C Children
[first lines]
Boing! Boing! Boing! Boing! Boing! Boing...
Herb
Wa-hoo! I'm gonna be a dad! I just talked to my wife. My baby's gonna be delivered any minute.
RO Robot on truck
Hey! Get out of the way!
Herb
Hey, hey! I'm going to be a dad! Congratulate me.
FH Fire Hydrant
Good for you, Herb. Don't even think about it.
Herb
[Herb has just been running through the town]
Whoo-hoo!
BD Beer Delivery Robot
Hey!
Herb
Sorry. How are you? Nice to see you. I'm gonna be a dad!
BD Beer Delivery Robot
Congrats!
Herb
Hey, Mr. Nuts, did you hear the news?
Herb
Beautiful day, isn't it?
Herb
[Herb runs into his house, where Lydia is standing next to a window]
I'm here. I'm here. I'm here.
L Lydia
Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. You missed the delivery.
Herb
Oh!
L Lydia
[holds up a box with a picture of a robot on it]
But it's okay. Making the baby's the fun part.
L Lydia
[After Herb and Lydia assembled baby Rodney]
Honey?
Herb
What?
L Lydia
What's that extra piece?
Herb
Oh. Oh, no, they always put in an extra... [takes a good look at the piece; chuckles] We did want a boy, right? [takes the piece and a hammer; clears throat] This won't hurt a bit, son. [hammers the piece in, and baby Rodney wails]
G Mr. Gunk
[Wonderbot is helping Rodney and Herb with his dishwashing job in the restaurant kitchen, when...]
COPPERBOTTOM!
Herb
[Wonderbot drops the dishes, starting to panic.]
Mr. Gunk.
Herb
Oh, that. My son made it.
G Mr. Gunk
What's it doing?
Rodney
Mr. Gunk, please! You're making it nervous!
G Mr. Gunk
[In panic, Wonderbot starts flying around, accidentally destroying the kitchen.]
It's wrecking my kitchen! [smashes glass to grab an axe] I'll stop it.
Rodney
No! [jumps out and grabs Mr. Gunk by the foot, tripping him into an oil vat]
G Mr. Gunk
[shouts and spits; gets out of the vat, covered in oil]
Your son, huh?
Rodney
It wasn't his fault! He had nothing to do with-!
Herb
Yes, sir, he's a brilliant boy. An inventor.
G Mr. Gunk
[to Herb]
You, clean up this mess! [to Rodney] And you, GET OUT! Inventor. You're the hand-me-down son of a dishwasher, and that's all you'll ever be! [to his employees] Somebody scrape this crud off of me. And serve it to the customers.
TC Ticket Counter
[Rodney arrives at the train station with his suitcase.]
Round trip, or one way.
Rodney
One way.
L Lydia
[she and Herb enters and spots Rodney]
There you are! I told you I'd find him! It's a mother's instinct.
Herb
What instinct? He left us a note: "I'm leaving; I'll be at the train station."
L Lydia
Never mind. Pick up that suitcase. You're coming home.
Rodney
No, Mom, I have to do this. I'm going to Robot City tonight. I'm gonna get a job, and I'm gonna help Dad pay back Mr. Gunk.
Herb
Ro-
L Lydia
[realizes]
Robot City?! But you're just a kid!
Rodney
I'm never gonna be someone here. I wanna be an inventor. I wanna meet Bigweld. I wanna be somebody.
L Lydia
You are somebody. [picks up Rodney's suitcase] Somebody who's not getting on that train.
Rodney
Yes, I am.
L Lydia
[to Herb]
Talk to him.
Herb
[walks to the ticket counter]
One ticket to Robot City.
L Lydia
Where are you going?
Herb
Not me. Him.
Herb
Rodney, did you know that when I was your age, I wanted to be a musician? I played pretty well too... but my dad was worried I wouldn't be able to make a living. So, I got refitted to be a dishwasher. Now, I'm not complaining. But I've always said to myself... if I could do it over again, I would follow my dream. You've got greatness in you, Rodney. Never doubt it. [hands Rodney a ticket] You go to Robot City. You go meet Bigweld, and you show him your big ideas. And Rodney... never, never give up.
