Episode 1303

Air Date: April 18, 1973
Previous Episode: 1302
Next Episode: 1304

Mister Rogers arrives with an empty box he plans to repurpose rather than throw away. Sitting at the piano, he asks viewers to close their eyes as he plays soft music and open them as his playing gets louder.

At Betty's Little Theater, Mister Rogers visits with Susan Linn and Catalion. With Audrey Duck away, Catalion is sad but feels better when he finds that she has sent him a postcard. Mister Rogers explains that it is often important for young people to be told things when they are feeling unsure. Susan Linn and Catalion join him in singing I Like To Be Told.

Back at the house, Mister Rogers talks about ventriloquism and tries to talk without moving his mouth. He uses some miniature life toys to set up a scene in the empty box leading into a time of make-believe.

In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Queen Sara Saturday is resting in bed as she is still recovering from a cold. Realizing that the others in the Neighborhood are likely unaware of her sickness, King Friday XIII asks Handyman Negri to make an announcement throughout Make-Believe of the Queen's illness. Having not seen Queen Sara in some time, Lady Elaine Fairchilde believes that the Queen is gone -- a thought that is upsetting to Daniel Striped Tiger. Even though he listens to Handyman Negri's announcement, Daniel is still unsure that the Queen has not left. He visits the castle where he asks to see Queen Sara so he can be certain that she is present.

Back at the house, Mister Rogers remembers a time in Make-Believe when Lady Elaine held someone's voice in a box. He plays the piano to show that sounds cannot be kept in a box.

Notes

Mr. McFeely is unable to make the announcement for King Friday because, according to Handyman Negri, he is making a delivery at Someplace Else.

As Handyman Negri begins the announcment, King Friday reminds him not to forget the "hear ye hear ye" part because "that's the way all royal messages begin."

Josephine plays in the background as Mister Rogers looks at a picture of a baby giraffe and its mother and We Are Elephants plays as he views an image of a baby elephant and its mother. To Go To Someplace Else plays as Mister Rogers talks about Bob Dog and Lady Elaine going to Someplace Else.

Appearing In This Episode

• Catalion
• Cornflake S. Pecially
• Daniel Striped Tiger
• Dr. Bill Platypus
• Handyman Negri
• King Friday XIII
• Lady Elaine Fairchilde
• Mister Rogers
• Queen Sara Saturday
• Susan Linn

Guests

• Susan Linn

Songs

• I Like To Be Told
• It's Such a Good Feeling
• The Weekend Song
• Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Images

Episode Credits

With Fred Rogers
Neighbors: William P. Barker, Susan Linn, Joe Negri
Produced and Directed by Bob Walsh
Music Director: John Costa

Produced by Family Communications, Inc. in association with WQED, Pittsburgh

The people who gave the money to make this television visit are the people of The Sears Roebuck Foundation and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

© 1972, 1973 Family Communications, Inc.