Arthur's Spelling Trubble/Transcript

(We see Arthur backstage at his school's spelling bee, looking very nervous)

Arthur: Do you think everybody gets nervous before they do something important to them?

Francine (as Deborah Franklin): Benjamin, do you think you should do this?

Arthur (as Benjamin Franklin): I have to. (Lightning zaps the kite) Ouch! Ouch! I did it! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Heyyy! Ouch!

Arthur: This is nothing compared to a lightning storm, so I shouldn't be afraid either, right?

Herbert Haney: Next, Arthur Read.

[APPLAUSE]

Audience: Yay! Yahoo! Yeah, yeah, yeah!

[TITLE CARD]

Arthur, Francine, and Prunella: Good morning, Mr. Haney.

Mr. Haney: Everybody ready for the Spellathon?

Francine: Well, the third grade has the best spellers.

Prunella: It used to, but now I'm in the fourth grade. I won last year with "endurance". Can you spell "endurance", Arthur?

Arthur: I...N...

[FRANCINE GIGGLES]

Prunella: Forget it.

Arthur: It's a good thing the third grade isn't depending on ME to win.

(Transition to Mr. Ratburn's class)

(Chitchat from Mr. Ratburn's class)

Nigel Ratburn: Quiet, please. Everyone, get your homework out, so I can collect it. An important announcement, people: on Friday, we will have a spelling test.

(the class gasps)

It will be a spell-off in Spellathon style. Study hard, because the winners get a special surprise.

Francine: What do you think the surprise is?

Buster: Maybe the winner doesn't have to do homework for the rest of the year.

Brain: If it means less homework, I want to win. I'm going to study extra-hard.

Francine: Me, too.

(Transition to Francine's room)

Francine: Oh! I knew I forgot something. There. Now I can really concentrate.

Brain: A-N-T-I-D... Er...

Mr. Powers: What word are you struggling with, son?

Brain: Antidisestablishmentarianism. I can't remember if it has five I's or six.

Mr. Powers: Maybe you should skip down to "antidote".

(Transition to Muffy's room)

Computer: Dog.

Muffy: D-O-G.

Computer: Muffy...you're...a...genius.

(Transition to Buster's apartment)

Buster: [HE YAWNS] Hey! That's it! This oughta do it.

(Transition to Arthur's downstairs kitchen)

David Read: [HE HUMS WHILE MAKING A SCULPTURE]

Arthur: Dad, this song fits the letters of the first word on my spelling list. A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K...

Arthur and David Read (BOTH): A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K!

(Transition to Arthur's clubhouse)

Arthur: A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K! A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K! A-A-R-D...

D.W.: V-A-R-K!

Arthur: Don't bother me D.W., I'm studying!

D.W.: Oh that's what you call it! I thought you had ants in your pants.

Arthur: Go away.

D.W.: All right. What a grouch!

Arthur: A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K! A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K!

Buster: [STRAINING]

Arthur: I said don't bother...

Buster: Huh?

Arthur: Oh, hi, Buster! Done studying?

Buster: Don't have to. I have this. My good luck C-H-A-R-M - charm. Wanna go to the arcade?

Arthur: I should probably study some more.

Buster: If you know it now, is one more hour really gonna help?

Arthur: Maybe you're right. It doesn't feel like I'm getting any better at it.

Buster: Face it, pal, some people are born spellers. You're more the..."go have fun" type. They've got the jet game that flips you upside down.

Arthur: Okay.

(Transition to the next day at school)

Buster: You ready for the test, Arthur?

Arthur: The test!

Francine: How much did you study? I woke up early to squeeze in more study time. I know this whole book, even the publisher's address.

Arthur: Buster and I went to the arcade and I forgot to finish studying.

Ratburn: Okay, everyone. Line up for the spelling bee. ...That is incorrect. You may sit down. Jenna, please spell "essential".

Arthur (in his thoughts): What am I gonna do, what am I gonna do?! Maybe if I lean against the heater, maybe my temperature will go up and I can go to the nurse!

Ratburn: Arthur, perhaps you can be the first not to get knocked out by this. 'Aardvark'.

Arthur: A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K!

Francine: (laughs)

Ratburn: Thank you for the entertainment, Arthur! Francine, spell "pleasant".

Francine: Pleasant - P-L-E-A-S-E-N-T.

Ratburn: No, I'm sorry.

Francine: What kind of stupid word is that? Pleasant!

Ratburn: Arthur and the Brain are our winners! And the surprise you've won is to represent our class in the All-school Spellathon.

[THE CLASS CHEERS]

Arthur: Mr. Ratburn, I don't think I should be in the Spellathon.

Ratburn: You earned the honor, Arthur.

Arthur: Yeah, but the thing is, I don't know how to spell anything. A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G. See? I just knew that one word.

Ratburn: Did you study?

Arthur: Sort of. N-No. Not really.

Ratburn: It will take some study, but if you really work at it, I know you can do well.

Arthur: You do?

(Transition to the Read house)

Arthur: And Mr. Ratburn thinks I can do it. I have a lot of studying to do. I have a list of a 100 words to learn.

D.W.: That's only 92 more than you know now.

Jane Read: D.W.! We'll help any way we can, Arthur.

[D.W. SNEAKS NEAR ARTHUR'S ROOM, THE DOOR CREAKS]

Arthur: E-L-E-P-H-A-N-T - elephant.

Jane Read: D.W.!

[D.W. GASPS]

Jane Read: How about some ice cream?

D.W.: Are you bribing me?

Jane Read: [SHE CHUCKLES] Yes.

D.W.: Okay.

(Transition to Arthur's Clubhouse)

Buster: Hey, Arthur! You wanna play football?

Arthur: I have to study. S-O-R-R-Y.

Buster: Sour?

Arthur: Sorry!

(Transition to the Read's kitchen)

Baby Kate: Nuhh! Nuhh! Nuhh! Nuhh! [GURGLES]

Arthur: My brain hurts. This isn't helping at all! I'm just not a speller.

David Read: Sometimes it feels like you're not getting it when you actually are. You want a snack?

Arthur: Absolutely! A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y - absolutely. Hey! That's right!

[DOORBELL]

D.W.: I got it!

Francine: Hi, D.W. Is Arthur there?

D.W.: Sorry, Arthur can't come out to play. He's exercising his brain. But I'm available. I'm not a prisoner of MY vocabulary.

(Transition to Arthur continuing to study while walking in town) 

Brain: Hi, Arthur!

Arthur: Hey, Brain! How's the studying going?

Brain: Extraordinarily well! Now I'm getting some equipment for the computer program I'm writing in my spare time!

Arthur: Spare time?!

(Transitions to the Read's bathroom as Arthur brushes his teeth) 

[WATER RUNS]

D.W.: Spell "toothpaste".

Arthur: Toothpaste. T-O-O-T-H-P-A-S-T-E - toothpaste. Right?

D.W.: How should I know?

(Transition to the Read's kitchen)

Baby Kate: [Babbles] Glooba!

Arthur: Glooba. G-L-O-O-B-A - glooba.

Baby Kate: (looks stunned at Arthur)

(That night before the Spelling Bee, Grandma Thora is fixing Arthur's bowtie)

Arthur: I'm nervous. N-E-R-V-O-U-S - nervous.

Thora Read: You'll do just fine, Arthur.

(Transition to Lakewood Elementary at the night of the spelling bee)

[CONVERSATION FROM THE AUDIENCE]

Jane Read: You'd better get backstage. Good luck!

D.W.: Don't worry. If you lose, Mom and Dad will let you live in the garage.

Arthur: G-A-R-A-G-E - garage.

(Backstage, the students are waiting for the spellathon to start)

Nigel Ratburn: Today's the big day. How do you feel?

Brain: I feel fine!

Arthur: I wish I were back in bed.

Prunella: They're gonna light the Spellathon torch. It's so exciting!

[AUDIENCE APPLAUSE AND CHEERING]

Mr. Haney: Welcome to the All-School Spellathon. And now, our contestants.

[AUDIENCE CHEERING AS THE CURTAIN OPENS, REVEALING THE CONTESTANTS]

D.W.: Go, Arthur!

Haney: Everybody ready? Good luck. Our first word goes to...the Brain. Spell "fear".

[BRAIN PAUSES AS HE NERVOUSLY SWEATS]

Brain?

[THE AUDIENCE GIGGLES]

Haney: Brain, spell "fear".

Brain: Fear. F-E-R-E - fear.

Haney: I'm sorry. That's incorrect.

Brain: Are you sure? What dictionary are you using?

[ARTHUR GULPS]

Haney: Spell "pieces".

Cat Girl (?): - Pieces. P-E-I-C-E-S - pieces.

Haney: No, I'm sorry.

Cat Girl (?): I before E except after C, I before E except after C...

Haney: The word is "champion".

Prunella: That's so easy. I see it every day on my award from last year. Champion. C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N - champion.

[AUDIENCE CHEERING]

Haney: Arthur, spell "suggest".

Arthur: Suggest. S-U-G-G-E-S-T - suggest.

Haney: That is correct.

[AUDIENCE CHEERING]

Prunella: You can't beat me! Why don't you just give up?!

Haney: Prunella, spell "preparation".

[PRUNELLA PAUSES AS SHE AND THE AUDIENCE LOOK STUNNED]

Prunella?

Prunella: Could I have a definition, please?

Haney: Preparation – the process of getting ready.

Prunella: Of course. Preparation. P-R-E-P... (pauses) ...E...R-A-T-I-O-N - preparation.

Haney: I'm sorry, that's incorrect. Now Arthur gets a chance. If you spell this correctly, Arthur, you are the winner. Preparation.

[D.W. BLOWS A RASPBERRY]

Arthur: Preparation. P-R-E-P-A-R-A-T-I-O-N - preparation.

Haney: That's...correct!

[CHEERING, D.W. WHISTLES, THEN MR. HANEY HANDS THE TROPHY TO ARTHUR MAKING HIM THE SPELLING BEE CHAMPION]

Ratburn: Absolutely marvelous...

Buster: That was the most fantastic thing I've ever seen! Arthur, you're the greatest speller of all time.

Arthur: You know the best part of winning is? It's over!

Ratburn: Congratulations, Arthur! I knew you could do it!

D.W.: Yeah, but now HE knows he could do it.

(END)