Episode 1669
Topic: Then and Now
Air Date: September 2, 1993
Previous Episode: 1668 - Then and Now
Next Episode: 1670 - Then and Now
Purchase/Stream: Amazon
Mister Rogers arrives with a snow globe with a town scene inside. He explains that everything in the world is unique: "Did you know that each snowflake in the real world is different from every other snowflake? ...And each animal, each person, each bird, and each fish in the world is different, too. So whenever you see somebody, even somebody in a mirror, you know that that's the only one there is." Mister Rogers sings You Are Special.
Mr. McFeely arrives and is clearly not himself. He has a found a dead bird and asks Mister Rogers for a small box to put it in. Mr. McFeely takes the bird home with him to bury. He mentions that he will ask his grandchildren help him so he has the opportunity to talk with them about "some important things in life." Mister Rogers remembers the feelings he felt when his pet cat died when he was a child.
In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Handyman Negri is playing his guitar for King Friday's pet birds. King Friday shares his memories of a live pet bird he once owned that died. Handyman Negri assures King Friday that Mimus and Trog will never die as they are not real living birds.
At the tree, Lady Aberlin is somewhat confused to find Henrietta Pussycat dressed up and looking older. Henrietta is thinking about what it will be like to be old and what it will be like when she dies. X the Owl is not interested in talking about dying as he will "live every day as it comes."
Lady Aberlin helps Mr. McFeely by delivering a plant to the Platypus Mound where Ana is planning to give the plant to her parents as an anniversary gift.
Daniel is at his clock playing with his trucks. He shares with Lady Aberlin that he does not want his trucks to die. Lady Aberlin explains that "toys don't get born like people...and toys don't grow...so toys don't die, either. Since they haven't lived, they don't die."
Handyman Negri gets his first glimpse of the Trolley's magical abilitiy to show images. Trolley shares a picture of everyone in the Neighborhood all together.
Back at the house, Mister Rogers reads When a Pet Dies.
Notes
Mister Rogers and King Friday both share memories and pictures of pets they once had that have died. Mister Rogers of a pet cat, Sybil, and King Friday of a pet bird, Cherry.
When a Pet Dies is a part of the First Experiences book series.
Appearing In This Episode
- Ana Platypus
- Daniel Striped Tiger
- Handyman Negri
- Henrietta Pussycat
- King Friday XIII
- Lady Aberlin
- Mimus Polyglottos
- Mister Rogers
- Mr. McFeely
- Troglodytes Aedon
- X the Owl
Songs
Images
Episode Credits
With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: Betty Aberlin, Joe Negri, David Newell, Carole Switala
Executive Producer: Fred Rogers
Producer: Margaret Whitmer
Director: Bob Walsh
Associate Producer: Adrienne Wehr
Music Director: John Costa
Produced in association with WQED/Pittsburgh
A production of Family Communications
© 1993 Family Communications, Inc.