Arthur vs. the Piano/Transcript

(Title Card)

Arthur vs. the Piano

Writer: Joe Fallon ---Storyboard Artist: Harry Rasmussen

Binky Barnes: (V.O.) Arthur vs. the Piano.

Pal: (barks)

Arthur: Hi!

(Back to the story)

(Music playing)

Ms. Krasny: Very good, everyone. Ahem. Is everybody ready for their first solo performance? Tomorrow, you perform your pieces for the students, and next Friday, the big recital for all the parents.

#

Miss Krasny: Practice, practice, practice, but have fun. Don’t forget, music is art. It’s like ear painting.

Binky: If I get paint in my ears, my mom gets mad. I speak from experience.

#

Buster: I have to make sure my spit valve is clean. Remember last time?

Flashback: At the concert, Buster empties his spit valve on Mr. Haney.

Buster: (chuckles nervously) Sorry, sir.

Flashback ends.

Buster: Shouldn’t you practice too? It’s your first ever solo.

Arthur: I know my part inside down and upside out.

Buster: I wish I did. Then I wouldn’t have to lug this home. He cycles off with his tuba.

Arthur: Francine! Wanna skate?

Francine: No, I have to tape up my drumsticks so they can’t break this time.

Flashback: While Mr. Haney is still wiping his face, one of Francine’s drumsticks breaks and the end hits Mr. Haney on the head.

Francine: Sorry, sir.

Flashback ends.

Francine: I want to get it right. Everyone will be watching.

Arthur: Binky!

Binky: Don’t ask. I have to do my tongue exercises. Last time I got tongue-tied during the concert.

Flashback: During the concert, Binky discovers that his tongue is literally in a knot.

Arthur: Wasn’t there something else?

Binky: Oh yeah.

Flashback: With his tied-up tongue, Binky falls off the stage on Mr. Haney.

Mr. Haney: Whoa.

Binky: Sorry, sir.

#

Arthur: What if I made a mistake in front of all those people?

Buster: You don’t need practice, you need confidence. You need to walk up to that piano and say: I’m gonna play you and you’re gonna sound great. Show it who’s boss. One wrong note and you’re toothpicks.

#

Arthur: Didn’t you guys hear that big mistake?

Buster: I didn’t hear any mistakes.

Binky: Hey, Arthur. That d-flat you played at the end…

Arthur: I knew it was obvious. I wrecked…

Binky: Very much how Thelonious Monk would have done it. You have some mean jazz chops, my man.

#

Arthur: And nobody noticed my big mistake.

Grandma Thora: It was only big to you. The audience doesn’t hear mistakes. They just hear music.