Be Careful What You Fish For is the third episode of the Tom and Jerry series, Tom and Jerry Singapore.
Synopsis[]
Jerry has his eyes set on Tom’s catch of the day and is determined to stand in the way. Tom is also bent on getting a taste of the sea one way or the other! Will they sink or swim?
Plot[]
In a vibrant forested garden in Singapore, a charming cottage stands enveloped by lush greenery. Inside the cottage, a commotion is unfolding: Jerry bursts out the door, clutching a fish that Tom had intended to cook. In hot pursuit is Tom, angered and determined, as he chases after Jerry, who races away with the prized catch. Just as Jerry sprints off, Tom hurls his frying pan in frustration, adding to the chaos of the moment. Jerry hides in the bush while Tom patrols the area, but soon loses track of the clever mouse. Nearby, Jerry finds the fish is struggling to breathe, nearly on the brink of death. Acting quickly, he saves the fish by placing it in a cup of water. The fish rejoices in it cup, feeling relief and gratitude for Jerry’s help, making the mouse chuckle with joy.
However, their moment of happiness is cut short when Tom swings a frying pan at Jerry, knocking him out cold. In the chaos, Tom accidentally bumps into a light pole, causing him to lose consciousness as well. Seizing the opportunity, Jerry takes the fish to safety. As they escape, the fish spots a spectacular pond modeled after the architectural beauty of Singapore. Ecstatic, it urges Jerry to follow, leading the way to their new aquatic paradise.
Jerry strums his guitar while he and his fish friend bask in the beauty of their new paradise, right by a "No Fishing" sign. Meanwhile, Tom discovers the pond and stealthily approaches, completely ignoring the sign as he sets up to fish. As Jerry notices Tom hiding in the bushes, he quickly looks around for his fish companion, who is about to take the bait on the fishing line. Determined to protect his friend, Jerry scoops up the fish just in time to prevent it from biting the hook. In a burst of bravery, he jumps in front of Tom, using his guitar to smack the cat on the head and interrupt his fishing antics.
Furious, Tom chases after Jerry in the water until he unexpectedly encounters what he thinks is a shark. Alarmed, he quickly retreats, only to realize that the shark is a fake set up by Jerry. Heading back to the shore, Tom figures out that the shark can’t follow him on land and decides to pursue Jerry instead. Jerry, wearing the shark mask, turns to face Tom, causing him to back away in fear. However, he quickly finds himself clamped in the shark’s bite and screams in pain.
Meanwhile, Jerry makes his way to the pond. Still furious, Tom spots a lawn trimmer vehicle with a "Do Not Touch" sign but decides to ignore it and jumps in to go after Jerry. He gets closer and closer until he runs into a group of startled chickens, and a rooster flaps right in his face, leaving him momentarily blinded. Panicked, Tom accidentally rides up a tree, only to be launched from the vehicle and sent flying into the sky.
As Tom soars through the air, he suddenly collides with an airplane, sending him tumbling off the front and plunging down toward the open ocean below. When he lands in the water, he feels defeated and far from pleased. However, his mood brightens when he spots a school of fish nearby and begins to chase after them, excitement creeping back in. Unfortunately for Tom, what he thinks is an easy meal turns out to be a real threat—a bull shark lurking just behind him, eyeing the cat as its next meal. Unaware of the danger, Tom continues his pursuit until the shark begins to bite him. In a panic, Tom tries to escape, screaming in pain as the bull shark takes relentless nips at him. As the episode comes to a close, the screen iris out with Tom's desperate cries echoing over the waves.
Characters[]
- Tom Cat
- Jerry Mouse
- Fish
- Bull Shark
- Chickens
Trivia[]
- The episode’s title is a play on the quote "Be careful what you wish for."
- The episode is similar to Jerry and the Goldfish, in which Jerry also attempted to save a fish from Tom.
- Tom holding on to a flying airplane also occured in the Gene Deitch cartoon Landing Stripling.
- The title also shares the same name as the Nickelodeon series, The Loud House.