[yawns]
[drums banging]
[drumming continues]
-[loud thud] -[gasps]
[gasps]
[screams]
[chattering]
Get them while they're hot!
Museum terrorized by African spirits!
Night watchman frozen in fear!
♪ Who's the mouse who's fun and witty Scoops the news for New Mouse City ♪
♪ Geronimo ♪
♪ He's amazing, he's terrific Watch out world he's cheddarific ♪
♪ He's outta site and in the know ♪
♪ Go! ♪
♪ He's the one we call Geronimo ♪
[beeping]
Ah. [humming]
[shouting indistinctly]
Have you read this?
[coughing]
Grandpa?
African spirits in the museum. Why didn't you get this scoop?
Grandpa Shortpaw?
What a nice surprise.
Front-page shenanigans! Don't Grandpa Shortpaw me!
Our competitor's paper is selling like hotcakes, and you're sipping tea!
Hey, Grandpa!
[chuckles]
Hey, Benji-boy!
Well? What do you have to say for yourself?
African spirits? That's nonsense. Wait a minute.
Aren't you traveling the world?
As a matter of fact, I was about to leave for Antarctica
to go swimming with the penguins, and then I saw this!
It's a publicity stunt
to get people interested in the African collection.
Oh. And did you forget it was my friend Claude Levi-Mouse
who donated that collection to the museum?
Hmm. Oh. That's right. Didn't Claude vanish 20 years ago?
Yes, sir. He went on an expedition to Africa and never came back.
It's always been a bit of a mystery.
Hold on. I might have a contact. Someone who could help us.
Now, uh...
[mumbling]
Where did I put it?
Whoa. Uncle G. It says the night watchman heard spirits playing drums.
[scoffs] That's impossible.
-And the rattle moved all by itself! -No, it didn't.
Is there a connection between this and Claude's disappearance?
Nonsense. I'm sure there was a rational explanation.
[laughs]
I found it!
-Nicky Levi-Mouse. -Who?
Claude's grandson. We should check with him.
He might be able to shed some light on this mystery.
All right. If you think it'll do any good, let's go talk to him.
[sighs, the groans]
This was taken shortly before my grandfather's disappearance.
The last time anyone ever saw him.
[door creaking]
You wanna be an anthropologist like your grandfather?
Yes. I'm finishing studies.
I'm interested in the same region as my grandfather, particularly superstitions.
-So, you don't believe in curses. -Oh. I didn't say that.
Ah. See? I told you so.
Have you seen this morning's paper?
Hmm. I was afraid of this.
My grandfather spoke of a curse, but I never believed it.
There's no such thing.
[Nicky] Explain what happened at the Museum.
I don't know, but there's an explanation.
The tribe my grandpa studied thinks objects have souls
and they don't want to leave their home.
I have to leave you. Mr. Puffkins wants his meal.
And he's temperamental, especially around strangers.
I'm coming, I'm coming.
A good reporter checks all the angles.
We need to talk to the curator. He might know something.
Yeah, stories about curses get people interested.
I'm sure some people are interested, but not me.
No curses in our city! No curses in our city!
Shut down the museum!
[sighs]
I did my best to keep this out of the papers,
but now my employees won't even come to work. They're too frightened.
If something isn't done soon, the museum will have to close.
-Was anything taken? -Yes. A ceremonial mask was.
Did it look like this?
[O'Glyph] Yes, yes, that's the mask.
It's one of the most important pieces in the collection.
-Grandpa, did you take that? -What?
I'll return it. Don't get whiskers in a bunch.
Do you have any idea where the mask is or who took it?
Not a clue. The mask could be anywhere.
Like, maybe, in the garbage?
Benjamin, you found it.
Eh. It was easy. Infrared.
Hmm. A little too easy.
Why would a spirit toss a tribal mask into the trash?
It's not a spirit. Something else is going on here.
This deserves a closer look.
-Think the spirit will show up? -There's an explanation for what it is.
-I hope it breathes fire. That's cool! -I doubt that's going to happen.
-See anything, Thea? -Nothing to report.
-But there's a sale at Fashion Mouse. -Thanks. I'll keep that in mind.
Oh! Aah! I'm awake!
[yawns]
Uncle G, I'm ready to go home.
[sighs] Me, too. You see, Benjamin, there's no curse or spirits.
There's an explanation for what's happened.
[drumming nearby]
-Like someone playing drums? -Exactly.
[shrieks] Drums?
[both gasp]
[Geronimo yells]
[both yelling]
[Geronimo shudders]
Oh, must be a logical explanation for this. Hmm? Right?
Uh... Has to be. I just don't know what that explanation is... [sighs] yet.
That was the coolest thing I've ever seen! It was awesome!
It was pretty close. Now, how do we get rid of it?
Hmm. Well, according to my grandfather's research,
if a cursed item is returned to its origin,
the curse is broken and the spirits will rest.
But it has to be before the next new moon.
This just gets better!
So, what item has to go back?
The tribal mask. The curse is centered around it.
You'll go halfway around the globe to return a mask?
Well, I can't do it alone.
Oh, no, no, no. I'm not going to Africa.
[laughs] Sounds like front-page news to me!
Or do you wanna get scooped again?
[sighs]
-Looks like we're going to Africa. -Awesome!
I appreciate your sister agreeing to look after Mr. Puffkins. Mr. Stilton?
Uh, Uncle G's a nervous flier. Just give him a nudge.
-Oh! Yes? What? -I said, I appreciate your sister
looking after Mr. Puffkins for me.
Oh. Thea, yes.
Also, I mapped out my grandfather's last-known route.
The position of his last camp.
His camp was found in a shambles.
The tents were ripped wide open.
[Geronimo] Hmm. Looks like a lion attack.
Except that lions don't leave these behind.
Ooh. A chief's talisman, to keep evil spirits away.
Mr. Stilton, I'm impressed.
I know a little of everything.
Torches around the camp serve as a warning not to follow.
This curse is so cool!
[Geronimo] Benjamin, curses do not leave torches behind, men do.
Either way, it'll make a great story. Pipe down. I'm trying to get some rest!
Trap, thanks for helping me with Mr. Puffkins.
Ah, no sweat. I love animals.
I used to have a pet when I was a kid. He kept running away.
Used to bite me all the time so I bit him back.
After that we bonded and became friends. Until he ran away.
Ah, good times.
You're weird.
Yoo-hoo, Mr. Puffkins, dinner time.
Uh, the little fellow's in here.
[shrieking]
Mr. Puffkins! No!
Oh, Mr. Puffkins is cute.
-It didn't look this bumpy on the map! -How much further?
Not far.
Nicky's right. We should be very, very-- Stop!
[tires screech]
-[Geronimo] Are we there? -According to calculations,
this is where Nicky's grandfather disappeared.
Hmm. There's nothing here.
Whoa! [yells]
It'll be dark soon.
Eh, this looks like a good place to camp. Geronimo, stop messing around!
[whimpering]
[squawking]
Come on, Trap, stop bothering Mr. Puffkins.
[rattling and hissing]
Me? Bothering Mr. Puffkins?
[Trap shrieking]
[Geronimo grunting]
Finally. Ah.
[Shortpaw clears throat]
-Uh, trouble with your tent? -Once I read instructions, no.
If you don't mind, I'm going to relax before dinner.
Huh?
-Whoa. -Huh?
-[gasps]
Oh. Meerkats.
Nasty critters.
They'll rob you blind.
[snoring]
[animals howling and grunting nearby]
[whimpering]
Where's Mr. Puffkins?
[panting]
I don't know. He finally let me go, then slithered off.
You don't know where he is?
We have to find him. He could be lost or hurt!
I don't think Mr. Puffkins is in any danger of getting hurt.
Grandpa. Grandpa Shortpaw.
[mumbling]
-What is it? -I think I hear something.
It's just the great outdoors. It's nothing. Go to sleep.
You can do this, Geronimo. Just take a look. Just one little look.
[grunting and growling]
[shrieks]
What is it, Uncle G?
[babbling nervously]
He just had a bad dream. Now, everybody, back to sleep!
[yawns]
Quiet at last.
[snoring]
[flames whoosh]
[gasps]
Please... I'm trying to sleep.
The curse.
Mr. Puffkins? Trap?
[scoffs] How could they both disappear?
You guys in here?
What's this?
Looks like some sort of costume.
Just like what's been scaring everyone at the museum! Nicky!
[rattling and hissing]
Uh, I found Mr. Puffkins. Are you sure you fed him?
-It's the curse. What are we gonna do? -Get some pictures!
-Pictures? -Sure!
They'll look great on the front page.
So, did spirits do this?
No. Someone's trying to frighten us.
Maybe this wasn't a good idea to come here.
-We can come back. -Curse never bothered you. Why now?
No reason. Um, we should call for help.
[Geronimo] We're hundreds of miles from civilization.
[phone ringing]
Hello? Thea? What?
I see. Back of his closet. Yes. I knew there was something cheesy going on.
So, Nicky, you're the-- Wha...?
Where is everyone?
[shrieks]
[drumming and chanting]
Um, Uncle G, is this bad?
Uh... Oh, I'd say it's pretty bad.
Yes, but just think of the story!
This isn't just front-page news. This is gonna be a whole special edition!
-Oh. -If we get out of here to tell it.
[sighs]
-This is all my fault. -Nonsense!
You put us on the trail of a great adventure.
-No. Nicky's right, it is his fault. -What?
Thea found the costume in your place.
You set up this scheme to get us to Africa.
What in thunder? I don't believe it!
-He's right. -What?
I wanted Grandpa to get recognition.
I hoped he might be alive and I could find him. I couldn't do this alone.
That's why you staged everything at the museum.
I didn't expect us to end up like this.
Trap, you have to see what I found.
Trap. Stop messing around!
[Trap grunting]
-Me? -Look what I found.
Nicky was behind everything that happened at the museum.
[shrieking]
[grunting]
The ropes won't budge!
[grunting]
I can almost get my hand free.
-If I could swing and grab that spear... -You could cut the ropes!
What are we waiting for? Let's give him some help!
[all grunting]
[Geronimo] Almost.
You got it, Uncle G!
[sighs] Ow.
Don't forget to write that in your scoop!
[groans]
-They all look busy. -[Benjamin] Getting ready for what?
-I don't know. -I'm not waiting around to find out.
[yawns]
I don't think they saw us.
[Benjamin yells]
Uh...
-I think there's been a misunderstanding. -Silence!
Where did you get this?
New Mouse City. We're returning it.
I think that is not your goal. You are reporters and are not welcome.
But now that you have found this tribe, you will not be allowed to leave.
[all gasp]
[shouts] Now, see here! That's just not--
That's quite pointy. Uh, what I expected.
But I suppose we, uh, could stay.
Not without seeing the face of our captor, Claude Levi-Mouse!
How? How did you know?
Your ring. I saw it in the photo. It's the same one you wore 20 years ago.
[chuckles]
You're right. I am Claude.
-Grandpa? -Nicky?
[chuckles] Little Nicky?
Oh. You have certainly grown.
[clears throat]
William Shortpaw?
[chuckles] That's right, you old rascal!
Okay, Claude. You've got some explaining to do.
[Benjamin] So, you faked your disappearance 20 years ago?
The Bogada tribe was unspoiled by civilization.
I wanted to keep it that way.
[Nicky] You originated the story of the curse.
-You wanted to keep something else secret. -[Claude] Mm-hm.
Yes. The Bogada tribe live on one of the world's richest diamond mines.
If word ever got out, their way of life would end.
Don't worry. We won't tell anyone.
[stammering] But what about our big story?
We can still have it and help keep the Bogada tribe's secret.
Once I finish my studies, I'll visit you.
[Claude chuckles]
Just make sure no one follows you.
[all chuckle]
[Geronimo] The curse turned out to be a hoax,
but it reunited a grandson with his grandfather.
The mystery of Claude Levi-Mouse is solved, except his location.
That will remain a mystery.
For The Rodent's Gazette, I'm Geronimo Stilton.
With my nephew Benjamin.
Ha. Rats! I thought I could scare you.
Oh-ho, I have to admit. That was a good story. Nicely done.
Thanks, Grandpa.
And a trip I don't want to make again soon.
I'm glad I don't have to take care of Mr. Puffkins anymore.
Oh, come on, Trap. Mr. Puffkins loves you. Besides, I told Nicky we'd look after him
while he's away doing research.
[Trap groaning]
Mr. Puffkins is a good boy, he's such a good boy.
Don't you think so, Trap?
[grunting and crying]