Muffy's Car Campaign

"Muffy's Car Campaign"
Season/Series:	22
Number in season:	4a
Original Airdate:	May 16, 2019
Credits
Written by:	Peter K. Hirsch Matt Hoverman
Storyboard by:	Helene Cossette Jeremy O'Neil
Episodes
Previous "Binky Can't Always Get What He Wants"	Next "Truth or Poll"
Read transcript

"Muffy's Car Campaign" is the first half of the fourth episode in the twenty-second season of Arthur.

Synopsis

Muffy worries that a petition to help protect the environment may put Crosswire Motors out of business.

Plot

In the lunch line at school, Binky, Buster, Muffy, Francine, and Arthur notice that some of their favorite vegetables are no longer being served. Mrs. MacGrady explains that she is only serving in-season, locally-grown vegetables because they are better for the environment.

This inspires Francine to start a group called "Eco Kids" to brainstorm ideas of how to help the environment. The kids decide to start a campaign encouraging parents to turn off their cars while waiting in the school parking lot; they use the slogan "don't make us cough, turn you engine off!" This campaign goes very well.

Francine suggests that the next campaign should encourage kids to bike to school. The other kids like this idea; Francine adds "maybe one day we could make all of Elwood City totally car-free!" This alarms and worries Muffy, whose father owns Crosswire Motors.

The "Eco Kids" plan to make a petition for the increase of school buses; Muffy is chosen to present the signatures to the principal. However, Muffy interrupts the brainstorm, and says that the group should focus on discouraging air travel instead of cars. This idea is thrown out because it doesn't involve the school.

Francine becomes suspicious of Muffy; she watches as Muffy tosses the signatures in the recycling bin instead of bringing them to the principal. Francine reveals this to the rest of the group as Muffy explains that she did it to protect her dad's business. Francine tells her that environmental issues are "bigger than just you and your dad."

Weeping, Muffy explains the problem to her father, who tells her "part of being of being a good businessman is learning to change with the times." He tells her that Crosswire Motors will begin selling the Mallard, a new electric car, which is better for air quality.

In the last scene is it shown that Mr. Crosswire has asked the Mallard company to buy the school several electric school buses. The kids, Mrs. MacGrady, and Mr. Crosswire all take a ride in one of the new buses.

Characters

Major

• Muffy Crosswire
• Francine Frensky
• Ed Crosswire
• Arthur Read
• Buster Baxter
• Binky Barnes
• Alan Powers
• Leah MacGrady

Minor

• George Lundgren

Cameo

• Mr. Morris
• Bailey
• Beulah McInnerny
• Candy Coco
• Bakery Guy
• 3rd Grade Female Cat (Number 2)
• Maria Pappas
• Ladonna Compson
• 4th Grade Male Dog
• Sue Ellen Armstrong
• Francis Haney
• Emily's mother
• Alex
• George Lundgren

Mentioned

• Pal
• Cecilia Tingley

Trivia

• Ed Crosswire is revealed to be allergic to dogs.

References