Carl the Loose Cannon
- Carl watches TV in his living room with the shades drawn. There’s a knock at the door. It’s Russell, a roly-poly Wilderness Explorer (think Boy Scout) who wants to know if he can help Carl. Carl’s not interested.
- Russell is undeterred, explaining that he needs his Assisting the Elderly badge to level up. He’s all about the Wilderness Explorer life and shouts their motto: “The wilderness must be explored! Ca-caw! Rawr!” It would be a lot more intimidating if he wasn’t shaped like a potato.
- Carl makes up a story about a snipe that’s been terrorizing his yard, and Russell rushes off to find it. Carl’s got the kid out of his hair for now, at least.
- Just then, a construction vehicle clips Carl’s mailbox. The construction worker attempts to fix it, and Carl yells at him to go away. When the well-meaning worker persists, Carl hits him with his cane, drawing blood.
- Onlookers are shocked; Carl’s ashamed. He retreats into his house and draws the shades.
- As a squad car pulls up, the construction boss stares Carl down. Ruh roh.
- Cut to Carl in court. The suits are there. Double ruh roh.
- That night, in front of his house, a police officer hands Carl a brochure for Shady Oaks and says they’ll be by to pick him up in the morning.
- Inside, Carl comes across Ellie’s Adventure Book. He pages through it. He looks at the framed photo of Young Ellie on the mantel, then at the Shady Oaks brochure, then back at the photo again, and crosses his heart.