What is that Thing?

Summary
A magical device helps everyone finish their seemingly impossible tasks — but what is it?

Plot
The plot begins with D.W. pestering Arthur with questions such as-who invented movies? Who thought of dolls? It's driving Arthur crazy but when he tells her to stop, she simply retorts that she wouldn't need to ask those questions if he would take her to the puppet show on inventions that Mr. Ratburn is holding. Arthur doesn't want to go and asks D.W. to their mom or dad take her. Unfortunately, both Arthur's Mom and Dad are working and can't go, and force Arthur to take her. Arthur reluctantly complies and decides it wouldn't be so bad if his friends went with him, so he goes to find However, Buster is trying to figure out an idea for the "Write An Episode For Bionic Bunny" contest, as the deadline that day. Arthur suggests an idea that Buster likes, however that was Arthur's entry, though Arthur is happy his friend likes his episode idea. Then he goes to Francine, but she can't go either because she wants to be there for her cat, Nemo, because as of watching 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea he had developed a fear of water so acute that even at the sound of a shower being taken is enough to frighten him. Muffy can't go because her new doll, Annie, fell down a sewer, and she won't go without getting it out. The Brain won't go without fixing his toy plane, which is missing a wheel. As Arthur walks home, disappointed, he finds a strange object. it's a metal spool with holes on the rim with red thread wound up around it. He ponders what it is unsuccessfully, when D.W. runs up and wants to see it. Arthur won't let her and they fight over it, causing it to fly from Arthur's hand and managing to unintentionally catapult it to The Brain. The Brain doesn't know what it is but it's about the right size for a wheel for his plane. He fits it on and flies it, and for a while it works but then falls off...right next to Francine's apartment. Francine spots it and has no idea what it is, but decides to try and use it to hypnotize Nemo into liking water. It works, and he promptly runs into Catherine's shower, now being attracted to water. Next,  it rolls down the sidewalk to Muffy's sewer, where she spots it. Like the rest of them, she doesn't have a clue what it is, but uses the thread to hook it around Annie's nose and pull her up. Then it rolls away from her and she chases after it. Francine sees, informs Muffy that it's hers, and joins the chase. It's next stop is The Brain, who says he needs it for his plane to land. Then Arthur and Buster Come up. Buster has no idea what's going on. The plane crashes, and Mr. Ratburn ends up with it. He informs the group that the thing is a boffin, and he needs it for his puppet show. He then asks the kids to come, then they'll find out what the boffin is. They all do so, and learn that the boffin is actually an essential part to  a sewing machine. Arthur is happy that his friends could come along. As they leave, Arthur tells Buster that he was the only one the boffin didn't' help. Buster says he wouldn't be so sure about that as he mails his contest entry into the mailbox. The scene cuts to a bionic bunny episode, bionic bunny is fighting a boffin with a huge nose attached, hypnotizing the cats of the city, controlled by its inventor. It is revealed that the episode was written by Buster.

Major Characters

 * Arthur Read
 * Buster Baxter
 * Francine Frensky
 * Alan Powers
 * Muffy Crosswire
 * Nemo
 * Nigel Ratburn

Minor Characters

 * Binky Barnes
 * Jane Read
 * David Read
 * Kate Read

Background Characters

 * Sue Ellen Armstrong
 * Tibble Twins

Trivia

 * Muffy uses the bobbin to save a plush anteater of hers named "Andy". It wears Arthur's sweater - a clever in-joke.
 * Nemo's design has changed in this episode after his debut in "Francine and the Feline", and has remained in subsequent seasons.
 * Brain's biplane crash-landed at the end of this episode but it is seen again in Nerves of Steel - presumably it was either repaired or replaced.

Cultural references

 * Elias Howe was a real-world inventor. He was the first to make a sewing machine with: a needle with the eye at the point, a shuttle operating beneath the cloth to form the lock stitch, and an automatic feed.

Episode Connections

 * In the Prehistoric Time flashback, while Arthur makes a fire with sticks, D.W. says "fire drill" like in D.W. All Fired Up.

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