The Blizzard

"The Blizzard" is the first half of the 5th episode of Season 4. It originally aired on October 4th, 1999.

Summary
A blizzard hits Elwood City, leaving Mr. Ratburn, Mr. Haney, and Mr. Morris trapped in the school's basement, and The Brain at Prunella's house and several families with the Reads. Francine has to write a report on pioneers and bases it on her experience with the people who came over to the Reads and pooled their resources. D.W. saves a snowball in the freezer. ("D.W.'s Snow Mystery")

Plot
The episode starts with a polar bear eating a marshmallow, and Arthur regretting his want for snow. After the title screen, the weather forecaster predicts a little snow, but Arthur wants more so that school will be closed. Unfortunately, despite more snow than was expected, Lakewood Elementary is open. Upon getting to school, Francine informs Buster and Arthur that she didn't finish her report on the pioneers because they were "d-u-u-u-u-u-u-l-l--ll--l".

The power cuts out and school is closed, the kids have to give in homework on the way out and Francine is made to do a 3-page report while everyone else plays in the snow. Francine continues to struggle with her report. Meanwhile, the Reads are cutting paths in the snow and D.W. remarks how deep it is - not as deep, however, as Dave remembers it once was - over his head - but Jane reminds him he was smaller than D.W. then. The storm gets worse and they all head inside, which leads to the snow fantasies of Kate - a toy factory, and Pal - a BBQ. Francine's power cuts out meaning she can't finish her computerized report and has to go in the snow, but her father forces her to continue writing with a pencil.

At the school Mr Morris forces Ratburn and Haney to stay behind and keep the pipes from freezing - school may be closed for a month, to Ratburn's horror. Prunella gives Brain a psychic reading, which is confirmed by the weatherman on the radio, Brain is stuck there as his power is out, annoyed with Prunella's constant "powers". Haney accidentally gets himself and Ratburn stuck overnight to prevent frozen pipes, luckily there's plenty of beans! Freezing rain then ensues, leading to power outage across Elwood City and D.W. says that the town is exploding - and it's very pretty.

Francine tries again to get out of doing her report, now it's too cold to write, but Mr Frensky is having nothing of it and calls the Reads - Francine can work there as they still have power and Dave will get food in. No deliveries can get in to the store, and Mr Crosswire has the last of many things. Dave's supply is looking smaller and smaller. In the school, meanwhile, Haney's moaning about the beans - why eat them when they have the cafeteria food to choose from? However, it is all frozen and - according to Morris - inedible. Haney wants to go home - he hates school. Ratburn has to reassure the school it was only a joke! The Crosswires also have no power and no-one can fix it, even for a million dollars.

Dave picks up his mother and Buster as they too have no power. Jane had invited all who needed warmth, so the house is quite full, everyone brought food so stew will be made. The power cuts in the Read household - everyone's going to die in a heap according to D.W. but Dave's going to cook on the camping stove and Mr Frensky has an idea to stay warm - huddle near the fire. Buster warns all to not practice the tuba. The Crosswires may have a way of keeping warm that no-one else can afford, but they don't and are soon invited over to the Reads, however, Mr Crosswire didn't bring food, so the stew portions may be a little smaller. Francine realizes that they are today much like the pioneers and her report is nearing completion.

The storm ends and it is time to dig out. Francine concludes that we all need each other to help each other - they all dig out the Reads garden, Crosswire fetches his food and the men inside the school are rescued. We all need each others' help - like the pioneers, and so Francine's report is done. The power returns, everyone enjoys the snow and D.W. brings her snowball in to freeze, to remind her of this day, setting up the events for D.W.'s Snow Mystery.

Trivia

 * Rattles can be seen twice struggling to ride a bike in the storm.