As the show returns from the commercial break, the camera pans to David and Lily, their expressions tense with anticipation. The episode title flashes on the screen momentarily before fading away, drawing attention to the central figures of the unfolding drama. The queen, Atta, Dr. Flora, Mr. Soil, Thorny, and Cornelius also come into focus, their faces reflecting a mix of apprehension and resolve.
Amidst the audience's chants of "Jerry," the host stands amidst the crowd, looking at his card, ready to provide a recap for those just tuning in. As the cheers gradually subside, he begins to narrate the situation for the viewers.
"Thank you, and welcome back! If you just joined, we're talking here with David and his girlfriend, Lily, along with the queen, princess Atta, and members of the Colony Council: Dr. Flora, Mr. Soil, Cornelius, and Thorny. Here's the problem; David and Lily witnessed their siblings, Mike—David's youngest brother—and Angela—Lily's eldest sister—expressing their fury at the colony's constant mistreatment of their friend, Flik. They were outraged that Flik was sent away under false pretenses, forced to seek warriors to solve the colony's problems, only to be exiled when his efforts didn't meet expectations. Feeling betrayed, Flik abandoned the colony after learning the truth on why he was sent to find warriors from Princess Atta. David's brother went through depression after the show and almost took his own life. Since then, Lily has been giving her sister's boyfriend therapy sessions. David and Lily reached out to our show to confront the queen, the princess, and the Colony Council." the host then walked over to the corner of the stage near David and Lily. "The queen, Princess Atta, Dr. Flora, Mr. Soil, Cornelius, and Thorny come on and say they're sorry. Uh, David and Lily, what do you want to say to them?" he inquired to the human couple, giving them the floor to express their thoughts.
David and Lily directed their frustration towards the ant representatives as Jerry prompted them to share their thoughts.
"I can't understand why you would treat us like this," the female human expressed, her voice edged with disbelief. "We welcomed you into our lives when we had nowhere else to turn. When we were orphaned and alone. We trusted you to provide us with kindness, care, and shelter. And this is how you repay us?"
David's frustration mirrored his girlfriend's as he spoke up. "How the hell are we supposed to trust you after this betrayal?" David then emphasized the promises made by the ants to him and Lily. "You told us that you saw potential in us. "You assured us that you would never hurt us or wrong us like all those other people did in our world."
The queen attempted to reassure them.
"I still think you do have potential," the queen interjected.
"How?!" Lily retorted sharply. "You ants exiled Flik when he lied to the colony, drove him to abandon the colony, and pushed my man's brother, my sister's man, to the brink of suicide!"
As the audience applauded in support of Lily and David, the male human posed a poignant question, his tone filled with frustration. "How the hell could you freaking do this to us? We opened our hearts to you, let you into our lives when we had nowhere else to turn! And this is how you repay us? It's beyond comprehension!"
Lily and David's heartfelt expressions resonated with the audience, highlighting the depth of their emotions and the gravity of the situation.
Jerry turned to the queen and Atta, seeking clarification. "And their siblings brought up an important point. During the offering stone incident, which was discussed last time you were here... Your youngest daughter," he then said to Atta, "your youngest sister, Dot, was in danger from the grasshopper leader... uhh... What was his name again? And his pet's name?"
The queen responded, "Hopper was the leader, and his pet was Thumper."
Atta added, "Yes, that's correct. Flik did intervene to save Dot during that incident."
Jerry inquired further, "Why didn't you take action against Hopper? Flik risked his life to save Dot, didn't he?"
The queen hesitated before responding, "Hopper was extremely dangerous. Any attempt to oppose him would have resulted in severe consequences for our colony."
Jerry pressed on, "But wasn't it worth it to protect your own? Flik showed immense bravery in confronting Hopper. Why didn't you support him?"
Atta glanced at her mother, then replied, "We were afraid. Hopper's power over us was too great. We couldn't risk retaliation against the entire colony."
Jerry's brow furrowed in concern. "But what about Flik? He risked everything to save Dot. Shouldn't he have received support from his own people?"
Mr. Soil interjected, "It's not as simple as that. We were in a dire situation. Hopper's threats were real, and our resources were limited. Flik's actions, although courageous, put the entire colony in jeopardy. We had to make tough decisions to ensure our survival."
Jerry nodded, acknowledging the complexity of the situation. "I understand the pressure you were under, but surely there could have been a way to support Flik while also protecting the colony. Did you consider alternative strategies?"
Atta hesitated before replying, "We did what we thought was best at the time. It's easy to judge in hindsight, but in the moment, we had to prioritize the safety of the colony."
The audience murmured among themselves, torn between sympathy for the ants' predicament and frustration over Flik's mistreatment.
Lily's frustration was palpable as she expressed to Jerry, "You'd think that family and friends, the people you care about the most, would always come first. You'd expect that level of dedication, the willingness to do anything for them, even risking your own life to protect them from harm."
David nodded towards the queen, Atta, Dr. Flora, Mr. Soil, Thorny, and Cornelius. "They're worried about leaving the island to search for Flik because of birds, snakes, bigger bugs and sh(bleep), and their own lives being in danger?" The male human continued to express his frustration as he addressed the ants. "You ants didn't invent anything groundbreaking for the colony. You didn't intervene when Hopper threatened Dot with Thumper. You didn't devise a plan to recruit warriors. You didn't come up with the idea of building a decoy bird to fend off the grasshoppers. You didn't find the courage to stand up to Hopper and rally against him, Flik did."
Lily confronted the ants with her grievances. "You ants didn't appreciate Flik's inventions. You didn't empathize with him. You didn't regard him as part of your family. You didn't plead for Flik's return when he was banished for a damn trivial lie, which ultimately led to the grasshoppers seizing control of the colony, Dot did."
David emphasized their bond with Flik. "We embraced him as family. We honored him with the title of godfather to our daughter." As the audience applauded in support, the male human pointed out their past connection with the ants. "And you were there for us when we were kids! We confided in you, shared our lives with you!"
Dr. Flora expressed remorse, "We never wanted anyone to suffer."
Thorny added, "We just wanted what was best for the colony."
"Yes, what's best for the colony," Cornelius repeated in agreement without thought, like always when Thorny raises a point.
"That's no excuse!" Lily interjected firmly as the sound of the buzzer for the ants' sentences prompted chuckles from the audience, and even the security team couldn't help but stifle their amusement.
David passionately articulated, "We're all about what's best for our family, but you see us subjecting each of our siblings and Flik to hell like you ants did? Constantly shooting down his ideas and inventions that could've benefited everyone? Sending our loved ones off to face death? Exiling our family members over trivial damn lies?"
Lily echoed her boyfriend's sentiments, "Absolutely not! We're busy taking care of our daughter, and I'm providing therapy sessions for my sister's boyfriend! And we're forgiving people and give our loved ones a chance to explain why they lied." The female human then asserted, "And it don't matter what led to this situation, it happened, didn't it?"
The queen began to respond, "We know-" but was interrupted by David's impassioned accusation, "You did this! To us! To Flik! My little brother!"
Lily then added her own indictment, "My older sister! Our daughter!"
"This is your chance to make your plea," Jerry advised the ants.
"We understand the pain and frustration you've experienced," the queen began, her tone composed yet earnest. "We acknowledge our mistakes and the hurt we've caused. It was never our intention to bring harm or suffering to anyone, especially not to those we consider family. We ask for your forgiveness and understanding as we strive to make amends and rebuild the trust that has been broken. Please know that we are committed to creating a better future for all of us, one where kindness, compassion, and unity prevail."
Atta spoke next, her voice reflecting a mixture of emotion, remorse and determination through tears. "We realize the gravity of our actions and the pain they've caused. We're truly sorry for the suffering endured by Flik, Mike, Angela, and your entire family. It's clear that we have much to learn and many wrongs to right. We're ready to take responsibility and work towards healing the wounds we've inflicted."
Dr. Flora, though visibly shaken, added her voice to the apology as tears continued to fall down her face. "We humbly ask for your forgiveness and patience as we seek to rectify our mistakes. The colony is committed to fostering an environment of inclusion, support, and mutual respect. We will strive to do better, to be better, and to ensure that such injustices never occur again."
Jerry turned to the ants, his expression serious. "So, you're willing to make things right?"
Mr. Soil nodded firmly. "Yes, we are."
The host then gestured towards David and Lily. "But what if the cost of making things right involves sending out search parties to look for their friend?"
Jerry's question hung in the air, a palpable tension settling over the studio audience as all eyes turned to the ants for their response.
The queen took a deep breath before speaking, her voice measured but resolute. "If it means restoring trust and repairing the damage we've caused, then we will spare no effort in finding Flik and bringing him back to the colony. Our commitment to accountability extends to every member of our community, regardless of the risks involved."
Atta nodded in agreement, her gaze unwavering. "We understand the importance of righting our wrongs, no matter the cost. We will mobilize search parties and explore every avenue until Flik is safely returned home."
Dr. Flora added her support, her voice tinged with determination. "It's imperative that we make amends and demonstrate our sincerity through action. We owe it to Flik and to all those we've wronged to pursue every possible means of reconciliation."
The ants' willingness to embark on such a daunting task spoke volumes, signaling a newfound commitment to redemption and healing as the audience applauded.
Jerry then walked over to the human couple, his gaze fixed on them. "Now, I admit, it's difficult to trust them after what they've done. But let's say they're genuinely committed to finding him. Would you be willing to give them another chance then?"
David and Lily exchanged glances, their expressions reflecting a mixture of contemplation and uncertainty. They sighed quietly, their eyes briefly dropping to the ground in thought.
As chiming music played softly in the background, Lily's voice cut through the tension, her finger held aloft for emphasis. "One chance," she declared firmly to the ants, who nodded in acknowledgment.
"This chance only. But you see that one?" Lily continued, her tone unwavering, "This chance is fragile. Break it, and there's no going back."
The queen shook her head, her expression earnest. "We won't break it, we promise."
David's voice joined in, his resolve evident. "Just know, if you betray this trust again and my brother ever succeeds in killing himself like he almost did last time," he warned, "you won't find these faces waiting for you."
"We'll be back," Jerry declared as he exited the stage, prompting cheers from the audience as the show's theme music filled the air.
David placed an arm around his girlfriend as the camera panned to capture their determined expressions, then shifted to focus on the queen, Atta, Mr. Soil, Dr. Flora, Thorny, and Cornelius, highlighting the tension in the air.
As the camera briefly settled on MagicalHyena, she widened her eyes and flashed a big, goofy smile before the shot shifted to her best friend Kawaii, who playfully moved her eyebrows quickly up and down twice, adding a touch of humor, before the shot moved to Gypsy, who greeted the camera with a friendly smile as the audience chanted the host's name.
As the camera transitioned to Manny, he mirrored his wife's expression, offering a warm and friendly smile to the camera.
The screen faded to the audience, their enthusiastic chants of the host's name echoing in the studio. After about 10 seconds, the screen transitioned to black, indicating the beginning of the commercial break.
