Early the next day at the City park, all of the kids from Mr. Simmons class, Olga, and Rhonda, are dressed up in their tie-dyed t-shirts and are picketing signs for all to see. Rima had brought her radio and its blaring with old 60's songs.
Kids: (chanting) Spare the park, you corporate shark! spare the park, you corporate shark! Spare the park, you corporate shark...!
As the protesting is taking place, Rhonda and Helga are silently hiding behind the trees. Rhonda groans unhappily.
Rhonda:(whispering) This is stupid, Helga! I don't want to hide behind a bush all day! And the dew hasn't even dried yet - I'm getting my caprini pants soaked!
Helga: (whispering) Then you shouldn't have dolled up for a sabotage mission! Criminy...
Rhonda: I still wanted to look nice. Is it a crime to be addicted to fashion?
Helga: Whatever. Are you ready to carry out Plan "A"?
Rhonda: I guess so...
Helga: Perfect. Operation: FlowerStomper is now in effect. Execute Plan "A".
Rhonda takes out a slingshot from one of her backpockets and a large rock from the other. She places the rock in the slingshot and carefully aims it at the unattended radio. Rhonda releases her grip and the rock sails true to its target, damaging the radio and abruptly stopping the music. The children cease their picketing and look around in confusion.
Iggy: Hey, the music stopped!
Harold: Aah! A ghost must've turned it off! He's trying to tell us to leave this place! Aah! Help! Mommy!
Park: Calm down, Harold. I don't think ghosts normally haunt people in broad daylight.
Rima: He's right, Harold. The batteries in my radio are probably dead, that's all.
Joey: But we NEED music!
Sheena: Yeah - it'll be harder to get people's attention without it! What will we do now?
As the kids put down their signs and talk anxiously, Rhonda and Helga slap each other a high five
Rhonda: Mission accomplished.
Suddenly, Olga's face lightens up with an idea
Olga: Hey, I know! You can play your guitar instead, Rima! It'll be great, you'll see!
Olga hands Rima her guitar from off the ground and she puts the strap around her shoulders. All the kids cheer as Rima "belts out a cool jam". Helga and Rhonda groan in defeat.
Rhonda: So much for "mission accomplished".
Helga: Let's move on to Plan B.
It is now noon, and everyone is getting very hungry. Olga claps her hands and blows a whistle to get the kids' attention.
Olga: Okay, gang - it's lunchtime! I brought enough sandwiches and drinks for everyone!
The famished kids quickly crowd around Olga's picnic basket and wait eagerly as she passes everyone a sandwich; Olga suddenly frowns.
Olga: Oh, dear. The juice boxes are missing. I could've sworn that I packed everything last night...
Rhonda:(to Helga) That was your brilliant "Plan B"?
Helga:(to Rhonda) Oh, don't worry. There's more.
Everyone takes a bite from their sandwiches, then cringes in utter disgust and spit it out immediately.
Stinky: Wilikers! This sandwich is awful!
Sid: It smells like moldy, smelly sweatsocks, dog breath, and skunk roadkill all rolled into one!
Harold: YEEEE-UCCHH! Even I wouldn't eat this sandwich, and I'm STARVING!
As everyone continues to rid the bad taste from their mouths, Helga smiles in satisfaction
Helga: A little concoction I stirred up last night - pickled herring, stale, melted marshmellows, old cheese and a little bit of brine water - I spread it on ALL of the sandwiches.
Rhonda: Then why is Brainy still eating his?
Rhonda and Helga look at each other, then shudder.
Rhonda & Helga: Ugh, gross!
Olga looks into the basket and sighs forlornly
Olga: I don't understand it - I just made the sandwiches yesterday. How could they have gone bad so quickly?
Gerald: I don't know...(spit)...but if I don't get something to eat right now I'm gonna keel over. Can't we order a pizza? Or some chinese take-out?
Rima: Oh no! We couldn't do that! We'd be destroying the life of another living soul!
Olga: But we can't just get more sandwiches! The place where I bought all the soy-based products from is on the other side of town, and it wouldn't be fair to the children to make them wait any longer.
Rima: (sighs) You're right. I can't deprive them of food. You go ahead and order that pizza - I'll just go home and pray for the souls of the hapless creatures that will be forced against their will to contribute to it.
Olga: No, I'm going with you. I'm sure that the children will be able to carry on without us...
Rhonda & Helga: Yes!
But suddenly, just as Olga and Rima prepare to break the news to the group, a voice calls out to them from a distance.
Voice: Olga! Rima!
The source of the voice is Mr. Simmons, who is running towards them with a large cooler in his hands. When he finally reaches the group he stops to catch his breath.
Mr. Simmons:(out of breath) I got...your message...Rima...
Olga: You didn't tell me that you invited Mr. Simmons...
Rima:(flustered) Well...I...
Mr. Simmons: Oh, here. Sorry I'm late, but I was busy making sandwiches. I knew you were a vegan, Rima, so I made them with food from the specialty store downtown.
Rima: You did that...for me..?
Rima squeals in delight and hugs Mr. Simmons tightly, causing him to drop the cooler to the ground.
Rima: Oh, thank you, Sunchild! You're the greatest!
Mr. Simmons: Uh, you're welcome, Rima...
Rhonda and Helga stare on with puzzled looks on their faces.
Helga: O...kay.
Rhonda: Move on to Plan C?
Helga: Yeah.
It is now the middle of the afternoon, and the group is still protesting, attracting a larger crowd of people with every passing hour. Helga and Rhonda have moved from their initial spot on the ground to a very tall tree. Rhonda is holding onto a large bag filled with something and Helga spies on the people below with a pair of binoculars. Helga gives a thumbs up signal to Rhonda, who then reveals the contents of the bag: 50 water balloons. Helga sets the binoculars down and selects a water balloon from the bag. Rhonda does the same.
Helga: Heh, this oughta dampen their spirits...
Rhonda: Yeah - it's time to rain on their parade...
Helga: Okay, when I give the signal, we throw all of these water balloons at the enemy. Ready, aim...FIRE!
Rhonda and Helga throw the first two balloons. Meanwhile on the ground below...
Eugene: Gee, what a wonderful day! The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing...sure is hot, though...
Suddenly, two water balloons sail through the air and fall directly upon the hapless Eugene, soaking him from head to toe. One of the students help him to his feet
Robert: Are you alright, Eugene?
Eugene: I'm okay...actually, I feel sorta...refreshed...
Robert: It looks like you were hit with a water balloon...
Eugene: Well, isn't that strange...I wonder where they came from?
Sid: Who cares? Here come some more!
A barrage of water balloons descend upon the protesters. Only a wave of water chaos can be seen during the airborne assault until the last balloon is thrown.
Helga: Is that it?
Rhonda: Yep, that's all 50 water balloons. They must be FURIOUS by now!
Helga peers through her binoculars, then frowns
Rhonda: What's wrong?
Helga hands Rhonda the binoculars. Rhonda looks through them carefully, then gasps in surprise.
Rhonda: I don't believe it. They're DANCING!
Harold: It's a miracle! Thor the thunder god has heard our lamentations and has given us relief in the form of water balloons!
Curly: Those crazy Norse gods - what will they think of next?
Rhonda pounds her fist on the tree's limb out of frustration
Rhonda: That's it! I give up! We've tried all 3 plans and they ALL went up in smoke! Operation: Flowerstomper was a total failure!
Helga: Oh, I wouldn't say that just yet, Rhonda.
Rhonda: What do you mean?
Helga: I mean there's still ONE MORE PLAN that we haven't tried...
Rhonda gasps in sheer, drama-queen fashion
Rhonda: You don't mean...?
Helga: Yes. We're going to execute...Plan X.
Rhonda: I thought we both agreed that it was too risky...?
Helga: Desperate times call for desperate measures. We've got no other choice.
Rhonda:(sighs) At this point, I'm willing to try ANYTHING that works...
Helga: Well, then let's get ready. It's going to be dark soon...
The sun has set, but Rima, Olga, Mr. Simmons and his class are still out protesting. Even the press had gotten wind of the demonstration and had come out tothe park with a camera crew. Rhonda and Helga are still in hiding, but now they are apart - Rhonda is in the original spot, but Helga has move to a completely different area of the park, and are communicating by walkie-talkie. They are each holding two controls with a large red button in the center.
Rhonda:(on walkie-talkie) Now?
Helga: No, not yet...
Meanwhile, a camera crew is recording the protesting effort as a news reporter describes it
Reporter: In all my years of being a Channel 6 news reporter, I can honestly say that I have NEVER witnessed such a determined effort from a group of minors to rescue a place that they so dearly love. Let's talk to one of these children now. Excuse me...yes, can you come here for a minute?
After a few seconds, Arnold walks into the camera's view
Reporter: Can I ask you the question that's been on the back of everyone's mind? Just what do you and the rest of these nine year-old students hope to accomplish from this brazen spectacle of protest?
Arnold: Well, I know that we're young, but that still doesn't mean we can't make a difference in this city. We all love this park - it's one of the few places here that isn't corrupted by industry and big business and we'd like to keep it that way. Not just for us, but for the future generations as well...
But just then, Arnold is pushed out of the camera. Sid, Stinky and Harold, who had been behind Arnold making funny faces the whole time, come into view to have their say on things. Stinky snatches the microphone away from the startled reporter. Stinky then moves in to close to the cameraman and now all that can be seen is his humongous nose
Stinky: Say fellers - it's one of those newfangled tellyvision contraptions. Hey Squeaky! Who's the Spotlight baby now in the family? I wonder what this is for...?
Stinky taps the end of the microphone, which creates a loud noise of feedback, causing him to fall to the ground in surprise. Sid catches the microphone.
Sid: Wow, cool...this is SO wicked awesome...Hi Sydney! Daddy's on TV! STELLA! STELLA...ack!
Sid is pulled up by the collar and thrown aside by Harold, who now is control of the microphone
Harold: Hi, Mommy! (laughs) There once was a man from Nantucket, who...HEY!
This time it's the reporter who fights Harold for the microphone. When she finally pries it away from his fingers, she gives him a sharp bump which sends him flying off-screen. She then fixes her hair and looks back into the camera with her fake reporter smile
Reporter: Well, folks - there you have it. Innocent minds come together to fight for an innocent - albeit futile - greater good. This is Channel 6 news, reporting.
Meanwhile...
Rhonda:(on walkie-talkie) Now, Helga?
Helga:(on walkie-talkie) No, wait until I give the signal!
Helga sets her controller down and picks up the binoculars to get a better view of Arnold and Lila, who are now picketing side-by-side.
Lila: Oh, Arnold, I'm feeling ever-so-sad right now...
Arnold: What's wrong, Lila?
Lila: Well, I know I've only lived here for a couple of months, but this park already feels like a part of me, and if they were to tear it down...oh Arnold, that would be ever-so-tragic...
Lila begins to break down and cry. Arnold puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Arnold: Don't worry, Lila. I'm sure the park will be just fine. Rima and Olga won't let us down.
Lila:(sniff)Oh Arnold, you're so optimistic...(sniff) I'm ever-so-glad that you're here with me!
Arnold and Lila hold hands as the picket. After seeing this horrific display through her binoculars, Helga grits her teeth and pounds her fist to the ground in anger. Unfortunately,she didn't look to see where she was placing her fist, so it lands right on the button of the controller. Helga goes pale.
Helga: Oh, sh--
Suddenly, several fireworks shoot up into the sky in a wide circle around the park. The protesters look up at the sky in bewilderment.
Rima: Fireworks?
Rhonda, who was busy applying lip gloss, notices the fireworks and gasps.
Rhonda: Oh no! I must have missed Helga's signal!
Rhonda drops her lip gloss and pushes the button, firing even more fireworks into the sky. One of the fireworks, however, fail to sail upwards, and it explodes near Rhonda, causing a tree to catch on fire. A burning tree limb falls and Rhonda ducks to avoid it. Rhonda crawls away from a narrow escape, and runs out into the open, screaming, waving her arms like a madwoman.
Rhonda:(screams) MY HAIR'S ON FIRE! MY HAIR'S ON FIRE!
Gerald: Wait a minute. Is that...RHONDA?
Rhonda runs up to the gawking protesters, kneels to the ground and pats her head in panic.
Rhonda:(screams) PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!
Nadine: Rhonda, relax! Your hair isn't on fire!
Rhonda: YES IT IS! MY HAIR IS ON...!
But, upon closer inspection, Rhonda feels her hair again and realizes that there are, indeed, no flames. She looks up at everyone, who is staring at her in utter confusion. Rhonda smiles weakly.
Rhonda: Oops. False alarm. (laughs weakly)
Rima: Rhonda, what are on earth are you doing out here?
Rhonda: I, um...well, she...er, I mean...
Stinky: Hey, lookie there! It's a police car!
A police car speeds into the park followed by several other cars, a dozen fire trucks, and even more news vehicles. Within minutes, then entire group is surrounded by the traffic of automobiles. A cop immedieately steps out of on one of the police cars and speaks gruffly into a megaphone.
Cop:(through megaphone) Alright, freeze! Nobody move!
A S.W.A.T team moves in so that no one could make a hasty retreat. All of the prostesters, especially the kids, are becoming worried.
Rima: What's going on here?
Cop: (through megaphone) You've all been charged with the unauthorized usage of explosives in a restricted area!
Everyone: What!
Olga: But that's impossibel! We didn't set those fireworks off!
Cop: Oh, really? An eyewitness informed me that all of you were at the park the entire day. How do we know that you weren't arranging this fireworks stunt at the same time?
Rima: But we weren't! I swear, officer, all we were doing was protesting against this big coorporation that was threatening to tear down the park!
Cop:(cynically)Mm-hmm. And does this coorporation have a name?
Rima: Well...I don't know the name, but--
Cop: A-ha! I knew it! Using the excuse of a protest demonstration to get away with the crime! The perfect alibi!
Rima: No! You don't understand...!
Cop: I think we understand perfectly! Cuff 'em, boys!
The police begin to close in, but before they can lay a hand on anyone, Mr. Simmon steps forward.
Mr. Simmons: Stop! Leave them alone!
Cop: And give us one good reason why we should?
Mr. Simmons: Because...I was the one who set off the fireworks.
Cop: I thought so! Officer Chinko always gets his man. Take him away!
Two of the cops each grab Mr. Simmons by the arm and drag him into a police van, then close the door. Mr. Simmons sticks his face out through the tiny window as the van drives away.
Mr. Simmons: Don't worry about me, children! Continue to fight for what's right!
Gerald: Man, Arnold - I can't believe that our own teacher would do such a thing.
Arnold: I can't believe that they arrested him!
Stinky: I reckon it's a shame for Mr. Simmons, but at least we get a substitute teacher come Monday!
Olga: Oh, dear! Officer, what will happen to Mr. Simmons?
Officer Chinko: Well, since this is his first offense, we won't be doing anything drastic, but he'll still be spending a few nights in the city jail - unless, of course, he's let out on bail early.
Rima sits on the ground and blankly stares out into space. At that moment yet another car parks on the grass. Mr. Lloyd steps out of the car, and is surprised by all of the police cars.
Mr. Lloyd: Good heavens! What's happened here?
Rhonda jumps to her feet and runs straight to Mr. Lloyd.
Rhonda:(cries) Daddy, daddy!
Mr. Lloyd: Rhonda, what are you doing here? And what did you do to your brand-new pants!
Rhonda: Never mind that, daddy! I'm just so glad to see you here!
Mr. Lloyd: I'm glad to see you too, cupcake. What's wrong with your sister?
Mr. Lloyd leaves Rhonda and walks over to Rima, who is crying silently. Mr. Lloyd puts a hand on her shoulder.
Mr. Lloyd: Why, whatever is the matter, Rima? Why are you crying?
Rima:(quietly) Because...I've failed.
Mr. Lloyd: Failed? Failed at what?
Rima:(quietly) Everything. I failed the children. I failed my friends. But most importantly...I failed the park.
Mr. Lloyd: The park?
Rima:(quietly) Yes. Tomorrow, a nameless company is destroying the park for their own self-serving, financial gain. I thought that protesting would change the people's mind...but I was wrong. I guess people have better things to do than to stop and smell the roses...
Mr. Lloyd looks at Rima, then at the restless kids not far away, then back at his eldest daughter.
Mr. Lloyd: You mean to tell me that your and all of these children are here just because you want to save THIS park?
Rima: Of course! We all love this park!
Arnold walks up to Mr. Lloyd.
Arnold: Mr. Lloyd, sir? This park has been around our whole lives. It's one of the few places left in the city that still has trees and lots of free space. We love this park, and so does your daughter. So please don't be mad at her. She meant well.
Mr. Lloyd: Mad? I'm not mad!
Rima: You're not?
Mr. Lloyd:(laughs) No, of course, not! In fact, I'm actually proud of you.
Rima: You are?
Mr. Lloyd: Yes! Speaking your mind on what you feel is right and taking responsibility when worse comes to worse shows a lot of maturity on your part - and I like that. I'm very pround of you, Rima.
Rima: Thank you. But the park is still being torn down...
Mr. Lloyd: Not if I have a say in it! I am so moved by your dedication to save this park that I will personally see to it that the project is halted and that all production is ceased from here on in!
Rima: What? But how can you do that!
Mr. Lloyd: Simple! I mean, I am the owner of the company, after all.
Rima & Arnold: You're the nameless company!
Mr. Lloyd: Well, of course! Who did you think it was?
Olga helps Rima to her feet and clasps her hands inside her own
Olga: Oh, Rima! You did it! You saved City Park!
All of the protesters toss their signs in the air and cheer jubilantly. The nearby cops and firefighters applaud as well; Rhonda stands silently by herself, dumbstruck and in disbelief of her sister's incessent good fortune. Helga comes running through the crowd and stands next to her.
Helga: Sorry I took so long; the police wouldn't let me through. What did I miss?
Rhonda:(quietly) Just go away...
Helga:(annoyed) Geez, what's your problem?
Helga walks away, and Rima moves in to hug Rhonda unexpectedly.
Rima: Isn't this wonderful, Rhonda? We saved the park! Now aren't you glad that I'm here?
In her fit of rage, Rhonda brusquely pushes Rima away from her.
Rhonda: No, Rima! I'm not glad that you're here! As a matter of fact, I HATE it!
Everyone gasps. Rima is shocked by her sister's reaction.
Rima: Rhonda, I...I don't underst...
Rhonda: Ugh, that's what I'm talking about! You just don't get it, do you! I don't like you! I've been trying to get rid of you all day, but you don't even have a clue!
Rima: (shocked) But...why?
Rhonda: Because every time I see you, every think about having a hippie...delinquent for a sister, I get sick to my stomach! I can't stand it - and I can't stand you, so just stay out of my way and STAY OUT OF MY LIFE!
Rhonda storms off. Everyone is speechless, especially Rima, who never takes her eyes off her departing sister. It's at this point that the reporter goes back on camera to chronicle the event.
Reporter: A bittersweet ending to a long day of community uprisal. The park is saved, but at what cost? What are the hidden consequences of a life as a "tree-hugger"? We'll have an exclusive interview for you tonight at ll.