Original subtitles

ARTHUR: The world of puppetry

is a magical world of imagination.

A-a-as you can see behind me, we have many wonderful puppets

of different varieties, developed all around the world.

We have marionettes, hand puppets, sock puppets.

And what about me?

Why? Uh, you're a dummy.

Me? I ain't the one talking to dolls.

[laughter]

Hey, folks, tell me, who's the dummy?

- [laughs] - Now, Percy, here, be nice.

Arthur, had you been drinking?

- No. - Then why are you talking

to a piece of wood?

[crowd laughing]

ARTHUR: You're trying to make me look stupid.

- PERCY: Please. - Boring.

Why the hell did our father keep this guy around for so long?

The hotel is called the Marionette Resort.

It's the centerpiece of our brand.

Well, it's time for a new brand.

Father prided himself on upholding the past

and celebrating our tradition.

And I am going to make it into something great.

I happen to think it already is something great.

Well, you have no imagination.

I have ideas, Nadia.

I'm smart, modern.

Just think what we could do with this space.

A 3D theater.

Everybody loves 3D.

We can make the seats jiggle, huh?

I have so many ideas, Nadia, so many.

PERCY: No one cares, the only reason

anybody's watching is to see if your lips are moving.

And they are.

Am I right, ladies and gentlemen?

[laughing]

[tapping]

So, listen, I'll just rip the Band-Aid off, Artie.

We've got to let you go.

Puppet shows are so last century.

But, uh, our families have worked together here

for centuries.

I could make changes.

Oh, and don't worry, we are making changes.

You need to move out of your trailer

by the end of the week.

[whimpering] What do you mean--what...

Took the liberty of packing up the puppets

- from the show for you. - What?

[gasping]

[grunts]

But the show is my life.

[ominous music]

You're gonna just let them do that to us?

You're done running things.

I'm in charge now.

[music]

[Vikram straining]

Where are you?

Ah, yes.

- Need this on our vacation. - Vacation?

I thought we were just investigating

a magical ley line?

Uh, I don't understand.

Why are we investigating this one?

Because this ley line happens to rest on the grounds

of the Marionette Resort and Spa.

My old stomping grounds whenever I needed some R&R,

which, of course, stands for Reverie and Rumination.

- No, it doesn't. - Ah, no. Unpack that suitcase.

All right, this should take a couple hours at most.

Exactly, so we have time for a little sojourn.

Guys, guys, we have been through the wringer recently.

Maybe a break will be good for us.

- No. - Hmm.

Librarians don't take breaks.

We have to find the ley line and contain its magic.

Uh, yeah. Charlie's right. And...

But weren't you just saying you don't have enough time

to read for pleasure anymore?

- That's true. - Uh-hmm.

And they do look so lonely.

Well, that settles it.

Pack your bags. Let the gaieties commence.

- Let's go. - CHARLIE: No!

No vacations!

VIKRAM: Now as we approach the resort,

don't you just feel the worries melting away?

CHARLIE: I'm worried you're not focusing

on the ley line and figuring out

how to neutralize it.

Do I have to remind you?

This is not a vacation.

VIKRAM: A little vacation.

CHARLIE: No vacation.

[giggles]

[sighs]

The Marionette Resort and Spa.

Hmm, smells like an old friend.

So ready for some down time.

Ugh, just me, some sun, and a book, or 12.

Let's not forget why we're actually here.

You worry for naught.

Hmm?

[music]

[Vikram laughing]

You see? You see?

Dobar dan. Hmm.

Welcome to the Marionette Resort and Spa, celebrating--

- Hmm. - --over 200 years of wellness.

I am Nadia Bebek.

My brother and I are the owners.

You look so familiar.

VIKRAM: I do?

Yeah.

Uh, he's just got

one of those faces, doesn't he?

Hmph. A well-proportioned face

with eyes like pools of chocolate.

- Uh-hmm. - Oh!

- A reservation under Pascal. - Perfect.

Let me just pull that up.

Thank you.

Okay.

- Here are your room keys. - Thank you.

And don't hesitate to ask for anything.

- Nope, we won't. - NADIA: Okay.

Have a wonderful stay.

[inhales] Hmm.

- Oh, how are your rooms? - Ooh, roomy.

VIKRAM: Oh. Did they give you a map?

LYSA: Uh, no, but the resort has an app.

Not an app, a map.

- The app has a map. - [groans]

Right. We need to take in the puppet show

while we are here.

It is the crown jewel of the resort,

a feast for the senses.

CHARLIE: Seems as though it's not running anymore.

I, for one, am glad we don't have to see that.

I don't do puppets.

But puppetry is an art form.

One that Marionette Resort is famous for championing.

A resort known for puppetry? Ugh.

Yes, as I'm sure you've gleaned from the rustic decor,

the Marionette offers more than the traditional fare

of most wellness spas.

Culture, contemplation.

[gasps] Ooh, there's a lake.

Oh, let me see where it is.

Hopefully, it is a puppet-free lake.

You know, it used to be tradition

to start the weekend off with a round of calisthenics.

Sorry, were you saying something?

Vik was just going on about the old days again.

- LYSA: Ah. - [Charlie laughs]

[phone dings]

CONNOR: Ooh, there's an arcade.

LYSA: I will not be moving from this spot.

Where is the social director?

In my day, group activities were chaperoned by a guide. Hmm?

You didn't seriously just say "chaperoned," did you?

Do I have to look for the ley line alone?

Or do I have to call Mrs. Astolat?

Oh. Vikram, can you do that

- anywhere else? - I cannot.

It is important to stretch adequately

- before swimming. - You can't swim in there.

Oh, Connor, I am a fantastic swimmer.

Did I ever tell you about the time

I won the great swim meet of 1843?

[sighs] It was wildly competitive.

Swimmers from around the world...

No, it says right here you can't swim in the lake.

It's got high levels of mercury.

Mercury? Who puts mercury in a lake?

You know what? Why don't we go and do

our own thing for a while?

Or we could do what we actually came here to do?

- VIKRAM: I agree. - Thank you.

With Lysa. Let's meet at lunch.

[Charlie groans]

It is a mouth-watering buffet

of local, traditional food.

Roasted goose raised right here,

boiled aubergine and oxymel,

and a wonderful mead of honey and vinegar,

often used to treat open--

[shorebirds calling]

--wounds.

Luckily, I am immune to mercury.

As I was saying, you really should try the cold fish stew,

the eyeballs are an excellent source of protein.

Oh, and the "Cabbage Three Ways,"

boiled, salted, and most importantly...

Okay. I just booked us all massages for later.

Oh, thank God. My trapezius is killing me

- from all the reading. - As I was saying, with cabbage,

I find it is best to do this before you...

NADIA: You need to run changes by me first!

And when did we get an app?

Oh, come on.

You're against anything changing around here.

You just go on and say no to everything!

Father would hate all this.

And you put tiki torches in the chapel?

DMITRI: Why can't prayer be a party?

It's innovative!

NADIA: [scoffs] So tacky.

Oh, my God.

Nadia, wait!

- [footsteps receding] - Hmm.

Back to cabbages. Did you know, historically,

they were used to prevent scurvy on long sea voyages, hmm?

[imitates boat horn]

[laughs]

Oh, my God.

No, this is different.

This is not what I remember.

Uh, the app says-- oh, they're debuting

a new buffet today, food from around the world.

VIKRAM: No, no, no, no, no, no, this is all wrong.

It was always local specialties, hmm.

Where's the pickling station, hmm?

The wall of radishes?

Oh, come on. You never know,

you might like this new stuff.

I suppose I could try some.

I am on vacation after all.

- You're not on vacation. - CONNOR: Ah.

Oh, cheer up. We're having massages later.

CHARLIE: Why did you book massages?

Watch where you stick that thing, lady!

- [squeals] - [screams]

[squealing]

Are you guys seeing what I'm seeing?

[guests screaming]

I don't think it's cooked enough.

[woman screams]

[pigs squealing]

[clattering]

I think you better cancel those massages.

Yeah.

[ominous music]

[music]

CONNOR: Okay. The ley line here must've created an artifact.

LYSA: Or infected someone, giving the magical powers.

I told you we should've been looking for the ley line.

- NADIA: Excuse me. - CONNOR: Whoa.

Nadia seems like a good place to start the investigation.

[gasps] The guy she was arguing with

- must be her brother. - LYSA: Oh.

Agreed. Let's split up and survey

these sibling suspects.

- LYSA: Okay. - Swiftly.

NADIA: I'm so sorry for your experience.

- I'm so sorry. - No, no. We will leave now.

You'll get the full refund.

MAN: You'll be hearing from our lawyer.

- I'm so sorry. I... - MAN: We don't wanna hear it.

[footsteps receding]

Ms. Nadia, we couldn't help but overhear

that there was a problem at the lunch buffet.

My brother went behind my back

and hired an off-site caterer.

We've always made our food in-house.

- We are known for it. - It's cabbage three ways.

But suddenly, he wants to throw tradition away

and do whatever is popular on social media.

And look how that turned out.

Food poisoning and hallucinations.

Those people think their foods came to life

and started dancing.

Can you believe that?

[chuckles]

Um, so, your brother, he clearly does not appreciate

the beauty of this place.

I tried to tell him these changes were a bad idea.

The resort is about preserving the past,

transporting you to a simpler time.

A better time.

I admire your commitment to honoring the heritage

of this incredible resort.

I just wish my brother could see things the way you do.

But he will never learn.

My sister doesn't really appreciate

my vision of the resort.

How long have you two been running this place?

Oh, not long.

We inherited it from our father

who recently passed.

It's been losing money for years.

And I'm trying to revive it,

but Nadia doesn't understand

that you need change to move forward.

The past only weighs you down.

Waterbeds, hookah bars with big screen TVs,

and executive lounges,

those are the things that people want.

CHARLIE: Is that what people want?

Uh, pardon me for just a second, please.

- What are you doing here? - Please, you must listen to me.

There will be consequences

if you go through with your plans.

[ominous music]

[Connor groans]

ARTHUR: Dmitri, please.

I will not be threatened like this.

Leave now or I'll call the police.

[phone chimes]

Yeah? I'll be right out.

- It was right there. - What?

These puppets are everywhere.

Come on, let's go.

CONNOR: Don't leave me.

No electricity, no computers,

and absolutely no phones, just you and nature.

The only tablets were ones made of slate.

Hmm.

And in the evenings,

rooms were lit by candlelight.

And it was so cozy.

I mean in my imagination because I wasn't there.

[laughs]

I've always thought the Marionette

could be a portal to that time.

Uh, Nadia?

Are you expecting a delivery?

[music]

He promised he wouldn't do this.

[Vikram groans]

NADIA: Every time I open my eyes,

I'm scared I won't recognize

this place anymore.

DMITRI: That's the plan.

Something new, something fresh,

something exciting.

What's exciting about these?

Well, these are edgy.

These are avant-garde.

Sibling rivalry continues.

These are eyesores, Dmitri.

This is my artistic expression.

We could be the Coachella of Eastern Europe

or Burning Man.

With this?

What is this?

This is hideous.

Dmitri.

You know, they say art is supposed to be moving.

- MAN: You guys all right? - DMITRI: Oh, my God.

I didn't get these insured.

I told you to be careful!

MAN: It fell over there.

Okay, Art, get moving.

MAN: It's moving! Go, go, go, go, go, go!

Hey, hey, look out!

It's okay. It's okay.

MAN: How did that happen?

[suspenseful music]

- Time to go. - Come on inside.

- CONNOR: Inside. - LYSA: Come on. Come on.

Everyone inside.

Dmitri! Stop! Get out of there!

No, these cost a fortune.

[suspenseful music]

Uh, Dmitri, run.

[suspenseful music]

So, what are we thinking? Possession magic?

Whatever it is, the power to control objects

could have devastating consequences.

Well, what if it doesn't stop at objects?

I mean, what if it starts controlling people?

Another one?

Vikram, why are you in so many photos?

Now, we must figure out how the ley lines

caused these items to move on their own.

And who wishes to wreak havoc

upon the quiet, blissful solitude

of the Marionette Resort?

Could be wraiths or telepaths?

- Dummy. - Uh, excuse me?

No, I mean, dummy.

Oh.

I saw this puppet earlier in the lobby

when Dmitri was talking to that older guy.

Oh, yes, I recall.

This is Percival, Ventriloquist Dummy.

Percy for short.

The star of the show.

- For a long, long time. - Hmm.

He looks familiar.

Oh, I hate puppets.

Well, this is that older guy from the lobby.

He was just warning Dmitri about consequences.

And was it a warning or a threat? Hmm.

Connor, you and I shall visit this puppeteer

and discover how he became a harbinger of doom.

We'll step up the search

- for the ley line. - Uh-hmm.

- Okay. - Uh, what part of

"I hate puppets" do you not hear?

[birds chirping]

Arthur Pierrot?

World-renowned ventriloquist and puppeteer?

Yes, I am Arthur.

VIKRAM: Good day.

We are a pair of puppetry aficionados,

devotees in the noble art of manipulation,

especially my friend, Connor.

- Isn't that right, Connor? - Yeah. Yeah.

We're so devoted to their,

um, empty eyes, their knobby knees.

Uh-hmm.

From Greek pantomime to the shadow puppets

of ancient China, we revere them all.

Not too many folk have the patience

to sit through a whole show anymore.

Um, mightn't we come in?

Oh, uh, oh.

[music]

Oh. I love what you've done

with the place.

Connor, close the door.

Oh.

Don't look at me like that.

Mr. Pierrot, I understand that your family

have worked at the Marionette for hundreds of years.

ARTHUR: My great-great-great-grandfather

started the theater here.

People used to come from all over to see his show.

And he was amazing. His voice work, unparalleled.

I mean, or so I heard.

He wrote in his journal it's important for an artist

to be in touch with all their emotions.

Puppetry used to be a respected art form,

but now...

Now, too many distractions.

The entirety of history

available at the click of a button,

and yet, no one cares to learn about the past.

Oh, I feel... [laughs]

obsolete.

Like there is no place for me here.

Like I was just a relic of antiquity.

So, Arthur, talk to me about Dmitri.

Earlier, I heard you warning him about consequences?

Well, I was just--

Yeah, your show's been taken off the schedule

and the app says

that the theater's under renovation.

Say, could you possibly show us Percy,

your prized puppet?

You must go.

I have to pack and be out of here

by the end of the week.

CONNOR: Okay. Oh, wow.

[music]

I don't care how old the theater is.

We're tearing it down.

No, no, there was a misunderstanding.

They sent moving statues and I asked--

of course your people are gonna be safe, I promise.

That wasn't our fault.

Listen, just send a crew down here tomorrow

and I'll pay, okay?

- [beeps] - [sighs]

[ominous music]

Sleep.

So ley lines are often out of the way

or they're usually found in crevasses,

ground fissures, and dry creeks.

Think about how many tourists must have stumbled

- across this one. - True, but they just don't

splash magic everywhere.

I mean, they need intent.

Are you saying that I could stand on a ley line

and wish for a pony, it could happen?

- Depends how bad you want it-- - That is awesome.

--and what you're willing to sacrifice.

Oh, less awesome.

[gasps] Hold on.

[beeping]

LYSA: I think... [gasps]

This is it.

This is the ley line.

You can't see it, but the ley line is right here.

CHARLIE: AP.

This is incredible.

I have never encountered frequencies like this.

I've never been to a ley line before.

This is exciting.

These readings, we could use them to our advantage.

Look.

What?

[gasps] Tiny footprints.

This is Arthur the puppeteer's.

So, those must be--

Puppet prints.

Uh-hmm.

Did the puppeteer talk?

He did not.

- Which says a lot. - Okay. Well,

we found the ley line. It was magnificent.

Like experiencing Schumann's Resonance firsthand.

- Uh, what is the... - So glad you asked.

It's the electromagnetic field intensity

that occurs between the surface of the planet

and the ionosphere.

They call it Earth's heartbeat.

More importantly,

we found this hanky at the ley line.

Pretty sure it's Arthur's.

Oh, and there are little puppet footprints

leading back to the resort.

Hmm.

Ms. Bebek, we need to talk to you and your brother.

It's about Arthur. We're worried.

You are worried?

I am worried my brother is going

to destroy our family legacy.

He has demolition team coming tomorrow.

This whole place is going to be a nightclub before I know it.

I understand this is hard for you,

but we are concerned for your safety.

Please, take us to him.

Yes. He is in his office. Come.

He's probably installing blacklights from the back.

- [cell phone beeps] - DMITRI: You reached Dmitri,

- I'm not here right now. - Voicemail.

Guys, I think he left in a rush.

Probably against his will by the looks of this.

[ominous music]

What has he gotten himself into?

Searched all the rooms down the hall.

No sign of Dmitri.

Ms. Nadia, we will try to find your brother.

Maybe make sure your remaining guests

stay in their rooms, hmm?

For all our differences, he's still my brother.

Please make sure he's okay.

Okay. So I'm thinking, one of Arthur's puppets

got activated by the ley line and kidnapped Dmitri.

Yeah. Not just any puppet. It's Percy.

Why do you think it's Percy?

I saw him in the lobby earlier.

One second he was there, then he was gone.

When Vikram brought him up in the trailer,

Arthur got weird and kicked us out.

He is the star of the show and the show has been cancelled.

A diva without his stage.

Perhaps seeking revenge against someone

who has nothing more to do with him.

So we're dealing with a Pinocchio situation.

More like a Chucky situation.

Okay. So we have to find the ventriloquist dummy fast.

Best way to do that is ask his owner.

Hmm. So, an encore performance

from our prickly puppeteer is in order.

Connor, shall we return to his workshop

and see what more information we can glean?

Absolutely not. That's the worst place

I've ever been.

And I've been some places.

Okay, I'll go.

You can track down the puppet.

What?

Wow, there were no great options

for me here, were there?

Nope.

Oh, God.

[birds chirping]

You'll never believe me if I told you

what was really going on here.

Does it have to do with an antique dummy

gaining consciousness and seeking

righteous retribution?

After Dmitri fired me, he threw me out the staff exit.

I fell down into a clearing with all my puppets.

I was upset.

That's when it happened.

That Percy came to life.

He said he was in charge now.

I think he's dangerous.

I didn't know what to do. I don't want him to hurt anyone.

That clearing, well, that must be where I found

the ley line frequency readings.

[gasps] That's it.

The ley line frequencies.

I can create a device to deactivate the ley line.

Uh, hmm.

Yes, and I can help.

Uh, no, no. I mean, no.

You keep talking about the olden days.

Is this because you said I could speed up my computer

if I cleared all the cookies?

So I went to the kitchen

and ate a whole sleeve of snickerdoodles?

Vikram, when I asked you to plug in a lamp,

you blew every fuse in the castle.

That's true.

I do that.

Well, not a castle, just the trailer.

Hmm.

Okay, fine. Uh, you can help.

Uh, pass me that wire and find me screwdrivers.

Arthur, I suppose you have a tuning fork?

Yes, out back.

For when I used a guitar in my act.

I'll have to go dig for it.

Great.

Let's just hope Charlie and Connor

have found Percy.

[music]

[groans]

Puppet prints.

Let's follow 'em.

- Oh, my God, you're ridiculous. - CONNOR: [groans] Oh, no, no.

What is your deal with puppets anyway?

You can't laugh.

I don't laugh.

Well, uh, when I was six, my mom threw me a birthday party

and hired a ventriloquist.

Sounds fun.

That dummy knew everything about me.

My favorite movie, color, food.

Later, I found out my mom had told the ventriloquist

everything ahead of time, thinking it would amaze me.

But it didn't. I was horrified.

And now, every time I see a puppet,

I feel like it can read my mind.

Oh, my God, you're laughing, aren't you?

Oh, my God.

Charlie!

All right. So, what are we making?

I'm making a magic-tuning fork.

It's the same technology I was planning on using

to deactivate the ley line.

I can match the "pitch" of the magic,

and thus, creating a frequency neutralizer.

- Hmm. - It's the same technology

as noise-cancelling headphones.

- VIKRAM: Yes. - Ha!

Nice.

Wha-what are you doing?

My camera.

Just need to borrow the circuit board.

The film is fine.

Yes. I knew that.

It's wild that you missed all of the advancements

of electromagnetic technology.

I mean, Maxwell's equations were discovered, what,

20 years after you got stuck in the time bubble?

Time missed a lot, it seems.

I think I know where Percy might be.

[music]

Okay. So we get in, find Dmitri,

and then, corner Percy until Vikram and Lysa get here.

You know that fluttering feeling in your stomach

right before you enter a haunted house?

No.

Right.

Me neither.

Oh, God.

It's so dark in here.

Shh.

[suspenseful music]

[puppets giggling]

- [exhales] - Whoa.

Whoa.

CONNOR: Oh, my God. Dmitri?

[suspenseful music]

Okay. So the plan is,

I should get close enough to Percy

so I can tap him with the frequency neutralizer,

and that should incapacitate him.

My, what kind of gadgets will they think of next?

- Ah. - Oh, dear.

Perhaps this is a sign, maybe we should be going.

Never fear, Arthur.

I happen to recall

a short lived magician act

that passed through here in the 1840s,

which had a secret entrance installed

for a disappearing-reappearing trick.

It was quite impressive.

[chuckles] Uh, I mean, so I've heard.

Yeah.

[music]

Ah, come along. This way.

- [Lysa sighs] - Ah, Dmitri!

- CONNOR: Oh, God. - CHARLIE: Huh.

Oh, good.

Let's get this poor chap out of here, shall we?

Uh, yeah, about that...

- [Vikram grunts] - CHARLIE: I'm sorry!

I'm not in control of my body.

That was unexpected.

[gasps]

[screams]

What are you doing?

It's Percy! He's puppeting us!

I don't mean it!

[grunting]

CHARLIE: I'm gonna kick you now.

[Vikram grunts]

CHARLIE: Here comes an uppercut.

Hook, jab, leg sweep.

It's like I can feel what my body is gonna do,

but I can't stop!

[Vikram grunting]

[grunts]

My limbs, I can't control them!

Where did you learn how to do that?

It's not me, it's Percy.

Ow, that hurt.

I've become the thing I hate.

Please stop it. It hurts.

I'm so sorry.

You know I don't mean this.

Get me over to Connor and Lysa.

Oh!

[grunting]

Duck!

[grunts]

Good job, Charlie.

- Excellent work. - Thank you.

- [grunts] - Oh, sorry.

[music]

Excellent work, sir.

Thank you.

- Okay. Hey, wake up. Wake up. - [Dmitri groans]

Okay.

What's happening?

There was-- there was this puppet.

Yeah, I know. We're gonna stop him.

PERCY: Hey!

No playing with my toys.

[ominous music]

I feel my power growing.

Soon, I'll be able to control Dmitri,

body and mind.

He'll do what I want, say what I think,

act as I would.

How is it possible?

I have been manipulated my entire life.

But soon, I will pull the strings.

I'm sorry, I can let you have the theater,

- you can do your show-- - Silence!

Oh, gosh. Oh, my God.

You wanted to get rid of us.

Consign us to some dusty forgotten attic

like a relic of antiquity!

You wanted to change this place, and we shall.

- [gasps] - With my power growing,

I will turn this theater into my own cathedral.

And everyone who comes here

will be turned into another one of my puppets!

An army of our own!

And no one will ever push us around again!

We will be the ones in control!

[tuning fork ringing]

Ooh, God! It's not working.

Why didn't it work? The numbers were right,

the frequency's correct.

Oh.

Or maybe I'm just a real boy.

What?

- [phone beeping] - There's no readings.

Vikram, he has no magic. There's no magic.

No. That is because there is no magic in Percy,

is there, Arthur?

I know someone else who referred to himself

- as a relic of antiquity. - What?

VIKRAM: It wasn't Percy who was affected

by the ley line's magic.

It was you.

It truly allowed you to become a puppeteer.

No.

You have been controlling Percy

this entire time,

without even realizing it.

That is how tightly you have bottled up your emotions.

Put them in a vault, thrown away the key.

No. I had--I had nothing to do with this!

You wanted retribution against Dmitri

for what he did to you,

but you are far too good to do anything about it.

But Percy, on the other hand,

embodied with your suppressed rage,

split from you with the ley line's magic.

Percy is your avatar of anger.

But I'm the victim!

"I'm the victim, I'm the victim!"

You don't have the spine to do what needs to be done, Artie!

That's why you're having me do it for you.

[ominous music]

It can't be true.

I'm a good person, I never complain,

I-I always do what I am told.

PERCY: Exactly!

You're weak.

And every time you let someone walk all over you,

the rage grew.

And that rage turned into me!

Do something, please!

Why?

He's right.

- What? - You think not complaining

and rolling over for people makes you a good person?

It doesn't. It makes you a doormat.

It makes you pathetic.

Uh, Vikram, what are you doing?

Just telling Arthur what he needs to hear.

Why would you say such awful things?

Not awful. True.

I cannot help you, Arthur.

I can barely even pity you. Look at you.

Slithering and begging when you should be fighting.

Stop it. I would never fight anyone.

Not even for yourself?

Oh, you are an embarrassment.

You're a man with no spine.

Stop, stop!

No, keep going!

Oh, I love this. This is juicy.

You're just a sad old man, playing with children's toys.

- I am an artist! - Artist?

You're a joke! You have no skill.

You fumble about that stage like a blithering imbecile!

Stop.

Your family would be ashamed of you.

You embarrass their name.

- Stop. - Make me!

Oh, yes, that's right.

You need a dummy to speak for you.

Enough!

Do not speak to me like that!

I am Arthur Pierrot.

One of the greatest puppeteers on Earth!

And my ancestors would be proud

of the way I have upheld their traditions!

How dare you question me!

[music]

Oh.

[music]

[sighs]

God, I'm good.

[music]

I am sorry I said such horrible things.

I hope you know I did not mean them.

It was the only way for you to reclaim your rage.

And your voice.

Who knew I had so much anger

lurking inside of me?

You have spent your life speaking through those puppets.

But it was always you.

All I had to do was give you a push to remind you.

A push to get back my emotions.

Indeed.

Our emotions need to exist in balance.

- Together. - Hmm.

Much like the past and the future.

And I thought you were uninterested

in my ancient anecdotes.

Yeah, well, it was your knowledge

of the history of the resort that got us into the theater,

whereas my high tech device did nothing.

Balderdash. It confirmed my suspicions about Arthur.

The final piece of the puzzle.

Uh, I'm sorry I punched you, sir.

It was an honor.

I think you had better take him.

- Are you sure? - Yes, yes.

I think it's time Percy retires.

- No! - No?

Thank you.

Okay.

[music]

Some vacation this was.

Tell me about it. I only got through 300 pages.

300?

- What? - [scoffs]

- Going somewhere? - An old friend

from business school just launched a startup,

and now, he needs somebody with their finger

on the pulse of modern tech.

And I think that might be just more my speed anyway.

- Very enterprising. - DMITRI: Uh-hmm.

And I sold my shares

- of the resort to Nadia. - Yes.

This week taught me that you need not burn down

the past to enjoy the present.

Because a sentient ventriloquist dummy

- might kidnap you? - Connor.

[Dmitri sighs]

[Nadia chuckles]

I can't thank you enough for all your help.

Oh, God, no. It's our job.

And, uh, this place is gonna look great

without all the construction.

Actually, there may be

a little construction after all.

- Oh? - Maybe Dmitri wasn't wrong

about everything.

The app has some fun features.

It could be good to refurbish the game room.

And we are building a pond

in the clearing by the staff exit.

To keep people away from

whatever happened to Percy, you know.

Yeah, well, as long as this place

doesn't lose its spirit.

Yeah, there are lots of people

who enjoy a taste of history.

- Yes. - Like Vikram.

NADIA: Yes.

- Where is Vikram? - Wait. No.

What's gonna happen to Arthur?

Oh, I had a wonderful idea for Arthur.

People need to learn what's beautiful about the past.

Puppetry is a very ancient art form

that has existed in nearly every culture,

and continues to evolve

in new and exciting ways.

Today, I will teach you

about different types of puppets.

This is my friend Curtis.

Say hello, Curtis.

[as Curtis] Hello, Curtis.

[laughter]

ARTHUR: [as Curtis] Hey, Curtis is my name, too.

[music]

[drill whirring]

Oh, is this box really necessary?

For my peace of mind? Yes, it is necessary.

I think I've worked out the equation

to pinpoint the exact location of Atlantis.

So now, I just have to--

Everyone, gather around!

I have a surprise for you.

Atlantis will still not be there tomorrow. Hmm?

[clears throat]

- CONNOR: Oh, God. - No.

- Why? - [Charlie scoffs]

VIKRAM: A gift from Arthur for a mission well done

- and a vacation spoiled. - I don't know about you guys,

but it was the best vacation I've ever had.

- [laughs] - CONNOR: Oh, God.

I swear he can see into my soul.

Funny thing. This mission reminded me

of a trip I had to Athens many years ago,

where I attended a salon

on Plato's Concept of the Divided Soul.

Well, of course, you don't want to hear my dusty old stories.

Uh, no. You still need to tell us

how you won that swim meet.

Yeah.

I wanna hear all about those organized calisthenics you know.

And you never finished telling us

about cabbage three-ways.

Stuffed, that's the third way.

- Hmm. - I told you.

Uh-hmm.

So, I'll start at the swim meet.

Back then, there was no modern Olympics.

But there were various competitions

held at various locations.

The resort was the premiere event on the continent.

Oh, competitors,

they would come from all around the world yearly

to test their mettle.

And I, of course, was, and still am,

an excellent swimmer,

and I was taught by the great

Johann Christoph Friedrich GutsMuths,

- from Germany... - I've read about him.

Yes. Or as I say, from Deutschland,

as they demand. They demand a lot for a country

- with no sense of humor. - [Connor laughs]

VIKRAM: Now, as I was performing

a now outlawed technique called the crocodile,

um, I was just...

[music]

[music]