In the Bag

Tourists depart Brownstone National Park, leaving litter scattered after their visit. Signs begging visitors not to litter are ignored, and the park quickly shows signs of neglect. The growing mess sets the stage for a chaotic cleanup.

The park ranger initially tries to pick up the trash himself but quickly realizes he shouldn't have to since he is the boss. He calls Humphrey and the other bears and tells them to put it in the bag, all while singing and dancing. The moment highlights his willingness to delegate responsibility while keeping up a performative persona.

The bears eagerly gather the litter, bouncing and jostling as they work. They follow the ranger's commands, packing waste into bags with surprising enthusiasm. Their coordination and energy turn cleanup into a zany, rhythmic routine.

The ranger tries to take a nap, hoping the problem will fade away. The bears continue their cleanup until they notice his motive—avoiding real work by letting them entertain him. They realize his motivations behind the nap hint at selfish leadership.

Humphrey corners the ranger and, in a burst of mischief, drops him into a garbage can. The stunt shatters their power dynamic and escalates tensions between the bears and the ranger. Other bears react with mixed astonishment and amusement.

The bears, angered by the ranger's capricious leadership, dump their bags of refuse on the ground. The organized cleanup collapses into a messy heap as trash sprawls across the area. The mood shifts from cooperative to confrontational.

Realizing he needs a real incentive, the ranger offers chicken cacciatore as a reward, but only if the bears clean up their sections first. He insists the meal goes to those who finish their tasks properly. The bears unite and move all the garbage into a single section to meet the condition.

Humphrey tries to comply by quickly tidying his own section and stuffing the garbage into a bag. He runs through the cleanup with hurried efficiency, hoping to earn the promised dinner. The ranger's approval seems within reach, at least for a moment.

On the way back with the full bag, it catches on a twig and rips, dumping garbage all over the ground. The spilled trash creates another mess for Humphrey to manage and delays the plan. He has to scramble to gather the pieces again.

Ranger hands Humphrey a new bag and the bear follows the garbage line toward a cliff. As he tries to place the last scrap, he slips and falls, tumbling off the edge. The setback delays the cleanup and underscores the risks of rushing.

Humphrey tries to conceal the garbage under a bush, only to discover the bush is the home of a rabbit. The rabbit disgustedly pushes the trash back out, refusing to tolerate the mess in its home. The moment highlights the consequences of careless disposal on wildlife.

Humphrey attempts to burn the garbage with a match, but Smokey Bear intervenes, reminding him that only Humphrey can prevent forest fires. The warning adds gravity to the stubborn cleanup and reinforces responsibility. The scene blends humor with a safety message.

Humphrey finally piles all the trash into a hollow stump that is actually a geyser named Ol' Fateful. The plan is to hide the waste away from sight and continue the work later. The setup foreshadows the geyser's unlikely eruption.

The Ol' Fateful geyser erupts unexpectedly, spouting garbage across the area. The eruption forces Humphrey to abandon his current plan and start the cleanup over from square one. Nature interrupts the scheme to offload trash just as a reward seems near.

Facing the eruption, Humphrey realizes he must start over again and recommit to cleaning the park properly. The ranger's reward is for now out of reach, and the bears watch the renewed effort. The scene closes with a resolve to restore Brownstone National Park.