SYNOPSIS:

The sounds of a jungle are heard as Lester pounces into a clearing wearing lion footy pajamas. He announces to his imaginary friend Fred that he is the “King of Everything!” After begging him to clean the living room, Lester’s Mother suggests that maybe it is time for real friends instead of imaginary ones. As she leaves for the kitchen (to prepare meatless meatloaf), she reminds Lester of his cousin Hope’s arrival.

Lester doesn’t want to clean the living room or entertain relatives he has never met… so he jumps on the couch while speaking of an imaginary land (a place with no homework because every month is July). Suddenly there is a knock at the front door. Lester answers the door revealing Hope holding a basket of apples.

After inviting her in, Lester discovers that Hope can see his imaginary friend Fred! Lester’s Mother enters the living room, but when she greets Hope something very odd occurs… they speak through their hands! Lester, very confused, pulls his mother aside as Fred pockets one of Hope’s green apples. Lester’s Mother reveals that Hope is actually deaf and that she speaks through American Sign Language (ASL). Since Lester is the “King of Everything,” he does not want to play with someone who can’t hear his call! But Fred comes up with a brilliant idea: since he is imaginary, Lester can make him understand sign language. After some quick thinking, Lester is able to understand Hope through his new interpreter, Fred.

Unfortunately, Lester still believes that her hearing must be lost somewhere, like a stick of gum or loose change. So, he decides to go on an adventure through the living room couch, find Hope’s hearing, and return home all before dinner. After convincing both Fred and Hope, they each slither through the living room couch, one by one, into the Land of Quiet.

Lester, Fred, and Hope, surrounded by hanging signs telling visitors to keep quiet, begin to travel along stone path. They soon bump into the Girl with Legs of Stone whose arms are covered in stopwatches and wristwatches. She was never one to be patient, and since she always raced time she didn’t see a sign that read Beware Fresh Cement along the path. So, she is now stuck in that very path forever. The Girl with Legs of Stone mentions a Queen at the end of the path that grants wishes. Lester suddenly gets the wonderful idea to visit this Queen! They can then wish for Hope’s hearing and the Girl with Legs of Stone’s freedom. The Girl with Legs of Stone also warns them about the Queen’s assistants, the Dustmites. If one is too loud in the Land of Quiet, the Dustmites will come and take you away. After receiving the gift of some wristwatches from their new friend, Lester, Fred, and Hope continue on their journey.

Lester, Fred, and Hope slowly come upon a forest made out of chocolate. After complaining about how hungry they all are, they come upon a new friend in the chocolate wood named Peter. Just like the Girl with Legs of Stone, Peter traveled into the Land of Quiet and after meeting the Queen, wished that whatever he touched turned to chocolate. At first it was lovely, but after a while he couldn’t quite live a normal life. He turned the entire forest turn into chocolate while trying to escape the Land of Quiet. Peter explains that his first love was indeed apples, not chocolate, and that the Dustmites tricked him. Hope, remembering Fred pocketed one of her apples, retrieves the present and offers it to Peter. They promise that upon visiting the Queen they will wish for his freedom as well as the Girl with Legs of Stone and Hope’s hearing.

As they leave Peter behind in the chocolate forest, Lester, Fred, and Hope come across a giant fork in the path. After a brief argument between Lester and Fred, they hear chanting in the distance. Suddenly and from out of nowhere appear the Dustmites who quickly capture Lester, Fred, and Hope with rope and steal their new wristwatches. Since the Dustmites have some time before the Queen arrives back at the castle, they decide to dance a forbidden dance, “The Dustmite Jive.” During the dance however, Lester, Fred, and Hope attempt an escape! As they move about, Fred is captured and dragged off by the Dustmites in the direction of the Castle. Lester and Hope, left alone for the very first time, now have to communicate without the assistance of Fred. Lester is about to give up when Hope takes his hand, gives him faith, and helps him lead the way.

Lester and Hope come across a giant lake set before the castle… The Lake of Dreams. About to take a river raft across the lake as a short cut, Lester is stopped by a tiny voice from the middle of the lake. She introduces herself as Lonely Lucy, stuck on a river raft, whose only wish was for an imaginary friend. She too traveled into the couch with the Girl with Legs of Stone, whose name is Cheryl, and Peter. They all separated and the Dustmites tricked her onto this raft. Lester and Hope once again vow to help a friend and wish for Lonely Lucy’s freedom.

Back at the castle, the Dustmites speak of a time long ago when a King proclaimed dancing and giggling the law. The Dustmites longed for the day when they could sing and dance again. They dreaded this Land of Quiet, but had to obey the Queen’s direct orders. Realizing they still had some time till the Queen’s arrival from her royal silent spa treatment, they decide to practice “The Dustmite Jive” once again.