We're going to let you in on a little secret so you can be ready." Annie knew she had to word this just right.
"We're listening," Philippe answered, getting curious as he ate some bread.
"The Pirates who Don't do Anything, minus Larry, will take over the next show, and we want you to be ready with a Silly Song."
"Doesn't Larry usually come up with the Silly Songs, even if someone else is performing?" Jean-Claude had just hit a spot the girls had not yet thought of.
"Also, all the Silly Songs are performed in advance," Philippe added.
"Sometimes, and usually, but don't you remember how the Cheeseburger song was performed on the set of Madame Blueberry because no one except maybe Mr. Lunt knew that Archibald would interrupt with the notice about Silly Songs with Larry?" Annie remembered, trying to make a connection.
"Also, by the time we get to the Silly Song, Larry will be dressed up as a Pirate as well, and Larry won't do two Silly Songs about the same topic, so we are safe from any Pirate Silly Songs," Ellie brought up, keeping the ball rolling.
"If you just walk on set with a Silly Song, they're going to use it." As Annie finished their explanation, she tried to think of what the next question would be.
The French Peas thought for a moment, and at the same time simply said, "Okay." The answer was so quick and sudden, Annie wasn't sure if she heard them right, but Ellie didn't miss a beat.
"That's great!"
"We actually have a song ready that we were wondering how to get it heard." Jean-Claude looked at Philippe and knew exactly what song he was talking about.
"It's not in French, is it?" Annie made sure.
"No need to worry," Jean-Claude answered, "The song is not even for us to sing."
Annie and Ellie looked at each other. They were a little nervous about that, but they didn't have anything better. Hopefully the plan would still work out.