As they drove off, Lucy slumped in back. She was worn out and dazed from driving around for so long. Looking out the window, she was just at a loss for what was going on.
Jeanette scooted over to speak to her. "You okay, Lucy?"
Lucy sighed. "I dunno. I just don't feel right anymore."
"You're a traveler," Jeanette smiled and tapped her on the shoulder. "Happens to everyone."
Lucy shook her head. "No, not like that. I just...feel different. This adventure with the frog is starting to change me."
Jeanette shrugged. "It's okay. Once we get to Hollywood, you should have it all figured out."
"Thanks, Jeanette," Lucy smiled. They hugged as Fozzie kept driving.
After a time, they continued down the road. But in the rearview mirror, Kermit pointed out a familiar black van pursuing them. "Look out! They're onto us!" It was Doc Hopper. Lucy, Jeanette, and Kylie all ducked as Fozzie floored it.
"How did they recognize us?" Kermit called out.
"They recognized you and the girls," Fozzie excused. "I'm just another bear."
They saw a sign for "Blast Cola" up ahead. The rocket of the cola was conveniently colored like a rainbow. "Look at the sign," Lucy pointed. "Let's hide there."
They parked by the billboard and sure enough, it made the perfect camouflage. The rainbow paint of the car blended right in, and Doc Hopper sped right by. Lucy sighed in relief as the journey continued.
Once the gang hit the road again, they noticed a funny little truck. It was beaten, run down, and at the roof showed a strange creature holding a plunger. Nobody was sure what it was supposed to be. It had bulbous eyes, a crooked nose, and long, gangly arms. Lucy just shrugged as they continued. "Look at that truck," she pointed. "It's got some creature on it."
"Yeah," Fozzie returned. "Interesting."
The car veered over into the other lane. "Look out!" Kermit shouted. "It's coming right at us!"
Fozzie tried hitting the breaks as everyone screamed. Lucy shielded her eyes as Fozzie turned.
"I think we're gonna whiff," he assured as he spun around. Then, they swerved, and the Studebaker drove off unharmed.
"Wow," Jeanette gasped. "Glad we missed it."
Then, everyone gasped as a blue creature, who resembled the one on top of the truck, stared down at them. "You call that a miss?"
Kylie rolled down her window and looked up top. The creature's truck was right on top of theirs. "How is that possible?"
"I dunno," replied the newcomer "But I'm getting in your car." He scaled the roof and spun around, landing right in Lucy's lap. He scooted over to take a vacant spot between two of the other passengers. He was followed by a chicken, who fluttered in with him.
The creature stood up and began to hop.
"Is everything okay?" Fozzie called back. "Why are you hopping up and down?"
"Because I'm hopping mad!" The creature did not pass up the opportunity for a pun.
Lucy tried her best to remember the path of the movie and offered a suggestion. "Hey, you wanna join us?"
"Oh?"
"Yeah," Fozzie answered. "We're following our dreams."
"And I'm helping them," Lucy returned. "My gal pals and I are just along for the ride." Jeanette and Kylie nodded and gave a thumbs up in acknowledgement.
"Oh, really. I have a dream too," the creature answered. Then, he hung his head low. "But you'll think it's stupid."
"No, no," the girls in the back responded. "Tell us."
The creature cleared his throat. "Well, I want to go to Bombay, India and become a movie star."
Fozzie shook his head. "You don't have to go to Bombay to become a movie star. You can go where we're going...Hollywood!"
"Sure, if you want to do it the easy way," the creature scoffed.
The group was dead silent. "We picked up a weirdo," Fozzie at last spoke.
"Well, I think he's funny," Jeanette laughed. "So tell me, blue creature. What is your name?"
"I am the Great Gonzo," answered Gonzo. Pointing to the chicken, he added. "And this is Camilla."
Camilla clucked back and they smiled. "I think you'll be great for our team," Lucy smiled and shook his hand. "Welcome."
The odd vehicle pulled into a rest stop. They were getting strange stares, and with two extra passengers to the already cumbersome crew, it was decided they needed a different ride.
"Hey look," Kermit shouted. "There's Mad Man Mooney's."
"What's that?" Jeanette asked.
"A used car lot," answered Kermit. "We can trade in both these cars to get one big one."
"Oh, when my uncle wakes up, he'll kill me," Fozzie complained.
"Let's just do it," Lucy encouraged. Fozzie turned wide as they pulled into the dealership.
In the least graceful and skilled way possible, they parked the car along to the side. Getting out, they saw Mad Man Mooney himself come to greet them. Clad in a cowboy hat and bolo tie, he was all set to sell them something. "Hi, and welcome to Mad Man Mooney's Hubcap Cabin. Today is your lucky day."
"It is?" Lucy was skeptical.
"Yes," Mooney answered back. He stood next to a tan cruiser and explained. "You all could ride packed in this car for $2000, less for the $12 trade-in if you like." He leaned on one of the headlights. "Now, this car is one of the great old…"
Soon, the light sagged and eventually broke off. Mooney laughed it off and tried to make an excuse. "Detachable fenders for narrow garages."
"No thanks," Kermit shook his head. The others responded the same way.
Mooney looked around. "Hey, Jack. Get this pile of junk out of here." Just then, a giant, furry ogre with orange fur bounded into view. Lucy was shocked to see him, but was a bit relieved to see the ogre seemed friendly. Mooney pointed to him and told the group. "This is my jack."
"Hi, Jack," Kermit greeted.
"Jack not name," answered the ogre. "Jack job!"
Mooney grabbed his jack's beard and snapped, "How many times have I told you not to talk to the customers."
"Oh, I'm sorry," his employee apologized.
"Just get that out of here." The ogre lifted the front bumper of the car and hummed along as he towed it away. Lucy was impressed how he could do it all without breaking a sweat.
The jack moved behind Mooney as Mooney continued to try to con them. "No, you won't see any wheeling and dealing around here," Mooney tried to convince them. "The price on the sticker is the price you pay. Never more and never less!"
As he said this, his jack swatted a fly over one of the signs on a car nearby. This turned a deal which was $1195, into "$11.95". A huge difference in pay.
"We'll take that one for $11.95," Kermit wisely haggled as he pointed to the sleek navy blue car next to Mooney.
"That's our $12 trade-in," Gonzo added. "You owe us a nickel!"
"Good thinking," Lucy whispered back. "Saved us a bundle. And we get a new car."
Mooney sneered, but did not object. The gang filed into the new car as the ogre (whose name was Sweetums) sent them off.
"Thank you very much. Hey, we're going to Hollywood," Kermit told Sweetums. "Want to join us?"
"Hollywood?" Sweetums bolted away from them right then.
"That's strange. He just ran away?" Kermit puzzled.
"Eh, I don't know how we'd fit an ogre into this car anyway," Lucy shrugged. "But now we're off!"
"Yeah, moving right along!" Kermit signaled Fozzie to start. "Hit it!"
"Yes, sir!" And they all drove off together.
Though Lucy wasn't sure, she thought she heard Sweetums following them. She thought she heard him calling out "Wait for me! I want to go to Hollywood!" but was unable to turn around and find out. It was back on the road for their journey.
