Baffled Ben

"Baffled Ben" is Episode 29 in Season 1. It originally aired on February 23, 1995.

Plot
In the greenhouse, Skye tells a plant of his that it's time for its shower, unaware that Julie is present. Because she is the only other person there, she reacts by telling him she already had one. He tells her it's the plant he's talking to. She questions him for it, and then he assures her that other than sunshine and water, plants need tender loving care. She says nice things about it, and it dances. It even does so when she sings off-key.

Back into the lobby, Ben is attempting to work on a puzzle he doesn't want help with. Leon suggests a particular piece in a particular area. Ben snaps at him, asking him why he doesn't "stop being such a know-it-all." Leon takes offense to this remark and heads out. Then Jody comes to tell Ben he is starting to get somewhere with the puzzle. He ignores her. When her attempts to get his attention anger him, he says he'll figure it out as soon as she stops bothering him. She is insulted over being called a bother and gets into the kitchen, where Leon ended up. They discuss Ben's grouchiness. Leon figures that the puzzle put him in a bad mood. Jody doesn't understand why a puzzle, which is supposed to be fun, would do that. Leon says it's because things are not turning out the way he wants. He asks some real-life kids what things have ever made them frustrated (One is revealed to be named Jason when he mentions a teacher of his to tell him to "write neater"). Jody decides one can't blame Ben for his frustration, as everyone gets that way. Leon says he just needs to take a deep breath, relax, and take his time. Jody figures he might have learned that, but he cries out in frustration, so the two insulted friends decide, "Maybe not."

Back to the lobby, Ben, still frustrated, ignores Julie's calls to come and see Skye's plant. When she finally gets his attention, he asks her if she can't see that he is "doing something important," and demands she quit bugging him. This hurts her feelings, as she thought she was sharing something with him. She pouts and heads into the kitchen. Leon correctly guesses she was talking to Ben. She reveals what insult he gave her. Leon then tells her about how he was insulted, and likewise with Jody. Jody says that somebody ought to say that one must be careful with words. Leon agrees. Jody says that words can hurt people's feelings. Julie agrees. But Leon and Jody do not understand when she says the same for plants, too, including any all over the universe.

In a story Jody tells, Gleeb and Fleeb, two aliens from a planet called Bleeb, each plant seeds for a plant called spleeb. Gleeb showers his with nice words, but Fleeb insults his. Gleeb advises Fleeb on his words to his spleeb, but Fleeb snaps at him for not "minding his own spleeb." Gleeb only wanted Fleeb to succeed. But Fleeb turns his back on Gleeb, and has no spleeb to harvest upon time to do so, so he asks Gleeb for his secret: Gleeb cheers up Fleeb's spleeb, so from then on, even Fleeb has only nice things to Gleeb and his own spleeb.

After the story, Jody mentions that in any galaxy, good words make good things happen, and bad words make problems. Leon decides they should remind Ben so...soon, very soon (as Ben yells in frustration again).

Back where the puzzle was being done, Kiki suggests to Ben where to put certain pieces. He calls her out by saying he is trying to do the puzzle himself and asks her why she has to be such a showoff. She gets offended by this and walks away. Ben gives up on his puzzle.

Out of frustration, Ben goes to the greenhouse. Skye shows him the plant and how to make it happy. Ben is not impressed despite calling it fantastic. Skye warns him that the plant gets sad over any mean words, and he leaves for a minute, but not before telling him to remember to watch his words. Still frustrated, Ben expresses disdain over standing there and talking to the plant, calling it ridiculous. It droops a bit. Ben asks why he should be careful what he says to some scrawny little thing in a pot. It droops a little farther. Ben asks who needs it, as one can't even eat it. It droops again. Skye comes back upset over the results. Ben looks and is aghast to see what his words had done. Skye asks him what he said. He says he said nothing, but Skye is not fooled. Ben confesses that he said it was ridiculous (fourth droop), scrawny (fifth droop), and useless (sixth droop) because one couldn't eat it (seventh droop). Skye calls Ben out for it. Ben apologizes to Skye, but he doesn't want the apology himself. He tells Ben to apologize to the plant. He doesn't get it, but when Skye sighs in annoyance, Ben apologizes, and the plant starts rising back up, much to his amazement. Skye tells him to be careful what he says, especially when angry or frustrated. He leaves to get medicine and warns him again to watch his words. Ben promises. He apologizes to the plant again, remembering he not only insulted it, but his (remaining) friends. He asks himself how he'll fix the mess, and then asks real-life kids what they do when they hurt their friends' feelings. Some suggest presents, hugs, and, of course, apologies. Sincere apologies, that is, as one mentions. Ben decides they are right. Then he sings about saying nice words, evenmtually making the plant more upright. Skye comes back and asks what he said to it. He says it looked good and that it perked right up. He leaves to talk to his other friends, but stops to thank him for being such a pal.

In a subplot, Sizzle and Nuzzle fight because he doesn't want her advice on something, and later, she doesn't want him watching over her.

Back downstairs, the others are fighting over the puzzle. Ben stops them and apologizes. Nevertheless, they keep fighting, until Ben tells them that words can make one feel terrible...or they can make one feel great, and therefore to stop arguing and say something nice. Each one does. After it's all settled, they all work together on the puzzle, and Skye brings down the plant.

Back to the subplot, Sizzle and Nuzzle make up.