April 9th/Transcript

Armstrongs' House

• Sue Ellen: I remember like it was yesterday. I was in a good mood that morning, because the day before I had received a postcard from my friend Carlos, in Coachabama, Bolivia. And it was a beautiful day. I remember that, too. Just a beautiful normal day in early spring. Who would have thought that it would change so many people?

Reads' House Kitchen

• (David looks at the calendar and notices its April 9th)
• David: April 9th? Oh no... I completely forgot I have to cater a breakfast at Arthur's school!
• Arthur: Can I go with you in the van?
• D.W.: Mom! Arthur's crazy dog is staring at me again.
• Arthur: It's only because you're eating so slowly. You're teasing him
• (Baby Kate's spoon goes flying across the room, Pal catches it)
• Pal: (jumps) (swallows) (slurps)

Outside of Muffy's Mansion

• Muffy: Bye-bye, Daddy! Have a great day!

Binky, Walking to School

• (He sees a newspaper in a bush)
• (Throws it)
• (Kicks down a lawn gnome) (laughs)
• House Owner: Hey! (Binky runs)

Buster's Condo

• (Alarm clock is ringing, Buster sleeps through it, snoring.)

Lakewood

• Everybody: (talking)
• Mr. Ratburn: Alright class, I have the results of yesterday's vocabulary quiz. Not bad overall, or should I say.. passable, which was a word most of you got wrong. (sniffs) What's that smell?
• (Fire alarm goes off)
• Francine: What's going on?
• Binky: Hey.
• Sue Ellen: Hey, I smell smoke.
• (Another class is walking past)
• Mr. Ratburn: Alright children, remain calm. Form a line at the front of the class. (fire bell rings) Okay class, follow me, and don't run.
• Sue Ellen: (gasps) (forgets her backpack, in the back of the classroom)
• Mr. Ratburn: Stay in line, Sue Ellen.

---April 9th---

• Binky: (groans)
• (Mr. Morris shuts a door, there is flames)
• Mr. Ratburn: Come along, Binky.

Outside of the School

• (Fire department is there, along with the mothers of George and Muffy)
• Firefighter #3: Roger, we'll send someone around to go in the side door.
• Mr. Morris: (groans)
• Binky: Is Mr. Morris going to be okay?
• Paramedic: He'll be fine, he just injured his leg. He was very lucky.
• Arthur: (talking to Betsy, the firefighter) You don't understand, my dad's still in there, he needs help!
• Betsy: Don't worry, Arthur. My crew is looking for him. They're gonna get him out.
• Arthur: Can I just see him? (Betsy holds Arthur back)
• Betsy: Stop, it's not safe to go in there yet.
• (A firefighter throws out a chair, along with Sue Ellen's backpack)
• Sue Ellen: My journal!
• (1 Firefighter destroys Her diary and backpack)
• Sue Ellen: (sobs, her parents comfort her)
• (Mr. Read comes walking out of the school, coughing)
• Arthur: Dad!
• (Arthur and his dad hug)
• (The firefighters leave. Nobody is there, except Francine who is staring at the burnt building.)
• (Buster runs to her)
• Buster: What's going on?
• Francine: There was a fire in the school. I think our classroom was pretty badly damaged.
• Buster: A fire? In the school? Awww, it's not fair!
• Francine: It'll be alright, Buster.
• Buster: Aw, I know. I just can't believe the biggest event of the year happened and I slept through the whole thing.

Arthur's Treehouse

Arthur and his friends at the bottom of his tree house.

• Francine: I can't get over it. We were in that classroom just yesterday, and now it's all burnt.
• Buster: And tomorrow we're going to school at Mighty Mountain. Have you seen those kids? They're huge
• Arthur: I'm just happy my dad got out okay. He could have been really hurt.
• Binky: Yup. Those flames were spreading pretty fast.
• Arthur: You actually saw the flames?
• Francine: No way!
• Buster: What'd they look like?
• Binky: Heh, it was no big deal.
• Buster: Really? Weren't you scared?
• Binky: Nahh. Takes more than a little fire to scare me.
• Francine: Oh come on, Binky. You must have been a little scared.
• Binky: Nope.
• Buster: Wow, I know I would be. With that black smoke around and that suffocating heat and the-
• Binky: (interrupting) Knock it off! I said I wasn't afraid, end of conversation! (takes Buster's ice cream cone and walks away)
• Buster: What's gotten into him? He usually just takes the top scoop.
• (Sue Ellen is in the treehouse, crying)
• Muffy: Why is she still upset? It's just a journal. You can buy them at any stationery store.
• Francine: (annoyed) She's had that journal since first grade, Muffy.
• 'Buster: I've kept a cupcake since first grade. Well actually, it's just half a cupcake. I ate some of it last week, and you know what? The icing was still soft.
• (Everybody is grossed out)

Binky's House

• (Binky is flipping through the channels.)
• Binky's Mom: Here honey, some oatmeal cookies? I just baked them.
• Binky: Sure. Thanks, Mom.
• (Binky goes to Bionic Bunny)
• Bionic Bunny: Fear not little girl, your kitten is saved.
• Binky: Cool, Bionic Bunny.
• Little Girl: Oh thank you, thank you! I don't know what I would have done if I had lost Fireball.
• Bionic Bunny: Hmmmm.. Fireball... Fireball... where have I heard that name before? I've got it! It's the name of the cat of my old arch-villain, Hothead. Hahaha. What a coincidence.
• Bionic Bunny: Wait, that's no coincidence!
• (The girl transforms into Hothead)
• Hothead: Yes, my long-eared friend. We meet again.
• (Bionic Bunny fights with Hothead)
• Hothead: Is it getting hot in here? Or is it just you...
• (Binky leaves the room, scared, and sweating.)
• Binky's Mom: Binky, I thought you might like some- (she is surprised, Binky isn't there. And he left the cookies)

Mighty Mountain

• (Mighty Mountain kids are picking on George, one of them is Sam Scarborough)
• Binky: Hey, you can't pick on George, he's in my class. Only I can pick on him!
• (Bullies walk away, and George gives Binky his snack)
• Binky: Thanks!

Muffy Offers Sue Ellen a New Journal

• (Gives journal to Sue Ellen)
• Muffy: Here. I was going to wrap it, but I couldn't find any paper that matched.
• Sue Ellen: What is it?
• Muffy: A new journal, with acid-free paper and a faux velvet cover. You seemed seemed so upset about your old one. I thought this would cheer you up.
• Sue Ellen: Thanks, but I don't want it.
• Muffy: (surprised) You don't want it? Why? This is much nicer then that ratty thing you had.
• Sue Ellen: That ratty thing I had was filled with personal stuff. Stuff that can't be replaced. But thanks for the thought, Muffy.
• Muffy: (shouting) This wasn't cheap you know! $8! And it was on sale.

Buster Talks to Mighty Mountain Kids About the Fire

• Buster: Smoke was everywhere. You could hardly see your own hand.
• Mighty Mountain Kids: (gasp)
• Buster: Suddenly, the whole wall burst into flames! I ran as hard as I could and then I-
• Arthur: Buster, what are you talking about? You weren't even there.
• Buster: Ummm.. okay. I wasn't there. But these are all true accounts told to me by actual witnesses.
• Arthur: No they aren't. Don't listen to a word he says, he made it all up.
• Mighty Mountain Kids: Awww man. (they walk away)
• Buster: What'd you do that for? They were really enjoying the story.
• (bell rings)
• Arthur: Because it's not a story. It really happened! Do you realize that my dad could have been really hurt in that fire?
• Buster: Oh. I guess I never thought of it that way. How 'bout I just tell the part where the brave firefighters used axes to chop through the doors and then they-
• (Arthur walks away)
• Arthur: Do whatever you want Buster. I don't care.

Buster Eating Dinner

• Buster: Mom, why don't I feel as upset as the other kids about the fire?
• Bitzi: Well it might be because you weren't actually there. But it's okay Buster, there's no one way you have to feel.
• Buster: I just wish I felt something.
• Bitzi: Sometimes it just takes some people a little longer than others to feel upset.
• Buster: Really? Can it take days? Aw I hope I don't get upset tomorrow afternoon, there's a two hour Bionic Bunny special I wanna watch.
• Bitzi: I don't know how long it'll take, sweetie. But you might wanna tape that special. There's something I'd like you to do tomorrow.

Arthur's House at Night

• David: Good night Arthur.
• Arthur: Good night, Dad.
• Arthur: Oh dad, where's you're next catering job going to be?
• David: I have one at the aquarium next week. A Convention of Deep Sea Fisherman.
• Arthur: The aquarium? Good. I was worried that it might be at another school.
• David: Arthur, schools are safe places. The fire chief said it was just some faulty wiring.
• Arthur: I know, but I'm still happy you're not going back into a school. Good night.
• (David shuts door)

Arthur's Nightmare

• Pirate: And this one's from a moray eel.
• Troll: 18 stitches from that vicious cod.
• Diver: I have a minnow bite.
• (Arthur's dad is preparing food)
• Buff Pirate: Aye, Read, Any more of them crabcakes about?
• David: Coming right up.
• (Octopus is eyeing Arthur's dad)
• David: Arahagh Help! Somebody! (gargles)
• (Octopus drowns him, the pirates cheer the octopus on)
• Arthur: Hey, that's my dad! Someone help him. Dad!
• Pirate: Sorry lad, I can't let you go in there. It's too dangerous.
• (Arthur wakes up)
• Arthur: (gasp) Oh no.

Elwood City Hospital

(Buster visits Mr. Morris over his broken leg.)

• Buster: Good morning Mr. Morris! My name is Buster Baxter. And I'm here to see how you're doing!
• Mr. Morris: Are you a doctor?
• Buster: Um no. I'm a third grader from Lakewood Elementary School.
• Mr. Morris: Good. The doctors say I gotta go easy on the sweets, but that Crosswire kid sent me five boxes of these truffle things. Take your coat off, make yourself comfortable!
• Buster: Uhh thanks, but I've gotta meet someone. I just came to drop these off. They're from my mom.
• Mr. Morris: Oh, okay. (cough) Tell her thanks. (inhales from inhaler)
• Buster: Hey, I have asthma too! See?
• Mr. Morris: Hey, I like your color choice. Do you also have allergies? I've got pollen, dander, and peanuts. But not chocolate. Thank goodness! (offers Buster chocolate) Here, have as many as you'd like.
• Buster: (puts flowers on table, and takes the chocolate) Mmmm. I guess I can be a little late.

Mighty Mountain Day 2

• Buster: (telling the Brain) And Mr. Morris plays the accordion, and speaks Portuguese, and even worked as a dog groomer once.
• Arthur: Wow, he sounds really interesting. (yawn)
• Buster: You don't sound too interested.
• Arthur: Sorry Buster, I'm just tired. I had the worst nightmare last night.
• Buster: Did you have pepperoni right before bed? If I eat pepperoni after 8:00, I dream that penguins are after me!
• (Francine is playing a Mighty Mountain girl in thumb wrestling NOTE: It's the same girl as the one in Nicked by a Name.)
• Francine: I don't believe it! You kids even beat us at thumb wrestling? C'mon, best of 7.
• (Muffy talking to Sue Ellen)
• Muffy: You're going to love this one. See? I had it personalized for you.
• Sue Ellen: (reading) Property of Sue Ellen.
• Muffy: And it's bound in genuine imitation suede. But wait, don't thank me yet, it also comes with this stunning pen!
• Sue Ellen: (sigh) Thank you Muffy. I feel so much better now.

Halls of the School

• (Hand reaches out and pulls fire alarm...)
• (Meanwhile, in the classroom...)
• Buster: A test?
• Arthur: Well, at least some things never change.
• (everybody hears the alarm and gasps)

Stay tuned...

Outside Mighty Mountain

• Francine: I just overheard. It's a false alarm.
• Buster: A false alarm? Aww. So I'm still the only one who hasn't been through a fire? What rotten luck!
• Arthur: Buster, that's good luck.
• Francine: Not for the person who pulled the fire alarm.
• Buster: (gasps) Someone pulled the fire alarm?
• Arthur: Who would do a thing like that?
• Francine: (shrugs; Binky walks by)
• Binky: Did you see those Mighty Mountain dweebs run? (laughs) What a bunch of scaredy-cats. But I was really impressed with the firefighters. It only took them 3 minutes and 29 seconds to get there. It's nice to know they're so fast. (Francine, Buster and Arthur stare at him) What? You don't think I... 
• Betsy: (clears her throat; Binky turns around) Is this your knapsack? (holds it up) It was found beneath the fire alarm.

Mighty Mountain Principal's Office

• Binky: (reading) What I did was dumb and dangerous. It was also mean to all the Mighty Mountain kids who had been really nice to me. I'm very sorry and I'll never pull the fire alarm when there isn't a fire again, the end.
• Principal Haney: I'm glad you understand the seriousness of this offense, Binky. But I have to admit, I'm still baffled. Why did you do it?
• Binky: I dunno...
• Principal Haney: Maybe you should talk to the school counselor about this.
• Binky: But I said I was sorry! Can't you just punish me now?
• Principal Haney: Normally, you'd be suspended for something like this. But because of the circumstances, I have something else in mind.

Binky Doing Community Service

• Oliver Frensky: Bottles and cans go in the blue bags, and everything else goes in the green bags. Any change you find is yours.
• Firefighter No.3: Frensky, You missed a spot! (laughing)
• Oliver Frensky: So which one of you is gonna help us pick this stuff up? (fire truck drives away) Firefighters.
• Binky: How do you know those guys?
• Oliver Frensky: I used to be a volunteer firefighter.
• Binky: Really? So... did you ever actually see a fire?
• Oliver Frensky: Oh yeah. Let me tell you, being close to flames is scary stuff. But you know all about that, right?
• Binky: No I don't. I mean... yeah I guess I was pretty close, but I wasn't afraid.
• Oliver Frensky: Okay... (turns around) We're supposed to put the cans into the bag, Binky, not take them out.
• Binky: Oh. (laughs nervously)

Buster at Mr. Morris'

• Mr. Morris: I'll never forget that day. I was grooming Cookie, a tempremental Shih Tzu with a shot at gold in the toy category. When all of a sudden, it happened. (dogs start barking and running away)
• Young Mr. Morris: What in tarnation? (shows dogs in a circle howling)
• Mr. Morris: There were 13 perfect circles in that cornfield. Every one, the exact same size. I reckon there was only thing that could've made 'em.
• (flashback ends)
• Buster: Aliens?
• Mr. Morris: Yup. Either that or a farmer with a tractor that only made right turns. But I think it was the aliens.
• Buster: Wow. (drinks the rest of his soda)
• Mr. Morris: Ready for another cream soda?
• Buster: Okay. I can get it. Why don't you sit?
• Mr. Morris: No,I have to get used to these crutches. I'm going to be on them for quite a while.
• Buster: I once knew a kid with a broken leg. He got his cast off in only 3 weeks.
• Mr. Morris: That's 'cause he was young. But when you break something at my age, it's pretty serious. In fact, I don't think this leg is ever going to be the same. (walks to kitchen)

Read's House Kitchen 2

• Arthur: Whoo! I got the prize.
• D.W.: That's because you took twice as much cereal than me. Half of that prize should be mine.
• David: Arthur, share the prize with your sister.
• Arthur: I can't, it's a sticker.
• David: (spits out his coffee) It's April 16th! Oh no, the aquarium luncheon is today. (runs out of room)
• D.W.: Sure we can share it. (splits sticker and gives Arthur the blank half) Here's your half.

Read's House Garage

• Arthur (in a sick voice): Dad, I don't feel well. (coughs) I don't think I can go to school.
• David: Hmm, you're not that hot.
• Arthur: Yeah, my throat is killing me. I can barely talk. I need some of your chicken soup, now.
• David: Well I can't do it now, but I'll make a big pot of it as soon as I get home
• Arthur (back in his regular voice): But what if you don't come home? What if something bad happens to you at the... (David stares at him, returns to sick voice) A-a-at the aquarium?
• David: Arthur, nothing is going to happen to me at the aquarium. Why on earth would you think... oh. Are you worried about me because of the fire? Do you know that when I was your age, Grandma Thora was in a car accident? She wasn't hurt. But for weeks afterwards, I was worried whenever she set foot in a car. Even when she just went to the store for a bottle of milk, I was afraid she'd be in an another car accident. While I was waiting for her to return, I'd shoot crumpled up balls of paper into the waste basket, and I told myself that if I made more baskets than I missed, she would come home safely. It seemed to work, now, of course I was a pretty good shot. (throws cling wrap into a trash bin) Then one day, I forgot to do it. She was gone for 3 hours and I didn't shoot one basket. And you know what happened?
• Arthur: What?
• David: She came home just fine. It's my job to worry about you Arthur, not the other way around. Help me bring these to the van? (Arthur smiles)

Sue Ellen Paints the Mural

• Sue Ellen: (writing in her journal) April 18th. I have nothing to say. (sighs)
• (Sue Ellen then sees someone painting a mural, then smiles. She asks Mr.Haney for permission to paint a mural to dedicate Lakewood Elementary,then shows her friends what she wants on the mural, followed by a scene of Arthur and D.W. buying some paint and bringing it to her. Soon after more people join in painting the mural and in no time the mural is finished.)

Lakewood Elementary Reopens

• Buster: Tell your readers to keep the bathrooms extra clean. Mr. Morris's leg isn't fully healed and I don't want him to work too hard.
• Francine: How about you, Sue Ellen? What does it feel like to be back at Lakewood?
• Sue Ellen: Great. Look what I found in the gutter. (holds out postcard) See? It's a llama. It's part of a postcard that was in my old journal.
• Francine: (writing) Diary Doomed, but Llama Lives. Hey, Binky! I'm writing a piece for the Frensky Star and what it's like to be back. Any thoughts?
• Binky: No comment.
• Francine: Well, can I at least take your picture?
• Binky: (places hand over lens and pushes camera away) No pictures either. I'm having a bad hair day. (Francine stares in shock)
• (The scene skips to Binky staring at a hallways as all the kids go to their classes.)
• Principal Haney: I like this new couch. So springy.
• (Binky starts to feel uncomfortable and starts to imagine smoke coming out of the office. He then starts to gasp loudly)
• Principal Haney: Binky? Are you okay? (Binky runs out of the school)

Binky Talking to Oliver Frensky

• (Binky starts crying as he puts a can in the trash)
• Oliver Frensky: I appreciate your dedication Binky, but shouldn't you be in school?
• Binky: I can't go back there, I just can't! I keep on seeing flames and smoke and... (starts crying again)
• Oliver Frensky: It's okay Binky. Believe me, I know how you feel.
• Binky: You do?
• Oliver Frensky: Sure I do. When I saw my first fire close-up, I had trouble sleeping for weeks. But after some time passed, I didn't feel so scared.
• Binky: Why not?
• Oliver Frensky: I did what we're doing right now, talking about it. Don't you feel a tiny bit better now that you told someone how you really feel?
• Binky: (sniffs) Yeah. But I still don't want to go back to school.
• Oliver Frensky: How about this? I'll call Mr. Haney to let him know where you are. Then you can do the rounds with me. After that, we'll see how you feel. Sound good?
• Binky: Can I operate the crusher?
• Oliver Frensky: Only if you join the Union, Barnes.

The Welcome Back Party

• Arthur: Cake in the middle of math class? This has never happened before.
• Buster: I know! He didn't even give us a quiz on the ingredients. Could I have two slices, please? One's for Mr. Morris.
• Mr. Ratburn: Mr. Morris isn't in today Buster. In fact, he's not coming back.
• Buster: Not coming back?
• Mr. Ratburn: Yes, he's retiring. But you can have two slices anyway. It'll save you the trip for seconds.

​Buster at Mr. Morris's 2

• (Buster walks into his house, only to be opened by a mover.)
• Mr. Morris: Careful with that one. My zydeco records are in it. Hey, it's Buster! Come on in! There's a couple of cream sodas and some onion dip left in the fridge.
• Buster: (walks in, only to find it's more empty than usual.) Are you going on a vacation?
• Mr. Morris: You could say that. A long vacation. I'm moving in with my daughter. She's got a ranch in New Mexico.
• Buster: Why? Don't you like living here?
• Mr. Morris: Sure. But it's time to move on. I've always had itchy feet.
• Buster: I thought there was a powder for that.
• Mr. Morris: It's just a figure of speech. It means you don't like to stay in one place for too long.
• Buster: Oh.
• Mr. Morris: To tell you the truth, I love living here. But I'm going to need someone to look after me for a while.
• Buster: Well, I could do that. I'd look after you.
• Mr. Morris: I appreciate that, Buster, but I think my daughter's better suited for the job. But there is something you can do for me. (walks over to grab and show an accordion) Her name's Beatrice. My daughter never cared much for the sound. I'd like to know she was in good hands.
• Buster: Wow! This is beautiful! I'll take really good care of her.
• Mr. Morris: Thanks. Bring her along when you visit me in New Mexico. Roswell's down there, amigo. That's the capital of alien sightings.

Arthur's House at Night 2

• (Arthur's throwing crumpled up balls of paper in the trash bin, and gets a message from Buster on his Bionic Bunny Walkie-Talkie.)
• Buster: Do you read me? Come in, Arthur.
• Arthur: Hey, Buster.
• Buster: Whatcha doin'?
• Arthur: Waiting for my dad to come home from catering Mr. Crosswire's birthday. But it's 9:30 already. How much cake can those people eat?
• Buster: He'll be fine, Arthur.
• Arthur: How about you? Why are you still awake?
• Buster: I was thinking about Mr. Morris. I really miss him. You know, he'd still be here if it wasn't for that stupid fire.
• Arthur: Yeah, but you two might not be friends. You only met because of that stupid fire.
• Buster: That's true! Hey, you wanna hear me play Clementine on the accordion?
• Arthur: Phew, he's home.
• Buster: Oh. You probably wanna say hi to him. Well, good night.
• Arthur: Wait, Buster. Why don't you play Clementine for me?
• (Buster starts to play Clementine)

Armstrong's House 2

• Sue Ellen: This Friday, it will be one month since April 9th. So much has happened since then. I never wanna go through another fire. But I also never wanna lose this feeling that each day is special. That my friends are the best friends in the world. And that if we stick together, we can make it through just about anything. (closes diary and shuts off light)