Plot
Mr. Frisby has a general store/gas station in a small town, and the townsfolk know him well for the non-stop tall tales he spins of his experiences, from his heroism in war to his inventions to his advice to presidents and captains of industry, all of which he fabricates. His friends gather in the store to hear him spin his stories, which they find very entertaining, and he often accompanies himself on harmonica.
One evening, as he is alone at closing time, creatures from another planet, disguised as humans, abduct him to their spaceship. They want to add Frisby to their collection of specimens from other planets. The aliens accept his tales at face value, so Frisby appears to them to have the widest range of experience and widest education amongst humans (they've heard him claim eight doctoral degrees). So they want him as the outstanding example of his race. Ignoring his plea that he's late for supper, the aliens insist that Frisby accompany them to their planet.
Frisby admits to them that he is simply a shameless liar, but the aliens have no concept of lying, and ask him to just sit quietly and wait for departure. Unable to persuade the aliens to release him, Frisby decides to try to relax by playing his harmonica, and makes the unexpected discovery that the sound is extremely painful to the aliens (who call the notes death sounds). After two or three aliens are rendered senseless by the harmonica, the remaining ones permit Frisby to escape. Running back to the general store, he finds his friends waiting to throw him a surprise birthday party. When he tries to tell them what happened, they enjoy a laugh at what they of course take to be another of Frisby's tall tales.
Read more about this topic: Hocus-Pocus And Frisby
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