Everybody quickly introduced themselves, but Dory wanted to stay on task. “We gotta go,” she said. “We have to stop that truck!”
When everyone floated up to the surface, they saw that the truck was gone!
Dory gasped. “Bailey! Status report!” she shouted.
“Oh, yes — my beautiful gift!” Bailey snapped into action with his echolocation. “Ooooo... I’ve got it!” he said. He could see the truck!
“Let’s go!” said Dory, grabbing Destiny’s fin. “We’re stopping that truck!” The group took off together and swam past Fluke and Rudder, who were lounging on their rock.
“This I’ve got to see,” said Fluke. Rudder agreed, and the two curious sea lions jumped into the water to follow. They didn’t get very far before they sensed someone behind them. When they turned around, they saw Gerald — perched on top of their rock and grinning from ear to ear! Fluke and Rudder paused as they considered turning back to scare him off, but they didn’t want to miss seeing what was going to happen with Dory and the truck.
“Don’t get used to it, Gerald!” shouted Rudder as the two continued on. Gerald laughed wildly and settled onto the beautiful, warm rock.
As the group raced along the coastline, Dory asked Bailey to give her an update. She had already forgotten everything!
Bailey caught her up and then announced that he could see Marlin and Nemo inside the truck ... and it was headed toward the bridge. But he was quickly distracted. “Oh, look! There’s a bunch of cute otters over there. I want one!” he added, gazing at the adorable sight. The distraction caused Bailey to slam into the side of the bridge, with Destiny crashing right behind him!
Everyone rose to the surface to have a look around.
“I see the truck!” shouted Charlie. “It’s over there!”
The truck was quickly making its way toward the bridge. Dory thought about what to do next.
She patted her fins against her head as she chanted, “What would Dory do?” over and over.
“If only there was a way to stop traffic!” said Bailey with a sigh.
“Stop traffic?” repeated Dory. That sparked something in her mind, and she chattered as an idea began to form. “Everyone needs to stop ... people stop to look at things ... things they like ... things that are cute ...things that are cute!”
Dory turned to the group of sea otters and darted toward them. She told Destiny her plan. “When the truck reaches the bridge, you flip me up there.”
“Got it!” said Destiny.
“You guys follow me,” Dory said to the otters. They chirped in agreement. “Everyone else, stay here.”
“Whoa,” said Jenny, stopping Dory. She and Charlie didn’t like the idea at all. They didn’t want to let Dory out of their sight. “Dory, sweetie, what happens if ... I mean, what could happen if ...” Jenny’s voice trembled with worry.
“I lose you again?” asked Dory.
Jenny was ashamed to admit it, but that was her fear.
“Mom. Dad,” said Dory, facing them with confidence. “It’s gonna be okay. Because I know that even if I forget ... I can find you again.”
Jenny and Charlie smiled. They were so proud of their daughter. They knew Dory was right, and they would always stand behind her, no matter what.
With no time to waste, Destiny hoisted Dory up onto her tail while Bailey told Destiny which way to aim. “Ooooo — Okay, a little left ... OOoooo — Okay, that’s it ... Go! Don’t do it!”
“Bailey!” said Destiny, anxious.
“Okay, NOW! NOW! DO IT! DO IT!”
Destiny swam over to Dory. “Time for your idea,” she said.
“Okay, what idea?” asked Dory. Instantly, Destiny flipped Dory high into the air and flung her across the ocean. With Dory soaring above, the otters followed in the water below. They scrambled up onto the bridge, and when Dory finally landed, one of them caught her in its paws! They were now lined up across the highway.
Dory looked at all the cars on the bridge, and her mind raced. “Cars, cars, cars. I see cars. Otters in front of the cars ... cars have to stop —” Then she remembered her plan. “STOP TRAFFIC! CUDDLE PARTY!”
Dory hugged the otter that was holding her, and with that, all the otters began to hug each other. The extreme cuteness caused every single car to stop! All the drivers and passengers stared and snapped photos as the otters had an absolutely adorable cuddle party!
SCREEEECH! The truck lurched to a halt as it approached the traffic jam. Inside the truck, Nemo asked Marlin what was going on, and Marlin drew in a deep breath. “I don’t know how, I don’t know in what way — but I think this has something to do with —”
The truck’s back door burst open and an otter scurried in, carrying Dory.
“DORY!” said Nemo.
“Water ... water ...” gasped Dory straining for breath.
Hank reached down, grabbed her, and plunged her into the tank with Marlin and Nemo.
“You came back!” Nemo continued.
“Of course,” said Dory. “I couldn’t leave my family.”
Overjoyed, Nemo hugged Dory with all his might.
Suddenly, the driver appeared at the open door, shooing the otters out of the truck and off the bridge. “Oh, no,” Dory said ominously as she watched the otters return to the ocean. “There goes our ride.”
From below, Destiny called to Dory in whale. “The traffic is starting to mooOOoove!”
“Leave it to me,” said Marlin. “I got this!” He cleared his throat and began to call to Becky. “Loo-loo! Loo-loo! Ooo-roo!”
Becky squawked and appeared, holding the pail in her beak.
“Dory, follow me!” said Marlin. He and Nemo hopped into the pail, but Becky took off before Dory was able to get in! Marlin tried to get Becky to turn around, but she continued on her mission. She dropped them into the ocean and flew off, joining her flock.
When Marlin and Nemo splashed into the water, they found themselves face to face with Destiny. “AHHH! PLEASE DON’T EAT US!” begged Marlin.
“Where’s Dory?” asked Destiny.
Then everyone realized ... “You’re her family,” they said in unison.
“She’s still in the truck!” Marlin announced.
With no time to waste, Marlin managed to get Becky’s attention and told her to go back for Dory. When she arrived at the truck, Hank and Dory were talking.
“Okay, kid,” said Hank. “I guess this is goodbye.”
He reached one of tentacles into her tank, in an effort to put her into Becky’s pail.
“No!” she shouted, slapping his arm.
“What do you mean, no?”
“I mean, you’re not going to the Cleveland. You’re coming to the ocean with me,” Dory insisted.
“What is it with you and ruining my plans?” said Hank. “Listen to me, I have one goal in life, one! And it is to —”
“No, you listen to me!” Dory said firmly. Hank looked at her, stunned by her confidence. “What is so great about plans? I’ve never had a plan. Did I plan to lose my parents? No. Did I plan to find Marlin? No. Did you and I plan to meet? Wait — did we?”
“Are you almost done?” asked Hank.
“Well, I don’t think we did, and that’s because the best things happen by chance, because that’s life. And that’s you being with me — out in the ocean, not safe in some stupid glass box.”
“Can I say something?” asked Hank.
“I’m not done! A friend of mine, her name’s Sigourney, once told me that all it takes is three simple steps — rescue, rehabilitation, and, um, one other thing that ...”
All the fish in the truck chanted, “RELEASE! RELEASE! RELEASE!”
“That’s right! So what do you say?”
Even Becky joined in the chant, squawking along with everyone!
“I was going to say okay,” said Hank.
But suddenly the staffer appeared and slammed the door shut, leaving them trapped inside the truck.
“Not good,” said Dory.