Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler

Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler is the twenty-seventh episode of VeggieTales (1993-2015)/VeggieTales Reboot (2016-present).

The first story is a retelling of "Don Quixote de la Mancha," while the main feature is parody of the Sherlock Holmes series.

March 14, 2006

Plot

Opening Countertop

Bob and Larry once again greet the kids on the countertop, before saying that today's question comes Erica Bangeman from Minot, North Dakota. Larry then greets Erica, asking her how it's going doing there, before he says, "'Minot' be perfect, but it sure beats South Dakota." Bob then tells Larry that he can't say that because he just insulted South Dakota, despite Larry's insistence that he was just making a little joke, before he says, "'Minot' be the best joke ever, but I think-," but Bob stops him, saying that they have a lot of fans in South Dakota and that it's a lovely place, every bit as nice as North Dakota. Larry then says, "It 'Minot' be so bad, if it weren't for the Badlands," before saying that he's on a roll. Bob then hops up to the camera and says, "My apologies, South Dakota," before glaring at Larry who asks him what the letter says. Bob then reads the letter, which says that Erica and her folks have just moved to Minot & that she started going to a new school but she doesn't know anyone. She says that she wants to make lots of new friends, which got her thinking and asks the question: what does it take to be a good friend? Larry then says that that's a good question, before asking if Erica has a speedboat because that might help, but Bob tells him that she doesn't before telling him that being a good friend has nothing to do with having a speedboat. When Larry asks about having a bag of lollipops, Bob also shoots down this suggestion, to which Larry says that he's all out of ideas. Fortunately, Bob has a couple of stories that can help Erica. Larry then says, "A speedboat 'Minot' make you a better friend, but-," before Bob abruptly says, "ROLL FILM!"

The Asparagus of LaMancha

In a strange land that is made entirely out of food and cooking utensils, a lone warrior by the name of Don Quixote (played by Archibald Asparagus) rides up on a hill on his horse, before he is approached by a horde of pea soldiers (played by the French Peas) that start throwing hamburgers at him. One hamburger hits Don's horse, which causes the horse to start rolling down the hill before Don is hit with another hamburger, just as he wakes up screaming, "NOOOOOOO!!!!!", before being met with his assistant and friend, Poncho (played by Mr. Lunt). It turns out that Don was actually having a bad dream and that he and Poncho run their own restaurant called "Café La Mancha". When Poncho asks Don if he has been dreaming about losing to him at Checkers again, telling Don not to take it too hard and that he will give him another shot at the Checker King after work. Don thanks Poncho for his concern before telling him that it was much more than merely a bad dream. Poncho then asks if it was a wretched dream, or insufferable, objectionable, hideous, or malodorous, before Don says, "Poncho, I believe I just had the impossible dream!" Poncho is confused, before saying, "Just by definition, wouldn't that be impossible? Maybe you just had a difficult dream, or perhaps an impossibly strenuous dream", before Don tells Poncho that it was his dream and it was impossible. Don then says, "Dream or no dream, it's time to get to work".

Soon, the lunch crowd has gathered at Café La Mancha for lunch, with Poncho giving all of the people's orders to Don. Seconds later, Jean-Claude Pea then enters the restaurant telling all of the people that a brand new restaurant is opening. Of course, Don then sarcastically says that they have got competition and that they might as well just close their doors right now, which everyone laughs about after that. Poncho then tells Jean-Claude that many restaurants have come and gone, but they are still standing, but Jean-Claude tells him, "This is not just any restaurant, it is... the Food Factory!", which everyone is surprised to hear. When Don asks Jean-Claude if he said something about the Food Factory, Jean-Claude says that he did and that they are the most popular franchise in the world and that no other restaurant within 50 miles of them can stay open. Don then asks Jean-Claude if he knows where the Food Factory is opening, before Jean-Claude shows everyone that the restaurant is being built across from Café La Mancha. Don thinks that the construction alone could stretch out for years, but he is proven wrong when the Food Factory is immediately built within seconds. Of course, Don then thinks that there is no way they could open for business anytime soon, before a sign then lights up that says that the Food Factory is now open. Poncho then asks how long it would take for them to attract a crowd, before a scrolling marquee lights up that reads "Food as big as your head". Don thinks that there is no way their customers would go to the Food Factory, but the customers immediately rush towards the Food Factory, leaving Café La Mancha completely empty.

Don then realizes that the dream that he had was warning him about the Food Factory coming to threaten his and Poncho's business. Later that night, while everyone is attending the Food Factory, Don is playing Checkers with Poncho while eating chips with spicy salsa, but he is still despondent, wondering what he is going to do, before Poncho tells him, "I'll tell you what you're going to do, you're going to king me!" Don then asks how they can possibly fight this, with Poncho suggesting that they will restructure, which is to find an area they are not covering and do that. When Don makes another move, Poncho is able to beat him, but Don does not care, saying that the Food Factory has food as big as your head before he leaves the table after that. Poncho has a chip with salsa, but it is much too spicy for him, wondering what is in that salsa. Don then says, "I don't know what to do, my friend, I'm afraid everything we've worked for is over". Poncho says that he cannot believe his ears, telling Don that they have made it through thick and thin together and that this is no different, but Don tells him that he is wrong before he starts to hop back into the restaurant after that. Soon, Don then goes back to bed after that, before he goes to sleep.

This time, Don then has another dream where he is back in the strange land again, but now finds a mirror that shows him a reflection that does not look like his, before more and more mirrors come up to him, showing more strange reflections. The mirrors then close in around Don, while he calls out for help, before he wakes up from his dream once again. Poncho then tells Don that he will need a whole lot of help to take down the Checker King. When Poncho tells Don that he some great ideas that would turn the place around, Don tells him that he has a much better solution, saying that his first dream told him what was coming, before saying that last night's dream revealed how to combat the Food Factory, saying that in his dream, every time he looked in a mirror, he saw a different reflection which can mean that to succeed, he needs to be different than he is now. Poncho then quips, "Maybe it just means you need to clean the mirrors in your dreams". Don then says that they need to change the look and image of their restaurant to make it different and something more entertaining. Don then says, "Poncho, I've dreamed the impossible theme, and we're going to make it happen!" Poncho reluctantly decides to go with Don's plan anyway.

The first time, they change their restaurant into an Asian-style restaurant called "Donny Ha-Ha", but it does not work, before also changing it to a silly sounding restaurant called "La Koo Koo Mancha", which also does not work, along with a coffee shop called "Joppa Java", and a Chuck E. Cheese-style pizza restaurant called Cheese E. Rodent, but these ideas are all just as fruitless. Of course, the customers all laugh at the duo's attempts, telling Poncho to quit the restaurant and come work for the Food Factory. When Poncho asks Don if he wants to play Checkers, Don is angry, telling Poncho that they are going to lose it all and all Poncho can think about is Checkers before storming off to his room after that. Don then tells Poncho that he should start looking for another job before entering his room. Poncho then hears the front door open before seeing that the manager of the Food Factory (played by Mr. Nezzer) had come to ask Poncho to work for the Food Factory. Despite this offer, Poncho turns him down, telling him that Don and him have worked together for years, but more importantly, that they are friends and that a friend is always loyal, before showing the Food Factory manager the door. The Food Factory manager then leaves, but not without informing Poncho that if he changes his mind, to let him know. Poncho then approaches Don, who is once again eating chips with salsa before telling Poncho to go ahead and go, but Poncho tells him that he is not leaving Café La Mancha and that they are going to make it. Don then goes to sleep while Poncho tells him goodnight after that.

Soon, Don has another dream in which he has gotten onto the hill once again, to see a lone pea soldier. Thinking that he will have an easy advantage against just one pea soldier, Don then starts to charge towards the pea soldier, who retreats in fear, with Don yelling after him, "Coward! Come back and fight like a... a... pea!" Don continues charging forward on his horse, until he sees something that causes his horse to stop and send Don flying until he crashes to the ground. When Don picks himself up, he sees what looks like a giant windmill monster standing before him (in a nod to the original story of Don Quixote). Don then starts running for his life with the windmill monster still chasing after him, until he wakes up again and falls out of bed. Poncho is glad to see that Don is up, before telling him to hear about his latest idea. Don tells Poncho to hold that thought because he just had a dream that was different from all the others, before saying, "I now know what to do to rescue our café!" Poncho then asks if it is a better idea than a Touchdown Turkey (which is a turkey dressed to look like a football). Don then says that he simply needs to attack the Food Factory and vanquish his foe once and for all, with Poncho thinking that Don is kidding. Don then says that it is his quest to follow that star, to which Poncho then tells him, "What star? I though we were talking about the Food Factory". Don is now prepared to take on the Food Factory, despite Poncho trying to talk him out of it, telling him that attacking restaurants is against the law.

Don then has Poncho go out to the Food Factory, before Poncho then says through a megaphone, "Attention, ladies and gentlemen! I have an announcement! The invincible Don Quixote will, this night, defend the honor of his restaurant, Café La Mancha!" Of course, the people tell Poncho to leave Don and to join them at the Food Factory. Because of this, Don then hops out while wearing his makeshift armor and thanks Poncho for what he did, before he approaches the Food Factory and announces pridefully, "I am Don Quixote! And I am calling out the Food Factory to meet me in a battle of honor! The winner shall keep his restaurant, the loser shall leave town forever!" The people are a bit uncertain about Don's decision, before Don asks the Food Factory if they are afraid to cross swords with him, repeating his challenge, before saying that if they do not, he will be forced to attack. The Food Factory manager tells Don that that is crazy, to which Don replies, "Crazy, am I?!?" before the Food Factory manager tells Don that if he attacks the restaurant, he will be arrested. Don tries to dissuade this by telling the Food Factory manager that any authority they call will no doubt agree with him on that point, before Sheriff Bob (played by Bob the Tomato), who is eating a hamburger, tells Don not to do anything crazy or else he will have him arrested. Despite this, Don is now prepared to engage the Food Factory in battle, even with Poncho trying to tell him not to do it. Don then briefly envisions the Food Factory as the windmill monster from his dream before he charges forward towards the Food Factory, but unfortunately, his helmet slides over his face, which causes him to trip over his broom, which then catapults him into the side of one of the windmill blades on the restaurant, before he then falls onto the front balcony of the restaurant, before he says, "Have you had enough?!? Surrender or you shall taste my mop!"

Because of his actions, Don is arrested by Sheriff Bob, with Don saying, "This cell cannot hold me! I demand satisfaction! Fight me like a man!", before Sheriff Bob tells him to take off his armor and go to bed. Don then says that he demands legal council, before Poncho approaches him, saying, "How about some friendly council?" Don is happy to see that Poncho has come to see him, with Poncho telling him that he brought a few things for him, with Sheriff Bob asking Poncho what he has got in the bag, with Poncho replying, "Just his regular bedtime supplies". The things that Poncho had brought for Don were his 'nighty-night cap', his corn chips, and his extra-spicy salsa, with Sheriff Bob quipping, "That'll give you nightmares". Of course, when Poncho hears these words from Sheriff Bob, he has second thoughts about giving the salsa to Don, something which Don is not happy about as he calls out to Poncho that he thought he was his friend.

The next morning, Don then wakes up, before he sees Poncho, Sheriff Bob, and the Food Factory manager in the cell with him. When Poncho asks Don if he had any bad dreams, Don says that he did not have any dreams at all, before Poncho says that it was the extra-hot salsa, which Don had been eating every night before bed, which was the reason why Don had been having bad dreams. Sheriff Bob does not believe that this is the reason, but once he gets a whiff of the salsa, it is much too spicy for him, before he says, "That'd do it alright". When Sheriff Bob asks the Food Factory manager if he wants to press charges, the Food Factory manager tells him that they bent the giant spatula back without any harm. Sheriff Bob then tells Don that he is free to go if he stops eating the spicy-hot salsa, but Don despondently says that Café La Mancha is through and that he has got nowhere to go. Of course, Poncho tells him, "Don't be so sure". Because of that, it is then revealed that Café La Mancha has been open for breakfast, the one thing that the Food Factory does not cater to. Don then thanks Poncho for standing by him when he needed him the most with Poncho telling him that that is what friends do. Don then asks Poncho for a friendly game of Checkers after work, to which Poncho then accepts his challenge.

Silly Songs with Larry

Main article: Gated Community

Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler

In London, at an ice cream parlor known as Doyle's (named in honor of Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), several customers are enjoying themselves, until they are met up with the famous detective Sheerluck Holmes (played by Larry the Cucumber) and his assistant Dr. Watson (played by Bob the Tomato). Everyone is happy to see Sheerluck before he approaches two of the customers (played by Jimmy and Jerry Gourd), who ask him what the good word is. Sheerluck then says, "Beats me, but when I find it, you'll be the first to know," before the two customers then laugh after that. However, when Dr. Watson attempts to strike up a conversation with them using Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness, they only sarcastically reply "Uh-huh" to him. Sheerluck and Dr. Watson then seat themselves at a booth before the waitress approaches them, asking them if they solved another case, to which Dr. Watson that they have, before the waitress tells them, "One usual coming up," before giving them some cake and some glasses of milk. Sheerluck then takes the ice cream off the cake before giving the cake to Dr. Watson. The two then say, "The game's afoot!" before toasting with their glasses of milk.

Jerry then asks them what they're celebrating this time, before Jimmy says, "I can only assume it involves mystery, mayhem, and maleficence!" Dr. Watson then says that they could say that, before Sheerluck says, "You could if I could understand what you were saying." Jerry then asks them "What dastardly crime have you just solved?" Sheerluck then tells everyone that it's all rather hush-hush, before saying that no one in London will ever have to worry about the Howling Dogs of Baker Street again. Everyone then cheers about it, before Jimmy asks them, "How did you solve it? Did you use your superlative powers of observation or did basic forensics crack this particular case open?" Sheerluck then tells him that he talks funny, before Dr. Watson answers that it was a combination of the two, before Sheerluck tells them that they decided the best way to explain it is in a song, something which Dr. Watson is not too fond of. Despite this, Sheerluck then has the piano player (played by Scallion # 3) start playing a song, before Sheerluck and Dr. Watson then start singing about how if a crime has been committed, then they'll be called on to solve the crime, though throughout the entire song, Sheerluck keeps pushing himself in, completely overshadowing Dr. Watson, much to Dr. Watson's consternation. After the song ends, everyone then cheers for Sheerluck's performance, while Dr. Watson feels hurt that Sheerluck has been pushing him aside.

After the duo exit Doyle's, Sheerluck proclaims, "Another perfect ending to a perfect day," before noticing that Dr. Watson feels down. Dr. Watson then tells Sheerluck that he thought that they solved the cases together, but Sheerluck is the only one who gets credit for them. Of course, Sheerluck thinks that that's silly, saying that they're a team and that they're friends, which everyone knows, before Dr. Watson asks Sheerluck if he knows that and if that's any way to treat a friend. Before the conversation can continue, Scooter Carrot then approaches the duo, telling them that there's been a robbery at Buckingham Palace. However, due to Scooter's accent, Sheerluck can't understand him, but Dr. Watson can, repeating the statement to Sheerluck. Because of this, Sheerluck and Dr. Watson then head off towards the direction of Buckingham Palace. After arriving at Buckingham Palace, Sheerluck and Watson meet with the Prime Minister (played by Archibald Asparagus), who tells the duo that everyone is in desperate need of their services. The Prime Minister then explains to the duo that the crime is a case of national security and that if it's not solved quickly, there will be dire consequences. When asked what was stolen, the Prime Minister answers "a key," which Sheerluck is in disbelief about, thinking that the Prime Minister had lost his keys, telling the Prime Minister to go down the hardware store and get a copy made. Of course, since Watson is more clear-minded than Sheerluck, he asks the Prime Minister what the key unlocked, before the Prime Minister answers, "The door to the room where the Golden Ruler is kept." This surprises Watson before telling Sheerluck that there's not a moment to waste, but Sheerluck doesn't quite understand what's going on.

Sheerluck and Watson follow the Prime Minister to a room, before approaching a pillow where the key was kept. When Sheerluck examines the key, Watson tells him to describe what he sees, which Sheerluck does, saying "It's your basic pillow, without a key in it," before erroneously guessing that whoever stole the key has a dislike for soft pillows, then comes up with the outrageous conclusion that there is a headless bandit with a morbid fear of pillows. Watson then asks the Prime Minister where the door is that the key unlocks, before the Prime Minister turns towards the doorway to where the door is right across from the room they are in now. Sheerluck then asks the Prime Minister what the Golden Ruler is, before the Prime Minister answers, "Only the most valuable treasure in the entire kingdom." Watson then notices that there are a bunch of dusty footprints on the floor of the room, saying that they must be extremely careful not to disturb these clues. However, at that moment, two policemen named Detective Bill Trout (played by Mr. Nezzer) from the Forensic Investigators of South Hampton (F.I.S.H.) and Sergeant John Spud (played by Mr. Lunt) from the Canterbury Highway Patrol (C.H.I.P's) show up at the scene of the crime, which Sheerluck is not happy about.

Nevertheless, F.I.S.H. and C.H.I.P's go to work, using excessive amounts of police tape to block off the scene of the crime, even when Watson tries telling them that they're disturbing the crime scene. The Prime Minister then tells the two officers that Sheerluck Holmes is the world's greatest detective, though Sheerluck ends up getting caught in the police tape after a few seconds. Sheerluck still pulls on the tape, until the tape then pulls a statue down, which opens up a secret door in the wall that acts as the entrance to a secret passageway, which was how the crook was able to enter and exit the room without detection. The Prime Minister says that he will announce this discovery to the king (played by Pa Grape) and queen (played by Madame Blueberry), but when Sheerluck says that he'll do it, he ends up tripping over the police tape before inadvertently knocking down both rows of British Guards that are standing in the hallway.

After Sheerluck and Watson return to Doyle's again, Sheerluck is greeted by everyone again, before he is asked what's shaking. Sheerluck then answers to Jimmy and Jerry that they're on the boots of London, which makes them laugh again. Sheerluck then asks the waitress for the usual again, before Jimmy asks him, "What nefarious no good nick did you and Dr. Watson incarcerate this fine evening?" Sheerluck is confused by the words that Jimmy used on him, before Dr. Watson explains to him what these words mean. Sheerluck then answers that as always, it's all rather hush-hush, saying that he stumbled upon a clue that blew this case wide open and that they will have the criminal before the week is up. Sheerluck then says, "Now, I can't reveal exactly where I was tonight, but let's just say it rhymes with 'Luckingham Dallas'," which everyone is amazed about, before Sheerluck explains that he was faced with the most difficult mystery of his career and that if he failed, then the most valuable treasure in the entire kingdom would be lost. When everyone is worried, Sheerluck is able to assure everyone in the parlor that he was on the top of his game, which everyone starts cheering about. However, this only causes Watson to storm out from Doyle's, with Sheerluck following after him, wanting to know what's wrong. Watson then angrily tells Sheerluck that he really doesn't have a clue, even when Sheerluck tries telling him that he knows that they're a team, before Watson tells him that what really hurts is when you say to someone that you are their friend, yet you don't treat them like a friend. Two scallion women then show up, asking Sheerluck for his autograph. After the scallion women leave, this only causes Watson to leave in a huff, even when Sheerluck tries calling after him to come back.

At the home of Sheerluck Holmes, Sheerluck is playing his tuba, when Scooter comes in, telling him that the Golden Ruler has been stolen. Unfortunately, just like before, Sheerluck doesn't understand what Scooter said, because of his accent. A woman and Jimmy try to translate what Scooter said, but they also don't know what he said, until Scooter is finally able to make himself understood, repeating his statement that the Golden Ruler has been stolen. After hearing that Golden Ruler has been stolen, Sheerluck is about to tell Watson that the game is afoot, before realizing that he's all alone before he goes off to see if he can try to find Watson. After arriving at the home of Dr. Watson, Sheerluck ends up getting soot, pillow feathers, water, and an anvil dumped onto his head by Watson's maids, who each admonish Sheerluck for treating Watson poorly. Sheerluck then returns to Buckingham Palace, with the Prime Minister telling him that word of the theft might leak out to the press, before Sheerluck is then hit with a newspaper that bears a headline that reads, "Too late! The Golden Ruler has been stolen." F.I.S.H. and C.H.I.P's are under surveillance, even after the Golden Ruler has been stolen, with the Prime Minister asking Sheerluck to save the day, with Sheerluck saying that he's on the job, before he starts looking all around with his magnifying glass. Even without Watson by his side, Sheerluck asks the Prime Minister when the crime took place, before the Prime Minister answers that it must have happened at the changing of the guard, something which he can't understand. Just when it seems that Sheerluck is about to solve the case, he realizes that it's a lot harder than it looks.

Sheerluck then comes up with a deduction before whispering it to the Prime Minister, while F.I.S.H. is able to eavesdrop on them. The Prime Minister then praises Sheerluck for his deduction, just as the King and Queen of England (played respectively by Pa Grape and Madame Blueberry) approach their thrones. The King then announces that all is not lost, saying that Detective Trout (F.I.S.H.) has deduced that the national treasure is still hidden within the walls of the palace, something which Sheerluck is not happy to hear, since he was the one who came up with that deduction himself, before he admonishes F.I.S.H. for stealing his deduction. However, Sheerluck then realizes that he felt just how Watson felt, before realizing that he's finally figured it out about what Watson was telling him about treating a friend like a friend. Because of that, Sheerluck then thanks F.I.S.H. for stealing his deduction and taking credit for it, which is what finally opens his eyes about what Watson was trying to tell him along. Sheerluck then tells the King that they need to treat others the way they need to be treated, with the King telling him that that's exactly what the Golden Ruler says, which is why it's the most valuable treasure of all. Sheerluck then says that he can't solve this case by himself, saying that he needs Dr. Watson, before Watson then shows up after that, which Sheerluck is happy to see.

Watson then asks the King if he could reveal the criminal who stole the Golden Ruler, before explaining that as Sheerluck has deduced, the thief is still in their midst because this was an inside job. Watson then reveals that the thief is none other than one of the palace guards, but the Prime Minister tells him that each of the palace guards is loyal to the core, before Watson tells him that one of the guards is an imposter, a foreign spy sent to steal England's most precious possession. The King then asks the thief to step forward, but the Prime Minister allows him, before asking the guards if any of them are spies, which the pea guards reply "No," and when the Prime Minister asks them if any of them are loyal to the crowd, they all reply, "Oui." When the Prime Minister tells Watson that he's mistaken, Watson tells him that people may sometimes lie, but facts never do, before he gets into a detailed explanation, first telling about the footprints, which are the same size as a pea, and that on the wall of the secret passageway, there were black fibers that matched the guard's hats, which were the same height as an English guard, which was how he knew that a guard had stolen the key, but didn't know why, until the morning when he secretly investigated the crime scene and found the answer to his riddle.

Watson explains further that he found crumbs that belonged to Brie Cheese and Baguette Bread, which are foods not native to England, but rather to France. The Prime Minister then says that he questioned the guards and that they're all loyal to the crowd, but Sheerluck defends Watson's statement about one of the guards being a spy, before he trips on the police tape again before knocking over the pea guards once again, but this time, one pea guard was revealed to have hidden the Golden Ruler under his hat, revealing this pea to be the spy. As a result, the spy (played by Phillipe Pea) is arrested by F.I.S.H. and C.H.I.P's, while proclaiming that he would've gotten away with it if it weren't for his irrepressible love of Brie Cheese and Baguette Bread. The King is happy that their national treasure has been reclaimed, thanking Sheerluck for solving the case, but Sheerluck tells him that the real hero is Watson, which Watson is happy to hear, before telling Sheerluck that they did it as a team, as friends. Sheerluck then reads the inscription on the Golden Ruler, which reads, "Treat others the way you want to be treated," before asking Watson to forgive him, which Watson does.

Back at Doyle's, Sheerluck and Watson then sing a reprise of the song that they sang earlier, but this time, singing about how if a crime has been committed, they should be called on to solve the mystery, as long as they both live by the Golden Rule. After the song ends, everyone cheers for the teamwork and friendship of both Sheerluck Holmes and Dr. Watson.

Closing Countertop

Back on the Countertop, Bob asks Larry is he has anything to say, which Larry does. Larry apologizes to the entire population of South Dakota for the insulting jokes that he was making at the beginning of the show. Bob then tells Larry that historically, South Dakota has been a very forgiving state. Larry still wants to know how he'll know before Qwerty then brings up a song about South Dakota before, in the end, Larry's face has been grafted into Mt. Rushmore, which means that South Dakota does forgive Larry. Bob then tells Larry and Erica that just like in the story of Sheerluck Holmes, to be a good friend, we need to treat our friends like we want to be treated. Larry then says that as they learned in the story of "The Asparagus of La Mancha," being a good friend means that we need to do what's best for our friends and stick by them when they need us the most. Qwerty then brings up the verse, which is, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17." After that, Larry excuses himself before hopping off, which Bob is confused about before he tells Erica that the best thing to keep in mind when you're looking to make a good friend is how to be a good friend, and if you can do that, you'll do just fine. Larry then hops back after that, this time dressed as Larry-Boy, which confuses Bob again, before Larry tells him that dress rehearsal for the next show starts in two minutes. Bob then asks Larry if they can finish the show first, which Larry confirms, before the two then sign off, but not without Bob saying, "Nobody told me about a dress rehearsal," but the episode ends after that, before the conversation can continue further.

Characters

• Bob the Tomato (Don Quixote look-a-like {dream only}, Sheriff Bob, Dr. Waston)
• Larry the Cucumber/Larry-Boy (Don Quixote look-a-like {dream only}, Sheerluck Holmes)
• Archibald Asparagus (Don Quixote, The Prime Minister)
• Mr. Lunt (Poncho, Sergeant John Spud of C.H.I.P's)
• Mr. Nezzer (Don Quixote look-a-like (dream only), Food Factory Manager, Detective Bill Trout of F.I.S.H)
• Scooter (Don Quixote look-a-like (dream only))
• Jean-Claude Pea
• Phillipe Pea (The Spy)
• Jimmy Gourd
• Jerry Gourd
• The Dungeon Guard (Don Quixote look-a-like (dream only))
• The French Peas (Pea Soldier, Pea Guards)
• Scallion #3 (Piano Player at Doyle's)
• Charlie Pincher (Silly Song Only)
• Pa Grape (King of England)
• Madame Blueberry (Queen of England)

Songs

• VeggieTales Theme Song
• Silly Songs with Larry: Gated Community
• Call On Us
• Call on Us (reprise)
• South Dakota (replaces the What Have We Learned song)

Other Languages

• شارلك هولمز والمسطرة الذهبية (Arabic) (same translation not counting Sheerluck's name change)
• Sheerluck Holmes und das goldene Maß (German) (Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Measure)
• Sherflaks Holmes og den gyldne linjal (Norwegian) (same translation not counting Sheerluck's name change)
• شرلوک هلمز (Persian) (1st dub) (Sherlock Holmes)
  • شرلوک هلمز و خط کش طلایی (Persian) (2nd dub) (same translation not counting Sheerluck's name change)
• Sheerluck Holmes e o Resgate da Régua Dourada (Portuguese) (Brazil) (Sheerluck Holmes and the Rescue of the Golden Ruler)
• Sheerluck Holmes y la Regla Dorada (Spanish) (Latin America) (same translation)

Home media

Main article: Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler/Home Video

Features

Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler/Features

Fun Facts

Moral

• Being a true friend means you've got to stay very loyal to them.
• Treat other folks the way you wish to be treated.

Explanations

• A locksmith is someone who makes keys, and can also copy them if the person loses them.
• "Hurts like the Dickens" is an old way of saying "Ow, that hurts!" The term "dickens" means devil. People assume it means Charles Dickens, but the term was first invented during Shakespeare's era.
• Samoans are the Indigenous people of the Polynesian islands of Samoan.
• In the beginning of the "La Mancha" segment, Don and Pancho use diner lingo when Pancho gives the orders to Don.
  • Two cows still mooing and a Hail Caesar, hold the bird. (Two rare steaks & Caesar salad, no chicken)
  • Noah's boy on bread, side of frog sticks. (Ham sandwich with French Fries)
  • Drag 'em through the garden? (sandwich has lettuce)
  • With a stop in the Alps! (sandwich has Swiss cheese)

Trivia

• There were a few differences between pre-production and the final version:
  • Originally, "La Mancha" was going to be about Bob and Larry and the setting was in outer space. This was changed after Disney's "Treasure Planet" was released.
  • Petunia was going to be the waitress. Mike went against it since she hardly had anything to do.
  • The yellow tape was going to have words. This was changed after the animators discovered the text was stretched.
  • Brian Roberts wanted to bring Ma Grape back and make her the queen. But this meant they would have had to make a new character model of her. This does eventually end up happening about a year later.
  • The show was originally titled "Sheerluck Holmes and the Case of the Missing Friendship."
• This is the first episode for a few things:
  • The first episode to feature the 2002 Big Idea Logo after the credits as they stopped using the 1997 Big Idea Logo after the previous episode.
  • The first episode to not have the What Have We Learned song, but instead have a different song as it was stolen by the Sporks in the previous episode. However, the song was returned in the next episode.
  • The first episode where Brian Roberts voices Scallion #3, albeit only on the DVD's main menu. Roberts would eventually voice him in an actual episode itself starting with the next one.
• This is the last episode for a few things:
  • The last episode where Joseph Sapulich worked on until The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: A VeggieTales Movie.
  • The last episode to be given a general VHS release, due to the general death of the format around the time of the episode's release. However, the next video did get a VHS screener release, but wasn't given a general release.
  • The last episode to use the DKP studios closing logo after the end credits. Starting with the next episode until Gideon: Tuba Warrior, it only uses the closing 2002 Big Idea logo bumper.
  • The last fullscreen episode to feature Village Heckler and Hat Lady.
• This is the only time when the jail cell is seen is in broad daylight. In previous episodes like The Star of Christmas and The Ballad of Little Joe, it's only seen at nighttime.
• The Asparagus of LaMancha also appears in Very Veggie Fun!, and You Are a Friend!.
• Gated Community also appears in Sing-Alongs: Do the Moo Shoo, and Lessons from the Sock Drawer.
• The Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler portion of the video is also featured in Happy Together!.
• When aired on TBN, The Asparagus of La Mancha and Gated Community were removed.
• On the Smile of a Child broadcast, this is the last episode to be in the 4:3 screen format.
• The list of characters Don sees himself in the mirror in his second dream were:
  • Scooter Carrot
  • Mr. Nezzer
  • Jimmy Gourd
  • Larry the Cucumber
  • Bob the Tomato
  • Dali (See Real-World References)
• The instrumental version of the song "Call on Us" was used in the Qubo promo.
• On the main menu, if you ring the bell, Scallion #3 would play one of the following three songs from each segment of this episode on the piano:
  • Gated Community
  • Pop Goes the Weasel (this was heard during the Cheese E. Rodent scene of The Asparagus of LaMancha)
  • Call on Us
    • Each of these songs would often feature a gag, particularly near the end:
      • Gated Community: Someone offscreen would shout "Oh, look! A ball!" (via reused audio from the song) and a red ball would bounce across the parlor.
      • Pop Goes the Weasel: Pancho would pop out from behind the piano during the first "pop" part of the song. He and Pancho would do the same during the second "pop" part of the song.
      • Call on Us: Sheerluck and Watson would dance along to the song.

Transcript

• Sheerluck Holmes and the Golden Ruler/Transcript