Transcript (See below for credits.)

~~ Introduction

Snufflefungus: The news mentioned tornadoes yesterday, Malex!

Malex: It is definitely getting to be tornado season. They’re all over the news.

Narrating Snufflefungus: I had always heard of these “tornadoes.” Big, spinney things as tall as the clouds that run in unpredictable paths!

Linus: (Sarcastic) Good thing we’re in tornado alley! We’re completely safe!

Malex: You know, we get an occasional tornado warning when there’s rough weather, but I’ve never seen one with my own eyes.

Snufflefungus: I wonder what they look like?

Narrating Snufflefungus: I knew tornadoes were dangerous. But so were lions, and I knew Teddy Roosevelt used to hunt lions. Maybe Teddy Roosevelt had a few tornado hunts during his travels too!

Malex: Yeah you know, I’ve always had something of a morbid curiosity to see one in real life.

Linus: Hey Snuffy, why don’t you go look for one? Think of the stories you could tell! The bragging rights!

Malex: Oh, be quiet Linus!

Linus: You’re pompous, insecure, and dangerous with anything more exotic than string.

Malex: (Sighs.) I’m so glad you feel you have the freedom to criticize the establishment.

Linus: What can I say? I’m a rebel.

Malex: Well Snufflefungus, it’s about your bedtime. You should go brush your teeth.

Snufflefungus: Okay.

Narrating Snufflefungus: But that night I couldn’t sleep. The suggestion of going on a tornado hunt myself had stuck with me, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Snufflefungus: (Yawns.) Well good morning, Linus! What are you doing?

Linus: I’m reading.

Snufflefungus: I was thinking a lot about what you said last night.

Linus: (Preoccupied.) Oh really?

Snufflefungus: Yep! I couldn’t sleep last night ’cause I was really excited.

Linus: That’s nice.

Snufflefungus: I was wondering if you were really serious when you said it?

Linus: Wait- What? Said what?

Snufflefungus: You said, “Why don’t you go look for a tornado?“

Linus: Yeah, what about it?

Snufflefungus: Well, I wondered how serious you were.

Linus: (Realizes what’s going on.) Hmm. This situation has intriguing potential.

Snufflefungus: Do you think I really could go on a tornado hunt?

Linus: It depends on how much fun I’ll have- I mean I’m sure we’d have a lot of fun. Let’s go!

Snufflefungus: Yay! Now we need to be properly prepared with equipment and provisions!

Narrating Snufflefungus: We gathered Peterson’s Tornado Field Guide, a camera, some water, a flashlight, a map of the world, a rope, a cowboy hat, and enough candy to last us several days. We were all set to go hunting for a wild tornado!

Snufflefungus: Wait, let’s tell Malex before we leave.

Linus: Um- No, he’s busy doing the... That is, he’s working on... being busy. He can’t be bothered.

Snufflefungus: Oh, then I guess we’ll have to wait until we can ask him.

Linus: Oh yes, I forgot to mention that I already told him. He said to have a good time and, uh... to get some good pictures for him!

Snufflefungus: Okay!

Narrating Snufflefungus: We were off. Tracking down the fabled tornado. With luck, we hoped possibly even to acquire a specimen to bring back and show Malex!

Snufflefungus: He’ll be so surprised, it’ll be even better than the pictures he told us to get!

Linus: Yeah. He’ll be disappointed if you don’t bring him a live tornado.

Narrating Snufflefungus: Even better, a live specimen! Now we had only to get on the trail of one of them.

Snufflefungus: So do you know what tornado tracks look like?

Linus: Nope!

Snufflefungus: It says in the field guide, “Tornadoes have even been known to drive straw through tree trunks!” Do you see any trees with straw through them?

Linus: No, I think they only do that where they live, Snufflefungus. If we’re to follow their tracks to where they live, we need to find another sign to look for.

Snufflefungus: It also says that they appear in extreme weather conditions, when it’s very windy out with lots of dark clouds.

Linus: Look, there’s a dark cloud up there, see?

Snufflefungus: (Gasp.) You’re right!

Linus: Let’s follow it!

Narrating Snufflefungus: We followed the dark cloud, until we lost the trail.

Snufflefungus: Look, it’s moved above us! We can’t follow it anymore!

Linus: There’s a muddy brook right there, Snuffy! Let’s trudge in it!

Snufflefungus: Alright!

Narrating Snufflefungus: Our plan was a good one, but we started to run low on provisions before we reached any sign of a tornado.

Snufflefungus: I’m bored with trudging.

Linus: Let’s stop at that store and buy some candy.

Narrating Snufflefungus: We stocked back up on supplies, but we were not eager to re-embark. We had searched all day with no luck. The team was experiencing some discouragement.

Cashier: Is that all?

Snufflefungus: Oh, I’d like this kind of candy too! And- And this kind!

Customer: Hey, hurry up, will ya’?! I’ve been waiting in line here for an hour!

Linus: Snufflefungus, maybe we’d better head home. We wanna make it back before dark.

Cashier: You’re not buying all this after all?

Linus: No, let’s go.

Narrating Snufflefungus: We had no choice but to turn back. The hunt was lost.

Malex: Where were you two?!

Snufflefungus: We were searching for the fabled-

Linus: We were gardening.

Malex: Gardening, eh? And that explains why you’re soaked with muddy water halfway up to your knees?

Linus: Yes.

Narrating Snufflefungus: It was to remain a mystery forever whether the fabled tornadoes really existed. But for now, we were content to leave it that way.

~~ End

Credits

Producer and Director: Alex Markley

Writer: Peter Markley and Alex Markley

Voices: Markley Brothers

Post-processing director: Gabriel Markley

Illustration: Peter Markley

Release manager: Peter Markley

Recording assistance: Leela

Thanks to everyone for their help and support.