Bleep

Summary
D.W. wants to know the meaning of a word that made a boy's mom drop something when he said it.

Plot
The episode begins as Arthur talks to the viewers about the bleep. He presents an example in a show called The Altos. Whenever an Alto curses, it is censored with a bleep. Arthur then says that it's not used in real life, but claims it could be fun if it was and imagines a couple real-life scenarios. D.W. then gets a hold of the bleep button, which drives Arthur crazy.

Bleep

D.W. is at the crystal shop with Grandma Thora, who is buying a bowl for her friend, Ethel. D.W. wanders around for a bit, admiring all the crystal objects for sale. She then overhears a teenage boy having an argument with his mother, as he is being careless in the store. The woman warns him that he may break something, to which he scoffs, “Whatever.” Angered at his "backtalk", the woman bars her son from going to a concert tonight. The boy gets angry and says something bad to his mother (censored with a “bleep”), causing her to drop the goblet she is holding out of shock. As they leave the store, D.W. wants to ask Grandma Thora (who didn't hear the argument) what the word means, but stops herself before she gets to the word, imagining it will cause Thora to drop the bowl she just bought.

When she arrives home, D.W. rushes to Arthur's room and asks him the meaning of the word. He reacts by gasping and dropping the model plane he was working on, resulting in it being in pieces (for the second time) and confirming D.W.'s belief that the word has the power to make people drop objects. Arthur warns D.W. not to say the bad word around their parents. Confused, D.W. then asks Nadine, who is also clueless and suggests asking her parents. However, D.W. has a bad daydream where the word causes everyone to drop objects (with even the moon and stars falling from the sky) and police sirens and at the end Mary Moo Cow cracks an egg with a hammer. Then D.W. turns to Nadine and tells her it's not a good idea.

D.W., still not clear on the meaning of the word, asks the Tibbles about it the next day at school. They initially laugh, but then turn to each other with puzzled looks when D.W. asks what it means and wonder if they should tell her. Finally, Timmy explains that it's a swear word, which parents hate. When D.W. wonders why, the twins, to get her in trouble, claim that the word turns adults into zombie servants.

During class, everyone is singing “If You’re Happy and You Know It”. D.W. has a fantasy in which she says the curse word. The others gasp while Ms. Morgan drops her accordion and becomes a zombie servant to D.W. When Ms. Morgan snaps D.W. out of her daydream, she chooses not to say the word. The Tibbles mock D.W. after school, calling her a "scaredy cat".

At home, D.W. is still too scared to ask her parents what the word means. After conversing with Nadine, she decides to test it and see if what the Tibbles said is true. D.W. repeats their story to Vicita, but tells her she shouldn't say the word to anyone. However, D.W. knows that Vicita will say it anyway because she does not know any better. Along with Nadine, she watches Vicita from Arthur's room with a pair of binoculars to see what happens. Vicita says the word to her family and when they get angry, she explains that D.W. told her the word.

While this is happening, D.W. is interrupted by her mother calling her down to dinner. "Just a minute." DW says "No not just a minute, your dinner's getting cold." Jane says. When her mother persists, D.W. gets annoyed and accidentally blurts out the bad word. Jane is shocked and outraged at this accidental remark, and exclaims, "Dora Winifred Read... what did you just say to me?" D.W. then asks, "Um, can I have a soda?" When Jane doesn't budge, D.W. angrily mutters ,“Tibbles!” before turning back to the window. When the doorbell rings, D.W. rushes downstairs to answer it, only to find the Molinas and her dad furious with her and her mom angrily coming down the stairs. She says, “her brother did it?” in a very unconvincing way.

That night, Jane tucks D.W. into bed, letting her off the hook this time, but warns her that swear words are not appropriate to say, especially for children. When D.W. asks what they mean, Jane explains that swear words are offensive and meant to hurt people's feelings. Satisfied with this answer, D.W. falls asleep.

The next day at school, D.W. finds her friends all saying the word (without knowing what they are saying). Realizing what she must do, D.W. sits down to explain to them how hurtful swear words are.

Major

 * D.W. Read
 * Timmy and Tommy Tibble
 * Nadine Flumberghast

Minor

 * Arthur Read
 * Teenager
 * Ms. Morgan
 * Amanda Hulser
 * Francine Frensky
 * Edwin
 * Thora Read
 * David Read
 * Jane Read
 * Vicita Molina
 * Unknown Female Adult Cat

Cameo

 * Mrs. Hulser
 * James MacDonald
 * Ramón Molina
 * Mrs. Molina
 * Alberto Molina
 * Maryann
 * Liam
 * Lisa
 * Maryann's father
 * Emily
 * Sarah
 * Lucy
 * Kyle

Trivia

 * This is the last episode to be produced in Canada under the name Cinar Entertainment, as they were renamed Cookie Jar Entertainment the following year.
 * This is the last episode where Mark Rendall voices Arthur.
 * In a Facebook Live interview, executive producer Carol Greenwald revealed that this episode has been the most controversial with the most mailed-in feedback from viewers.
 * Moral: Watch your language in front of a younger person.
 * Running Gag: Someone saying a bad word and dropping something.

Cultural references

 * The Altos are a parody of .
 * Mary Moo Cow jumping over the moon is a reference to the nursery rhyme "."
 * The preschoolers sing "If You're Happy and You Know It."
 * This episode is similar to other shows plots that involve Cussing:
 * : Bleeped
 * SML: Jeffys Bad Word
 * The Powerpuff Girls: Curses
 * : Sailor mouth
 * : Get the Message,Potty Mouth,Job Insecurity
 * Roys Bedoys: Dont say Curse Words,Roys Bedoys
 * Cailou: Cailou's Crossword

Episode connections

 * When Arthur drops the model plane, it breaks, just like it did in "Arthur's Big Hit."
 * The event where Arthur's mom's glass bird breaks is shown again. The first time took place during the flashback in the special Arthur's Perfect Christmas.

Errors

 * When the teenager's mother scolds him, the silver goblet that she was holding turns light green.
 * When Arthur is working on the model plane as an apparent replacement, he is first seen wearing only his socks; after Jane opens the door, he is seen in his shoes. He would not have had time to put on his shoes in the allotted time.
 * D.W.'s car seat has different colors.
 * When D.W. is spying on the Molinas in Arthur's room and Jane walks in, the clock on Arthur's bedside table is off but in the next frame, it is on.