00:23Peabody here.
00:24Today, Sherman and I are going back to the year 64 A.D. to visit with one of history's
00:29most renowned violinists.
00:30Jack Benny?
00:31No, that would be 39 A.D., Sherman.
00:33Our illustrious fiddler was none other than the emperor of Rome, Nero.
00:38We set the way back in trolls, and before you could say quo vadis, we were standing on
00:42the steps of Nero's palace.
00:43I smell smoke, Mr. Peabody.
00:45Oh, that is a bad sign, Sherman, because according to history books, Nero is responsible for setting
00:49fire to Rome.
00:51Idiots, what do you think you're doing?
00:53We just put the fire out, emperor.
00:55You mean you just put the barbecue out?
00:58What's more, you've made my steak saggy.
01:01Out, out, get out.
01:03We thought it was a fire, Mr. Nero.
01:05Well, it wasn't.
01:06I can't stand fires, and yet everyone blames them on me.
01:11Oh, dear, there's another one.
01:13In the far corner, the emperor's throne was raging out of control.
01:17Quick, you get some water, and I'll get my violin.
01:20Sherman and I soon had the fire under control.
01:22As for Nero, do you always do that?
01:26Do what?
01:27Fiddle during a fire.
01:28Oh, yes, that's quite a quirk with me.
01:31As soon as I smell smoke, I have to play.
01:34Would you like to hear Laura?
01:36What does it all mean, Mr. Peabody?
01:38Well, there has to be a motive behind these fires, Sherman.
01:40Now, who would stand to profit by them?
01:42Goodwill?
01:43No, I'd say Nero's violin teacher.
01:45As long as there are fires, Nero fiddles.
01:48And as long as he fiddles, he takes lessons, or should.
01:51We left the palace and headed for the only music teacher in town, a certain Odd Puss Rex.
01:56Is that the violin you're making for Nero, boss?
01:59It is, and this one will guarantee a big fire.
02:03How so?
02:04You see the bow?
02:06Well, actually, it's a large match.
02:08All Nero has to do is strike it on the strings, and there'll be a hot time in the old
02:14town tonight.
02:16Now, get out of sight.
02:17Here come two customers.
02:19Mr. Odd Puss Rex.
02:21You wish the boy to take violin lessons?
02:23No, sir.
02:24We came here to advise you to stop playing with fire.
02:27Oh, then you know.
02:29Everything.
02:29Unless you leave Rome and promise to give up arson, we'll turn you over to Nero.
02:33I was about to do just that.
02:35In fact, behind this door are my overnight bags.
02:39I'm leaving Rome on the next train.
02:42Of course, we didn't believe him and decided to look in the back room.
02:44There were no overnight bags.
02:47True.
02:47But you'll never get out to tell anyone.
02:50It was a trap!
02:51Not only for us.
02:52For Odd Puss Rex's henchman as well.
02:54He told me to duck out of sight, so I ducked in here.
02:57When that big fire starts, we'll be caught.
03:00He told us of the diabolical violin, and I knew we had to return to the palace immediately.
03:05Here, play this fiddle, Sherman.
03:07But I can't play, Mr. Peabody!
03:08I know that.
03:10It was a fearful five minutes we spent chained to Sherman's concert, but it brought results.
03:15The citizens in the neighborhood also resented Sherman's music.
03:18Get!
03:19Get out!
03:20Get out of here!
03:21Arriving at the palace, we discovered that Nero was about to give a concert.
03:24For my first number, I should like to play a Jerry Mulligan arrangement, and...
03:29If he strikes that bow, the palace will go up in flames.
03:32I grabbed a pull cord on the curtain and flew across the stage.
03:35En route, I plucked the match bow from the unsuspecting soloist.
03:38Good work, Mr. Peabody!
03:39It was good, but unfortunately, Oddpuss Rex was just as air-minded as I.
03:43He, too, flew across the stage, but he replaced the match bow.
03:47And before I could make a return flight, Nero had burst into song, and the fiddle burst into flame,
03:52and we had a disaster in the making.
03:54I'm afraid it's curtains, Mr. Peabody!
03:56Well, that gave me an idea.
03:57I examined the stage curtains, and there was the word I was looking for.
04:01Asbestos!
04:02I merely pulled a knot, and the curtain descended on Nero's performance.
04:06As for Oddpuss Rex, this didn't stop him.
04:08He dashed it up the building, giving everyone he saw a hot foot.
04:12Luckily, the last person he gave a hot foot to was the chief of police.
04:16Thank you, citizen Peabody, for saving the palace.
04:20And now, if you'll excuse me, I have to start a barbecue in the middle of the city.
04:24And, oh, this one is going to be big, big, big.
04:28Rome was no place to be, and at this moment we decided to embark for home,
04:32but not before we took a unique little violin as a memento of our visit.
04:35That's a funny-looking violin.
04:37Funny-looking, but priceless.
04:39This was made by a man named Strada.
04:41As you can see, he made various types of instruments.
04:44Is that why they call it a Strada-Varius, Mr. Peabody?
04:49That's why, Sherman.
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