D.W.'s Library Card (episode)/Transcript


 * Arthur: [at the library] I love the library! There are so many books to read and great things to find out. But the best thing about the library is... [whispers] it's quiet.
 * D.W.: Arthur!!
 * Arthur: Except on days when I have to bring D.W.
 * D.W.:  What does this word say? [points at a word on a book]
 * Arthur: "The." [D.W. walks away] Another great thing about the library is I can check out all these books!
 * D.W.: Arthur!!
 * Arthur: What is it now?
 * D.W.:  What does this word say?
 * Arthur: "Red." [D.W. walks away] To take books out at the library, you need a library card. But it's easy to get one of those. All you have to do is...
 * D.W.: ARTHUR!!
 * Arthur: What?!
 * D.W.: How about this word?
 * Arthur: "Dog"! "The Red Dog," okay? Got it?! And stop being so noisy! See the sign? It says, "No talking."
 * D.W.: If I can't read "The Red Dog," how do you expect me to read that sign?
 * Arthur: Well... just go pester someone else-- I'm busy. [D.W. does so] Where was I? Oh, yeah-- all you need to do to get a library card is...
 * D.W: Shh! [whispers] The sign says, "No talking"!
 * Paige Turner:  [title card]   "D.W.'s Library Card."
 * Binky: [reading a book called Chopin to D.W.] And he published "Rondo in C Minor" when he was only 15 years old!            
 * Arthur: D.W.! [Binky gasps and closes the book] Stop bugging Binky! It's time for your puppet show in the kids' section.
 * D.W.: I wasn't bugging him. Binky was reading to me about Chopin: the great romantic composer.
 * Binky: No, I wasn't. Uhh, his name was Chopin [shows Arthur the cover of the book Kicking Koalas with a man on it] and he was a karate master. [to D.W.] You weren't listening!
 * Arthur: Sorry if my sister was bothering you. [grabs D.W.'s arm]
 * Binky: It's okay. Little kids should hear about important stuff-- like karate. [Arthur walks away with D.W. Binky opens the book he was reading to D.W. and continues reading it. D.W. spots a book]                        
 * D.W.: Ooh! [takes the book off the shelf] Arthur, look! A book on frogs!! Take it out for me? [shows it to Arthur] 
 * Arthur: Hopalong the Frog? Forget it! [hands the book back to D.W.]                                  
 * D.W.: But it's about frogs. Please, please, please, please, please?
 * Arthur: I can't take out baby books on my library card. It could go on my permanent record. [dreams about him checking out Hopalong the Frog. Paige scans it and an alarm goes off]          
 * Speaker: WARNING! READER IS A BABY! ADULT BOOKS ARE OFF LIMITS! [red lights are flashing. Metal blocks drop onto the adult books]
 * Paige Turner: Sorry, Arthur, the last book you took out was Hopalong the Frog! From now on, you can only take out baby books! [echoing] Baby books! Baby books! Baby books! [while the words "Baby books" echo, she presses a red button one the desk and arms come out of the front of the desk to dress up Arthur as a baby]
 * Francine and Muffy: [off-camera] Arthur's a baby! Arthur's a baby! [two robotic arms come out from the front of the desk to take a picture of Arthur while Francine and Muffy are teasing him. He stops dreaming and puts the book back on the shelf]
 * Arthur: Sorry, D.W., there's just... too much at stake.
 * D.W.: Yeah? Well, someday I'm gonna get my own library card [Arthur looks shocked] then I'll take out whatever I want. [walks away. Scene cuts to Mr. Ratburn finishing a puppet show. All of the kids cheer. Mr. Ratburn walks from behind the stage]
 * Paige Turner: Thank you. [Mr. Ratburn bows] Are there any questions?
 * D.W.: [raises her hand] When will we be old enough to get our own library cards?
 * Paige Turner: You are old enough, D.W.
 * D.W.: I am?! I'll take one... No, make that two! I want more cards than Arthur!! [the rest of the kids shout "I want one!"]
 * Paige Turner: Settle down, children. You can all have one. You just have to be able to write your full name. [D.W.'s jaw drops]
 * D.W.: I knew there was a catch!
 * Timmy Tibble: We can write our names!
 * D.W.: But my full name is Dora Winifred Read. I hardly ever say it. How can I write it?!
 * Tommy Tibble: You have it easy! Be glad you're not Aloysius Zimmerplotz. [points to Aloysius Zimmerplotz trying to write his full name on a piece of paper]
 * Aloysius Zimmerplotz: Oh, no! I ran out of room again. [crumples up the piece of paper. Scene cuts to D.W. and Arthur walking home from the library]
 * D.W.: And when I have my own library card, I'm gonna get Hopalong the Frog and you can't do anything about it!
 * Arthur: But you can't read!
 * D.W.: Ms. Turner didn't say that you have to read to take out books-- you just have to write your full name.
 * Arthur: You can't do that either!
 * D.W.: I know. But I'm gonna learn. You'll see. [scene cuts to D.W. sharpening her pencil and carrying a stack of paper to the kitchen table. She puts the stack of paper on the table] Uhh! [kracks her knuckles. She grabs her pencil and writes the letter "D" backwards. She crumples the piece of paper. She grabs a new one. She writes "Dora" but the "R" is capitalized and written backwards. She crumples the piece of paper and grabs a new one. She writes the letter "D" backwards again but the pencil snaps. She growls angrily. The clock turns from 4:00 to 7:00. Three hours have passed. 22 crumpled pieces of papers are scattered across the floor. Arthur walks in and looks at D.W.'s new paper]             
 * Arthur: "Doba Minifred Reabed"? [the two "B"s are capitalized and written backwards and the "W" is upside down] Who's that?
 * D.W.: I can't do it! [puts her head on the table. Scene cuts to the Read family eating lunch. D.W. is picking at her mashed potatoes with a fork] There are too many letters in my name. Why didn't you name me something simple, like A?
 * Jane: You seem to have "Dora Winifred" down. [the words "Dora Winifred" are written on D.W.'s mashed potatoes]
 * D.W.: Quick, Dad! More mashed potatoes! [David puts more mashed potatoes on D.W.'s plate. She writes "Read"] I wrote my name. I wrote my name! Look out, world, D.W. Read WRITES!! [scene cuts to D.W. at the library writing her full name over and over again on a piece of paper] "Dora Winifred... Read." "Dora Winifred Read." [the words "Dora Winifred Read" are written twice on the piece of paper]
 * Tommy Tibble: I bet D.W. messes up her name and doesn't get her library card!
 *   Timmy Tibble: Yeah, she can't even spell "D"!
 * D.W.: I can, too! I've already spelled it 100 times!
 * Jane: It's time to get in line. [scene cuts to D.W. waiting in line]
 * D.W.: What if the Tibbles are right? What if I forget my own name? What is my name? I forgot it! I forgot my name!!
 * Jane: Good luck, D.W.!
 * D.W.: Oh, yeah-- D.W. But what does that stand for? I can't remember! [it is her turn now. Paige Turner hands her a pencil. She tries writing her full name. She hands Paige Turner the card. She reads it]
 * Paige Turner: Very nice. "Dora Winifred Read." Here's your card! [hands D.W. her library card. She smiles]
 * D.W.: Look, Arthur, [runs over to Arthur] you didn't think I could do it, but I did it! And now I can take out any book I want! [gets an evil look on her face] Now I know what true power feels like! [scene cuts to Arthur and D.W. walking. D.W. runs to the shelf where Hopalong the Frog is but it's not there] Hey, [picks up two books] where's Hopalong the Frog? It was here just a couple of days ago!
 * Arthur: It's probably back on the shelves. Ask for it at the front desk. [there is a sign that says "The front desk" with an arrow pointing to the front desk. Scene cuts to D.W. at the front desk. She has crossed arms while tapping her left foot. Paige Turner checks for Hopalong the Frog on her computer]
 * Paige Turner: Sorry, that book was just checked out. It should be back a week from today.
 * D.W.: A week?! I can't wait that long!
 * Paige Turner: It could come back before then, but Saturday is when it's due.
 * Jane: Come on, D.W.! [she and Arthur walk to the exit]
 * D.W.: Okay... [walks to the exit too. She runs back] Is it back yet?
 * Paige Turner: Nope.
 * D.W.: [walks to the exit again. She runs back again] How about now?
 * Paige Turner: Uh-uh. [D.W. walks to the exit again. Scene cuts to Paige Turner running to answer the phone. She answers it] No, it's not in yet. [hangs up. Scene cuts to her taking a bite out of a sandwich. Her computer beeps]
 * Computer: You've got mail! [The computer says, "You've got mail." Paige Turner types something and sends it to the computer in the Read house. The computer says, "New message"]
 * Jane: Not yet, D.W. [D.W. growls. Scene cuts to D.W. in her pajamas at the window waiting for Paige Turner. She walks up to the Read house]
 * Paige Turner: [shouts] Not yet, D.W.! [walks away. D.W. frowns. Scene cuts to D.W. in Arthur's room]
 * D.W.: What if Saturday never comes? [climbs on his bed] What if we go right from Friday to Sunday? Are there leap weeks like leap years, Arthur?
 * Arthur: Relax, it's only 12 hours away. Now let me sleep. [scene cuts to the morning]
 * D.W.: Wake up, Arthur! [tries to wake Arthur up by shaking him] Tomorrow is today and today is yesterday!
 * Arthur: [wakes up] Huh?
 * D.W.: It's SATURDAY! 
 * Arthur: [stammers] But it's... [checks his alarm clock] 6:30! The library isn't even open yet!