Epilogue
The common hole in the wall seemed especially everyday that morning.
A ray of sunlight traced its path from the dim singing purple tunnel out to the spacious work room of a just as common old fashion Arizona home.
The old grey and white sheepdog lay in his sleeping basket wagging his tail this particular morning, transfixed with the little brown and cream colored fluff of a puppy chasing after a ball two times it's size.
It finally caught it, and growling, tried to climb up onto the top of the shiny red sphere.
Sprocket gasped, putting out a paw to gently keep his daughter from falling, and perching her in a full belly flop on top of the toy.
Doc, who had been observing all this time as well, laughed over the edge of his newspaper at the puppy's little yap of victory.
"Well Sprocky, I guess it really won't be too much trouble keeping just one of the puppies. I'm glad you talked me into it..."
In the background, the poor little bit of fur could now be seen rolling over and over with the ball, clinging helplessly to it before he father stopped the cycle with a finger.
The puppy slowly oozed off the ball, collapsing drunkenly into the depths of the dog basket.
"Yes sir-re, Cassette reminds me of you at that age, Sprocket."
The old inventor reached down on a knee to pat his faithful pet.
"Of course, just because something new comes along to love doesn't mean that someone old you love means any less. We've just got to take this life as it comes, together! Right Sprocky?"
Sprocket barked and nodded in agreement, as suddenly a set of tiny voices broke up the man and his dog moment.
"Rope?" A serious voice asked.
"Check!" A energetic female voice replied.
"Compass?" The voice asked again.
"Checkahroonie!" An even more hyper voice added in, it's comment ending with the unmistakable sound of bone hitting metal. "Ow…"
"Doohickey and thingamabob?" The voice finished.
"Those are the first two things I packed!" The girl's voice grumbled.
"Okay, then, I think we're all set."
Doc put down his newspaper where he had been kneeing to pet his longtime friend upon seeing the three fraggles that ventured from the magical hole, two wearing loaded down backpacks and one carrying what looked to be a set of barbells, a golden trophy, and something that looked a bit like a costume meant to resemble a fish.
"Well, well, what do we have here..off on another great adventure Gobo and Wembley?"
"Somethin' like that…" Gobo shouted up to the old inventor with a nod.
"And my.. who is this?" Doc asked, raising an eyebrow at the sight of Red. "If I recall correctly we met once a long time ago young lady…"
"Oh yeah, we did!" Red said happily, grunting as she repositioned the heavy load on her back "Hello again Mr. Doc, Sir. My name's Red!"
"You certainly are!" Doc said with a chuckle at the little fraggles raw energy, switching his voice over in the same breath to a fatherly tone. "Well Red, am I to understand your going with these two?"
"Yep!"
Doc got up with some difficulty, only to bow deeply in a gentlemanly fashion before Red.
"In that case…as a humble ambassador of our race, let me be the first to welcome you to the human world."
Red blinked with a blank look at Doc rose upward again to lead on a a shiny looking craved walking stick beside his work-desk.
"Hu…man?" Red asked, turning the unfamiliar word over in her mouth. "Isn't your world the world of the Silly Creatures?"
"Hmm..I never get tired of the words you fraggles come up with…"
Doc seemed to think deeply for a moment before his weathered eyes betrayed the slight winkle of insight.
" …I think even I like your name for us better. Yes, yes Red, that is the Silly Creature world out there. Just remember: Don't take any wooden nickels!"
"Nickels? What's a nickel? Do they taste good?" Red asked, stepping nearer and away from the doorway.
"Come on Red." Gobo said, grabbing onto her hand.
"Look both ways before crossing the street!" Doc added with a wave.
"Com'on Red!" Wembley coaxed, pushing her from behind with his whole weight and not even moving the stubborn fraggle an inch.
"Street, what's a street?" She whimpered ending with a wavering tone. "Do they eat fraggles?"
"You asked to go, so let's get going, eh?" Gobo said, giving the yellow fraggles hand a gentle but firm tug in the door's direction.
"Walk on the sidewalk!"
Doc shouted with a last wave, as Sprocket waved to from his basket, where Cassette panted farewell, only her tongue visible among the overhanging mop of her fur.
"Side..walk? How do you walk on a side? Are the middle-walks there to? Okay, okay! I'm coming." Red grumbled, finally being pushed from the wisdom of Doc at last.
"You really don't read postcards much do you?" Wembley chimed in.
Slowly, the three fraggles stepped out of the doggie door, into a flash of blinding sunlight…
End credits (as sung by Red )
Scene:
An everyday Arizona suburb in the afternoon, Gobo, Wembley and Red last of all appear as they go though the pet door. Red turns around and looks in silent awe.
Baby, what do you say we just get lost?
Scene:
Red tentatively puts a foot on the pavement and then draws it back, only to turn a second later and start hopping up and down on it.
Leave this one horse townlike two rebels without a cause?
Scene:
Gobo and Wembley quickly rush over pulling Red out of the way of narrowly being missed by a car.
See the people in Boston.
Scene:
Close up of Red's face as she coughs from the car's fumes, as the cloud clears to reveal a wide blue sky a slow mischievous smile slowly forms on her face, as she looks down to see the fact that they are all tied together in the usual traveling rope line.
Ain't your uncle still in Des Moines?
We can pack up tomorrow.
Tonight, let's flip a coin...!
Scene:
She gives the rope a sharp tug, half pulling half dragging the two along behind her.
Heads, Carolina Tails, California!
Somewhere greener, somewhere warmer!
Up in the mountains, down by the ocean!
Polaroid photo snapshot:
The three swimming and doing cannon balls into the ocean.
The photo unfreezes and Red makes a face after getting a mouthful of salty water from Gobo's splash.
Where? It don't matter, as long as we're goin'
Somewhere together. I've got a quarter.
Polaroid photo snapshot:
A roll of photo booth stickers of the three making silly faces and Red and Gobo kissing. The last mini picture unfreezes and Wembley pops up between the two, sporting hair newly died bright punk colors.
Heads, Carolina Tails, California!
We can load what we own in the back of a U-haul van.
Polaroid photo snapshot:
Red, wearing oversized heart shaped sunglasses, a collection of neon colored snap bracelets on her tail, and licking a rainbow colored lollypop proudly drags a giant sack behind her. The picture unfreezes as Gobo gives her a disapproving look, her pigtails wilt as she begins to carry the bag back slowly toward bright "Toys 'R Us" lettering on the side a building.
Couple modern day Moses', searchin for the promised land...
Polaroid photo snapshot:
The three are meditating cross-legged on satin pillows in what looks like a Indian temple. The scene unfreezes and Wembley opens his eyes, slowly tapping the nearby Red, who falls over with a clink onto an incense burner, fast asleep.
We can go four hundred miles before we stop for gas...
Polaroid photo snapshot:
Red, Gobo, and Wembley marching with a line of Japanese kindergartners to school, one of them griping tightly to Wembley's nose instand of his hand.
We can drive for a day, and then we'll take a look at the map...!
Polaroid photo snapshot:
Red, Gobo and Wembley standing in front of Jackson Pollock's "Blue Poles" in the National Gallery of Australia. The photo unfreezes and the three tilt their heads to one side and then the other in puzzlement, turning to each other and shrugging.
Heads, Carolina Tails, California!
Somewhere greener, somewhere warmer!
Polaroid photo snapshot:
The three are standing in front of a tall sign just out of veiw in the pouring rain: Red wearing her fish costume and big floppy wide rimmed hat, and Wembley wearing sunglasses, swimming fins, and holding a boogie board. The picture unfreezes and both of them turn to glare at Gobo between them as he grins sheepishly, the camera panning upward to the words "Welcome to Sunny Califorina" on a sign.
Up in the mountains, down by the ocean!
Polaroid photo snapshot:
Gobo clinging tightly to the side of moutain with a pick ax as Red begans to loose her grip and Wembley is in the middle of falling, dragging down their climbing rope as a very shocked looking eagle flies just below them.
Where? It don't matter, as long as we're goin'
Somewhere together. I've got a quarter.
Heads, Carolina Tails, California!
Polaroid photo snapshot:
The three hitching a ride on the back of a bus bumper in an attached small handmade wooden cart. The picture unfreezes and they hop out, looking upward with wide eyes and then turning to each other with sly grins. The revealed sign reads "Oaxaca Radish Festival".
We're gonna get outta here if we gotta ride a Greyhound bus.
Boy, we're bound to outrun the bad luck that's tailin' us!.
Polaroid photo snapshot:
Red, Gobo and Wembley running and laughing as they carry a giant Mexican corn god made completely out of radishes. Another photo snaps showing a huge mob of angry people with crafting tools and pitch forks following close behind them…
Heads, Carolina Tails, California!
Somewhere greener, somewhere warmer!
Polaroid picture snapsot:
Red waves as she windsurfs. The picture unfreezes as she falls off the broad and slowly lifts her head out of the shallow water, only to come face to face with a platypus. Both scream and run in opposite directions.
Up in the mountains, down by the ocean!
Pollard picture snapshot:
A trail of fraggle footprints in the snow, leading to Gobo, Red, and Wembley crowded around something wearing their socking caps. The picture unfreezes and they part to reveal a fraggle snowman with shiny black pebbles for eyes and a mouth made out of sticks with tiny pine cones for hair, in one hand holding a radish and in the other, made as part it's body, a postcard with a Hawaiian sunset.
Where? It don't matter, as long as we're goin'
Somewhere together. I've got a quarter.
Polaroid picture Snapshot:
A hidden cozy fire in the woods of the snowy mountainside throws a golden glow onto the sleeping faces of the friends under a cozy heavy patchwork quilt, Red with her head snuggled on Gobo's chest, while Wembley in turn leans on her shoulder. The picture unfreezes as Red opens one eye in annoyance, quickly pushing Wembley's head away to use a snowdrift to the other side as a pillow with a yelp and soft shower of flying snow.
Heads, Carolina Tails, California!
Scene:
A slow panning shot from the boots upwards of two silly creatures on that same snowy mountain. The two twenty-something hikers, a woman and a man, stare at the figure made of snow before them. Slowly they turn to look each other in the eye in bewilderment and mouth the word 'fraggle?'.
O--oh, California! Carolina! California!
Voice over of Wembley:.
And that's sorta how it all started, all those years ago…and we still are to this day…exploring, I mean. If you see us, say hi! We're looking forward to meeting you…
The scene slowly closes in on the fraggle prints in the snow, leading to the radish the snow fraggle is holding, as it's bright green top whips in the wintery breeze...
(If you stayed in the theater long enough...
as sung by Mokey)
It's not that unusual
Scene:
Mokey and Boober stand alone at the opening of a cave, suddenly Mokey grabs his hand and pulls him reluctantly into its depths.
When everything is beautiful.
Scene:
The two fraggles climbing up the side of the cave, Boober nearly falling but regaining his balance when Mokey grabs his tail.
It's just...
Scene:
They finally reach the top which is a large flat platform underneath a large gap In the ceiling, letting in the dim winter sunlight. Mokey spins happily around in a dreamy dance as it slowly begins to snow.
…another ordinary miracle today
The sky knows when its time to snow,
Scene:
Close up on Boober's face as he looks upward,his hat falling off.
Don't need to teach a seed to grow.
Scene:
Slowly he parts his hair revealing eyes completely made up of shiny black irises and pupils that blend seamlessly with one another, and smiling in wonder at the snowflakes landing on his muzzle.
It's just another ordinary miracle today.
Life is like a gift they say…
Scene:
Mokey sits with a crowd of young fraggles sitting and laying around her in a circle as she tells a story.
Wrapped up for you everyday;
Scene:
The same young fraggles dance around wearing masks as they act out the story, their storyteller chasing after them with a staff.
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own.
Scene:
A drop of water falls off a stagnate in that cave tracing it's path down into the lower part of Fraggle Rock.
Isn't it remarkable?
Scene:
The drop of water finally drips onto Boober's nose where he looks up from his wash.
Like every time a rain drop falls,
Scene:
Close up on a faded wooden sign with "Boober's School Of Laundry" written in overly fancy penmanship, panning outward to reveal dozens of fraggles washing clothing along with their teacher, some even doing a jig as they washed with their feet.
It's just another ordinary miracle today.
Scene:
Little Poppy races a trips over his oversized socks, picking himself up again, a postcard griped in his hand.
Birds in winter have their fling
But always make it home by spring.
Scene:
Cut to Mokey and Boober sitting around a fire in a cozy cave as the they reach to take the postcard from Poppy and sit to read it with him, a gray and black spotted egg can be seen between them.
It's just another ordinary miracle today.
Scene: Melt away to a close up on the face of a slightly older looking Poppy sleeping.
When you wake up everyday
Scene:
A drop of water lands on his nose, waking him up suddenly. He looks wide eyed and surprised but then grins as if just remembering something.
Please don't throw your dreams away;
Scene:
Poppy springs up racing down a tunnel and trips over his socks halfway though…
Hold them close to your heart
Scene:
Poppy finally reaches the cave where Mokey and Boober are sleeping soundly. Sleeping just as deeply nearby is a tiny light green baby fraggle, her even lighter mint colored hair done up in low bushy pigtails.
'Cause we're all a part
Scene:
Close up of the little fraggle as Poppy wakes her gently, pressing a finger to her lips to keep quiet. She smiles and coos.
Of the ordinary miracle...
Scene:
Cut to the shadowed form of Poppy with the baby riding on his back as quickly and silently young fraggles pour out from their parents sleeping holes in front and behind him, whispering excitivly.
Ordinary miracle...
Scene:
A small yellow fraggle with blue hair stops to pick up two tiny doozers in her hand, while a few other fraggle children from the line follow suit. The rest pop here and there along the pathway, gathering hidden paint cans and carrying them along. Soon, as they walk their feet are spattered with color…
Do you want to see a miracle?
Scene:
The crowd of young fraggles and doozers finally reach the main hall, only to come face to face with another group coming from the direction of the garden, they part to reveal the form of a blue bonneted gorg baby wearing a faded radish printed oneisy, all ready with paint colored hands it waves happily at them and everyone laughs.
It seems so exceptional
That things just work out after all.
Scene:
Just at that moment, from down another tunnel a last group arrives, In their mist are three silly creature preschoolers. Silently all the fraggles, doozers, and the gorg baby, eyeing them for a moment before motioning them to join in…
It's just another ordinary miracle today.
Sun comes up and shines so bright
And disappears again at night.
Scene:
Close up of all the children's hands as they dip into the paint cans of red, blue, and yellow. Poppy carefully lowers a doozer down to barely touch the surface of one can, handing its half covered form up to his sister, who lets it walk on her hand up to the cave wall. Quickly all the others join in, attacking the wall with their hands and bold swipes of their fingers, leaving trails of color …
It's just another ordinary miracle today.
ohh ohh ohh, ohh ohhh ohh...
Scene:
The great gorg baby lets out a huge yawn where in leads against the wall, where all the fraggles, doozers, and silly creatures sleep peacefully together.
It's just another…
...At their back the half awake ditizes dart like lazy fireflies, lighting up the mural behind them…
ordinary...
...and the scene of countless hand prints of all shapes and sizes, dotting the background of a painted rainbow and sun, shining over a green radish field , where stick figures with linked hands played happily together..
..miracle… today.
Author's End Note:
I've had that scene in my head since the very beginning of this story, and am so glad to finally be sharing it with you now. Personally, I think Mokey's singing voice suits the song even better than Sarah McLachlan's . I think Mokey and Boober and all fraggle kind deserve their happy ending...A cassette is also a bicycle part, a little like a sprocket ;) ...And if anyone is wondering, her name is Periwinkle ;) (The color, not the flower). Why Periwinkle for a green fraggle? It just seems very fraggley, I think...