[Today On MMPR, Opening Credits]
It's a brand new day at Angel Grove
High School, and there's a Book Fair in progress. The Ranger teens are among the crowds of
kids interested in reading, despite the fact in the real world they'd probably be lucky to
get maybe ten kids to show up. Aisha blabs on and on about finding just so many books she
wants, it's hard to choose. Billy makes an incredible discovery in the Science area,
"Quantum Physics Can Be Fun" of which he's been looking for a copy for months
(likely for his Sliding experiments). Aisha can't believe they didn't have a book fair
like this at her old school, Rocky agrees it's a good idea, Billy talks about how it not
only provides a large selection of books donated by students, but the proceeds from the
sale also benefit the school library. Some nameless extra lady tells Aisha she has to
check out the career table, it actually has a book on how to break into the fashion
business. Aisha thinks someone is finally speaking her language, and leaves with the girl
to find the book that sure won't live up to the promises on its cover. Rocky, Adam &
Billy laugh, shake their heads, and walk off in shame. Kimberly & Tommy are at another
table (seems like more kids are donating books than buying), Kim talks about loving fairy
tales. She always wanted to be a princess and get rescued by a prince on a white horse,
Tommy asks about a White Tiger, and Kim thinks that would work. She suddenly gasps as she
finds a large book titled "Grumble The Magic Elf", telling Tommy that her dad
used to read her this book when she was a little girl. Flipping through the pages, she
comments that it brings back so many memories, Tommy thinks she should have it and throws
a few bucks at the nearby cashier. Kimberly giggles and calls Tommy sweet, thanking him
and giving him a peck on the cheek.
Up on the Moon Palace, Rita watches the Earth from the Balcony, saying that this is very
interesting. Baboo & Squatt stand next to her, waving their arms and hopping up and
down uselessly. Squatt mentions that he hopes Rita will tell them what she's thinking,
Baboo completes the statement by saying that they can't think anything themselves. Rita
figures that since the Pink Ranger likes fairy tales, perhaps she'd like to become part of
one. Goldar appears and shouts that she can't do it without Lord Zedd's permission, as he
demands to know all matters concerning the Power Rangers. Rita tells the "24-karat
freak" to listen, Zeddie-poo is taking a nap and if he wants to wake him up to be her
guest, but he should know how cranky he gets when he doesn't get his rest. Goldar groans
and storms off, Rita turns around and returns to yelling idle threats at the Earth. She
says it's time for another chapter in the Rangers' history, but now she'll be turning the
pages, cackling evilly.
[commercials]
The Angel Grove High book fair
continues, Rocky shows Tommy a book he found on meditation, which is good for the martial
arts. Tom asks if he can read it when he's done, snatching it out of Rocky's hand which
leaves him no choice but to tell him sure. Ms. Appleby drops by, asking them if they're
enjoying the book fair, Kim says absolutely (as she clutches her Grumble book). The
teacher-woman says that's good, and reminds them that the more books sold the more the
library benefits, walking off and shaking her finger in the air. You know, if she were one
of my teachers in High School, she'd have noticed the gum in my mouth like Tommy is
chewing, and would have made me get rid of it. Guess they're desperate for business.
Anyway, Rocky asks Tommy & Kim if they want to go to the Youth Center, since Aisha
& the guys are going to meet him there. Kim figures why the heck not, since it's the
only flippin' place they ever hang out every fraggin' episode, and all three of the Ranger
teens race off to join up with their teammates. Meanwhile at the Home Economics table,
Bulk tells Skull to hurry up and get a book for his mother's birthday, this place is
crawling with the two things he hates most: books & dweebs. Skull flings books around,
eventually stumbling upon "How To Cook A Thanksgiving Feast", which Bulk calls
perfect for Skull's mom as he's tasted her cooking. Skull grins until he catches the
sarcasm. Bulk finds a book titled "Monster Making Made Easy" By H.P. Toth,
showing it to Skull who asks who'd be dumb enough to buy a book like that. Bulk mentions
they would, explaining to the dolt that with it they can make their own monster, set it
loose on the city and when the Power Rangers show up they can unmask them! Skull calls him
a genius, and when they head off to depart to cook up their evil scheme, Skull goes the
opposite direction of his bumbling buddy.
While on the Moon Palace, Baboo & Squatt stand around giggling, they note that this is
going to be fun, whatever it is. Rita Repulsa spots the three Rangers strolling through
the park, finds this perfect and decides they're ready for story time. She lifts up her
magic wand, points it over the balcony and fires off some orange blasts of energy. Kim
walks with Rocky & Tommy, all the while admiring her book she just got, until the
magic powers of Rita strike her reading material, sending it flying from her hands and
landing in a garbage can nearby. Tommy asks why she threw it out, she says she didn't and
they all go over to the can, finding the book open to the first page, and glowing with
energy, something she says it wasn't doing this morning. The three teens feel strange,
until suddenly they're sucked into the pages of the "Grumble The Magic Elf" book
instantly, the cover slamming shut afterwards. Tommy, Kim & Rocky land on a yellow
paved road, recovering to their feet and looking around. Kim recognizes the animated
surroundings, realizing they're inside her book! Tommy attempts to contact Zordon through
his Communicator, but nothing works, our three heroes learn they're totally cut off.
Up on the moon, Rita laughs maniacally about not being able to write it better, with those
three out of commission the others will drop like flies. In the book, the three stranded
heroes sit around, racking their brains for a solution. Rocky figures they should just
Morph, Tommy doesn't think they'll do much good since they'll still be stuck there. An odd
voice is heard asking who they are and what they're doing there, and suddenly a large blue
creature in a red Santa-like outfit appears.
This episode is really painful to watch, and even worse to summarize in detail. Let's put the rest of the episode this way:
They meet the title character, a Mr. Tinklesneezer looklike in a Santa Suit. He had a spell cast on him to make him grumpy, and has to deliever a cart of toys to some children to have the spell removed. Zedd & Rita also zap in some Putties, who steal the toys, making sure the story never ends, and ensures the three Ranger Teens remain trapped there forever. If that wasn't bad enough, they run into an evil snowman, who buries them in an avalanche.
