Buster Isn't Buying It

Summary
Aliens, conspiracy theories, the megatoad...Buster believes in everything! That is until his favorite show gets cancelled for false reporting. Now the new Buster isn't buying anything! Can Arthur and friends convince him to have a little faith?

Plot
The episode begins with a TV show, with a man talking about the wildlife in Elwood City, and asking if there's something under the water that's dangerous. Buster calls Mr. Morris on the phone and asks what he thinks it is. Mr. Morris, who's also watching the show, responds that he doesn't know, and is nervous to find out. The host of the TV show continues to say that him, and a group of scientists are trying to find out if a giant, carnivorous toad called the Megatoad really exists. Mr. Morris asks Buster about whether or not he thinks the Megatoad is real, and Buster, who has dropped his popcorn on the floor, says that he believes it because it is on TV.

Buster Isn't Buying It

The Brain is closing down his ice cream shop for the day, while Buster is talking about the Megatoad. Arthur, who is doing his homework, states that there is no such thing as a Megatoad. Buster insists that there is, because he saw it on The Factoid Front. The Brain says that Martin Spivack, the show host, isn't a real doctor. Buster responds that he is a doctor of forensic speculography. Arthur does not understand what that is. Buster doesn't either, but he wrote it down because he wants to study it when he's older. The Brain says that The Factoid Front is full of flawed science, but Buster says that it is where he gets all his best information. The Brain calls him gullible, which offends Buster, and he runs out of the store, saying, "Let's see who gets the last laugh when Megatoads are hopping down Main Street!"

Later, Ms. Baxter reads the newspaper to Buster, which has an article saying that The Factoid Front has been cancelled due to the flawed science that Brain mentioned. Buster says that he believed it, and his mother responds that lots of people did as well.

That evening, Buster telephones Arthur, saying that he was right about Megatoads not existing. Arthur says that it's a good thing, but Buster is worried about being gullible. Arthur awkwardly states that Buster is not gullible, but does have a big imagination, then starts saying, "Like if I told you I saw some flashing lights in the sky right now.." Buster thinks that Arthur really did see flashing lights and gets excited. When Arthur points out that he's being hypothetical, Buster decides that he really is gullible. Arthur tries to say that it isn't a bad thing, but Buster hangs up.

The next day, he puts all his alien paraphernalia in a box marked "free stuff" and puts it on the sidewalk. George is surprised, and asks why Buster is getting rid of it. Buster replies that it belonged to his "old self" and that he's going to only believe things that can be 100% proven. He leaves, and George takes the box.

On the way to school, Arthur tries to tell Buster, who is eating an apple, about The Factoid Front being cancelled. Buster says that he knows, but that the "new Buster" says, "good riddance." Arthur is wondering what Buster means by "new Buster". Buster replies that he is now only accepting things that can be scientifically proven. Arthur tries to get Buster to read his horoscope. Buster wants to, but he doesn't want to believe in astrology. He throws the newspaper away and they keep walking, but Buster comes back and reads the horoscope: Take advice from an old friend. Arthur clears his throat, but Buster claims he was not finished with the apple core and puts it in his pocket.

Later, Buster is about to play as a batter in baseball, and Francine wishes him luck. Buster says that the "new Buster" doesn't believe in luck. He then starts wondering if luck has been scientifically proven, which distracts him into striking out.

Some time later, Arthur says that he and Buster need to bring umbrellas, as the forecast predicted rain. Buster doesn't want to take an umbrella because it's not definite. When it rains, he says that it is simply a coincidence.

At the ice cream shop, Francine says that she misses the old Buster as he was better at baseball. Arthur says that the old Buster was more fun. They suggest that Brain talks to him and tells him that monsters exist. The Brain, who doesn't believe in monsters either, says that he cannot tell Buster that. Arthur says that he could tell him something else.

The Brain then shows Buster a photo of an amphibian. Buster asks if it is a Megatoad, to which the Brain replies that, no, it is a tree frog, and that tree frogs can survive after being frozen. Buster asks why the Brain is telling him this, to which the Brain quickly explains that there is a slim chance that a Megatoad could have survived, which makes him lightheaded. Buster asks the Brain for proof, and when he can offer none, Buster says that Brain is no better than Martin Spivack, which offends him.

In the tree house, the Brain says that Buster called him a forensic speculographist. Francine, who is playing with a ball, asks what that is. The Brain doesn't know, but he thinks it sounds offensive. Arthur then suggests hypnotizing Buster. The Brain then asks for a big tarp.

The students use supplies to make a fake Megatoad. Arthur phones up Buster, asking if he wants to go for a walk as it's a beautiful day. Buster asks if Arthur can prove it, to which Arthur replies, in a frustrated manner, that Buster can look out the window. Buster does, and agrees to meet Arthur in five minutes.

On their walk, Francine and the Brain, dressed up as the Megatoad, show up, and Arthur pretends not to know what it is. Pal then runs up and pulls the costume off. Arthur says that they wanted the old Buster back. Buster wants his old self back as well, but wonders why he should believe something if it can't be proven.

That evening, Mr. Morris phones Buster, telling him that he saw a U.F.O.. Buster asks Mr. Morris why he believes in aliens, and Mr. Morris explains to Buster that there are a lot of things that people don't know about space yet. He believes in aliens because it makes life more interesting.

Buster agrees, gets his alien paraphernalia back from George, and tells the Brain a hypothesis he has on how a Megatoad could still exist. This annoys the Brain, because he is doing his homework.

Characters

 * Buster Baxter
 * The Brain
 * Arthur Read
 * Bitzi Baxter
 * Francine Frensky
 * George Lundgren
 * Sue Ellen Armstrong
 * Prunella Deegan
 * Mr. Morris
 * Martin Spivak
 * David Read
 * Pal
 * Maria Pappas (cameo)

Trivia

 * Buster's zodiac sign is revealed to be aquarius.
 * Timeline: In the previous episode, "Dueling Detectives," Mr. Morris was still working at Lakewood Elementary. Here, he is living in New Mexico where he moved after hurting his leg in "April 9th." He mentioned Roswell when he said goodbye to Buster then, and is now on U.F.O. patrol.
 * Moral:
 * Just because one thing is false doesn't mean everything else is false.
 * Dont be happy about something you don't like is gone for your own benefits.

Episode connections

 * Martin Spivak was originally an insurance salesman and a romantic interest of Bitzi Baxter, which Buster made up in "Bitzi's Break-up." Now, he is a real TV personality.
 * In "For the Birds," Buster pretends to be Skunkamunkah, a Bigfoot-like creature. In "War of the Worms," Fern tricks Brain into believing in giant worms.
 * Arthur and Buster queue to see "Il Stranieri" (The Strangers). The movie was first mentioned in "Lights, Camera... Opera!" as an example for a movie that adults like but kids do not.
 * Buster is clearing out his food collection when Brain visits. As revealed in "Buster's Green Thumb," he has to throw away everything that his mom can smell.