Buster Isn't Buying It

"Buster Isn't Buying It"
Season/Series:	19 (USA) 18 (UK)
Number in season:	5A (US) 17 (UK)
Original Airdate:	June 2, 2015 March 17, 2015 May 5, 2015
Credits
Written by:	Peter K. Hirsch
Storyboard by:	Jeremy O'Neill
Episodes
Previous "Dueling Detectives!"	Next "One Ornery Critter"
Read transcript

"Buster Isn't Buying It" is the first half of the fifth episode in the nineteenth season of Arthur.

Summary

Aliens, conspiracy theories, the megatoad...Buster believes in everything! That is until his favorite show gets cancelled for false reporting. Now the new Buster isn't buying anything! Can Arthur and friends convince him to have a little faith?

Synopsis

The episode begins with a TV show with a man talking about the wildlife in Elwood City and asking if there's something else under the water that's dangerous. Buster asks Mr Morris on the phone what it he thinks it is. Mr Morris, who's also watching the show, says that he doesn't know and is nervous to find out. The host of the TV show continues to say that him and a group of scientists are trying to find out if a giant, carnivorous toad called the Megatoad really exist. Mr Morris asks Buster about whether or not he thinks the Megatoad is real, and Buster, who's dropped his popcorn on the floor, says that he does because it is on TV.

After the title card, the Brain is closing down his ice cream shop, while Buster is talking about the Megatoad. Arthur, who is doing his homework, states that there is no such thing but Buster says that there is because he saw it on The Factoid Front. The Brain says that Martin Spivack isn't a real doctor and Buster says that he's a doctor of forensic speculography. Arthur does not know what that is. Buster doesn't either but he wrote it down because he wants to study it when he's older. The Brain says that The Factoid Front is full of flawed science, but Buster says that it is where he gets all his best information. The Brain calls him gullible, which offends Buster and he runs out of the store, saying, "Let's see who gets the last laugh when Megatoads are hopping down main street."

Later, Ms Baxter reads Buster the newspaper which has an article saying that The Factoid Front has been cancelled due to the flawed science the Brain mentioned. Buster says that he believed it, and his mother says that lots of people did but he says he is not hungry.

That evening, Buster telephones Arthur saying that he was right about Megatoads not existing. Arthur says that it's a good thing but Buster is worried about being gullible. Arthur awkwardly states that Buster is not gullible but does have a big imagination, then says, "Like if I told you I saw some flashing lights in the sky right now.." Buster thinks that Arthur really did see flashing lights and gets excited. When Arthur points out that he's being hypothetical, Buster decides that he is gullible. Arthur tries to say that it isn't a bad thing but Buster hangs up.

The next day, he puts all his alien paraphernalia in a box marked "free stuff" and puts it on the sidewalk. George is surprised and asks why Buster is getting rid of it. Buster replies that it belonged to his "old self" and that he's going to become a skeptic. He leaves and George takes the box.

On the way to school, Arthur tries to tell Buster (who's eating an apple) about The Factoid Front being cancelled. Buster says that he knows, but that "New Buster" says "good riddance". Arthur is wondering what Buster means by "New Buster". Buster replies that he is now only accepting things that can be scientifically proven. Arthur tries to get Buster to read his horoscope. Buster wants to, but he doesn't want to believe in astrology. He throws the newspaper away and they keep walking, but Buster comes back and reads the horoscope: Take advice from an old friend. Arthur clears his throat, but Buster claims he was not finished with the apple core and puts it in his pocket.

Later, Buster is about to play as a batter in baseball and Francine wishes him luck. Buster says that "New Buster" doesn't believe in luck. He then starts wondering if luck has been scientifically proven which distracts him into striking out.

Some time later, Arthur says that he and Buster need to take umbrellas as the forecast predicted rain, but Buster doesn't want to take an umbrella because it's not definite. When it does rain, he says that it is simply a coincidence.

At the ice cream shop, Francine says that she misses the old Buster as he was better at baseball. Arthur says that the old Buster was more fun. They suggest that the Brain talk to him and tell him that monsters exist. The Brain, who doesn't believe in monsters either, says that he cannot tell Buster that. Arthur says that he could tell him something else.

The Brain then shows Buster a photo of an amphibian. Buster asks if it is a Megatoad, to which the Brain replies that, no, it is a tree frog and that tree frogs can survive frozen. Buster asks why the Brain is telling him this, to which the Brain says that there is a slim chance that a Megatoad could have survived, which makes him lightheaded. Buster asks the Brain for proof, and when he can offer none, Buster says that Brain is no better than Martin Spivack, which offends him.

In the tree house, the Brain says that Buster called him a forensic speculographist. Francine, who is playing with a ball, asks what that is. The Brain doesn't know but thinks it sounds offensive. Arthur then suggests hypnotizing Buster. The Brain then asks for a big tarp.

The students use supplies to make a fake Megatoad. Arthur phones up Buster, asking if he wants to go for a walk as it's a beautiful day. Buster asks if Arthur can prove it, to which Arthur says, in a frustrated manner, that Buster can look out the window. Buster does, and agrees to meet Arthur in five minutes.

On their walk, Francine and the Brain, dressed up as the Megatoad, show up and Arthur pretends not to know what it is. Pal then runs up and pulls the costume off. Arthur says that they wanted the old Buster back. Buster wants his old self back too but wonders why he should believe something if it can't be proven.

That evening, Mr Morris phones up Buster, telling him that he saw a U.F.O. Buster asks Mr Morris why he believes in aliens and Mr Morris says that there is a lot of unknown in space. He also believes in aliens because it makes life more interesting.

Buster agrees, gets his alien paraphernalia back, and tells the Brain a hypothesis he has on how a Megatoad could still exist. This annoys the Brain because he is doing his homework.

Characters

Major

• Buster Baxter
• The Brain
• Arthur Read

Minor

• Bitzi Baxter
• Francine Frensky
• George Lundgren
• Sue Ellen Armstrong
• Prunella Deegan
• Mr. Morris
• Martin Spivak
• David Read
• Pal

Cameo

• Maria Pappas

Gallery

:Main article: Buster Isn't Buying It/Gallery