It’s The Lulling Analysis of The Great Pumpkin – Lookback Classic from #456
A Halloween classic gets slowly broken down into sleepy bits. You won't get any rocks unless they are really pillows. Settle into your bed as Linus digs in at the pumpkin patch and Charlie Brown deals with being himself.
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It's The Lulling Analysis of The Great Pumpkin – Lookback Classic from #456
[START OF RECORDING]
SCOOTER: Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and friends beyond the binary, and my patron peeps; hey patrons, this is a Halloween season classic that I'm putting back at the top of the feed just for everybody to enjoy. Get ready. This way, you could virtually enjoy the season which is probably like most of us how we like to enjoy it anyway. Yeah, I like to watch that on…I like to enjoy things from the comfort of my home in this Halloween season. So, we'll take a look at a Halloween special and enjoy…not only can you enjoy this special from the comfort of your home; you can say well, it's a look back at Scoots from like four…three, four years ago. I think four years ago. I don't even know. Enjoy. Thanks, patrons.
INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that's here to put you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press play. I'm gonna do the rest. Here's what I'm offering to do…here's what I'm attempting. I guess I'm not offering. Well, there's two things; there's attempting and offering. This podcast, there's two…at least two parts to it. There's the offering part; I'm offering to talk while you fall asleep, ideally distract you from whatever it is that's keeping you up…awake. But what I'm gonna attempt to do…how do I propose I…that's my offer; I'm here to talk you to sleep. I'll be here for the next hour. Hopefully it helps you fall asleep. How do I plan on accomplishing that?
Well, that's a great question by the way, if you don't mind me buttering you up and saying whoa, do you ask these kind of wonderful questions at every podcast you listen to? You might be saying well, I didn't…I just thought of the…I said well, that's how it works around here, these parts. It's the magic of podcasting. Keep up with that good work with those silent questions, by the by. But here, let me answer your question…and I know maybe someone's like well, I wasn't gonna…I wasn't thinking of or asking a…I say well, you were. You were working your way up to it. I know how you were ready to launch soon. It's just percolating. That's how your brain works. Anyway, but buttering up's done. I mean, I'm never done buttering up. Butter up that popcorn. I guess I'm done with the buttering up metaphors 'cause I can't think of anything else other than butter…buttering bread.
Were these things proven to be unhealthy and then recently they were proven to be neutral? I won't be buttering any coffee. I think that's a thing, right? Buttered coffee? Or is it coconut…? Is there buttered coffee or is it just a coconut coffee? Anyway, I'll keep buttering…but here's what…actually, I'm way off. This is the beginning of the intro. I'm already off-track. But here's what I propose to do; we'll butter you up. I don't always do that. Once in a while I get to say hey, great job listening. You're doing a heck of a good job turning this podcast on. Thank you. I'm serious; that's not a diminutive compliment. Thank you for listening. Here's what I propose to do…how do I propose to accomplish what I've offered? This feels like this is a good discussion. I'm glad we sat down and finally talked about all this podcast stuff. If you're new here, thanks for…let's get this out of the way right up front.
You're right; whatever the…however the negotiation product…I'm working. Well, I haven't…they don't return my e-mails but I said hey, what about that…however…they still have that over there at Harvard? The Negotiation Project or whatever it's called? Can we get a…can we get you on the podcast intro…the Harvard…Podcast intro…'cause the intro is a negotiation. I'm introducing you, then I'm making my offering, and now I'm saying how am I gonna deliver on it. I kinda feel if this podcast…I mean, I feel like a used car salesman but I wouldn't…I'm not good at it. I could do that, I could sell used cars on this podcast…I wouldn't sell any cars. If anyone's…from GM's listening, I do want to get…I would like to check out that Chevy Volt or whatever. I wouldn't mind selling a car for you on this podcast but anyway, I don't think I could sell any cars to people, just like Larry David in the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode, but this would be…I'd be the…anyway, I'm trying to…holy moly.
Here's what I am gonna attempt…I'm gonna try to create a safe place where you could set aside whatever's keeping you awake whether it's thinking, physical feelings or uncomfortableness or even more than that. Any emotional turbulence, ups and…you could be in the middle of an up, you could be in the middle of a down, you could just have that…what I have, a general state of unrest, I guess. I don't even know if that's the right word. You could have friggin' neighbors making a bunch of noise, you could watch the news; that was a mistake. Or you could have talked about any of that stuff. Could have talked to someone…opinions…you know, opinions…people have a few and that can keep you awake. You could be going through some sort of opinion analysis or they say well…I don't know how many other people imagined…I mean, I spend…I've talked about this a few times.
One of the reason I make this podcast is 'cause I have about five stories in my brain at all times. Most of them are…but usually I have one debating…some sort of debating narrative going on, even if it's not about debates or politics. It's some sort of…anyway, sorry. I'm gonna try to create a safe place where there is no debating, where there is no internal or external opinions or analysis of those things. But it could be something totally different that's keeping you awake. Whatever it is, I'm gonna try to take your mind off of that 'cause…and I hope I didn't remind anybody of anything but I say jeez, we can all relate here 'cause you know where we are, even if you're in the day shift or you're a third shift worker. I send my voice across the deep, dark night even if daylight hits it or whatever. It's in a tube, so it can't…as I send my voice…if you go ahead and…usually, this isn't a participatory intro but if you do have access to a cardboard tube right now that your paper towels come in…a toilet one would be a little short, a toilet paper one.
Plus, I don't know if I'd want to put the…you know. Or a longer…like a poster tube. That's where I'm gonna send my voice through the deep, dark night…across the deep dark night and that way even if it's light out, in the tube it's still the deep, dark night. Why do I do that? ‘Cause I've been there tossing and turning. Clearly, I'm not a person with a full deck. The dack is…the dack…can't even say deck. That's how…the dack…my brain does have some dack in it. I think that was a hair product back in…then I…it was back in my tasting days. I said oh yeah, what is the…what flavor does a neon pink dack taste like? Again, kids, don't do this at home. It was way more…trust me on this; it was way more watery. Not much of a flavor in those dacks or whatever the 80s hair gel was that would be colored neon colors just for selling the product. It didn't change the color of your hair.
‘Cause I think they had purple…yellow was the most popular. Maybe a green or a blue. They all tasted the same anyway, by the way, and it was watery. But anyway, where was I? I'm gonna try to create a safe place where you can set aside whatever's keeping you awake…a little bit silly. The podcast doesn't necessarily have to make you laugh. If you could throw a chuckle my way, I'd appreciate it, but you don't need to chuckle. A shoulder shrug; I appreciate that. You say hm, what is this? What's up with this cat? I'd say man, you're hip. You use the word ‘cat' like that. Is that good? When you called me a cat, was that good? You say I mean, I'm part of your brain, Scoots. Keep going with the…okay, I'll keep going with the intro. Anyway, I'm here to take your mind off of stuff, send my voice across the deep, dark…I'm gonna use these creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, superfluous words for sure, purple prose; if I knew what that meant…and I've had someone try to explain…actually, the wonderful Craig Mazin tried to explain it to me once on Twitter.
Then I forgot what he said. Actually, I didn't think it was…I said did you say purple paper? Or maybe I thought he said purple pose. He said [00:10:00] purple prose is when you…I think you use too…you say you over-describe stuff. He wasn't talking about me. That was the episode of Scriptnotes Podcast, a podcast of things interesting…oh, boy. [MUMBLES] interesting screen write…I don't know. Scriptnotes; a podcast about screenwriting and things interesting to screenwriters. Sorry, I get a [inaudible] stated there. After a delay effect of eating too much dack as a young man. But if you're new here, oof, I guess I definitely cleared all illusions of what this pod…this podcast is a little bit different. It's silly like we were saying. It's supposed to be distracting. It's supposed to take your mind off of stuff. You say well, I don't have to take this person seriously. But I'm here to be friendly. This is a friendly offering.
I'm gonna follow through on it. I follow through on this. I make this show three times a week. Episodes are about an hour, so it'll be here and I'll be here 'til the end giving it my all just in case you can't fall asleep. You can take your time getting there, you know. If you can't, I'll be here the whole time to keep you company. I'm trying to think of what else. Alls you gotta do is lie back. Hopefully as I've been rambling…and you say well, I kinda…I don't really get this. When does the podcast start? Is it started…already started? Now, just in case you want to skip to the story parts, the timestamps are in there. But you know, I guess I'm…I mix it up, even. I guess this podcast is meant to take your mind off of stuff, distract you while you fall asleep. Repetitive repeating; that's another technique I use. But in all seriousless…all seriousless; mispronunciations. In all seriousness, the reason I make this podcast is because I still have trouble falling asleep.
I know what it…I don't…if I can help you fall asleep, it would be great. It would be my honor because I've been there. Hopefully your…took your mind off of stuff so far. Tonight's episode's gonna be a little bit different. Usually we have Metastasnooze episodes but with the season, we're gonna talk about a little seasonal specials…a special or specials here for the pumpkin season. You just kick back, you listen to me ramble. I'll be here, like I said, at least an hour. You're under no pressure to fall asleep. You're also not under pressure to listen. I'm glad you're…this wasn't my best intro but if you're new here, I really appreciate you trying this podcast out. I know it takes some skepticism 'cause there's so many sleep solutions and stuff. But like I said, this is just a sleep offering. It's here for you to try. I really hope and I really yearn to help you fall asleep with it, so thanks.
Alright, so tonight we're gonna be talking about the…It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. I don't know, should I put out my personal feelings about this? I watched this a few times and I'm watching…I'm gonna have it playing on and off while I record here. I don't know when this came out. It was before my time, this special, but when…even when I was a lad, this was the Halloween special. I don't want to rain on anybody's parade but it was never my cup of tea. I don't mean that…I mean that overall. There are certain things I really like about It's A Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown which we'll talk about. I don't know, maybe they have some other memory attached to this but I have this visceral thing where I'm like eh, I don't know. I don't know if it's the story snob in me or if it's just something else or maybe…I don't think it's a contrarian thing.
It's not like I have…I don't know, it just wasn't a special where I'm like man, I can't wait to watch It's A Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. I guess digging deeper, maybe it's a level of shame that I didn't share that and I thought there was something wrong with me. I say well, what's wrong with me that I don't love It's A Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown? ‘Cause there are things I love about it; the music, the colors, Linus, and Snoopy. Maybe it's just that I identify so much with Linus and Charlie Brown at different times that that's what it is. I don't know. I think watching this a few times cleared it up but let's run through…let's see, let's run through scene by scene here a few times. The first run through what I noticed was Linus and Lucy come out of a house and there's an apple and there's tongue piles? What does that say? I don't know. Tongue pites? Tang pites? There's the sun and there's the intro into the…they go into the pumpkin patch and they're picking…a great pink sky.
Oh, picking a…yeah, picking…into the pumpkin patch, picking. Picks a giant something. He has trouble with the fence. Linus rolls the pumpkin; crash. Then he carries it in the door. It's heavy. Then, Lucy's very good with a knife. Then Linus is sad about the pumpkin 'cause…you know. Says, I can't believe…I didn't realize what you were gonna do to the pumpkin. Then the scene changes. Let's go to my next set of notes. Okay, these are a little more poetic. Fall leaves, simple houses, watercolor backgrounds, red sun, classic music theme, blue fence, green grass, purple sidewalk against a dusk sky. Love the love of dusk, like how much Schulz and the artist loved dusk. Inside the house there's cheap carpet and yellow walls and curtains. That's the first two times I watched…what…they came out with the first…okay, so I'm watching this. They come out of the house and Linus has got his…he picks up an apple and is grinning on…off the ground.
There's a stark apple tree losing its leaves…an orange sun. He's carrying his blankie, he's eating the apple. He only takes a couple bites before he throws it away. I didn't think that was the greatest example. Kicks some leaves, Linus does. Now the sun is red…a watercolor sky. Into a pumpkin patch right by them; that's pretty rare. I don't know if this a communal pumpkin patch. Linus is looking and Lucy's just saying no, no, no like she's the judge. He's carrying the thing; it's huge, the pumpkin…holding it. Then again, the beautiful sky; it's pink and purple. Wow. I mean, that's powerful, powerful art. Linus has to roll the pumpkin to get around this blue fence. There's the purple sidewalk and the watercolor skies. Pumpkins start moving too fast and then Linus gets…has to get…drags from Linus straight to the house. Lucy's not pleased that he couldn't handle the pumpkin. He's afraid of his sister.
She's glaring at him as he carries the pumpkin into the house. Now we see the cheap carpet, almost like a pointillism carpet, definitely from newsprint. At least Lucy put down paper. Then she goes after the pumpkin very aggressively and Linus is freaked out by that. He's upset. He goes, you can't tell me you were gonna take the pumpkin out. Okay, and then we have this next scene; bats and…let me go to my notes. Let's see, trippy trick-or-treat dream opening sequence. Hoo-hoo owl. Okay, that's all the notes I had for that one. Let's see, trippy screen, bats, cats, and more. Moon…then one leaf's…falls, then another. Okay, and then we see it…it starts with the bats. Then we see kids getting surprised as they're trick-or-treating. The same kids we'll see trick-or-treating later. It looks like Lucy and some other kids. Then they see floating pumpkins and they run.
Then dancing bones…then they run, then a cat on a string, a giant cat on a string. They run…running back and forth…then a witch, then they run into the pumpkin patch, and there's a quarter moon. Then we have It's A Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Written by Charles M. Schulz. [00:20:00] Then the owl hoos and then goes…actually close up right into the camera. Okay, and then we have…a leaf falls and then Snoopy blows the leaf. Charlie Brown is raking. Snoopy blows the leaf to Charlie Brown. He says thanks, old pal which here in my notes I said was the first line of dialogue, but actually Linus' objection to the pumpkin's treatment is the first line. Then this was strange; we see Linus with a giant lollipop. Then he charges and jumps into the pile of leaves. He gives us the wise words ‘never jump with a wet sucker.' Then Lucy…we see some bullying. Lucy tries to talk Charlie Brown into kicking a football.
He says no, no, no. I put that there's some important dialogue. We'll have to follow up with that. But Lucy says she has a signed document that she's not gonna pull it away, but she pulls away. She says it was never notarized. I guess we could say Lucy's probably one of the worst people in the world, but I can't get…I haven't collected any evidence other than this. Then my second past few notes; one leaf falls, then another. Snoopy something. Snoopy misses one…oh, he misses one leaf then takes…there's a birch tree in the background? Question mark. Charlie's…Brown's hands are in his pockets. He crosses his arms over his heart. I think this is when he's talking to Lucy. There's lots of trees and open space and a light-blue wispy sky. Then the live watch here…yeah, one leaf falls, like a reddish-orange leaf. Great use of reddish-orange. Then the second one that Snoopy blows. I like Snoopy's eyes; very nice dog eyes.
Charlie Brown has terrible posture when raking. It can't be good for Charlie Brown's back. Then the pile's full of nice yellow and reddish things. Then Linus says the giant sucker…which I said no one…who gives a kid a giant sucker like that? The only place you can get those is the theme park, I believe. Then there's Linus with a face full of leaves where he was…thing. Okay, so now Lucy's trying to talk Charlie Brown into kicking the football but he's like, I'm not gonna fall for this. His hands are in his pocket. He says no, you'll pull it away. I don't mind dishonesty as much as I mind your opinion of me, he says. You must think, you know, I don't get it. She says come on, Charlie Brown. She says, please. He says no, no, no. What you're gonna do is I'm gonna come running, you're gonna make a fool of me. She goes no, no, trust me. I got a note…I got a…what did I say?
A signed document testifying that I won't do it, that I'll treat you with respect. I say, what kind of person needs a document to have to…I mean, I guess these are kids. You say they're just learning. Charlie Brown walks pretty far away to read it. Then he says, I'm gonna kick this football. Of course, Lucy goes to her old ways; pulls it away. Charlie Brown falls. The note falls; Lucy catches it. She says, it's a funny thing; this document was never notarized. Okay, the next scene is really good. Linus is writing a letter. Dear Great Pumpkin, I'm looking forward to your arrival on Halloween night. I really love how Linus has this glee in this scene but even Snoopy comes and laughs at him. Another funny line is being number two…perhaps you'll…you're trying harder. That's when Snoopy laughs. Then Lucy comes; she's really mad. Not again…writing a letter to a stupid pumpkin.
Then Linus says there's three things you should never…I've learned never to discuss or something with people; religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin. Then this kid crushed me; it's so good. PS, if you were really fake, don't tell me as I don't want to know. Then Charlie Brown's sister comes and she's in love with Linus and his idiosyncratic ideals, I put. Or maybe she did ideas, maybe? Maybe she said that. Then Charlie Brown comes and takes his sister away. He says you're too strange. You can't be around my sister. Then my second watch…this was at 4:45; Linus has very nice handwriting. What is this? Lucy gets…does not like…she bullies Linus, she throws Snoopy. Linus' tongue is out while he writes. Linus blushes when Sally's there. At first, Sally's hearts are blue for Linus, showing she likes him, then they become a white with a pink maroon. Then let's watch…let's see…let's watch…yeah.
Dear Great Pumpkin, I'm looking forward to your arrival on Halloween night, thinking…hope you're gonna bring me lots of presents. Chewing on his pencil. Charlie Brown's like, what are you doing? He says well, it's the Great Pumpkin, man, when the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch and flies through the air with a bag full of toys. Charlie's like, why do you believe in that stuff? Linus says well, why do you believe in Santa Claus with the beard? Well, you must get discouraged 'cause more people believe in Santa than you. Well, let's face it; Santa's got more publicity. But being number two, as I said, you maybe try…that's when Snoopy cracks up. Snoopy's laughing pretty hard. Then Snoopy goes in the room with Lucy, laughing. Falls on her, laughing, so then she throws the dog and goes in to see what her brother's doing…yells at him; not again. You can't be writing a letter to a pumpkin.
You're making me…you embarrass me and the neighborhood. Alls they talk about is my brother who waits for the pumpkin. She says, you better cut it out or else. That's when Linus says yeah, don't talk about religion, politics, or the Great Pumpkin. I said, hm. Then this other girl with…I don't know who she is…orange…she tells him he's wasting his time. Says hey, pumpkin, everyone tells me you're fake but I believe in you. PS, if you really are fake, don't tell me. I don't want to know. Then Sally shows up. She's grinning, inquiring about this Great Pumpkin and Linus' idiosyncratic cuteness. He's blushing. This is when he has this glee. This is when the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch and brings toys to all the good children of the world. Would you like to join me in the pumpkin patch on Halloween night and wait for the pumpkin? She says, sure. I'd love to wait around for a pumpkin.
He says, what are you doing, man? Don't recruit my sister for this weirdness. Then Linus licks the envelope and goes to leave. Lucy's watching TV. She actually has the TV guide with her…on the cover of it. You used to have to look up in a magazine if you wanted to know what was on TV. Talk about the…or go to one channel. That was the TV guide. She goes well, how do you think you're gonna mail that letter? You're too short or whatever. Linus uses his blanket to do it. Then we see Charlie Brown who's dancing because he was excited to get his first invitation to a party. Lucy's like dude, you're on the wrong list. You're not invited to any parties. Let's see, my other…Lucy has the old school wooden TV console 'cause TVs used to be wooden furniture. The mailbox they go to is strange; it's on a pole. It's smaller. Water cooler…what does that mean? Candy corn colored leaves, I noticed.
I don't know what that water cooler means. I don't know. Yeah, here we have Linus going through the living room. They have a nice lamp with a pink stripe. They go outside. We see all the open space they live in which I don't know where they live. He uses his blanket to get the letter in the mailbox in a creative move like Indiana…like a young Indiana Jones. He floats the letter through the air and it gets in there. Walks off…Suzy…Lucy frowns, then there's Charlie Brown dancing. Poor Charlie Brown; a little Irish jig that he was invited to a party. He's really, really happy. Dances again. [00:30:00] She goes no, there's two lists; no invite…this is just the kids at their worst, huh? I mean, I don't know if this actually plants ideas in kids. That's what worries me. Then Charlie Brown blushes, then Linus goes behind him. Welcome, Great Pumpkin, and goes into the pumpkin patch with the sign, scoping it out, settling in.
We get to a commercial break. Let's see if I had any other notes about that. Not here. Linus with a Welcome Great Pumpkin sign. Then everyone's choosing their costumes. White sheets; everybody uses white sheets in this town for costumes. That's disturbing. They're talking about Linus being strange to Sally. They're saying Sally, stay away from him. Then they're trying to tell…trick-or-treat. Sally's never been trick-or-treating before so they try to explain to her how to do it. Charlie Brown's hole-filled…I had trouble with the…oh, it was a…he got a hole-filled outfit, covered in holes. He goes, I had trouble with the scissors. Then Snoopy goes by. They said, what's that? He goes, it's a World War I flying ace. The drums start to…as Snoopy marches off. Let's see, and here…candy corn leaves…Lucy's with regular scissors. Yeah, who is giving these kids regular scissors?
Oh, Sally says a costume is something contrast to your personality. Then they talked about Linus; boy, is he strange. He'll never learn. Then 9:10…nine minutes and ten seconds, Sally has this moment about trick-or-treat learning. Then this was an interesting line of dialogue; someone comes in a costume. They say, is that you, Patty? Oh, it was Lucy. She goes, no. Someone thought it was Pat…Peppermint Patty but Lucy's like no, it's not Peppermint Patty. Then Sally learns how to trick-or-treat. Snoopy goes out into the night sky. More watercolors. Yeah, here we have Sally cutting holes in her…two holes. She's just gonna be a regular ghost. A person should always choose the costume which is in direct contrast to their personality. That's what Lucy says but she's a witch with a red witch hat. Then they're making fun of Linus…blockhead of a brother at the pumpkin patch. They say what's wrong with that kid?
He's strange. They say yep…Charlie Brown just keeps his mouth shut. Lucy said well…she said…they were learning about trick-or-treating now. Oh, can I go…is this the year I go trick-or-treating? I say yeah, alls you gotta do is say tricks or treats which I don't know if that was a local thing or just an…we said trick-or-treat, not tricks or treats. Sally has a little trouble getting her thing on. She puts her arms through the eyes…holes and then Charlie Brown's…is all messed up. Then the other kids come. Charlie Brown's hole-covered sheets. Then that kid Pig-Pen comes. They say well, that kid's always dirty. Pig-Pen's like, they'll never know it's me. But they're like, yep. Then Snoopy marches out…World War I flying ace. Sally says now I've heard everything; alright. She's bossing everybody around. Let's go trick-or-treating and then we'll go to the Halloween party. Then Snoopy marches out. Charlie salutes Snoopy.
Snoopy heads out into the night, holds the door. Snoopy stands outside against the dark sky, the watercolored sky. Then the kids stop at the pumpkin patch. Linus says hey, have you come to sing pumpkin carols? Then he says he'll come here 'cause I have the most-sincere pumpkin patch. Then first, Sally walks up to the crew and then she looks back, and then she runs back. Let's see what the next thing said. Sally leads the trick-or-treating. Snoopy goes out. Sky has more watercolors. 10:30; they're at the pumpkin patch. Linus is sincere, so sincere. Oh, he said something to Lucy. She says welcome to the 20th century, bub. There's a full moon, there's purple and blacks and blues at the sky. Twelve minutes, the camera zooms out on Linus and Lucy. Let's do the watch, here. Yeah, we have Snoopy marching, kids going in the pumpkin patch, Lucy's at the head glaring even through her costume. Linus is like hey, you gonna come?
You coming to do the…sing pumpkin carols or whatever? They're like, you're gonna miss Halloween again. Linus says I'm dedicated to the Great Pumpkin…coming here 'cause I got the most-sincere pumpkin patch and the…around town. You gonna be here when the Great Pumpkin rises at the…in the sky and flies through the air? So good, this part, with Linus. He says, what you don't believe in…I thought every little girl believed in what they were told or whatever. That's when she says it's the 20th century, dude. Then Lucy gives him an ultimatum. You coming or not? Lucy, are you coming or not? She walks off, unsure. Linus gets this goofy look on his face. It's sincere; definitely goofy, but sincere. Then the hearts flutter as she runs back. He says oh, you came back, Sally. He goes, maybe you'll get to see the Great Pumpkin with your own eyes. She goes, you better not try to hold my hand or I'll sock you.
Then Linus talks about…the Great Pumpkin's gonna pick the most-sincere pumpkin patch. He's gotta pick this one. I don't know how any pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. This is where the camera pulls out and you see this giant, beautiful night sky in watercolor. I think they go to an ad break. Then the kids start trick-or-treating. Charlie Brown gets a rock three times. I don't know what that says. Then we see Snoopy's Sopwith Camel and Dawn Patrol. Then Charlie Brown narrates Snoopy's start and takeoff, then we have Snoopy looking around in a red scarf and a green cap. He flies his doghouse into battle. This has a very 60s, 70s feel to it with the colors; purple, blue, magenta. Then it switches back to normal as he takes on for…I don't know, blue. You see a normal doghouse, then he takes too many hits. He's slowly going down. The doghouse starts to smoke. It lands.
Snoopy shakes his hand at heaven, salutes, and then we have Charlie Brown's narration about being trapped behind lines or crashing behind the lines. Then Snoopy starts to try to make Snoopy's way back. We see Châlons-sur-Marne, 70…a sign that says that. I think a stone sign; 70km. It's dawn or down behind enemy lines, across the French countryside, sleeping on hay. This is my favorite part of this special for some reason. Something about these French countryside sequences and the music is my favorite part. I don't know, I just love it. Let's see in my notes here…full moon, purples and blacks and blues in the skies. Camera zooms out. We have trick-or-treat. The kids get a lot of candy and there's no adults except for adults throwing the candy out. There's very cosmic stars in the sky. I like that. The kids have brown paper bags. Then we hear about the Sopwith Camel at the…World War I flying ace and the Sopwith Camel twice.
Then contact, somebody shouts. The yellow sky gives way to blue, gray, to some…juicy orange to blue, then they go into battle gray. White clouds, cool charcoal smoke circles. As they go down, there's pinks in the sky. Wow. Let's see, live watch, kids, full moon, lots of different candy. [00:40:00] At the first house, Lucy asks for more candy for her brother. We see the stars in the background. We see the lights in the house, we see Charlie Brown get a rock which I just think is unconscionable but also relatable. You say, poor Charlie Brown. I got a rock. All the kids are like I got a candy bar, I got a quarter, I got some gum. Looks like Lucy got a…and Charlie Brown gets the second rock. The kids brag about what they got. Charlie Brown got a rock. Holy cow, two rocks. I mean, talk about devastating. Another rock, a popcorn ball…bunch of stuff…I got a rock. These adults, there should be a movie about Charlie Brown.
Now the kids are walking again. I see a red barn in the background there. They're talking about Snoopy. Now we cut to Snoopy. Original doghouse is orange. I think it's sometimes red…bowl…the water bowl's blue. Snoopy's laughing, gritting teeth, trying to go after the Red Baron. Goes to blue, goes to a magenta or something. What color would you call that? Does a whole loop-de-loop after the Red Baron, now back to normal colors. Now Snoopy's the one in trouble, dodging…oh, hit. Shaking and laughing and now trying to go fast, going after the Red Baron again, looking around left, right…can't find the Red Baron. Oh, that's 'cause you're in trouble, Snoopy. Oh, can't find it. Oh, now you're in big trouble. Engine trouble, smoking…Snoopy stands and salutes as the plane goes down. Then they cut back, trying to look around, control the plane, trying to land it, I assume.
Left, right, left, right, left, right, brace, brace. Lands the doghouse; lands in the same place it was before. Shakes at the heavens, jumps into the dog bowl, crawls off into the grass. Châlons-sur-Marne 70…it's Route 83 or something…running behind trees against the night, through a trench, through another trench, behind a rock, and then sleeping on a bale of hay. Full moon, crawling again in the night under grass. Then we have pinks in the sky; wow. Then we see Sally's reaction at 16:10 to the kid's bullying. Then we have the party. There's party decorations, there's cat hanging…like, a cat decoration, witch on a wall, other stuff…some other stuff. Snoopy walking, sound effects, full white moon, lots more decorations, hanging pumpkins. Then we have Schroeder with a portable piano and Snoopy crawling. Then on my next thing…oh no, that was my next one. Sorry, I had to go back to my first one. Whoopsie.
We have the kids; they stop by the pumpkin patch to make fun of Lucy and Linus. It was Sally, actually. Then Sally defends him. He'll be here, you can bet on that. Then Linus sweats as Lucy yells at him. She says, this better…something. Then they say security for an eye sensor…Arty. I have no idea what that says. Sincerity…for an eye sensor? I don't know what that means. Then something sincerity. Then we're at the party. They say hey, Charlie Brown, can you be our model? He says me? Then they say yeah, you're the perfect model for a jack-o-lantern. His head smokes and his face turns red 'cause it's not very nice. Then we see Lucy's now in a conical red wizard's hat which was different than…we see Snoopy behind the lines. First Ponte à Mousson, three kilometers, then La Moselle, four…goes through a river, past a big moon, traverses some countryside. He's hiding in some farm houses. Then he sneaks in a farm house.
He's at the party. There's bobbing for apples and then Lucy's like, I'll go first. They go yeah, you have the perfect mouth for bobbing for apples. Then Snoopy's in there, holding her apple that she gets. She goes, my lips touched dog lips; ugh. Then we have Snoopy with the baton and what's that guy? Schroeder. First, Schroeder plays…Snoopy's like play, slim, play some music, slim. First, it's like this happy march music and Snoopy's going along, happy. Then it's something more heartfelt with tears, then happy again, then sad again. So sad Snoopy cries and howls, then cries and leaves and gets back on the trail. Okay, so let's watch as the kids go and they surprise Lucy. They say, has the Great Pumpkin been by? You two are a couple of suckers. They say, you missed tricks or treats but you could still go to the party. They say no, no, and Linus was blushing as Sally yells he'll be here, you can bet on that.
We'll be the ones laughing. Then Linus looks at everyone and she says, he…is he coming or what? She goes, I hope so for…'cause you're gonna mess up my reputation and my first trick-or-treating. He says look at this pumpkin patch. It's really sincere. Then we have the kids studying the pumpkin. Actually, Charlie Brown has a Zorro mask on. Then they say oh, can you model…oh, this is devastating how they say oh, can you model, Charlie Brown? They go oh, yeah, wow. Then they spin around, they just draw a pumpkin…a jack-o-lantern at the back of Charlie Brown's head. They say yeah, just like that, a couple eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Then Sally copies it and they say yup, and Charlie Brown's blushing. They say thanks, Charlie Brown. Then we have Snoopy walking, head down…Ponte à Mousson, 3km. La Moselle, 4…up a hill and then a river.
Snoopy's gotta cross the river…swimming across the river, full moon, night sky. Night sky, we see two villages in the distance and some trees. Very cool. Tall grass and Snoopy running, hiding behind rocks and trees, running between houses and then up and to the party. The French countryside…then all the kids are cheering. We see lots of decorations. This is a good scene with the decorations. Sally goes to bob for apples. The kids say yeah, you got a big mouth anyway, and she comes out kissing Snoopy. She's in a…not happy about that, runs around. My lips touched dog lips…Snoopy goes over to Schroeder. Schroeder's got on this…Schroeder has no costume. He's costumed in music, I guess. The music starts to play, Snoopy's going along dancing and marching, very pleased. Then the tone turns again, like a little bit more of Moulin Rouge-type…directing the music, attempting to conduct it.
I don't know where you'd get one of these mini pianos like this kid Schroeder has. It sounds so good. This is a long sequence. Snoopy's happy, then Snoopy's a little choked up; breathes deep. Emotional eyes…oh, now a crooked smile for the song. Nope…oh, I'm sad; no, so sad. Snoopy is so sad, crying, hiding Snoopy's eyes. Oh, no, happy again, marching and grinning. Oh, I'm happy, I'm marching, I'm marching, even moving my hands and now spinning my baton. I'm so pleased. Now I'm directing music again. Oh, nope, now I'm really sad. I don't even know if I can hold back tears. Nope, tears are leaking out of my eyes. Oh, as I go along with my finger, conducting the music and weeping. Poor Snoopy, sad on Halloween. Snoopy's had quite a Halloween…weeping now on the side of the piano, howl…howling, howling. Now embarrassed and now really crying. Out the door, crying, crying, weeping, tears spraying.
Runs off, [00:50:00] now sneaks off towards the pumpkin patch. Okay, and then this is a great scene. Sally's…something emerging…patch where Sally's head…everything…but then they hear the sound. I think she's had second thoughts. He says, what's that? I hear the Great Pumpkin. Then he faints. He wakes up and he says, what happened? Did I faint? There's a giant moon 'cause he thought…what he thought was the Great Pumpkin was Snoopy. I think this was part of my disappointment, was I really wanted there to be…it's such a great mythology, the Great Pumpkin. But then Sally yells at him; what a fool I was. I could have had candies and apples and gum. You owe me restitution. Then Charlie Brown comes and Linus says, you've heard of the fury of a woman's scorn? Linus decides to stick it out. Then he even says…he says something; he says good grief, one slip like that can cause the Great Pumpkin to pass you by.
I'm doomed. I don't know what this is; four-alarm Sally. Oh, 4:00 AM. That'll be important in a minute. Let's see, on these notes we have Sally looking cross. Maybe I didn't have the sound on on this. Then it says what's that? Then it's 21:00 minutes when…the joy and shock of Linus. A full moon, he faints. She says, you've ruined my chance to have tricks or treats. I could have had candy apples and gums and moneys and cookies and treats and lots of things. That's where Sally…we're watching as her arms are crossed. Linus is trying to reason with her. The Great Pumpkin rised out of the pumpkin patch. We'll be here to see him. What's that? The looks on their face is really, really good. He's just so overjoyed. I can hear the Great…is that the Great Pumpkin? Then he's pointing; there, there it is. He's like, finally. Then Snoopy rises out and he faints. This is really good, really good. Then he's like, drunk with…he goes, what happened?
Did I faint? He's smiling. Sally's grimacing, shaking her arms. Now she's letting out her woe at not getting to go trick-or-treating. Against the full moon, too, really big full moon. You dragged me into this Great Pumpkin mess. Whatever…I missed out on all my tricks and treats. Can't believe I fell for it. What was I thinking? Poor Linus is just kinda staring at her in shock. I think she calls him a blockhead. What a fool I was. Then all the other kids come; Charlie Brown…they're all out of costume. She's yelling at him. Linus is shaking. Charlie Brown says huh, you heard about a woman feeling scorned, you should think about a woman that's been denied tricks or treats. Fury of a woman who's been cheating out of tricks and treats. Then all the kids leave, leave Linus by Linus' self. He said, it won't be long now 'til the Great Pumpkin comes, you know. I'll still put a good word in for you, or something.
He says, oh, I can't believe I…I love…he says, I'm doomed. A little slip like that can cause the Great Pumpkin to pass you by. I'm doomed. Then he says alright, Great Pumpkin, where are you? Then we see Sally. It's 4:00 AM and her alarm goes off, I guess. She wakes up; she's like oh, 4:00 AM? She's got a red housecoat on or something, and blue slippers. Checks Linus' room; not in there. Goes outside. She has some sort of beret on or something yellow. Then Linus is freezing with just one blanket out in the pumpkin patch. She gets him up, helps him, brings him inside. This is her one redeeming attempt moment. Takes his shoes off, puts him in bed, puts the blanket on him. He's sound asleep. Then we say well, Sally's redeemed. Then we have the end scene with Charlie Brown and Linus talking. Another Halloween's gone and alls they got was rocks. He goes, yeah.
Linus says well…he goes well, you waited for the pumpkin and the Great Pumpkin never showed up. I guess we're both fools, or something. He goes, don't take it too hard, Linus. He goes oh, I do stupid things all the time. Linus goes, eh, what do you mean stupid? Just wait 'til next year. Says, you'll see, Charlie. This is it; he goes, I'm gonna find a more sincere pumpkin patch as the credits start to roll. This is what I'm gonna teach everybody about it. The Great…gonna come and gonna give me double toys and candy 'cause it's…well, that's Linus, the most dedicated pumpkin fan ever. Linus just berates things. Let's see what else I got here in the notes. Sally has a canopy bed and a teddy bear but the teddy bear is on the floor at the foot of her bed. Then we have Charlie and Linus on the wall…philosophy, and talking about their defeats. Linus is so mad, we see Linus' teeth.
Let's see, she looks in his room, she gets coats and stuff. She goes on, gets Linus, freeze…and puts him in bed. Linus and Charlie Brown are talking. Alls they got was a big bag full of rocks. No Great Pumpkin. Don't worry, I've done stupid things. That's when he says stupid? It's not stupid. I put WTF. But yeah, I guessed rewatching this a few times…I mean, I love Linus' sincerity and his joy and his reactions, how he faints and how he persists in the face of other's disbelief and that he even realized hey, if you don't exist, don't tell me, please. Something about Snoopy's crossing over the French countryside that I like, and I like the music about that. But other than that, I guess I just don't connect. I guess the idea of Charlie Brown getting the rocks…I don't know. I don't know, I guess maybe the…I don't know why as a kid I just didn't like this or desired to watch it as much as I…I could say well, those are the things that appeal to me.
I loathe Sally, I'll be honest. Charlie Brown doesn't exactly come across as a loyal friend in this so I would have to criticize Charlie Brown and say hey buddy, have you been…who's worse? Have you been getting rocks every Halloween or just this Halloween? You should just stay with your buddy Linus. But yeah, that's it. I hope you're resting and thinking about a warmer, more comfortable pumpkin patch; a pumpkin pillow patch that you're floating in now. Sinking in…the sleepy smells of pumpkin pie spice in the air as you gently drift into sleep. Goodnight.
[END OF RECORDING]
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