Wembley, that's not a bed.
Accompanying Wembley to the Cave of Shadows to gather medicinal ingredients for Gobo's pebble pox, Boober tells how him horrible the disease is. Wembley then falls down ill, because he was holding Gobo's map and the germs on it spread to him, and is convinced he is going to die. Boober is terrified of catching the pebble pox himself but stays and comforts Wembley, admitting he had exaggerated the severity of the illness. Boober manages to get the ingredients, and Wembley becomes well enough to return home. Upon seeing him, Red notices that little red dots are starting to appear on Boober's face.This episode contains examples of:
- Afraid of Needles: Sprocket is so afraid of getting shots, he tries to hide the calendar by jumping in front of it, hoping Doc will forget it's the day of his appointment with the vet.
- Annoying Patient: While Boober is out gathering the medicinal ingredients, Red is acting as Gobo's nursemaid. He drives her crazy with his moaning and groaning and nonstop demands.[Red is carrying a bowl.]
Mokey: Oh, Red...?
Red: Hi.
Mokey: Is that for Gobo?
Red: Oh, yeah. He had this sudden craving for parsnip stew... right after I finished making him some rutabaga soup.
Mokey: Oh, Red, don't be so hard on him. Being sick can be very difficult.
Red: Oh, Gobo's not being difficult... HE'S BEING IMPOSSIBLE! - Can't Believe I Said That: Boober says this after admitting to Wembley that he had exaggerated the severity of pebble pox, especially by singing "Talkin' Bout Germs."Boober: Sometimes... although not very often... I... I guess I exaggerate how terrible being sick can be.
Wembley: Huh?
Boober: Yes. You see... I guess... well, I suppose the pebble pox is just a natural part of life. I don't believe I said that. - Continuity Nod:
- Red, while taking care of Gobo, is wearing Mokey's apron, first seen in the episode "Marooned."
- At one point, Wembley starts hallucinating about Poison Cacklers, which were mentioned by Boober in "The Beast of Bluerock" and by Wembley in "Sir Hubris and the Gorgs" and seen in "The Wizard of Fraggle Rock."
- Mokey gave rutabaga soup to Gobo when his leg had been thumped by Junior in "The New Trash Heap in Town."
- Face Your Fears:
- Boober faces his fear of germs in order to save Wembley.
- Sprocket confronts his fear of needles in order to impress Ms. Ardath's Airedale, Marigold, who is sick and Afraid of Doctors.
- Force Feeding: Lampshaded by Red when she's trying to deal with Gobo's whining.Red: So why don't we settle down and have a nice little nappy, and soon Boober will be back with your medicine.
Gobo: Medicine? I'm not taking any medicine!
Red: Oh, yes, you will, because I am going to pour it down your little baby throat! - Foreshadowing: At the beginning, Boober is both angry and grossed out because Morley just sneezed on him.Boober: [wiping himself off with Gobo's blanket] How any Fraggle can have such a careless attitude towards germs, I just will never understand!
- Hallucinations: Wembley's fever becomes so high, he starts hallucinating about Poison Cacklers crawling all over him.
- Healing Herb: The medicinal ingredients for pebble pox grow in the Cave of Shadows. They include jumble grass (anti-viral), moonrose (fever reducer), and dooganberries.
- Hot Drink Cure: Boober makes dooganberry tea for Wembley's pebble pox.
- Instant Illness: Gobo lends Wembley his map to the Cave of Shadows. A short while later, Wembley falls down, suffering from the worst case of pebble pox Boober has ever seen.
- Ironic Juxtaposition: Boober's and Wembley's discussions about Gobo's outward nonchalant attitude toward the pebble pox are intercut with scenes of Gobo, who clearly has a less severe case of the pox than Wembley, yowling in pain and complaining constantly.
- Lap Pillow: Wembley rests his head on Boober's lap while Boober gives him the tea.
- Monstrous Germs: Boober and Wembley see them in a bizarre Imagine Spotting sequence in which Boober warns Wembley about "the greatest evil the world has ever known" with the song "Talkin' Bout Germs." As he sings, monstrous, spiky germs begin flying about, darting at the two terrified Fraggles.Boober: [singing] You know their name is contagious.
Their number's outrageous.
They're wriggling and raging like worms.
And it wiggles and squirms!
Wembley: Wiggles and squirms?
Boober: I'm talkin' 'bout germs! - Oh, Crap!: When Boober and Wembley get back home, Wembley tells Red and Mokey that Boober saved his life, prompting Mokey to ask Boober if he wasn't afraid of getting what Wembley had.Boober: Oh, don't be ridiculous, Mokey. I'm not afraid of being sick.
Mokey: You're not?
Red: You're not?
Boober: Nah, of course not.
Red: Well, that's good. Then you won't mind it when I tell you that little red dots are starting to appear all over your face.
[A Beat as Boober runs his hands over his face.]
Boober: Ohhhh, no...! [He faints in shock.]
Wembley: [catching him] Boober! [carrying him] Boober, remember, the pebble pox is just a natural part of life. Now, come on... - Please, Don't Leave Me: Wembley, who is too sick to walk, begs Boober not to leave when he says he's going to gather medicinal ingredients for the pebble pox. Boober winds up carrying him.Boober: All right, germs, this is the day you've all been waiting for. Come and get me! [He picks up Wembley.]
Wembley: Uh, Boober... what about the Poison Cacklers?
Boober: It's all right, Wembley. I'll carry them too. - Polka-Dot Disease: Gobo comes down with pebble pox, which leaves him itchy and feverish and is highly contagious. The germaphobic Boober has to go out and get ingredients for the cure, but he starts to panic when Wembley, who came along with him, starts to get sick as well. It's also stated you only get pebble pox once, and that Red and Mokey have already had it.
- Quit Your Whining: Red's reaction to Gobo's complaining when she's forced to serve as his nursemaid.Gobo: You know, I don't think you realize how serious the pebble pox is!
Red: It isn't that bad, you big baby. Didn't I have it last time?
Gobo: Uh... well, yeah, but... it couldn't have been as bad as this! - Rewatch Bonus: At the end of the episode, Boober is shown to have caught the Pebble Pox from Wembley. On second watch, you'll pick up on him holding his scarf out over Wembley's hand to comfort him, then putting the infected scarf over his face as a mask.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Subverted. When Wembley gets the pebble pox, Boober runs away briefly so he won't catch it. Ultimately, though, he decides to go back and help Wembley.
- Sick Episode:
- Gobo, Wembley, and Boober all come down with pebble pox.
- At the end of the episode, it's shown that some Doozers are also sick, though it's not stated what the disease is.
- Terrified of Germs: The episode focuses on Boober's fear of germs.
- What You Are in the Dark: Alone with Wembley, Boober has the chance to get far away from him so he won't catch the pebble pox. He decides to stay and help Wembley.
- Your Days Are Numbered: Wembley assumes this is happening to him.Wembley: Boober... don't be afraid.
Boober: What? You, the sickest Fraggle I have ever seen, are telling me not to be afraid?
Wembley: Sure, Boober. Because it isn't you that's going to... die!
