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The Golden Sprocket of Friendship

Season 1, Episode 14

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At Cape Suzette's International Friendship Festival, Baloo and Kit Cloudkicker try to prevent an international incident when a Thembrian award is stolen.

Plot Summary


 Hurry Up, Or We&squot;ll Be Late for the "Wod Fir?"
 Hurry Up, Or We'll Be Late for the "Wod Fir?"
It is a special day in Cape Suzette. Dignitaries and guests from around the world are arriving for the Cape Suzette Friendship Festival (which is like a World's Fair). On the main stage, the master of ceremonies practices his welcome speech while workmen finish building the stage. He is frequently interrupted. Everyone is excited to be the center of the world for the day.

 The Barbecue Fork Is Melting.
 The Barbecue Fork Is Melting.
At the airport, planes from every nation have landed. Baloo and Kit Cloudkicker watch the planes and remark on their origins and construction. They are aviation buffs, being a pilot and navigator  respectively. They are also selling hotdogs while dressed as a hotdog and a pickle. They plan to get rich selling hotdogs to people from all over the world and use the money to buy their plane, the Sea Duck back from their boss Rebecca Cunningham. A prince from a foreign nation drives by in a car. Baloo shouts that he is selling hotdogs, but the prince is uninterested. Baloo is not discouraged as he is sure that the people at the festival will buy many hotdogs. He cooks a hotdog with a blow torch and asks Kit if he knows of a food friendlier than hotdogs. Kit takes a hotdog and slathers it with mustards. Kit's reply is that there is no food friendlier.

A large plane screams out of the sky, lowers its landing gear, digs into the runway, and knocks other planes aside as it lands. It is a Thembrian plane, a plane from a country in the grip of a military dictatorship. The plane knocks rubble onto Baloo and Kit's hotdog stand. The main hatch opens and steps extend. Colonel Spigot steps out of the plane. He proclaims that Cape Suzette is the white underbelly of the world -- decadent and weak. His assistant Dunder follows him. Spigot readies a pen and stamp. He awaits the bureaucracy involved in arriving in another country. He likes paperwork. Dunder apologizes as he has already handled the light paperwork before departing Thembria. Cape Suzette is trying to be as welcoming as possible. Paperwork is not friendly.

 Bellhops on Parade.
 Bellhops on Parade.
Spigot takes a box from Dunder. He says he is going to see when it will be time for the presentation of the valuable and coveted Thembrian Golden Sprocket. He hands the locked box back to Dunder and orders him to protect it with his life. Spigot departs. Dunder locks the lockbox in the plane.

 Another Short Man Commands Burly Giants.
 Another Short Man Commands Burly Giants.
Nearby, a crocodile gang boss and his two goons observe the foreign leader and his valuables. They get an idea from Baloo being dressed as a hotdog. The boss tells his goons that they are going to steal the Golden Sprocket by disguising themselves as hotdog salesman and tricking Dunder.

Baloo and Kit greet Dunder. They are friends as Dunder has helped Baloo and Kit in the past and vice versa. Their encounters mostly involve stopping Colonel Spigot from doing something crazy. Baloo finishes digging the hotdog cart out from under the rubble and gives Dunder a hotdog for free. Dunder is grateful but tells Baloo to not tell Spigot as eating on duty is a capital offense. Rebecca Cunningham arrives in a truck and orders Baloo to get back to work as a pilot and deliveryman. Baloo and Kit comply and climb in the truck with their hotdog stand. Dunder sees if anyone is looking before eating his hotdog.

 You. Piano. Deliver. Noww.
 You. Piano. Deliver. Noww.
At the Higher for Hire offices, Rebecca orders Baloo to load a piano onto the truck and deliver it to an address on the delivery sheet. Baloo and Kit complain that they wanted to sell hotdogs at the Friendship Festival. Rebecca says they can get to their side job sooner if they deliver the piano faster. Rebecca leaves Baloo and Kit to load the piano. Baloo has difficulty hefting the piano onto the truck. A passing motorist clips the side of the truck and somehow manages to rip the entire undercarriage out from the truck. Baloo thinks that this plan is not working. He thinks they need a big, burly friend to help move the piano. He asks Kit who they know that is big and likes hotdogs.

 Does This Mustard Bottle Make Me Look Fat?
 Does This Mustard Bottle Make Me Look Fat?
Minutes later, Baloo is encapsulating Dunder in a mustard bottle costume. Dunder states that he needs to stay and protect the plane. Baloo says that everything will be fine as nobody will recognize him. Plus there are delicious hotdogs in the deal for him. Dunder agrees to help Baloo, and they push the piano to the top of a hill. Baloo checks his delivery slip and loses control of the piano. It rolls downhill into the front door of a house. Luckily, it is the right house. Baloo rings the doorbell. Nobody answers. Kit suggests that the recipients are at the Friendship Festival. Baloo agrees and says they should go there and sell their hotdogs. Dunder says he needs to get back to the plane, and Baloo explains that it is on the way.


At the Friendship Festival, performances from around the world occur. Also at the Festival, the gang boss and his goons are disguised in the exact same hotdog costumes as Baloo, Kit, and Dunder -- a hotdog, a pickle, and a mustard bottle. The boss explains that they are not selling hotdogs and are merely trying to fool the guard at the plane. He then reveals the hotdog cart is full of dynamite. He pulls out a stick of dynamite. A man asks to buy a hotdog, but the boss says they are out. The man states that it appears that the boss is holding a hotdog. The boss places the dynamite in a bun, lights it, takes the man's money, gives him the dynamite, and runs. The dynamite explodes leaving an ash covered man that is still hungry.

Long Lost Twins.
Long Lost Twins.
The gang runs around a corner and collides with Baloo and his group. The two groups realize they are dressed exactly like each other. Baloo calls the gang Territory Thieves. He asks if they have permits. When they reply no, Baloo calls for the police. This call scares off the gang. Baloo and Kit recover a hotdog cart and tell a person dressed in a mustard bottle costume to hurry to the airport. Unknown to both parties, their hotdog carts and Dunder are switched. Baloo's current mustard bottle compatriot is a goon. They hurry to the airport.

Baloo and his group arrive at the airport in time for Colonel Spigot to find them. Colonel Spigot wonders where Sergeant Dunder is. Baloo makes up an excuse, saying that he is showing the latest in Cape Suzette Uniforms. The ones that they are wearing are from the elite Hotdog Commandos. Kit whispers to Baloo that only an idiot would believe such a story. Spigot believes the story. He thinks that his military dictator would like to have his own hotdog commandos. He orders the man in the mustard bottle to hand him his official Thembrian notepad. The goon in the costume does not respond.

 It's Like Being Attacked by a Hamster.
 It's Like Being Attacked by a Hamster.
Spigot leaps onto the costume and rips the head off. He notices that the goon is not Dunder. He demands to know what the goon has done with his sergeant. The goon has no idea what has happened or what has happened. Spigot switches to asking what the goon's objective is. Spigot tickles the goon until the goon admits that the plan is to steal the Golden Sprocket. Spigot panics and runs into the plane. He opens a safe and triggers a series of traps. He sees that the lockbox is still secure. He locks everything and resets the traps. He  returns outside to find that Baloo and Kit have tied up the goon and hang him from a light post. Spigot asks Baloo where Dunder is. Baloo responds that they will go find him. Spigot pulls out a gun and says he will guard the goon and the Golden Sprocket. He warns Baloo and Kit that they need to return before six o'clock -- the time of his presentation of the Golden Sprocket. Baloo and Kit run off to find Dunder.

 Nice Gun, Sir.
 Nice Gun, Sir.
In the Festival Pavilion, Baloo and Kit shout out Dunder's name. Rebecca is in the crowd and notices her employees wandering around shouting. She does not think that they could possibly have delivered the piano so fast. She follows them.

The gang arrives at the plane and pretends to be humble hotdog salesmen. Spigot at first believes that this group is Baloo returning with Dunder, but he realizes that the pickle is not Kit and that Baloo is not in the hotdog. He points the gun at them. The boss asks if the gun is loaded. Spigot confesses that in order to take bullets out of Thembria, he would have needed to fill out a form they did not have. The boss realizes that Spigot is basically unarmed and draws a gun. Dunder removes his costume top and asks what is happening. Spigot says that the tables have turned. He orders Dunder to grab the goons.

 Dangling like Fruit Bats.
 Dangling like Fruit Bats.
The attack fails. Dunder and Spigot find themselves hanging from the wing of their plane. They refuse to help the gang, so the boss orders the goons to blow open the door. They set up the hotdog cart and light a fuse. They duck behind a nearby barrier. Spigot and Dunder are within the possible blast radius and begin to sweat. The fuse burns down but nothing happens. The gang investigates the hotdog cart and finds that it is filled with hotdogs. They are perplexed. One of the goons suggests that explosives detonate better when they are not all beef franks. The boss grumbles.

 Good Catch.
 Good Catch.
In the Festival Pavilion, Baloo and Kit continue to search for Dunder. They are not having any luck. However, the man that bought the exploding hotdog approaches them. He wears a cast on his arm. He decides to try his luck again and asks for a hotdog. As Baloo is about to hand him another lit dynamite stick in a bun, Rebecca arrives. Baloo and Kit rush to hide. She passes. Baloo and Kit wonder how hard it could be to find a Thembrian sergeant while their boss is angrily searching for them.

At the airplane, the gang boss tries to interrogate Spigot. He demands the key to the door and the safe. Spigot does not cooperate. Instead, he takes the key, tosses it into Dunder's mouth and orders the sergeant to swallow it. Dunder swallows the key, and Spigot asks what the gang plans to do now. The boss orders the goons to extract the key by any means necessary.

 Point. Point.
 Point. Point.
Moments later, Baloo and Kit arrive. They try to come up with excuses as to why they could not find Dunder. They are relieved when they see Dunder hanging from the wing of the plane. Spigot yells to Baloo to cut him and Dunder down from the wing. Baloo and Kit cut down the Thembrians. Dunder explains that he does not feel well after the gang somehow removed the key from his body. Once cut down, Spigot goes into a rant about how he will have everyone shot and have war declared on Cape Suzette over the theft of the Golden Sprocket. Baloo and Kit point out that losing an international award is probably a capital offense. Dunder explains that the punishment is being fed to polar bears. Spigot panics as a clock tower rings six o'clock. It is time for his presentation of the Golden Sprocket to the mayor of Cape Suzette. Not having the Golden Sprocket would be a major embarrassment for Thembria. Baloo tells him to stall while they search for the Golden Sprocket. Spigot tries telling a bad joke, and Baloo says they should hurry.

 Unhand Me, You Goons.
 Unhand Me, You Goons.
At the Festival Pavilion, the gang hurries along with their burgled goods. The goons think that it was a good idea to hide the stolen lockbox in the hotdog cart. The boss points out that it would have been a better idea to take the hotdogs out of the cart first. Rebecca sstops them as they are still wearing hotdog disguises. She thinks that the hotdog is Baloo and asks to know if he has delivered the piano yet. The goon in the hotdog is confused. The boss tells Rebecca to leave, and Rebecca wonders how Kit's voice changed so quickly. The boss does not want to deal with Rebecca anymore and orders the goons to grab her. The goons lift her off the ground and shove her into the hotdog cart.

 I Just Flew in from Thembria. Boy Are My Arms Tired.
 I Just Flew in from Thembria. Boy Are My Arms Tired.
The presentation of the Golden Sprocket begins on the main stage. Spigot is introduced and stands behind the podium. He is too short to reach the microphone. He  then starts a bad standup routine. He tells extremely bad jokes, and the audience stares blankly at him. He takes the microphone and continues his act.

Baloo, Kit, and Dunder walk along the street looking for the gang members. Dunder wonders aloud what a firing squad will be like. Kit whispers to Baloo that they seem to have gotten their friend into a lot of trouble. Baloo apologizes to Dunder for getting him into so much trouble. He says that he will make it up to his friend. Dunder is comforted by the fact that he has a friend that cares so much for him.

 Hey, I Know You.
 Hey, I Know You.
Baloo and his group run into the gang. Rebecca shouts for help from inside the hotdog cart. Baloo and his group give chase.

Colonel Spigot's presentation continues. He tells a bad joke about a penguin being on someone's head. The crowd groans.

 At the top of a hill, a man returns home to find a piano smashed through his front door. He pushes the piano out of his door, and it rolls uncontrollably down the hill.

 How Did That Happen?
 How Did That Happen?
Rebecca climbs on top of the cart and has the box with the Golden Sprocket. Baloo and his group attack the gang, and the cart, Rebecca, and the Golden Sprocket change hands multiple times. The goons fall down open sewer drains and cellar entrances yet somehow manage to regain the cart. Several times the goons impede the progress of their boss. Rebecca and the cart roll down a hill without anyone pushing it.

Spigot resorts to tap dancing on stage. The crowd boos and throws rotten fruit.

Wildcat the Mechanic waits at a crosswalk as the runaway piano rolls past.

 I Think I Hurt My Everything.
 I Think I Hurt My Everything.
Eventually, Rebecca, the hotdog cart, and the Golden Sprocket run into a dead end and crash into a stack of garbage cans. Kit arrives first and asks if Rebecca is okay. She says that she is not. Baloo and Dunder arrive. Baloo takes the box and hands it to Dunder. Dunder thanks his friends for all their help. The gang arrives and takes a stick of dynamite out of their original hotdog cart. They threaten Dunder with imminent explosion if he does not hand  over the box. Dunder hands over the box. At this point, the piano finds them. It crashes directly into them, launching them into the air.

 Happy Friendship Festival!
 Happy Friendship Festival!
On the main stage of the  Friendship Festival, Spigot continues his act, but the master of ceremonies tells him to wrap it up. He continues to try and stall. The piano, a pile of hotdogs, and Dunder fall from the sky. They land on stage, burying the mayor and Spigot. Dunder presents Spigot with the Golden Sprocket. Spigot unlocks a series of progressively smaller lockboxes and presents the mayor with the Golden Sprocket. It is a tiny gear held up with a piece of twine. The mayor accepts the award and boggles at the bizarre Thembrian tradition that involves hotdogs, flying pianos, and tiny awards.

Later, at the airstrip, Spigot and Dunder board their Thembrian aircraft. They thank Baloo for his hard work. Spigot says that the people thought that his performance was "different" and considers going into the entertainment industry. Dunder thanks Baloo and says that Spigot has downgraded his punishment from firing squad to flogging. The Thembrian aircraft departs. Kit informs Baloo that they did not sell a single hotdog during the Friendship Festival. Baloo says that they made a lot of friends, and that is the true spirit of the Friendship Festival. Kit says that Baloo does not believe a word of that statement. Baloo agrees. Rebecca arrives with the piano. Baloo says that he delivered it to the address on the shipping slip. Rebecca informs him that she put the wrong address on the shipping slip.

 What a Great Place for a House.
 What a Great Place for a House.
Baloo pushes the piano with Kit. They have an uphill struggle as their destination is the very top of a mountain community.
General Information Edit
Name The Golden Sprocket of Friendship
Season 1
Episode Number 14
Type Regular Episode
Is Pilot False
Air Date Sept. 21, 1990
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