Bully for Binky/Transcript

Bully for Binky

Introduction

(Binky comes into the school cafeteria)

Binky: (growls)

Buster: Oh no, here comes Binky! Quick! Hide your desserts!

Binky: Hey, pal! You look too full for that cupcake. I'll take it off your hands. (He takes Brain’s cupcake and eats it) Ah.

(Everybody looks scared)

Buster: (gasps)

(He quickly puts the rest of his banana into his mouth)

Arthur: Binky Barnes has always been the biggest bully in school, even in preschool.

(Flashback: Arthur and his preschool class are playing inside)

Young Arthur: I'm going to color a rainbow.

(Binky takes the can with the crayons away)

Young Binky: (laughs)

Young Arthur: Can we share the crayons? I need to color a rainbow.

Young Binky: Oh, okay. I'll share this white one.

Flashback: Arthur and Buster watch a parade.

Arthur (narrator): Binky doesn't even take a day off for holidays.

Binky steps in front of them.

Binky: What's the matter? Can't see?

Arthur: No.

Binky: Then I guess you'll have to wait till you grow up to see a parade! (laughs)

The flashbacks end. Arthur is about to eat a cookie.

Binky: That's an awful big cookie for one kid to eat, Arthur.

Arthur gives him half of his cookie.

Arthur: But what can you do about a bully who's also huge?

Binky: (burps) Ah.

Title Card: Arthur Swims

Francine: (voice) Bully for Binky

Arthur: Hi.

Arthur, Brain, Francine, Buster and Prunella meet in the library.

Francine: We have to do something about the Binky problem

Buster: Yeah, I haven't tasted a dessert all year!

Binky: Coming through!

Binky slides on a ladder knocking several other kids down.

Kids: Hey! Whoa! Look out!

Arthur: What we need is an emergency anti-Binky plan.

Brain holds up a drawing of Binky.

Brain: Let's examine Binky and we'll discover his weaknesses. He's big, he's strong, his large cumbersome feet root him solidly to the ground...

Arthur: He's like a tree, except without the birds.

Buster: A tree that can chase after you.

Francine: I can't think of any weaknesses.

***

On the school playground Binky walks up to some kids playing basketball. He takes George’s ball. Brain, Francine, Buster, Arthur and Prunella sit nearby.

Buster: I've got it! He likes dessert, especially other kids' desserts.

Francine: So? So he likes dessert. So what?

Buster: Maybe we can feed him so much he'll get too slow to chase us.

The drawing of Binky in his hand inflates like a balloon.

Arthur: I don't think that's a good idea. He'd probably just fall on us and flatten us.

The drawing shows Binky sitting on the others.

Kids (on drawing): (scream)

Brain: Face it. There's no one on earth big enough to challenge Binky.

Binky attempts to throw a hoop. The ball bounces off the board and hits Sue Ellen who is jumping rope.

Sue Ellen: Seven thousand three hundred and three, seven thousand three hundred... Hey!

Binky: Hahaha! D'you lose count on your widdle jump wope?

Sue Ellen: I was going for the record, you clumsy oaf!

Binky: Are you talking to me, pipsqueak?

Sue Ellen: Yes, and you owe me an apology.

Francine walks up to Sue Ellen.

Francine: Sue Ellen, you haven't been going to this school very long. That's Binky Barnes.

Binky: You tell her! Get to know the name. B-I-N-K-Y Barnes!

Sue Ellen: If he apologizes for being so rude, I'll apologize for calling him clumsy.

Binky: Apologize? Maybe you'd rather fight me.

He runs up to Sue Ellen.

Sue Ellen: Okay.

She puts down her jump rope.

Binky: What did you say?!

The ground shakes. Everybody stares in shock. Buster spits a drink. Prunella eats a fly.

Kids: (gasp)

Prunella: (gulps)

Sue Ellen: I said okay. I'm not gonna let some big bully push me around.

Binky: Oh yes, you are!

Sue Ellen: I don't think so. I'll see you after school. Playground. Three o’clock.

She points at his chest. The she picks up her jump rope and leaves.

Binky: Right. Three o’clock. (To the others) What are you looking at?

Buster: Er... look! Haley's comet.

Binky: Where?

He looks. When he looks back at the others, they are gone.

***

The third-graders are rehearsing in the music room. Miss Krasny comes in.

Miss Krasny: Attention, people, here are the pieces for the recital.

She hands out music sheets.

Francine: Miss Krasny? Can we do a duet for drums and tuba? Hit it, Buster!

They play. Everybody stares. Miss Krasny signals to stop.

Miss Krasny: Maybe at a future recital. I'm not sure the world's ready yet. Okay. Our first piece will be for clarinet and alto sax. Binky and Sue Ellen?

Arthur: Uh-oh. (Binky suddenly looks uncomfortable) (to Buster) This may sound crazy, but Binky looks kinda scared of Sue Ellen.

Binky: Hah.

Buster: Impossible!

Sue Ellen: (whispers to Binky) Binky---because---Tae Kwon Do---okay. Sorry.

Arthur: I wish I knew what she was saying.

***

The school bell rings. Binky comes out of the building with Rattles and Molly.

Rattles: Hey, Binky, I don't see Sue Ellen anywhere.

Molly: I guess she's too scared of you.

Binky: Yeah, you know what excuse she gave? That she had to go to some Korean cooking class. Tae Kwon "Dough." (laughs)

Rattles and Molly stop and exchange surprised looks.

Rattles: Did she tell you Tae Kwon Do was a cooking class?

Binky: No, but... "dough"... It's like baking cookies, right? (laughs)

Molly: Binky, Tae Kwon Do isn't baking. It's that martial arts stuff they do on Sports World.

***

Binky, Molly and Rattles watch people doing Tae Kwon Do moves on TV.

Binky: That's it? It's like ballet!

Announcer (on TV): Coming up next on Sports World, women's Tae Kwon Do exhibition.

Female Fighter (on TV): Hi-yah!

She hits a car once and it breaks in half.

Binky: Huh?

Molly and Rattles: (gasp)

Binky slides off the couch.

***

The kids are eating lunch in the school cafeteria. Binky steps up to Buster.

Binky: Buster, that frozen yogurt looks good!

Sue Ellen comes by.

Sue Ellen: We're on for three, right?

Binky: Just make sure you're there.

Sue Ellen: Okay. See you.

She leaves.

***

The clock shows three o’clock. Sue Ellen waits by the basketball hoop. Binky looks around a corner. In his imagination Sue Ellen wears a Tae Kwon Do suit and kicks over the hoop.

Sue Ellen (in fantasy): Hi-yah!

Binky ducks back behind the corner where Rattles and Molly are waiting. A horn sounds.

Binky: Oh man. (chuckles) Did you hear that? My mother's calling me.

Rattles: That was a truck horn.

Binky: I'll deal with that pipsqueak on Monday.

He walks away.

***

Binky, Molly and Rattles sit in a movie theater before the movie starts.

Molly: I bet that Sue Ellen is spending the weekend scared!

Rattles: She probably won't sleep.

Binky: Yeah! (laughs)

Sue Ellen appears behind his seat.

Sue Ellen: Hi, Binky! Where were you this afternoon? I waited.

Molly: He had something more important to do.

Sue Ellen: Oh. Monday after school, then?

Rattles: He'll be there, don't worry.

Molly: You better hope what happened to the last guy he fought doesn't happen to you. She thinks. Who was the last guy he fought?

Rattles: I don't remember.

Other Kids: (shushes)

***

It is three o’clock on Sue Ellen’s watch. She stands by the basketball hoop while Arthur and Francine stand nearby with a kite.

Sue Ellen: Have you guys seen Binky? He was supposed to meet me here at 3:00.

Arthur: He volunteered to clap erasers after school.

Binky stands in front of the school clapping erasers.

Binky: (coughs)

Sue Ellen: I think Binky's scared of me.

Francine: I hope so. Then he'll know what it feels like.

Sue Ellen: What happened to the last guy who fought Binky?

Arthur: I dunno. Who was it?

Francine: You know, I can't remember anyone ever fighting Binky.

Binky: (sneezes)

The ground shakes.

***

Arthur and Francine are flying a kite outside the school when Binky comes.

Binky: (whistles Ode to Joy)

He looks around.

Francine: Sue Ellen left.

Binky: She ran away, huh?

Francine: She said if you were too scared to fight, she'll call it off.

Binky: Scared? Maybe you'd like to take her place, huh? I've just been very busy. (He starts walking away, then stops) Er...can I talk to you guys?

Arthur: Us? Okay, I guess.

Binky: Well, not here.

***

Arthur, Binky and Francine sit on the merry-go-round by the school.

Binky: I can't talk to Molly and Rattles, because... they wouldn't understand. He spins the merry-go-round. See...I've never fought anybody before.

Arthur: Never? (Binky stops the merry-go-round. Arthur falls off) (Arthur screams)

Binky: They all ran away, and... I'm worried I might...hurt that little pipsqueak. Yeah!

Francine: Well, if you weren't always picking fights and trying to scare everybody, you wouldn't have this problem now.

Binky: But it's what I'm good at.

He spins the merry-go-round again.

Arthur: That's true. He is good at it.

Francine: Maybe you should use some of that energy for something constructive... like music.

Binky stops the merry-go-round. Arthur flies across the lawn.

Binky: That's it. I'll beat her in music. Yeah! That's how I'll humiliate her.

Francine: That's not what I meant, Binky.

Binky shakes Francine’s hand.

Binky: Thanks. Thanks a lot. I've gotta go practice.

He leaves. Arthur rubs his head. Francine’s hand is still shaking.

Arthur: Are you okay?

Francine: Fine, just fine.

***

At the music recital in the auditorium/cafeteria.

Miss Krasny: Thank you, Prunella. Next, a classical piece for clarinet and alto saxophone.

The audience claps as Binky and Sue Ellen walk on stage.

Binky: Ladies and gentlemen. Before we begin our classical piece, we will play improvisational jazz. (to Sue Ellen:) If you're not up to it, just sit out, sister!

Sue Ellen looks surprised, then angry. Binky starts playing a solo. Miss Krasny signals to stop.

Miss Krasny: (shushes)

Audience: (cheer)

Sue Ellen plays a solo, partly on her knees. Miss Krasny starts dancing. Binky walks off the stage.

***

Binky walks out of the auditorium in sadness that Sue Ellen stole the attention and starts hitting rocks with his clarinet. Arthur comes to the door.

Arthur: Binky, everybody's looking for you.

Binky: Why?

Arthur: They're applauding you.

Binky: Not me, her. She was better than me. She beat me.

Arthur: Always beating everybody isn't the most important thing.

Binky: Well to me it is. I'm not the best at anything. I got held back a year, remember.

Arthur and Binky throw stones at a tree.

Binky: Mine went higher! Everybody’d laugh at me if I didn't beat them.

Arthur: Maybe they wouldn't laugh at you, maybe they'd actually like you.

Binky: What do you know?

Arthur: All I know that together you and Sue Ellen sounded the best of anyone.

Binky: Well, if everybody's gonna cry about it, I guess I could go back.

Arthur: Yeah, that's right. We're all gonna cry.

Binky: Well, don't.

He walks back inside.

***

Sue Ellen and Binky play together.

Audience: (cheer)

Sue Ellen: I don't wanna fight with you, Binky.

Binky: Okay, if that's what you want.

He grins.

Sue Ellen: But if you ever want to, I'm ready.

The grin disappears.

Binky: I'll remember that.

***

In the school cafeteria Buster, Arthur, Francine and Brain sit at a table. Brain crumples up the drawing of Binky.

Brain: I guess we won't need the emergency anti-Binky plan anymore.

Other Kids: (gasp)

Binky comes in and is about to bully Alex. Francine smoothes out the drawing.

Francine: Okay. Back to the plan.

Binky takes Alex’s donut.

Binky: Ha! He is about to eat it when Sue Ellen comes. Er...just checking for harmful objects. Can't be too careful in this cafeteria. He gives back the donut and backs away. Have a nice day!

Arthur: There's only one real anti-Binky weapon.

He shows a drawing of Sue Ellen.