The Jolly Monkey

You doing okay back there, Charlie?

I mean, the damn Walkman is rotting her brain.

She's got no idea what's going on

two feet in front of her own face.

-Honey. -It's ridiculous.

We've been on a road for a while.

We're all tired.

Maybe we should stop for the night.

It's way too dark out

and I don't want us driving this late.

Yeah, you're probably right.

Next rest stop, I'll see if we can't find a motel or something.

Thank you.

The Jolly Monkey!

What, is that a song you're listening to?

Oh, no, honey.

Look.

Looks kind of kooky.

Jolly Monkey! Jolly Monkey!

Okay, we can stay at the Jolly Monkey!

Yay!

Stop.

It's just one night.

If we didn't have to stop for a gas,

then we would have been here 20 minutes ago,

but you insisted on filling up the tires

and that's just...

Listen, when we get in there, straight to bed,

no PJs, nothing, okay?

We need to get you to sleep.

Hey, welcome to the Jolly Monkey!

Can I get you a room for tonight?

Yeah, yeah, just the one.

Okay, excellent.

Jolly Monkey, huh?

Odd name.

Oh, yeah, well, we rebranded a little while ago.

Yeah, our daughter, she loves jolly monkeys.

And we thought it would be kind of nice, you know,

kind of like a refuge for families,

making long trips, you know, have a little fun along the way.

Where are you guys coming from?

-Los Angeles. -Yeah.

Phew, that's quite a drive.

Yeah, still a long ways to Niagara,

so we figured we'd just cut up the drive

and get some rest for the night.

Well, very good.

Looks like your little monkey likes our monkey wall.

We've got kids from all across the country,

including our own little daughter.

Oh, they're so precious.

Hey, Carolyn, bring me the camera.

Oh, uh...

Um...

Do we have a little monkey for our monkey wall?

Can I?

Fine, yeah, just...

All right, here we go.

Say monkey.

Monkey!

Yay.

Thank you.

You know, why don't you take that with you tonight

so you have a little friend while you're in the room?

Can I?

Oh, we wouldn't want to impose.

No, no, that's fine.

We've got a ton of these jolly monkeys around the motel.

Are you sure? They don't seem...

I'm sure, Carol.

You know, can we just get squared away

so we can check into our room?

We really need to get some rest.

I can pay you with cash,

or I've got travelers checks in the car.

Don't worry about that.

No, you just make sure that you see me

before you get out of here.

Okay. You sure?

Yeah, no.

You guys, you've got a big trip ahead of you.

Kiddo needs to get some sleep.

Now, look, we have a house here on the property,

so if you need anything, give us a call.

You are going to be in... number four.

You're our only guests tonight, so give us a shout anytime.

The phone number for our place is in the room.

So enjoy.

Okay, thank you. Charlie, come on.

-Say thank you. -Thank you.

Does that work for you?

Grace?

Hey, what are you doing?

Man, it's more dead out here than I remember.

Yeah, times are tough.

Can you stop talking to me?

I'm trying to get some sleep.

I am not used to being up this early.

It's noon.

Yeah, well, noon is my six in the morning.

Thank you.

Did you ever get that video I sent you about

ten different side hustles you can do from home?

Yeah. Can you stop sending me that crap?

Why? It's easy money.

I'm not looking for a side hustle right now.

Well, you gotta do something.

I mean, what are you planning on telling mom and dad?

I'm not planning on telling them anything.

This isn't about me.

This weekend's about Grandma.

Yeah, yeah, of course.

Look, I'm sorry.

I just graduated and I don't really know what I want to do.

Maybe there's something here for us.

Yeah, I can assure you there isn't.

Man, you were not kidding about this place.

What did you expect?

A Ritz-Carlton that just needs a fresh paint job?

Come on, let's go see if there's anything good inside

the house and claim it before anyone else gets here.

Uh, Grandma and Grandpa live behind the motel that way.

Jenny!

Jenny? Jenny?

Ew, ew! There's a spider!

Seriously?

Why are you so lame?

I'm not. It's huge.

It's like a brown recluse or something.

Maybe it's a spider monkey.

Ha, ha, ha.

It's a type of monkey, not a spider.

Well, then it fits with the theming.

Come on.

Wow.

Grandma's had this same couch, same pillows,

same blanket, since we were little kids.

Yeah, an old person's scared of change.

Never.

Are you seriously telling me you're not

sentimental about anything?

Jenny, a new Call of Duty game comes out every year,

and then I forget about the one I was so excited for

the year before.

You are so insufferable.

At least I'm not scared of spiders.

Come on. Let's check everything else out.

Can we please just go pick a room and unpack?

Maybe have a nap before everyone else shows up?

No, we've got to check out all the rooms

so we can pick the best one.

Hmm.

Grandma's study, I wonder why it's locked.

She probably didn't want anyone snooping in there.

Yeah, well, there's some baby pictures in there

I want to get my hands on.

You want your baby pictures?

Would you rather I have them or mom have them?

Okay, fair point.

Five more minutes, I reckon, and then we go unpack?

Oh, God.

What, some other creepy bug?

I forgot about this creepy ass basement.

Oh, yeah.

Hey, did you ever get a chance to go down there?

No, never really wanted to.

I kind of did.

Can we go unpack now?

No, we still have the attic to check out. Come on.

Whoa.

Man, this place is dusty.

Yeah, well, I doubt Grandma got up here much at her age.

Yeah, probably not, which is why we should look around.

Yep, nothing but dust and boxes. We go?

Come on, Marshall.

It's everything Grandma held on to over the years.

Don't you think we should at least--

What? Another spider?

No, worse.

Eww!

I always hated these things.

Their faces are all weird and leathery.

Yeah, Grandpa loved them, I guess.

I will never understand it.

Yeah, you and me both.

He had dozens of these things.

Hopefully this is the only one left.

Well, this one's broken, so...

Help me.

Can we please go unpack?

Uh, yeah.

Yeah, the others should be here soon.

Finally!

Jesus!

Oh... Now you work? Really?

Pretty easy to get jumpy up here, huh?

We'll see about that.

Well, well.

Hey!