Desk Wars

"Desk Wars" is the 7th episode of Season 8. It aired on December 23, 2003, along with "Desperately Seeking Stanley."

Summary
On a hot day, Arthur and his classmates argue about sitting closest to the fan. Then Mr. Ratburn makes them switch desks. When they break into each others' desk, will it turn up the heat?

Plot Outline
Arthur starts off by looking (unsuccessfully) through his classmates' desks. They all debate why he's allowed to start the show; because it's his show. They all want it to change, including the Binky Barnes Variety Hour. Then Mr. Ratburn claims that the teachers don't blow things out of proportion; but in the teacher's lounge, we can see that they do.

One morning, it's a hot day and all are sweating in the classroom. The Brain calculates that his seat's getting the most cool air. But then arguing breaks out on desk over Muffy's stickers and dust ruffle, meaning that he'ss sent to the 2nd hottest spot in the room (behind Binky's desk) by Mr .Ratburn. Arthur, Buster, and Francine have an argument which eventually leads to Arthur being sent to Brian's desk, and Binky siezes Arthur's desk. Arthur messes with the Brain's desk-sorting pencil thing, which angers him. Mr. Haney comes in and calls Mr. Ratburn into the office to take a call, and Ratburn tells the kids that he has to go and to work on their assignments while he's gone. The Brain plots to try to get his desk back, after discovering the gum from George's (who's absent) dinosaur model. Muffy moves to the sharpener after her pencil breaks. This is Brain's chance to get back to a cooler spot! But Muffy sees this and scrambles back to her seat. George returns early to discover his seat is missing, and he can't sit anywhere. George is duped into sharpening Muffy's pencil. Then a lot of threats start off - if George doesn't give the pencil to Brain, then gummy dino is squahed, if this happens then; Sue Ellen will throw Binkys rubber band ball out the window, Brain's desk will get covered in judo kitten stickers by Muffy if she doesn't get the pencil, this isn't fair on Francine, who was promised these, so she'll cut the dust ruffle in half, Buster's comic book will be shredded by Fern if the ruffle is cut, then Buster'll eat Arthur's cookies. The pressure builds on George, The pencil keeps snapping, if these continues, then Sue Ellen's UN report is hisory, according to Brain. A book falls onto the dinosaur, so all threats are carried out, which leads to mass destruction of the classroom. Mr Haney comes in to warn them, but he'll let them off so long as they tidy up. All refuse to do the hard jobs as none of them believe they're at fault. George cleans - he doesnt mind. They all muck in and clean up and Brain rewrites Sue Eleen's UN report. Ratbuurn returns and gives the good news - he's an uncle. Everyone is invited back to Muffy's pool to cool off (Sharky can be seen, though there's no DW). They debate what started the fight, but no conlcusion is reached. Then Binky's rubber band ball bounces through the pool, so it's chased.

Trivia

 * In this episode, Mr. Ratburn go a call from his sister Miss Ratburn, and he told the class that he became an uncle, which meant that she'd given birth to a kid; even though in her exclusive appearance in "Arthur's Substitute Teacher Trouble" from Season 1, she was single and she wasn't pregnant, nor did it reveal whether or not she had kids. This may be a continuity error - or Ratburn's siste was only just pregnant and it didn't show, or maybe he may have another sister.
 * "Desk Wars" breaks the 4th wall; Arthur and the other kids acknowledge that they're on a show and they debate on why Arthur gets to open it and not them (really because it's Arthur's show).