Time Capsule

Hey all! I had this idea last night that I just couldn't let go until I had it on paper (or computer screen in this case).

SO!

This is my possible episode idea. Tell me what you think!

Outline: Mr Simmons decides that the class should do a time capsule, and put things which are special to them in the capsule. They each have flash backs to their childhood while gathering said items.

Mr. Simmons brings the class together, to put together a time capsule, telling them that this is a “special” wonderful memory that they will all be creating together, he asks everyone to bring something “special” to school the next day, and they will bury the capsule together. The students are negative to this idea, quoting Harold it would be “laaaame!”

The HA! Gang is heading to the vacant lot to play baseball, all of them discussing what to put in the capsule. Arnold, the cheerleader of the group, convinces them all to bring something the next day.
Back at home, each of the kids are flashing back to childhood memories, mostly of when they first met each other. Mainly; Gerald, Phoebe, Arnold, and Helga… and a couple others perhaps.
Phoebe rummages through her closet looking for the perfect item to put into the capsule, her mind thinking back to when she first met Helga.

“Outta my way geek-bait,” Little four year old Helga stormed through the Urban Tots Preschool, pushing and shoving her way to the playground. Outside, Phoebe is on the swings, Harold comes up to her and pushes her off the swing and takes the seat himself while laughing. Phoebe’s lower lip trembles and she looks ready to cry. Helga storms over, having seen the whole incident and grabs Harold by his shirt, pulling him off the swing and pushing him away from Phoebe. “You better stay away from her pink boy, or I’ll throw you in the sand box!” She waves her fist in his face, while he whimpers and scampers away from the two girls.
Helga helps Phoebe up and smiles at her. “You’ll be my best friend, and nobody will ever mess with you again.” Phoebe smiles and nods. “Okay!”
“You can call me Helga.” “Okay Helga.” “Lets go.” “Following!” Phoebe pulls a picture of herself and Helga at the playground from her closet, she smiles and grasps a small plastic ring, which bears the word “Best” inscribed along the outside. She closed the closet door with a smile.

Next we see Gerald at home, tossing an old dirty baseball up and down with himself. He starts his own memory.
He and Arnold tossing a baseball back and forth, in the background is Arnold’s Grandpa on a park bench watching over the boys with a smile and offering little advice here and there. With a smile Gerald looks at the ball, the stitching coming out in places where it had been worn down.

Helga is in her room, in the back of her closet where her shrine is lit up, illuminating the likeness of Arnold, made out of various house hold items, mainly a football. She is searching through a box, and finally pulls out a picture of Arnold, taped to a pink construction paper heart. A sweet sappy smile crosses her lips. ‘Oh Arnold….’
In her minds eye she travels back to the Urban Tots Preschool, drawing a crude resemblance of herself and Arnold on white paper with thick bright crayons, she’s in a white dress with a pink bow on her long blonde hair, he’s in black with a top hat on his football head. Little Helga whispers to her paper “Ohhhh Arnold, you’re so beautiful, I wanna marry you and live with you forever.” Behind her, was a soft snoring noise, she scowls’ and throws a reflexive punch over her shoulder and socks Brainy.
Helga pulls out the very same drawing from her box, the crude drawing bearing her name in shaky letters at the bottom. ‘LOVE HELGA’. She stuck it in an envelope and sealed it with tape and a kiss.

In his own room, Arnold pulls a photo album off the shelf, smiling as he flips through the school pictures of his class mates from preschool to the present 4th grade. Arnold laughs at the picture of himself and Gerald doing their secret handshake in preschool, which someone had snapped in a photo. He flips through the album looking at pictures of his friends and classmates.
Finally, he pulls out a picture of his parents from the front of the album, its not his only picture, it’s a copy of the one where they are hold him, and he’s smiling in his mothers arms, right after his father gave him his blue hat. Putting the picture of his nightstand, Arnold turns out the lights.

The next day they all bring their items, to class. Mr. Simmons has everyone put their special things into the capsule, he puts in his own special item, and then closes and bolts the door. Explaining to the class when its opened then the students who are here in the future will get to see what our lives were like at PS 118.



Perhaps a flash-forward to them opening the Capsule in the future? critique welcomed… this is just a 3/4 baked idea, lol!

I LOVE this idea! It's so touching.
About the future...you mean they just put things in the capsule...and then it's supposed that in the future they'll take it out?

Yeah, like everyone goes back when they're older to look at the things they buried. We wouldn't even necessarily have to see their faces, all you'd need to see would be shovels digging it up, and hands carefully removing the objects. Perhaps with some 'awww's in the background. xD

Ahah)) I thought if Harold would be the one not to put his ''memory''...just joking
I thought there should some action in the core of episode...some dramatism like someone afraid of his memories or afraid of future...?

Hmm, good idea. Arnold maybe? Since this is before the Jungle Movie, he still doesn't know where his parents are or if they'll ever come back.

Haha, yeah I could see Harold being like. "This is for wusses! I'm not putting anything in that stupid capsule!"

but they should put only one thing? I thought if Arnold values photo of his parents so much he could put photo of class or where he's with Gerald?

True... maybe it would be too special to put inside. Maybe a picture of him and Gerald like you said.... or one of him with the gang.... or of him with his 'extended' family?

Interesting idea, LittlePinkBow!

This should definitely be expanded upon.

Glad you like it!

I like it!

accually I was wondering when this would pop up
XD

hmmm. . . I kinda thought what if its a tradition at P.s 118 and at the begginging they open a capsule up and then they start one. . .
maybe the capsule they open could have "lame" items?

just a thought. . .

LittlePinkBow wrote:True... maybe it would be too special to put inside. Maybe a picture of him and Gerald like you said.... or one of him with the gang.... or of him with his 'extended' family?

Maybe he could put in all three photos?

peachcake21 wrote:

hmmm. . . I kinda thought what if its a tradition at P.s 118 and at the begginging they open a capsule up and then they start one. . .
maybe the capsule they open could have "lame" items?

just a thought. . .

I love this idea

really?

yes
I think it could be pretty funny and touching to show them seeing how their peers at that time did that.

Hey!...it can go away from the topic but...
Class find a strange capsula, show it to Mr. Simmons. Soon they all see it's filled by old toys, photos, rings, even they find out a mouldy cake (Garold's wailing: "...It's uneatable!!!"). They see all subscribed with names and dates (1974 year). Mr. Simmons finds out the graduation album with the class of that year.
Class and Mr.Simmons decide to return things to their owners dividing into groups.
Through this adventure they could stuck in the hilarious cases while others would be extremely sad.

How's this?

I think this could be a seperate ep. . .
maybe it's in an old storage room in the school and they find it withold confiscated items that they try returning. . .

Yep...I also thought it when looked back lol
You say about my idea or original?

I also thought could we do this episode devided into two parts?

I think the ideas could be seperate. . .
hmmm. . . or should we mix both
I think the time capsule and returning things have potential to be seperate ps but its what ya think

First of all, let me just say: I ADORE this idea. It is lovely and touching and sweet and wonderful and has the potential to be quite humorous (What are people like Stinky and Curly going to put in it? XD! And Rhonda would totally put something from last year's fashion in the capsule-- "I've been meaning to bury this anyway." XD).

Secondly, I think we could combine both into one idea. Every 10 years, PS 118 buries and digs up a time capsule (the one being dug up being from the previous decade, obviously). This year just happens to be the year that the tradition occurs on.

Also, things buried in a time capsule usually do have personal significance, but are traditionally items which can be enjoyed by others digging it up-- Arnold having his parents' picture in there is a sweet idea, but it might be too personal and plus photos don't last that long down there. Perhaps Arnold has one of his baby toys that he could bury (after remembering playing with it with his parents, of course)? However, I love the idea of Helga burying her first Arnold "locket." It just makes me think of the future generation digging it up and going, "What's this piece of construction paper with some kid on it doing in here?" XD

I love the Rhonda's reaction xDD
Mmm...but then they won't just throw the things from the previous capsule away?

Well, if I dug up a time capsule, I sure wouldn't throw the contents away! XD

Also, Harold has to bury a Mr. Nutty Bar, and someone has to say, "Harold, it'll just melt, and you're not going to be the one to dig it back up anyway." And then Harold will whine all disappointed, "Aw, maaaan! Why didn't you guys tell me?!"

sorry but what is Mr. Nutty Bar....a drink?

well...so the idea about two parts when kids return the contests to their owners and when they themselves bury their things is working?

I love the idea of the kids returning the contents of past to its present owners but I think it shouldn't have to be in a capsule. . .

mmm...I gotcha!
So maybe the contests would be in the secret place in some school's room?
And while returning items to the owners guys find out it's from 'capsule'. The tradition was ruined and only they can continue it.
How's this if it's not in capsule?

can you explain further Retromanka?

*sigh* This idea makes me wanna cry with joy...