Central Park

Does anyone want more waffles?

Molly, remind our mother. What is the first rule of waffle club?

Do not stop making waffles.

Children, that rule doesn't make any sense.

I'll eventually run out of batter.

Keep 'em coming, Mom.

I'm gonna watch Brendan practice his indoor kite flying competition,

and I don't know how snacks factor into that.

Did you just say "indoor kite flying competition"?

-Yeah, why? -Nothing.

I just have 14 questions, that's all.

Oh, boy. Oh, no.

-Dad, please, we're waffling. -What's going on?

You know the big annual multi-school field trip to the park that's on Friday?

You mean the only thing you've been talking about lately?

Well, the speaker I had booked just canceled.

The Mushroom Man?

Yeah, the Rock and Roll Mushroom, Moss and Lichen Man.

Moss with an edge.

He realized he double-booked the field trip with his bunion surgery.

-He chose bunions. -Rock and roll!

Yeah. Anyway, it's fine. I'm not panicking.

Okay, but I feel like I hear in your voice and see in your eyes

-that you are totally panicking. -Do you hear that?

Yeah, he's panicking.

Every year, a bunch of schools from the outer boroughs

take a big field trip to Central Park.

It's one of Owen's favorite days of the year,

because it's his chance to inspire a new generation of little nature lovers.

Or as I like to call them, future Owens and Owen... ettes.

But the last few years have been a little rough.

Come on, buddy. Come say hi.

The kids wanna see your face.

Say hi to the kids. You can do it.

Was talking into a leg hole.

Come on, buddy. Come say hi.

This year has to go well.

The superintendent strongly hinted that

they might not come back next year if I didn't do better.

Maybe you could just be the speaker?

What? No. We're trying to inspire kids here,

not frighten them with a nervous, sweaty man who's bad at public speaking.

Some kids might be into that.

You're sure you can't get Ward Whitlinger?

If I could get Ward Whitlinger, I'd get Ward Whitlinger.

That sounds fun to say.

Ward Whitlinger. I was right.

I have an old email, but the nature center he worked at

closed or moved or something.

As far as I can tell, he's completely off the grid, which I totally get.

He's probably replanting the rain forest or refreezing the ice caps.

Do you think a seasoned reporter who loves a mystery

and never backs down from a challenge might be able to track him down?

Because you know one, and she's available and likes seeing you succeed

almost as much as she likes seeing you strut around in short shorts.

-He does strut. -Does he?

If you think you can find him. Do you... think you can find him?

I know I can. I will find your precious Dr. Ward Whitlinger.

Can someone please explain to me

what's so special about this Dr. Ward Whitlinger?

He's only the most inspiring.

Well, he inspired me to do what I do.

And if he could turn this indoor nerd into an outdoor nerd,

then he'd knock the socks off those kids.

When I was a little guy I liked my little guy things

Dinosaurs and trains and macaroni art

Then I saw a man named Ward

He talked to me and my friends

And blew my tiny mind apart

He said

We live connected On this big blue boat

And we must all pull together To keep it afloat

Every little thing Is like a ripple on a lake

And we can each change the world

With the paths that we take, take

-Ward -Ward Whitlinger

-Ward is the answer -Ooh

-If the question is who -He could inspire the world

-Could inspire the world -World

The answer is Ward

From that moment on I knew what I had to do

I was like a man Who stepped out of the dark

And then I became a little obsessed

Had one thought filling up my brain

Maybe one day I would get to run a park

Only one direction would ever satisfy

Could never be a postman Or a frozen yogurt guy

I looked to Ward for guidance Along the way

Did I stalk him like a groupie? Now, you know, who's to say?

And when I took my first test in Environmental Science and Management...

Ward was there

When I wrote that sternly worded letter

To raise awareness about clear-cut Logging, you better believe it...

-Ward was there -Ward was there

And when I became manager Of Central Park

The greatest moment of my life Family stuff not included...

-Ward was there -Ward was there

To be clear, he wasn't literally there

I mean every step I took Metaphorically

-Ward was there, Ward was there -Ward was there, Ward was there

Whoo

-Ward -Ward Whitlinger

-Ward is the answer -Ooh

-If the question is who -He could inspire the world

-Could inspire the world -World

The answer is Ward

So, if I'm hearing this correctly, he inspired you. A lot.

Molly, you are hearing this correctly.

I hope your mom can find him. More than anything. No pressure, Paige.

-You buzzed? -Not yet, I'm getting there.

Let's memoir! I'm ready to rip.

-Time to put your pokers to work. -We're doing the memoir thing again?

Yep, we're doing the memoir thing. Now I know where I'm going with it.

-I have my dramatic ending. -You leave all your money to--

Buying Central Park.

I realized that's going to be my legacy. Now, where did we leave off?

You mean, when we did this two years ago? I have no idea. Somewhere in your past?

Oh, yes, I remember.

It was Easter, and all the eggs were filled with hundred-dollar bills.

-We were poor then. I was 11. -We're starting?

My father was very excited for me to be friends with a girl named Tommasina,

whose family ran a textile company.

I got along with Tommasina just fine,

even though she smelled of starch and had a face like a frying pan.

-Why don't I hear typing? -Because I wasn't sitting at the desk yet,

and there wasn't any paper in the typewriter or in the desk.

And computers exist.

Computers are for nerds, Helen. Oh, forget Tommasina.

I want to write about the time my brother, Ambrose,

broke a vase in the foyer and he blamed the maid.

That sounds like a great story.

We fired the maid. So sad.

After that, we got a new maid, and everything went back to normal.

-I'll just type without paper. -The new maid, she was fun.

I used to hold on to her hair, and I'd just swing like a little monkey.

I'll be honest, I'm a little surprised you wanted to come

to watch Brendan practice his indoor kite flying routine.

Are you kidding me? "Indoor kite flying routine."

What do those four words even mean? I don't know, and I have to find out.

It sounds like the most incredible thing in the universe.

Really? That's nice.

It's hard for me to tell. I wanna be supportive,

-because Brendan and I are maybe dating. -Maybe dating?

Yes. That's the technical term for it.

It's the step before almost totally dating.

Sounds romantic.

Anyway, if you're maybe dating, you've gotta really bring it.

You've gotta be supportive. Super supportive.

-Maybe more than at any other phase. -I'll support you supporting him.

Thanks. I'll support you supporting me supporting him.

-I'm gonna win Best Supporting Sup-- -Let's not get carried away.

Well. I love this.

I didn't see you guys come in. What do you think?

Does it look okay? Hard for me to tell, since I'm the one doing it.

It looks really good, from my knowledge of what it's supposed to look like.

Thanks. Glad you could come too, Cole.

I wanted to get Molly's opinion,

but having two people give a little feedback would be super helpful.

-Brendan. -Cole.

Is this a judged competition with points for style,

points for required movements and points for that extra undefinable something?

Not exactly, but kinda. Yeah.

Like the great unsung Olympic art that is ribbon dancing?

Aka rhythmic gymnastics, aka the swirly science?

He got really into ribbon dancing during the last Olympics.

It's kinda like that, I guess.

-It's about the movement of the kite. -I'm about to do my feedback.

-Yeah, for sure. And just-- -What about a costume?

Great choreography is meaningless unless it's done inside of a costume.

Yeah. We could help you figure out a costume.

-That'd be supportive of us. -Oh, wow. Okay, yeah.

Fantastic.

You can yank your kite string

All you like

From day into night

Release it up And then just reel it in

From the top of the ceiling

I will be here watching you

With the eyes of someone who Knows what to do

You can slap your canvas

With the likes of an elaborate emblem

But a kite Should fly resembling your delight

And your sensitive feelings

I have been here watching you

With the eyes of someone who Knows what to do

Beauty and grace, show it in your face

Make the world around you A fascinating place

Pull on your string

Make the moment sing

Underneath the ceiling Of your indoor kite thing

Show in your eyes your honest surprise

And give us a smile

We've been waiting here For quite a while

Beauty and grace, show it in your face

Make the world around you A fascinating place

-Do-do-do-do, do-do-do-do-do -Ooh

Ooh

Make it a fling An amazing thing

Just like all the greats Who've medaled

At Olympic ribbon dancing