Plot
Slimer is settled in for an episode of "The Lone Stranger" on television, dressed as a cowboy and practicing with a lasso, when the reception cuts out. He flies up to the roof to investigate and finds Manx on the antenna about to grab a pigeon. Slimer intervenes at the last second, the sudden shift of weight launching Manx off the roof and into a garbage can below. The rescued pigeon, nicknamed Pidgey, kisses Slimer in gratitude, but Slimer quickly realizes something is wrong: Pidgey cannot fly.
Slimer takes it upon himself to teach Pidgey. The lesson begins badly when Pidgey tumbles off the roof; Slimer catches him and encourages him to keep trying. Manx returns with a bow loaded with plunger-tipped arrows and manages to snare Pidgey. While Manx gloats, Slimer retrieves the plunger and fixes it to the flagpole; Manx yanks on the line and is launched across the city. Pidgey scores the flight a 9.6, while Slimer gives it only a 1.2.
Manx comes back a third time with a hang glider and a battery of electric fans to gain altitude. He scoops up Pidgey mid-air and Slimer gives chase. Slimer passes Manx a hundred-pound weight; Manx drops it, but the weight smashes the fans below, sending them into a vortex that carries Manx up through a passing jet engine and drops him back into the city.
For one final attempt, Slimer ties Pidgey to a balloon and launches him gently into the sky. Manx uses a blow dart to pop the balloon. Pidgey plummets, but with Slimer coaching him he finally flies on his own for the first time. Manx attempts to catch Slimer instead, but spits him out in disgust and flees. The episode closes with Slimer, back in his cowboy costume, officially deputizing Pidgey as the two fly off together into the sunset.
Characters
Slimer is the lead character of the segment, voiced by Frank Welker. In this episode he plays the role of reluctant flight instructor, repeatedly placing himself in danger to protect Pidgey from Manx.
Pidgey is a baby pigeon who cannot fly when Slimer first rescues him. Over the course of the episode Slimer's coaching finally pays off and Pidgey achieves his first flight, escaping Manx for good. Frank Welker provides Pidgey's voice as well. Pidgey appears only in this episode.
Manx is the recurring stray cat character who serves as the episode's antagonist. He pursues Pidgey with escalating contraptions: a bow with plunger arrows, a hang glider with fans, and a blow dart. Charlie Adler voices Manx, listed in the credits as a recurring cast member.
The Lone Stranger is a fictional television cowboy seen only on Slimer's television at the episode's open and close; series regular Frank Welker provides the announcer voice for this in-show program.
B.J. Ward is credited as a guest voice actor.
Trivia
- Series regular Frank Welker voices the "Lone Stranger" announcer in the television-within-the-episode segments.
- "The Lone Stranger" is a parody of the classic television series "The Lone Ranger."
- The episode was recorded on June 15, 1988, approximately five months before its November 19 airdate.
