I'll Miss You, Mr. Hooper (transcript)

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I'll Miss You, Mr. Hooper from Episode 1839

A pivotal moment in Sesame Street's history, this scene is an example of the show's policy of not talking down to children, and telling them the truth. This scene was so moving that the episode it appeared in was selected by the Daytime Emmys as being one of the 10 most influential moments in daytime television. It was even adapted into a book, I'll Miss You, Mr. Hooper.

	The arbor, day. Big Bird approaches the adults with a bundle of paper.
Big Bird	Hey, it's time for your presents!
	They all perk up. "Presents?"
Big Bird	Yeah ... well, I just uh, drew pictures of all my grown-up friends on Sesame Street. And I'm going to give them to you.
	They all react affectionately - "Aww, that's great" etc.
Big Bird	I'm going to be an artist when I grow up.
	They all nod in agreement. "Great. Great."
Susan	You're good, too.
	Big Bird hands Luis his picture.
Luis	Oh, look at this. Look at me!
Big Bird	That's you, Luis.
Susan	Oh -- that's gotta be me.
Gordon	There's Susan.
Big Bird	Yeah, that's - you're always smiling, Susan.
Luis	Thanks a lot, Big Bird.
Gordon	Hey, how's that?
Bob	That looks great.
Big Bird	Does that look like you, Gordon?
David	That's good. That's good.
Bob	Oh, hey there I am. Hey, that's nice!
Big Bird	You like it, Bob? I made y-, I put musical notes, 'cause you're singing.
Bob	I see. Thank you, Big Bird. (gives Maria her picture) Oh, I know who that is ...
Maria	Is that me- oh, well, yes ...
David	Oh, that's beautiful.
Maria	Thank you, Big Bird, Thank you.
David	(picks up his picture) Hey, wait, whoa ...
Big Bird	That's you, David.
Olivia	A little young, don't you think?
David	(laughs out loud)
Olivia	Smile! I think you're gonna like this ...
Big Bird	And, last but not least, ta-daaa!
Maria	Oh look at that one, that's nice.
Olivia	Big Bird, that's so beautiful.
David	That's great!
Bob	That is really nice, can I see it Big Bird? (he looks closely at the drawing) That's terrific, it really looks like him.
Gordon	It sure does.
Olivia	Yeah, you captured him.
Bob	Wow, that's, that's beautiful, Big Bird. Really nice.
Big Bird	Well thank you. Thank you.
Bob	Wonderful.
	By now the flurry of comments have died down, and there is a pause.
Big Bird	Well, I can't wait till he sees it!
	A hushed silence befalls the adults, as they realize that what they're about to say will quickly change the mood ...
Big Bird	Say ... where is he? I wanna give it to him. ... I know! He's in the store.
Bob	Uh, Big Bird? He's, he's not in there.
Big Bird	Oh. ... Then where is he?
Maria	Big Bird... uh, don't you remember we told you?... Eh -- Mr. Hooper died. ... He- he's dead.
Big Bird	Oh yeah. I remember. Well, I'll give it to him when he comes back.
Susan	(close to tears) Big Bird, Mr Hooper's not coming back.
Big Bird	... Why not?
Susan	(walks over to Big Bird and puts her arm on him) Big Bird, when people die ... they don't come back.
Big Bird	(now distraught) Ever?
Susan	No, never.
Big Bird	Well - why not?!
Luis	(at a loss for words) Well, Big Bird, they're dead. They, they can't come back.
Big Bird	(his stress growing by the second) Well, he's got to come back! ... Why, who's gonna take care of the store? And who's gonna make my birdseed milkshakes and tell me stories?
David	(trying hard to keep his cool) Big Bird, I'm gonna take care of the store. Mr. Hooper, he left it to me. And I'll make you your milkshakes and we'll all tell you stories, and we'll make sure you're okay.
Susan	Sure, we'll look after you.
Big Bird	Oh. Hmm.
Big Bird	Well ... it won't be the same.
Bob	(walks over to Big Bird) You're right, Big Bird. It's, it's, it'll never be the same around here without him. But you know something? ... (his voice breaks up) We can all be very happy that we had a chance to be with him ... and to know him ...
Big Bird	Yeah.
Bob	... and to love him a lot, when he was here.
Big Bird	Yeah.
Olivia	And Big Bird, we still have our memories of him.
Big Bird	Well, yeah ... yeah, our memories. Right. ... Why, memories, that's how I drew this picture - from memory.
Olivia	It's good, yeah. (others muse in agreement)
Big Bird	Yeah. And, and we can remember him and remember him and remember him ... as much as we want to! ... (glances at the picture, voice breaking up) But I don't like it. (now in tears) It makes me sad.
David	We all feel sad, Big Bird.
Big Bird	Hmm. He's ... never coming back?
David	Never.
Big Bird	(now becomes confused and angry) ... Well, I don't understand! You know, everything was just fine! Why does it have to be this way? Give me one good reason!
Gordon	Big Bird ... it has to be this way ... because.
Big Bird	Just ... because?
Gordon	Just ... because.
Big Bird	(lets out a big sigh, and looks at the picture again) You know, *sniff* I'm gonna miss you, Mr. Looper.
Maria	(in tears, smiling) That's "Hooper", Big Bird, "Hooper". (everyone chuckles softly)
Big Bird	You're right.
	As the camera slowly backs out, everyone gathers around Big Bird, and they all share a big, silent hug.
	THE END