♫ We've found the way to live on Easy Street. ♫
After Gobo has his leg thumped during a particularly violent encounter with the Gorgs, the Fraggles are reluctant to go out to the garden to seek advice from Marjory the Trash Heap. Worse, they're all having a recurring nightmare about Junior breaking into the Rock and coming in to thump all their legs. After this nightmare has happened a few times, the Trash Heap appears in the dream, telling them it's just a dream, that she'll still be there when they're ready to seek her advice, and that in the meantime, to look for wisdom within themselves. The Fraggles, not understanding, begin debating the meaning of the dream. Meanwhile, that evening, Mokey has decided to stay awake so she can paint a picture of a hairy-chested batworm, a creature that no Fraggle has ever seen, as it comes out only at night.In the meantime, the World's Oldest Fraggle, Henchy, and a group of other Fraggles are debating on what to do next. One of them declares that they need a Fraggle who can solve every problem. When Henchy points out that that's something no Fraggle has ever done before, the World's Oldest Fraggle concludes that they need a Fraggle who has done something that no Fraggle has ever done before. Just then, Mokey joins them, showing them her portrait of the hairy-chested batworm. The others immediately proclaim Mokey the new trash heap. Mokey, although taken aback at her new position, agrees to it.
The other Fraggles begin flocking to Mokey with their problems, treating her as an oracle. Mokey enjoys the attention and the chance to help the other Fraggles, but Gobo objects to all of this, especially when Mokey advises Boober, who is distraught over being unable to get one of Gobo's shirts clean, to give up his job of doing laundry. Gobo tells Mokey that the dream never said that she would be the new trash heap—only that the Fraggles should look for wisdom within themselves. Mokey is hurt but realizes he's right and that no one is willing to think for himself anymore. By deliberately making a ridiculous proclamation, Mokey, with some help from Gobo, convinces the others that she's not an oracle and that any problems they can't solve on their own, they should take to the real Trash Heap, regardless of the Gorgs. Boober does so, asking Marjory for advice on how to get Gobo's shirt clean.
This episode contains examples of:
- 15 Minutes of Fame: Mokey becomes the new trash heap, but only briefly. Once Gobo helps her understand that she's not an oracle, they get the other Fraggles to see this.
- Captain Crash: Downplayed. The hairy-chested batworm, when flying into the cave where Mokey has fallen asleep waiting for it, crashes to the floor. This does wake up Mokey, though.
- The Chosen One: Mokey gets chosen to be the new trash heap.
- Comically Missing the Point: Doc runs out of food for his "eat what you want" diet, and Sprocket grabs the telephone directory and mimes lifting the phone book like a barbell, implying Doc ought to exercise instead of eating more junk. Doc misunderstands this to mean that Sprocket is suggesting he call out for pizza.
- Conjunction Interruption: After Mokey is informed that she's the new trash heap...Mokey: Well, I'll give it a try, but...
World's Oldest Fraggle: No buts about it, Mokey Fraggle! You're the new trash heap. - Cool Crown: After being proclaimed the new trash heap, Mokey wears a gold-fringed shawl and a circlet of artificial flowers, with gold bottle-caps hanging from the ribbons.
- Crowd Chant: When Mokey shows her painting of the hairy-chested batworm, the assembled Fraggles start chanting: "MOKEY! MOKEY! MOKEY...!"
- Crowd Song: "Easy Is the Only Way to Go," performed by Phil Fraggle and a crowd of other Fraggles, all rapturously dancing.
- Despair Speech: Boober makes one to Mokey, who is still playing the role of oracle, when he is unable to get one of Gobo's shirts clean.Boober: I've tried baking soda...
Mokey: Mmm-hmm...
Boober: Salt...
Mokey: Mmm-hmm...
Boober: Even lemon juice. Nothing works. It's so depressing! [He cries into Gobo's stained shirt.]
Mokey: Oh, Boober, Boober, I hate seeing you so unhappy.
Boober: I don't mind being unhappy. I just can't bear the thought of a laundry failure at this point in my career! [Cries harder.] - Diet Episode: The "B" plot of the U.S./Canada version has Doc trying a ridiculous fad diet, insisting he'll lose weight if he gorges himself with junk food after taking a sip of rutabaga juice. Sure enough, when Doc weighs himself, he finds he's gained 12 pounds, while Sprocket, who has been eating sensibly and exercising, has lost 7.
- Dramatically Missing the Point: The Trash Heap tells the Fraggles to look for wisdom within themselves, but they only want someone who can solve their problems for them without their having to risk an encounter with the Gorgs.
- Dream Within a Dream: At one point, the Trash Heap appears in the Fraggles' recurring nightmare about Junior to tell them it's only a dream.
- Easy Evangelism: Justified with Boober. Since he's in despair over Gobo's shirt, and because he believes Mokey is an oracle, he is instantly convinced by her words that he should give up laundry.Gobo: What do you think, Boober?
Boober: Well... well... I think you'd have to be nuts to go against an oracle. If Mokey says I should give up laundry... then I'll do it. - Figure It Out Yourself: What the Trash Heap tries to tell the Fraggles.
- A Hero to His Hometown: The other Fraggles treat Mokey as this after she becomes the new trash heap.
- Ignorant of His Own Ignorance: Mokey fails to realize that she doesn't have all the answers to the Fraggles' problems—until Gobo points out that the dream never said she would be the new trash heap. Mokey then helps the other Fraggles to realize that she's not an oracle.
- Injured Limb Episode: Gobo sports an injured leg the whole episode.
- Ink-Suit Actor: The song "Easy Is the Only Way to Go" is performed by Phil Fraggle, who is voiced by (and resembles) Phil Balsamnote , who co-wrote most of the Fraggle Rock songs with Dennis Lee.
- Lap Pillow: Boober is lying on Mokey's lap while telling her about his trouble with Gobo's shirt.
- Lost Pet Grievance: One of the first cases heard by Mokey as the new oracle is a Fraggle whose pet thimblebug has run away. By sheer coincidence, another Fraggle has a cave full of thimblebugs, and Mokey suggests he give his thimblebugs to the first Fraggle.
- Must Make Amends: Mokey, with help from Gobo, convinces the other Fraggles that she's not an oracle.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Mokey, on realizing that, thanks to her agreeing to be the new trash heap, no one is willing to think for himself anymore.
- Nightmare Sequence: The Fraggles' recurring nightmare shows Junior sledgehammering his way into the Rock, crawling in amidst screams of terrified Fraggles, and beginning, on all fours, to chase them.Junior: [laughing maniacally] Okay, you Fraggles! I've busted in here, and now I'm gonna thump all your legs!
- Not So Omniscient After All: The other Fraggles proclaim Mokey the new trash heap, declaring that she has all the answers, even though she doesn't.
- Only Sane Man: Gobo is the only one who understands the dream and tries to prevent Mokey from giving wrong advice.
- Opportunistic Vendors: Not long after Mokey been proclaimed the new trash heap, Red appears, selling buttons with pictures of Mokey.Red: Mokey buttons! Get your Mokey buttons right here! Right here, get your Mokey buttons! Mokey buttons! Get 'em while they're hot! Only one to a customer, unless you want two!
- Painters: Mokey paints a picture of a hairy-chested batworm.
- Plagued by Nightmares: Since Gobo's encounter with the Gorgs, the Fraggles have all been having a recurring nightmare about Junior breaking into the Rock and coming in to thump all their legs.
- Propaganda Hero: Thanks to their recurring nightmare about Junior, nearly all the Fraggles are afraid to venture into the Gorgs' garden to ask the real Trash Heap for advice. One of them declares that they need a Fraggle who can solve every problem. When Henchy points out that that's something no Fraggle has ever done before, the World's Oldest Fraggle concludes that they need a Fraggle who has done something that no Fraggle has ever done before. Enter Mokey with her painting of the hairy-chested batworm. Immediately, the others proclaim Mokey the new trash heap. A banner with a picture of her is hung, Red starts selling buttons of Mokey, and Gobo finds the other Fraggles rapturously dancing as they join in Phil's song, "Easy Is the Only Way to Go."
- The Sleepless: Mokey decides to be this so she can paint a picture of a hairy-chested batworm, which only comes out at night.
- Soup Is Medicine: Mokey's rutabaga soup to Gobo.
- Tempting Fate: Mokey has been stuffing Gobo to the gills with her rutabaga soup while he recuperates, and Gobo remarks he'll turn as fat as a Gorg if he eats one more bowl. Enter Mokey with another bowl of soup, much to Wembley's amusement.Mokey: [entering with a bowl] Hi, Gobo. I brought you some more of my rutabaga soup, Gobo. I know it'll make you feel better.
Gobo: [groaning as Wembley chuckles] Ohhh, you shouldn't have, Mokey.
Wembley: Yeah!
Mokey: Oh, it was no bother at all.
Wembley: No bother! - True Companions: Gobo gets Mokey to see that she's not an oracle, then offers to help her think of a way to convince the other Fraggles of that.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Gobo lets Mokey have it for advising Boober to give up laundry.Gobo: That's crazy!
Red: Hey, watch it! That's an oracle you're talking to.
Wembley: Yeah, Gobo! Mokey knows all and sees all. Or is that, uh, "shows all..."?
Gobo: I don't care what it is. Mokey, you can't tell Boober to give up laundry! Laundry's his life. - You Are Not Alone: After realizing she's not an oracle, Mokey is in despair because the Fraggles no longer want to think for themselves, and she doesn't know how to change that. Gobo says he'll help her think of a way. Mokey, touched that he wants to assist her, begins to sing "Helping Hand," and Gobo joins in as she takes his hand.
