Twice Upon a Time

In the eternally busy city of Din, Rushers work non-stop while two dream worlds hover on the horizon. Greensleeves and his Figmen of Imagination craft Frivoli, delivering sweet dreams, while the Murkworks births waking nightmares. Greensleeves writes an SOS to Frivoli signaling trouble ahead.

Ralph and Mumford are put on trial for incompetence at work, facing a dim future if they fail. They vow to prove themselves by taking on a dangerous assignment. Flora Fauna arrives, finds Greensleeves' SOS, and volunteers to join the rescue.

Flora Fauna decides she will rescue her uncle Greensleeves and believes the trio can help. Botch begins spying on them through his robot Ibor and plots to manipulate their motives. Flora carries hope into the danger of Din.

Botch disguises himself as a friend of Greenie and spins a lie: saving Greensleeves requires stealing the main spring from the Cosmic Clock. Ralph, Mumford, and Flora are convinced to go into Din and grab the spring. Flora stays behind, playing the damsel in distress to lure the heroes into Botch's trap.

Ralph and Mumford release the spring, and time freezes in Din as the clock's gears grind to a standstill. Botch's vultures seize the spring and scatter nightmare bombs throughout the Murkworks and beyond. The city and factory fall silent while the two misfits stumble through a paused world.

The Fairy Godmother appears to reveal the ruse and gifts Ralph and Mumford three dimes to summon a rescue phone booth if needed. She also enlists Rod Rescueman, a musclebound ally who fancies Flora. Rod heads off toward Flora, leaving the boys to push on without him.

Rod rescues Flora from her sky-high floating apartment and joins the pursuit toward the Murkworks. Flora escapes but falls onto a mechanical serpent blocking the path to the heroes. Rod, Flora, Ralph, Mumford, and Scuzzbopper prepare to storm the Murkworks.

The team breaches the Murkworks with the aid of Scuzzbopper, Botch's former nightmare screenwriter who joins the resistance after Botch discards him. They press toward Botch's control hub amid sabotage and danger. The goal is to reach Greensleeves, the Figs, and the spring’s destination.

Ralph and Mumford confront Ibor while Rod and Flora work to rescue Greensleeves and the Figs. Flora destroys the robot herself, helping to level the playing field. The mission edges closer to Botch's inner sanctum as the spring's fate hangs in the balance.

Botch orders his head vulture Rudy to fly the spring back to Din as the final phase of his plan begins. The heroes race to intercept as the clockwork countdown resumes. The tension peaks as Din’s fate seems to hinge on a single move.

Ralph, in the form of a fly, threads through Botch's booby traps and slips into the control room. He unravels Botch's defenses and helps Mumford press toward the simulated nightmare bomb button. Ralph triggers The Big Red One, detonating the nightmare bombs before the spring is restored.

As the bombs threaten the immobilized Rushers, the last nightmare turns out to be Mumford himself, stretched into a disguise with his hat and cigar smoke. He detonates the ruse to complete the destruction of the bombs and buys time for the spring to return. Botch is knocked out the window but is later carried away by his vultures.

Scuzzbopper, Flora, and Rod take command of the Murkworks, while Flora offers Ralph and Mumford a parting kiss for helping Greensleeves. The Fairy Godmother congratulates them and lets them keep their last dime as a token of good luck. The Cosmic Clock restarts at a gentler pace, allowing the Rushers to enjoy their lives again.