The Butler Did... What?

Summary
Bailey is missing! With the help of the Baxter Detective Agency, Muffy discovers a series of clues.

Plot
The scene starts out at Arthur's house in the morning. Arthur talks to the viewers about how great it would be if they had a butler. Like having breakfast in bed. A butler brings Arthur his breakfast, but is not a very good breakfast maker. Also not a very good clothes picker. Then she says to go to the car, only to find that it is just a tricycle with a trailer. The butler grunts and says that Arthur is heavy and that there are no more eggs for breakfast. Arthur changes his mind about having a butler and fires D.W. (the butler). He concludes by saying he really wants Bailey and walks away.

--'''THE BUTLER DID... WHAT?--'''

The episode starts out at Crosswire's Mansion. Muffy rings her bell, but realizes that Bailey isn't coming. She runs to Ed and tells him Bailey is gone and is not in his room. Ed is shocked, but he reassures her that he'll find a way to make it better. In the school cafeteria, Muffy sits and wonders why would Bailey leave. Arthur says maybe he got a better job. Muffy says Bailey was her friend. Her friends scoff. She says that he gets her everything she wants when she wants it. Francine asks if she does the same for him. Muffy replies that she would, but he has never asked. Francine smiles and "Uh-huh." Then Muffy sobs. Buster says it calls for some detective work. At the mansion, he investigates his room. He makes up a false explanation about what happened to Muffy's dismay.

She sits in his room sad until she sees a picture of a class on his wall that has Mr. Ratburn in it! Muffy shows it to Mr. Ratburn and she asks if she knew where Bailey went. Mr. Ratburn asks Muffy to describe him to help, but doesn't have much information about him. However, Mr. Ratburn says he probably likes music because it is a picture of the high school band. She goes back to investigate and finds another clue! A receipt from Sam's Instruments. Muffy goes to the place and shows the guy at the counter the receipt. He said he bought a jazz trumpet. He also asks if he was ever a musician. Muffy still didn't know much about Bailey although, the man told her if he liked the trumpet, he might be seeing Bill Abbey. Muffy remembers Bailey had a bunch of Bill Abbey albums. Muffy soon arrives at the venue looking for Bailey in line. The ticket guy stops her while Ed confronts him. Muffy sees a car go by and sees men walk into the building. One of them look like Bailey so she runs over, but the door closes and it's locked. She does see the men in the windows and calls for Bailey and apologizes, but it's just a bandmate with a beard and overalls. Muffy sits in the car glum. Ed tells her that they will call in the next day.

Muffy walks off saying she doesn't want another butler. She goes to her room and sees a cup of hot cocoa! Muffy runs over to Bailey's room and sure enough, he's there! Muffy gives him a big hug. Ed runs in and squeezes him and then remembers that he should be angry, but Bailey said he had made an agreement that he would go on vacation. Ed remembers and he chuckles. He leaves the room. After Muffy sees Bailey again, she asks about how he liked being in a jazz band. Bailey replies that he is not that good, but for the good of Muffy, he plays a song on the trumpet and the episode ends.

Major Roles

 * Bailey
 * Muffy Crosswire

Minor Roles

 * Arthur Read
 * D.W. Read
 * Francine Frensky
 * Buster Baxter
 * Mr. Ratburn
 * Ed Crosswire
 * Sam (Sam's Instruments)

Background

 * Jenna Morgan
 * David Read
 * Maria Pappas
 * Sue Ellen
 * Alex

Trivia

 * When this episode aired in the US, it aired on Muffy's birthday.
 * This was the last appearance of the Slot Machine title card.

Episode Connections

 * This episode casts Buster as a detective, like in "Arthur Accused!", "Binky Rules", and "To Eat or Not To Eat".

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