Original subtitles

- Quiet down everybody. (light instrumental music)

Let's talk block party!

- You know what I like about a block party,

you can go in everybody's house and touch their stuff.

- Okay.

Well, I like that it's a super opportunity

to enlighten our neighbors about conservation

and the dangers of consumerism.

- Well we loved the eco-bulbs you gave out

last year so much that we leave them on all the time.

- That's a good bulb. - Yeah.

- And don't forget the hemp underwear the year before that.

You should see me in it.

Somebody should.

- At this year's block party,

Helen and I would like to introduce

the neighborhood's first lending library

for seldom-used household necessities.

Like this plunger.

- A plunger library?

- Yes, now the whole block (gasping)

can share and check this one out whenever they need it.

- Needing a plunger is a very private shame, Gerald.

- Well see, that's what a block party is all about.

You can borrow a plunger from a friend

instead of buying one from a stranger.

- Alright I'm in. (upbeat music)

I got a life-sized Hank Williams cutout I'm done with.

- I have a policeman's uniform.

- Oh yeah. - I've got a fish filter.

- This is gonna be the best block party ever.

Hey, maybe we should invite the cul-de-sac this year.

Someone has a nifty new fire extinguisher down there.

- Hm, but why just stop at a cul-de-sac?

- Well, it is a dead end.

- Gerald, we're doing good work here.

Why shouldn't more people know about it?

We could make this a city-wide party.

- Oh that does sound good,

but we only have one plunger,

and we usually run out of bean dip as it is.

- That's why we need a sponsor.

(upbeat music)

We're having our annual block party,

and it's going to be a major eco-conscious event.

The Juice Depot has shown a lot of interest.

- I like your message, we're in.

I'll grab you some banners, scratch pads, anything you need.

No food. (people chattering)

(bell dinging)

- [Store Announcer] Attention shoppers.

Direct your attention to a Freegan update.

Heinrich Mueller has reached Millbrook City.

(cheering and clapping)

- He's such an inspiration.

- What's Freegan mean?

- Allow me.

Freegans refuse to buy anything

as a political statement against

our terribly wasteful lifestyle.

They live off discarded food

they salvage from out dumpsters.

Heinrich Mueller is walking across our country

to rub America's nose in its own waste.

- Yeah. (people humming)

- Hm, he's a hero.

It's too bad he's not coming through Greenville.

- Bummer.

Now all of our garbage is gonna go to waste.

- You know who else is doing something good?

We are!

We're having an eco-conscious block party.

You should come, Margo.

It will be very progressive.

- Ooh, I'm progressive.

That sounds interesting. - Oh yeah.

- Yeah. - Mm.

- I'm sure it's not...

- And we're going to be educating people

about the dangers of consumerism.

(bell dinging) (beeping)

- So I guess the Goodes can teach us

all we need to know about consuming less.

Poor Heinrich Mueller, wasting his time

walking across the entire country,

when all he had to do was jump in a bounce house

and eat churros with the Goodes.

(suspenseful music) (gasping)

(bell dinging) (beeping)

- As much as I hate to embarrass you

in front of everyone, Margo,

Heinrich loved the idea of our block party.

He told me so when he agreed to be our grand marshal.

(people humming)

- Honey, I'm assuming Heinrich Mueller

isn't really coming here.

- Oh he will be.

(upbeat instrumental music)

(singing in foreign language)

♪ The Goode Family ♪

(gentle music)

- How do you even find a Freegan?

- Why was I born into a family that would want to?

- I hope we find him.

A boy my age needs a strong German influence.

- I just got off the phone with Heinrich's publicist.

She's going to get him to come!

- He has a publicist?

How does she even reach him?

- Word of mouth.

She said I'll tell two Germans,

then they'll tell two Germans,

and he'll be here sometime on Wednesday.

Or Thursday.

(gentle music)

- So this Freegan, he eats trash?

Even when it's not a dare?

- I have a cousin who eats out of the dumpster.

We never gave him a fancy name.

- People, Heinrich is a true visionary.

I get goosebumps when I think about

how tiny his carbon footprints are.

And to think I'll be able to share

my conservation ideas with him.

(grumbling)

- Gee Helen, it looks like your guest is a no-show.

Maybe he got confused and wound up

on another street of nondescript tract houses.

Or more likely, he's just not coming.

- Oh I'm sure he's coming.

- I think I see him.

(camera zooming) (suspenseful music)

He's walking towards us!

(cheering) (majestic music)

- Keep it going, everyone.

(cheering)

- I think that's just a dog.

- No, it's him! (suspenseful music)

- Okay one last time, everybody.

(cheering)

- You said he was rugged,

but you didn't mention he had a Steven Seagal ponytail.

Hubba.

- Hello Mr. Mueller.

I'm Gerald Goode, this is my wife Helen.

We want you to know that we are committed

to making this block party as low impact as possible.

- Of course you are.

There's always a Gerald.

There's always a Helen.

You're always saving the planet.

- Yes, tell Margo that.

She's the greedy materialist

with the red shirt and short hair.

(groaning)

- Well as you can tell from my hand-crafted model,

we're trying to do our part

to make a little difference.

- Yes, it looks like you are making

a very little difference.

- Maybe I should explain. (sighing)

- Don't bother.

You with your multiple tablecloths

and freshly inked T-shirts.

This party is but a foul orgy

of excess and wastefulness.

- Shame on you.

- It's not a total loss.

I can use this cardboard as my shoe

and be on my way.

(light ominous music)

- But...

- I know Germans aren't famous for their good humor,

but I'd say he was severely disappointed.

- Heinrich wait.

Please, you can't go.

I promised everyone you'd be there.

You're the key to making this an eco-conscious event.

- I must continue trotting across this horrid

God-forsaken country.

Every step more painful than the last.

Until I die in front of one of your big Save Marts.

And I'm packaged and sold like everything else

in the U.S. of waste.

- Mr. Mueller, I know none of this

is up to your standards,

but you can teach us to be better.

That's why you're here, right?

(gentle music)

- Yes please, stay with us.

We don't have much, but what we do have, we throw out.

(yawning)

- Hey, I've sacrificed so much already.

Who am I to start living for myself now?

My walk will take a detour into your den of excess.

- Oh yeah.

You can stay in my room, and be like my big brother.

I call the floor. (gentle music)

- I was thinking of getting a windmill

for the miniature golf course

that can power the cotton candy machine.

- And what about all the time and materials

used to make this windmill?

Do you think it was manufactured by magical fairies

at the good intentions factory?

- No.

- We're gonna serve organic caramel apples

that were grown in our very own yard.

Try one.

- I hate to be what you Americans call the gloomy gus,

but I can't eat anything that was grown,

harvested, and caramelized,

when there is so much food that has been thrown away.

- You could've just said no thank you.

- If I was a bourgeois house frow, yes.

But I draw sustenance from what others consider refuse.

- So you're basically a talking raccoon.

- Check it.

(light music)

- Hours of fun!

- How was your garbage?

Would you like some salt?

- No, I make my own.

(light instrumental music)

- Wow.

- I never thought of harnessing

my body's own resources for seasoning.

I have so much to learn.

- And we can stay up all night.

Heinrich, have you ever kissed a girl?

- It's a little dark in here, Ubuntu.

- There's a light right there.

- Unfortunately, I don't turn lights on.

You see, electrical power is merely

another unnecessary extravagance.

But if you were to turn it on,

I would have to live with it.

(light clicking)

And if someone have Tivo-ed "Housewives"

I'd have to watch that too.

(gentle music)

(licking)

- Sure, we have a lot of eco-friendly ideas

for the party, but Heinrich thinks we could do even better.

How about we use gray water in the dunk tank?

- What's gray water?

- Oh it's wonderful.

Now, let's brainstorm.

All Earth-friendly ideas are welcome.

- I could set up a petting zoo for Gutterball.

(slurping)

I'll just hand out some liability waivers

and we'll be fine.

- What if we turn our house into a haunted mansion,

troubled by an over-consuming ghost

who has leaky faucets and badly-insulated windows?

- Great idea, but just remember,

we don't want kids to be too scared.

Just gravely concerned.

- Oh.

That's a horrendous idea.

I've heard enough.

This is a putrid circus,

and you are the craven ringleader.

(laughing)

- You're right, Heinrich.

This is an orgy of waste.

And as much as I've disappointed you,

I've disappointed myself even more.

- Oh, maybe next time you'll think

before you try to inflict a party on others.

- Gerald, all due respect to the bum on your couch,

but why the hell are we listening to him

tell us how to throw a party?

- The black is right.

Who am I to challenge your wasteful ways?

I only left behind my wife and six children

to try and absorb the sins of your country

through my selfless and soul-shattering walk.

- Heinrich, why don't you come with me to One Earth?

They're sponsoring the block party.

- One Earth is crap.

Corporate sponsorship is crap.

Your block party is... - Crap?

- No, it's the sputum of an ignorant village.

(gasping)

- You're right, Mr. Mueller, but it doesn't have to be.

Please believe me, I want to do this the right way.

Show me how.

- Fine, then come with me.

- Before you go, I need to throw out my phone number.

(light music)

(suspenseful music) (rat chirping)

- Here, this is the biggest party supply store on Earth.

- It is? - Yes.

That pile of mattresses, that is your bouncy house.

You can fill that old rusty tub with leaves,

and have your beloved dunking booth.

You see?

- I suppose.

- No, you don't.

You are blind.

If you want to heal the Earth, you must truly commit,

even if it involves sacrifice.

- I sacrifice, I haven't bathed in hot water in seven years.

- Oh, excuse me.

Let me call the wife and eight children I left behind

to tell them about your tepid baths.

- I'm sorry, I...

- Do you want to change the world, Gerald?

Do you want to be good?

- Yes, yes I do.

- Then bounce with me, Gerald.

(springs bouncing) (suspenseful music)

Come, take my hand.

Play in the bouncy house.

Ah! (laughing)

- Oh.

- Hey, Heinrich, can we play catch now?

- Instead of that, why don't you call your friend,

my mom, on speakerphone.

- Oh.

(phone dialing) (gentle music)

(birds chirping)

(yawning)

(gasping) (suspenseful music)

- Oh God. - Morning Helen.

- Penny, what are you doing here?

- I dropped by to see Heinrich last night.

He reused me three times.

- What are you doing?

- Heinrich and I are having a picnic later, in your bed.

- Ugh. - Mom.

Someone took our garden.

- Ugh! (gentle music)

What the hell?

Heinrich, who are all these people?

- I put you on the Freegan hot list.

You don't mind sharing all your ludicrous excess, do you?

- Ugh!

Gerald, where have you been?

You're supposed to be working on the party.

- I am, and Heinrich gave me a bunch of super ideas.

This mattress can be our bouncy house,

and that old fridge can be a fort for children.

- No, they can't.

Heinrich was supposed to make this party great,

but instead he's destroying it.

Well I've had enough.

If I have to hear him say it's free o'clock one more time,

I'm gonna snap.

- I was once misguided like you, Helen.

You need to change the way you think.

It's easy, take my hand.

Bounce with me. (springs bouncing)

(coughing)

(door slamming)

(upbeat TV music)

- Alright Heinrich, time to continue your walk.

Spread the word, off you go.

- There's nothing I'd like more, but I can't.

Your over-consumptive lifestyle has infected me.

Even your rubbishes to rich.

It has given me gout.

- He doesn't have gout.

- Oh no, what have we done?

This is terrible.

You must go on, Heinrich.

Your walk is too important.

- Of course it is, but there is nothing I can do.

- I'm sure you can suck it up.

Now come on, get up, go, shoo.

- Helen, stop.

This is all my fault, Heinrich.

Not only am I not good enough,

I'm making you worse.

(sighing)

I'm not a good enough person,

but I know how to be,

even if it means abandoning the block party and my family.

I know now what I have to do.

I will continue Heinrich's walk as a Freegan.

(gasping)

(gentle music)

- This is ridiculous, Gerald.

You're just going to abandon your family?

- Please, guys, I'll just walk until Heinrich feels better.

- Dad, I don't want to rock the boat here,

but you have a job.

- Yes, but now I have something more important, a calling.

- But who will I open jars for?

- Please, don't make this harder.

I need to make the kind of sacrifices

Heinrich was talking about.

Do you think it was easy for him to walk out

on two wives, six or eight kids,

and a mountain of debt to spread his message

of hope and criticism?

- What about the block party?

You've worked so hard on it.

This is your chance to be good.

To influence everybody while they're having fun.

- Yeah, that's before I realized

that fun produces a lot of waste.

- Dad, you know this is asinine.

Don't hold back now.

Do something.

- Son, if you really feel like

you have to do this walk,

could you return these movies for me on your way?

(laughing)

(light ominous music)

- Gerald.

- So, bro, as soon as your foot gets better,

dad can come home.

So hurry up.

- The gout is a fickle mistress.

There's no telling how long she will have me in her sway.

Could be years.

- Alright Bliss, grandpa's gonna teach you

how to roust a bum.

- Get him, grandpa!

Work his kidneys!

- I buckle.

- Oh, I can't get any leverage on this goon.

The only way to get this guy out of your house

is to torch the place.

There are some pros and cons to that one.

(gentle music)

- Hello guys.

I'm a Freegan.

A Freegan is...

Oh, I see you already know.

I'll save this for later.

- So wait, you're telling us Gerald's become a Freegman now?

- Freegan, and worse than that, he's a road Freegan.

He's taken up Heinrich's walk.

- Oh my God, what are we gonna do?

I don't want to have a block party without Gerald.

- Yeah, who are we gonna make fun of?

- Well, to get Gerald back,

we have to get rid of Heinrich.

- Oh, you want to get rid of him now,

but when he called me the black, that was okay.

(door slamming)

- I told Heinrich I loved him. (gentle music)

And he dumped me.

I was dumped by a man who doesn't throw away anything.

(weeping)

(suspenseful music) (hawks cawing)

(stomach grumbling)

- Ooh, this garbage is warm.

I haven't had a hot meal in a long time.

(crunching)

(spitting)

- Daddy!

We miss you!

There's no one to sing me to sleep.

- And there's no one to gently deflect my sarcasm.

- Gerald, come home.

Your family needs you.

- Blah blah blah, let's go hit a dung pile.

(barking)

(flies buzzing)

- Ugh.

- You know, Che, I thought I was getting a big brother.

But instead I'm losing a father.

Come on boy, let's go somewhere the Freegan isn't.

- If before you leave you happen

to turn on the computer and Google haircuts of the stars...

- Heinrich, there's someone here to see you.

- I told you Penny, I'm in love with my ideals.

Even your name reminds me of commerce.

We are through.

- Actually, we're not.

I'm pregnant. (ominous music)

- I've never heard of a case of gout

clearing up so quickly.

- It still pains me, but not as much as your wasteful, ugh.

- Since I had a fake pregnancy,

can I have a fake baby shower?

- Look, it's Gerald.

- Heinrich, I had to stop the walk.

I couldn't do it.

- Of course you couldn't.

- Dad.

- Gerald, are you okay? (dog barking)

- I am now.

Heinrich, I realized I can't make the sacrifices you can.

I can't leave my family.

I'm not as good as you.

I hope you're not disappointed.

- I am pretty much at the same level of disappointment

as when I started.

Go you back to your selfish family and horrible life.

(gentle instrumental music)

- Your selfish family couldn't be happier to have you back.

Ugh, Ubuntu, hose your father down.

- Ugh. (water spraying)

(upbeat music)

- Oh yeah!

(growling) (screaming)

- Great block party, guys.

Thanks.

- Well, maybe it's not completely waste-free,

but it seems like people are having fun.

- And look at the difference you've made.

The recycling bins are half full,

we're sold out of meatless corn dogs,

and dad hasn't stolen anything.

It's our best block party ever.

- You're right, Helen.

But I guess the old saying is true.

Compost starts at home. (upbeat music)

(upbeat instrumental music)

(singing in foreign language)

♪ The Goode Family ♪