Arthur and the True Francine (episode)

Arthur and the True Francine
Season	1
Episode no.	14b
Date aired	December 9, 1996
Episode Guide
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Arthur and the True Francine is an episode of Arthur from season one. It is based on the book of the same name.

Summary

The episode that shows how Muffy came to Lakewood and how she became friends with Francine. She also learns a vaulable lesson at the end.

Plot

At the beginning of the episode, we see Francine climbing up a tree, through Arthur's window. Despite this, Arthur does not seem to notice Francine at all. Francine then screams, which now Arthur seems to hear. He goes down to the backyard with Pal and doesn't seem to find anything. While Arthur is in the backyard, Francine climbs back up and sneaks into Arthur's room and takes a pair of socks, one black and one white. It turns out to be a dare, from one of the girls for Francine's sleepover. Francine than asks Muffy "Truth or Dare?". Muffy than replies truth, in which Fern asks has she ever lied before. Template:Expand

Trivia

• The book that this episode is based upon was first published in 1981 as simply The True Francine depicting picture of Francine wearing a baseball cap and holding a baseball bat, and then the book was re-published in 1996 with a re-illustrated cover depicting Arthur and Francine in the baseball field, although the artwork on the pages were recycled from the first edition. The plots between the book and TV episode were quite different: in the book, it was the end of Arthur's 2nd grade year, and he and Francine wonder which teacher they will have for 3rd grade, and then Muffy moves into Elwood City; in the cartoon, Muffy is properly introduced and it happens in the middle of Arthur's 2nd grade year.