Buried Treasure: Every Midnight I Turn Into a Wolf/The Case of the Missing Files (S3E20)

Hey grownups, Lee here! See Story Pirates Live! Our amazing touring cast, including Eric, will be visiting some East Coast cities this spring to perform some of your favorite songs from the podcast. And they'll take suggestions from kids in the audience to create a brand new story that will only be seen once. Best of all, all of our upcoming shows are on weekends, so no need to worry about school nights or bedtime routines. You'll see you soon in Munhal, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Ohio, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Medford, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston, and Richfield, Connecticut. Tickets to all of the shows are on sale now at StoryPirates.com slash live! Hey Story Pirates podcast listeners, Lee here! Welcome back to Buried Treasure, where we throw back to some of our favorite full episodes from the Story Pirates archives. Today we're revisiting the 20th episode of season 3, which features one of my favorite songs we've ever done, and one of my favorite stories we've ever done, and the story of when the Story Pirates encountered a certain outer space planet that was desperate for us to hang out and have some fun. Now as you may have heard, we have a secret codename for every episode, and in Buried Treasure we are revealing those secret codenames for the very first time. And the secret codename for this episode is Party Planet. Coming up right after a few words for the grownups! Huh, that's weird. What is it Nimminy? Well, all these little speckles keep showing up on the windshield of the ship. I keep thinking it's regular space dust, but I'm pretty sure it's confetti? Uh, excuse me, does anyone else hear that thumping bass line that sounds like it's gradually getting louder and louder? Hey, is anyone else seeing those colorful strobe lights outside? Yeah, I think there's a planet out there. And it looks like the whole planet is having a party! Do you think we could stop by? Oh, you never know which casting directors might be at a party! Megan, I don't think a casting director from Earth is going to be at a party on a planet way out on the edge of space. You never know! Um, sorry Megan, we're running a really tight schedule. We just need to fly right past this planet. Hey! Wow! Hi! Look at all of you sweet ship! Welcome! Come here! Who said that? Whoa, check it out! The planet is rotating! And it's got a face? A giant face! Hey guys, it's me! It's the planet, I'm like a whole planet. The planet is talking to us! What do we do? Maybe we should talk back! Hello, great and mighty planet! No, no, just call me party planet. Party planet? Yeah, I love to party. Oh, really? Oh, that explains the name though. I'm really happy you guys came to my party. Uh, party planet, if this is a party, where is everyone? Oh, well, it's kind of still space dinner time, so people I'm imagining are still finishing up their meals with their family and friends, but then they usually go to the parties after that. But hey, thanks for being the first ones here. Do you guys want to push your rides? This party is kinda late. Yeah, we should get out of here. Thanks party planet, but we should really get going. Wait, wait, wait, I insist, are you guys hungry? Cause I got a bunch of jumbo bags of vorgios. Oh, actually, you know, we've got a lifetime supply of vorgios on our ship, so… Oh, well, I'm sure we can find something to do. Come on, this party's gonna be fun. Oh, no! Uh-oh, we're stuck in this planet's orbit. The gravitational pull is too strong and he won't let us go. We can't escape. You can't leave until you party with me! Ah! I love storypipes. I like my story. Don't write for other people, just write for yourself. Just go for the imagination. This is weird. I've been wanting to write a story and I'm obsessed with reals. Sheep, get out of here. We're trying to finish a story. The storypipers. Welcome back to the Storypipers podcast, everyone. Where we take stories written by kids. And turn them into sketch comedy. And songs. None of you are allowed to leave. None do we have fun or else. Ugh, okay, calm down party planet. What do you want to do? Uh, I've got a broomstick. Maybe we could all play limbo. Or I could take out my acoustic guitar. And we could all sing a popular 90s pop rock hit. Like, today I'm gonna be on them, going down. As much as I would love to see a whole planet play the guitar. Uh, can we please just do a story first? Yeah! Okay, listeners, this first story features Tony Award-winning actress Lena Hall on lead vocals. So, uh, yeah, get ready to rock. Here's the author to introduce it. Hi, my name is Marin, and I'm 11 years old, and I live in Washington. This is my story every midnight I turn into a wolf. I started to happen when I was five. I felt a pop pop in the side of my mind. And so I ran away cause I heard a scream. By the crack of dawn I knew it wasn't just a bad dream. I awoke in the morning and saw in the woods a bunch of pop poppins. Now this isn't good. And so I kept on running to my grandma's place. I said, grandma, am I cursed? She said, that is not the case. You have undergone a transformation. One that skipped your parents' generation. Now I'll tell you something if you promise not to shout. Apparently you turn into a wolf. A wolf! A wolf. I freaked out. Oh, I dreamt that I turned into a wolf. I dreamt that I turned into a wolf. And then I just forget about it. Six years later no reported incidents went to a slumber party. Just me and all my friends. Five normal humans. I'll tell you their names. We got Susie, Lily, Kate, Mark and finally James. Yeah, we played a little board game and we ate a little snack. When it comes to sleepovers, Oz was on track. Then we got a little sleepy so we all went to bed. That's when I heard that poppin in my head. You have undergone a transformation. One that skipped your parents' generation. All my friends were staring then they all began to shout. So I found a window and I jumped my wolves out. I dreamt that I turned into a wolf. She turned into a wolf. She turned into a wolf. I dreamt that I turned into a wolf. And now I can't forget about it. From that moment I swore. To span the rest of my life in wolf form. This is who I am and now I'll never have to hide. I even took the chance with a nice wolf looking for romance. Now I'm free, a wolf is mean. I feel so alive. I dreamt that I turned into a wolf. She's always been a wolf but now she's bouncing back her walks. I dreamt that I turned into a wolf. She's always been a wolf. It changed. I dreamt that I turned into a wolf. I dreamt that I turned into a wolf. Every midnight she turned into a wolf. Every midnight she turned into a wolf. And I never will forget about it. Ow! And now Leigh speaks with the author. So, Marin, you wrote every midnight I turned into a wolf. Yes. Can you tell me how you came to write that story? I was just sitting in my room and for like a while now I've been wanting to write a story and I'm obsessed with werewolves. When I was a kid I was really obsessed with werewolves too. Really? Yeah. I did not know that. Yeah, I was really into werewolves and I remember this one time I was like in my backyard walking around like practicing my werewolf howl. Oh my gosh. When I came inside my mom was like why were you making a chicken sound out there? That's funny. What's interesting to you about werewolves? Well, I kind of just like how they're half human and half wolf. Yeah. And like they're super fast and they have good eye vision and they have tails and ears like wolf ears which is amazing. One of my favorite parts of your story is the sleepover. Yeah. I can just picture how much everyone was like freaking out when she turned into a wolf. They all hid behind one another and then they're like in a line trying to move back to the door. Do you think their parents believe them? No, probably not until she wasn't seen again. Have you ever seen something and tried to tell people about it and they didn't believe you? Actually yes because when I was younger around seven and I was at a Girl Scout camping trip and my friend had just lost her tooth. And I actually saw her tooth fairy because it was one in the morning and I think I was the only one awake. And I just saw her tooth fairy standing in the corner of my eye. No way really? Yeah. What does she look like? Hmm. I don't really remember but I do think she had a rainbow dress. Oh wow. And the rainbow was actually fading. A fading rainbow dress. Did you freak out? Well not really because I had always believed in mystical creatures. If I knew if I freaked out I would wake everyone up and she would run away. And did people believe you? I don't think they did because afterwards I kind of saw the looks on their faces. And how did it make you feel that you saw this thing but no one believed you? Kind of felt like people would think I'm crazy but at least it's good knowing something that other people don't really know. If you care about something and other people don't believe you that's fine. Just don't listen to them. And what do you have to do inside of yourself to sort of feel strong and confident in what you believe even when others don't? I mostly just think they have yet to see what I have seen in my past. Yeah like they haven't had that experience yet. Yeah. As someone who believes in mythical creatures etc. Is there one kind of creature that you are hoping to see in your lifetime? It's either a dragon or a wolf. A werewolf. If you had to pick which would you pick? They're equally great. Yeah. Do you have your own werewolf howl? Do you think you would you mind doing your werewolf howl for me? Okay. Okay. That was really good. Can you do yours? Yeah I'll do mine. Oh wait sorry I haven't practiced in a long time. Ow! Ow! Ow! That sounded really good. Thank you you didn't think it sounded like a chicken? No I think your mom misheard. I think she misheard as well. Thank you very much. You're welcome. Wait can we howl together because wolves have to howl in a pack right? Okay. Okay here we go. Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Yes! Marin this has been so fun to talk to you. You too. Thanks for letting us perform your story. And thank you Lee for choosing it. Oh you're so welcome. Alright. Thank you Lee. Thanks Marin. Bye. Wow that story. That's so good. I thought it was wonderful. Fun times, fun times, fun times. Come on everybody. Okay well I guess we can play one game with you party planet. But then do you promise to let us go? Yes! Woohoo! Alright! Oh man so many options. What do you want to play? Oh I know. There's this super fun party game I've been dying to try. It was voted the number one most fun party game by party game enthusiasts in Turgalactic during last year's Intergalactic Party Game Enthusiasts convention y'all. Is it charades? It is charades. How did you know that? I am a proud lifetime member of Party Game Enthusiasts Intergalactic. Hey fellow member. When you've got a lot of people play a party game. Yeah. Wow I've never met another member of Party Game Enthusiasts Intergalactic outside of a convention. I go to all the conventions. Because you love games? Well not necessarily but I do love competing. And winning. Well anyway you must love party games. My girlfriend got me into them. Oh you have a girlfriend? Yeah she was a moon but we drifted apart. I'm still not sure how that happened. Anyway yeah charades. I'll go first. Here we go. Did we start? Is he starting? Oh are we supposed to be guessing now? I think he's pantomimeing but since he's a planet it kind of looks like he's just sitting still. Guys come on. You gotta guess. Okay fine I'll give you the category. Category is movies. That's it. Last hint. No more talking from me starting now. Okay. Two words. Yes! Megan how did you do that? I don't know I just guessed. Maybe we should all just start guessing. Okay yeah yeah. First word sounds like muffin. Did you say muffin? No that's a terrible guess. Whoa sorry party planet it's just it's kind of hard to guess what you're acting out because you're a planet and it's hard for you to gesture. Fine. If you think it's so easy why don't you try? Okay I'll go first everyone. First I'll pantomime the category. Oh music the category is music. Yes got it. Nice. Okay here's the next part. Oh five words. Hey guys I can't see. Looks like he's unfurling a long piece of paper a scroll. Yes and he's pointing at the bottom of it. Taxes. Some. Subtotal. Good work. Yes guys. Guys really you're all so small. If you could just maybe get a bit closer. Here's the next word. Okay he's putting his hand in front of his face. Hiding mask cover. Oh oh it clips. Yes that's it. Oh fifth word heart. Oh John it clips to the heart. Yes you got it. Incredible serenity me. Also you guys were pretty good at guessing. Thank you very much. Oh come on. No fair. I couldn't even see. I totally wouldn't have gotten that if you just played the game right. You're ruining the whole party. Whoa party planet we didn't mean to offend you. I thought we all just having fun. Whoops I meant to say fun not fun. Fun. Hey Peter that's pretty funny. Oh you did it. Fun. Fun. Fun. Fun. Everyone stop laughing. We're not supposed to develop inside jokes and laugh about them until 9 30. Oh this whole night is ruined. That's it. This party is cancelled. Where is all that soft rain coming from? Lee I don't think that's rain. I think those are tears. I think party planet is crying. Oh no no party planet we're sorry. Yeah why don't you try doing your charade again. Yeah. Yeah come on. No it's okay. It doesn't matter anymore. You can all just fly home now this party is officially over. We'll be right back. Hey grownups Lee here. See Story Pirates Live. Our amazing touring cast including Eric will be visiting some East Coast cities this spring to perform some of your favorite songs from the podcast. And they'll take suggestions from kids in the audience to create a brand new story that will only be seen once. Best of all all of our upcoming shows are on weekends so no need to worry about school nights or bedtime routines. We'll see you soon in Munhal Pennsylvania just outside of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati Ohio, Portsmouth New Hampshire, Medford Massachusetts just outside of Boston, and Richfield, Connecticut. Tickets to all the shows are on sale now at StoryPirates.com. This party is officially over. Hey party planet I don't mean to overstep my bounds here but it kind of feels like maybe you're crying because of some deeper issues that you're experiencing and not because of the game. It's just that well I throw these parties every night and nobody ever wants to hang out with me. I try really hard to make friends but no matter how hard I try, no matter how cool of a party I throw, nothing works. I just don't get it. I mean how did you guys get to be such good friends? Well nothing really forced us to become friends. It just sort of happened. We might have some similar interests but we also all like doing different things too. And those differences are things that we appreciate in one another. That's right Megan. For example, I really like eating snacks. That doesn't really feel like a hobby you can use to define yourself. Don't interrupt. Look, just because you have an idea in your head about what other people might like about you, like your ability to throw a cool party, it doesn't mean that people would actually enjoy those things. Yeah, the best way you can make friends is by just being yourself and finding people who love you for who you are. I guess I never thought of it like that. Party Planet, do you even like charades? Not at all. I'm actually more of a crossword puzzle kind of guy. Wait, is Party Planet even your name? No, it's Proxima's surface but my mom calls me Mark. I've sort of been forcing people to call me Party Planet. Well, Proxima's surface? Please call me Mark. Mark, if you threw your own party full of stuff that you like, what would it look like? First off, no more of that loud techno music, something more like this. Oh, that's more like it. We can definitely get rid of all this gross fruit punch and replace it with some lightly flavored seltzer. Perfect! And now for the peace day resistance, out with the charades and in with the crossword puzzles. Oh! Now let's party. Oh, okay, let's start with the team boxes. There's a lot of boxes. Are you collecting boxes? Whoa, Mark, are you doing crossword puzzles? Della? Is that you? Yeah, it's me, Della, one of your moons. What? I thought you stopped orbiting me years ago. Well, if I'm being honest, I just never really wanted to party, so I've been hanging out on the other side of you where you can't see me. You know, the side without your face. Wow, I can't believe you went behind my back, literally. Do you think I could join in and do some crossword puzzles with you? Absolutely! Hey everyone, come check it out! Mark's got crossword puzzles! Oh, cool! Wow! Nella, Bella, Cinderella, all of my moons! You were all back there hiding from me the whole time? It is that... Stella. Hi, Mark. Stella! Guys, this is my ex-girlfriend, Stella. Hi! We've got a lot of catching up to do, but I'm so proud of you. I'm so happy to see you again. Whoa, look at the time. We've really got to get going. Mark, we've had so much fun doing crossword puzzles with you, but do you think you'd be okay if we went on our way now? You're free to go. Thanks for helping me make new friends. It sure has been... fun. That's the joke! It's the intro to the joke! It's time for that! And then Duncan was like, I was like, what, what, what? Hey, before we go, can we do another story? Yeah! Okay, listeners, this next story is done in the style of a hard-boiled detective story. That means that the main character is grumpy, talks to himself, sits in his detective office all day, and solves crimes. It's actually a lot of fun. Here's the author to introduce it. Hi, my name is Will, and I'm 10 years old, and I'm from Arkansas, and this is my story, the case of the missing files. Ah, just another day for me, Jonathan Jones. A private eye, sitting in my personal office. Looks like today is starting out just like any other with me, reminding myself of my name, occupation, and where I currently am. Time to chillax and make some coffee so I don't feel so darn drowsy. Here I go. Yikes, there is old coffee in here. Jonathan, you gotta be better about these things. This is how you get mold. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm so tired I can barely see. Come on in. Hello, detective. Yes. Oh, dear, looks like you spilled coffee on me. You seem totally relaxed about that. Why? That's my business, not yours. Jonathan Jones, I presume? That's me. I would tell you who you are, but I don't know if we've met. Also, I'm going to be honest. I'm so tired I don't have any idea what you'd look like. Classic, Jonathan. No, we haven't met. If we haven't met, then why would you say classic to- I believe you can help me, Mr. Jones. Right. Let's get that coffee stain cleaned up. No, that's not what a man's eye can eat. I think we'd have instead of white. I have a lady of- I'll do laundry later. It's fine. Well, it doesn't sound fine. But I'll take your word for it, Miss- Harper. Miss Harper McHarperson? I'm going to be honest, that's a strange name. No, it's not. Oh, my mistake. Now I'm embarrassed. In fact, there's nothing to be suspicious about, and I'm a totally normal person who's not against you. Good to know. Sometimes people don't tell me one way or the other, and I have to figure that out myself. Now, back to that stain. No, I mean, the coffee you spilled on me is not the reason I'm here. Interesting. Go on. I'm here because diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and more are being stolen from all over the world. I came here thinking you could help me, and then you spilled coffee all over me. Oh, so you are concerned about the co- No, I'm concerned about the priceless gems being stolen. I see. Tell me more. Well, I don't know anything else, but I can give you a number to call. Your number? No. Good, because I was going to say I don't know if that's necessary. It's the number of a person who's going to give you more information on the case. That checks out. I have to go. Goodbye, Jonathan. Goodbye, Harper McArthurson. Yes, that is my real name. Well, Jonathan, you've started your day off with a totally normal human interaction. Nice going. Also, you got a new case. So first things first, I'll open my cabinet and start a brand new file for this one. What? All my case files gone? Oh no, she stole my files. That means every case I've ever solved, all of my accomplices are gone. Curse my morning drowsiness. Quick, the number she gave me. Time to just plug it into my rotary phone. Let's see here. Five. Five. Five. Five. Five. Five. What's this last number? Five. Good thing she wrote it down. Ah, it's ringing. Crime's Place, how may I help you? Crime's Place, huh? My name is Jonathan Jones. I'm a private eye and I'm very upfront with people. Oh, did I say Crime's Place? I meant Rhymes Place. What's a Rhymes Place? Here at the Rhymes Place, we love to rhyme. In fact, we do it all of the days. Hmm, didn't seem to rhyme. Uh, yes it did. Oh, I'm sorry. Now I'm embarrassed. Rhymes, so well, it's what we do just like dogs go bark or cows go, I'm a cow. Okay, that definitely didn't rhyme. This is the Crime's Place. What's your address? 649 Sheryl River Road. Um, I mean, don't be distracted if our rhymes are minimal. This place is actually full of criminals. Hey, I did it! Oh no, gotta go! Now to get to that address, which I can find using my handy road atlas, which... It's like a book full of local maps, ask your parents. Here I am at the address, but it looks just like an old shed. Better go inside alone. Hmm, nothing in here but a clock with seven hands. Another dead end. Well, I'd better head back, but first I've gotta fix this clock. And by fix this clock, I mean break off the extra hands. Okay, I'm breaking off one, two, three, and now to break off this final one. Ah, I'm falling through a trap door! Okay, Jonathan, you just landed in a hallway and there are two doors. One of them should lead to the criminals, but what does the other door lead to? Hi, Jonathan Jones. Um, hi. You're just a man in a suit standing in a featureless room. Have we met? Oh, classic, Jonathan. No, we haven't met. Okay, this has been happening to me a lot recently, but if we haven't met, then why would you say so? And obviously you don't have to ask who I am because you already know. I do? I'm a superhero, of course. Haha, just kidding. I'm Bob Dwellins. Uh, hi, Bob Dwellins. Well, now we've met. Okay, well, good to meet you, Bob. You too, Jonathan. Bye. What a nice fellow. Well, time for door number two. Harper! Jonathan! And the person from the phone who tried to convince me this was the rhyme place. How'd you know it was me? You two give me back my files. You'll have to catch us first. Come on, henchmen. Haha! Oh, no. They're going out that ladder and they're getting into that car. Good luck catching us now that I'm in my brand new 1931 Ford Tudor, the most well-built automobile to date. Haha! See you later, Mr. Jones. Oh, come on. Don't do this to me. And this car was the worst $500 I ever spent. Hello? Ah! You caught off to us. Yeah, I just walked over from the shed. Fine. Here are your precious files. Thank you. Now listen, Harper, bad guy. I've gathered enough evidence and I'm 50% sure you're both criminals. Oh, we are! Come on. Why? Now that I've solved this case, I've got a question for you. Why did you steal my files and then give me your real phone number? No, he didn't say we were good criminals. That's true. I stole your files so we could study them and get better at what we do, but clearly we're still allowed to learn. I get it. Being a private eye isn't so easy either. I feel like every day I end up getting distracted by one thing or another. Sometimes I get distracted by just talking to myself, even if I began by talking to someone else. I'll turn away dramatically, like this. And when I finally look back, sometimes there'll be... Hey! We're getting away with my files! See you later, gentlemen. Haha! Oh, shoot. Looks like another case solved by me. Jonathan Jones, Private Eye. The End. That's it for today's episode. Thanks for listening and a big thanks to today's authors, Marin and Will. Before we go, here's today's story spark. Kids, write us a story about a character that goes through a surprising transformation. Tell us who your character is, what kind of transformation they go through, and what they're like afterwards. How did making the transformation change their life for better or worse? Today's story spark pairs nicely with today's Activity Guide, which grownups can find at StoryPiratesCreatorClub.com. And as always, grownups can submit stories at StoryPirates.com. See you next week. Bye! No Grading. Our staff writers, Mike Cabellon and contributing writers are Will Jacobs, Peter McNerney, Megan O'Neill and Leo Retreat. Special guests, George Basil and Lena Hall. Today's episode features performances by Andrew Barbado, Hannah Corrigan, Langston Darby, Chris Ferry, Caroline Lux, Vanessa Magulla, Peter McNerney, Jack Mitchell, Emily Olcott, Megan O'Neill, Leo Retreat, Caroline Reedy, Lays Vaca and Nimini Ware. Every midnight I turn into a wolf was written by Minzwe Karami and Greg Smith and produced by Brennan O'Grady with vocal arrangements and direction by Jack Mitchell. And now to do my real wolf howl. Hope you like shaking in your boots cause this wolf howl is gonna make you more spooked than you've ever been spooked previously. Are you ready to be spooked? Oh you are? Okay, well here you go. Ahem. And there it is. Spooked enough for ya? Hope you weren't planning on sleeping tonight cause you've been spooked. Extremely realistic.