Besties/Transcript

Arthur looks at a collection of trophies in his cupboard.

Arthur: It's easy to know when something is the best. It's just obvious. Like, who's the best dog. Pal!

He puts a #1 ribbon on Pal’s chest.

Buster sits in the Sugar Bowl in front of a slice of pizza.

Buster: The best pizza.

Brain works in class with a load of books on his desk.

Arthur: The best student.

He puts the ribbon on Brain’s cheek.

Buster visits his food collection.

Buster: The best piece of ginger shaped like a camel.

''Arthur and Buster watch TV. Bionic Bunny has just arrested a villain who looks like Mr. Ratburn.''

Arthur+Buster: Best Bionic Bunny episode ever!

''Arthur and Buster stand in front of the jungle gym. Arthur holds a ribbon.''

Arthur: But is it the same with friends? Can you have more than one best one?

Francine, George, Muffy, Brain and Binky appear beside them.

Arthur: Hm...

Buster looks annoyed and walks away.

Arthur: Hh! Buster, wait! I was just kidding! You know it's you!

Arthur is left alone.

Title Card: Buster and Ladonna laugh in front of the lockers

''Buster and Ladonna ring the Reads’ doorbell. When Arthur opens, they pretend to be monkeys.''

Ladonna: (makes monkey noises)

Arthur: What are you guys doing?

Buster: We're meerkats.

Ladonna: Coming to take you to ‘Mr. Meerkat's Merry Misadventure’!

Buster: In 3-D!

Arthur: I'm sorry, guys, I can't go.

Ladonna: Why not?

Arthur: Dad reminded me that I promised to help clean out the garage. I was supposed to do it yesterday, but I totally forgot.

Buster+Ladonna: Oh...

Arthur: You two go without me. I hear it's supposed to be great.

All three look sad.

At the movies, Buster and Ladonna queue first for tickets, then for popcorn.

Ladonna: (whistles)

''Buster scratches his head. Both kids look awkward.''

Buster: Too bad Arthur couldn't come.

Ladonna: Yeah, I wish he was here. Not that this isn't fun.

Buster: Oh no, this is fun. I'm having fun. Are you having fun?

Ladonna: Tons of fun!

Buster: What could be more fun than this?

Ladonna: Absolutely nothing.

Buster: It's just that...

Ladonna: ...if Arthur were here...

Buster: ...it'd be even funner.

Ladonna: Right. More fun.

Buster: What?

Ladonna: More fun. It's more grammatically, erm... Never mind. Is this line even moving?

The popcorn machine starts shaking.

Vendor: Look out! She's gonna blow!

''The machine’s lid flies off and popcorn rains down all over the lobby. A man catches it in his T-shirt.''

People: (cheer)

''Mr. Ratburn stands in the entrance door. A St. Bernard looks through Mr. Ratburn’s legs and sniffs. Then he runs inside. His owner runs into Mr. Ratburn and lets go of the leash.''

Dog Owner: Sparky, no! Come back! Aah!

Buster+Ladonna: (chuckle)

''The dog stands on the lobby counter and eats popcorn. A lady faints. A policeman catches her, but she loses her shoes.''

Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

Later, Arthur, Buster and Ladonna sit in the Sugar Bowl.

Buster: It was hysterical. There was popcorn everywhere!

Ladonna: And then the dog got sick!

Buster: Right on the old woman's shoes!

Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

Arthur: Ha-ha... Weird. Hey, how was the movie?

Ladonna: Ah, I don't remember. Not as good as Popcorn Pandemonium!

Buster: In 4-D!

Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

Buster: You really had to be there.

Arthur: I wish I had been.

Ladonna walks up to Arthur and Buster who are standing at their lockers.

Ladonna: Did you hear the forecast today? Cloudy with a chance of popcorn!

She hands Buster a cup of popcorn.

Ladonna: I thought you should have this!

Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

''Arthur looks peeved. He tries to take some popcorn, just as Buster offers it to Ladonna.''

Buster: You just had to be there.

In the school cafeteria, Arthur shares a table with Buster, Ladonna and Sue Ellen.

Ladonna: And then this guy came out with a little broom and dustpan!

Buster: But it didn't even make a dent. I've still got kernels in my pockets!

Ladonna: Me, too! Just when you least expect it, popcorn pandemonium strikes again!

Buster+Ladonna: Boom! Kapow!

''They throw their kernels in the air. ''

Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

Several other kids give them odd looks.

Buster: (sighs)

Arthur: I know. Had to be there... How about I get in my time machine, go back two days and we can all experience it together?

Buster: Hh! When did you get a time machine?!

 

Arthur follows Sue Ellen as she takes her tray away.

Sue Ellen: That's how it starts.

Arthur: How what starts?

Sue Ellen: Losing your best friend. I remember Marilyn Labattski...

Flashback: Sue Ellen pushes a girl on a swing.

Sue Ellen (narrator): She was my bestie before I came to Lakewood.

Flashback: Sue Ellen and Marilyn paint a winged horse.

Sue Ellen (narrator): We were a team.

''Flashback: Sue Ellen and Marilyn hold two half-heart bracelets together. At night, they sleep in a tent in the backyard.''

Sue Ellen (narrator): Inseparable. Two peas in a pod.

Flashback: A shadow falls on Sue Ellen and Marilyn.

Sue Ellen (narrator): Then she showed up... Sybil Whitcraft. She was mysterious, cool and a whiz at cat's cradle. We both liked her instantly.

Sybil shows a complicated cat’s cradle.

Flashback: Sue Ellen pushes Sybil on the swing while Marilyn watches.

Sue Ellen (narrator): For a while, all three of us hung out.

''Flashback: Marilyn and Sybil ring Sue Ellen’s doorbell. Sue Ellen opens wearing her pajamas.''

Sue Ellen (narrator): But then, one day I got a cold and couldn't go to macramé class.

''Inside, Sue Ellen blows her nose. Outside, Marilyn and Sybil walk away together.''

Sue Ellen (narrator): Marilyn and Sybil went without me.

Flashback: Marilyn and Sybil rides the swings while Sue Ellen just stands there.

Sue Ellen (narrator): I never found out what happened in that macramé class. But from that day on, I had been replaced.

Sue Ellen walks away.

The fantasy ends.

Sue Ellen: Tossed out like this half-eaten mealy Macoun apple.

She throws a half-eaten apple in the trash.

Arthur: Buster would never do that to me.

Sue Ellen: I hope not, Arthur. I hope not.

''She walks away. Arthur looks worried. He watches Buster trying to throw a piece of popcorn into Ladonna’s mouth.''

Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

''The next day, Arthur rings the Baxter’s doorbell with a box. Buster opens.''

Buster: Hey, there he is! My best bud in the whole world! I brought you a pie.

Arthur: You brought me a pie?

Buster: Yup. Dad and I made it this morning. It's boysenberry, your favorite!

Arthur opens the box on the kitchen table.

Buster: Why'd you bring me a pie?

Arthur waves some of the smell over to Buster.

Arthur: No reason. I just thought maybe my pal Buster would like some pie.

Buster: Weird... I would like some pie. Hey, maybe you're psychic?

Arthur: Nah. I just know what you're thinking sometimes because we're best buds. Sit, sit. I'll get your plate.

A while Later, Buster is eating a piece of pie while Arthur watches him.

Buster: Are you sure you don't want any?

Arthur: No, it's all for you. Good, right?

Buster: Did you bring me this pie because you wanna borrow my Curse Of The Moomies video game? Cause you didn't have to.

Arthur: What? No, I don't want anything. I just felt like doing something nice. Oh, that reminds me... When I was cleaning out the garage, I found these old photos.

He opens an old photo album.

Arthur: Here we are at the amusement park. And at the beach. And this is when we were four.

Buster: (chuckles)

Arthur: We sure have known each other for a long time.

Buster: We sure have.

Arthur: You know what I think the best thing about best friends is? They're irreplaceable. Well, I gotta go.

Arthur leaves the house.

Arthur: Enjoy the rest of that pie and have a wonderful day.

Buster waves at him, looking confused.

Buster and Ladonna sit at a table in the cafeteria.

Buster: And it wasn't just the pie. He also organized my locker.

Ladonna: Hm, I don't know. Maybe he's telling the truth and just being nice.

Buster: No. I know Arthur better than anyone. Something is definitely up.

Arthur comes.

Arthur: Hey, guys, what you talking about?

Buster: Mock turtle soup!

Ladonna: Pythagorean theorem! Oh, I've just remembered, I've got to go and finish my, er, history report.

Buster: I'll help you. You know me. Hê. Just can't get enough history.

''He leaves after Ladonna. Arthur looks sad.''

''At night, Arthur lies in bed. In his dream, Buster plays the piano in a night club.''

Buster: 🎶“Old friends are great. / They love what you love and hate what you hate. / You always know just what they're gonna do. / But every now and then you need to start again and spend time with someone new. Whoo!”🎶

Buster and Ladonna do a vaudeville act wearing straw hats and carrying canes.

Buster: 🎶“She's my new best friend”🎶

Ladonna: 🎶“I'm his new best friend.”🎶

Both: 🎶“Together there's nothing we can't do.”🎶

Buster and Ladonna sit in a tree.

Ladonna: 🎶“Climb a tree.”🎶

Buster and Ladonna play pirates in Buster’s room.

Buster: 🎶“Build a fort.”🎶

Buster and Ladonna have a picknick.

Ladonna: 🎶“Have some tea.”🎶

Buster and Ladonna play basketball standing on their heads.

Buster: 🎶“Invent a sport.”🎶

Back on stage.

Both: 🎶“And the best thing is we'll do it without you!”🎶

They point at Arthur who is sitting alone at a table.

Buster: Hey, Ladonna. Knock, knock!

Ladonna: Who's there?

Buster: Arthur.

Ladonna: Arthur who?

Buster: Ar-thur any other fun things to do without him?

Buster is alone on stage again.

Buster: 🎶 “I know this is upsetting / but me, you'll start forgetting / so dry your eyes and don't be blue. / Maybe somewhere out there is a new best friend for you?” 🎶

A warthog sits at Arthur’s table and looks at him.

Warthog: (grunts)

Arthur: (gasps)

He buries his face in his hands.

''The dream ends. Arthur is still shaking his head.''

''The next day, Ladonna rakes leaves in her yard. Arthur brings a baseball mitt.''

Arthur: Hey, Ladonna, here's the baseball mitt I borrowed.

Ladonna: Hm. You didn't borrow that from me.

Arthur: I didn't? Huh... Maybe I borrowed it from Buster. Oh, by the way, I wouldn't take what he said to heart. He just gets grumpy sometimes.

Ladonna: Wait! What? What did Buster say?

Arthur: He told me you were kind of pushy. I just assumed you two had some sort of a fight.

Ladonna: Kind of pushy?

She looks hurt.

Arthur: Like I said, he was probably just grumpy. Forget I said anything.

He leaves. Ladonna looks peeved.

''Arthur and Buster stand at Arthur’s locker. When Ladonna walks by, Buster shows her a piece of popcorn.''

Buster: Hey, look what I found in my shoe this morning.

Ladonna: So? What do you want, a Nobel Prize?

She walks on.

Buster: What was that all about?

Arthur: She's probably just cranky. It might be why she told me, "A little Buster goes a long way."

Buster: What? Why did she say that?

Arthur: Beats me. Like I said, she's probably just cranky.

They walk to the classroom.

Arthur: Hey, you want to go to the zoo this weekend? There's a new monkey exhibit.

Buster: Erm, yeah. Sure.

He looks downhearted.

On the weekend, Arthur and Buster are in the zoo and look at a rhinoceros.

Buster: What did she mean? Should I be less Bustery? I can't! I'm a hundred percent me.

Arthur: Just forget it. I'm sure she didn't mean it. I think the monkeys are this way.

They walk over to the monkeys.

Buster: Look, there she is!

Arthur: Hh!

Ladonna and Madison stand near the monkey exhibit.

Buster: I'm gonna go to go talk to her.

Arthur: Wait, no! Let's see the seals instead. It's feeding time.

Buster runs over to Ladonna.

Buster: What do you mean, a little me goes a long way?

Ladonna: I never said that! Maybe you just thought I did because you think I'm so pushy! I...

Arthur runs between them.

Arthur: Hey, look! Monkeys! Boy, are they cute.

Buster: I don't think you're pushy.

Ladonna: Then why did you tell Arthur I was?

Arthur pushes Buster and Ladonna over to the monkeys.

Arthur: Haha. They're so hysterical! Hahaha! I can barely stand it.

Buster: I didn't!

Ladonna: Well, then why...?

Arthur: Okay, okay, it was me! Neither of you said anything about each other. I made it all up.

Buster: But... why?

A thought bubble above Arthur shows Buster and Ladonna in the cafeteria and at the locker.

Arthur: Because I thought you two were becoming best friends and that I would be left out. I'm really, really sorry.

''The kids hear the monkeys screeching. One monkey has grabbed a man’s camera.''

Man: Hey! Give that back!

Ladonna: Hey, look! The monkey got his camera!

Photos show the monkey’s face, the camera owner, a banana, Arthur and Buster laughing, the tail of another monkey, a zookeeper’s cap and the zookeeper trying to get his cap back.

Arthur+Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

Later at the Sugar Bowl, Arthur, Buster and Ladonna tell their story to Francine and Muffy.

Arthur: So, this one monkey runs around taking pictures!

Ladonna: And then the zookeeper gets the camera back...

Buster: ...but then another monkey steals the zookeeper's hat!

Arthur+Buster+Ladonna: (laugh)

Muffy and Francine smile politely.

Arthur: I guess you just had to be there.