Buster Makes the Grade (episode)/Transcript

Arthur: With the quiz only 30 seconds away, you'd think Buster would be nervous. Luckily, Buster always stays on top of his homework. He likes to bounce ideas off his friends. And Buster usually finds something interesting in what he's reading. But there's just one thing that Buster forgot to do for this quiz.

Mr. Ratburn: Begin

Arthur: Study

Mr. Ratburn: Ms Frensky...superb. Ms Crosswire...not bad. Mr Read... review those multiplication tables. Buster you failed.

Buster: Oh

Mr. Raturn: I'm sure you all remembered that next Friday we will have a test on everything we learned so far this year.

Buster: Mr. Ratburn.

Mr. Ratburn: Yes Mr. Baxter?

Buster: When you said everything does that mean a whole lot?

Mr. Ratburn: Yes it does so make sure you study this weekend. Class dismissed. Oh, Mr Baxter. Would you please stop by Principal Hainey's office? There's something we'd like to discuss with you.

Mr. Haney: Come in.

Buster: Mom Grandma! What are your guys doing here?

Mrs. Baxter: It's nothing to worry about, dear.

Mr. Haney: Really, Mrs Baxter, it's not as bad as... Although, this IS serious, but nothing a little elbow grease - a LOT of elbow grease -can't fix...hopefully. Sit down, Buster we have a lot to talk about.

Buster: Yes what is it Mr. Haney?

Mr. Haney: Mr. Baxter you have come to a turning point, a juncture, a pivotal moment in your life. The choices that you make now will have a lasting effect on your academic career. Therefore these are not the choices to make lightly.

Francine: Buster where have you been we've been looking all over for you.

Buster: I was at the principals office.

Arthur: Tell me Buster what happened at the principals office is everything alright?

Buster Baxter: Not exactly at the end Mr. Ratburn said I have to get a "B" on the test next week or else... "You won't have the pleasure of joining your friends in the fourth grade."

Francine: What? That's terrible, Buster!

Arthur: How could we possibly go to the fourth grade without you?

Buster: Well, How will I ever get a "B"? I can barely name the 30 states of America.

Muffy: Buster, there are 50 states.

Buster: See how dumb I am? Oh, it's hopeless.

Jenna: Hey Buster how's it going? grab a stool.

Buster: Hiya gang.

Muffy: He's not even worried. - He'll never get out of third grade.

Mr. Ratburn: Mr Baxter! If a boy in third grade is eight years old, how old will he be if he repeats it 33 times?

Buster: Er... I don't know.

Mr. Ratburn: Oh well there's always next year.

Muffy: What are we going to do?

Arthur: Wait! I know just the person to help us. Come on!

Binky: You want me to help Buster study? You're kidding, right?

Arthur: We figured if anybody knew about being held back Binky, it was you.

Binky: Hey...that's right! I'm an expert. And I know just what Buster needs.What Buster needs is a tutor.

Francine: What's a tutor?

Binky: A private teacher. Mine's Mr. Bagelman. He comes every week and helps me study.

Muffy: Binky, that's perfect! You're a genius.

Buster: Tutor, huh? Sounds like a great idea, you guys. But aren't tutors expensive?

Francine: Nobody for sure.

Buster: I don't know if I'm comfortable with a stranger. Well we're on our way to play kick ball. Come on.

Muffy: It's never going to work is it?

Francine: Not unless we can find a tutor who knows how to play kickball.

Arthur: Hold it are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?

Binky: We just pound him?

Arthur: No maybe all Buster needs is somebody his own age.

Francine: You mean all of us can be Buster's tutors?

All: Oh yeah.

Mrs Baxter: Buster wake up

Buster: Why it's Saturday.

Mrs Baxter: Your English tutor is here.

Buster: Oh it's just you Arthur.

Mrs Baxter: It's nice of Arthur to volunteer his time this way. Well I'll leave you two to your work.

Buster: Hey Arthur good plan you fooled her completely.

Arthur: What do you mean Buster?

Buster: I mean the way that you mentioned tutor stuff. Well if we hurry we can get to the park before the game starts.

Arthur: We're not going to the park today Buster.

Buster: What?

Arthur: I wasn't fooling your mother.

Buster: You weren't?

Arthur: No now get your books were going to study.

Buster: Study?

Arthur: Buster wake up.

Buster: What?

Arthur: You fell asleep again.

Buster: Oh sorry.

Arthur: Buster.

Buster: What?

Arthur: You've got to stay awake because this book is on the test and you've barely read a single chapter.

Buster: Oh it's this room Arthur it makes me sleepy. Maybe if we study outside.

Umpire: You're out.

Arthur: Buster, you're not paying attention.

Buster: Sure I am he was safe.

Arthur: Paying attention to the book Buster.

Buster: Oh yeah right it's just so hard to keep my eyes on the page. Hey, I know. Why don't you read to me?

Arthur: All right. "Chapter One. Alice was beginning to get very tired "of sitting on the bank and of having nothing to do." She's just like you Buster.

Arthur: Buster?

Buster: What do you mean? He was safe!

Umpire: He's out!

Arthur: It's no use. Buster's just not interested in studying.

Francine: He's not worried about the big test.

Muffy: Of course not the only thing Buster worries about is if he's going to get seconds for dessert.

Francine: Muffy and I bought a bag of double-dipped peanut fudge to help teach you division.

Muffy: And they weren't cheap, so you better get everything right.

Francine: There are 20 pieces here. Now if you and I were going to split them, how many would we each get? Right. That's dividing by two. Now, divide by three - Muffy, you and me.

Muffy: Wrong!

No Buster you see, now you have more than Muffy and I. It's not equal.

Oh.

Buster: Is it equal now?

Muffy: Wrong.

Francine: No, it's not.

Buster: Well, then how about now?

Muffy: F, Mr Baxter. I give you an F! It's time to take drastic action.

Binky: He's hopeless. Leave it to me. I can make him pay attention. "In 1776, Thomas Jefferson, who later became third President of the US, "wrote the Declaration of Independence."

SNORING

Binky: Buster!

Buster: Thank you, thank you. It was nothing. Whoops!

BOTH: Buster!

Buster: Colorado, Utah, Nevada and...

..California.

Arthur: Buster!

Buster: I'm doomed.

Arthur: Well, at least you still have tonight.

Buster: To learn everything

Binky: Don't worry Buster, third grade's a lot easier the second time around. Or the third.

Arthur: Just remember Buster I'll always be your friend, even when the other fourth graders are picking on you.

Buster: Thanks.

Arthur: And we'll still get to see each other in the lunch line.

Buster: I guess.

Arthur: I'm sure going to miss you Buster. So long.

'Third grade's a lot easier the second time around...or the third.'

I'm...here to see the Principal.

Ah, Buster, I have good news.

I can move on to the fourth grade at last?

No, but where you'll be going, you can nap and play all day.

Preschool, Buster.

Buster: Please, Arthur, don't do it! I can do better. I know I can. I KNOW I can! I KNOW I can. Hold these truths to be self. evident."

Self-evident.

Agh!

Buster: Sorry, Steve. I wish I could play, but I gotta study.

9 x 9 is...81!

Mr. Ratburn: I have graded last week's tests. Most of them were very good, but some of you may be a trifle disappointed.

Arthur: You gave it your best shot, Buster.That's all you could do.

Francine: I heard the second graders have a great softball team.

Mr: Ratburn Good... Not bad... Illegible. Well, Mr Baxter. Congratulations. A miraculous but well-deserved. B+.

Arthur: You did it, Buster!

Buster: Yeah, but I did have some help. Thanks, you guys.

Mr. Ratburn: Mr Read, you, on the other hand, need to work on your division problems. Perhaps Buster could give you a few pointers.

Buster: Why sure I'd be glad to. For you see Arthur it's all in how you split up the colored candy.