When Duty Calls

Synopsis
Fern and the others try to make an upset Ladonna feel better after she finds out her family will have to move.

Plot
The Compson family prepares to move to Oregon after Rufus, the patriarch and in the Army, is transferred. This causes deep, mixed emotions in all, but Ladonna fights to hide hers. D.W. is panicked that Bud is leaving, while Bud worries he will lose Rapty in the move. The kids must accept the inevitable and find closure in their own way, as individuals and as a group.

Major

 * Fern Walters
 * Ladonna Compson
 * Bud Compson
 * D.W. Read
 * Arthur Read
 * Buster Baxter
 * Muffy Crosswire
 * Alan Powers

Minor

 * David Read
 * Rapty
 * Lafawna
 * Vern
 * Pal
 * General Higgins
 * Tony Arnoni
 * Laurie

Cameo

 * Francine Frensky
 * Rufus Compson
 * Cisley Compson
 * Gussie Compson
 * Madison Compson
 * Sue Ellen Armstrong
 * Alex
 * Maria Pappas
 * Bitzi Baxter
 * Binky Barnes
 * Jane Read
 * George Lundgren
 * Platy

Gallery
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Screenshots
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Trivia

 * It is revealed in this episode that the Rapty that Bud has is his second; the first one was left behind when he moved from Guam.
 * The 2nd Rapty is then left behind at the end of the episode.
 * It's revealed that Ladonna and Bud are moving to Oregon.

Episode connections

 * The Compsons originally moved from Louisiana to Elwood City in "Based on a True Story."
 * Buster recalls going away from Elwood City in "Arthur's Faraway Friend," and being afraid that his friends would forget him.
 * Fern and Ladonna say that they are inspired to write their own book, like Arthur and Buster did in "Arthur's Faraway Friend" and "Buster's Back."
 * Arthur shows his diorama from "Arthur and the Whole Truth."
 * The selfie of Arthur, Buster, Muffy and Ladonna in Muffy's video was taken during "The Longest 11 Minutes."

Production notes

 * London, from the And Now a Word From Us Kids segment, is featured in a podcast from The Military Child Education Coalition.