Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest (episode)/Transcript

Reads' Living Room

(Arthur plays Chopsticks on the piano)

Arthur (to the viewers): Do you know that tune? If you said Chopsticks, you're right! Now, try this!

(Arthur plays London Bridge is Falling Down on the piano)

Arthur: London Bridge is Falling Down. Pretty easy. Now, see if you can name this one!

(Arthur plays a different tune on the piano)

Arthur: If you don't recognize it, it's because I made it up. I hoped it would be famous, but it wasn't. It needed a little something.

(D.W. enters the living room loudly banging a spoon and pot on a bowl on her head. This annoys Arthur as he covers his ears.)

Arthur: A really weird, pesky, little, something. 

Title Card

Intertitle: Arthur Underwater

ARTHUR AND THE CRUNCH CEREAL CONTEST

Writer: Peter Hirsch --- Storyboard Artist: Jean Lajeunesse

Francine Frensky: (V.O.) Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest.

Pal: (barks)

Arthur: Hi!

Reads' Kitchen

Dad: Yesiree, on a chilly morning like this, you kids need oatmeal that's really gonna stick to your ribs. Ta-dah. How about a nice healthy portion for Mom?

(The oatmeal sticks to the pot)

Dad: Hmmm, the baking soda must've reacted with the molasses. 

Mom (disappointedly): Looks like we'll have to make do with store-bought cereal. Arthur, would you... 

Arthur: Sure, Mom! (runs to the pantry) 

Dad: Alright, alright. Believe me, the only thing you'll get from that stuff is a mouthful of cavities!  

(Arthur runs back to the table and pours the cereal into the bowl. Then, he notices a piece of paper in the cereal.) 

D.W.: Wow! And I thought letters came in alphabet soup! 

(Arthur opens the paper and reads it aloud) 

Arthur: The Crunch Cereal Jingle Contest. Send us your song about Crunch and you could win a year supply of Crunch Cereal. WOW!  

Dad: That's a prize?! 

Arthur: And your jingle will also be aired on TV with the new Crunch Cereal commercial. ON TV?! COOL! Include twenty boxtops with each entry.   

(Arthur pours the cereal into D.W.'s bowl) 

Arthur: Keep eating! 

Reads' Front Yard

(Arthur thinks of a jingle while building a snowman)

Arthur: Crunch, crunch, crunch. (eats a handful of Crunch Cereal)

D.W. (while building her snowperson): Maybe you should try to think of a word that rhymes with "crunch". Besides "crunch". 

Arthur: I'm waiting for an idea. 

D.W.: How about "dunce"? That sorta rhymes with crunch.

Arthur: You can't just think of things that rhyme, D.W. A jingle has to be the perfect combination of words with the perfect melody. You're too young to understand great art.

(D.W. made The Thinker statue)

D.W.: Hey, how about lunch?

Arthur: Lunch?

(He gets hit from a snowball by D.W.)

D.W.: (laughs)

(Then, Arthur makes a snowball and tries to throw it at her)

D.W.: Mom!

Lakewood Elementary Music Room

(Arthur sits at the piano and thinks of notes for his jingle while eating more Crunch Cereal. He tries one note.)

Arthur: Too sad.

(He tries another note.)

Arthur: Too silly.

(He tries another note.)

Arthur: Ehh, I guess it will do.

(Then, Buster arrives.)

Buster: Arthur! Snowball fight! The fourth graders captured Francine and they're gonna give her the powdered donut treatment! Come on!

(Arthur and Buster rush outside)

Lakewood Elementary Front Yard

(Once outside, the fourth graders laugh and throw snowballs at Buster and Arthur)

Buster: Duck!

(They avoid the snowballs)

Buster: This way! 

(They crawl for shelter)

Buster: How's that jingle coming?

Arthur: I've pretty much finished the words. It goes.... Eat crunch!

Buster: I like it!

(They hide behind a snow mound)

Arthur: But no matter how hard I try, I can't think of a tune. 

Buster: You know what you need? A band! 

Arthur: Maybe you're right! All I need to do is....

(the mound rumbles, and out comes Francine)

Francine: ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS STAND STILL SO THAT I CAN PULVERIZE YOU! 

Buster: Francine, we've been looking all over for you!

Francine: Because you two spent all your time yakking, I got the cream puff torture, as well as the powdered donut treatment, and....

Arthur: Hey Francine, wanna be the drummer in my band?

Francine: A band? Sure!

Lakewood Elementary Music Room

(Arthur and Buster hold auditions for the band. Outside, in the hallway, there is a long line of students with their instruments waiting their turn. One kid fails as he exits the music room with his banjo.)

Kid: I guess I should've taken those lessons.

Arthur: NEXT! 

(Arthur and Buster evaluate the next auditioner while Arthur continues to eat Crunch Cereal. The first one plays an off-key version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with his violin. Arthur then shakes his head.)

(The next auditioner plays an off-key version of Silent Night on her clarinet while blowing it really hard. Arthur and Buster both shake their heads.)

(Then, George plays a fast ascending scale tune on his flute, but he faints. Finally, Grandma Thora comes in.)

Grandma Thora (singing while using spoons as percussion): Grandma's got a brand new hat! Gonna groove it all night long!

Arthur and Buster (together): Cool!

(Binky comes in)

Binky: Solo for clarinet by some old dead dude. Kerschiel Listing #417.

(He then plays the tune.) 

Buster: Wow, Binky. That was really beautiful.

Binky: You wanna make something out of it?!

Arthur: I think we have our band! 

Reads' Garage

(Arthur's band warms up. Then, Arthur comes to the podium)

Arthur: I wanted to start off with a bang! So I think everyone should play a really loud note and then we'll...

Francine: What if we....

Arthur: Does someone have a question? I didn't see anybody raise their hand!

(Francine raises her hand, much to her disgust)

Arthur: Yes, Francine?

Francine: I thought it would be nice to start out with a drumroll.

(she does a drumroll on the drum set)

Arthur: Hmmmm, I don't think so.

Muffy: Yeah! And then the Brain and I can come in with the strings.

(Brain and Muffy play)

Sue Ellen: And then we'll add the horns.

(Sue Ellen chimes in, and then everyone plays on their own accord)

Arthur: No! No! No! Stop!

(The band stops)

Arthur: I've got the entry form! I've eaten 15 boxes of crunch! And this is my jingle! So we're gonna play it my way! Any questions?

(The band falls to a concerned silence. The band tries again, but they play a really loud note, sending Arthur backward into the garage furniture.)

Arthur: Well, maybe that was too much of a bang. But I think it's a good start.

Dad: (knocks on the garage door; Arthur answers it) Arthur, what was that noise?! It could be heard a mile away! 

Arthur: Sorry, we'll try to keep it down. We're rehearsing a jingle.

(Everyone leaves)

Arthur: Hey, wait! Where are you going?

Francine: Maybe we should come back when you have an actual tune for us to play.

Muffy: Most unready.

Grandma Thora: It is kinda hard on the ears. 

Arthur: Where's everyone going? We'll come up with a tune. That's what you're here for.

Buster: Come on, Arthur. I'll buy you a milkshake.

Arthur: No thanks, I have work to do.

Buster: Maybe you should give it a rest for awhile.

Arthur: Did Mozart give it a rest? Did the guy who wrote, "Ring a round the rosie" give it a rest? I dont think so, Buster!

Read's Living Room 2

(Arthur plays a note on the piano.)

Arthur: Eat Crunch. Oh, I'll never come up with anything.

(puts his head down on the piano. Suddenly, he hears D.W. humming in her room. He goes upstairs to investigate.)

D.W.'s Room

(D.W. brushes Nadine's hair.)

D.W.: Stay still, Nadine. (continues to hum while brushing her hair)

Nadine: (gasps and then disappears the moment she sees Arthur)

D.W. (singing): Oh I have a hunch, breakfast, dinner, and lunch, would be so fun to munch if I had it with Nadine.

Arthur: That's it. It's perfect! Perfect!

(Nadine reappears after Arthur leaves.)

D.W.: He's lost his cookies, Nadine!

(continues to brush Nadine's hair)

Nadine: Too much of that cereal.

Reads' Garage 2

(Buster packs up his tuba. Then, Arthur comes in.)

Arthur: I've got it, Buster! I've got the jingle! Listen to this.

Arthur's Room

(Arthur and Buster listen to the jingle)

Arthur (singing): Oh I have a hunch, breakfast, dinner, and lunch, would be so fun to munch if I had it with Crunch!

Buster: That was fantastic! How did you come up with it?

Arthur: I was sitting in the living room when I heard this tune.... (he becomes concerned)

Buster: Yeah, so?

Arthur: In my head. And... the words just came to me. That's all. 

Buster: Wow! I guess that's how a great jingle is born! Nothing, nothing, and then, poof! Out of nowhere, something beautiful!

Arthur: I gotta go mail this. The deadline's tomorrow.

In Town

(Arthur rushes to the closest public mailbox, but trips over D.W.'s sled)

D.W.: Watch it, you maniac! You want to end up a pile of roadkill?!

Arthur: Uh, sorry, D.W. 

D.W.: Nadine and I were just talking about you. And we've decided that you need to eat more fruit. (she pulls out an apple from her coat pocket) Here.

Arthur: Thanks. I have to go. 

D.W.: Oh, is that the jingle for the contest?

Arthur: THIS?! (gasps shortly) Oh yes, I suppose it is. 

D.W.: So, let's hear it!

Arthur (singing): Oh, munch, crunch, snap, pop, fizz.

Arthur (talking): Something like that. Gotta run.

(Arthur runs to the mailbox, then takes a bite of the apple.)

Fantasy Sequence

(Arthur fantasizes about himself playing his jingle in front of a crowd. Once he's finished playing, the crowd cheers as he smiles. Then, D.W. comes closer to the stage.)

D.W.: ARTHUR! ARTHUR!

Arthur: D.W.? 

D.W.: Arthur, over here! 

Arthur: D.W., where are you?

D.W.: Art.... (falls on the ground)

Arthur: (runs off stage to meet up with D.W.) D.W.! D.W., are you alright?

D.W. (sadly): Here. (hands over the apple)

In Town 2

(Arthur looks around, worried and mails the entry anyways.)

Reads' Living Room

TV Announcer: THE BIONIC BUNNY SHOW!

D.W.: (laughs as she watches the TV)

TV Announcer: We'll be right back after these messages.

Arthur: (wakes up and yawns. He then goes downstairs and hears a catchy tune.)

Man (singing): Oh I have a hunch, breakfast, dinner, and lunch....

Arthur: (gasps as he rushes to the TV)

Man (singing): ...would be so fun to munch if I had it with Crunch!

D.W.: This commercial isn't as good as the old one.

Arthur: D.W., I can explain everything! 

D.W.: HEY! GET AWAY FROM THE TV!

Dad: Breakfast is ready, kids!

(Arthur turns off the TV once the commercial ends)

Reads' Kitchen 2

Dad: You're gonna love this stuff! One bowl and you won't be hungry 'til dinner!

(the doorbell rings)

Dad: Who could that be?

Read's Front Yard 2

(Dad answers the door)

Crunch Cereal Representative: Is this the Read residence?

Dad: Yes.

Crunch Cereal Representative: (clears throat) On behalf of the Crunch Cereal company, I am happy to present you with a year supply of Crunch Cereal!

(the truck dumps the cereal on the driveway)

Crunch Cereal Representative: And a certificate proclaiming the winner of the Crunch Cereal jingle contest, Ms. D.W. Read!

D.W.: ME?!

(Now, Arthur and D.W. stack the cereal boxes)

Arthur: And I started to feel bad, and I realized I had to put your name on it since it was your song. I was going to tell you, but I was waiting for the right time. You aren't mad, aren't you? 

D.W.: You sent that crummy thing in? I have much better songs than that. 

Arthur: Oh, right! Like?!

D.W.: Like the one I wrote this morning.

D.W. (singing): Oh everyone thinks that my brother stinks like a piece of yellow cheese! But me I say, that's okay, as long as there's a breeze! (she gets hit by a snowball)

D.W. (talking): MOM!!!!!!

(Arthur continues to throw snowballs at her as she goes inside the house for cover.)

(END)