Arthur (1996) s01e02 Episode Script
Arthur and the Real Mr. Ratburn/Arthur's Spelling Trubble
1
Every day when you're
walking down the street ♪
Everybody that you meet
has an original point of view. ♪
( laughs )
And I say hey! ♪
Hey!
What a wonderful kind of day ♪
If we could learn
to work and play ♪
And get along
with each other ♪
You got to listen
to your heart ♪
Listen to the beat ♪
Listen to the rhythm,
the rhythm of the street ♪
Open up your eyes,
open up your ears ♪
Get together and make things
better by working together ♪
It's a simple message
and it comes from the heart ♪
Believe in yourself ♪
For that's the place
to start ♪
And I say hey! ♪
Hey!
What a wonderful kind of day ♪
If we could learn
to work and play ♪
And get along
with each other. ♪
Hey!
What a wonderful kind of day ♪
Hey! What a wonderful
kind of day. ♪
Hey!
ARTHUR:
Hey, D.W.
Hey!
Whoa!
( crash )
Mr. Haney will post the list
that says which teacher
we'll get this year.
( students whimper )
Oh, forgot a tack.
( all groan )
There are three teachers
For third grade:
Mrs. Sweetwater-- she's nice;
Mrs. Fink-- She's fun
( kids cheering )
MAN:
Billy, name
Three oceans.
ARTHUR:
And Mr. Ratburn, the toughest,
scariest teacher in school
No-- in the whole world.
No-- in the whole history
of the world.
Oh, here comes
the list.
Let's go look.
Arthur, we're in
the rat's class.
( yelling )
( roars like lion )
( giggles )
( yelling )
ARTHUR:
Maybe you read
the list wrong.
( gasping )
You're right.
It's Ratburn.
( dazedly ):
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn.
Free samples of
a new flavor-- rocky rope.
All you can eat.
Maybe he's not
as rigorous
As everyone says.
FRANCINE:
Prunella had him
last year.
Let's ask her.
Is the Rat bad?
Does a bull fight?
He eats nails for
breakfast without milk.
( screw clinks onto floor )
Don't ever answer
any questions wrong
or he'll send you
to death row.
Death row?
RATBURN:
Have you done
your math exercises?
I did the first 5,000, sir.
Then you have 9,995,000 left.
Get to work.
And after that
You have 37 million
spelling words
to memorize.
And you spiders,
get moving!
And he's also
a weird vampire
With hypnotic
magic powers.
( whimpers )
( with Dracula-like accent ):
You are in my power.
ALL ( dazedly ):
We do not like recess.
Well, good luck.
( all groaning )
KIDS:
Oh, he's coming.
( whispering fearfully )
( gasps )
( door creaks open )
Good morning, everyone.
( gulps )
Welcome to grade three.
My name is Mr. Ratburn.
He doesn't look
so bad.
It's probably
a trick.
Here's a two-minute math quiz
to see what you remember.
I said it was
a trick.
( kids laughing )
Boy:
I love this.
Welcome to the first day
of school ♪
School is cool ♪
RATBURN:
Arthur Read--
you'd better concentrate
on those problems
before time's up.
( ticking )
( school bell rings )
( kids shout joyfully )
Class, you may now file out
in an orderly fashion.
Quietly.
No talking.
Arthur Read!
Are you standing
Ratburn gave us homework
on the first day.
Get with it.
We're not dealing
with a human being.
This is serious.
Whoa.
Whoa.
You find it yet?
RATBURN:
Hello, this is Mr. Ratburn.
Shh.
RATBURN:
I have all the eyes I need
but I'm completely out of heads.
I can wait for girls' heads
but I must have
boys' heads immediately.
Wait, he'll see us--
and we have
boys' heads!
There's no time.
I need them now.
I'll get them myself.
( yelling )
( yelling )
What are you doing?
( both yell )
Ratburn-- he's looking for
body parts: heads, boys' heads!
A vampire doesn't need heads.
ARTHUR:
This is no
ordinary vampire.
He's beyond vampire.
What's beyond
a vampire?
A Ratburn.
( yelling )
Hey, what?
Stand still!
He wants boy heads,
not girls'.
Breakfast.
What do
you think
he'll do
with that saw?
I read a book
where kids
discovered
a scary mystery
like this
and became detectives
to solve it.
We should
probably
investigate.
We have a lot of
homework to do.
You're just
a fraidycat.
Arthur, we have
to choose:
face horrifying,
scary danger
or do our homework.
BOTH:
Horrifying, scary danger.
( crowd cheers )
( cheering )
FRANCINE:
I'm bored.
He's not doing
anything weird.
You probably heard
him talking
about heads
of lettuce.
Boy heads
of lettuce?
Maybe grocers call
the rotten ones that.
I'm going to do
my homework.
Arthur, look!
Oh
( watch beeping )
Maybe we should go
do our homework.
Come on.
He went into
the carnival.
Of course-- look at
all those boy heads.
We've got
to warn them!
Oh, no! he's got us.
We're trapped.
There he goes.
Come on.
He went in there.
( yelling )
Okay, it was that one.
This is authentic,
but I'd prefer
a real
action pose.
( horse neighs )
Sorry, sir.
Okay, I pick this time.
( both gasp )
One two three
Go!
( kids laughing )
Run away!
You're not safe!
He'll get you!
( laughing )
Huh?
RADIO:
Hey, you're not
in this story!
You're doing my lines.
I warn Jack to run away
when he hears, "fee, fi, fo"
You know the drill.
( laughing )
RATBURN ( whispers ):
Arthur, Buster.
Get off the stage.
Okay, fellas--
When you leave that
castle, make a left
down that beanstalk, and
you'll be back in Elwood City.
( kids laugh )
Wow, the Rat does
kids' puppet shows?
Jack, you're
disorganized.
You'd forget your head
if it wasn't attached.
Uh-uh, would not.
Grab your head and hide!
Here comes the giant!
( kids scream )
Arthur, look.
GIANT:
Fee, fi, fo, fum!
KIDS:
Ew, yuck!
RATBURN:
They always crack.
I must use 50 boy heads a year.
Boy heads.
Boy heads.
I never have
enough boy heads.
You make puppets?
Can't talk, boys.
I have 40 seconds
to get Jack ready.
Must stay on schedule
because of all I do.
You do a lot.
You're a teacher,
a coach
you work on
the school paper.
I can't even find time
to do my homework.
Learn to organize your time.
Some people think
I give a lot
of homework.
BOTH:
Not us.
Learn good
work habits
and you'll
discover
Jack, where are you?
( as Jack ):
Just a second.
You're capable of
more than you think.
I'll teach you how
to do that homework
and have more free time.
Like how you do all
that stuff plus puppets?
Exactly-- two seconds early.
Self-discipline is as important
to learn as two plus two.
( as Jack ):
My head's on straight!
Man, your head's
on straight
but your body
is backwards.
Please don't
stand there.
I have to concentrate
on my work.
Oh, sorry.
Boy, were we wrong!
Boys, I can't wait
to see your geography
projects tomorrow.
( yelling )
KIDS:
And now
My teacher's name
is Mrs. Erlandson.
Mrs. Erlandson.
Kids told me she was mean.
I wasn't scared of her.
Division in the second grade?
We can do it.
Then I found out she was nice.
I thought she'd be mean,
but she wasn't.
She had purple shoes.
CHILD 2:
Purple dress.
CHILD 3:
Purple earrings,
Purple shirt and purple shoes.
CHILD 4:
She had decorations
on her dress.
CHILD 5:
She wears a bow
every day on her hair.
CHILD 6:
Beautiful and pretty.
She's not, like,
grouchy all the time.
Uh-uh.
No.
She's fun.
She likes doing things.
CHILD 2:
She likes yard sales.
CHILD 3:
She likes to cook.
CHILD 4:
She likes hot food.
She likes to eat Mexican food.
She likes to teach.
She teaches kids.
And every time
she counts to three
everybody gets into their seats.
One
Two
Three.
Fantastic.
She likes to sing.
Sandwiches are beautiful,
Sandwiches are fine ♪
I like sandwiches,
I eat them all the time. ♪
She's the nicest teacher
in the whole world.
And now
Do you think
everybody gets nervous
Before doing something
important to them?
( thunder )
GIRL:
Benjamin
should you
do this?
I have to.
( thunder )
Ouch, ouch!
I did it!
Ouch, ouch!
Ouch!
Hey, ouch!
This can't compare
to a lightning storm
so I shouldn't be afraid either.
HANEY:
And next--
Arthur Read.
( applause and cheering )
( cheering continues )
Good morning,
Mr. Haney.
The all-school spellathon
is coming up.
Everybody competing?
The third grade has
the best spellers.
It used to, but now
I'm in
the fourth grade.
I won last year with
the word "endurance."
Spell "endurance,"
Arthur.
I-N
( girls giggling )
Forget it.
It's a good thing
No one's depending
on me to win.
Quiet, please.
Get your
homework out.
An important announcement.
On Friday, we will
have a spelling test
a spell-off
in spellathon style.
Study hard, because
the winners get a surprise.
FRANCINE:
What do you think
the surprise is?
Maybe the winner
does less homework.
If it means
less homework,
I want to win.
I'll study
extra hard.
Me, too.
FRANCINE:
Oh, I knew I forgot something.
There, now I can
really concentrate.
A-N-T-I-D UH
What word are you
struggling with, son?
Antidisestablishmentarianism.
I can never remember
If it has five
"is" or six.
Just skip down
to "antidote."
( computer beeping )
COMPUTER:
Dog.
MUFFY:
D-O-G.
Muffy, you're
a genius.
( yawning )
Hey, that's it.
This ought to do it.
( Dad humming Ravel's Bolero )
ARTHUR:
Dad, listen to this.
This song fits
my first spelling word.
( with rap-music background ):
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k ♪
BOTH:
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k ♪
ARTHUR:
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k ♪
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k. ♪
A-a-r-d ♪
v-a-r-k. ♪
Don't bother me, D.W.
I'm studying.
Oh, I thought you had
ants in your pants.
Go away.
All right.
What
a grouch!
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k ♪
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k ♪
( grunting )
I said don't bother
Huh?
Oh, hi, Buster.
Done studying already?
Don't have to.
I have this.
My good-luck
c-h-a-r-m, charm.
Want to go
to the arcade?
I should study some more.
Is one more hour
really going to help?
Maybe you're right.
It doesn't feel
like I'm getting better.
Pal, some people
are born spellers.
You're more the
go-have-fun type.
They've got
the jet game
that flips you
upside down.
Okay.
Ready for the test, Arthur?
The test!
How long
did you study?
I woke up early
to study.
I know this whole book--
even the publisher's address.
Buster and I went
to the arcade.
I didn't
finish studying.
Okay, everyone.
Line up for the spelling bee.
That is
incorrect.
You may
sit down.
Jenna, please
spell "essential."
ARTHUR:
What am I going to do?
What am I going to do?
If I lean
against the heater
My temperature will go up
and I can go to the nurse.
Arthur
perhaps you can
be the first
to tackle this word:
Aardvark.
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k. ♪
Thanks for the entertainment.
Francine, spell
"Pleasant."
Pleasant, p-l-e-a-s-e-n-t.
No, I'm sorry.
What kind
of stupid word
is that, "pleasant"?
Arthur and the Brain
are our winners.
The surprise is
you will represent our class
in the spellathon.
STUDENTS:
Way to go!
( school bell ringing )
ARTHUR:
Mr. Ratburn
I shouldn't be
in the spellathon.
You earned
the honor, Arthur.
Yeah, but the thing is
I don't know how to spell
anything-- a-n-t-i-n-g.
See?
I just knew that one word.
Did you study?
Sort of.
No, not really.
It will take
some study, Arthur
But I know you can do
well at the spellathon.
You do?
Mr. Ratburn thinks
I can do it.
I have a lot
of studying to do.
I have to learn
100 words.
That's only 92 more
than you know now.
D.W.
We'll all be
happy to help
any way we
can, Arthur.
ARTHUR:
E-l-e-p-h
a-n-t.
Elephant.
MOM:
D.W.?
( gasps )
How about
some ice cream?
Are you bribing me?
Yes.
Okay.
Hey, Arthur
want to play
football?
I have to study.
S-o-r-r-y.
Sour?
"Sorry"!
No, no, no, no.
My brain hurts.
All this studying isn't helping.
I'm just not a speller.
Sometimes it feels
you're not getting it
when you
actually are.
Want a snack?
Absolutely.
A-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y.
Absolutely.
Hey, that's right!
( doorbell rings )
I got it.
Hi, D.W.
Is Arthur there?
Sorry Arthur can't
come out to play.
He's exercising
his brain.
I'm not a prisoner
of my vocabulary.
BRAIN:
Hi, Arthur.
Hey, Brain, how's
the studying going?
Extraordinarily well.
I'm getting equipment
for software I'm writing
In my spare time.
Spare time?
( water running )
Spell "toothpaste."
Toothpaste.
T-o-o-t-h-p-a-s-t-e.
Toothpaste-- right?
How should I know?
( baby cooing )
Glooba!
Glooba.
G-l-o-o-b-a.
Glooba.
I'm nervous.
N-e-r-v-o-u-s.
Nervous.
You'll do just
fine, Arthur.
You better
get backstage.
We'll sit down.
Good luck.
Don't worry.
If you lose
You can live
in the garage.
G-a-r-a-g-e, garage.
RATBURN:
Today's the big day.
How do you feel?
I feel fine.
I wish I were back in bed.
It's starting.
They're going to light
the spellathon torch.
( cheering and applause )
Welcome to
the all-school spellathon.
And now, our contestants.
( wild cheering and applause )
Go, Arthur!
Good luck.
Our first word goes
To the Brain.
Spell "fear."
Brain?
( giggling )
Brain.
Spell "fear."
Fear-- f-e-r-e, fear.
I'm sorry,
that's incorrect.
Are you sure?
What dictionary
are you using?
( gulping )
( clock ticking )
Spell "pieces."
Pieces, p-e-i-c-e-s, pieces.
No, I'm sorry.
"I" before "E"
except after "C."
( fading ):
"I" before "E"
except after "C."
The word is "champion."
That's so easy.
I see it every day
on my award from last year.
Champion.
C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N.
Champion.
( wild cheering )
Arthur, spell
"suggest."
Suggest, S-U-G-G-E-S-T, suggest.
That is correct.
( cheering )
You can't beat me.
Why don't you just give up?
Prunella, spell "preparation."
Prunella?
Could I have
a definition, please?
Preparation, the process
of getting ready.
Of course.
Preparation.
P-R-E-P-E-R-A-T-I-O-N.
Preparation.
I'm sorry,
that's incorrect.
Now Arthur
gets a chance.
If you spell this
correctly, Arthur
you are the winner.
Preparation.
( D.W. blowing raspberry )
Preparation.
P-R-E-P-A-R-A-T-I-O-N.
Preparation.
That's
correct!
( whistling, cheering,
applause )
That was the most
fantastic thing
I've ever seen.
You're the greatest
speller of all time.
You know what the best
part of winning is?
It's over!
Congratulations,
Arthur.
I knew you could do it!
Yeah, but now he knows
he could do it.
What a wonderful
kind of day ♪
If we could learn
to work and play ♪
And get along
with each other ♪
You got to listen
to your heart ♪
Listen to the beat ♪
Listen to the rhythm,
the rhythm of the street ♪
It's a simple message
and it comes from the heart ♪
Believe in yourself ♪
For that's the place
to start ♪
And I say hey! ♪
Hey! What a wonderful
kind of day ♪
If we could learn
to work and play ♪
And get along
with each other ♪
Hey! What a wonderful
kind of day! ♪
Hey! ♪
Every day when you're
walking down the street ♪
Everybody that you meet
has an original point of view. ♪
( laughs )
And I say hey! ♪
Hey!
What a wonderful kind of day ♪
If we could learn
to work and play ♪
And get along
with each other ♪
You got to listen
to your heart ♪
Listen to the beat ♪
Listen to the rhythm,
the rhythm of the street ♪
Open up your eyes,
open up your ears ♪
Get together and make things
better by working together ♪
It's a simple message
and it comes from the heart ♪
Believe in yourself ♪
For that's the place
to start ♪
And I say hey! ♪
Hey!
What a wonderful kind of day ♪
If we could learn
to work and play ♪
And get along
with each other. ♪
Hey!
What a wonderful kind of day ♪
Hey! What a wonderful
kind of day. ♪
Hey!
ARTHUR:
Hey, D.W.
Hey!
Whoa!
( crash )
Mr. Haney will post the list
that says which teacher
we'll get this year.
( students whimper )
Oh, forgot a tack.
( all groan )
There are three teachers
For third grade:
Mrs. Sweetwater-- she's nice;
Mrs. Fink-- She's fun
( kids cheering )
MAN:
Billy, name
Three oceans.
ARTHUR:
And Mr. Ratburn, the toughest,
scariest teacher in school
No-- in the whole world.
No-- in the whole history
of the world.
Oh, here comes
the list.
Let's go look.
Arthur, we're in
the rat's class.
( yelling )
( roars like lion )
( giggles )
( yelling )
ARTHUR:
Maybe you read
the list wrong.
( gasping )
You're right.
It's Ratburn.
( dazedly ):
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn
Ratburn.
Free samples of
a new flavor-- rocky rope.
All you can eat.
Maybe he's not
as rigorous
As everyone says.
FRANCINE:
Prunella had him
last year.
Let's ask her.
Is the Rat bad?
Does a bull fight?
He eats nails for
breakfast without milk.
( screw clinks onto floor )
Don't ever answer
any questions wrong
or he'll send you
to death row.
Death row?
RATBURN:
Have you done
your math exercises?
I did the first 5,000, sir.
Then you have 9,995,000 left.
Get to work.
And after that
You have 37 million
spelling words
to memorize.
And you spiders,
get moving!
And he's also
a weird vampire
With hypnotic
magic powers.
( whimpers )
( with Dracula-like accent ):
You are in my power.
ALL ( dazedly ):
We do not like recess.
Well, good luck.
( all groaning )
KIDS:
Oh, he's coming.
( whispering fearfully )
( gasps )
( door creaks open )
Good morning, everyone.
( gulps )
Welcome to grade three.
My name is Mr. Ratburn.
He doesn't look
so bad.
It's probably
a trick.
Here's a two-minute math quiz
to see what you remember.
I said it was
a trick.
( kids laughing )
Boy:
I love this.
Welcome to the first day
of school ♪
School is cool ♪
RATBURN:
Arthur Read--
you'd better concentrate
on those problems
before time's up.
( ticking )
( school bell rings )
( kids shout joyfully )
Class, you may now file out
in an orderly fashion.
Quietly.
No talking.
Arthur Read!
Are you standing
Ratburn gave us homework
on the first day.
Get with it.
We're not dealing
with a human being.
This is serious.
Whoa.
Whoa.
You find it yet?
RATBURN:
Hello, this is Mr. Ratburn.
Shh.
RATBURN:
I have all the eyes I need
but I'm completely out of heads.
I can wait for girls' heads
but I must have
boys' heads immediately.
Wait, he'll see us--
and we have
boys' heads!
There's no time.
I need them now.
I'll get them myself.
( yelling )
( yelling )
What are you doing?
( both yell )
Ratburn-- he's looking for
body parts: heads, boys' heads!
A vampire doesn't need heads.
ARTHUR:
This is no
ordinary vampire.
He's beyond vampire.
What's beyond
a vampire?
A Ratburn.
( yelling )
Hey, what?
Stand still!
He wants boy heads,
not girls'.
Breakfast.
What do
you think
he'll do
with that saw?
I read a book
where kids
discovered
a scary mystery
like this
and became detectives
to solve it.
We should
probably
investigate.
We have a lot of
homework to do.
You're just
a fraidycat.
Arthur, we have
to choose:
face horrifying,
scary danger
or do our homework.
BOTH:
Horrifying, scary danger.
( crowd cheers )
( cheering )
FRANCINE:
I'm bored.
He's not doing
anything weird.
You probably heard
him talking
about heads
of lettuce.
Boy heads
of lettuce?
Maybe grocers call
the rotten ones that.
I'm going to do
my homework.
Arthur, look!
Oh
( watch beeping )
Maybe we should go
do our homework.
Come on.
He went into
the carnival.
Of course-- look at
all those boy heads.
We've got
to warn them!
Oh, no! he's got us.
We're trapped.
There he goes.
Come on.
He went in there.
( yelling )
Okay, it was that one.
This is authentic,
but I'd prefer
a real
action pose.
( horse neighs )
Sorry, sir.
Okay, I pick this time.
( both gasp )
One two three
Go!
( kids laughing )
Run away!
You're not safe!
He'll get you!
( laughing )
Huh?
RADIO:
Hey, you're not
in this story!
You're doing my lines.
I warn Jack to run away
when he hears, "fee, fi, fo"
You know the drill.
( laughing )
RATBURN ( whispers ):
Arthur, Buster.
Get off the stage.
Okay, fellas--
When you leave that
castle, make a left
down that beanstalk, and
you'll be back in Elwood City.
( kids laugh )
Wow, the Rat does
kids' puppet shows?
Jack, you're
disorganized.
You'd forget your head
if it wasn't attached.
Uh-uh, would not.
Grab your head and hide!
Here comes the giant!
( kids scream )
Arthur, look.
GIANT:
Fee, fi, fo, fum!
KIDS:
Ew, yuck!
RATBURN:
They always crack.
I must use 50 boy heads a year.
Boy heads.
Boy heads.
I never have
enough boy heads.
You make puppets?
Can't talk, boys.
I have 40 seconds
to get Jack ready.
Must stay on schedule
because of all I do.
You do a lot.
You're a teacher,
a coach
you work on
the school paper.
I can't even find time
to do my homework.
Learn to organize your time.
Some people think
I give a lot
of homework.
BOTH:
Not us.
Learn good
work habits
and you'll
discover
Jack, where are you?
( as Jack ):
Just a second.
You're capable of
more than you think.
I'll teach you how
to do that homework
and have more free time.
Like how you do all
that stuff plus puppets?
Exactly-- two seconds early.
Self-discipline is as important
to learn as two plus two.
( as Jack ):
My head's on straight!
Man, your head's
on straight
but your body
is backwards.
Please don't
stand there.
I have to concentrate
on my work.
Oh, sorry.
Boy, were we wrong!
Boys, I can't wait
to see your geography
projects tomorrow.
( yelling )
KIDS:
And now
My teacher's name
is Mrs. Erlandson.
Mrs. Erlandson.
Kids told me she was mean.
I wasn't scared of her.
Division in the second grade?
We can do it.
Then I found out she was nice.
I thought she'd be mean,
but she wasn't.
She had purple shoes.
CHILD 2:
Purple dress.
CHILD 3:
Purple earrings,
Purple shirt and purple shoes.
CHILD 4:
She had decorations
on her dress.
CHILD 5:
She wears a bow
every day on her hair.
CHILD 6:
Beautiful and pretty.
She's not, like,
grouchy all the time.
Uh-uh.
No.
She's fun.
She likes doing things.
CHILD 2:
She likes yard sales.
CHILD 3:
She likes to cook.
CHILD 4:
She likes hot food.
She likes to eat Mexican food.
She likes to teach.
She teaches kids.
And every time
she counts to three
everybody gets into their seats.
One
Two
Three.
Fantastic.
She likes to sing.
Sandwiches are beautiful,
Sandwiches are fine ♪
I like sandwiches,
I eat them all the time. ♪
She's the nicest teacher
in the whole world.
And now
Do you think
everybody gets nervous
Before doing something
important to them?
( thunder )
GIRL:
Benjamin
should you
do this?
I have to.
( thunder )
Ouch, ouch!
I did it!
Ouch, ouch!
Ouch!
Hey, ouch!
This can't compare
to a lightning storm
so I shouldn't be afraid either.
HANEY:
And next--
Arthur Read.
( applause and cheering )
( cheering continues )
Good morning,
Mr. Haney.
The all-school spellathon
is coming up.
Everybody competing?
The third grade has
the best spellers.
It used to, but now
I'm in
the fourth grade.
I won last year with
the word "endurance."
Spell "endurance,"
Arthur.
I-N
( girls giggling )
Forget it.
It's a good thing
No one's depending
on me to win.
Quiet, please.
Get your
homework out.
An important announcement.
On Friday, we will
have a spelling test
a spell-off
in spellathon style.
Study hard, because
the winners get a surprise.
FRANCINE:
What do you think
the surprise is?
Maybe the winner
does less homework.
If it means
less homework,
I want to win.
I'll study
extra hard.
Me, too.
FRANCINE:
Oh, I knew I forgot something.
There, now I can
really concentrate.
A-N-T-I-D UH
What word are you
struggling with, son?
Antidisestablishmentarianism.
I can never remember
If it has five
"is" or six.
Just skip down
to "antidote."
( computer beeping )
COMPUTER:
Dog.
MUFFY:
D-O-G.
Muffy, you're
a genius.
( yawning )
Hey, that's it.
This ought to do it.
( Dad humming Ravel's Bolero )
ARTHUR:
Dad, listen to this.
This song fits
my first spelling word.
( with rap-music background ):
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k ♪
BOTH:
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k ♪
ARTHUR:
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k ♪
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k. ♪
A-a-r-d ♪
v-a-r-k. ♪
Don't bother me, D.W.
I'm studying.
Oh, I thought you had
ants in your pants.
Go away.
All right.
What
a grouch!
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k ♪
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k ♪
( grunting )
I said don't bother
Huh?
Oh, hi, Buster.
Done studying already?
Don't have to.
I have this.
My good-luck
c-h-a-r-m, charm.
Want to go
to the arcade?
I should study some more.
Is one more hour
really going to help?
Maybe you're right.
It doesn't feel
like I'm getting better.
Pal, some people
are born spellers.
You're more the
go-have-fun type.
They've got
the jet game
that flips you
upside down.
Okay.
Ready for the test, Arthur?
The test!
How long
did you study?
I woke up early
to study.
I know this whole book--
even the publisher's address.
Buster and I went
to the arcade.
I didn't
finish studying.
Okay, everyone.
Line up for the spelling bee.
That is
incorrect.
You may
sit down.
Jenna, please
spell "essential."
ARTHUR:
What am I going to do?
What am I going to do?
If I lean
against the heater
My temperature will go up
and I can go to the nurse.
Arthur
perhaps you can
be the first
to tackle this word:
Aardvark.
A-a-r-d-v-a-r-k. ♪
Thanks for the entertainment.
Francine, spell
"Pleasant."
Pleasant, p-l-e-a-s-e-n-t.
No, I'm sorry.
What kind
of stupid word
is that, "pleasant"?
Arthur and the Brain
are our winners.
The surprise is
you will represent our class
in the spellathon.
STUDENTS:
Way to go!
( school bell ringing )
ARTHUR:
Mr. Ratburn
I shouldn't be
in the spellathon.
You earned
the honor, Arthur.
Yeah, but the thing is
I don't know how to spell
anything-- a-n-t-i-n-g.
See?
I just knew that one word.
Did you study?
Sort of.
No, not really.
It will take
some study, Arthur
But I know you can do
well at the spellathon.
You do?
Mr. Ratburn thinks
I can do it.
I have a lot
of studying to do.
I have to learn
100 words.
That's only 92 more
than you know now.
D.W.
We'll all be
happy to help
any way we
can, Arthur.
ARTHUR:
E-l-e-p-h
a-n-t.
Elephant.
MOM:
D.W.?
( gasps )
How about
some ice cream?
Are you bribing me?
Yes.
Okay.
Hey, Arthur
want to play
football?
I have to study.
S-o-r-r-y.
Sour?
"Sorry"!
No, no, no, no.
My brain hurts.
All this studying isn't helping.
I'm just not a speller.
Sometimes it feels
you're not getting it
when you
actually are.
Want a snack?
Absolutely.
A-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y.
Absolutely.
Hey, that's right!
( doorbell rings )
I got it.
Hi, D.W.
Is Arthur there?
Sorry Arthur can't
come out to play.
He's exercising
his brain.
I'm not a prisoner
of my vocabulary.
BRAIN:
Hi, Arthur.
Hey, Brain, how's
the studying going?
Extraordinarily well.
I'm getting equipment
for software I'm writing
In my spare time.
Spare time?
( water running )
Spell "toothpaste."
Toothpaste.
T-o-o-t-h-p-a-s-t-e.
Toothpaste-- right?
How should I know?
( baby cooing )
Glooba!
Glooba.
G-l-o-o-b-a.
Glooba.
I'm nervous.
N-e-r-v-o-u-s.
Nervous.
You'll do just
fine, Arthur.
You better
get backstage.
We'll sit down.
Good luck.
Don't worry.
If you lose
You can live
in the garage.
G-a-r-a-g-e, garage.
RATBURN:
Today's the big day.
How do you feel?
I feel fine.
I wish I were back in bed.
It's starting.
They're going to light
the spellathon torch.
( cheering and applause )
Welcome to
the all-school spellathon.
And now, our contestants.
( wild cheering and applause )
Go, Arthur!
Good luck.
Our first word goes
To the Brain.
Spell "fear."
Brain?
( giggling )
Brain.
Spell "fear."
Fear-- f-e-r-e, fear.
I'm sorry,
that's incorrect.
Are you sure?
What dictionary
are you using?
( gulping )
( clock ticking )
Spell "pieces."
Pieces, p-e-i-c-e-s, pieces.
No, I'm sorry.
"I" before "E"
except after "C."
( fading ):
"I" before "E"
except after "C."
The word is "champion."
That's so easy.
I see it every day
on my award from last year.
Champion.
C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N.
Champion.
( wild cheering )
Arthur, spell
"suggest."
Suggest, S-U-G-G-E-S-T, suggest.
That is correct.
( cheering )
You can't beat me.
Why don't you just give up?
Prunella, spell "preparation."
Prunella?
Could I have
a definition, please?
Preparation, the process
of getting ready.
Of course.
Preparation.
P-R-E-P-E-R-A-T-I-O-N.
Preparation.
I'm sorry,
that's incorrect.
Now Arthur
gets a chance.
If you spell this
correctly, Arthur
you are the winner.
Preparation.
( D.W. blowing raspberry )
Preparation.
P-R-E-P-A-R-A-T-I-O-N.
Preparation.
That's
correct!
( whistling, cheering,
applause )
That was the most
fantastic thing
I've ever seen.
You're the greatest
speller of all time.
You know what the best
part of winning is?
It's over!
Congratulations,
Arthur.
I knew you could do it!
Yeah, but now he knows
he could do it.
What a wonderful
kind of day ♪
If we could learn
to work and play ♪
And get along
with each other ♪
You got to listen
to your heart ♪
Listen to the beat ♪
Listen to the rhythm,
the rhythm of the street ♪
It's a simple message
and it comes from the heart ♪
Believe in yourself ♪
For that's the place
to start ♪
And I say hey! ♪
Hey! What a wonderful
kind of day ♪
If we could learn
to work and play ♪
And get along
with each other ♪
Hey! What a wonderful
kind of day! ♪
Hey! ♪