Once Ler: Without the boat, we’ll have to move double time. There’s far too much to see.

Eliza: Mr. Once Ler?

Once Ler: Yeah?

Eliza: Why did you decide to let people in?

Once Ler: Why, to let people see the factory, of course!

Eliza: But why now?

Steve: What’s the special prize, and who gets it?

Once Ler: The best kind of prize is a sur-prize!

(He chuckles at his joke to ease the tension.)

Chloe: Will Tina always be a blueberry?

Once Ler: No. Maybe. I don’t know. But that’s what you get for chewing gum all day. It’s just disgusting.

Steve: If you hate gum so much, why do you make it?

Once Ler: Once again, you shouldn’t mumble, ‘cause it’s kinda starting to bum me out.

Eliza: Do you remember the first candy you ever ate?

(The Once Ler spaces out.)

Once Ler: No…

NARRATOR: In fact, The Once Ler did remember the first candy he ever ate.

(Young Once Ler appears, searching for a lost piece of the candy his father threw away. He picks one up off the floor, looks around for his father, then, with considerable excitement
and pain, unwraps it and forces it through his headgear. The lights flash, and suddenly Young Once Ler is eating a large box of chocolates with abandon. He tastes each one, then writes down notes about it in his notebook. Suddenly, he disappears, and The Once Ler returns to reality.)

Once Ler: Sorry- I was having a flashback.

Mayor Andre: I see.

Stan Smith: These flashbacks happen often?

Once Ler: Increasingly… today.

(The Once Ler leads the group up to the door of the Nut Sorting Room.)

Mayor Andre: Ah, this is a room I know all about! You see, Mr. Once Ler, I am in the nut sorting business.

(He hands The Once Ler his card. The Once Ler immediately tosses it over his shoulder without reading it.)

Mayor Andre: Are you using the Hammermax 4000 to do your sorting?

Once Ler: No… you’re really weird.