Arthur's Knee

Summary
Arthur doesn't want to tell his mother he hurt his knee because then she'd know he was playing down at the dump—where he's not allowed to go.

Plot
For a school project about ancient Rome, Arthur and the Brain are constructing a life-sized chariot. When Arthur conducts a test run of the vehicle, a bad wheel causes the chariot to malfunction. Brain says they need to find a better wheel to fit the axle.

Arthur volunteers to get one, and the Brain goes home for lunch. When D.W. asks Arthur where he's going, he tells her he intends to find a spare wheel at the dump. Arthur isn't allowed to go to the dump, so D.W. threatens to tell on him unless he agrees to let her come along. With little other option, Arthur reluctantly agrees.

At the dump, Arthur finagles his way into the area where the trash is held while D.W. watches from safe ground above. Clawing through the dirt, Arthur finds a wheel from a broken bicycle, and climbs back up out of the garbage area. During the climb, however, his sweater is torn and he cuts his knee on a lima beans can, leaving a painful wound. Arthur reflexively tosses the bike wheel away and he and D.W. return home, avoiding their father in the kitchen so he won't find out what happened. Arthur cleans the wound himself, and tells D.W. not to say anything to their parents.

D.W. makes a get-well card for Arthur, and feels unsure what to do because of the promise she made not to tell on him. Nadine suggests that maybe she should tell, anyway. When D.W. reminds Nadine that she promised not to reveal Arthur's secret, Nadine tells her that regardless of her promise, this is a case in which she should confess to her parents about the trip to the dump and the fact that Arthur cut his knee, just as D.W. once bravely admitted to climbing and getting stranded in a tall tree.

Brain returns to the house, whereupon D.W. immediately asks him to go take a look at Arthur's knee, which is still throbbing. D.W. starts crying when she sees how much worse Arthur's cut looks, saying Arthur is really hurt and it could become even worse if he doesn't accept grownup help. The Brain agrees with D.W., explaining to Arthur that by cutting his knee on a dirty can, he put himself at risk of a myriad of illnesses, and could develop a fever as his body tries to kill off the infection. D.W. reminds Arthur about the time she bravely confessed to climbing the tree, and tells him he should be brave and tell on himself now, too. Arthur finally agrees that Brain and D.W. are right, and tells D.W. to go get their mother.

At the doctor's office, Arthur's wound is properly cleaned and he's given a tetanus booster to prevent infection. On the way home, Jane tells him she's proud of him for coming forth with the truth; as he exits the car, though, she stops him, saying she isn’t quite finished with him yet.

Later, Francine and Sue Ellen ask if Arthur wants to come outside and play ball, but Arthur says he's decided to stay home for a while to think about how he violated his parents' trust by going to the dump. Francine and Sue Ellen express admiration for Arthur's attitude, with Sue Ellen saying “That’s really adult of you”. However, D.W. arrives and reveals that Arthur has actually been grounded, and his friends leave in the midst of laughter. D.W. leads Arthur inside, grounding herself to keep him company until he's no longer punished.

Characters

 * Arthur Read
 * D.W. Read
 * Pal
 * The Brain
 * Nadine Flumberghast
 * Jane Read
 * Sue Ellen Armstrong
 * Francine Frensky

Trivia

 * D.W. told Arthur he was bleeding; however, during that scene, viewers only see the scar on his knee.
 * This is one of the two episodes to show blood. The other is “Vomitrocious.”
 * This is one of the episodes that focuses on health (with the others being Buster's Breathless, Germophobia, Operation: D.W.!, Binky Goes Nuts, Sick as a Dog, Arthur's Chicken Pox).

Cultural references

 * D.W. mispronounces the word “tetanus” as “”, which is the name of a video game.
 * Julius Caesar and the Romans are mentioned.

Episode connections

 * D.W. referred to the events of "D.W. Blows the Whistle", despite it not having aired yet when this episode debuted. In that episode, D.W. mentioned that she climbed a tree.
 * The bike Arthur pulled a wheel off of is the same as Oliver Frensky’s old bike that he gave to Francine in "Stolen Bike" — although this would’ve been before it was repaired.
 * Arthur previously did a project on Ancient Rome in Team Trouble.

Home Video
VHS: DVD:
 * Arthur Goes to the Doctor
 * Arthur Goes to the Doctor

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