Russell Levels Up
- Back at Kevin’s crib, Carl and Russell celebrate with Kevin’s kids. They all look like tiny versions of Kevin.
- Carl and Russell say adios to Kevin and her brood, then get back in Muntz’s airship and head for home.
- Cut to Russell’s Wilderness Lodge ceremony. Dads pin badges on their kids. Then there’s Russell. He’s on stage alone.
- But wait—There’s Carl! “I’m here for him,” Carl says. The scout leader gives Carl the Assisting the Elderly badge that Russell earned so he can pin it on the kid. Instead, Carl awards Russell the highest honor he says he can bestow—The Ellie Badge—and pins his grape soda bottle cap on Russell’s sash.
- Then Carl and Russell hug it out. The kid’s a Senior Wilderness Explorer now. Rock on, Russell.
- Russell proudly holds up his badge to show his mom, who sits in the audience with Dug. As the shot widens, we see all of the dog pack is in attendance, too. They woof it up like they’re in the audience of The Arsenio Hall Show circa 1990.
- Cut to Carl and Russell sitting on the curb in front of Fentons, eating ice cream. They count red and blue cars while The Spirit of Adventure hangs parked overhead.
- The shot continues to pan upward into the clouds. Then the clouds dissolve and we see Carl and Ellie’s house sitting atop Paradise Falls just like in Ellie’s childhood drawing. Now how’d that get there…?
- But wait! There’s more! We see Ellie’s Adventure Book, now renamed My NEW Adventure Book. The end credits are scrawled inside, each accompanied by snapshots of Carl, Russell, and Dug hanging out.
- There’s Russell helping Carl cross the street, Carl and Russell chasing after Dug chasing after a squirrel, and—aw—Carl, Russell, and Dug having a picnic at Carl and Ellie’s old spot.