Synopsis: Mr. Rogers gets a peanut lei and another kind of lei. We see how people make peanut butter. We talk about caring, how unique people and some things are, and how to cope with waiting. One of Corny's workers has a little baby and no sitter today. The factory is very busy due to a new product. Lady Aberlin helps out and Henrietta Pussycat has a great idea! (From 1989.)

Directed by: Bob Muens

Braces {} enclose unclear speech.

Fred Rogers scores all the music on the show and the lyrics of songs. He also does all the voices of puppets in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe segments. I assume he writes the episodes, but I could be wrong.

The Cast

Neighbor	Real Life
Mister Rogers	Fred Rogers
puppet voices	Fred Rogers
Mister McFeely	David Newell
Lady Aberlin	Betty Aberlin
Princess Zelda	Zelda Pulliam
Hilda Dingleborder?	Barbara Russell

When I printed this, it took 23 pages.

Notes:

• I don't think Mister Rogers' Neighborhood is scripted per se except in the Make-Believe segment. I think there's an ad lib element that's key to the show's charm.
• Music accompanies most of the program, even if only quiet, mellow, meandering on the piano on and off as he's talking to us. It's not pre-recorded, and is piano and string music, possibly others. Piano is clearly the primary instrument. That's all I can tell you; I don't know much about music.
• The poem Mr. Rogers reads from is Sonnet XLIII from Sonnets from the Portuguese, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
• The book and tape on the show are not commercial products but just for this show.

MR ROGERS
[singing] "It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor.
Would you be mine.
Could you be mine.
It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood,
A neighborly day for a beauty
Would you be mine.
Could you be mine.
I have always wanted to have a neighbor
Just like you.
I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood
With you, so
Let's make the most of this beautiful day
Since we're together,
We might as well say,
"Would you be mine, could you be mine,
Won't you be, my neighbor?"
Won't you please?
Won't you please?
Please won't you be
My neighbor?"

[He sat down on the bench and changed a shoe for one of the clean thin sneakers he keeps on the bench. The song is done, he stops, speaks as slow and neighborly as ever. During this (after showing us the peanut lei), he puts on the other sneaker.]

Hi neighbor.
See anything, different looking around my neck?
See this? A friend of mine made this for me. Hmm-hmm. It's called a "peanut lei."
I guess lei is another word for a, necklace. Heh, heh. An' this is made of aallll different peanuts. I didn't knooow there could be so many different looking ones. Just like we saw last time. Each One is different. Just like each one of our friends is different, an' each one is special. You know who one of my special friends is. You know the person who says, "Speedy Delivery"?
Mr. McFeely. He told me last time that he would bring us a video tape of people making peanut butter--from the library. Well, he's not here right yet, so while we're waiting for him to come, why don't we sing our song about waiting. You know the one that says, "let's think of something to do while we're waiting"?
[sings] "Let's think of something to do,
While we're waiting,
While we're waiting for something new
To do!
Let's try to think up a song,
While we're waiting,
That's liberating, and will be true,
To
You!
Let's think of something to do,
While we're waiting,
While we're waiting 'til something's through!
You know it's really All Right?
In fact it's downright,
Quite bright,
To think of something to do,
That's specific for you!
Let's think of something to do,
While we're Waiting!"

[remembers something] I have something Right Now I'd like to show you. While we're waiting. This is something that I found, that I thought might be fun for you to see. Take a look at this.

[He got a little box from near him on the bench. It's about 4" X 4" X 1", a cosmic little black box that is clear on one wide side to show: a yellow background and red and green bubbles that flow downward. Rogers is slowly turning it this way and that, making patterns (closeup on it for us to see it). Happy exploring music accompanies. At the end:]

Isn't that fun?
I don't know how it's done but I think that there's some, water, and some, oils--different colored oils--they just, make wonderful designs. You know something else I like to do? I like to read books. In fact, I remember the first teacher I had, who helped me to learn to read. Here's a book of poems. It's just wonderful to be able to read. Yep.

[When he'd mentioned books, he'd got up and got a book from Trolley's area and held it up for us (title is POEMS, it looks homemade). He sits down on the couch and opens it up.]

Here's a, poem that I like, particularly. It's wonderful to know what, those words on the page mean. It says: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the Depth and Breadth an' Height my soul can reach when feeling out of sight. For the ends of Being and Ideal Grace"-- [someone's knocking] Oh there's somebody at the door. Oh maybe it's Mr. McFeely!
[has got up and looks out window] It is.
[quickly gets door] Come in, Mr. McFeely!

MR McFEELY
Indeed. Sorry that this delivery took so long.

ROGERS
Ohhh, my friends an' I have lots of ideas of ways to, do things while we're waiting.

McFEELY
Then you'll never be bored!

ROGERS
That's true!

McFEELY
Well that's a nice lei you have on.

ROGERS
Yes, a friend of mine made that--all different peanuts.

McFEELY
And this video tape is how people make peanut butter, from peanuts. [shows him the "How People Make Peanut Butter" video tape]

ROGERS
I know! Uh, could you wait, an' watch it with us?

McFEELY
Oh I--I can, I don't have that many deliveries today, an' as a matter fact--

ROGERS
Hmm--hmm?

McFEELY
I have seen it an' I'll be able to tell you some things.

ROGERS
--Good!--

McFEELY
All righty?

ROGERS
Good, we'll watch it together.

McFEELY
All righty.

[They move to Picture Picture and ROGERS puts the tape in down on the side by Trolley's tracks.]

ROGERS
We'll look at it on Picture Picture, "How People make Peanut Butter."

McFEELY
[about a man pouring seeds into plastic barrels]
First, people put peanuts seeds into containers called, "hoppers."

ROGERS
Those are seeds..

McFEELY
[about a field machine with the barrels in back, in a row]
And then plant them in the ground.

ROGERS
Seeds, are being planted..

McFEELY
[soon, about fields full of lush green bushes]
That's right. After a while, the seeds, grow into plants. But you don't see any peanuts yet, because they grow under the ground.

ROGERS
[about a man who has come up and pulled a whole plant out, now a close-up on the peanuts and roots]
Look at, the peanuts, are close to the roots aren't they?

McFEELY
Hmm-hmm, and this man is checking to see how they're growing.

ROGERS
Hmm-mm.. Well it looks like they've grown very well..

McFEELY
[about another field machine pulling the whole plants out, four rows at once]
When they're just the right size, people use, this machine--right there--called the digger and the shaker, to loosen the peanut plants from the ground, and shake off the extra dirt, an' put them back in the ground to dry. And after the plants have dried for two or three days, a machine called a "combine" separates the peanuts from plant.

ROGERS
People have to know how to drive a lot of machines!

McFEELY
[about another field machine dumping the plants (now brown) into a truck]
They surely do.. Oh, then the peanuts go into giant wagons to dry some more.

ROGERS
[about a machine in a factory: a wide shaking conveyor belt]
What is this?

McFEELY
Well when the peanuts have been checked to make sure they're okay, this machine, cleans them by shaking loose any stones or extra dirt on the peanut. Peanuts are now ready to have their shells, taken off.

[About the end of the conveyor belt, peanuts pouring into a stainless steel tube with a giant drill thing in it:]

Now here's the sheller. It pushes the peanuts through holes that are smaller than the peanut. The pushing, cracks the shell of the peanut and out comes the kernel. You know, that's the part we eat.

ROGERS
The kernel is.

McFEELY
The kernel.

ROGERS
[about deep shaking conveyor belt that the peanuts and shells are now on]
Hmm!
Look at that. Looks like they're dancing.

McFEELY
The shaker then separates the kernels, from the shells. There they are! The Shelled Peanuts.

ROGERS
Hmm!

McFEELY
[the peanuts are now on a smooth conveyor belt going by two men who take out leftover shell bits]
Now these two men are checking 'em once again to take out any pieces of the shell that might still be there.

ROGERS
Very careful, aren't they?

McFEELY
They certainly are.

ROGERS
[about a man setting up a gunny sack under a metal machine]
What's that?

McFEELY
[the machine releases peanuts into the sack, the man sends it on]
Then people weigh the peanuts, an' put them into big cloth bags, you see?

ROGERS
An' then what?

[Soon, the next man down the line uses a big, sideways sewing machine to sew the top of the sack shut.]

McFEELY
Well you'll see! They, sew up the bags at the top so the peanuts won't come out..

[About a man sending a gunny sack of peanuts down a wide stainless steel slide to a man who is stacking the sacks on a pallet for shipping:]

ROGERS
Oh, look at that slide!

McFEELY
Down the slide.

ROGERS
Yeah! That looks like fun.

McFEELY
I bet it is!
Once they go down the slide, the bags of peanuts go by truck to the factory where people will make: peanut butter.

ROGERS
[about a forklift unloading the peanuts from a truck]
Oh, so it goes to another place to make peanut butter.

McFEELY
That's right.

ROGERS
[about a man opening the sack (the peanuts shortly pouring down into a big stainless steel funnel)]
What's this man doing?

McFEELY
Opening the bag of peanuts.

ROGERS
And now they're traveling someplace else.

McFEELY
That's right. The peanuts need to be cooked before the people can make 'em into peanut butter.

ROGERS
Oh they need to be cooked!

[About a big funnel (the "bin") over the roaster, and in the roaster, which is stirring peanuts in its reddish hot glow.]

McFEELY
Hmm-hmm. And this cooking is called roasting. [ROGERS: "Ohhh."] First they go into the bin of the roaster, an' then down into the roaster to be cooked. This man makes sure the roaster is just the right temperature.

ROGERS
Certainly looks very hot there..

McFEELY
Look at them cooking.. It, does get very hot inside there.

Out come the roasted peanuts! And they're off to be cooled.

[The peanuts come out into another big stainless steel funnel and out the other end downstairs in the factory. They look darker and a man is looking through them. He is wearing white gloves.]

ROGERS
First they're roasted an' then they have to be cooled. Well now, he's wearing gloves. I guess to protect his hands?

McFEELY
An' when they're cooled just enough, they're ready to be blanched.

ROGERS
What's that mean?

McFEELY
Well, eh, blanching--it's a blanching machine that cleans the peanut, an' it takes off the skin. That's what blanching means--it takes off the skin of the peanut. And it also breaks the peanuts up into pieces.

[About the peanuts on a shaking conveyor belt, but now they are white--their dark red skins are gone.]

ROGERS
There they go, dancing along again.

McFEELY
Dancing along an' ready to be made into peanut butter!

ROGERS
Now, how's that going to be?

McFEELY
[about peanuts going into a stainless steel tube with a spiral turning slowly in it]
Well, the peanuts travel through this pipe into the round, grinding machine, see? The pipe into the gri--

ROGERS
--Hmm-hmm--

McFEELY
[about a tube where peanut butter has clearly come out before]
They're being broken up some more an' they start, to become, peanut butter. Now watch.

ROGERS
[about chunky peanut butter slowly pouring out the tube]
Yeah, I see something. Hmm-mm.

McFEELY
Now this is chunky peanut butter. You see the bits of peanuts in it?

ROGERS
Oh, yes. That looks good.

McFEELY
But, to make the smooth kind, it needs to be ground one more time..

ROGERS
You mean we won't see the chunks?

McFEELY
Now, you'll see.

ROGERS
[about another tube only with smooth peanut butter slowly pouring out]
Oh, look!

McFEELY
Here it comes--you see? It's smooth peanut butter!

ROGERS
[about the jar a woman holds under the tube]
Into the jars.

McFEELY
Into the jar.

[about more of the action being in view: a man is putting lids on tightly]
Now this person makes sure the jars are filled with just enough peanut butter. And then this man, puts, the lids on.

[about a woman boxing the jars--eight to a box]
And she puts the jars into the boxes.
[about a man passing a box under a smallish machine that tapes the box shut]
And he closes the boxes so the peanut butter can be sent to the stores, where people can buy it, and enjoy it.

[(Another man at the other side of the taping machine is stacking the boxes on a pallet for shipping.)]

ROGERS
[happy] Enjoy it is right.

ROGERS
Now when I eat peanut butter, I'll know about some of the people who helped to make it.

McFEELY
It takes people to make practically everything, doesn't it.

ROGERS
Yes, that's why so many people go to work.

McFEELY
I have my speedy delivery work, and you do you're television programs.

ROGERS
Yeah, that's right. Takes people to make all sorts of things.

McFEELY
Away, and at home, too. I uh, better get back to my speedy deliveries, I have more pickups and deliveries.

ROGERS
Good, would you mind taking that back to the library?

McFEELY
I'll do it, if you, will, sign right here on the dotted line for the pickup and delivery. [getting clipboard out of his sack]

ROGERS
[signing] Of course. I appreciate your work, Mr. McFeely.

McFEELY
An' I appreciate your business. You're one of the ones who pays Right Away, an' it certainly helps us!

ROGERS
[walking with McFEELY to door] Please give my best to Mrs. McFeely.

McFEELY
I'llll do that, we'll seeee you around the neighborhood.

ROGERS
Thank you again.

McFEELY
You're welcome! Speedy Delivery. [leaves with a wave]

ROGERS
Bye. [shuts door and turns to us, stopping at the bottom of the stairs] Isn't that interesting? Seeing how people make things like peanut butter? Of course most of it depends on growing the right kind of peanuts, an' finding the best ways of using them. Let's have some make-believe. [sits by trolley area]

[Trolley's theme music as Trolley comes out the wall and around the bend, stopping by ROGERS, tooting.]

ROGERS
(Hi Trolley.)
[to us] There's a factory in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, that we often think about. Do you know who it is who manages that factory? Cornflake S. Pecially. An' do you know what he usually manufactures? Rocking Chairs, that he calls, "Rockits." Why don't we make-believe something about Corny and his factory today? As the trolley goes into the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.

[Trolley's theme music as Trolley toots and and goes away. The view becomes a small circle in the center of the screen, then the screen's all black, then the circle opens up again to full screen as Trolley comes out of the tunnel by the castle. QUEEN SARAH SATURDAY and LADY ABERLIN are by the castle, talking.]

SATURDAY
[to passing, tooting, Trolley] Oh, yes, Trolley. Hmmmm.
[to LADY ABERLIN] Oh, I wish I didn't have to go off to work today.

ABERLIN
{Well,} sometimes you'd just rather stay at home.

SATURDAY
Yes. An' Tuesday has been so fretful lately..

ABERLIN
He says that you an' his daddy are gone too much of the time..

SATURDAY
He's right, of course. This week has been terribly busy for both of us. In fact, I have to leave now for another meetin'.

ABERLIN
Food for the World?

SATURDAY
Yes, the Executive Committee..

ABERLIN
Have you ever told Tuesday about your work..

SATURDAY
Yes, I told him that it's very important.

ABERLIN
I think he knows that but, I wonder if he knows that you're working to help hungry people all over the world..

SATURDAY
I'll tell him that when we're together next time. Uh, farewell then, Niece Aberlin. [leaving, but turns back again to hear what ABERLIN says]

ABERLIN
Farewell Aunt Sarah--I certainly appreciate all you do in this make-believe life.

SATURDAY
Oh thank you, my dear. Thank you. [leaving via the castle]

CORNFLAKE S. PECIALLY (CORNY)
[calling over] Oh, I say there, Lady Aberlin!

ABERLIN
[looking around] Who's calling?

CORNY
It's Cornflake S. Pecially over at the factory!

ABERLIN
[sees] Oh, Corny!

CORNY
Yes!
[ABERLIN comes over, ducking under the trolley tracks on the way]
Oh, I'm so glad you're here, Lady Aberlin.

ABERLIN
Is there something I can do to help you? [CORNY: "--Hmm-hmm--"] Need another dancing sales person? [does a whimsical improvisational dance]

CORNY
Oh well. Oh, that's lovely, but--

ABERLIN
[stops dancing] Or, need a new design for a rocking chair?

CORNY
Oh, those things would be nice, Lady A., but I need some help with somethin' else right this minute.

ABERLIN
What is it?

CORNY
One of our Rockit makers, in the factory here, brought her baby to work because she couldn't get a sitter. An' now we're so busy, we need somebody to look after the baby.

ABERLIN
I'll be glad to do that.. Where is the baby?

CORNY
[starts leaving] I'll go get her.

ABERLIN
Oh wait, I'd like to see the mother, too.

CORNY
Oh, all right, I'll be back in a minute. [leaves]

[While ABERLIN waits, PRINCESS ZELDA arrives with a basket of small, shelled peanuts.]

ZELDA
Hi, Lady A! Want some peanuts?

ABERLIN
Magic or real?

ZELDA
Oh, they're real, you can eat them.

ABERLIN
[takes one] Thanks.

Do you feed peanuts to babies?

ZELDA
Not very young babies. Why?

ABERLIN
I'm just about to get a baby.

ZELDA
You are?

ABERLIN
Yes, would you have time to help me with it?

ZELDA
Sure.. but, I didn't know that--

CORNY
[arriving with small baby and mother] Now, this is Lady Aberlin, and uh--oh!--Princess Zelda, you're here, too. I'd like you to meet my co-worker, Hilda Dingleborder, heh.

ABERLIN and ZELDA
How do you do, Hilda Dingle-border.

[The mother is serious and business-like, perhaps nervous. She looks like Lily Tomlin, but it's not--she's a puppet, like Corny.]

HILDA
Thank you so much for offering to take care of Daphne for us.

ZELDA
Oh! This, is the baby!

CORNY
Yeees.

ABERLIN
She looks as if she's asleep right now..

HILDA
She is. She's such a dear baby but it's pretty noisy in the factory, an'--well--I just didn't know what to do.

ABERLIN
[takes baby, doting] Oh, not to worry. I'll keep her for you 'til you're finished working today.

ZELDA
Would you all like some peanuts?

CORNY
Oh! Funny you should ask about peanuts! You know why we're so busy right now?

ZELDA
Don't know. Why?

CORNY
Uh, you tell them, Hilda. I'll go back to work. And thanks again for your help.

ABERLIN
You're welcome.
[quiet] Oh she's a pretty baby..

HILDA
The funny thing about you mentioning peanuts is that we have a very big order for Peanut Rockits.

ZELDA
Well, what are they?

HILDA
Well they're rocking chairs that you rock in, while you're eating peanuts.

ZELDA
Uh! I'd love to see one of those. Wouldn't you, Lady A?

ABERLIN
I would!

HILDA
Well, I'll just ask one of our new helpers, to bring out a couple for you to try.

ABERLIN
Maybe I could rock little Daphne in it..

HILDA
Oh that's fine, but of course, she's a little too young for peanuts.

ABERLIN
Oh I understand that.

HILDA
Oh thanks for taking care of Dee Dee. I'll see you as soon as I finish work. [leaves]

ABERLIN
You're welcome.

Dee Dee?

ZELDA
Daphne Dingleborder.

ABERLIN
Of course.
You're sweet, little Dee Dee..

ZELDA
Mmm--she surely is..

ABERLIN
Would you mind waiting, for the Peanut Rockers. I'd like to show this baby to Henrietta Pussycat. She just loves little babies.

ZELDA
Oh! That's fine. I'll be right here.

ABERLIN
Good. Bye..

[ABERLIN goes over to the tree and quietly knocks on HENRIETTA's door, quietly calling "Henrietta?" HENRIETTA slowly comes out. They keep the conversation slow and quiet.]

HENRIETTA
Meow-meow Lady Aberlin meow!

ABERLIN
[quiet] Hi Henrietta. I want to show you something very special.

HENRIETTA
Meow.

ABERLIN
This. [gently brings Dee Dee up to her]

HENRIETTA
Meow baby..

ABERLIN
Yes. Her name is, Daphne, Dingleborder.

HENRIETTA
Meow-meow beautiful, meow-meow..

ABERLIN
She surely is.. Her mother works at Corny's factory. An' she needed some help in taking care of Dee Dee.

HENRIETTA
Meow meow?

ABERLIN
Dee Dee. That's the baby's nickname.

HENRIETTA
Meow. Meow-meow other children meow-meow factory?

ABERLIN
I don't know--why do you ask?

HENRIETTA
Meow-meow, meow-meow have meow Caring Center, meow-meow factory, meow-meow other parents' children.

ABERLIN
[struck] "Start a Caring Center" at the factory..

HENRIETTA
Meow!

ABERLIN
What a fabulous idea! Would you help with it?

HENRIETTA
Meow course meow would. Meow love children.

ABERLIN
I knew there was a reason I wanted to come over here and show Dee-Dee to you. Let's go an' ask Corny.

HENRIETTA
Meow see you meow-meow there.

ABERLIN
All right..

HENRIETTA
Meow.. Meow. [leaving via in the tree, as ABERLIN shuts the door]

ABERLIN
[leaving, still struck] What a great idea.. Come on, Dee Dee.. Let's go back over to the factory. You've given us a great idea an' you didn't even have to say One Word..

[By the factory PRINCESS ZELDA is sitting in a rocking chair. Another rocking chair is right next to her. They are peanut patterned and have likewise patterned sacks on the sides. It's not too corny, not shaped like peanuts.]

ZELDA
Welcome back.

ABERLIN
Henrietta had a great idea..

ZELDA
Tell me about it, but first: take a rock in a Peanut Rockit.

ABERLIN
[sits] Ohhh, these are clever..
Oh, feels good..
Do you like it, Dee Dee?

ZELDA
[gracefully holding basket] Here, have a peanut..

ABERLIN
Thank you.

HENRIETTA
[from the factory] Meow-meow! Meow-meow!

ABERLIN
Henrietta, you're here already!

HENRIETTA
Meow.

ABERLIN
I haven't even told Princess Zelda your idea yet.

HENRIETTA
Meow-meow tell her meow Corny together.

ABERLIN
Good thinking. [calling] Corny!
Cornflake S. Pecially!

HENRIETTA
[calling] Meow meow!

CORNY
[comes up] Is the baby all right?! Oh, Henrietta, hello!

HENRIETTA
Meow-meow-meow, Corny.

CORNY
Is the baby all right?

ABERLIN
Oh, she's fine, Corny. We just wanted to talk with you about an idea Henrietta had.

CORNY
Uh, what is it, Hen?

HENRIETTA
Meow, meow-meow meow-meow-meow all meow children, meow workers, meow-meow-meow could start meow Caring Center meow-meow factory meow-meow.

CORNY
[interested] A Caring Center for my workers' children?!

HENRIETTA
Meow!

CORNY
You mean you'd do it?!

HENRIETTA
Meow meow children!

CORNY
I know you love children, but I never thought you'd--

ABERLIN
[happy] Isn't it a great idea, Corny?

CORNY
Yeah! Will you help too, Lady Aberlin?

ABERLIN
Oh, I can!

ZELDA
And I will too.

CORNY
Oh, Princess Zelda! Well, why don't you all come inside and I'll ask Hilda to look for someplace that you can use! I think everybody's gonna be so pleased about this! Heh-heh. Uh, what does Dee Dee think? Heh!

ABERLIN
Oh. She's still asleep, Corny. But I'll bet she'll be glad to be near her mother all day long.

CORNY
A Caring Center in this factory! It surely is surprising what can happen when you ask somebody for help.

HENRIETTA
Meooow..

ZELDA
Incidentally, Mr. Pecially, we really like your Peanut Rockits.

CORNY
Oh, I'm glad! Well you can have as many as you need for your Caring Center.

ZELDA
In all sizes?

CORNY
In all sizes. Come on in, come on in, everyone.

HENRIETTA
Meow-meow meow-meow meow.

[They all head in, ABERLIN and ZELDA by going around the back. Trolley's theme music is coming up and Trolley toots and passes the castle, the screen goes down to a little black circle, to all black, then opens up again on Trolley coming out into Mr. Rogers' house.]

ROGERS
I think Henrietta Pussycat had a very good idea.. What do you think? Corny's workers can bring their children to work with them, an' Henrietta can take care of them, an' Lady Aberlin, an' Princess Zelda can help..

[gets up, going to fish tank to feed them]
Often think of very good things..
People think of Good things..

These, fish need some food.

[Watch fish as he feeds them now.]

I like to watch them when they're comin' to eat, an' ffflitting around in there..

Such a good way to Learn, is by looking carefully..

Heh heh. Henrietta will probably have lots of things to show the children at her caring center..
[done watching fish] I wonder if Henrietta knows that "taking care" song that we sometimes sing. You know the one that goes:
[gently singing] "I'm taking care, of you,
Taking good care, of you.
For once I was very little,
Too.
Now, I take care of you."

I'll sing it one more time, and then, if you want, you try singing it by yourself.

[singing] "I'm taking care, of you.
Taking good care, of you.
For once I was very little,
Too.
Now, I take care of you."

Now while the music is playing, you try singing it by yourself. All right?

[As music slowly, gently, plays, ROGERS mouths the words.]

[at end, quietly singing] Now, I take care of you. Hmm-mm?
[regular voice] Does it feel good to learn things?
It does for me. [phone's ringing] Oh there's the phone.
[goes to the other side of the post for the phone]
Hello?
[sitting] Mr. McFeely!
Yes! Yes I'm here, hmm-mm.
Well of course! You know you're always welcome here.
All right. Fine! Thank you. Bye-bye.
[to us, soon getting up] Mr. McFeely says, I just want to bring one more thing, one more thing. So he must have a surprise to bring us.
Maybe we can show him this when he comes.

[ROGERS has gone to bench for the music instrument he got the last time (a keyboard you blow into and play--melodica? melodeon?).]

ROGERS
I think he might like that..

Might try that song on here. Sing if you like.
[nice and slowly plays "I'm Taking Care of You" and someone starts knocking on the door]
[stops] Maybe that's he now. [gets up, musefully singing] "Taking care, of you."
[looks out window, nodding to us that it's him, goes and opens door]

ROGERS
Mr. McFee--

McFEELY
A Speedy Delivery surprise!

[McFEELY has a real orange flower lei around his neck and another in his hand. (At the start, the Speedy music was in background.)]

ROGERS
--What are those?--

McFEELY
Well, when I returned the video tape to the library, I happened to stop in on a craft class, and they were making flower leis, an' they gave me this one, an' they asked me to, Speedy Delivery this one, to you! [ROGERS was saying, "Hmm-hmm" and "Uh-huh" during all of this]

ROGERS
This one's for me?

McFEELY
There you go. Speedy Delivery to you.

[ROGERS puts it on. (Brief electric organ Hawaiian music in background.)]

ROGERS
[smiling, holding peanut lei up] Peanuts.

McFEELY
Peanuts.

ROGERS
[likewise with the flower lei] An' flowers.

McFEELY
An' flowers. Well, many different ways of makin' necklaces.

ROGERS
There certainly are. Do you have a minute I can show you something.

McFEELY
I do.

[McFEELY follows him downstairs, ROGERS is going to the bench for that magic little box.]

ROGERS
[about the lei] Thank you for this.

McFEELY
Well, you're welcome.

ROGERS
Boy all the things that they do at the library.

McFEELY
Many things there.

ROGERS
I would like you to see this.

McFEELY
What's this?

ROGERS
Something that I found..

McFEELY
--Mm-mm--

ROGERS
[turning it as before] Look at it..

[Close-up on it making different patterns as Mr. Rogers slowly turns it this way and that.]

McFEELY
Why, it's a Moving, Picture. Ha ha!

ROGERS
[laughs] Ha ha! Yes it is!

McFEELY
That's beautiful.

ROGERS
I think it is.
I keep looking at it an' seeing aaall of the different, designs that it makes..

McFEELY
No one picture is the same!
They're all different.

ROGERS
They surely are. Just like allll of the flowers and all peanuts--

McFEELY
And all people--

ROGERS
And all people. Do you think your grandchildren would enjoy seeing this.

McFEELY
They would love seeing this. They're coming for a visit, [R: "Hmm-hmm"] do you think I could borrow it?

ROGERS
Of course!

McFEELY
An' I'll bring it back in a few days.

ROGERS
All right.

McFEELY
[takes it] Speedy Delivery. A lot of surprises in this neighborhood! Heh-heh-heh! [leaving]

ROGERS
[a farewell] That's for sure. Thanks Mr. McFeely.

McFEELY
Yeah, I have one more delivery, then I'm going home! Good day--

ROGERS
Please give Mrs. McFeely my best.

McFEELY
I will. Speedy Delivery to you! [ROGERS: Byeee!] Buh-bye! [he's gone]

ROGERS
[shuts door, comes back down stairs, sits on bench] It's fun to take care, isn't it?
As you grow, you'll find more an' more ways of taking care. Of yourself, and others. An' when you do it, it gives you such a good feeling.
[happy, singing] "It's such a good, feeling
To know you're alive
It's such a Happy feeling
You're growing inside
And when you wake up, ready to say:
'I think I'll make a snappy new day'
It's such a good, feeling
A very good feeling
A feeling you know
That, I'll be back
When the day is new
An' I'll have more, ideas
For you.
And you'll have things you'll want to talk about.
I
Will
Too."

[During the song, he took his sneakers off again and slipped back into his loafers. Then he stood, took off his sweater, and hung it up in the closet. As he talks, he puts the suit jacket back on, keeping the leis on.]

You always make each day a special day.
You know how?
By just your being yourself.
Only one person in this whole world like you. You. And people can like you exactly as you are. I'll be back next time. Bye.

[He waves and leaves, shutting the door again. He'd got the music instrument off the bench before leaving.]

[time approx.: 28:00]

Last Updated: 31 August 1998