Henry - 1878
Henry Muller sits by a tree admiring a lantern he has made, and is soon joined by his friend Franklin. They briefly discuss their plans to start their own company when they grow up. Henry suggests they name it 'Muller and Wong', but Franklin believes that 'Wong and Muller' has a nicer ring to it. Their meeting is interrupted when Mei-Lin, Franklin's younger sister is attracted by the sight of the lantern and runs over to play. Franklin nervously tells Henry that he needs to leave and takes his sister back home with him. Henry follows along, excited to try out their latest invention at school, despite Franklin's suggestion that they test it first.The following day ends in disaster for Henry, with the school building blowing up and all of his classmates evacuating. His teacher Mr Twist emerges with his hair singed and grabs him by the collar, dragging him all the way to the Muller house.
Henry's aunt Minna opens the door for Mr Twist and is taken aback by what is in front of her. Nevertheless, she invites her nephew's teacher in to find out what has happened. Mr Twist tells Minna and her brother Karl about some of Henry's past misdeeds before coming to the decision of expelling the boy. Minna protests, insisting that Henry needs a proper education. Karl is mildly disappointed, but consoles himself with the fact that he will have an extra pair of hands to help him in the saddlery.
Getting expelled from school does nothing to quell Henry's thirst for inventing things however, and very soon he and Franklin have made a dough churner. Going against Franklin's advice, Henry goes straight to Cornelius King's bakery to present the machine.
Stanley the baker's son is unhappy to see the other two boys, as well as reluctant to accept the dough churner. Stanley's father soon arrives on the scene and agrees to try it out, much to Stanley's disappointment.
The dough machine works incredibly well and Stanley's father is impressed, until he remembers that dough expands when heated. Henry panics, realizing that he overlooked a major detail. The machine explodes, sending hot dough everywhere and injuring Stanley's father.
After his father has been taken away for medical treatment, a dejected Stanley sits on the steps and bitterly reminds Henry that a child cannot run a bakery alone. Henry and Franklin pick up the remains of the dough churner, while Stanley threatens to tell Karl Muller everything.
Mr Cornelius King recovers and tells Henry's father about the failed dough churner. Karl forbids Henry from working on anymore inventions at home. Being the avid young inventor that he is, Henry isn't willing to give up his passion so easily and rebuilds the dough machine at Franklin's place.
Henry sees Mrs Wong toiling away, washing clothes for wealthy folk like the Owens and comes up with a new idea. He makes a few adjustments to the dough machine and presents it to Franklin's father Leck, telling him that it is a new laundry machine.
Leck, his wife, and Franklin are the audience as Henry prepares to show off the capabilities of the invention. Things go far from well unfortunately, and Mrs Wong throws a fit when she sees the shirts that have been torn and mangled by the machine. Leck tries to calm her down, but she angrily forbids Henry from spending time with her son again, calling him a bad influence.
Feeling guilty for ruining the clothes of some of Mrs Wong's customers, Henry tries a few times to apologize and make things up with Franklin. Franklin rejects him each time, claiming that the whole invention business has got them into nothing but trouble.
Henry returns home and resigns himself to a future as a saddler like his father. He tears all of his invention plans off his bedroom wall and disposes of them, despite Minna's attempt to comfort him.
An indefinite amount of time passes as Henry works with his father day in and day out. Things begin to look up again one morning when Minna cheerfully tells him that they have a special visitor.
It is Mr Twist, whom has requested that Karl Muller fix the saddle on his penny-farthing. Karl scratches his head at the task, but Henry sees his chance to shine and assists his father throughout the process while giving helpful advice.
Henry and his father return the penny-farthing to Mr Twist, whom is quick to praise the quality of the saddle's design and the springs underneath it. Henry, now having learned an important lesson, warns his former teacher against being too excited. He tells the man to give a bicycle a few short test rides, before going long distances. Mr Twist heeds his advice.
Karl proudly congratulates Henry for his contribution and once again becomes more lenient towards his son's hobby. Henry is glad at this change, but his mood drops once he realizes that his friendship with Franklin is still strained.
The following day, there is a noticeable distress among the Chinese immigrants in town. Henry expresses his confusion and Minna informs him that the Wong's daughter has gone missing.
Henry rushes to Franklin's house where his friend explains that Mei-Lin ran away after Leck and his wife had a big argument. Henry offers to help the search party, but Franklin urges him to stay out of it.
Henry follows Franklin into the nearby bush, despite the latter's insistence that he doesn't need help. The two boys wander deeper into the wild without seeing any sign of Mei-Lin. Franklin makes a desperate comment about celebrating Chinese New Year as a whole family, which reminds Henry of Mei-Lin's love of brightly coloured lanterns. Franklin soon realizes this as well and they hurry home to find a red floating lantern, before releasing it into the air.
Several moments pass and their prayers are answered when a tired Mei-Lin appears. She runs to her brother and the three children walk back to town together in relief.
On the night of Chinese New Year, the Wong's express their gratitude to Henry for helping find their daughter and allow him to launch a lantern.
The sky is soon filled with red beacons and everyone present marvels at the sight.
In a final scene before the credits roll, Mr Twist shows up and tells Henry that he is welcome to go back to school whenever he wants.
Tropes
- Bungling Inventor: Henry and Franklin.
- Chekhov's Gun: The lantern Henry is holding at the start of the episode becomes crucial in finding Mei-lin.
- Chinese Launderer: Mrs Wong.
- Family Business: The Mullers' Saddlery, which features prominently in this episode.
- Leave Me Alone!: Franklin to Henry, after Mrs Wong forbids them from hanging out together.
