has been provided by the William Penn Foundation with additional support from The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Sidewater Family Foundation, the Thomas Locke Charitable Fund and viewers like you.

(upbeat music) ♪ At start of the day ♪ The sun says hello ♪ It's shining my way ♪ It's saying let's go ♪ It's so nice to hear the button go ding ♪ ♪ Who could it be ♪ My heart starts to sing ♪ Albie's Elevator ♪ Albie's Elevator ♪ Albie's Elevator ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ Each floor is a friend ♪ Each floor is a neighbor ♪ And where do we meet ♪ On Albie's Elevator ♪ Albie's Elevator ♪ Albie's Elevator ♪ Albie's Elevator ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ Albie's Elevator (playful organ music) (elevator dings) - Does this microphone make me sound like the announcer?

Or does this microphone make me sound even more announcery?

- [Tibitz] I believe they both sound sufficiently loud.

- You think so, Tibitz?

Maybe I just use them both like this and mm, mm, mm, mm, mm.

Oh, hey!

Welcome to the elevator!

You're here on an extra good day.

I have these microphones!

They're not like microphone microphones, they're like microphones I made with my hands and my brain (laughs).

Anyway, today is going to be a big day of testing out my new microphones with all my neighbors to see which one I like the best.

But first, I'm in charge of making sure the elevator is ready for the day, Tibitz!

- I'm ready to get ready.

- Elevator buttons, ready.

- [Tibitz] Elevator buttons are colorful, shiny and activated, ready.

- Gasps, ready?

(characters gasp) (Huggy gasps) - It appears everyone still remembers how to gasp, ready.

- Whoo, so fun (laughs).

Pep talk, ready?

- Pep talk.

Your creativity is endless.

- Endless?

- Endless.

- Endless.

(dramatic music) Thanks, Tibitz.

(elevator dings) Ooh, a neighbor is coming.

They're about to be the lucky person to hear my very first microphone test (clears throat).

(western music) Wait a second.

(western music) - Good mornin'.

Are you the elevator operator?

- I am, but I don't think I've seen your before.

- I'm your local elevator inspector.

The name (whip cracks) is Johnny.

- Inspector?

- Inspector.

I inspect.

- Uh, Tibitz?

- It means he looks at things very closely.

- And I make sure they work.

- Okay, well, I'm Albie and I'll just be over here inspecting these two microphones I made.

Which one do you like more?

This one?

Inspect!

Or this one?

Inspect, spect, spect, spect, hmm?

- Mm, second option, for sure.

- Great, one vote for this microphone.

Now we'll just have to ask everyone else who comes in the elevator today which one they like.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Hold your horses there, Albie.

- These are microphones.

- Well, then hold your microphones.

No one can use the elevator while I'm inspecting.

- What?

- This is serious business that I take seriously.

I'm gonna be looking at every nook.

(Albie gasps) Every cranny.

(Albie gasps) Every teensy, weensy, meency, beency, squeency little spot to make sure it's all in tip top shape.

(Albie gasps) - Thank goodness we checked our gasps this morning.

- I believe I may faint.

- Nothing to faint about really.

It's just to make sure that everything works and is safe to use.

Sorry for interrupting your day.

I think I'll get started on the outside of the elevator.

By the way, this is my sign.

It says no elevator rides today.

Please use the stairs.

- All day?

Tibitz, no one on the elevator all day?

- I'm afraid that is what the inspector said.

- But, but I had big plans.

Plans that involved other people.

- Well, no one is coming in or out.

- Oh, I guess it's just you and me playing all day.

- Tibitz, is it?

Johnny, elevator inspector, I need to talk to you.

- Yes?

- Would you mind running system program G4X5?

I just wanna make sure you're up to date with the latest.

- A software upgrade?

(electricity pops) Oh, my, what a treat.

I'd be delighted.

Sorry, Albie, I'll have to run this program for the inspector.

Playtime will have to wait.

(Tibitz buzzes) - I guess I'll have to find something else, wait!

Huggy Pepper.

Huggy will be around ready to play.

Hey, Huggy.

Oh.

(Huggy jabbers) - You're an elevator inspector, too?

Since when?

(Huggy jabbers) - You're an undercover elevator inspector?

Um.

(Tibitz buzzes) Tibitz?

- Undercover means secret.

(Tibitz buzzes) - The whole time?

(Huggy jabbers) - Well, I guess you can't really play either then, lots of clipboard stuff to do, lots of looking closely at things, inspecting?

(Huggy jabbers) I understand.

Have fun, Huggy.

(Huggy springs) So, Huggy can't play and Tibitz can't either and no one else is coming on the elevator today.

This means I'm (suspenseful music) All alone (gasps).

And also bored.

(dramatic music) - Sorry about that.

Just doing a test of Loretta's pipes.

They're working beautifully.

Just as I inspected.

(pen cracks) - Today is gonna feel like one bajillion casquillion days.

What am I supposed to do?

Three, two, one, Ping pong doesn't work as well without a partner.

Hide and seek is just hiding.

Anyone wanna find me?

Hello?

I'll give you a hint.

I'm under the blanket.

And how am I supposed to tell my world famous knock-knock joke?

Knock-knock!

I said, knock-knock.

Doesn't anyone hear this knock?

Aren't you wondering who's there?

I guess you'll never know!

There's just nothing to do.

(elevator rattles) - Bottom half of the elevator's in tip top shape.

- I'm glad someone is having fun, hmm.

- You know, I couldn't help but overhear you listing out all the things you can't do.

- It's a pretty long list.

- But, have you ever consider all the things you can do?

- What do you mean?

- Well, you could think about being bored as a bad thing and just have a sort of a grumpy old day where you just mope.

- Uh, Tibitz?

- Moping is kind of feeling sorry for yourself and walking around like a big sad potato.

Or, you can flip it on its head.

- Flip the sad potato?

- Oh, yeah, and have a French fry bonanza.

- How, what, what?

- Bored is like rocket fuel for your imagination.

It's a big old blank page and a chance for your noggin, your brain, your creativity to go bananas.

- Whoa!

- I love being bored.

It's a whole new adventure.

- That sounds amazing.

Do you wanna be bored with me right now?

- Ooh, I'd love to, Albie, but there's still more check marks I gotta make on my clipboard.

I think you can handle this one, though.

Bored is beautiful.

- Hmm, rocket fuel, huh?

The games I know don't really work with just one person, but maybe I could find a different way to play them.

Or even make up a whole new game.

I have this blanket and these ping pong things and some tubes from my microphone making and, and.

(Johnny knocks) Huggy Pepper.

(Huggy jabbers) Listen, I'll need to do a check of the sound system on your stage.

Would you be able to play a song for me?

(Huggy jabbers) Ooh, I like that idea even better.

Wonderful plan, Huggy.

(Huggy jabbers) One, two, three, four.

♪ Movin' up and down ♪ On the elevator ♪ Of life ♪ Sometimes you gotta stop ♪ And get a flat full of cardboard ♪ ♪ The floorboard's shufflin' around ♪ ♪ Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo ♪ ♪ In a state of constant motion ♪ ♪ You never stop to hear the sound ♪ ♪ Of an ocean lappin' up against the shore ♪ ♪ But when you're bored ♪ You can look around and see ♪ A sea of possibility ♪ Your mind is free ♪ To picture all the things that could be ♪ ♪ Movin' up and down ♪ On the elevator ♪ Of life ♪ Sometimes you gotta take ♪ Your microphone and get ready for it ♪ ♪ 'Cause when you take it whoa, whoa, whoa ♪ ♪ It's like a frame emancipator ♪ ♪ For all kinds of fresh adventures ♪ ♪ Dazzling adventures ♪ You never would've intentioned ♪ ♪ Or even would've mentioned ♪ If you weren't bored ♪ Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo ♪ ♪ If you weren't bored ♪ Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo ♪ ♪ If you weren't bored.

(audience applauding) (door creeks) (check mark springs) Huggy Pepper sound system sounds pretty good if I do say so myself.

Check, check, check.

Almost done, Albie.

Hey, what do we have here?

- Oh, hey, Johnny.

Sorry, I'm just working on this fort.

It's a new and improved design.

I just came up with the idea.

- While you were bored?

- While I was bored.

- All right.

- Hey, I just wanna let you know that I'm almost done with the inspection and your neighbors will be allowed back on in no time.

- Ah, take your time.

This is just the main entrance of the fort.

I'm gonna add a room for ping pong back there and a stage for my joke telling right over there.

- Well, give me a heads up when it's finished.

I might wanna give it a thorough inspection.

(Huggy jabbers) - Looks like Huggy Pepper's already on it.

Check.

(both laugh) (upbeat music) - [Crowd] Elevator checked.

- Johnny said the elevator is safe and working and all the nooks and crannies are terrific.

I didn't get to do what I'd planned today and I thought I was going to be so bored, but I ended up having a lot of fun.

Have you ever made up a game?

What do you like to play when you're by yourself?

(elevator dings) Finally, a neighbor who wants to use the elevator.

- Hey, Albie.

- Johnny, are you back for another inspection?

- No, no, I got finished with that early.

I was just curious.

I never got to hear that knock-knock joke you were working on.

- Oh, yeah, okay (clears throat), knock-knock.

- Who's there?

- Donut.

- Donut who?

- Donut ask me, I don't know (laughs).

- Amazing, that was worth coming back for.

(both laugh) Oh, here's another one, you ready, knock-knock.

- Who's there?

- Banana.

- Banana who?

- Knock-knock?

- Who's there?

- Banana.

- Banana who?

- Knock-knock.

- Who's there.

- Orange.

- Orange who?

- Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

- Oh, my gosh, Albie!

(upbeat organ music) (upbeat music) Ladles, spoons, we need 'em, spoons, for soup and pudding and for me.

Spoons are the best thing since sliced bread, I love my spoons, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm.

Oh, hi, there.

Welcome to my fantabulous elevator.

I'm so glad you're here.

Should we get ready for the day?

What do you think, Tibitz?

- I think we shall, Albie.

- Elevator buttons, ready?

- [Tibitz] Elevator buttons are colorful, shiny and activated, ready.

- Morning snack ready.

- I believe Huggy Pepper is making some lovely grilled cheese sandwiches.

- Boo, boo, boo, boo, boo, boo.

- All right and pep talk, ready.

(characters coo) - Pep talk ready.

You can make your own magic.

- Aw, thanks, Tibitz.

I feel like I'm already making my own magic.

I've been working since yesterday on my very own Box City.

(characters babble) It's a bunch of moving boxes that I borrowed from Rosie and I stacked them up to make a mini town.

There's an apartment building like the one I live in, an ice cream shop, a dog salon and a saloon.

Next, we're working on a post office for Gene.

Ooh.

(upbeat music) - Whoa.

- Say hello to Box Town, the boxiest town this side of town.

- Very impressive, Albie.

- Oh, thanks.

I spent so much time putting it together.

- And very large.

Are these all the moving boxes from my office?

- Uh-huh.

- Ali in apartment 28 is going to need them to pack up her things.

We'll need to give her the boxes soon.

- (laughs) What?

And destroy Box Town (laughs).

Oh, that's good.

- She's going to need them to pack up her things.

- Where is she even moving?

Does she wanna move to Box Town instead?

- Albie.

- Rosie, watch out.

- Sorry, Albie, it's just hard to fit in here with all these boxes.

What if one of our neighbors needs to use the elevator?

You might need to- - I don't like the sound of this.

- I know you worked really hard on this project, but you might need to say goodbye to Box Town.

- Or... - Albie, where did you do?

- Or, I would sit right here forever and never leave (laughs).

I'm the mayor of Box Town now.

And you can't tear down the town when the mayor's in it, hmm.

- Albie, Ali needs those boxes.

- Well, the residents of Box Town don't agree.

- The residents?

- Yeah, the people who live here.

Citizens, yoo, hoo.

(characters babble) - Wait, you mean you guys live here now?

- Sorry, Rosie, looks like we can't move Box Town.

- Box Town is really cool.

- I agree, hmm.

- But it can't be a thing that sticks around all the time.

Other people use this elevator and with this many boxes there isn't enough room for them.

- But anything cool should be a thing that sticks around forever.

Forever!

- [Together] Forever, forever, forever.

- Maybe we can find someone who can help figure this out.

- If this is a trick to get me to leave Box Town, I'm not falling for it.

It's rude to trick the mayor.

- I promise it's not a trick.

You can even stay in Box Town.

- Oh.

(drums beating) (computer dings) - Hi, Rosie.

- Hi, there, I'm with my friend, Albie.

- Mayor Albie.

- Of course, Mayor Albie.

I was hoping you could tell her a bit about the art you make.

- Of course, Albie.

My name is Vidia.

I am working on a mandala right now.

Come on, let me show you.

A mandala is a circular symmetric pattern, created with geometric forms and shapes that radiates from its center.

Hi, Nandita.

- Hi, Mom.

- Would you mind filling these designs with rice flour.

- [Nandita] Sure.

- So, the mandala has lines, circles, little semi-circles, like the one that I am drawing now.

Mandala is a sign to welcome people into your home, a symbol of good luck and harmony.

You know it takes hours to make a big mandala like this.

- But aren't you afraid of what will happen to it?

What if someone steps on it or the flour blows away?

- It is not going to last forever.

A mandala can get erased by passing feet or it can get washed away by rain or blown away by the wind.

- But it took such a long time and you worked so hard.

- I feel that when I make a mandala, it just removes all of the unhappy things for me and it makes me feel calm.

And even though it doesn't last forever, like my mom said, I'm still happy when I make it because the feelings that I feel just stick with me.

- But it is so fun.

I enjoy it so much.

- Thanks for showing us your work.

- Good luck, Mayor Albie.

- See you later, Rosie.

(upbeat music) - I guess some things can't stick around forever.

Have you ever had to say goodbye to something you worked hard on?

Was it tough?

- Mayor Albie?

- Yes.

- How are you feeling?

Do you still want Box Town to stick around forever?

- I did, I do.

I really wanna keep Box Town up forever.

It's so neat and I spent so much time building it.

It was a lot of fun.

- I'm sure.

You must feel so proud.

- I do feel proud, but I guess if I have to take it apart now so other people can use the elevator, maybe some other time I can put a new one together and that will be fun, too.

- That's the spirit.

- Okay, Rosie.

I'll take down Box Town so Allie can have her boxes.

- Thanks, Albie.

That's very thoughtful of you.

I appreciate it and I'm sure Allie will, too.

- Let me just take some mind pictures so I can remember it.

(upbeat music) Goodbye, fire station, click.

(upbeat music) Goodbye saloon, click.

(somber music) Goodbye ice cream shop, click (cries).

I think have all my brain pictures now, Rosie.

- I'm glad.

Time for clean up?

- Just one more thing.

Hey, citizens of Box Town, time to clear out.

(characters babble) - Need some help?

- Oh, yes, please.

Oh, Huggy Pepper, could we please get some tunes?

- Yoo hoo!

♪ Come and meet me in the sunshine ♪ ♪ We'll spend the whole day together ♪ ♪ Dreamin' up a new adventure ♪ I want this to last forever ♪ When the sun goes down I don't wanna leave ♪ ♪ Don't wanna spend the walk home feeling lonely ♪ ♪ Would you take my hand to let me know ♪ ♪ We have a new day tomorrow ♪ I'm gonna close my eyes and memorize ♪ ♪ It's not goodbye forever ♪ I'm gonna close my eyes so deep inside ♪ ♪ We built this together ♪ Orange line spills on your city ♪ ♪ We look back at our time together ♪ ♪ Take a picture and I'll keep it ♪ ♪ I'll be proud of us forever ♪ When the sun goes down ♪ It's okay to leave ♪ Even if I feel a little lonely ♪ ♪ 'Cause I understand the fun we had ♪ ♪ Will stay with me tomorrow ♪ I'm gonna close my eyes and memorize ♪ ♪ It's not goodbye forever ♪ Gonna close my eyes so deep inside ♪ ♪ We built this together ♪ I got big plans, I got good friends ♪ ♪ We're gonna be there for the next one ♪ ♪ I got big plans, I got good friends ♪ ♪ We're gonna be there for the next one ♪ ♪ I got big plans, I got good friends ♪ ♪ We're gonna be there for the next one ♪ ♪ I got big plans, I got good friends ♪ ♪ We're gonna be there for the next one ♪ (door closes) (bright music) - Well, would you look at that?

Thanks, Mayor Albie.

- No problem, Rosie.

But I'm not really the mayor anymore.

- You'll always be the mayor to me.

- Aw (laughs).

- I'll go give these last few boxes to Allie.

- Bye, Rosie.

It was hard to say goodbye to Box Town, but it was really fun while it lasted and who knows, maybe someday soon, I'll get to have even more fun building something totally new.

(Albie laughs) Do you ever wish that things could last forever?

Like a never ending play date with your best friend?

Or, or, or a bowl of super good guacamole?

Me, too.

But it's okay that some things are over.

It just means something new can start.

Oh, hey, Huggy.

Where did that box come from?

(Huggy babbles) It's from Jay's new bike helmet.

All right (gasps).

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

(Huggy babbles) It's time to build a brand new Box Town.

You grab the crayons, I'll take this to the corner.

This'll be our potato shop for once and I guess we could have broccoli and we can have a poodle hat salon, but it's only poodles that sit on your head as your hat and then, oh, my gosh, we need spoons, spoons, spoons, spoons, because spoons are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

(upbeat bright music) - [Narrator] Lead support for this program has been provided by the William Penn Foundation with additional support from The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Sidewater Family Foundation, the Thomas Locke Charitable Fund and viewers like you.

(dog barks) (bugle music) (gentle music)