OPERATION: PIANO (Pesky Instruments Advances New Operative)

mini-synopsis: the KND must destroy a truckload of "P-type" torture devices--pianos!

summary:

the KND sortie on a mission, one that Numbuh Four is particularly interested in.  their mission:  to destroy a shipment of pianos, one of them being a (gold-plated!) mini-grand, a gift for Wally from his mom.  of course, Numbuh Four hates pianos and the mind-numbing lessons inflicted upon him.

they find the truck full of pianos (and a big-ass truck it is, filled to the ceiling with hundreds of pianos!) and meticulously latch them, one-by-one, to a cord, where it is pulled up and shredded.  this, however, is a very time-consuming process, and Numbuh Four isn't known for his patience.  he decides to take matters into his own hands by opening the back door of the piano truck, intending to throw them out that way.  which backfires, as the pianos roll out by themselves (good) but in doing so, run over Numbuh Four (bad).

Numbuh Four ends up in multiple casts and a wheelchair.  on the bright side, he had managed to demolish almost all the pianos--all but one, the one destined for him!  (ah, the irony)  the other KND take it upon themselves to finish the job, but they're one kid short, and apparently the mission requires 5 members.  so who better to replace Numbuh Four than a hamster?  a hamster with a plan, no less!  the other KND enthusiastically praise the new replacement for his intelligence and cuteness (he is a small, furry rodent, after all) and set off on their mission, leaving behind an enraged Numbuh Four (really, who would want to be replaced by a member of the rat family) who doubts a hamster can fill his shoes.

Numbuhs One, Two, Three and Five, plus hamster, cut off the piano truck with a staged car accident.  the hamster lies on the ground like tiny road kill beside a small toy car, and the truck driver stops to check on him, whereby he (the hamster) launches into a sad, mostly incomprehensible story.  however, the truck driver seems to understand completely, and is moved to tears.  thus distracted, the other KND attempt to destroy the last piano.  they are mulling over how to accomplish this (apparently the hamster was the brains of this operation) when Numbuh Four shows up, blowing their cover, and revealing the hamster's sob story as a hoax.  the truck driver speeds off in a huff when he discovers the deception, causing the final piano to fall out the back--onto the remaining KND.  crash.

in the end, all the KND are in casts and wheelchairs, and none too happy about it.  all but Numbuh Four, who is ecstatic that his piano was smashed, and that's all that really mattered to him.  that's when duty calls, and they are ordered to destroy a shipment of violins.  as none of them are capable of this, their replacements are sent instead--a team of hamsters, of course.

2x4 technology of the day: the SKYCLAW (Supersonically Kool Yellow Claw Lowering Aerial Weapon)

quotable quotes:

the KND are complaining after their battle with the Common Cold:
Numbuh One: "okay, Kids Next Door, simple question: what did we learn today?"
Numbuh Two: "do not deviate from plans."
Numbuh Five: "teamwork is the key to mission success."
Numbuh Three: "operational procedures are important."
Numbuh Four: "pianos...are heavy."
Numbuh One: "oh, close enough."

truck driver: "...last time i open my heart and soul to some strange, apparently near-death hamster."
ah, if i had a nickel for every time i said that....

bizarro's blathering: and thus begins Numbuh Four's thinly-veiled hatred of hamsters. (later seen in GHOST) unfortunate, as they are the power source to the Treehouse.
i liked this episode a lot. perhaps because of the high levels of Numbuh Four abuse. "look, Numbuh Four's in pain. hahaha!!"