Grandpa Dave's Old Country Farm

Summary
Arthur and D.W. spend a week at their grandfather's farm, which isn't quite as Arthur remembers it.

Plot
The episode starts out with Arthur showing the viewers that vacations really don't go well as expected. Like the time his family went to Lowered Caverns, where DW was left hanging on the ceiling. Another time was when the family visited the state capitol and Arthur got bored to death listening to the tour guide. But there is one place that he really likes to go to for a vacation, Grandpa Dave's farm! The farm has animals, a swimming hole, and delicious food! He also states that Grandpa Dave is great to have around.

---Title Card---

We now see Arthur and DW's parents in white overalls since they are repainting the house. Mom is holding Kate. Arthur, DW, and Grandpa Dave wave goodbye to them and they wave back. Then they take off for the country! Already, DW thinks about her parents and wonders what they would do without her and Arthur. She daydreams about them dancing at a club. Arthur can't wait to go to the country, and Grandpa Dave tells him that it will be great. The activities they will do will be fishing, swimming, and cook-outs! Just as Arthur is about to mention the county fair, DW spots a cow. Grandpa Dave is surprised that the kids like country life. As Arthur excitedly continues to talk about the country, they arrive at a country store.

Then Grandpa Dave asks if anyone wants candy, and DW says so. We now see Grandpa Dave's friends, Ed, Bill, and Tom, and Grandpa Dave greets them as he walks into the store. Eli, the store manager, greets Dave and says that the lumber he ordered came in. He says that he'll pick it up later. Meanwhile, DW makes her selection of candy. Then, the kids carry the bags to the truck while Ed talks to Dave. Ed notices that the kids are considered his "farm hands". They ask if they're gonna fix the place up, but Grandpa Dave gets angry and says, "Horse feathers, Ed!"

DW then asks him what that comment was for, and he says that Ed is just goofing with him. For some reason, he thinks he needs help to fix the farm. The kids then arrive at the farm, where they see that the barn and the other buildings are worn out. Arthur considers the place different than he expected, such as some stuff falling off. Grandpa Dave hasn't really gotten around to fix the farm, but he suggests that everyone should go swimming. Arthur and DW approve and they head over. Arthur swings on the rope while DW and Grandpa Dave dive into the water.

Later that night, after Grandpa Dave tells a story about the farm, the coo coo clock sounds, which means time for bed. The kids don't want to go to bed, but they go anyways. After DW and Arthur wish each other a good night, DW screams and runs into Arthur's room. She tells him that her room is full of chickens. Arthur doesn't believe DW and tells her to go back to sleep, but they check anyway. Arthur shows the things in the room, but he finds the chickens on top of the dresser. Grandpa Dave forgot that he put them there after the hen house roof fell down. Arthur and DW sleep together in one room, but DW complains to him that his foot is touching hers. She suggests that they should tell Grandpa Dave to fix the hen house tomorrow and that she wants her own bed. Arthur agrees with DW's comment.

The next day, the kids and Dave have just finished breakfast outside. Arthur suggests that they should go get the lumber so that the hen house can be fixed. But Dave says he'd rather go fishing instead. Arthur thinks that sounds like fun, and they go fishing. We now see the three in the boat trying to catch fish. DW catches a very big fish, but the boat is balanced improperly, which causes Grandpa Dave to fall.

Back at the general store, Grandpa Dave gives ice cream to the kids. DW still asks about the lumber to fix the hen house. Ed suggests to help him, but Dave angrily tells him that he doesn't need any help. Dave then angrily storms into the store and asks where the lumber is. At night, it gets very windy, and DW tells Arthur to shut the window since she's cold from the breeze. However, the window is stuck. They have to get the farm fixed up or else.

The next day, Ed arrives and takes the kids hiking on Mt. Springle. The kids accept going hiking right away. They reach the top, and Arthur is amazed at the view. He wishes Grandpa Dave saw this, but he's seen it plenty of times. DW asks why he can't keep the farm fixed, and Ed says that since he's older, it's a much bigger job for him. But he's still a great independent man, even though he's old. Then Ed and the kids munch on trail mix.

When the kids and Ed get back to Grandpa Dave's farm, they see that the hen house is not quite finished yet. DW believes that he didn't do anything, but Grandpa Dave says that he did a little bit of the roof, but then have to replace some of the walls first. He got too tired, so he called it a day.

During another windy night, DW suggests to Arthur that they should help Grandpa Dave because he's old and he can't do the work by himself. It doesn't matter if he's independent or not, but someone has to help him. The next day, while the kids are eating breakfast, Grandpa Dave announces that it's time to go to the fair. Arthur wants to go, but DW reminds him about what they talked about last night. He then restates his comment, by saying that they should build the hen house. Grandpa Dave doesn't think that's a smart idea, but then DW says that they are his family. Dave realizes that she does have a point and that he "could use some... assistance... for a while". So they finally get to work on fixing the hen house; Ed also helps out with the hen house too.

After all their hard work for two days, the hen house is completed. DW wants to build a shower for the chickens' bath tub. But Grandpa Dave says maybe next time they can do that. Then Arthur and DW's parents arrive and Arthur shows them the hen house. His parents, even Kate, are all shocked about the work they have done. But Grandpa Dave says that there is no end of work on a farm. Ed again suggests that he help, and Grandpa Dave initially replies that the farm "has been in our family for 150 years", but stops and says that "it's about time we got some decent help around here" (meaning that Ed is more than welcome to help out with the farm after all). Then Mom says, "We'll be back soon, Dad. Now, you two, into the car". However, Arthur says "Awe, Mom, can't we stay just one more day?"

To the last frame of the episode, we see the farm all fixed up.

Major characters

 * Arthur Read
 * D.W. Read
 * Dave (speaking debut)
 * Ed Billings

Minor characters​

 * Jane Read


 * David Read


 * Kate Read
 * Eli (debut)
 * Capitol tour guide (debut)
 * Gunky
 * Bill (dog)

Background characters

 * Unknown Male Adult Rabbit (Number 3)


 * Unknown Female Adult Rabbit (Number 4)


 * Unknown Female Rabbit (Number 2)
 * Unknown Male Rabbit
 * Elvis Presley (on poster, in DW's Fantasy sequence about Dave and Jane)

Trivia

 * This is the first time Arthur and D.W. go somewhere without their parents coming along.

Cultural references

 * The event of a run-down farm and chickens living in the house could either be referencing the classic movie, The Egg and I, or an episode of The Andy Griffith Show.

Home Video
VHS:
 * Arthur's Family Vacation (VHS)

DVD:
 * Arthur's Travel Adventures
 * Arthur's Family Vacation (DVD)
 * Arthur: The Complete Series One