Mister Rogers opens a series of hidden boxes, then builds with them. He and Mr. McFeely visit an underground home. Mister Rogers talks about homes being different because people are different. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Mr. McFeely is trying to deliver a box of sand. Because the address is unclear, he keeps trying different individuals. When he asks X the Owl about the sand, Henrietta shows him a sandcastle she has made, revealing a talent no one knew she had. Mr. McFeely finally gets the sand delivered to Charles Aber in Westwood. Charles is secretly constructing a sand table for all the neighbors. Mrs. Frogg offers to contribute some jelly molds from her kitchen. Lady Aberlin tells Mr. Aber that she has a secret that she doesn’t want to tell anyone yet.
Mister Rogers participates in a scavenger hunt which leads him to a balloon artist. Later, Mister Rogers explains how love can be a secret. Balloons are the subject of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe visit–both the fears and joys associated with them. Lady Elaine and Neighbor Aber talk about secrets.
Mister Rogers writes with invisible ink. Mr. McFeely has a very heavy delivery. Before opening it, they watch a videotape of Mr. McFeely’s visit with marble sculptor. The delivery turns out to be a marble statue. Later, Mister Rogers decides he will write a thank-you note for the sculpture. King Friday XIII has a secret in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. A confused Lady Elaine Fairchilde looks forward to her marriage to Neighbor Aber while Ana Platypus says that she is going to marry Daniel Striped Tiger. Lady Aberlin talks about hugs and kisses.
Mister Rogers plays the piano and draws with his eyes closed. He visits a non-sighted artist, Crist Delmonico. Mister Rogers talks about how people see works of art differently and tapes an audio thank-you note to Crist. Mister Rogers talks about children pretending that they will grow up and marry their mother or father. He says it is important to know that that doesn’t happen. He says that in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe people will express their feelings and that truth will help them. He also explains that one must tell the truth about any secret that, when kept, makes one feel bad. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, King Friday makes his secret announcement that Queen Ida is coming. She arrives and plays the accordion while Miss Paulificate dances the softshoe with X the Owl. Responding to an emergency call from Lady Elaine, Mr. Aber rushes to the castle. After singing with Queen Ida, Mr. Aber is surprised by Lady Elaine’s public announcement that she and he will be getting married.
Mister Rogers visits the neighborhood playground which is in the final stages of completion. He tours the playground and discovers that it was designed by children and built by their families. In the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, it is the last day for the cover exhibit at the Museum-Go-Round. At X the Owl’s suggestion, Neighbor Aber goes to Cornflake S. Pecially to find out how to get the rocking chair horse down. Corney tells him that a person who is brave but does not know it must say some special words to the rocking chair. Charles sets off to find such a person. After asking various neighbors he asks Ana who suggests Daniel Tiger. Daniel undertakes the task after a discussion of his fitness, and the horse comes down. Mister Rogers talks about making something as well as one can and being proud of it.
Watch full-length Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood programs. The first Monday of every month will feature programs from the early years 1968-1975. The third Monday of every month will feature programs from the “Theme Weeks” library 1979-2001.
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