Episode 2143

	Sesame Street
	David and the potted plant
Air date	January 22, 1986
Season	Season 17 (1985-1986)
Written by	Sonia Manzano
Production	October 18, 1985
Sponsors	B, D, 5

Picture	Segment	Description
	SCENE 1	David has been looking after a potted plant for his friend and is on his way to return it. On his way there, he hears arguing coming from Big Bird's nest. He goes inside, where Big Bird and Snuffy are both blaming each other for knocking over their box of crayons. Hearing how they both reached for the box at the same time, David tells them it was simply an accident, not either of their faults. To demonstrate, he pretends the plant is the box of crayons and reaches out for it. Big Bird does it as well, accidentally knocking over the plant. Big Bird and Snuffy see how their incident was just as accidental and comfort David with the same words he's told them.
	Cartoon	Big Daniel Boone looks for a bear. Artist: Bruce Cayard (First: Episode 0627)
	Muppets	Guy Smiley hosts "What Is it?," with panelists Grover, Biff and Prairie Dawn. They must guess what mystery object Little Sammy Pottle has brought to the studio (a red rubber ball). (First: Episode 1042)
	Cartoon	Small letter b (ball/bat) (First: Episode 1131)
	Cast	A CASA is drawn around Maria. (First: Episode 2089)
	Film	Some clowns, more clowns (First: Episode 0563)
	Muppets	Tony tends to an Anything Muppet shopping for a fur coat who ends up wearing a monster (Cookie Monster, to be exact). (First: Episode 0145)
	Cartoon	Two hippie kids wonder how to make their droopy plant grow. (First: Episode 1484)
	SCENE 2	David has repotted the plant and begins another trek to his friend's place. He runs into a grumbling Telly, who thinks Big Bird is spending all his time with Snuffy and won't play with him again. David tells him to simply ask if he can play too, and Telly reluctantly agrees to try it. David puts his ear to the door to hear how it works out. Telly is accepted into the group and Snuffy initiates a jumping game, rattling the street and causing David to drop his plant.
	Cartoon	They'd play with me if I had... (First: Episode 0815)
	Song	"Five Onstage Dancers" (First: Episode 0539)
	Muppets	In the park, Harvey Kneeslapper comes up behind a man, asks him, "Wanna see something funny?" and then holds a mirror up. The man sees nothing funny...until he looks at Harvey! (First: Episode 0283)
	Cartoon	A lost number 5 looks for his brother. (First: Episode 0934)
	Muppets	Harry Belafonte and The Count sing "Coconut Counting Man." (First: Episode 1692)
	Film	A beekeeper extracts honey from honeycomb. (First: Episode 1117)
	Cartoon	"Magic Pig" Artist: Vince Collins (First: Episode 0772)
	Film	A man makes a shadow puppet of a cow. (First: Episode 0630)
	Insert	Big Bird trains Barkley to count to six by barking. He imagines Barkley as the smartest dog in the world, able to bark up to any number. (First: Episode 1902)
	Cartoon	Billy Jo Jive and Smart Suzie Sunset help Wrong Way Willie find his missing house keys. (First: Episode 1508)
	Muppets	Grover tries to ignore three monsters who look big and scary to him. When they notice him carrying a flute, they grab his attention and ask -- in what appears to be a threatening way -- if Grover wants to play. The three monsters pull out a clarinet, an oboe and a bassoon and begin to play, urging Grover to join in. (First: Episode 1412)
	Cartoon	D-dart (First: Episode 0292)
	Film	Future careers: footage of a kid acting out a certain job, followed by an adult doing "the real thing." Includes a girl singing the "Sesame Street Theme" and another watching a sketch with Cookie Monster and Kermit the Frog. (First: Episode 0796)
	Cartoon	Small b is a boy with a belly who walks a small d, a dog with a belly turned around. Paul Fierlinger (First: Episode 1186)
	SCENE 3	David has repotted the plant once again and has another run-in with Telly, who asks what a "discussion" is. David sets the plant on top of Oscar's trash can and delivers an explanation. Shortly after, Oscar pops up, causing the plant to fall to the ground yet again. Oscar is pleased to have caused an unintentional mess and tries to spur a discussion about other dumb things David has done.
	Cartoon	A boy's friends bring him flowers to cheer him up, not knowing that he's allergic to them. (First: Episode 1524)
	Film	Kids paint pictures of things that start with B. (edited) Producer: Ken Snyder Enterprises (First: Episode 0008)
	Muppets	"Let's All Exercise" (First: Episode 1961)
	Cartoon	B for boats, bouquet, baby, bonnet, etc. (First: Episode 1703)
	SCENE 4	David remarks that he's running out of pots as he repots the plant for a third time. Telly comes to Hooper's Store, having been sent to get a ball they can play with. David doesn't see any on the shelves, but promises to look in the backroom for anything. As Telly makes his way back, he fears coming back empty-handed, but thinks of a way they can play catch after all.
	SCENE 4 cont'd	David has found a ball and carries it, along with the plant, to Big Bird's nest. He hears the trio about to play catch using Telly instead of a ball. David drops the plant in an effort to open the door and stop such a dangerous game. Big Bird peers over the doors and agrees with David the game wouldn't be safe. David hands the ball to Big Bird, who says David needs to be more careful with his plant.
	Film	Sesame Street Animal Films: Skeleton fish. (First: Episode 0287)
	Cartoon	Two red curtains are dropped to reveal a number 5 covered in colorful dots that vibrate and disperse. (First: Episode 0940)
	Muppets	Ernie & Bert — Ernie plays a game with Bert where Ernie plays riffs on his drum set and Bert has to repeat them back. Bert is surprisingly good at the game. (First: Episode 1809)
	Cartoon	Pinball Number Count #5 (First: Episode 0991)
	Muppets	Western: A cowboy comes to see Adam T. Glaser, who is such a jack-of-all-trades that he forgets what a dentist does. (First: Episode 0408)
	Cartoon	Find the Circle quiz (First: Episode 1594)
	Film	Footage of a sunflower seed factory, where birdseed bells are manufactured. (First: Episode 1181)
	SCENE 5	David, at the end of his rope, vows this is the last time he's going to repot this plant. He begins his walk, but decides to listen in to see if Big Bird, Snuffy, and Telly are still having a good time. He hears the sounds of playing, then they all decide to get something to drink. Big Bird barrels out the door, forcing David into the wall; the plant thankfully remains safe... until Snuffy pokes his snuffle through to tell Big Bird to hurry back, and causes David to drop it once again. Telly announces the sponsors as David sobs.