The Lousy Week

The Lousy Week is the first half of the 5th episode of Arthur's fifth season. Together with "You Are Arthur", it first aired on October 2, 2000. It was written by Peter K. Hirsch and the storyboards were done by Stephanie Gignac and Patricia Atchison.

Summary
When Muffy gets hair lice, she is nervous about how her friends will feel. However, it ends up spreading to everyone at school, forcing the students and staff to be checked every day and instead of doing homework, are forced to stay up late and have their parents take out nits from their hair.

Plot
All day in school Muffy has been scratching her head, in art, music, and gym class. After Francine scolds her she explains how itchy she is and Francine suggests it may be head lice but Muffy doesn't think it's possible She explains how her french nanny always washes and does her hair to maintain it, but she soon finds out she does indeed have lice!

She begs the nurse not to tell anyone and exits the room to find everybody waiting for the results. She claims it was only because she was thinking too far while walking away. Francine notices her hat and picks it up, she tries to tell Muffy but she doesn't hear her so she tries it on, commenting how soft it is.

Meanwhile at home, Muffy's french nanny is washing her hair and putting the medicated shampoo into her hair. Her mother tries to calm her down, saying that she had head lice as a child too and claims it's not a big deal... though apparently as a child it was, as shown in a flash back. Her mother then explains they'll need to really clean her room to rid of all the lice, though Muffy cheers up, hearing the chance of getting to redecorate her room!

At school, everyone is playing with muffy's hat, trying it on, nuzzling and snuggling it. The nurse then announces they'll be holding a lice check in her office since they had caught Muffy's the other day. She warns them not to try on others clothing and what-not, as it's easier to spread lice that way.

Mr. Ratburn is check, and unfortunately has head lice while at home, Arthur's dad is putting mayonnaise on Arthur's head. D.W. mocks him and claims how funny it is, but not wanting to take risk, they plan to put some on her head too, and rid of her stuffed animals for a week or so to make sure they have no lice in the home. At Binky's his mother is brushing his head and she notices he has plenty of knits in his hair. He loves it though, considering the lack of homework he'll have to do...

At school Francine angrily states how they can't get rid of her lice and she blames Muffy for starting to begin with. Muffy is just happy she no longer has it, but to her shock she finds them at home on her head again!

Meanwhile, Binky is beginning to grow tired of mindless television and begs to go to bed but his mom tells him he can't just yet. Arthur now is trying to use olive oil, but it luckily keeps Pal away trying trying to eat his head!

Later at the diner, Muffy and Francine are fighting but Brain tries to tell them it's impossible to tell exactly who caused this problem. But if they would cut their hair, it would provide an easier way for them to lose the head lice, and so both girls cut their hair very short, and boyish. At first they hate it but find it beneficial and even funny!

Meanwhile, the single head lice is on the very top of George's antler and tries to jump onto Buster as he walks by. Fortunately he misses and is soon stepped on as the kids fill the hall and the episode ends...

Trivia

 * The Salon de Beauté that previously appeared in Francine's Bad Hair Day is briefly seen where Muffy and Francine get their hairs buzzed off to eliminate the lice. However, Flossie did not appear in this episode.
 * Francine and Muffy had their hair buzzed off for purposes of lice elimination, but in all later shows they still have their long hair.
 * Muffy states that she and Francine would look like boy models for having their hairs buzzed very short. However, this isn't true, because buzzed haircuts are fairly common among females, and that long hair is not just for females either. However it's very rare for younger girls, especially third graders to have buzzed haircuts (exceptions include genetics and diseases).
 * D.W. said that she did not have "mice" as a different word that doesn't rhyme with lice.
 * There was a toy marketed for Insight Pharmaceuticals based on this episode which was released in 2006. It resembles Arthur with mayo on his head with a string on his back, a 8-inch hole in his head, and many things that remove lice from someone's hair that can be put into the hole. When the string is pulled, a odor will appear and get rid of the lice on that person's head. It was discontinued in 2007.

Home Video
VHS:
 * Arthur Goes to the Doctor

DVD:
 * Arthur Goes to the Doctor