The bears are told by the Once-ler that they can sit on the wagon and that it had better not move. They and the donkey nod in agreement. The bears try to get the donkey to move. He won't move. The small bear taunts the donkey with what looks like an apple in front of him on a long pole the he's off. Did they get the wagon back in time? Yes, but what transpired from start to finish?—Michael of [email protected]
The Ben and Poindexter are told by Once-Ler that they can sit on the wagon and that it had better not move. They and the mule nod in agreement. The Ben and Poindexter try to get the mule to move. He won't move. The Poindexter taunts the mule with what looks like an apple in front of him on a long pole then he's off. Did they get the wagon back in time? Yes, but what transpired from start to finish?—Michael of [email protected]
The cartoon short begins with the Once-ler bringing his wagon back to his tent, presumably having completed some errand. When he disembarks to go inside, his Bar-ba-loot friends Pipsqueak and Lou sneak up from underneath and climb onboard. Alerted by his trusted mule Melvin, the Once-ler tells the Bar-ba-loots they can sit on the wagon but not ride it. The Bar-ba-loots and Melvin agree.
But as soon as the Once-ler disappears inside, Pipsqueak tries to get Melvin to move. He succeeds by baiting Melvin with a Truffula fruit, carrot-and-stick style, and the joyride is on - until Melvin cannot climb a high hill. When he collapses, the Bar-ba-loots relax; the ride is over.
Or is it? When the Bar-ba-loots sit back, the wagon becomes unhitched and begins to roll uncontrollably. Melvin, realizing this, tries to give chase. Lou tries to stop the wagon by placing a stick in a wheel, but he is spun around and flung back onto the seat. Then the wagon hits a rock and careens towards a cliff. The wagon flies off, but the resourceful Lou has turned the cover into a parachute, and the wagon and Bar-ba-loots land softly back at the Once-ler's tent. Melvin returns shortly after.
The Once-ler steps back outside and to him, it looks like the wagon has not moved at all. He commends the animals for keeping their promise. But then Lou sneezes and the wagon, beaten up in its wild ride, falls apart. The Once-ler, knowing he has been tricked, growls angrily; Melvin ashamedly hides his head and the Bar-ba-loots run off into the woods.
