The Potters
in I Never Met the Bad Man
At the base's kitchen, Lilo was trying to get Ani to finish her broccoli.
"Come on, Ani." Lilo instructed Ani. "You can't leave the table until you finish your vegetables."
"I don't want to, Mom it's gross." Ani said.
"Sweetie, it's broccoli." Lilo sweettalked to Ani. "It's good for you. Now open up for the airplane."
Lilo pretended to be a plane hoping Ani would open her mouth.
"Yucky!" Ani knocked the fork off of Lilo's hand.
"My, aren't we fussy tonight." Lilo remarked. "Okay, no broccoli." she picked the fork back up.
Ani then sighed in relief, but was cut off by Lilo shoving the broccoli in her mouth. Ani spat it out.
"Honey, it's not gonna go away just because you don't like it." Lilo explained to Ani.
And just snared at the broccoli she had in her fork.
Lilo walked into the base, where the Potters are planning their next attack on the Planters.
"Lilo, will you take me out to practice driving?" Ellie asked.
"I'm teaching piano lessons in half an hour." Lilo told her. "Maybe Robert can take you."
"Aw, sorry, Ellie." Robert disappointedly said. "I love you. But I have to make plans from incoming Planter attacks."
"For goodness sakes, Robert." Lilo exclaimed. "You've been sittin' in front of the computer since we first came to East Liverpool."
"Why don't you spend some time with your friends?" Lilo said to Robert as she sat next to him.
"I will." Robert affirmed to Lilo. "I'm-I'm just gonna do it after the plan starts. And is that's wrong, well, then-then maybe I'm missin' the point." Lilo sighed.
"Please, Robert?" Ellie begged Robert. "My road test is tomorrow and you haven't taught me anything."
"Ellie you, uh, you might want to find a better teacher than Robert." Stitch informed Ellie.
"What are you talkin' about?" Robert questioned. I'm a great driver."
Stitch scoffs and said to Robert. "From you're days in the army."
"Ellie, don't believe what they're sayin'." Robbert assured Ellie. "I always keep my eyes on the road. I don't miss a thing."
Just then after, Robert was teaching Ellie hot to drive.
"All right, Ellie. Now here's your first lesson." Robert told Ellie. "Now you always wanna be aware of other cars on the road. If you ever catch eyes with a gang just ignore, them."
After he said that, a gang stopped next to them. Smirking at them.
"You see, you just gotta ignore them." Robert said.
"You sure?" Ellie asked.
"I don't make the rules, Ellie." Robert affirmed Ellie. "Now concentrate on the road."
"Okay." Ellie replied. She did as Robert told her, then looked back at the gang, who smirked sinisterly.
"Alright, go." Robert instructed Ellie as the light went green. And they slowly went off. Not along that the gang were making fun of them, the wheel on the left side of the car then screwed itself out, causing the car to swerve.
"Well, you forgot to turn the turn signals on. But, uh, other than that, nice job." Robert informed to Ellie, who soon smiled in relief.
Robert and Ellie then return to Patterson Field to the locker room. Lilo and John were in the locker room all reading.
"You're back already?" Lilo said while she was reading. "That wasn't much of a lesson." she remarked.
"I didn't want to overload her on her first time out, you know." Robert stated. "Besides Dillon came up with a good plan to obtain the powergon cubes."
Meanwhile in Ani's room, Ani is standing face to face with a piece of broccoli on her table.
"Mr. Broccoli, my Mom says you're very good for me. But, I'm not good for you!" Ani pointed to the vegetable. So she looked into a book about farming.
"Broccoli came from the ground. Yuck! No wonder their yucky." she said.
The next day, at the East Liverpool DMV, Robert, Ellie, and Connor were waiting in line, which wasn't that short.
:This is taking forever." Connor complained.
"Come on Ellie, let's go." Robert said. "Maybe we can have a snack when there's no line."
"Robert, we can't leave now." Ellie said. "My entire life depends on getting my license. If i can't drive, I'll never have any boyfriends, I'll never get married and then I'll have to adopt a kid." Ellie sulked.
Ellie was finally about to take her driving test.
"I'm so nervous." Ellie admitted.
"Oh, you're gonna do great." Robert confidently told her. "Just remember everything I taught ya."
Ellie then began her driving test, beginning at a red light.
"All right. Let's start by going down Main Street." the driving instructor instructed Ellie.
"Okay." Ellie nervously replied.
"What is that tank doing here?" the instructor asked.
Then Ellie checked the rear view mirror and saw a tank behind them. But it turned out that the Tank has the Planter symbol on it.
The light becomes green, she floors it outta there. The Planter named Bombkreig gives chase.
"What are you doing?!" the instructor screamed.
"I'm saving you're life." Ellie scoffs. "Duh."
Bombkreig fired his lasers at her, then suddenly, he changes into a light green jet and kept firing at her, but Ellie quickly hits the brakes, much to Bombkreig's confusion.
Then to his shock. He's been rammed by a rocky wall and he fell down.
So he changed into his humanoid form. He has light green designs on his legs, hands, and torso, green designs on his shoulders, a tank cannon on his back, he has yellow hair, and wears green shades.
"Potter brat!" Bombkreig growled.
"Are you gonna mark me down for not turning on the signal lights?" Ellie asked the instructor about her results.
Ellie unfortunately fails the test as she takes it not so well.
"My life is over." Ellie sulked. "I am the biggest loser I know!"
"Hey, will you just relax?" Connor pointed. "It was just one stupid test. One failed test isn't the end of the world."
"Oh, I know how you feel, Ellie." Robert said patting on her shoulder. "I've had my share of disappointments, too."
"Look, Ellie, you just have to remember that life has its little ups and... oh, boy!" Robert said, taking a look at his watch. "We're gonna miss the beginning of my show."
Connor looked out the windows on both sides. "Don't worry, it's still there." Connor said as he found a program playing on a t.v. at one of the house he was driving.
"Connor, watch out!" Ellie shouted as they were about to collide with a delivery truck.
Connor shifts out of the way in time but accidentally looses control and crashes into a satellite dish. Then all the tvs in the neighborhood get cut by static, including Patterson Field.
Connor, Robert, and Ellie got out of the jeep without a scratch.
"Ah, are you two okay?" Robert asked Connor and Ellie.
"Yeah, I think so..." Ellie replied.
"Same here." Connor followed.
Just as they walk away from their seats, the airbags them activate. The three then looked at the sign that was on the locked gate.
"The East Liverpool Cable Television Transmitter." Connor said as he read the sign that was on the locked gate. He, Ellie, and Robert looked up at the t.v. receiver, then to each other. "...Uh-oh..." Connor remarked. The citizens then came to the scene very angry.
"Hey!" An irritated citizen yelled at Connor. "You just knocked out cable t.v. for the whole city."
"Oh, boy." Connor said under his breath as the mob was getting closer to him, Ellie, and Robert.
The angry mob continued to get closer and closer until.
"Uh, uh, uh, the Planters did it!" said Connor.
"What?!" Ellie exclaimed in surprise. "Connor, you were the one driving-" Connor put his hand over her mouth to keep her from turning the mob on him.
"I-I was just driving and uh, the Planters attacked, and I lost control of the jeep." Connor lied.
"Come on, people, we all did stupid stuff when we were kids, right?" said Robert. "Oh. Come on. Give the kid a break, huh?" he said.
"Why should we?" one of them asked.
"Well, he..." Robert stopped to think of a good excuse. "He lost his great grandparents."
The mob then murmured in guilt.
"Poor kid." one of the citizens said.
"What a senseless life." another said.
Robert, Ellie, and Connor were back in the jeep heading back to the base.
"I can;t believe you just sold out the Planters." Ellie said outraged at what Connor did.
"Hey, excuse me, Vampyra!" Connor said back at Ellie.
"Oh, Ellie, I know what he did was wrong." Robert afformed Ellie. "And I know this isn't the first time he embarrassed you."
"Ah, I hate to see you so upset." Robert lamented about Ellie's mood. "Hey, I know whit if I make you a deal, if the Planters take the fall, I'll buy you a convertible when you get your license." Ellie's mood was soon lifted by Robert's offer.
"Really?" Ellie asked excited. "Oh, thank you!"
"Aw, you're gonna make a guy a great wife." Robert remarked.
At the Channel 6 News Studio, the cable there was also out.
"Because of an accident today at the East Liverpool Cable Company, all television transmission will be out for an undetermined amount of time." Bill announced.
Back at the base, night had already fallen. Inside Jumba's lab was Jumba adjusting his latest creation.
"Excellent." Jumba acknowledged in success. "The weather machine is nearly completed. What do you say to that, Pleakely?" he told Pleakely.
"I don't know? Maybe I can get a great tan, when you're done." said Pleakely.
"Stop mocking me!" Jumba shouted in annoyance. Soon, he hears scratching metal coming from the surveilance system. "What's this?" Jumba questioned as he looked out the window. Connor was just pulling up the curve with the satellite dish still tangled behind.
"It appears the general has finally brought me something of value." Jumba acknowledged at his discovery. "I can use that device to amplify my signal."
Lilo, Will, and Dillon were at the table minding their own business, Lilo was taking a sip of coffee when Connor, Robert, and Ellie walk in.
"Guess what, Lilo?" Ellie asked Lilo. "Connor crashed the jeep into the city cable transmitter.
"What?!" Lilo exclaimed in shock.
"Oh, it's okay." Ellie informed Lilo. "If the Planters took the blame, Robert's gonna buy me a convertible when I get my license."
"Uh, E-Ellie, it's not exactly letting someone else taking the blame if you go around tellin' everyone." Robert informed her as she and Connor left.
"Robert!" Lilo asked Robert outraged. "You're bribing your friend with a car?"
"Come on, you guys." Robert said sweet talkingly to Lilo. "Isn't 'bribe' just another word for love and lending a helping hand?" Lilo gave in a stern look.
"Look, y-y-you wanted me and Ellie to bond and that's what we're doing." Robert reminded Lilo of what she told him before.
"Sir, I was in a chatroom online while you were gone." Travis told Robert as he walked in. "And Bombs100 told me that the Planters knocked out the cable. We could be without t.v. for weeks!"
Jumba was busy dragging away the satellite dish in the background whilst Robert and Travis talking.
"Now, now, Travis, now let's not panic." Robert reasoned with him. "We can manage just fine without t.v."
Hammerhead gives a scoff at Robert's statement.
"Now, what's that supposed to mean?" Robert asked seemingly offended.
"Face it, Robert, Connor's addicted to television." Hammerhead pointed out. "And he's not exactly Mr. Cold Turkey."
"Yeah, well, that was different." Robert assured Hammerhead. "He'll be fine."
"Are you sure, Robert?" Lilo asked.
"Oh, for Pete's sake, you guys." Robert responded. "You think he's some wimp who can't live without t.v.? Come on, gimme a break."
The next day, at East Liverpool Junior Senior High.
"Well,class, we were scheduled to watch a PBS program." the teacher disappointedly announced. "Unfortunately, the Planters destroyed cable. So instead, we're having a surprise test."
The class got mad and upset at hearing this.
But Ellie was nervous to keep Connor's secret.
At the VFW, Connor was lamenting about his problems.
"Geez, guys, I don't know how much longer I can last." Connor said as he stared at static on the t.v. "It's been a whole week since I've seen a show. Huh. Wonder what Scooby and the gang are up to right now."
"Well, you just need to find something to fill the void that's left in your life." Dillon insisted. "Jamie has her stuffed animals, Charles has his video games, Ellie's learning how to drive, and, I'm just learning how to be a great leader." he said as he took a sip of his soda.
In the middle of the night, Connor was struggling with his own problems. Connor was having a bad nightmare about no t.v.
"C-Can't live without t.v." Connor muttered in his sleep. "Must... Must see t.v."
In his dream, it was the darkness of space. Connor woke up and jumps on a platform to see what's going on. As he takes a look, Boombox was flying around firing at Connor which he dodged. The next thing to come was Stingfly and Airtrap flying above Connor. Last was Professor Seed landing on a platform. He turns into his blaster form and fires at Connor. In his room, Connor turns on the t.v. in hopes that cable had come back, but only to find static, leaving Connor with a sigh of disappointment.
The next morning, Lilo was in the base's kitchen with Ani, and Will, washing the dishes.
"Ani." Lilo informed Ani. "I expect you to finish off your vegetables."
"But, Mom, the book say's they came from the ground." Ani responded. "Maybe there's still dirt on them."
"Will I'm a little worried about Connor." Lilo informed Will as she sat down at the table with him. "Carrie told me, last night she woke up, and he was channel surfing through static."
"Oh, I'm sure he'll find a way to cope." said Will.
Connr then enter the room with a yo-yo on his hand.
"Hey, guys." Connor greeted.
Will scoffs. "And you were worried."
"Connor, what's that?" Lilo asked Connor.
"A yo-yo, John told me it's fun once I get the hang of it." Connor answered.
"Well, that's good. You're starting to have fun in reality." said Lilo.
"Well, I gotta go meet John, see ya." said Connor as he left.
"Keep an eye on Ani." said Lilo.
Lilo went after Connor. Will was alone with Ani.
"Don't move." Will told Ani.
Ani then began to make silly faces at him. After a few seconds of it, Will placed his hat on top of her head.
"Hey! yelled Ani.
Outside of the base, Connor was strolling by playing with his yo-yo.
Meanwhile, Lilo was driving through the city in the car looking for Connor.
"We have to find your friend, Bobby." Lilo said to Bobby in the passenger's seat. "I'm afraid he's gonna get himself hurt."
"I never knew anyone who went crazy before..." Bobby remarked at the situation. "Except for my Uncle Mack."
Then it goes back to Connor walking downtown doing yo-yo tricks.
"Okay. I'm starting to get the hang of this." said Connor as he did the rock a bye baby trick.
Connor made it to Junior Senior High where John is waiting.
"There you are, John." said Connor as he waved at him.
"Hey, dude, you havin' fun lately?" John said.
"Yeah, man." replied Connor.
Then the little brother of Connor, named Owen appeared.
"What are you two, doing?" questioned Owen.
"Just doing some yo-yo tricks Owen." Connor answered.
"Come on Connor!" Owen told Connor. "I'm getting upset because of you."
"Now, bro, you're just upset because the Planters wrecked the cable transmitter." Connor responded.
"You did not!" Owen shouted in anger, then sighed. "Alright. If you're not gonna get angry maybe the people will."
His anger at Connor was too much for him to take.
"The Planters didn't wreck t.v.!" Owen confessed. "My brother did!"
"What?" a teacher said in surprise coming out.
"What'd he say?" another teacher asked opening a window from inside.
"Connor Nickell ruined t.v.?" the school's groundskeeper acknowledged from behind a tree.
"And blamed it on the Planters?" a man questioned popping his head out of a manhole.
"Well, that's the lowest thing I've ever heard." a man remarked as he joined in.
Just then, Lilo arrived in the car and she got over to Connor's side.
"There you are Connor, I've been looking all over for you." Lilo worriedly told Connor.
"You're, too late, Lilo." Connor informed Lilo, as he and John grabbed hold of each other. "Because I'm about to get lynched."
Another angry mob like early then marched towards Connor, John, and Lilo.
"There they are. There they are." one of the citizens said.
"Yeah, that's the guy who ruined our cable." the man from the manhole said. "Let's get him!"
Before the mob could reach Connor, Lilo got in front of him.
"Stop! Stop!" Lilo shouted. "What is wrong with you people? O-Okay yes. My friend's responsible for knocking out t.v., but... We should be thanking him. He's broken television's hypnotic spell over us. Now we can see the world for what it is... A beautiful place full of wonderful things just waiting to be experienced."
"And I kinda like it." Connor agreed.
"She's right." a man among the crown proclaimed. "All the hours wasted on that boob tube. I'm gonna paint my house!"
"I'm gonna build a ship-in-a-bottle." the man who joined the crowd said.
"I'm gonna play horse shoe throw." an old man said.
Lilo was relieved that the citizens were finally taking a break from television.
"I'll take you back to the base, Connor." Lilo said to Connor as she wrapped her arm around him.
Later at nighttime, Connor and the others were talking in the base.
"Ugh, I can't believe I let someone else take the blame." Connor said in guilt. "You were right, Lilo. T.v. is nonsense."
"You just went a little overboard." Robert comforting Connor. "You need a little balance in your life. There are other things to appreciate besides television."
"Y-You mean..." Connor stuttered looking around to see Robert's point. "Like you guys?"
"Yes." Robert agreed. "We look out for you."
"I get it." Connor said finally realizing it.
"And your family gives you love." Robert said. "You should spend some time with your family, Connor. Including your friends."
"You're right, sir. I'll do it." Connor said with a smile.
The next morning, Connor went outside of a warm sunny day.
"Ah, what a gorgeous day." Connor exclaimed in a suddenly bright mood.
The Potters were practicing whilst Jumba was still working on his weather machine.
"Hello, everyone." Connor greeted to the others as he walked in.
"Excellent!" Jumba exclaimed. "Thus completes the penultimate adjustment to my weather control device."
"Guys, Lilo was right." Connor informed his friends "It'd be a crime to just sit around and wait for the t.v. to start workin'."
"Great. You can also teach me how to drive." Ellie said.
"Ellie, there'll be plenty of time to drive in teen years." Connor shrugged. "There's a big world out there just waiting for us to grab it. Let's go!" he soon announced.
The Potters were first fishing at a lake, where Jamie gets a big bite. Dillon, Xavion, and Ellie helped pull the line. They caught a big fish, where they also take a photo of their catch.
Next, the Potters was lying on a grassy meadow looking up at the clouds. Bobby, however, points out to the crocodile to his right. Dillon also sees another shape, but instead having a paw print on it.
The Potters are now playing basketball at the base. Josh does a dunk. Angel also does one too. Connor just did a three point shot.
Lastly, the Potters go on a picnic at a park. Everyone was getting the food and utensils out, while Ronny was pitching the blanket. But after a few times of spreading the blanket in the air, the other Potters suddenly appears out of nowhere and dog piled him.
Finally, everyone, except Connor, finally took a break from the activities back at the base.
"Ugh, I'm so tired." Ellie exclaimed. "This morning's fly-fishing really wore me out."
"Well, wake up!" Evile said to Ellie. "You promised you'd get this hook out of my mouth."
Ellie then tries to get the hook out. She succeeds.
"Ow. Ow. Thanks." Evile thanked Ellie.
"Now, guys, Connor is just trying to spend time with his friends." Robert assured the others. "Or kill us. I'm not sure which."
"Those tigers sure do like meat, don't they?" Bill said from the t.v. as the Potters soon stop to see. "And the kittens are cute."
"They, are adorable, Bill." Miranda flattered.
As the others sat down and watched t.v., Jumba came in holding his weather machine.
"Finally!" Jumba thankfully acknowleged. "Their minds are once again distracted by that box. Time to experimate!" he then looked out of the living room.
"Come on, everyone, we're late for the festival." Connor announced as he came into the base.
"But, Connor, the t.v.'s back on." Finder informed.
"Huh. Waddya know." Connor bluntly said as he looked at the t.v. "Okay, let's go."
"Connor, I'm thrilled that you want to spend so much time with the Potters." Lilo enthusiastically told Connor. "But we're exhausted. Maybe we could just sit and watch some t.v. together."
"Why? We're too busy living life to the fullest." Connor shrugged. "Come on, let's go."
"I'm sick of life." John complained.
"Yeah. my-my dogs are barkin'." Stitch agreed.
"But I thought we were having fun." Connor said.
"We were, but now it might be nice to watch other people have fun." Robert explained. "Or just get killed. You know, whatever's on."
"Look, Connor, it's your favorite show." Jamie pointed to the t.v.
On the t.v. was an episode of Batman the animated series.
"Sorry, Lilo." Connor said to Lilo. "There's only one show I want to see. It's a little something I liked to call 'Make Every Day Count', starring Connor Nickell as himself."
"Oh, come on, Connor. Don't you think you miss t.v. just a little?" Will persuaded Connor. "The familiar stories, the broadly drawn characters, the convenient plot turns that bring our friends with a character around at exactly right the moment?"
Just then, Bobby sudddenly went in, just as Will predicted.
"Hey, do you guys want to go to the festival?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah. I've been planning to." said Connor.
"Well, then come along." Bobby said inviting Connor with him.
"If I had a nickel for every time one of my friends walked out on me instead of teaching me how to drive, I'd be one rich little-" Ellie said before she was cut off by Dillon.
"Let's go, Ellie." Dillon said irritated and pulled Ellie away by her arm.
Jumba was on the roof wearing a raincoat, where the satellite dish was strapped on.
Jumba then pulled the weather machine tied to the end of the rope and was using a crank. He then straps it in the rope holding the dish and connects two breaker cables on the antennaes and then finally pushes the button, activating it, and sets on "Freezing Rain."
"Now, let's begin." Jumba professed as storm clouds begin to form.
We later go directly to the festival where Connor and Bobby are attending.
At a merry-go-round, Connor and Bobby are discussing about television.
"I don't know, Connor." Bobby said warily. "I can't imagine choosing life over television."
"I'm tellin' ya, it's great Bobby." Connor assured. "Yeah, and the only thing that would make this perfect day better is if my friends were here."
The storm formed by Jumba's weather machine then appears and rains on the festival, causing the festival to end early.
"Odd." Bobby exclaimed in both surprise and amazement. "It was sunny a moment ago, but now it's pouring!"
"Hey! Hey, let's just splash some puddles!" Connor suggested as he got out.
"Sure, why not." said Bobby.
Dillon was still teaching Ellie hot to drive while it was still raining.
"This is not safe." Dillon acknowledged about the condition of the storm. "I'll teach you how to drive some other time. Pull out."
"Dillon, I can't even tell where 'over' is." Ellie said.
Connor and Bobby were busying splashing puddles down the drenched road.
"You were right, Connor." Bobby praised Connor. "It is kinda fun."
Back at the field, Jumba was already proud of his success.
"Success!" Jumba shouted triumphantly.
Lightning hits the dish, sending the shock to Jumba, who almost loses his balance.
Lightning strikes the dish again, this time wrecking it and causing Jumba to fall off the top of the roof, and landing on the ground.
Jumba was left on the ground knocked-out.
Meanwhile, Connor and Bobby were still playing in the rain on the street.
In the distance, Ellie was still behind the wheel in the rain, unable to see what's in front of her. She soon finally sees someone in the windshield, causing her to slam on the brakes.
"Whoa." Bobby exclaimed in shock.
The truck collides off-screen.
Ellie and Dillon then got out of the truck
"Oh, no. I hit Bobby." Ellie said in worry.
"Don't worry guys, it just sprained my ankle!" Bobby said.
Connor and Bobby were then taken to the hospital. The Potters were in Connor's room, where Connor was in a body cast. Jumba only had a band-aid on his head.
"Connor." Ellie said apologetically to Connor. "I'm sorry I ran you, and Bobby."
"Aw, don;t worry, Ellie." Connor comforted Ellie. "As soon as I get out of this body cast, we'll do enough living for me and Bobby.:
"Connor, can't we go back to the way things used to be?" Robert pleaded. "There's a big dent in that couch that nobody else can fill."
"Haven't you guys learned anything?" said Connor. "T,v, took over my life once. I'm never gonna let that happen again."
"Great Scott." Robert said saddened. "We've lost him."
The Potters then leaves now upset to find Connor who he was is gone forever.
"Hey, if ya help me out of here, I know a meadow where the blue berries are just begging to be picked."
"Look, kid." the nurse told Connor. "Just go to the pan and call me."
The nurse then turned on the t.v. before she left.
Now an episode of Superman the animated series is on.
Connor tried to be less interested.
Superman saves Lois Lane from a robot t-rex.
Connor watched a little bit.
Superman fly's over Metropolis.
Connor kept watching and watching.
Now Superman is standing face to face with his arch-enemy Lex Luthor, gaining Connor's attention back.
Then, everyone, including Connor, was in the base watching t.v.
"Robert." Ellie said sweetly to Robert. "Now that I've finally passed my driver's test, can I still get a convertible?"
"Sure." Robert informed Ellie. "But I'm proud of you for getting your license, Ellie."
"And I'm proud of you, Connor." Will then said to Connor. "You taught us all a valuable lesson. It's not what you do that defies the quality of your life, it's who you do it with, especially with your friends, and your family."
"Quiet, everyone, the shows on." hushed Robert.